Hey Amarillo

This week, Skylar sits down with Raul Rodarte-Suto, whose work at the Amarillo Area Foundation supports nonprofits and the communities they serve across the Texas Panhandle. But Raul's story extends far beyond his professional life. He's an artist, a creative, and someone with a beautiful perspective on connection, finding family, and building community. Together, they explore the importance of creative expression, taking chances, saying yes to new experiences, and holding on to a sense of wonder about the world around us. Raul brings a gentle, thoughtful, and deeply insightful perspective to a conversation about belonging, curiosity, and the beauty of being open to life's possibilities.

In this episode, Skylar sits down with Dr. Neil Terry, interim president of West Texas A&M University. One of WT's longest-tenured faculty members, Neil has served the university at virtually every level of academic leadership, giving him a deep understanding of an institution that plays an incredibly important role in the Texas Panhandle. Neil shares the journey that brought him to West Texas and the perspective he brings to leading WT through a period of transition. They talk about some of the critical issues currently facing the university, including the future of the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, as well as his role in providing stability today while paving the way for WT's next president. Neil is thoughtful, perceptive, refreshingly open and a lot of fun to talk to. It's a great conversation about leadership, stewardship, and caring for an institution while helping it navigate what comes next.  

Courtney Brown is the co-owner of 806 Coffee + Lounge, a place whose unmistakable vibe has helped shape the culture of Amarillo's historic Route 66—and given artists, creators and all kinds of people a place to find one another. She is also the founder of the Amarillo Reproductive Freedom Alliance, which helped stave off a controversial local proposition. Courtney's story is one of building community, discovering where your power lies and jumping in headfirst to create something good. She is fierce, joyful and deeply committed to the idea that people should be free to be at peace with who they are and where they are.

Jessie McMeans always wanted to be an educator, but that path started to change when she found herself conflicted by what she was seeing in Houston public school classrooms. Years later, back home in Amarillo, she still felt pulled toward creating an educational experience that better incorporated families and responded to the individual needs of children. What came from all of that was a big leap: Golden Plains Community School, a new private school on Amarillo's north side. Jessie talks about building a school alongside the community it serves, and what it looks like to follow where you feel tugged.