Hey Amarillo Jason Boyett

A conversation with Dirk van Reenen, the founder of Merus Adventure Park in the Texas Panhandle. Born and raised in South Africa, Dirk moved to Texas during his teen years. While attending WTAMU, he became the owner/manager of the former Lifts West ski shop at Western Plaza, launched Caprock Auctions in Amarillo, and worked in real estate before moving away in 2014. He tells host Jason Boyett about his Amarillo career, his subsequent move to the Houston area—followed by a stint in Columbia, Maryland— and his return to the Texas Panhandle. At Merus, now the largest private outdoor adventure park in Texas, Dirk provides family-friendly activities and access to Palo Duro Canyon separate from the state park. This episode is supported by Amarillo Habitat for Humanity, Wieck Realty, Wolflin Square and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Vanessa Fiaud, Ph.D., an associate professor of sports and exercise science at the WTAMU College of Nursing & Health Sciences. Fiaud was born in France, where she studied business law, and continued her education in Oklahoma and Texas. She arrived in the Texas Panhandle and at WT in 2009, and tells host Jason Boyett about her work on sports biomechanics, as well as her recent approval by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to serve as an official volunteer at this year's Summer Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Paris. This episode is supported by The Amarillo Tribune, The Shops at Wolflin Square, and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Devin Barnett, owner of Renu Painting, which recently was awarded the 2024 Torch Award for Ethics (Medium Business) by the Better Business Bureau of Amarillo. Barnett grew up in Abilene and has worked in a variety of industries, from petroleum to nursing to self-employed retailing. Despite that meandering career path, he's found success with Renu Painting. He and host Jason Boyett discuss Devin's various career stops before coming to Amarillo, why he chose not to go to college, and why he has become so passionate about creating jobs in the skilled trades. This episode is sponsored by Shemen Dental and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Megan Reed, the communications and public affairs manager at Bell, and a former communications manager for Make-a-Wish North Texas. Reed, an Amarillo native who played Division II soccer for WTAMU, tells host Jason Boyett how she found her way into a career at the manufacturer's Amarillo Assembly Plant, what Bell's new U.S. Army assault aircraft contract means for the area, and how she and her employer are already looking 10 years into the future as they prepare a workforce to fulfill that contract. This episode is sponsored by Pinnacle by Rockrose, Storybridge and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A return conversation with Jason Crespin for Hey Amarillo's 350th episode. Crespin was the guest in this podcast's second episode ever (October 9, 2017) and returns to share about his role as Managing/Artistic Director at Amarillo Little Theatre and the legacy of the late Allen Shankles, who passed away March 20, 2024. Crespin also turns the tables on host Jason Boyett to ask about Boyett's upcoming ALT debut in the cast of the musical Spamalot, which opens May 2. Tickets are on sale now for Spamalot. This episode is sponsored by Pinnacle by Rockrose, Jimmy John's, Wieck Realty and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Cindi Bulla, the broker/owner behind Realty Central Services and a recent primary candidate for Texas House District 87. Bulla shares the story of how she ran away from home at age 15 and ended up in Amarillo, how she found her way into  careers in banking and construction before getting into real estate, and why she decided to run for office. (Her campaign was ultimately unsuccessful.) Bulla also speaks with host Jason Boyett about the local real estate market and her decades of involvement with Amarillo Little Theatre. This episode is sponsored by Pinnacle by Rockrose, Amarillo Habitat Pickleball Bash, La-Z-Boy Furniture Stores and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.