This is Oklahoma

This is Malorie Avaline

On this episode I sat with serial entrepreneur and cultivator Malorie Avaline. sit back because you are in for one wild ride. An incredible story of one of the best comeback stories I've shared on the podcast. Born in Hollis Oklahoma Malorie LOVED to dance. But times took a turn for the worse and that sweet young dancer grew into a dark place. Turning down a scholarship to dance in Dallas Malorie slid into a deep spiral of drug addiction, an abusing marriage and it began to look like nothing was going to stop her life going down hill. 

But, because she is gritty and determined she clawed her way back to success and now has this story which she is going to tell you today. 

Malorie has a successful Salon in Nichols Hills, featured in stylist magazines across the country, styled hair and make up for the elite at red carpet events and has build a coaching business off the back of her fight to live the best life she can live. 

Go check out her podcast and follow her on social media @malorieavaline there's a lot more coming and its a great honor of mine to bring this story to you today. 

Malorie's links.

Podcast - The Truth Evolves https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-truth-evolves/id1458038650

Salon - @saloncollective - www.saloncollectiveokc.com

www.malorieavaline.com

#thisisoklahoma 

This is Til Vacuum Do Us Part w/ Ashley

On this episode I interviewed Ashley a Mom from Owasso Oklahoma. Ashley has a YouTube channel with over 120,000 subscribers. In just a few short years Ashley has turned her passion into a business. Posting cleaning videos to her YouTube channel three or four times per week. Engaging with her subscribers and building meaningful relationships, Ashley is able to help moms like herself get through the daily tasks of cleaning, doing laundry and styling their space. Truly awesome story of how anyone including you, can turn your passion into a business. Follow Ashley on youtube Til Vacuum Do Us Part:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeGiKk9esjkoTWr7NQV1h8A

Her instagram @tilvacuumdouspart 

Her families channel called Ashley and Chase Vlogs 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2uy73v2wXF7M2dJuvCQMOg

Instagram page @ashleyandchasevlogs 

Cheers,

Mike

This is Meriruth Cohenour - Oklahoma Department of Agriculture

On this episode I sat with Meriruth Cohenour who is the director of market development for the department of agriculture, food and forestry in Oklahoma. She's got a fascinating job! Ever changing, always meeting new interesting people and real Oklahoma stories from all over the state. Meriruth grew up in Oklahoma, studied at OSU and graduated with a degree in agricultural communications and animal science and then got her masters in Agricultural Education. Meriruth then took her dream job, she was a youth coordinator for an equine breed association, Pino horse association she grew up in that area and loved it. Then worked at Redlands CC as the equine instructor and equestrian team coach for five years and then found her way to the department of agriculture. Starting in Agrotourism for three years and then just a year ago moved into her current role. 

If you want to learn about the amazing things happening in the Oklahoma Agriculture industry this is the podcast for you. 

Thanks for listening and be sure to check out the department of Agriculture for all the outdoors adventures you can imagine. 

This is Rachel Cannon

On this episode I sat with Actress Rachel Cannon. Rachel was born in Tulsa, graduated from Yukon Highschool ( Go Millers ) and studied at OU. Rachel interned for Gray Frederickson ( 2019 Oklahoma Hall of Famer ) before heading to LA to pursue her career in acting. This podcast shares her struggles and triumphs while in LA for 20 years Rachel worked and lived in Hollywood. You'll see Rachel in shows like, Two and A Half Men, Mad Men and Fresh Off The Boat. Now Rachel is back in Oklahoma with her Husband and Musician Noah Engh and their son. Producing, writing and diving into the Oklahoma film industry as well as continuing her passion to champion women. 

Follow Rachel on Instagram @rachelwcannon and online www.rachelcannon.com

Follow Noah on Instagram @noahengh and check out his spotify here 

https://open.spotify.com/artist/13uuABUdUTffeCIYBCr5et?si=N7ACVsxKSGy32XQm_4nBfQ

This episode is presented by the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Telling Oklahoma's Story Through Its People Since 1927. Follow them online www.oklahomahof.com

and on Instagram @oklahomahof 

Cheers, 

Mike

This is Kaldwell Grant

I've seen Kaldwells feed before, he lives on his bike. I'm sure he would agree with me that he's addicted to riding and rides everywhere. Yes, everywhere. So naturally he's a very good cyclist. Riding a 100 miles in one day is no joke and something that I have on my 2020 to do list. 

 

At first glance reading his caption, the bike part got my attention. I need all the advice I can get for my 100 mile race. The more I read the more I realized its not about the anniversary of his century ride. So I sent Kaldwell a message and asked if he'd like to share some stories from his cycling journey over the last 5 years and life in general experiences.

