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Rachel Mitchell is a brilliant attorney that is known as an expert in prosecuting sexual assault case. She became a national figure when she was asked to investigate the sexual assault accusations against Brett Kavanaugh while he was being confirmed as a Supreme Court justice. During this conversation she discusses her approach to the investigation and how much pressure she felt from the national spotlight on the confirmation hearing. Her story is very compelling. I hope you enjoy it.

Amy Van Dyken is an Olympic record holder in swimming. She is still active as a commentator and ambassador for the sport. We talk about her career in swimming and in broadcasting. We also talk about the accident that changed her life. An ATV accident rendered her paralyzed from the waist down. But her attitude is remarkable. You’ll learn how she’s taken the accident and used it as an opportunity to influence a different group of people. This episode was originally published on August 27, 2025.

Most people in the valley are aware of the existence of Luke Air Force Base. But very few are aware of what happens there or the global impact that it has. Ron Sites is with Fighter Country Foundation. A nonprofit organization that supports the troops and the mission at Luke. Justa few of the things they’ve done are building a much-needed facility for the Honor Guard to train, events to boost morale during the holidays and providing support for the family members when troops are deployed. Ron’s passion is obvious. I hope enjoy learning about them.

If there was an important political story in Arizona it’s been covered by Howie Fischer of Capitol Media Services. Known for his knowledge of Arizona political history and his snarky style. Howie has been a fixture in Arizona journalism for decades. Talking with him was like an Arizona history and civics lesson. We talk about his approach to his job and highlights of his long career. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did.

Old school Arizonans definitely remember Evening Star Productions and its creator Danny Zelisko. Danny brought so many great shows to the valley going all the way back to the 1970’s. He is a walking history book of music and entertainment. Now he is making his over fifty years of memorabilia available for auction with “Danny Zelisko’s Closet”. He is donating some of the proceeds to The Joybus Diner nonprofit. He is a great storyteller. I hope you enjoy the conversation.

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.

If there is one name that is synonymous with Arizona, it is Goldwater. For this episode of Amazing Arizonans, I had the privilege of talking with Barry Goldwater Jr. From growing up as the son of who is considered the father of modern conservatism to serving in the United States Congress, my conversation with Goldwater is a walking history book. He still sits on the board of the Goldwater Institute. He has an exceptional background and story. I hope that you enjoy it.

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.