Episodes

The COB was recently selected to be part of an elite pilot program in the A&M System, and it's all about students earning professional certifications. Listen to Dr. Mary Liz Brooks as she explains this powerful program.

Somehow we've made it to the 40th episode overall without interviewing the Dean of the College of Business, Dr. Amjad Abdullat. We remedy that with this episode, and dive deep into the COB, Dr. Abdullat's vision for us, and much more.

Universities depend on there always being young adults coming of age and opting for higher education. But what happens when universities face a demographic cliff like the one coming? Tune in for a deep chat with Dr. Neil Terry, Provost and EVP at WTAMU.

Economics is often described as being the "dismal science," but as my three Econ Bros colleagues demonstrate, it is anything but!

It's one thing to have basic HR functions covered at the office, but our new MS degree in Strategic HR takes this to a whole new level.

Not all Mother Road travelers seek nostalgia. One person—Dr. Nolan Stolz—traveled it repeatedly to gain inspiration for an orchestral suite.

It's everywhere. We can't escape it, no matter how hard we try. Join the Marketing faculty as they pontificate on the issues of the day.

The changing nature of Texas demographics leaves us with no clear ethnic majority, and we are becoming increasingly bilingual. Jennifer Anguiano of the Amarillo Hispanic Chamber of Commerce explains how the association helps connect businesses and customers in our diverse culture.

Corporations have faced crises since their inception, but social media has put companies in the crosshairs for every little thing they say. Dr. Kris Drumheller discusses what went wrong, and how to handle these crises.

One of the most complex distribution systems in the US involves getting alcoholic beverages from manufacturers to retailers, and ultimately to final consumers. J Pat Richmond spent his entire career with one company doing just that, and along the way, came back to school—WT, of course—to finish what he started.

Cities don't run themselves, they need City Managers. When everything is going well, no one says anything. But as soon as the traffic lights seem a little out of sync, or you hit the same pothole a couple of times, the City Manager starts feeling the heat. Joe Price is the City Manager of Canyon Texas, and is our guest on this episode of BuffSpeak. Listen in to learn what the City Manager does to make our lives better.

Elections can be among the most contentious times for voters, whether it be city, state, or local. After all, much is riding on the line, and sentiments often run high. Dr. Dave Rausch explains the ins and outs of elections in our country, the problems with polls, and the challenges of being a disinterested observer while commenting in local media.

Perhaps the most contentious subject in casual conversation is the weather. It's either too hot, too cold, too windy...too something! But when everything is perfect, the discussion subsides and we enjoy the moment. Our guest on this episode is John Harris, Chief Meteorologist at KAMR Channel 4 in Amarillo. We'll take a look at the intricacies of being a weather forecaster, the risks he takes in making those predictions, El Niño coming this winter, and the climate change being felt all around us.

They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The same can be said of Societal Impact, an imperative many universities and corporations embrace today. It's just up to each to figure out how they're going to make that impact. Join me with guest Dr. Kelly McCauley as she tells how she took her class down this road.

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 Sitzel, 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.

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 Sigma 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.

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 tu...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.