In this episode, Raul Rodarte Shuto sits down with Julie Winters, Executive Director of Aspire: A Mindful Place, to discuss the growing need for accessible mental health support in rural Texas Panhandle communities.

Julie shares her journey through years of service with Hutchinson County United Way, the personal experiences that shaped her passion for this work, and how Aspire is helping bring compassionate behavioral health services closer to home.

Together, they explore the realities of rural mental health, the importance of community collaboration, and how Aspire is working to create new pathways for healing and support in Hutchinson County.

In this episode of This is the Panhandle, host Raul Rodarte Soto sits down with Blake Siebrecht of BOOM Adventures (Brothers of Our Military Adventures) to explore how the organization is creating purpose, connection, and healing for veterans, first responders, and their families across the Texas Panhandle.

Blake shares how transitioning out of service can leave many searching for identity and mission, and how BOOM Adventures helps fill that gap through outdoor experiences, community events, and peer-to-peer connection. The organization serves not only veterans and first responders but also Gold Star families, building a powerful sense of extended family and support.

Through initiatives like outdoor trips, community service projects, and events for families, BOOM creates spaces where individuals can reconnect, open up, and find encouragement—often in ways that feel more natural than traditional support systems. From providing bikes to foster children to helping families impacted by disasters, their work continues to ripple throughout the region.

Blake also shares the organization's long-term vision of building a retreat space for service members and their families, along with a powerful message for those who may be struggling: keep going, reach out, and remember—you matter.

In this episode, Broc Carter sits down with Brandi Reed, the CEO of Family Support Services, to talk about the life experiences that shaped her leadership—and the critical, behind-the-scenes work Family Support Services provides across the Texas Panhandle.

Brandi shares her journey from being born in Fresno, California, to growing up in tiny Logan, New Mexico, before moving to Amarillo to attend West Texas A&M University. After earning her degree in mass communications, she spent years serving others—working everywhere from nonprofit and community service roles to mission-driven work that fueled her passion for helping underserved populations.

Her career path eventually led her to the Amarillo Globe-News, then to Camp Fire USA, where she worked in development and events, deepening her nonprofit leadership experience. Brandi explains how motherhood, life transitions, and a strong pull toward advocacy ultimately brought her to Family Support Services—first as a volunteer hospital advocate, then as a staff member starting nearly two decades ago.

Broc and Brandi discuss how her early "hands-in-everything" role evolved into building prevention and education programming through evidence-based models, community partnerships, and competitive state and federal grants. Brandi breaks down what "evidence-based" really means and why fidelity to proven program models matters when working with families and youth.

Brandi also reflects on stepping into the CEO role at a pivotal time—especially after the agency's devastating 2020 fire and the long road to rebuilding. She shares the emotional loss of the organization's historical archives, the resilience of staff who kept services running (including the crisis hotline), and the community support that helped the organization continue serving survivors through both the fire and the pandemic.

The conversation closes with a look at the ongoing needs in Amarillo—especially around counseling access, prevention work in schools, support for veterans, and sustainable funding. Brandi emphasizes that there are many ways to support Family Support Services, and Broc highlights the organization's essential role in the region.

About the show: This Is the Panhandle is a production of the Amarillo Area Foundation. Learn more at amarilloareafoundation.org.

In this special edition of This Is the Panhandle, Broc Carter sits down with Amarillo Area Foundation CEO Keralee Clay for a wide-ranging conversation about her "long and windy road" back to the Texas Panhandle—and the leadership journey that brought her to the Foundation's top role. Keralee shares her deep Panhandle roots, her unexpected pivot into vocal performance and opera, and the steep learning curves that shaped her: managing the Amarillo Civic Center at a young age, moving to New York City with everything she owned in a Ryder truck, and building a career that blended leadership, HR, operations, IT, and people development.

Keralee reflects on living in New York through 9/11 and how that season strengthened her belief in shared humanity—something she also sees in the Panhandle during disasters and hard times. After starting a family, she and her husband made the "step-down" move from NYC to Denver, then home to Amarillo for community, quality of life, and the support of family (and affordable childcare realities).

