Jaime's Local Love Podcast

Quench your thirst with chef-crafted blends and real fruit when you crack open a mason jar of lemonade from AZ Lemonade Stand. In this episode, we learn how owner, Kyle Hollenbeck and his business partner and childhood friend Tom D'Ambrosio grew the business from a COVID hobby to a big business that's finding its way into grocery stores and convenience stores near you. Hollenbeck and D'Ambrosio also own Aoli Burger, commercial kitchens, and handle food and beverage at Turf Paradise. Hear how the Valley natives found success and their quest to expand their zero sugar zero calorie line of sweet lemonade.  
https://azlemonadestand.com/

A frozen bean and cheese burrito is locally made and trending on social media. In this episode, we talk to Hank Murphy of Bad Hambres. The Phoenix native grew up eating with the family at Los Dos Molinos and although he followed a corporate career, he was obsessed with cooking beans! After a long kayaking trip, he just wanted a bean and cheese burrito, so he set out to create the best one that you could pull out of your home freezer. But first, he had to convince his wife that his burritos were competitive with those already on the market. So, with a spreadsheet and more than a dozen grocery store burritos, they two taste-tested until they decided his was the winner. Hear about the challenges of expanding batch recipes, navigating social media demand, and the new growth and FLAVORS to come for Bad Hambres. 

Have you been to Undertow, Platform 18 or The Grey Hen Rx? They are experiential cocktail bars in Phoenix that transport you to the belly of a spice ship, a train ride, and an apothecary. In this episode, we talk to EVP of Operations of Barter and Shake (the company behind these three bars), Mat Snapp. He tells us how he used his Creative Writing degree from Arizona State University to help write the origin story of Undertow and how the EVP of Operations title can translate to melting shoes on a hot Arizona rooftop.

Salt + Lime Modern Mexican Grill goes viral every year for their extravagant Christmas decor. When the holidays come, the team rallies as there is a line out the door to see what owner, Sandra Van Deraa has come up with next. In this episode, we learn Van Deraa was working in mortgages when she started picking up shifts in the restaurant industry to make ends meet. When she got an incredible offer, she took it and ran, now owning Salt + Lime and growing it to three Valley locations. Hear how she uses her old cheer coach experience to lead a team, her "must have" menu items, and how to get a table during that coveted Christmas season.
https://www.saltandlimeaz.com/

In Jaime's Local Love: The Podcast, we meet the owners of Monsoon Market and Strip Mall.
Michela Ricci and Koral Casillas met while working at Dutch Bros here in the Valley. They found their matched work ethic and mad love for Phoenix made them a great duo to open a really cool store packed with all their favorite things. We're talking fresh flowers, hard to find snacks, bags, sunglasses, and nonalcoholic options. Something you won't see on the shelves but will feel at the store is great emphasis on community and intention. They hold yoga, podcast recordings, and wine and snack tastings in their space. And with their coffee making prowess, they opened a coffee shop across the parking lot called Strip Mall.

https://monsoonmrkt.com/
https://stripmallphx.com/

It's long been the Boy Scout motto and it's a personal mantra for Chef Matt Carter. In this episode, we learn Carter grew up in Arizona. He now owns and operates highly regarded Valley restaurants: Fat Ox, The Mission and Zinc Bistro, each exploring their takes on Italian, Spanish, and French cuisine. Carter admits that while he needed some guidance in his youth, he always wanted the next promotion in the kitchen, so he focused on being prepared and learning a lot. Now enjoys mentoring others. Carter walks us through some of his personal favorites at his restaurants and tells us how he may have broken some rules to get his first job in the kitchen.
https://www.chefmattcarter.com/

In this episode, we meet Julie Hurt of Modern Bride in Old Town Scottsdale. She says a wedding dress should be fresh, stylish and "uniquely her." We learn how Hurt spent 20 years in the wedding industry, how her daughter's Quinceanera launched her first event business and how she noticed a gap in the gown market when it came to personalization. Hurt talks wedding dress trends into 2026 and about her true passion for creating customized dresses: making a bride's dream come true. 

In this episode, we meet owner of Shop Rolling Rack, Susie Diamond. With four locations around Arizona, the sassy boutique aims to dress everyone from daughter to grandmother for brunch, weddings, church and a girl's nights out. Hear how Susie spent nearly two decades in finance before her father's passing inspired her to follow her passion for fashion. Susie talks about shifting in business, addressing theft and bad google reviews, and DM'ing Bravo stars to invite them to her shop.  MORE INFO: https://shoprollingrack.com/

In this episode, we meet Chef Justin Beckett of Beckett's Table. His restaurant in Arcadia is celebrating 15 years in the Valley. Some fan favorites on his menu include the BT signature grilled cheese, deviled eggs, and short ribs. Chef Justin has long been a mentor in the Valley's Culinary World and he's promoting a new event to help support our Arizona Chefs. Arizona Chef's Week 2025 runs August 1-10, focusing on chef owned and run restaurants in the Valley. Learn more about Chef Justin and why he lived in 5 states and 3 countries by the age of 18 and how this life experience prepared him to become an always evolving chef.

