It's Always Cool In Mesa

Oct 15 2024 22 ep. 22 mins 15
It's Always Cool In Mesa Podcast artwork

It's Always Cool in Mesa is a podcast that shares the stories behind some of Mesa, Arizona's most loved outdoor adventures, culinary treasures, and unique history. From Santa Claus falling to earth at the first Merry Main Street to today’s popular ice rink; a Mesa grocer swimming the dangerous communist infested waters of Viet Nam to paddle boarding down the Salt River; and why the Queen of England purchased plots at the City Cemetery. The stories of Mesa are fascinating!

  Society & Culture
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Why this Podcast?

Apr 20 2021 10 mins  
"Always Cool in Mesa" Host, Mayor John Giles, is interviewed by "Always Cool in Mesa" Producer, Brian Nissen, on exactly what "Always Cool in Mesa" means and why we should be talking about it.

This is the Queen's Property!

May 04 2021 16 mins  
What is the connection between the Mesa Cemetery and the Queen of England? The answer is 23 RAF pilots. How they ended up in our Cemetery is one of Mesa’s treasured stories.

Sarah Williams: "I’m not afraid of failure."

May 11 2021 18 mins  
Sarah Williams gets a lot done. A lot. If she gets a good idea, even if it’s a little crazy like paddle boarding in the desert, or a lot crazy like goat yoga, she goes for it. Her two winning attitudes are, she doesn’t overthink things and she’s not afraid of failure. Did we mention her Guiness world record? Be brave, people.

The Master of MeKong Plaza

May 18 2021 17 mins  
If you drive down Dobson Road in Mesa, Arizona you'll quickly see that we have the most vibrant center for Asian culture in the entire Southwest. It's called the Asian District, and it all started in 2008 with MeKong Plaza. The story of the man behind MeKong Plaza, Peter Quach, is one for the ages - from his escape from communism to his battle against all odds to live the American

The Diving Lady Lives

Jun 01 2021 23 mins  
If you’ve been to downtown Mesa lately, you realize big things are happening. But you might not realize this: Part of the reason lies three miles to the east. The Diving Lady sign. What’s she got to do with Mesa’s downtown renaissance? You’ve have to listen to find out. Here’s a link for Mayor Giles 2016 campaign video on the same topic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7

Mesa Pub Crawl: The Hot New Oxymoron

Aug 31 2021 26 mins  
Who'da thunk it? Downtown Mesa has the finest Pub Crawl in Arizona! The story of how the craft beverage scene helped a historically dry town roar back to life is filled with long odds, a lot of hard work, and a collection of the finest people you'll ever meet.

Carry On: The Zedo Ishikawa story

Oct 22 2021 15 mins  
Before Ronald Reagan told his team to "win one for the Gipper", and long before Winston Churchill told England to "be calm and carry on", Mesa’s very own Zedo Ishikawa inspired generations with his final words. What Mesa High has done with those words, in the near-century that's followed, is just one more thing that makes Mesa, very, very cool.

Restoring the Mesa Temple

Nov 14 2021 14 mins  
Every American city has an iconic piece of architecture. Seattle's skyline would be incomplete without its space needle. St. Louis has its Gateway Arch. And one of the most iconic buildings in Mesa is its Latter-Day Saints Temple. It was built almost a century ago and just recently underwent a major restoration.

The Man Who Killed Santa Claus

Dec 06 2021 33 mins  
The city of Mesa may have started a new holiday tradition. The day after Thanksgiving, we lit the city Christmas tree as usual, but then afterwards we went into the Mesa Arts Center to enjoy some holiday entertainment - including the retelling of a true Mesa story - The Man Who Killed Santa Claus.

Alice Cooper Comes to Town

Jan 04 2022 19 mins  
This year, legendary guitar-rocker Alice Cooper, who Rolling Stone called, "the world's most beloved heavy metal entertainer" opened his second Solid Rock Teen Center right here in Mesa. The goal is to help young people find purpose in creativity. Turns out "No More Mister Nice Guy" is a really nice guy.