Back in Amarillo, Keralee returned to the Civic Center before receiving a call from Clay Stribling that changed her path: joining the Amarillo Area Foundation first as Director of Operations, then advancing into senior leadership and ultimately CEO. She credits Clay with seeing potential in people and stretching them into new leadership spaces—something Keralee now aims to continue through culture-building, collaboration, and long-term systems work.

The conversation also highlights the Foundation's strategic shift toward big, complex quality-of-life challenges like broadband access/digital equity and childcare as infrastructure. Keralee explains why these aren't problems you can "grant-cycle" your way out of—and why convening, partnerships, and systemic change are essential. Looking ahead, she shares her priorities as CEO: listening, questioning assumptions, strengthening the Foundation's role across all 26 counties, and helping donors build place-based philanthropic legacies—especially as the "transfer of wealth" becomes a daily reality for many families.

Guest: Dr. Jamelle Connor, President of Amarillo College Host: Kimberly Anderson, Amarillo Area Foundation

Episode summary: Kimberly sits down with Dr. Jamelle Connor to meet the person behind the title. Jamelle shares her Florida upbringing (yes, baton twirling and boat days!), how high-school band shaped her life, and the long-story-short of finally dating and marrying her husband, Martin. She introduces us to their three very different (and very close) daughters, talks about falling in love with Amarillo's hidden-gem culture—from Comic Con to the symphony—and dishes restaurant favorites (Drunken Oyster, OHMS, The Big Texan). We also hear about Martin's new birding obsession, camping adventures in Palo Duro Canyon (first scorpion sighting!), Jamelle's love of reading (James Michener, Georgia O'Keeffe/Frank Lloyd Wright), and her current music kick (Blue October). Wrapping up, Jamelle shares her vision for AC: "Every student, every dream. One AC."—aligning programs, partnerships, and student supports to meet Amarillo's growing workforce and community needs.

In this episode of This is the Panhandle, host Kimberly Anderson sits down with Laura Storrs, CFO of the City of Amarillo, to uncover the person behind the title. Born and raised in Amarillo, Laura shares stories of her childhood, the influence of her parents, and how she discovered her passion for accounting. She opens up about her journey into motherhood through adoption, the blessings and challenges of raising a blended family, and the unique connection her husband—also adopted—brings to their home. Laura also reflects on her deep ties to community, from Rotary traditions to her new favorite hobby of leading a book club. As she looks toward retirement in 2026, she discusses her hopes for the city, her faith in what's next, and her commitment to giving back. This heartfelt conversation highlights the human side of a leader devoted to her family, her faith, and her hometown.

In this episode of This is the Panhandle, Broc sits down with colleague Beth Gunn, Grant Program Officer at the Amarillo Area Foundation. Beth shares her personal journey—from starting with the foundation through CYD, to leading scholarship programs, and now focusing on education grants.

Together, they explore the concept of Opportunity Youth—young people ages 16–24 who are disconnected from education or the workforce—and why addressing their needs is critical for the future of the Texas Panhandle. Beth unpacks local research, the challenges of tracking this population, and the values-driven insights gathered directly from youth voices.

Listeners will hear how collaboration among schools, workforce boards, foster care, and nonprofits is reshaping how the community supports these young people. From summits to policy changes, Beth highlights the Foundation's role in convening partners, funding innovative solutions, and shifting narratives about what young people truly want: connection, meaning, and the chance to make a difference.

Beth also shares the personal motivation behind her work, revealing how her own experiences inform her passion for helping others navigate systems and access opportunity.

In this inspiring episode of This is the Panhandle, host Kimberly Anderson sits down with Dr. Deidre Parish, the new superintendent of Amarillo ISD. While many know her for her impressive career in education—including two doctorates and leadership roles from rural districts to large urban schools—this conversation goes deeper, uncovering the personal side of Dr. Parish.

From her Lubbock roots to her early teaching days, Dr. Parish shares the winding path that led her from biology research labs to public school classrooms, and eventually to district leadership. Along the way, she opens up about her family's deep ties to education, her love of music and fine arts, her work as a certified yoga instructor, and the life lessons she learned from her biggest supporters—her grandparents.