MORE INFO: https://beckettstable.com/

In this episode, we talk to Josh Coddington with the Arizona Office of Tourism to inspire you to travel Arizona this summer and fall. Josh tells us some of the most popular places to visit, some new places to explore and tells us of some hidden gems as well. Plus, FESTIVAL SEASON is coming up. He will fill your calendar with great events from wine tasting to pirate themed celebrations! https://tourism.az.gov/arizona-state-travel-guide-map/

In this episode, we talk to two beloved chef/restaurant owners in the Valley. Gio Osso of Virtu Scottsdale and Pizzeria Virtu and Dominic Ruggiero of Hush Public House and Fire at Will come to the table for some real talk about the restaurant industry in the Instagram world and staying true to their passion for real food for real people. The chefs are leaders in their field—both winning a very prestigious Arizona award—and want to remind people to support their local restaurants, especially during the summer months. 

https://www.virtuscottsdale.com/
https://www.virtuscottsdale.com/pizzeria-virtu/
https://hushpublichouse.com/
https://eatfireatwill.com/

In this episode, we meet two of the four sisters behind Aunt Chilada's at Dreamy Draw in Phoenix. Owned by a big family filled with big personalities, Michelle Woods and Tiffany Allison say Aunt Chilada's is a lady with a past, and it's up to them to ensure her future. The restaurant started as a general store, became a brothel and a steakhouse before it became the beloved Mexican restaurant it is today. Learn about the family business, the families' favorite places to visit in Arizona, and about their very own special blend of tequila.
https://www.auntchiladas.com/

We are sitting down with Arizona's Family's super reader. In this episode, we talk to our Whitney Clark, anchor/reporter and host of the Beyond the Next Chapter Podcast. We talk to her about her love of reading and how she gets it done so fast, every week. Whitney also tells us how she got into journalism, her favorite locally owned bookstores, plus she tells us why she loves Arizona and gives us some make-up tips too. https://www.azfamily.com/originals/podcasts/beyond-the-next-chapter/

It's doggone hot out there. In this episode, we brought in the Arizona Humane Society along with one of its longtime supporters. Uncle Bear's Grill and Tap is a family-owned and operated restaurant where your furry friends are welcome. The burgers are named after dogs, the walls are covered with pet photos, and yes, they have a dog menu too. We talk to father and daughter Todd and Lauren Carey about the family business, the sacrifices made, and the fulfillment as all Todd's children are now involved in the business. Uncle Bear's donates to the Arizona Humane Society through golf tournaments and fundraisers. We also talk to Arizona Humane Society about the 3 Ps of heat safety to protect your pets in the heat. https://www.unclebearsaz.com/
https://www.azhumane.org/

Two Valley natives meet and fall and love. One owns and runs his family's legacy flower business, the other created a public relations company for luxury hotels and travel. In this episode, we learn the back story on the Luomas. Eric Luoma is the President of Cactus Flower Florists, who are celebrating 50 years in the Valley. His wife, Tatum Luoma, promotes some of Arizona's iconic hotels. We learn how they met, how Eric used to dress up as the Easter bunny as a little boy to attract customers into the flower shop, and how Tatum discovered she could promote the beautiful places she loves to visit, as a business. 
https://www.cactusflower.com/
https://www.tlcpublicrelations.com/

Arizona is a hotspot for golfers, but women sometimes struggle to find good clothing that helps in the heat and doesn't interfere with their backswing. In this episode, we meet two Valley eye doctors who coincidentally both saw a need for change in women's athletic wear. Tara Ransdell of TJ Sport created a women's clothing line focused on fit, function, and fashion. Katy Craft of VimHue created a hat that fits the female head like a hug and has several patents. Hear about how they started their businesses, how they met, and what's next for their companies.

Jewelry is a must, and we love when we find someone locally who has great jewelry that is meaningful too. In this episode, we meet Lisa Valenzuela from Truly Blessed Jewels. She tells us how a difficult situation at work pushed her to go out on her own. Hear how she went viral and gained a big following, she says she owes her success to the people who lifted her up during challenging times. Truly Blessed Jewels offers permanent jewelry, hand chains, necklaces, engraving and more. https://trulyblessedjewels.com/

PHOENIX Magazine aims to be very helpful to its readers. It features ways to enjoy Arizona through travel, hikes, food and more. In this episode, we meet Managing Editor Leah Lemoine. She grew up in Arizona and worked her way up the ranks at PHOENIX Magazine after her college internship. She shares her love for print, in-town day trip ideas, and her favorite neighborhood spots. PHOENIX magazine: Experienced writers, editors, and designers capturing all sides of the Valley.