Good Neighbor Podcast: Tulsa

Brandon Andres Green

Connecting Tulsa Businesses and Neighbors! The Good Neighbor Podcast, hosted by Brandon Andres Green, bridges the gap between Tulsa, OK residents and the incredible local business owners. Discover the stories behind your favorite local businesses—because they're not just owners; they're your neighbors! Proud to be the #1 Tulsa Podcast and Oklahoma Podcast. Are you a business serving the Tulsa area? Let’s showcase your story! Visit gnpTulsa.com to schedule your free interview today. 

  1. 5d ago

    The Victim May Be the Clue Everyone Missed

    A cold case doesn’t stay unsolved because everyone stopped caring. Sometimes the evidence is incomplete. Sometimes the trail went cold. And sometimes the biggest clue may have been sitting in front of investigators the entire time. Brandon Andres Green sits down with Matthew McLaughlin, producer of Cold Red Podcast, to talk about unsolved murders, behavioral profiling, victimology, and what retired FBI profilers can sometimes see when they come back to a case years later. Cold Red is hosted by Dr. Raymond Carr and James R. Fitzgerald, both retired FBI profilers. Fitzgerald is also known for his work helping identify and capture the Unabomber through forensic linguistics. The show originally started as a true-crime podcast featuring former law-enforcement colleagues and experts. But over time, people began reaching out directly and asking the team to look into unresolved cases. Matthew says that changed the show. What started as true-crime content gradually became something closer to a cold-case initiative. One of the most interesting techniques they use is something called victimology. Instead of beginning by trying to create a profile of the killer, Ray and Fitz first build a detailed picture of the victim. Who were they? What was happening in their life? Who had access to them? What relationships, routines, risks, or circumstances surrounded them? Then they work outward from there. Matthew explains that this different lens can sometimes reveal connections investigators may have overlooked. We also get into one of the biggest misconceptions around cold cases: DNA, forensic evidence, or even what appears to be a “smoking gun” doesn’t automatically mean someone can be arrested. Investigators may still need enough evidence to secure warrants, meet legal standards, and prove the case decades after the crime occurred. And sometimes the reason a case stays cold is more uncomfortable. Matthew says he has seen cases where mistakes were made early in an investigation and people later became more concerned about protecting themselves than admitting what happened. In other cases, questions about law enforcement itself become part of the investigation. Cold Red also takes a different approach to true-crime storytelling. Matthew says the focus is intentionally kept on victims and families rather than glorifying offenders. The team tries to avoid sensationalizing killers and instead asks whether telling the story can actually help uncover something useful. That can become emotional very quickly. Families may agree to discuss only the surface of what happened, then find themselves opening up much more once the interview begins. We also talk about what happens behind the scenes when producing a show like this. Matthew writes and outlines episodes, vets guests, books interviews, works with anonymous tips, and helps determine whether someone reaching out is a legitimate witness, family member, law-enforcement source, or potentially someone connected to the crime itself. And because these cases don’t always have endings, the podcast format creates something traditional documentaries often can’t. They can come back. A new witness may surface. Someone may finally be willing to talk. New evidence may emerge. And a case that seemed completely frozen can suddenly move again. If you’re interested in cold cases, FBI profiling, victimology, true crime, forensic linguistics, or what actually happens behind an unsolved investigation, this conversation gives a very different look at how those stories are approached. Listen to Cold Red Podcast: Available on major podcast platforms and YouTube Good Neighbor Podcast Tulsa: gnptulsa.com

  2. 5d ago

    She Was Afraid of Poor People. Now She Serves Thousands.

