Voices of Chandler

Have you ever wondered how some businesses got their start or thinking of starting your own business? Tap in with Betsy Lizer and Made in Chandler on this episode of Voices of Chandler, the podcast. Betsy talks to the owners of both Mingle + Graze and 28 Gorilla on what brought them and their businesses to downtown Chandler, the challenges of being a small business owner and advice they have for any entrepreneurs looking to start their own business.

Have you ever killed a plant? Then this episode is for you. Tap in with Water Conservation Specialists, Tiffany Yand and Emily Dejesu, as they talk to Noelle Johnson, also known as the AZ Plant Lady, for this month's H2wHoa! segment on Voices of Chandler, the podcast. Noelle talks about how she started her desert friendly landscaping work, her current endeavors in the horticulturist industry and some tips and tricks on how to build and maintain a desert landscape.

Tap back in with Cynde Cerf at the Chandler Center for the Arts as she interviews Grammy nominated drummer, Sammy Miller from Sammy Miller and The Congregation. This seven-piece jazz band is coming to Chandler's Center for the Arts on October 21, with a show that celebrates the music of 1973. Sammy and his band are on a mission to have people rediscover the joy that is jazz. Tune in as he and Cynde talk about how this passion came about, what people can expect when they go to the performance and if they haven’t listened to jazz, where they can start.

Tap in with Cynde Cerf as she talks to Sean Mason; pianist, composer, and the music director for a show coming to the Chandler Center for the Arts called, “When You Wish Upon a Star,” a celebration of 100 years of Disney music. Sean and Cynde talk about how the project came about, his approach and what people can expect.

He fights fires and runs into burning buildings for a living, but bakes sugar cookies and wedding cakes by choice. Meet Tom Fooshee, Fire Captain for the Chandler Fire Department who recently got casted in the Silos Baking Competition to compete for a chance to win $100,000 on the Magnolia Network. Tune in to listen how he got into baking, the ins and outs of the competition and future plans for this hobby turned passion.

Have you missed us? We've missed you. Welcome back to the third season of Voices of Chandler, the podcast! We're kicking off the third season with an Unapologetically Diverse episode takeover with Adrianna Tušek Erickson from Chandler's DEI Division, and the current Miss Juneteenth of Arizona, Shaundrea Norman. Tap in to listen to their conversation on the history of Juneteenth, the Miss Juneteenth pageant and the past year of Norman's reign.

On today’s episode, Cynde Cerf and Backstage at the Center interview Ashli St. Armant, the creator, composer and director of North: The Musical. This is Armant’s theatrical debut, tackling slavery and the underground railroad, relationships, grit, joy and being human. With a score inspired by jazz, New Orleans and Black roots music. Tap in!

Tap in with Cynde Cerf as she interviews the two founding members of Las Cafeteras, a Los Angeles band with Afro-Mexican beats that mixes hip-hop and rancheras in Backstage at the Center. They talk about their Chicano roots, the culture and traditions that brought them together and that they now bring to audiences. They'll be performing at the Center for the Arts on October 28 to premiere a new Dia de Los Muertos musical experience called "Hasta La Muerte" with special guest Lupita Infante.

It's Hispanic Heritage Month and we're bringing feel good stories to you about the Latino leaders in our Chandler community. Tap in with Adrianna Tušek Erickson on Unapologetically Diverse as she talks to Lavaughan Ballesteros, Site Lead at Galveston Elementary with ICAN Positive Programs for Youth on his impact within that community. But Melina, what does that have to do with Led Zeppelin? You'll just to tap in with Cynde Cerf and Backstage at the Center to find out.

Tap in as we talk to Tiffani Egnor, the Cultural Development Programs and Operations Manager over at the Chandler Museum on one of the museums latest exhibits, “Picturing Home: Dust Bowls Migrants in Chandler.” We sit down on location and talk about the decade long process of putting this exhibit together, the Dust Bowl that led to a migration to Chandler and how Chandler was then compared to now.

Tap in with Deina and Daniella from our Public Works and Utilities Department on their segment, H2whOa. Deina interviews city residents on recent water saving technology, how it works and why they decided to invest.

Did you miss us? We missed you. Welcome back to Season 2 of Voices of Chandler, The Podcast! We're coming back to you with community, artist and banjo stories and sounds with some new voices from a couple of loved segments. Michelle Mac Lennan and Francisco Luzania take over our season 2 premiere with their segments, Backstage at the Center and Unapologetically Diverse. Tap in!

Headquartered in Chandler, Offerpad is a leading tech-enabled platform for buying/selling residential real estate. During this moderated conversation, Brian Bair, Chairman and CEO, will share how he launched Offerpad and grew it into a publicly traded (NYSE: OPAD), nationally known company. This is your chance to learn from a real industry disruptor.

Intel Arizona Leader, Ninette Vaz, sits with Chandler Museum Administrator, Jody Crago, to explore the impact of Intel on the Chandler community from Vaz's unique perspective from her 30 year Intel career. From its small Arizona beginnings, discover how Intel has grown and changed to remain relevant in the global technology industry and become the powerhouse of Arizona's “Silicon Desert.”

Dive in with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion's Rori Minor and her conversation with "I Rise Foundation" President and CEO, Alberto Esparza. Long time activist whose social work began when he joined the National Farm Workers Association as Cesar Chavez's body guard, Esparza takes a moment to reflect on his journey and work then, the movement led by the Mexican-American labor leader and civil rights activist and how that has led him to his most recent endeavors.

Join a panel of arts executives as they discuss the role the arts has in the vitality of local economies. Moderated by Chandler Center for the Arts General Manager, Michelle Mac Lennan.

We're coming to you live from Snedigar skate park in Chandler, Arizona, joined by a very special guest and professional athlete, Dashawn Jordan. He's part of Team USA’s National Team, he’s won multiple competitions nationally and is sponsored by brands like Nike, Toy Machine Skateboards and Essentia Water, just to name a few. Tap in to listen to our conversation with the local Chandler celebrity as he talks about his skateboarding journey, which Chandler school has the best school spirit and his hopes for skateboarding in the future.

Ever wondered what it would take to do a five state-wide hike? Tap in with wellness coordinator and snack connoisseur Kara Boley, as she talks snacks, prep and sights with Martin Gastros, who did a 2,700 mile trek through the Continental Divide.

Love Downtowns? Love Beer? Us too! Join our Voices of Chandler host, Melina Zuniga, as she hosts a preshow of Voices of Chandler LIVE at the Downtown Breweries Panel with downtown brewers like SanTan Brewing Company, Pedal Haus Brewery, The Perch Brewery, and the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild as they discuss the current state of craft brewing in downtown Chandler and around the state.

Join us on this special Voices of Chandler episode that highlights a long-time Chandler resident and community member, Charles Payne. Hosted by Chandler's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion division, learn about the Payne's family deep roots in the Historic South Chandler area starting with the family's move from Texas to Chandler. Charles talks about his life as a youth in Chandler, integration into Chandler schools and the neighborhood that he still, to this day, calls home.