Better Together Arizona

About Better Together Arizona

The Better Together Arizona podcast will tell stories that teach us how to value one another as neighbors, to value people who live differently than us, and to seek unity over division. This podcast will share experiences from people of all walks of life, working in often surprising ways to make a positive impact for all listeners.

Publisher

ONE Community

Category

news · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

26 Nov 2024

Latest episode

5 Nov 2025

Latest episodes

25 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   5 Nov 2025

   Coffee and Tariffs: How Global Politics Impact Local Business | Better Together Arizona Podcast

   In this episode of the Better Together Arizona podcast, ONE Community President and Co-Founder, Angela Hughey is joined by CEO of Brick Road Coffee (https://www.brickroadtempe.com/%20), Gabe Hagen, and VP of Business Development at Local First Arizona (https://localfirstaz.com/), Thomas Barr. Thomas is a passionate advocate for independent businesses, and Gabe created Brick Road Coffee as a pillar of belonging and inclusivity. Together, they offer insight into the challenges facing local economies amid a tumultuous political climate. This thought-provoking and caffeinated conversation emphasizes the vital role of local businesses as a “third space” – a location outside of home or work where people can feel safe and included, find community, and have courageous discussions. Gabe breaks down how recent tariffs are directly impacting the cost of coffee and reveals the hidden fees that businesses like his are facing. Get the hard math behind coffee production and the ripple effect that global tariffs have on labor hours, pricing, and the ability to operate. Key Takeaways: 🤗 The power of togetherness: Community and togetherness will be the core strengths needed to combat the current, divisive political climate. 🧘 The critical “third space”: Local, independent businesses like Brick Road Coffee serve as essential spaces where people find community, connect with neighbors, and engage in meaningful conversations. ☕ Tariffs driving up costs: Because 99% of US coffee is imported, tariffs significantly increase the cost of brewing. Cost per unit for Brick Road was $5.80 before the tariffs; now it’s $6.75. 💸 Tariffs impacting profit: The impact of tariffs on a single medium vanilla latte at Brick Road added $0.05 to the production cost, so they were losing money trying to keep prices stable. 📈 Annual cost of tariffs: Brick Road Coffee projects their annual cost of tariffs to be $3,800 based on selling 215 cups daily. 🧑💼 Ripple effect on labor: To save enough money monthly to offset the annual cost of tariffs, Brick Road may have to cup 21 labor hours which equates to one part-time job. If that math is applied across the Phoenix Valley’s 1,800 coffee shops, that could mean the loss of 210 full-time jobs. About Better Together Arizona: Better Together Arizona podcast shares stories that teach us how to value one another as neighbors, to value people who live differently than us, and to seek unity over division. The Better Together Arizona podcast includes people from all walks of life, working in often surprising ways to make a positive impact in the lives of others. Better Together Arizona is supported by ONE Community (https://www.onecommunity.com/) and filmed at the Full Swing Studios podcast studio (https://www.fullswingstudios.com/services/podcasting) in Midtown Phoenix. #BetterTogetherAZ #BetterTogetherArizona #LGBTQPodcasts #CoffeeAndTariffs #TariffsAndCoffeePrices #LocalFirstArizona #LocalFirstAZ #BrickRoadCoffee #BrickRoadCoffeeCompany #BrickRoadCoffeeTempe #BuyLocal #ShopLocal #OpenAZ #LoveAZ

2. 

   15 Oct 2025

   Monica Villalobos, CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce | Better Together Arizona Podcast