    Jackie Fusco will tell you she was not the obvious person to lead an outreach ministry. In fact, she says she was afraid of homeless people and poor people and wanted very little to do with that world. Brandon Andres Green sits down with Jackie Fusco of Transform Your Life With Jackie to talk about the difficult season that changed the direction of her family, her faith, and eventually the way she saw the people around her. Jackie was married with five children when her husband suffered a brain injury. The man she describes as the rock of the family suddenly couldn’t function the way he had before. He lost his job. Their home went into foreclosure. Money became tight. And Jackie found herself trying to hold together the children, the house, full-time work, and a marriage under enormous pressure. She is pretty open about what that did to her. She was scared. Angry. Frustrated. And not particularly interested in hearing a polished spiritual answer about any of it. Then her husband attended an ACTS retreat. Jackie says he came home dramatically different and functioning much better than he had been. She wanted to know what happened, but part of the retreat experience was intentionally kept private for future participants. That made her even more irritated. Six months later, he convinced her to attend the women’s retreat. She went reluctantly. And Jackie says that weekend became the point where everything changed. She describes having her first real encounter with Jesus at 48 years old and coming home with a completely different hunger for faith and purpose. Not long afterward, a church outreach position opened. Jackie had no nonprofit experience, wasn’t looking for a job, and admits she was deeply uncomfortable around the very people she would be serving. She applied anyway. What began as a small operation has grown into a ministry Jackie says now serves more than 3,500 individuals, supported by roughly 80 volunteers each week. But the number isn’t really the heart of her story. It’s how they serve. Jackie talks about creating an environment where people coming in for help are asked to sit down. Someone brings them coffee. Someone gets them a snack. Volunteers gather what they need and bring it to them. Because her question became: When was the last time the person who is always struggling to take care of everyone else was actually served? That experience also changed how Jackie thinks about poverty itself. After years of working with families, she began thinking about what she calls “poverty of vision” and the patterns that can keep people feeling stuck even when their circumstances are different. That work has now grown into transformational coaching, speaking, and writing, where Jackie focuses on helping people identify old beliefs, develop a clearer vision for their lives, and move through seasons where they can’t see a way forward. If you’ve ever gone through a season where life stopped looking anything like you expected, this is a conversation about what can happen when the thing you wanted to escape becomes part of what gives your life direction. Learn more about Jackie Fusco: JackieFusco.com Good Neighbor Podcast Tulsa: gnptulsa.com

  3. 5d ago

    Red Light Therapy: Why More Isn’t Better

    Red light therapy gets talked about like more is always better. More time. More intensity. More heat. Deemer and Kelli say that may be exactly the wrong way to think about it. Brandon Andres Green sits down with Deemer and Kelli of SOLiX Wellness Studio in South Tulsa to talk about whole-body red light therapy, full-spectrum infrared sauna, recovery, sleep, pain, and why they believe the way light and heat are used matters just as much as the equipment itself. Deemer admits he wasn’t initially sold on red light therapy. He thought of it mostly as something used for skin, wrinkles, and cosmetic treatments. But after researching the technology, wavelengths, energy delivery, and the way different types of light interact with the body, he and Kelli decided to build SOLiX around a much more customized approach. One of their biggest points is simple: More isn’t necessarily better. Deemer explains why he believes red light therapy should be treated more like a dose than a timer. SOLiX adjusts wavelength, intensity, pulsing, session length, and other variables based on what the person is actually trying to accomplish instead of putting everyone through the same session. We also talk about infrared sauna versus traditional sauna and why hotter doesn’t automatically mean more effective. Deemer explains how infrared works differently from simply heating the air around you and why comfort and consistency may matter more than seeing how much heat you can tolerate. Then we get practical. What should someone expect the first time? How often should you go? Why are some red light sessions 30 minutes while others may only be 10 or 13? And what should you ask a wellness provider before assuming two red light devices are doing the same thing? Deemer also talks about something most consumers probably never hear discussed: joules, the measurement used to describe how much light energy is actually being delivered. Kelli and Deemer say the people who visit SOLiX come in for all kinds of reasons, including sleep, recovery, relaxation, energy, skin appearance, and everyday aches and pains. They also make it clear that this isn’t presented as an instant miracle. Some people notice changes quickly, while others may need consistency over time. And if you decide to try it, their first piece of advice is pretty basic: Hydrate. Their overall approach is less about chasing the hottest sauna or longest red light session and more about understanding what you’re trying to accomplish and using the tools intentionally. Learn more about SOLiX Wellness Studio: SOLiXStudio.com Good Neighbor Podcast Tulsa: gnptulsa.com

