Hey Amarillo

Bethany Fields

This episode, we're joined by Bethany Fields, a local pastel artist who truly sees beauty in everything around her. Bethany shares how creativity has been a constant thread throughout her life — from photography, to scrapbooking, to pastel painting — and how she has a unique gift for turning hobbies into meaningful work. Our conversation explores what it looks like to follow curiosity, trust your instincts, and allow creativity to evolve. Bethany is incredibly talented, soft-spoken, and kind, and this episode is a quiet reminder of the value of noticing beauty, making art for the joy of it, and letting passion guide your path.

America Adame

This week on Hey Amarillo, I'm joined by America Adame, Executive Director of the Wesley Community Center in Amarillo's El Barrio neighborhood. The Wesley provides an incredible range of services that support families and strengthen community, and America stepped into leadership just over a year ago with clarity, confidence, and vision. In our conversation, she shares how she imagined the leader she wanted to become — and then took the steps to make that future real. America also speaks with remarkable courage about her own journey through a very difficult season of life, and how her two young daughters motivate her to model what female excellence, resilience, and leadership can look like. This is a conversation about vision, service, and choosing to lead with purpose — even when the path hasn't been easy.

Paul Borchardt

This week on Hey Amarillo, we sit down with Paul Borchardt, who, until very recently, ran one of Amarillo's most beloved and historic landmarks: Wonderland Amusement Park. Paul's story starts far from the Texas Panhandle — growing up on a farm in Iowa, serving in the Navy, falling in love, and eventually finding his way to Amarillo, where he joined his wife's family in running an amusement park that has become part of the fabric of this community. For decades, Paul and his family poured their energy, care, and dedication into Wonderland, creating a place that generations of families return to summer after summer. In this conversation, Paul reflects with pride and genuine enjoyment on the years spent keeping Wonderland going — and on what it feels like to step away after 70 years of family stewardship. He's sweet, funny, practical, and deeply appreciative of the people who loved the park as much as he did. This episode is about legacy, community, and what it means to take care of something that belongs to more than just one family.

Laurie Higgins-Kerley

This week on Hey Amarillo, we're joined by Laurie Higgins-Kerley, founder of Dove Creek Equine Rescue and Led by Horses, for one of the most moving conversations I've ever had about grief. Laurie began this work after the loss of her husband, during a season when she herself was searching for healing. Through her horses, she experienced a kind of quiet, steady restoration—and eventually felt called to create spaces where others could experience that same healing presence. Our conversation explores grief honestly and tenderly. It doesn't shy away from how painful loss can be, but it also reveals how beauty, connection, and even hope can exist alongside it. Laurie shares how horses help people process emotions without words, how healing doesn't follow a straight line, and why holding space for grief is one of the most meaningful things we can do for one another. This episode is difficult in places—but it is also deeply beautiful. If you've experienced loss, love someone who has, or simply want to understand grief with more compassion, this conversation will stay with you.

Lorie VanOngevalle

I'm joined by Lorie VanOngevalle, Executive Director of Friends of Cross Bar, for a conversation rooted in fresh air, open spaces, and the joy of being outdoors. Lorie shares her path to a life spent outside — how she found her way into this work and why expanding access to public lands matters so deeply to her. As an outdoorsy woman working to make it easier for people to experience and enjoy the land around them, Lorie brings both passion and practicality to the conversation. This episode is fun, thoughtful, and a great reminder of why our outdoor spaces are worth cherishing, protecting, and actually using. Whether you love hiking, camping, ranch roads, or just being outside whenever you can, this conversation will make you want to step outdoors and look around a little more intentionally.