The Economics Of Sports: An American Fixation
Sports is an American fixation. It matters not whether it is professional or amateur, we love a good game. Our guest on this pod is Dr. Brandli Stitzel, Sports Economist and Associate Professor of Economics here at WT. Together we take a deep dive into the arena of sport and all the money that gets spent along the way.
S2Ep01: Technology, Innovation, and the Sigman Lecture
Change is a constant in modern culture, and much of it is centered on technology and innovation. Dr. Jeffry Babb has his finger on the pulse of this change, and is also Chair of the Sigman Lecture Series in the College of Business. Tune in for a chat about all of these changes in our lives, as well as this year’s Sigman Lecture.
Episode 25 – They Are The Ones Who Knock
Fandom is a many-splendored thing. It can be centered on sports teams, brands, and celebrities, as well as television shows and movies. Those fans have such deep-seated affinities that they will happily spend money, travel great distances, and do whatever it takes to participate in solo or group fandom activities. Marq Smith and Edward Candelaria are two people who know those affinities all too well. They took their leadership in Facebook groups for both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, and turned it into the Breaking Bad Store in Old Town Albuquerque. There fans can find all manner of souvenirs from the two shows, as well as tour their own private museum of show props, wardrobe, and other ephemera. Join us for a thought-provoking chat about what drives people to dive in so deep to something they hold so dear.
Episode 24 – Hip To This Kind Of Tip
It’s time to turn the tables! This time Nick Gerlich gets to be the guest, and we introduce Elaina Cantrell Robinson as Guest Host for this special episode on Route 66. Gerlich has co-authored two books on 66, written dozens of magazine articles about it, and appeared on local media many times extolling the virtues of this ribbon of pavement. Join us for a lovely drive down the past lane.
Episode 23 – Shopping For Judges and Juries
When Joanna appeared on BuffSpeak a few months ago, we wound up leaving a lot of hot topics on the table. There’s simply so much to discuss in the field of business law, and we wanted to reprise that guest spot with a quick return to hit on pressing issues happening right here in Texas.
Episode 22 – Like A Bigga Pizza Pie
Pizza is one of our greatest culinary mainstays. Some might even say guilty pleasures. At its core, pizza is a pretty basic food source, but once you dress it up, that’s when it can dance on the table. Brian Kelleher is our guest for this episode, and he’s been making pizzas in Amarillo for the better part of this century, both at the current 575 Pizzeria, and with an earlier incarnation. Listen in as he tells his story, as well as his recent decision to expand to the Dallas market.
Episode 21 – A Festive Occasion
Amarillo has been graced by the presence of Route 66 ever since its creation in 1926. With the Centennial of the Mother Road only a few years away, the Amarillo Convention & Visitor Bureau has partnered with several individuals and entities to create the first-ever Texas Route 66 Festival, which will be June 1-10 right here. And it’s just the beginning. Join guest Kashion Smith, Executive Director of the Amarillo CVB, as she tells the story.
Episode 20 – Forget Kevin Bacon
It was quite the honor for Amarillo to be able to claim the National Teacher of the Year; it’s quite another that she–Shanna Peeples–is now on faculty at WT. That’s rarified air as far as education goes. And never mind that you can forget all those degrees of separation we heard about in the movies.
Episode 19 – The Panhandle Gives
Non-profits are often overlooked when it comes to marketing, but they need the same marketing tools as do the for-profits. It’s just that they don’t have a profit motive. Broc Carter is the Director of Marketing & The Panhandle Gives Campaign at Amarillo Area Foundation, and he tells us how he spearheaded Giving campaigns through both a pandemic and a highly inflationary period.
Episode 18 – Stop The Car! It’s Time For Some Fudge!
Roadside attractions have long been the stuff of American highways. It’s just that most of them were created decades ago. Louie Keen, though, has set out to reinvent the genre in the modern era with his own quirky take on how to put smiles on travelers’ faces. And sell some fudge along the way.