  4. 5d ago

    Why Starter Homes Are Disappearing From Tulsa

    A lot of working families are doing everything right and still can’t find a starter home they can afford. Brandon Andres Green sits down with Rob Gardenhire of Green Country Habitat for Humanity to talk about what affordable housing actually looks like in Tulsa, why starter homes have become harder to find, and how Habitat’s model has changed to meet a very different housing market. One of the first misconceptions Rob clears up is what Habitat actually does. This is not a homeless-to-shelter program. Green Country Habitat describes itself more like a nonprofit starter-home developer, helping working households who have been priced out of the traditional market. And the numbers help explain why. Rob says Tulsa home prices have increased about 63% over the last decade while wages have grown only about 31%. At the same time, many large developers have shifted toward more expensive homes with better profit margins, leaving a growing hole in the starter-home market. Green Country Habitat is trying to fill part of that gap. Rob explains how the organization now builds three-bedroom, two-bath starter homes and townhomes, often priced well below what buyers are seeing elsewhere in the new-construction market. Habitat also works with banking partners and donor-funded down-payment assistance to help right-size the mortgage around what a family can actually afford. One of the most interesting parts of the model is what happens after five years of successful mortgage payments. That assistance can be forgiven, allowing the homeowner to keep the equity and begin building real generational wealth. We also talk about the Habitat ReStores and why they matter much more than people may realize. Revenue from the stores helps cover organizational overhead, which Rob says allows about 90 cents of every donated dollar to go toward direct mission impact. And there are a lot of ways people and businesses can help besides simply writing a check. Rob talks about donating furniture and building materials, scheduling pickups, volunteering at ReStores, participating in the wall shop, Women Build and Blitz Build events, and sponsoring homes as a company. One statistic near the end of the conversation may surprise a lot of Tulsa renters: Rob says the income range for Habitat’s homeownership program covers more than 65% of Tulsans. So if you’ve assumed homeownership is completely out of reach, his advice is simple. Check before you count yourself out. Green Country Habitat offers free homeowner information sessions throughout the week and online. Learn more about Green Country Habitat for Humanity: GreenCountryHabitat.org Good Neighbor Podcast Tulsa: gnptulsa.com

  5. 5d ago

    What Happens to Your Business When You’re Gone?

    A business can be profitable, growing, and doing everything right, but still have a serious weakness nobody wants to talk about: what happens if the owner suddenly can’t run it anymore? Brandon Andres Green sits down with Jamie Miller of J. Miller Law Firm to talk about business succession planning, estate planning, buying and selling companies, probate, and the legal problems business owners often don’t discover until something has already gone wrong. Jamie explains that many of those problems actually start at the very beginning. Forming a business with the Secretary of State may be relatively straightforward, but that doesn’t mean the business has everything it needs behind the scenes. That becomes especially important when there are multiple owners. What happens if one partner dies? Becomes disabled? Wants out? Gets divorced? Or leaves their ownership interest to family members the other partner never intended to be in business with? Jamie says the best time to answer those questions is when everyone is healthy, getting along, and nobody is under pressure. We also talk about what should happen if a business depends heavily on one person. Jamie walks through the practical questions owners should be asking long before there is an emergency: Who can run payroll? Who has authority at the bank? Who can contact the insurance company? Who knows how the day-to-day business actually works? Some of that requires legal documents like operating agreements, bylaws, financial powers of attorney, trusts, and buy-sell agreements. But Jamie points out that documents alone aren’t enough. Someone else also has to know how to actually keep the business moving for a few days, a few weeks, or longer. Another important part of the conversation is what happens when a business owner dies and the ownership interest ends up in probate. Jamie has seen businesses temporarily stall because nobody has legal authority to run them. Employees don’t know who is giving direction. Payroll becomes uncertain. Vendors and customers are left waiting. And even getting the first probate hearing may take weeks. For a small business, that kind of delay can be a real problem. We also get into buying and selling businesses and why Jamie says people often bring an attorney in too late. Once the terms have already been negotiated, it can be much harder to go back and fix something that wasn’t structured correctly. Her advice is to involve the right legal counsel earlier, especially when the transaction, partnership, or succession plan is important enough that getting it wrong could become expensive later. And Jamie leaves business owners with one big question: What do you want to happen to your business beyond you? Sell it? Pass it to an employee? Leave it to your children? Keep it operating under someone else? Whatever the answer is, succession usually takes longer than people expect. Learn more about Jamie Miller and J. Miller Law Firm: JMillerLawFirmPLLC.com Good Neighbor Podcast Tulsa: gnptulsa.com