   In this episode of the Better Together Arizona podcast, ONE Community President and Co-Founder, Angela Hughey is joined by President and CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (https://www.azhcc.com/), Monica Villalobos. Together, they explore the challenges of navigating a current political climate that seeks to divide diverse communities, and the difficulties of fighting narratives that are not rooted in fact and truth. This conversation takes place during National Hispanic Heritage month, but Monica emphasizes the impact of the community year-round, pointing out the vast economic and civic influence. Latinos in Arizona make up 30% of the state and contribute $72 billion to the state’s economy, according to Datos, an annual report outlining the state of Arizona’s Hispanic market. The US Latino community is considered the fourth largest economy in the world, spending $4.1 trillion annually, forecasted to surpass Germany by 2027. Key Takeaways: 🤑  Arizona’s Latino community has signifiant economic and demographic power. The present and future of Arizona is Hispanic. 🌱 America’s Latino population is young, skewing about 15 years younger than the general population–and they are consistently putting more into the economy than they are taking out. 📊 Sharing real data, like the Datos Report, is critical for owning your own narrative and dispelling myths. ❤️ The Hispanic community makes contributions 365 days a year and should be recognized and celebrated year-round. 🌵 Arizona is considered “ground zero” for political and social battles surrounding the Hispanic community, making it a critical location for fighting for change. National Hispanic Heritage Month takes place September 15-October 15. About Better Together Arizona: Better Together Arizona podcast shares stories that teach us how to value one another as neighbors, to value people who live differently than us, and to seek unity over division. The Better Together Arizona podcast includes people from all walks of life, working in often surprising ways to make a positive impact in the lives of others. Better Together Arizona is supported by ONE Community (https://www.onecommunity.com/) and filmed at the Full Swing Studios podcast studio (https://www.fullswingstudios.com/) in Midtown Phoenix. #BetterTogetherAZ #BetterTogetherArizona #LGBTQPodcasts #ArizonaHispanicChamberOfCommerce #DatosArizonaHispanicChamberOfCommerce #MonicaVillalobos #MonicaVillalobosArizona #HispanicHeritageMonth #NationalHispanicHeritageMonth #HispanicHeritageMonth2025 #ArizonaHispanicHeritageMonth #HispanicAmericanHeritageMonth

3. 

   24 Sept 2025

   Financial Resilience & Community Banking with Gateway Bank | Better Together Arizona Podcast

   In this episode of the Better Together Arizona podcast, ONE Community President and Co-Founder, Angela Hughey is joined by Market President and Chief Credit Officer of Gateway Bank (https://gcbaz.com/), Scott Morris and Josh Flake. Together, they dive into critical financial strategies for consumers and businesses facing current economic uncertainties. With consumer confidence at lows not seen since the 90s, and significant drops in job creation across Arizona, this episode offers crucial advice on resilience, planning, and thriving financially–even during turbulent times. Gateway Bank celebrates a unique culture built on authentic leadership, service, and unwavering commitment to inclusion. “If it’s not a great place for everyone, it’s not a great place for anyone.” Under Scott and Josh’s leadership, Gateway Bank signed the ONE Community UNITY Pledge, sending the message that all area businesses are open to business for everyone. Providing equal access to banking relationships and capital, regardless of orientation or background, is core to the organization’s values. Key Takeaways: 💪 When facing financial struggles, avoid tying self-worth to financial success. Focus on learning from adversity, being resourceful, and moving forward with resilience. 💰 It’s never too late to start looking at your finances, setting goals, and developing a consistent strategy, even if you’ve never done financial planning before. 🛟 The necessary size of a business emergency fund varies widely. Businesses with short operating cycles need smaller reserves, while those with long cycles need a substantial war chest of cash. 🌈 During uncertain times, having a network and true community to lean on is essential. About Better Together Arizona: Better Together Arizona podcast shares stories that teach us how to value one another as neighbors, to value people who live differently than us, and to seek unity over division. The Better Together Arizona podcast includes people from all walks of life, working in often surprising ways to make a positive impact in the lives of others. Better Together Arizona is supported by ONE Community (https://www.onecommunity.com/) and filmed at the Full Swing Studios podcast studio (https://www.fullswingstudios.com/services/podcasting) in Midtown Phoenix.

Who has been a guest on Better Together Arizona

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Catherine Scrivano
• Vince Kozar
• Nate Rhoton
• Bishop Jennifer Reddall
• Michael Soto

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

174,800

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 32 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

31

Social presence

0

YouTube

82

Engagement

0

Contact Better Together Arizona

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.