We talk with Melissa Farley and Marshall Shore about building a joy-driven local morning show that elevates Arizona creators and small businesses. Then we pivot to what’s vibing in the desert with practical picks for Phoenix-area open mics and listening rooms.

Website: www.OnTheMorningShow.com

RobatTV.com, @onthemorningshow @themelissafarley @hip_historian

• turning traditional journalism skills into modern community storytelling
• using joy as a clear content filter and a creative mission
• spotlighting small businesses and first-time founders who need visibility
• why Arizona feels like a supportive creative co-op
• personal paths to the desert and what keeps people rooted here
• Arizona lore, Route 66, and the case for visiting Oatman
• favorite Valley venues and new DIY-style music spaces
• what’s next: an Arizona State Fair talent stage, new live experiences, a book and companion podcast, and a sci-fi film project

Support the show

Connect with The Desert Vibe Podcast

🌵 Website: https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581168623261

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDesertVibePodcast

🎵 Get Desert Vibe Podcast merch and support the show:

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com/category/all-products

Hosts

• Walt Richardson: https://walterrichardson.com

• Glen Gardner: https://glengardner.net

Marketing, PR & Website

• Emma & James Mattison: https://emmaandjames.music

Regional Contributors

Featuring rotating representatives from across Arizona through our "What's Vibin' in the Desert" segment.

Interested in being interviewed or representing your region?

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

#TheDesertVibe #WhatsVibinInTheDesert #ArizonaMusic #ArizonaMusicians #LiveMusicAZ #ArizonaLiveMusic #SupportLocalMusic #OpenMic #ArizonaBands

Joey Gutos joins us to talk about songwriting that leans on emotion, character, and the desert places that keep him inspired. We also zoom out to the Arizona music community, from legendary venues to open mics that survive because people actually show up.

Website: https://www.instagram.com/joey_gutos/

• the story behind the rescued Mellow Mushroom painting and why patina matters
• early acting roots and how performance instincts shape stage presence
• building cinematic music videos through collaboration and clear story beats
• Arizona as creative fuel through Salt River, Sedona, and Coconino trips
• guitars as long-term partners and how to choose the right instrument
• what fans want from a live set and why open mics keep scenes alive
• the unglamorous back-end of full-time music and why a tight team prevents burnout
• the EP plus film project from Edge of the World and a wake-up call from fire runoff
• Rhythm Room’s planned closing and what it takes to run a venue for decades
• Dubliner’s 25-year open mic milestone and the urgency of supporting local rooms

Support the show

Connect with The Desert Vibe Podcast

🌵 Website: https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581168623261

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDesertVibePodcast

🎵 Get Desert Vibe Podcast merch and support the show:

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com/category/all-products

Hosts

• Walt Richardson: https://walterrichardson.com

• Glen Gardner: https://glengardner.net

Marketing, PR & Website

• Emma & James Mattison: https://emmaandjames.music

Regional Contributors

Featuring rotating representatives from across Arizona through our "What's Vibin' in the Desert" segment.

Interested in being interviewed or representing your region?

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

#TheDesertVibe #WhatsVibinInTheDesert #ArizonaMusic #ArizonaMusicians #LiveMusicAZ #ArizonaLiveMusic #SupportLocalMusic #OpenMic #ArizonaBands

We sit down with Arizona creator Deon Doughty to talk about living as a true multi-hyphenate and why making art is sometimes the only thing that keeps you steady. We also map out what’s happening across Arizona, from local comedy rooms to northern open mics that keep the music scene growing.

https://hiredeon.com/

• Deon's path from downtown Phoenix poetry into Tempe’s creative orbit
• Painting local musicians as a way to honor and elevate community
• Using technology and AI experimentation inside art and music
• Why stand-up comedy feels harder than music performance
• How Arizona’s comedy scene works, including clubs, mentors, and learning options
• Fatherhood, creativity at home, and turning pain into joy

Support the show

Connect with The Desert Vibe Podcast

🌵 Website: https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581168623261

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDesertVibePodcast

🎵 Get Desert Vibe Podcast merch and support the show:

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com/category/all-products

Hosts

• Walt Richardson: https://walterrichardson.com

• Glen Gardner: https://glengardner.net

Marketing, PR & Website

• Emma & James Mattison: https://emmaandjames.music

Regional Contributors

Featuring rotating representatives from across Arizona through our "What's Vibin' in the Desert" segment.