We also meet the rest of her family: her husband of 33 years, Bud, and their two daughters, both educators themselves, carrying forward the family legacy. Dr. Parish talks candidly about her hopes for Amarillo ISD, her vision of the district as a "destination" for students and educators, and why collaboration with the community is key to student success.

This episode is full of heart, wisdom, and a reminder that great leaders are shaped as much by their passions and relationships as by their résumés.

Listen in to learn:

• How Dr. Parish's background in science and fine arts shapes her leadership

• Why she believes collaboration is the secret to strong schools and communities

• The personal routines and hobbies that keep her grounded in a demanding role

• Her vision for Amarillo ISD's future as a premier destination for education in the Panhandle

🎙️ This is the Panhandle —

In this very special episode, host Broc Carter sits down with Amy Lovell and her daughter Mattie Kate (MK) Lovell for the first-ever mother-daughter conversation on This is the Panhandle. Amy and MK share a deeply personal story about facing Amy's unexpected breast cancer diagnosis and the journey that followed — one marked by early detection, tough choices, family support, and hard-won hope.

Amy, a longtime advocate for nonprofits and co-founder of The Panhandle Gives, opens up about her life in the Panhandle, her work, and how a routine mammogram led to a stage-zero breast cancer diagnosis. Together, she and MK discuss how the news reshaped their family's plans, the emotional weight of choosing treatments, and why early detection saved Amy's life.

MK, a third-generation Red Raider and former state champion runner, shares what it was like to stand beside her mom during treatment and how the experience changed her outlook on preventative care and family.

This heartfelt conversation is a powerful reminder of the impact of early screenings, the strength of open family dialogue, and the importance of showing up for each other when life changes overnight.

Key Takeaways:

• Why annual mammograms matter — early detection can be lifesaving.

• Navigating the emotional reality of a cancer diagnosis, even when prognosis is strong.

• How family support, honest conversations, and shared decisions make all the difference.

• Encouragement for other mothers and daughters to prioritize proactive health.

If you listen to one episode this season, let it be this one — and share it with the women in your life.

In this inspiring episode, Broc Carter sits down with Filiberto Avila—known to many as Fili—a Spearman, Texas native currently wrapping up a Fulbright fellowship in Madrid, Spain. Fili shares his incredible journey from growing up in a rural Panhandle town to becoming student body president at West Texas A&M University, participating in the Rogers LEAD program, and ultimately teaching university-level students in Spain.

Fili reflects on:

• His academic and leadership experiences at WTAMU

• The impact of the Rogers LEAD program and student government

• Helping launch the Market on Tierra Blanca food pantry in Canyon

• Life and learning in Madrid as a Fulbright Fellow

• Teaching international students and promoting cultural exchange

• Why he's returning home to teach high school English in Spearman

• His dreams of serving in the U.S. Foreign Service

This conversation is a testament to the power of small-town roots, public service, and global perspective. Fili's story is a reminder that great things can start in the Panhandle—and make their way around the world.

Resources Mentioned:

• Learn about The Fulbright Program

In this episode, host Raul Rodarte Suto sits down with John Wittler, Executive Director of Ogallala Commons, to explore his inspiring journey from growing up on a farm in southeast Colorado to leading a multi-state nonprofit focused on revitalizing rural communities.

John shares his unconventional path—opting out of college to pursue entrepreneurship, finding meaning through work and family, and eventually joining Ogallala Commons to empower youth and small towns across the High Plains. He discusses the value of integrating work and life, the importance of an entrepreneurial mindset, and how his personal philosophy around meaning (inspired by Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning) influences his leadership.

The episode also delves into:

• The mission and multi-state reach of Ogallala Commons

• Key program areas: leadership development, natural resource stewardship, and local food systems

• What it means to build "life-giving" rural communities

• The importance of non-traditional education and youth mentorship

• And yes—why some people know him simply as "Sandals"

This is a heartfelt, insightful conversation about leadership, learning, and living with purpose—whether you're in boots or Birkenstocks.

🌐 Learn more about Ogallala Commons at ogallalacommons.org 📍 Brought to you by the Amarillo Area Foundation.