Amazing Arizonans

There are so many great nonprofit organizations in Arizona. One of the best is St. Mary’s Foodbank. I call them the O.G. because they are the first foodbank in America. Lisa Notaro is the Chief Philanthropy, Development and Marketing Officer for St, Mary’s foodbank. We talked about her passion to serve others and how that has turned into a career. Lisa is one of the most respected people in her industry. Her passion to serve is obvious in our conversation. I hope you enjoy it.

It’s a privilege to have a conversation with a Hall of Famer in any field. It’s even more special when they are a local legend and a fantastic human being. That describes former Phoenix Suns coach Mike D’Antoni. D’Antoni talks about his career and some great memories he has of being the coach of the Suns. Not only the great players they were, but the great men of character they were as well. He is such a humble man that he spent so much of our time together talking about other people and not himself. He is a man of faith who loves his family and is very grateful for his career. I hope you enjoy the conversation. This episode was originally published on May 18, 2026. 

I’ve owned motorcycles most of my time in Arizona. It is a great place to ride. One of the industry leaders in custom bikes is Paul Yaffe. His “Bagger Nation” is iconic in the industry. I was so anxious to sit down with him and learn about his company. He is a fascinating person. He is an artist and a shrewd businessman. Even if you don’t ride, you’re going to love this discussion.

I love hearing from people who quietly do great things. Darcy Olsen has impacted on the lives of thousands of our most vulnerable children. She is a brilliant woman with a long history of policymaking and policy influence. But her work protecting the rights of abused children is remarkable. Darcy has fostered 10 children and adopted 4. This journey led her to start "The Center for the Rights of Abused Children". In our conversation you can hear her passion and her strength. This is one of the most significant installments of Amazing Arizonans. I hope you enjoy it.

We started the Amazing Arizonans podcast hoping to give you a look at the remarkable people who make Arizona their home.

I never imagined that we’d have such a huge response.

This week I talk with former Vice President Dan Quayle. He served as vice president under President George H.W. Bush.

He is a great storyteller with a sharp sense of humor.

We talk about how the current fight against drug cartels is like the fight of the late 1980s and early 1990s. I hope you enjoy the conversation! This episode was originally published on March 2nd, 2026. 

It’s a privilege to have a conversation with a Hall of Famer in any field. It’s even more special when they are a local legend and a fantastic human being.

That describes former Phoenix Suns coach Mike D’Antoni. D’Antoni talks about his career and some great memories he has of being the coach of the Suns. Not only the great players they were, but the great men of character they were as well.

He is such a humble man that he spent so much of our time together talking about other people and not himself. He is a man of faith who loves his family and is very grateful for his career. I hope you enjoy the conversation.

One of our goals with the Amazing Arizonans podcast is to learn the history of iconic people and businesses that have been in Arizona for generations.

Schnepf Farms qualifies. I had the privilege of sitting down with Mark and Carrie Schnepf. Learning the family history of farming was an Arizona history lesson.

We talked about the challenges of farming in the 21st century, but what I loved most was their commitment to keeping the farm going. We learned how difficult it is in such a fast-growing state to say no to large sums of money for the farmland. I hope you enjoy the conversation.

I am fascinated by the restaurant industry. Having the creative mind to create amazing dishes that people are willing to pay for combined with the business mind to make it profitable seems impossible. So when I have a chance to sit down with someone who does it at the highest level, I jump at the chance. Mark Tarbell is nationally known as a successful restaurateur. He is also known in the Valley as a philanthropist. Our conversation talks about his career, his love of music and his love for our community. He is a brilliant and humble man. I hope you enjoy the conversation. This episode was originally published on January 26, 2026. 

Learning how the most successful people in any industry reached their success is one of the best things about Amazing Arizonans. Jordan Rose is not only one of the most successful attorneys in Arizona, but she is also a trailblazer and mentor to many women. Our conversation about her confidence and tenacity is inspiring. How she went from graduating from law school to being a business leader in many different industries is incredible. She is high energy, brilliant and shows no signs of slowing down. Definitely an Amazing Arizonan! I hope you enjoy the conversation.

I love meeting creative and determined people. My guest on this edition of Amazing Arizonans is definitely both. Chef Gio Osso is recognized as one of the most talented in the country. He's a James Beard Award semifinalist. He owns two very successful restaurants in Scottsdale, Virtue Honest Craft and Pizzeria Virtue. His love of cooking and teaching are obvious from the minute he begins to speak. We talk with people that are at the top of their game and Chef Gio certainly qualifies. I hope you enjoy the conversation.

I love this podcast because it introduces me to the most inspirational people. Case in point: Stephanie Vasquez, my guest this week.

If you’ve ever grabbed a sip at Fair Trade Café in Phoenix, you have Stephanie to thank. And that’s just one of her ventures. She’s also the force behind Amor Collective, an incubator space that supports 37 Latina-owned brands, bakers and artists near First Avenue and Roosevelt Street. Stephanie is an entrepreneur, mentor and community leader. Her vision for Latina-owned businesses has driven her to build something remarkable in the Valley, and her mission to help other women succeed is genuinely inspiring. I was moved by her passion. I think you will be too. This episode was originally published on February 9th, 2026. 