Interested in being interviewed or representing your region?

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

#TheDesertVibe #WhatsVibinInTheDesert #ArizonaMusic #ArizonaMusicians #LiveMusicAZ #ArizonaLiveMusic #SupportLocalMusic #OpenMic #ArizonaBands

We sit down with singer-songwriter Eric Douglas to trace how he went from New York City to building a life and a catalog in Arizona, and why the desert changed what he writes about. We also dig into what makes a song connect, how he records at home, and how open mics and festivals keep the local music community alive.

His Website: ericdouglasmusic.com

• moving from New York to Arizona and letting place shape the writing
• breaking down “When I Was Superman” and why it resonates with parents
• tightening lyrics with stronger images like “tarnished silver”
• choosing instruments for tone, feel, and specific songs
• capturing ideas fast and building a practical home recording setup
• collaborating with other musicians through studios and shared files
• writing in first person while aiming for universal themes like love, regret, and nostalgia
• finding community through songwriter gatherings and the Glendale Folk Festival
• what’s vibing in the desert: Miami Artworks, Globe spots, Starlight Lounge, Mesa Social Club, and more

Support the show

Connect with The Desert Vibe Podcast

🌵 Website: https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581168623261

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDesertVibePodcast

🎵 Get Desert Vibe Podcast merch and support the show:

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com/category/all-products

Hosts

• Walt Richardson: https://walterrichardson.com

• Glen Gardner: https://glengardner.net

Marketing, PR & Website

• Emma & James Mattison: https://emmaandjames.music

Regional Contributors

Featuring rotating representatives from across Arizona through our "What's Vibin' in the Desert" segment.

Interested in being interviewed or representing your region?

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

#TheDesertVibe #WhatsVibinInTheDesert #ArizonaMusic #ArizonaMusicians #LiveMusicAZ #ArizonaLiveMusic #SupportLocalMusic #OpenMic #ArizonaBands

We sit down with Tempe music mainstay Amy Hansen to talk about how a truly welcoming open mic works, why the local scene feels like a musician co-op, and how community support turns into real action.

Amy's Website: https://www.facebook.com/ebonysbud

• Amy’s path from Chicago to Arizona and into the Tempe music scene
• Unity Through Community and why nonprofits matter for local art
• Native American flute songwriting, multiple keys, and tuning challenges
• How a list-free open mic helps nearly everyone get stage time
• Creating a no-judgment room where new performers feel safe
• Fundraising shows as a lifeline for friends in hard times
• DJ Amy Hansen wedding work and the realities of gig logistics
• White Mountains venue picks plus a tease of Lake Havasu music spots
• Tips for tracking Arizona open mics and upcoming festival dates
Just Google the Levine Folk Festival

Support the show

Connect with The Desert Vibe Podcast

🌵 Website: https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581168623261

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDesertVibePodcast

🎵 Get Desert Vibe Podcast merch and support the show:

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com/category/all-products

Hosts

• Walt Richardson: https://walterrichardson.com

• Glen Gardner: https://glengardner.net

Marketing, PR & Website

• Emma & James Mattison: https://emmaandjames.music

Regional Contributors

Featuring rotating representatives from across Arizona through our "What's Vibin' in the Desert" segment.

Interested in being interviewed or representing your region?

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

#TheDesertVibe #WhatsVibinInTheDesert #ArizonaMusic #ArizonaMusicians #LiveMusicAZ #ArizonaLiveMusic #SupportLocalMusic #OpenMic #ArizonaBands

We sit down with Diana Lee Messana to trace the real path from a Glendale music store to major stages, studio sessions, and a life built around performance. We also map out where live music is vibing across Arizona right now, from Jerome and Bisbee to Flagstaff and Prescott.