 

Today we connected and although I have a passion for cycling, I am nowhere near his level of rider. But I will be one day. We talked for over an hour about the differences and commonalities we have centered around life, food, cycling, movies and our shared love for OKC. 

 

Like I said on Saturday after the car show, it doesn't matter what you look like, where you come from or who you parents are. A common passion levels all differences in the world. When you get together all you want to talk about is that one thing you have in common. 

 

I'll be honest, as a white male from Wales. I was nervous about talking with Kaldwell. Not about cycling, food, movies but about the current state of our world. As someone who didn't grow up around black culture, I was nervous about saying the wrong thing. Being disrespectful in any way. I think its because of all the media telling us what to do and what not to do. I let it get in my head which only makes it more difficult to have tough conversations. You know when you think about doing something for so long that it becomes this huge task. Well that went right out the window the minute we started talking. Kaldwell said it best,

 

"We have to have these hard conversations, its been 9 or so days since George Floyd was killed, we can't fix anything in 9 days but we have to continue to work towards fixing it." 

 

I appreciate Kaldwell and his son for inviting me into their home to talk about life and the opportunity to share their story. Go and have a person to person conversation with your friends. Just have real conversations and hear each others point of view. If you can't meet them face to face have a zoom call and hangout, engage with each other. 

 

Kaldwells is now putting his face on his Instagram to show people it can be done. In a predominately white sport like cycling the world needs more Kaldwells. Especially because he's like a superhero on his bike. A quick story from the podcast, Kaldwell was once stopped in a small town on one of his rides. This guy came up to him, told him he looked like a superhero. He didn't know if he was taking the piss or if he was genuinely complimenting him. If you've seen a cyclist you'll know what that guy was thinking, yes everything matches and we're dressed head to toe in lycra! Like Power Rangers and we have no shame, its part of the sport. 

 

If you want to get into cycling, even if you're starting out for the first time. Talk to your local bike shop, find a friend that wants to do it wth you and go ride your bike. If you want to get to the level of Kaldwell, like I do. Reach out to him and ask some questions. He and his son have started riding together, last weekend they rode 17 miles to go have an icy. His son is 12, believe me if a 12 year old can cycle 17 miles you can cycle 10 around Lake Hefner. 

 

Soon I'm going to go ride with Kaldwell and i'll try to keep up! 

 

Follow Kaldwell Grant @_fearlessleader_ 

This is Raymond Dorwart & Bo Lockhart - Dorwarts Custom Cowboy Boots Guthrie Oklahoma

On this episode myself and Eric Granado interviewed Raymond and Bo from Dorwarts Custom Cowboy Boots in Guthrie Oklahoma. Raymond is world famous in the custom cowboy boot scene. His apprentice Bo is quickly making a name for himself learning from one of the best. 

Now as you all know, I am as far from a cowboy as it gets. Born in the UK, cowboying is not a thing! So walking into their shop in Guthrie, seeing the history on the walls, the machines that are older than I am, the smells, the dust. The character of the whole place just oozes stories. Some of those stories made it onto todays podcast. 

Picture a cowboy in your head. What does he look like? Yeah thats Raymond and Bo. Raymond isn't on social media, he just got a flip phone... Bo's wife runs his Facebook page where you can see his designs. "Lockhart Cowboy Customs" Bo's wait list right now is about 3 months and his custom boots start at $1500. Raymonds boots start at $3000 and his wait list is right around a year. I've recorded over 175 episodes now and as far as Oklahoma goes, this is as Oklahoma as it gets. 

This episode is presented by the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Telling Oklahoma's Story Through Its People Since 1927. Follow them online at www.oklahomahof.com and on Instagram @oklahomahof.

Follow my cohost @eric.granado 

#thisisoklahoma

This is Luke Kwon - Oklahoma Golf #014

This weeks golf episode is a crazy wild story! OU Golfer Luke Kwon originally born in South Korea came to the states 15 years ago with his parents. They started a business here and were granted their green cards. Luke came here on his parents green card because he was under 18. Luke lives here the whole time. Falls in love with golf and is awarded a golf scholarship at St Edwards university in Austin. After one year in Austin he transfers to OU. A rough couple of years but finally he breaks through and is consistently making the team and wins a tournament his senior year. 

This is where it gets interesting, because Luke is over 18 he's not on his parents visa and he wasn't granted a green card once he turned 18. So he's on a student visa, like I was when I first came to play college golf at SNU. So Luke is faced with being sent back to South Korea after college because he doesn't have a green card. To get an athlete visa he needed a tour card for the PGA or Korn Ferry Tour. Which out of college is extremely hard to do! 