I love it when good things happen to great people. Recently our own Becky Lynn Ottiger was inducted into the Arizona Media Association Hall of Fame. I have been a fan of Becky Lynn since the early days of Tim and Willy. She has been in the valley anchoring news casts for over 36 years. and I was thrilled to talk with her about her life and her career. An icon on Valley Radio, but more importantly she's truly a great person. It was fun to hear her story and I hope you enjoy it too.

Two of Arizona’s five C’s are cattle and cotton. Farmers and ranchers are a huge part of our history. They are also a big part of our current economy.

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Sine Kerr. The former state lawmaker is the state director for the USDA Farm Services Bureau.

Kerr and her husband have been farmers and ranchers since 1980. Our conversation was about how the industry has changed over the decades. Her insight into water issues is compelling. We talked about the environment and food security. I hope you enjoy the conversation.

I fell in love with the restaurant industry when I was 12 years old. I was hired as a busboy in a Chinese restaurant. I have done every job in the front and back of the house except for being a bartender.

I admire any restaurateur who has the artistic ability to create amazing meals and the business sense to make it profitable.

There is no better example of that in Arizona than the team behind Prime Steak Concepts. I had the privilege of sitting down with Jeff Mastro, chief executive officer, and Oliver Badgio, chief brand officer.

They both are brilliant and passionate about food and the complete dining experience. I hope you enjoy the conversation.

Arizona's Wildlife World Zoo president Kristy Hayden is the latest guest on Amazing Arizonans podcast. She talks about how the Zoo started and what is next for the park out in the West Valley.

Social media and podcasting platforms have allowed people with great stories and points of view to become very popular. My guest on this episode of Amazing Arizonans definitely fits that description. Brandon Tatum (@theofficertatum) has such an interesting background and story. An All American football player in high school. A star for the Arizona Wildcats, A police officer and now known as one of the most influential conservative voices in the country. I loved hearing more details about his life and experiences, I think you will too.

We started the Amazing Arizonans podcast hoping to give you a look at the remarkable people who make Arizona their home.

I never imagined that we’d have such a huge response.

This week I talk with former Vice President Dan Quayle. He served as vice president under President George H.W. Bush.

He is a great storyteller with a sharp sense of humor.

We talk about how the current fight against drug cartels is like the fight of the late 1980s and early 1990s. I hope you enjoy the conversation!

I was invited to visit the Resolution Copper Mine. I was excited to go that far underground. What I didn't expect was to meet such great people that are very proud of this project. My guest is the President of Resolution Copper Vicky Peacey. I learned a lot about the organization and their mission. They have such a love for the people of Superior Arizona and the surrounding towns. She taught me about mining in general and about what the resolution Copper project means to the entire country. I know you're going to learn a lot from this conversation. I know that I did.

This week's episode features a Phoenix entrepreneur who is opening doors to other Latina business owners in the valley. Her name is Stephanie Vasquez. She's the owner of Fair Trade Cafe and CEO of Amor Collective, both in downtown Phoenix. 

There are a few events that I consider Arizona signature events.

The WM Phoenix Open is definitely on top of that list. The Thunderbirds host this amazing tournament each year.

I sit down with the head of the organization, Chance Cozby. We talk about the massive growth of the tournament and the money that is raised.

The Thunderbirds give millions of dollars to Arizona nonprofit organizations. Chance also has a huge social media following. He posts his recipes and cooking skills and has amassed about a million followers online. I hope you enjoy the conversation. This episode was originally published on Oct 30, 2024. 

In Arizona, Tarbell's Restaurant is iconic and behind its success is a legend in the industry. Mark Tarbell sits down with Mike Broomhead on this episode of Amazing Arizonans to talk about his talent and passion for creating incredible food and more. 

I love to hear when someone gets to live their dream. Our goal with Amazing Arizonans is to hear amazing stories from right here in the Grand Canyon state. This episode checks both boxes. I talk with Ralph Velez Jr.

Known internationally as Ramblin’ Ralph. He is a world-famous boxing ring announcer. He’s worked some of the biggest fights in the world on some of the biggest platforms. He is a humble and gracious man that gives back generously in his community. His positive energy is contagious. I hope you like the conversation. This episode was originally published on Oct 1, 2025.

I love talking with people that are elite at their job, and this guest on Amazing Arizonans certainly qualifies.

Tom Lehman is one of the greatest golfers of his generation. He was ranked No. 1 in the world and is a major champion. Plus, he continues to play competitive golf.

I’m always interested in how someone develops into an elite competitor.

In this episode, we talk about work ethics, confidence, family and faith. He is a very interesting man, and he lives here in Arizona. I hope you like the conversation. I know I sure did!

If you’re football fan, you’re going to recognize my guest this week on Amazing Arizonans: Super Bowl-winning Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon.

On this episode, McMahon and I talk about his time at Brigham Young University, his time in the NFL, his battles with league officials and why he decided to settle here in metro Phoenix.

My first NFL game was in the Orange Bowl for Monday Night Football when the Bears lost their only game of the season to the Dolphins, so this was a fun conversation for me. I hope you enjoy it. This episode was originally published on June 4th, 2025.