Website: https://www.facebook.com/diana.lee.5872682

• her first recordings and how format changes shape a career
• favorite Arizona studios and what great producers pull out of artists
• why Diana Lee’s Soul Kitchen starts during COVID to support working musicians
• Arizona family history, musical roots, and why she uses the name Diana Lee
• the mentors and teachers who sharpen her ear, confidence, and versatility
• how she builds a career by doing the work every day
• why the Phoenix music community feels like a “great co-op” of musicians
• the harmonica and flute moments that win a crowd
• upcoming performances plus the Donnie Dean “Oakland Sessions” project
• weekend getaway music picks in Jerome and Bisbee
• summer concert and tribute show notes for Flagstaff and Prescott
• open mic updates and ways to find local listings

Support the show

Connect with The Desert Vibe Podcast

🌵 Website: https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581168623261

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDesertVibePodcast

🎵 Get Desert Vibe Podcast merch and support the show:

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com/category/all-products

Hosts

• Walt Richardson: https://walterrichardson.com

• Glen Gardner: https://glengardner.net

Marketing, PR & Website

• Emma & James Mattison: https://emmaandjames.music

Regional Contributors

Featuring rotating representatives from across Arizona through our "What's Vibin' in the Desert" segment.

Interested in being interviewed or representing your region?

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

#TheDesertVibe #WhatsVibinInTheDesert #ArizonaMusic #ArizonaMusicians #LiveMusicAZ #ArizonaLiveMusic #SupportLocalMusic #OpenMic #ArizonaBands

We sit down with Justin Olson, aka PTNA, to talk about the leap from writing songs in private to sharing them on real stages and letting people see what the music is really made of. We also tour the Arizona live music map with venue picks and open mic nights across Sedona, Queen Creek, Tucson, Show Low, and Tempe.

Listen to Justin Olson "PTNA": http://Ptna.bandcamp.com

• first open mic memories and why Tempe Center for the Arts felt like turning pro
• performing as vulnerability and self-healing rather than “being confident”
• what listener feedback means when a song lands deeply
• balancing parks and recreation work with a serious music practice
• how Arizona nature and solitude feed the songwriting process
• Why the Arizona music scene feels open across styles
• Justin’s studio approach with guitar, synths, drum machines, and field recordings
• the real meaning behind the PTNA name and the desert patina story
• what’s next: EP vs album thinking, upcoming shows, and licensing goals

Check out "PTNA" (Justin Olson) on BandCamp: http://Ptna.bandcamp.com

Support the show

Connect with The Desert Vibe Podcast

🌵 Website: https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581168623261

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDesertVibePodcast

🎵 Get Desert Vibe Podcast merch and support the show:

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com/category/all-products

Hosts

• Walt Richardson: https://walterrichardson.com

• Glen Gardner: https://glengardner.net

Marketing, PR & Website

• Emma & James Mattison: https://emmaandjames.music

Regional Contributors

Featuring rotating representatives from across Arizona through our "What's Vibin' in the Desert" segment.

Interested in being interviewed or representing your region?

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

#TheDesertVibe #WhatsVibinInTheDesert #ArizonaMusic #ArizonaMusicians #LiveMusicAZ #ArizonaLiveMusic #SupportLocalMusic #OpenMic #ArizonaBands

We catch up with blues guitarist Chuck Hall as he looks back on decades in the Arizona music scene and talks through a bold, open-ended move to Bend, Oregon. We also share fresh live music intel across the state, from an all-arts open stage in Casa Grande to festival news up in Flagstaff.

WEBSITE:
https://www.facebook.com/chuckhallmusic.page

• Chuck’s first leap into Arizona and how jam nights turned into a band
• Why the Bend, Oregon move is about equal footing and new ears
• How the duo works without rehearsals and why that sparks songs
• The “free range music” solo show and the early influences behind it
• What makes the Phoenix and Arizona musician network feel like a co-op
• Studio memories, last gigs before the road, and the guitars he’s packing
• Flagstaff Folk Festival changes plus a Route 66 songwriting contest
• Our summer travel notes on venues, heat escapes, and where to scout stages

Support the show

Connect with The Desert Vibe Podcast

🌵 Website: https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581168623261

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDesertVibePodcast

🎵 Get Desert Vibe Podcast merch and support the show:

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com/category/all-products

Hosts

• Walt Richardson: https://walterrichardson.com

• Glen Gardner: https://glengardner.net

Marketing, PR & Website

• Emma & James Mattison: https://emmaandjames.music

Regional Contributors

Featuring rotating representatives from across Arizona through our "What's Vibin' in the Desert" segment.

Interested in being interviewed or representing your region?

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

#TheDesertVibe #WhatsVibinInTheDesert #ArizonaMusic #ArizonaMusicians #LiveMusicAZ #ArizonaLiveMusic #SupportLocalMusic #OpenMic #ArizonaBands