Luke goes on a rollercoaster ride from 2015 to 2019. He created a Youtube channel to fun his professional dreams, moved to New Zealand and then because of his youtube channel he is able to sign more sponsors. He plays in China with the hope of qualifying to come back to America as a Korn Ferry Tour player.

Spoiler alert, he does! Luke successfully plays his way back to the states, back to his parents and back to his home. Follow Luke on Instagram as he plays his rookie season in the states. @luke.kwon

@thisisoklahomagolf

This is Andrew Greene - Drone Master Photographer ( Part 1 )

On this episode I sat with Andrew Green or ANDREW G IMAGE as he's know in the community. Andrew is a published photographer, producer, & writer based out of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Andrew is colorblind. Yet popularity for his photographs and prints continue to surge, in part, for their “color-pop”. Modern technology enables him to balance color during capture and edit. Using what’s known as a color histogram, Andrew can balance color the same as any other photographer.

The ANDREW G IMAGE brand and print art has grown at a fast pace since launching in 2016. Andrew began specializing in landscape photography in his home state of Oklahoma. Clients nationwide are now commissioning him to travel and capture the places they call home.

While traveling the country is a year-round passion, the “coming home” part of each trip is his favorite. “OKC is my home. Oklahoma is where all of my best childhood memories were made”, Andrew recalls. “I spent every summer in the Arbuckle Mountains at a campground located on the banks of Honey Creek, less than half a mile downstream from Turner Falls. I graduated from Bethany High School, right in the heart of The OKC Metro. Oklahoma will always be my favorite subject to shoot!”

While he has spent a lifetime cultivating the disciplines & skills utilized to create the unique brand of work he is known for, ANDREW G's body of work began officially in 2016. All digitals and prints bearing his Crowned Lion logo, or the ANDREW G signature, are 2016 editions or later.

Andrew and his family live in the small suburban town of Yukon, OK. His wife, Em, is originally from Yukon. They met and began dating in 1995 as teens, married in 1998, and are celebrating their 22nd Anniversary this year.

They have 4 children: Hannah•Clare•Lilly•Max

Featured

•Cover & Featured, OKC Lifestyle Magazine, April, 2019
•Cover & Featured, 405 Magazine, October, 2018
•Featured, 405 Magazine, June, 2018
•Winner, Best Sunset Panorama, Pano-Rama, 2017
•Top10, 180-degree Panorama, Pano-Rama, 2016

 

Follow Andrew on Instagram @andrew_g_image or his website www.andrewgimage.com

#thisisoklahoma

This is Camille Herron - Ultra Marathon Runner, Comrades Champion, 3 Time World Champion & 5 World Records

On this episode I chatted with Camille Herron. Camille is a professional ultra marathon runner who currently holds 5 world records. 4 in ultra running ( 50 mile, 12 hours, 100 mile and 24 hours ) as well as her 5th one which is my favorite ( running the fastest marathon in a superhero costume ) Camille is a rockstar and her journey to the top of her sport has had more ups, downs twists and turns than you could imagine. 

Not to ruin too much of the podcast for you but, Camille has won the OKC Memorial Marathon 3 times, set the course record and almost retired from running at age 33 before a friend introduced her to ultra running. If you are reading this and you are under 33, don't worry theres plenty more life left to live. Since 33 Camille has broken 5 world records and become a running advocate for runners all over the world. She has a Nike contract for goodness sake! Don't give up and take every moment life throws at you as a speed bump but keep moving forward. Follow Camille on Instagram and see her daily routines @runcamille 

This podcast is presented by the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Telling Oklahoma's Story Through It's People Since 1927. Follow them on social media @oklahomahof and online at www.oklahomahof.com 

#thisisoklahoma 

This is Sam Humphreys - Oklahoma Golf #013

On this episode I sat with golfer Sam Humphreys. Sam has a pretty incredible story which if you google him you'll see that he had a life altering experience while playing college golf. Short story, he tried to pick up a club by standing on the face as most golfers do, it hit him in the privates and caused immense pain for a few days. Causing him to go to the ER and ultimately finding out that he had testicular cancer. We talk about that experience as well as him being at Tulsa university when the mens golf program was shutdown. Sam is currently playing professional golf on the APT, practicing daily out at Oak Tree and also diving into the broadcasting world follow his fathers footsteps ( Craig Humphreys ) starting his own podcast called "The Great Day Podcast" which you can find on Apple and Spotify. 

Follow Sam on Instagram and check out his first episode with Skip Baylis. 

#thisisoklahomagolf