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We’re also joined by Jason Taylor, Lead Pastor of The Vertical Church, for a conversation that starts with who he is as a person, his journey into faith and leadership, and how he ultimately found his way to Yuma. Jason shares his heart for practical, real-life faith, building healthy culture, developing leaders, and what it looks like to turn belief into action in everyday life.

The Public Radio Runner talks to Brian Bolsen about the sacrifices required for endurance sports.

Mrs. Ruby Ramirez is the owner of Bake It Good (formerly Ruby's Sweets) in Yuma. As a young girl, she was inspired to cook by her mother and Food Network shows like Cake Boss. Now, she bakes for her family, friends, and community. Ruby brought us Valentine's treats. She also brought her husband—her taste-tester and greatest supporter— with her. He is the owner of Whack Shack, Yuma's first mobile golf simulator rental.

Carol Smith is a Yuma native, registered nurse, and Yuma City Council Member with nearly 12 years of experience caring for some of the most vulnerable members of our community. Her work in healthcare, education, and public service gives her a unique, grounded perspective on public safety, wellbeing, and the future of Yuma. She is proud to be part of the City of Yuma's first Youth Government Program.

Nate and Jaqueline Maeda-Smouse are the chefs and owners behind Golden State Chefs. They provide elevated dining experiences that began in Napa Valley and has now expanded into Arizona. After years in high-level restaurants, wineries, and Michelin-star kitchens, they chose a more personal path, creating intimate, thoughtful dining experiences through private events, holiday meals, and community bake sales. We’re talking about their journey, what brought them to Arizona, and what elevated dining looks like when it’s built on connection and hospitality. They can be contacted online to book your Omotenashi hospitality experience.

Kyle Kuechel and Junior Evans are Yuma natives who’ve built their careers in agriculture while staying deeply connected to this community. Both work across Arizona, Southern California, and Hawaii supporting growers for global ag companies, and both serve in leadership roles that give back locally through organizations like California Association of Pest Control Advisers (CAPCA) and the Yuma County Ag Producers Scholarship (YCAPS). We talked about growing up in Yuma, building careers in agriculture, the responsibility of leadership, and YCAPS is supporting local students through new scholarship distributions and the inaugural John Palumbo Memorial Golf Tournament on April 18th.

Tom Hurt is the Yuma County School Superintendent and a longtime educator whose career has spanned decades in classrooms, campuses, and district leadership. From serving as a principal at Vista High School to helping shape academic systems across multiple school districts, Tom has focused on one thing throughout his career: improving how schools serve students. In today’s conversation, we’re talking about academic leadership, his time at Vista High School, and the implementation of block scheduling — why it mattered, what problems it was designed to solve, and how changing the structure of the school day can impact student engagement and learning. We’re also diving into his current role as superintendent and the challenges and opportunities facing schools across Yuma County.

Myriah Farrar is the founder of Dancers Workshop of Yuma, which she opened in 2006 with grit, heart, and a vision that started small and grew into one of Yuma’s leading dance and gymnastics programs. Her leadership has helped shape confident, disciplined, and driven young performers (JAMS) across the community.Alli Bohner is the Director of the DAZZLERS Acrobatics and Tumbling Program, leading nationally ranked teams currently sitting 1st and 2nd in the nation. A Yuma native and longtime coach, Alli brings structure, purpose, and heart into everything she does.

In this episode, students Saghey Barcenas and Melanie Ruiz Lopez speak with a variety of first generation college students, both current and graduated.

Ashley Macawile is a longtime Yuma resident and community connector at the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce. After spending 12 years at Arizona Western College and a stint in remote digital marketing, Ashley found her way back to what matters most—connection. At the Chamber, she works closely with local businesses, leaders, and organizations, helping bring people together and spotlighting the events and collaborations that keep Yuma’s business community strong. She joins us to share what’s coming up and why community engagement matters now more than ever.