Episode 11 – So You Want To Be An Author?
It’s no small task to write a book. But Amarillo author Andrew Brandt makes it look easy.Starting first in the self-published realm, and more recently with a publisher, Andrew has won awards for his young adult thrillers, but has also branched out into adult literature as well. And as Andrew quickly learned, being an author is a lot like a home-based business. He is always in marketing mode, and can do a pop-up book signing anywhere, anytime. While COVID made it tough for him to do these, though, he used the quarantine time to cement his daily writing discipline. Now, he can churn out 1000 words a day with ease.Join us for an up close and personal conversation with one of Amarillo’s finest wordsmiths, and find out what it takes to join the ranks of author.
Episode 10 – How To Put Ads Where You Least Expect Them
The way we consume media has changed drastically in the last decade, as streaming video has come to dominate our televisions. The average American household has four streaming subscriptions, and binge viewing has become the new normal. But this made it very difficult for advertisers, especially local firms, to reach out to potential customers. It was relatively easy when cable and satellite were the norm, but how can you advertise a local car dealer on Hulu or Paramount+?Turns out it can be done, too, and Jacob Buse has digital marketing solutions for local companies. Jacob is a Marketing Consultant for Sinclair Communication, which owns ABC7 here in Amarillo. He is exceptionally knowledgeable about all of the latest ways to reach customersTune in to find out how local ads in your streaming portal got there, and where digital marketing is going in the future.
Episode 9 – All Day, All Night: Because Cancer Never Sleeps
“Cancer never sleeps.” That’s Ryan Parnell’s mantra as he directs one of the premier ultra-marathon bicycle races in the nation. A personal health scare more than 15 years ago motivated him to do something to raise funds for cancer survivorship. The result is 24 Hours In The Canyon, held each June in Palo Duro Canyon State Park. It has attracted as many as 900 cyclists from across the US and beyond.
Today Ryan is Director of Operations and Special Programs at the Harrington Cancer and Health Foundation in Amarillo. All it took was that one brush with a topic none of us wants to hear, and yet we all know someone–family, friend, or acquaintance–who has been diagnosed.
This man is on a mission to help people be survivors. And you don’t have to ride a bike to be part of that solution.
Episode 8 – Launching A Niche Publication: Stories From Amarillo
The pandemic found Jason Boyett and Michele McAffrey plotting and launching a new magazine, Brick & Elm, for the Amarillo market. It’s a niche publication to be sure, but one that is much-needed. Together they have their fingers on the pulse people, places, and things of Amarillo, and have found their way onto many local coffee tables.
Episode 7 – Staying On The Grid
There is likely no more knowledgeable Amarillo historian than Wes Reeves. It just also happens that he is the Senior Media Relations Representative for the local power company. He thus knows a lot about where we’ve been, and where we are going. Listen for an electrifying episode about the past, present, and future of Amarillo.
Episode 6 – A Case For Corporate Governance
If ever there has been a patriarch in the Engler College of Business, it has been Dr Owens. But after 46 years he is retiring, leaving a legacy of thousands of former students who have taken his knowledge into the workforce. Listen as he reflects on inflation, oil, ethics, and more in this fitting farewell.
Episode 5 – Tales From The Road: Part 2
In the second half of this extended interview, Brennen Matthews shares his thoughts on how important road trips are in American culture, and specifically how the Mother Road—Route 66—is a conduit to seeing the past through the eyes of the present. He includes specific insights into why this is such an important part of our culture.
Episode 4 – Tales from the Road: Part 1
In a most unlikely scenario, Kenyan Brennen Matthews and his family found their way to Toronto, and then on a chance tour down Route 66, decided to create a new magazine celebrating the Great American Road Trip. Join Brennen as he tells how, in spite of changing media consumption patterns, ROUTE Magazine has overcome the odds and founds its place on newsstands nationwide. It’s Americana through and through.
Episode 3 – What’s Brewing in Amarillo
If it seems like there’s a craft brewery on every corner, you would not be far off. Pondaseta Brewing is Amarillo’s premier craft brewery, and owner Kaleb West shares the tale of how he wound up moving over from bikes to beer, and his thoughts on where the industry is going, both locally and nationally.
Episode 2 – A Beacon For Our Hispanic Students
West Texas A&M University is proud to be an HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution), and enrollments in the College of Business reflects this commitment to meeting the academic needs of a growing demographic. Join Dr. Ramos Salazar as she tells her story, and how, as a Latina, she is giving back not only in her classroom and research activities, but also by leading an important student organization.