  6. 6d ago

    From Double Mastectomy to Reformer Pilates

    A bad knee, limited mobility, surgery, or simply feeling out of shape doesn’t automatically mean Pilates isn’t for you. Brandon Andres Green sits down with Holly Perry, owner of The Reformer Room in Tulsa, to talk about what reformer Pilates actually does, why it can be adapted for very different bodies and fitness levels, and how Holly’s own health journey eventually led her to open a Pilates studio. Holly first discovered Pilates after being diagnosed with breast cancer and undergoing a double mastectomy. She had lost range of motion, was recovering from surgery and medication, and the ways she had previously stayed active weren’t working the same anymore. So she tried something different. She started with an introductory Pilates class and says she was hooked almost immediately. As her strength and mobility improved, that personal interest eventually turned into comprehensive instructor training and then The Reformer Room, an equipment-based Pilates studio using reformers, towers, chairs, and other apparatus. We talk about what makes a reformer different from the workout many people picture when they hear the word Pilates. The machine uses body weight and spring resistance to create a low-impact workout that can still challenge the deeper muscles responsible for core strength, control, balance, and stability. And Holly works with a pretty wide range of people. Teenage athletes. Pre- and postnatal moms. Cancer survivors. People recovering from illness or surgery. People dealing with knee pain or limited mobility. And people who simply want to become stronger. The same exercise doesn’t look exactly the same for everybody. Holly explains how she looks at a person’s goals, limitations, history, and current ability and then modifies the movement around the person rather than expecting the person to fit a predetermined workout. One of the biggest misconceptions she hears is that Pilates is simply too hard. It certainly can be challenging, but Holly says the difficult part for many beginners isn’t necessarily physical strength. It’s developing the mind-body connection. Slowing down enough to pay attention to breathing, movement, control, and what the body is actually doing instead of mentally running through tomorrow’s grocery list. We also walk through what someone should expect during a first visit to The Reformer Room. And yes, Holly has one practical piece of advice: Bring the grippy socks. New clients learn how the reformer works, where the straps and foot bar are, how the equipment moves, and how to use it safely before being expected to simply jump into a class. Toward the end of the conversation, Holly makes another important point: the place that hurts isn’t always the only place that needs attention. Someone may assume a bad knee means they can’t exercise it. But Holly explains that sometimes strengthening another connected area can improve stability and support around that knee. Her broader philosophy is that the body is connected, which is one reason understanding anatomy is such an important part of Pilates instruction. For Holly, Pilates doesn’t have to mean pushing through pain or keeping up with everybody else in the room. It means meeting your body where it is and building from there. Learn more about Holly Perry and The Reformer Room: TheReformerRoomTulsa.com Good Neighbor Podcast Tulsa: gnptulsa.com

