Welcome to Flyover Feasts, a new series from Move to Oklahoma where host Luke Leifeste interviews some of Oklahoma’s most interesting Oklahomans while eating some of Oklahoma’s best cuisine.
In this episode, Luke sits down with Steve Lewis, a contractor, tiler, and winner of HGTV’s Battle on the Beach Season 3. The pair share a meal at Ma Der Lao Kitchen, a spicy, savory spot in Oklahoma City helmed by three-time James Beard nominee, Chef Jeff Chanchaleune.
Luke
Steve, tell me about yourself. What’s your story?
Steve
I am originally from California and moved here [to Oklahoma]. When I go back out there to visit, even for about a week, I’m ready to come back. Like, it’s a little too much. The fast pace of life… I’m sold on Oklahoma. There’s not all the hustle and bustle like in California. There, you’re used to going fast-fast, and then you come here and there’s no traffic. In California, everything’s traffic.
That was the hard part, teaching myself to slow down and enjoy life here in Oklahoma. One of the best things to do is sit on the back porch, watch the sunset, and watch the kids play. I didn’t do that in California. I don’t think I would have learned how to appreciate that being out there.
Luke
Would you say Oklahoma has given you the opportunity to showcase your craft in different ways?
Steve
I can’t say that if I lived anywhere else that I would not be doing this, but the freedoms that we have here [in Oklahoma] are incredible. I was able to start my business with a $1,000 loan. You’re not gonna hear that in California.
I think what also makes it really cool is that Oklahoma is like a big little town. Business is word of mouth. You do a good tile job, they tell someone. You build something, they tell someone. Next thing you know, you’re getting phone calls from all over the state because everyone’s connected. I don’t think I could have done that anywhere else.
Luke
Tell me about your family life, because I think Oklahoma is a pretty amazing place to raise a family.
Steve
Family life for me, that’s what made me stay and raise my family in Oklahoma. Where I live, it’s a town of 10,000. If you go to Walmart, you might get a parent-teacher conference right there in Walmart.
I go back to California or I go to other large cities, and they don’t have it. They have a lot of stuff to do, but I feel like my money stretches more here. We’re able to go do the same things.
And like you said, access. You can save money living here. Low housing costs and everything else, and then you can travel easily. I go visit places, take my kids to Disneyland, we go to the beach, we do whatever — and then we come back.
Luke
I mean, I can get to New York or LA on a direct flight, be there in a couple of hours, and come back. I feel like there’s something to be said, too, for the confluence of rural and urban. You can have that sort of small-town vibe, small-town charm, and then take a 15 minute drive and you’re in Oklahoma City.
Steve
It’s 10 minutes either way. I’m in the country. I can go dirt roading, go to lakes and ponds. If you wanna be in Oklahoma City, go to a Thunder basketball game or a concert, you know, you’re there.
Luke
You’ve got the 20th largest city in the United States 15 minutes away.
Steve
Yeah, you get both. In other places, if it takes you two hours to get to work and then you work for eight hours and then another two hours to get home…where’s the life? That’s 12 hours. That’s half your day.
Luke
So I’m curious to hear, what has been your experience with the Oklahoma education system?
Steve
You know who’s teaching your kids. I know the principals. I know the superintendent. I see him all the time. It sounds like, when I’m talking about this, that we’re talking about like some little rinky-dink town. This is a big town, big schools, but I know the community. With what’s going on nowadays, I feel great dropping my kids off.
Luke
I’ve heard it said that Oklahoma’s the last place to truly be able to attain the American dream.
Steve
For me it is. A home is still obtainable. Land is still obtainable. A business is still obtainable. There are bigger cities where you can’t get that. But Oklahoma has it. You can have that three- bed, two-bath. You can have a career. You can have family time. You can still have it. You can have it all.
Luke
Yeah, talk about the importance of owning a home, owning a business. What does that really mean?
Steve
That is part of the American dream. I’ve built a lot of homes. My favorite part is building a home for someone that you know, this is probably it. This is their dream home.
Luke
What’s the funniest misconception you’ve heard about Oklahoma?
Steve
That there’s gonna be cowboys and natives riding up and down the street.
Luke
Most underrated place in Oklahoma?
Steve
Little Sahara. These sand dunes in the middle of nowhere, and you ride four-wheelers and it’s like the desert.
Luke
What do you think people get wrong about Oklahoma?
Steve
People always just think it’s gonna be just flat. It’s not. Now, I’m from California originally, and there are people in Oklahoma that say, “Oh, the mountains!” They’re not mountains; they’re hills. But they’re beautiful!
Luke
What does the flyover life mean to you?
Steve
It’s a place for people to start.
Luke
Mmm, I love that. Well thank you, Steve. It’s been great to meet you.
