Greater Phoenix A to Z Greater Phoenix Economic Council

Join GPEC’s resident music enthusiast Tim Bourcet as he shares a conversation with two of the Arizona music scene’s most influential figures: Michelle Donovan, owner of The Nile Theater in Mesa, and Charlie Levy, owner of The Crescent Ballroom and Valley Bar in Phoenix.Listen in as Michelle and Charlie take us behind the scenes of Arizona’s rich musical heritage through the lens of their own beginnings in the music promotion business. From the storied history of the century-old Nile Theater t...

Join host Casey Gilchrist and esteemed guests Oscar De las salas, Leonor Aispuro, and Angela Johnson as they dive into Greater Phoenix’s dynamic fashion scene and their goal to fashion a sustainable future. Delve into their inspiring stories of creativity and innovation, from their beginnings in the fashion industry to their vision for its future.Discover the intersection of fashion and sustainability as they discuss where the industry is going, the business of fashion, and practical tips for...

GPEC’s Southern belles are back for part two of Arizona hot takes! Host Casey Gilchrist and guest Ashley Busada dive into more crowd-sourced opinions about Greater Phoenix and Arizona. What is a hot take? A hot take is a quickly produced, strongly worded and often deliberately provocative or sensational opinion or reaction.Covering everything from Arizona’s iconic sunsets to the prevalence of speakeasies in the region, plus the local obsession with Dutch Bros and In-n-Out, Casey and Ashl...

Join co-hosts Tim Bourcet and Casey Gilchrist as they dive into the culture and community of Mesa's thriving Asian District.First, we chat with Mesa Mayor John Giles, an accomplished leader and triathlete, who shares insights into the growth of Mesa's Asian district and his role in supporting development.Then, we're thrilled to introduce muralist Kadhima Tung, a Chinese Muslim-American artist with a fascinating background. Born in Saudi Arabia and raised in Arizona, Kadhima brings a rich tape...

This episode gets spicy! Listen in for a light-hearted discussion where self-proclaimed Southern girls Casey Gilchrist and Ashley Busada react to crowd-sourced "hot takes" on Greater Phoenix and Arizona.What is a "hot take?" — A hot take is a quickly produced, strongly worded and often deliberately provocative or sensational opinion or reaction.From the authenticity of Arizona's Mexican food to the intensity of its sun and the spirit of its sports fans, Casey and Ashley tackle it all with the...

*Please note that there were some microphone issues in this episode, but the compelling dialogue remains rich and enlightening. Host Tim Bourcet is joined by local expert Dr. Mathew Sandoval for an engaging discussion about the history, traditions and Greater Phoenix Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations. Dr. Sandoval is an Associate Teaching Professor at Barrett the Honors College in Downtown Phoenix, a Social Transformation Lab Fellow, a member of ASU's Chicano/Latino Facul...