  7. 6d ago

    Why Going Back Home Can Be the Wrong Next Step

    Getting sober is a huge accomplishment. But learning how to live sober when nobody is telling you what to do anymore can be a completely different challenge. Brandon Andres Green sits down with Phillip Brotherton, founder of House 25:17, a Tulsa sober-living home created to help men bridge the gap between long-term recovery programs and everyday life. Phillip describes it as “the next step between recovery and real life.”  Phillip knows that transition personally. He explains that long-term recovery programs can provide structure, accountability, routines, and a safety net. But eventually someone has to take everything they learned and start using it in the real world. Pay rent. Keep a job. Go to meetings. Rebuild trust. Handle pressure. And make good decisions when nobody is standing over them. That’s where House 25:17 comes in. The home has six beds and gives men more freedom than a treatment program while still keeping structure around them. Phillip meets with the men weekly, requires outside recovery meetings, church involvement and volunteer work, and uses drug testing and accountability to help them keep moving forward. But accountability doesn’t mean expecting perfection. Phillip talks openly about relapse and failure. A failed drug test doesn’t automatically mean someone is thrown out. He looks at honesty, willingness, remorse, and whether the person is actually ready to keep doing the work. His point is simple: people are going to make mistakes. What matters is what they do next. We also get into something families may struggle with after treatment: helping versus enabling. Phillip explains why immediately moving back into the same house, neighborhood, friendships, and routines someone had during active addiction may not always be the safest choice. Sometimes the place that feels most comfortable is also the place connected to old habits and old triggers. His advice is to give recovery time to take root. House 25:17 also builds service into the process. Men living there are expected to mentor someone else in recovery each week. Phillip says giving back is one of the habits that helped him build his own life over the last decade, eventually becoming a business owner and putting him in a position to open the home. The conversation also gets into how House 25:17 started. Phillip and his wife converted property he already owned into the sober-living home after he felt called to create something for men leaving long-term recovery programs. The project is currently self-funded and operating as a for-profit while Phillip proves the model, with hopes of eventually growing the work further. Faith is also central to Phillip’s approach. He credits Jesus Christ and Christ-centered recovery programs such as Hope Center Ministries, Adult & Teen Challenge of Oklahoma, and John 3:16 Mission as major parts of the recovery community that helped shape what he is building. And for someone who is early in recovery, Phillip’s message is pretty straightforward: Keep at it. There will be hard days. But keep using the tools you learned, keep building the right relationships, and keep moving forward. Learn more about Phillip Brotherton and House 25:17: House2517.com Good Neighbor Podcast Tulsa: gnptulsa.com

  8. 6d ago

    Sometimes Independence Is Just Moving the Printer

    Sometimes accessibility isn’t complicated. Sometimes the printer is just too high. Brandon Andres Green sits down with Vicki Haws, Associate Director of Ability Resources in Tulsa, to talk about disability, independence, reasonable accommodations, and the resources many people don’t even realize are available until they suddenly need them. Vicki acquired her disability when she was 20 years old. Years later, while completing an internship, she walked into Ability Resources and found something she hadn’t experienced before: a workplace where people with disabilities weren’t the exception. She says it was one of the first times she felt like she was simply part of the group instead of the person who was different. That idea is built into the organization itself. As a Center for Independent Living, Ability Resources is structured so people with disabilities have a direct voice in the services being provided. Vicki explains that at least 51% of the staff, board, and management are people with disabilities. We talk about what Ability Resources actually does, including peer counseling, advocacy, independent living skills, accessible transportation and housing referrals, helping people transition from nursing homes back into the community, veteran-directed care, and helping young people with disabilities prepare for higher education and meaningful employment. One misconception comes up quickly: a Center for Independent Living is not an assisted-living facility and Ability Resources does not provide housing directly. Instead, the organization helps people find the resources and support they need to live as independently as possible. Then Vicki gives one of the simplest examples of what accessibility can look like. At a previous job, her office moved and someone placed the printer too high for her to use. She had to formally ask for a reasonable accommodation just to have it lowered. Nothing expensive. Nothing complicated. Move the printer. Problem solved. We also talk about hidden disabilities, why accommodations can’t always be one-size-fits-all, and something Vicki learned firsthand about the Americans with Disabilities Act. People assumed that because she had a disability, she automatically understood the ADA and her rights under it. She didn’t. Learning what those laws actually meant for her became one of the most empowering parts of her work. And Vicki’s bigger message goes beyond disability services. Communities are stronger when people with different abilities, experiences, and perspectives are actually able to participate. Inclusion isn’t just about helping one group. It gives everybody more people, more ideas, and more opportunity to grow. If you or someone you know needs help navigating disability resources, accessible transportation, housing, independent living, the ADA, or community support in Tulsa, this episode is a good introduction to a resource you may not have known existed. Learn more about Ability Resources: AbilityResources.org Good Neighbor Podcast Tulsa: gnptulsa.com

About

Connecting Tulsa Businesses and Neighbors! The Good Neighbor Podcast, hosted by Brandon Andres Green, bridges the gap between Tulsa, OK residents and the incredible local business owners. Discover the stories behind your favorite local businesses—because they're not just owners; they're your neighbors! Proud to be the #1 Tulsa Podcast and Oklahoma Podcast. Are you a business serving the Tulsa area? Let’s showcase your story! Visit gnpTulsa.com to schedule your free interview today.