On this episode of Amazing Arizonans I sit down with Paula Pedene. If you’re a veteran, you are probably familiar with Mrs. Pedene. She is a Navy veteran and worked for the Phoenix VA for decades. She was a central part of two separate whistleblower cases at the VA. The best  known case was the falsification of patient care documents. The VA was reporting that patients were getting care much faster than they actually were. Paula shares her story of being stripped of her job, office, cell phone and even her VA email address. She was eventually vindicated, and the leaders of the VA were hel ..read more

In this episode of Amazing Arizonans I have a conversation with Kirk Nurmi. Kirk is best known for being the attorney for convicted murderer Jodi Arias. But his life after defending Ms. Arias is truly remarkable. I met Kirk because I (like many people) assumed that he came up with the defense strategy for Ms. Arias. After watching a documentary about the case, I realized that I was wrong and had Kirk as a guest on my show to apologize. His books “Trapped With Ms. Arias” tell a harrowing story. He believes that the stress of that trial caused him to develop cancer. His story of beating cancer a ..read more

In this episode of Amazing Arizonans I have the privilege of talking with the Adjutant of the Arizona National Guard General Kerry Muehlenbeck. The General commands both the Army National Guard and the Air Guard. General Muehlenbeck was a great athlete. From high school, to college and eventually playing for the Army on the national softball team. She is a professor at heart and loves teaching. Her command skills were recognized by many. She was asked to command the Arizona National Guard. We talk about her unlikely path to command and her love for the people she commands and serves with. She ..read more

On this episode of Amazing Arizonans I have a great conversation with CEO of the Arizona Cardinals Michael Bidwill. Most people know him for his time with the Cardinals. What most people don’t know is that Michael was a federal prosecutor before taking over the team from his father. Hearing the story of what led him to a life in public service is fascinating. Of course, we talk Cardinals football. The amazing players and the run to a Super Bowl and some of the great players like Larry Fitzgerald, Pat Tillman, Ron Wolfley and others. One of the most compelling moments was when we talked about P ..read more

On this episode of Amazing Arizonans I sit down with the President and CEO of St. Vincent De Paul Shannon Clancy. I’ve had the privilege to know Shannon for over a decade. I not only love what they do at SVDP but I love the way they do it. Their mission is to feed, cloth, house and heal people in the community. It is a huge mission that requires focus and dedication of employees, donors and volunteers. But it also requires great leadership. Shannon shares her heart to serve the community. What caused her to take on a life of service and why she is so proud of the work they do at SVDP. We talk ..read more

     When I came up with the concept for the Amazing Arizonans podcast it was to share stories like Ron Wolfley’s. Ron is truly one of my favorite people. Most people are aware of him being a former NFL star for the Arizona Cardinals and a former Pro Bowler. He is also the voice of the Arizona Cardinals & cohost of the Wolf and Luke Show on Arizona Sports. He has one of the most recognizable voices in the industry. But Ron is one of the kindest and humble people I know. For someone who is so accomplished in multiple industries, he is selfless. We talk about things he is ..read more

On this episode of Amazing Arizonans I talk with Arizona icon Jan D’Atri. Jan has been a superstar on valley radio and television for decades. She is a very successful restauranteur and chef. Using her media notoriety and her expertise both in front of and behind the camera. She has carved out an amazing career. She is respected for her exceptional talent in media, in business and in the kitchen. She has taken all those skills and become one of the most recognized names in Arizona. I met Jan early in my radio career and loved her enthusiasm and professionalism. We share a love for serving the ..read more

On this episode of Amazing Arizonans, I talk with former Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone. His law enforcement career spanned over 30 years. He was a police officer in Phoenix for 21 years. For seven of those years, he headed up the “Silent Witness” program, which encouraged witness to submit tips anonymously and help solve crimes. In 2012, Penzone ran, but lost, to then Joe Arpaio for sheriff of Maricopa County. In 2016 he was elected to the first of two terms as Sheriff. He stepped down from the office in January of this year.    In this episode, we talk about Penzone’s career ..read more

On this installment of Amazing Arizonans, I talk with Rick Romley. He’s a Marine Corps veteran and lifelong public servant, and longtime Republican political figure in Arizona. I met Romley in 2003 while he was Maricopa County Attorney. Today, he continues to serve his fellow veterans as a judge in Veterans Court. You’ll hear Romley’s amazing story. He joined the Marine Corps and was sent to Vietnam in 1968. He was seriously injured in combat and a few months later he lost his best friend during the war. That deep loss motivated him to serve the veteran community for decades. He talked about ..read more

On this edition of Amazing Arizonans I sit down with long time Valley radio host John Holmberg. He’s the morning drive host of “Holmberg’s Morning Sickness” on 97.9 KUPD.  John is one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met. He was raised here in the Valley. His local perspective and knowledge of current events is a big part of his success. His humor is raw and cutting. He does voices as well as many of the celebrities you see on TV and in movies. I’ve been a fan for a very long time. He is one of the funniest and most intelligent people I’ve met. I think you’re going to like this co ..read more