Voices of OKC

Some stories begin with a plan.

Others begin with curiosity.

Mike Hearne's story started with a plane ticket.

Originally from South Wales, Mike arrived in Oklahoma in 2011 to play college golf at Southern Nazarene University. What he didn’t expect was that Oklahoma City would eventually become home — and the place where he would begin documenting the stories of an entire community.

Today, Mike hosts the This is Oklahoma podcast, a platform that has recorded hundreds of conversations with entrepreneurs, civic leaders, artists, and everyday people shaping the city's future.

In this conversation, Mike reflects on:

• The transition from Wales to Oklahoma
  • The unexpected start of his podcasting journey
  • Why curiosity is the most important trait for a storyteller
  • How community carried him through personal loss and divorce
  • Why documenting stories today matters for the generations that follow

Along the way, Mike shares a powerful reminder: success rarely comes without hardship, and the people who thrive are often the ones who choose community when life gets difficult.

For the students producing this show — and for the city listening — his message is simple:

Stories connect us.

And connection changes cities.

Episode 16 | Derrick Sier

There is a difference between living in a community and being formed by one.

In this episode, Derrick Sier joins Voices of OKC to discuss the power of present fathers, the importance of positive adults outside the home, and the responsibility our city has in shaping young lives.

Raised in North Tulsa, Derrick shares how his father didn't just show up — he intentionally surrounded him with other men who reinforced his identity and confidence.

We explore:

• The nuance behind fatherhood in Black communities
• Research on why multiple adult mentors matter
• How community ecosystems change outcomes
• The role Restore OKC plays in workforce exposure
• Why hope is intrinsic before it is external

This conversation reflects the heartbeat of Oklahoma City — relationships that lead to restoration.

Learn more about City Center at:
https://okcitycenter.org

Mayor David Holt on Leadership, Youth, and the Future of Oklahoma City | Voices of OKC

In this episode of Voices of OKC, student host Jordan Arnett interviews Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt inside City Hall for an honest conversation about leadership, civic responsibility, and investing in the next generation.

Mayor Holt discusses:

• His journey from Putnam City North to the White House

• Winning a third term with 86.5% of the vote

• Leading Oklahoma City through COVID

• The decision to build a new arena to keep the Thunder

• Why real change takes patience and persistence

• How MAPS is investing in youth centers across the city

• Why he replaced portraits of former mayors with photos of Oklahoma City kids

This episode is a masterclass in thoughtful leadership and a reminder that Oklahoma City's future belongs to those willing to show up, stay engaged, and think long-term.

🎧 Listen now and be part of the conversation shaping our city.

Volunteer today at City Center! Email info@okcitycenter.org

In this deeply personal episode of Voices of OKC, we sit down with Victoria Haggard—a former City Center student whose journey reflects resilience, discipline, faith, and the quiet power of choosing a different future.

Growing up in Oklahoma City, Victoria faced anger, loss, and moments of hopelessness that could have easily defined her story. Instead, she made a decision that changed everything. Through wrestling, mentorship, and the support of City Center, she transformed hardship into purpose.

Now pursuing a future in law while raising a young family, Victoria shares how discipline, faith, and community opened doors she once thought were closed.

This conversation is about more than one student's story. It's about what becomes possible when someone notices, when hope is offered, and when a young person decides to believe it.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Growing up in Oklahoma City and navigating early challenges

• How wrestling became a turning point for discipline and identity

• The role of mentors and safe spaces like City Center

• Overcoming grief after the loss of her brother

• Faith, perseverance, and finding hope again

• Her journey into college, pre-law studies, and future legal ambitions

• Why places of belonging matter for the next generation

Key theme:
Hope is not a feeling.
It’s a decision made one hard day at a time.

Some stories don't just inspire you.
They quietly change the way you see hope.

In this episode of Voices of OKC, the roles flip as 16-year-old City Center student Jordan Arnett steps into the host seat and interviews Jed about redemption, purpose, and the road that led to City Center. But the conversation quickly turns into something deeper.

Jordan shares his own story.
Growing up with instability.
A season of drifting in eighth grade.
And the moment that became a turning point—August 20, 2023.

With remarkable honesty and wisdom beyond his years, Jordan talks about faith, community, and what to do when life feels low. His reminder is simple but powerful:

"Happiness doesn't equal joy."

This is a conversation about resilience, redemption, and the reality that hope is still possible—no matter your past or your age.

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What listeners will hear in this episode:

• Why the hardest chapters of life can still become turning points

• The difference between temporary happiness and lasting joy

• How faith, community, and honest relationships shape resilience

• Practical steps for navigating seasons of doubt, drift, and discouragement

• A powerful reminder that your story is not finished

Listen now and discover why the next generation may be carrying more wisdom than we realize.

What You Will Hear in This Episode

• Eliud Villarreal’s upbringing in Oklahoma City and growing up in Yukon
• How martial arts, sports, and discipline shaped his early years
• Meeting his wife through the car business and building a family together
• Fatherhood, racing, and discovering his daughter’s natural driving talent
• The origin story of Exotic Motorsports and stepping into entrepreneurship
• Taking the leap into a niche luxury market despite doubt and discouragement
• Why online presence and vision matter more than local limitations
• Lessons learned through risk, rejection, and long-term commitment
• The importance of surrounding yourself with the right people
• Why tracking numbers and building the right team is essential in business
• Handling rejection, pressure, and failure without quitting
• Eliud’s “holy grail” cars and love for automotive artistry
• Building a business while maintaining faith, integrity, and responsibility
• A major crisis involving a stolen Ferrari and facing a seven-figure loss
• Choosing to do what’s right even when it costs everything
• Finding hope, purpose, and peace through faith during the hardest moments
• Why Eliud believes perseverance and calling matter more than comfort

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Key Quotes

“Don’t listen to the naysayers.”
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
“If your dashboard isn’t solid, you don’t know what’s happening.”
“I didn’t know how to run a business—I learned by doing.”
“God is bigger than anything that tries to steal, kill, or destroy.”

What You Will Hear in This Episode

• Growing up as a pastor’s kid and moving from a small town to inner-city Dallas
• Navigating faith, skepticism, and rebellion before making belief personal
• College years, athletics, and formative leadership experiences
• The moment of personal encounter that reshaped everything
• Why faith cannot be inherited and must be owned
• Saying “no” to ministry before eventually saying “yes”
• Leaving higher education to step into pastoral leadership
• Discovering purpose in the place of greatest fear
• Leading Victory Church through growth, challenge, and restoration
• The reality that life is a series of hopeless moments
• Why hope must be anchored to something greater than circumstance
• The vision behind City Center and choosing partnership over control
• Planting something healthy, then releasing it to the community
• Defining hope as believing for what cannot yet be seen
• Writing Half the Battle and ReLeader and helping rebuild broken organizations
• A call to not just experience hope, but bring it to others

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Key Quotes

“You can’t have faith through someone else, you have to have your own encounter.”
“Life isn’t one hopeless moment, it’s a series of them.”
“If Jesus were in Oklahoma City, He’d be in War Acres.”
“God will chase you down if you’re willing to be found.”
“Hope is believing for something you can’t yet see.”

Voices of OKC hosts Ashonte Winston, Program Director at City Center, as she shares her journey from Spencer, OK, to leading youth programs after experiences with college setbacks, mentorship, and AmeriCorps. The episode highlights her philosophy of showing up for young people, the collective impact model of partnering with community nonprofits, and success stories of students who have turned their lives around.

The conversation also touches on Ashonte's clothing line, Revelations Clothing (inspired by faith and resilience), and emphasizes the message that the past does not define the future. Listeners are invited to connect with City Center for tours and volunteer opportunities at info@okcitycenter.org.

 

What You Will Hear in This Episode

• Ashonte Winston's roots growing up in Spencer and Midwest City
• How sports, grit, and family shaped her leadership and work ethic
• Navigating college setbacks, injuries, and financial hardship
• Pivotal moments that reshaped her purpose and perspective
• Entering City Center through AmeriCorps and stepping into leadership
• What a real day in the life of youth programming looks like
• Why presence matters more than perfection in mentorship
• Creating safe, consistent spaces for youth from diverse backgrounds
• Measuring progress one small win at a time
• The power of collective impact and community partnerships
• A powerful transformation story of a student named Orion
• Why showing up consistently can change a young person’s trajectory
• How one mentor can alter the course of a life
• Defining hope as freedom from the past
• Ashonte's creative outlet through her Revelations Clothing line

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Key Quotes

"It only takes one person to be present in your life."
"Progress looks different for every kid."
"Your past doesn't define who you are."
"Being present is where the real work happens."
"Sometimes just showing up is the miracle.”