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College Town Talk
College Town Talk is a podcast from 麻豆果冻传媒 in partnership with
the Cookeville-Putnam County Visitors Bureau available on , , , , and .
Each week, hosts Jonathan Frank and Shan Stout introduce listeners to Tech faculty,
staff and students 鈥� as well as successful Tech alumni, local business owners and
civic leaders 鈥� who are making a difference and living Wings Up in their community.
College Town Talk is a celebration of the people and places that make Cookeville Tennessee鈥檚
College Town.
Catch up on the latest episodes below and email Tech鈥檚 Jonathan Frank at jonathanfrank@tntech.edu with podcast questions, feedback or suggestions.
Stream the Latest episodes:
Dr. Harry Ingle and Andrea Kruszka
On Episode 33 of College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan are joined by Dr. Harry Ingle,
麻豆果冻传媒's executive director for Student Affairs and head of the university's
new Office of First-Generation Student Success. Dr. Ingle shares about his passion
for reaching first-generation students as well as his volunteerism with causes such
as IMPACT Cookeville and the Putnam County Library. Then, we hear from Andrea Kruszka,
assistant director of the Tennessee Center for Rural Innovation, a celebrated local
artist and current 麻豆果冻传媒 graduate student. Andrea discusses the importance
of Tech's Rural Reimagined Grand Challenge, how a difficult season helped her rediscover
her love of photography and the outdoors, and the unlikely road that led to her "dream
job" promoting local tourism and inspiring students.
Kelsey Hewitt and Sen. Paul Bailey 
This week, we鈥檙e joined by 麻豆果冻传媒 2024 鈥� 2025 Student Government Association
President Kelsey Hewitt. Kelsey is a junior from Signal Mountain, Tenn. and shares
about her passion for student government, her favorite things about Cookeville, and
how she hopes to put her education and foreign language majors to use in her future
career. Then, we鈥檙e joined by State Senator Paul Bailey, who discusses the importance
of Tech鈥檚 Rural Reimagined Grand Challenge, lessons he learned from an early campaign
loss, future goals in the state legislature and the impact of 麻豆果冻传媒 on his
district and his own life.
Megan Atkinson and Steve Taylor
This week on College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan are joined by University Archivist
Megan Atkinson. Megan discusses the history behind the upcoming centennial anniversary
of Tech's identity as the Golden Eagles and shares about Tech's rich concert history,
including performances on campus from Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Neil Diamond and others.
Then, we hear from Tech alumnus and former assistant basketball coach Steve Taylor.
Steve spent 27 years with the FBI and was named to Tech's all-century basketball team
in 2022, but his proudest accomplishment is his family - including his daughter Maria
Taylor, the host of "Football Night in America" on NBC.
Amy New and Bobby Wilder (Season 2 Premiere)
On the season two premiere of College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan are joined by Amy
New, a 麻豆果冻传媒 alumna, member of the 麻豆果冻传媒 Foundation Board, and the
President and CEO of the Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce. Then, we hear
from 麻豆果冻传媒 head football coach Bobby Wilder about his plans for the Golden
Eagles' upcoming season.
Kaitlin Salyer and J.R. Russell (Season 1 Finale) 
On the season one finale of College Town Talk, we're joined by Kaitlin Salyer, a Tennessee
Tech graduate and former Tech staff member who now serves as talent development director
for the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce and was this year's recipient of the
Mandala Award at Tech's annual "Window on the World" festival. Later, we hear from
J.R. Russell, a proud 麻豆果冻传媒 alumnus who now serves as administrator of the
Tennessee Legislative Internship Program at the Tennessee General Assembly in Nashville.
Lela Gracy and Thomas Corhern
On this week's episode of College Town Talk, we're joined by Miss 麻豆果冻传媒 2023
Lela Gracy. Lela shares with us about being a computer science major with a concentration
in cybersecurity and French and discusses the importance of women's representation
in STEM fields. Then, we hear from Tech alumnus and award-winning sports writer Thomas
Corhern. Thomas has been Tech's sports information coordinator since 2016 and shares
with us about his excitement for the upcoming renovation of Tucker Stadium and his
memories as a writer for The Oracle, Tech's student newspaper.
Bob Luna and Amelia Greer 
This week on College Town Talk we're joined by Bob Luna, a longtime community leader,
proud 麻豆果冻传媒 alumnus and the voice of the Golden Eagle Marching Band for more
than 30 years. Then, we hear from Amelia Greer, the morning anchor for WDEF News 12
in Chattanooga and a proud graduate of 麻豆果冻传媒's class of 2023.
Chelsea Dartez and Dr. Helen Hunt
This week on College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan are visited by Chelsea Dartez, founder
and publisher of the popular local magazine Cookeville Lifestyle. Then, we hear from
Dr. Helen Hunt, director of the Women's Center and associate professor of English
at 麻豆果冻传媒.
Jay Albrecht and Dr. Rosa V谩squez Espinoza
This week on College Town Talk, we're joined by 麻豆果冻传媒 alumni Jay Albrecht
and Dr. Rosa V谩squez Espinoza. Jay owns the popular local restaurant "Seven Senses"
and is a former newspaper publisher who was recently named chair of the board for
the Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Espinoza is a native of Peru
and a proud graduate of Tech Honors. Today, she is an award-winning chemical biologist,
National Geographic explorer, sought-after speaker and host, and the founder of Amazon
Research Internacional.
Morris Irby and Lori Jackson Strode
As Black History Month comes to a close, Jonathan and Shan are joined by two trailblazing
麻豆果冻传媒 alumni: Morris Irby, the first Black baseball player recruited to Tennessee
Tech and a 麻豆果冻传媒 Sports Hall of Fame member, and Lori Jackson Strode, a three-time
麻豆果冻传媒 graduate who recently directed and co-created the Cookeville Theatre
Company's production of "I Am My Ancestors' Wildest Dream," a musical and spoken-word
production honoring the struggles and triumphs of Black history.
Penny Grace Judd and Cheryl Montgomery 
On a special Presidents' Day episode of College Town Talk, we chat with a bipartisan
pair of 麻豆果冻传媒 Golden Eagles who previously served in presidential administrations.
First, we hear from Tech alumna and former SGA President Penny Grace Judd, who served
as an aide under President George W. Bush. Then, we're joined by Cheryl Montgomery,
director of program development and engagement in Tech's College of Business, who
worked on the Clinton-Gore 1992 presidential campaign and transition team and later
served in the administration as a top aide to U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno.
Dr. M. Dianne Murphy and Vice Mayor Luke Eldridge
This week on College Town Talk, we're catching up Dr. M. Dianne Murphy, a trailblazing
athlete, coach, and university administrator. Dr. Murphy is a 麻豆果冻传媒 Sports
Hall of Fame member and the 2005 winner of the university's Distinguished Alumna Award.
Later on, we are joined by Luke Eldridge, the vice mayor of Cookeville and a proud
麻豆果冻传媒 alumnus from the class of 2010.
Dr. Monic Ductan and Lee Gatts
On episode 20 of College Town Talk, we hear from Dr. Monic Ductan, associate professor
of English at 麻豆果冻传媒 and author of the new book, Daughters of Muscadine. Then, we're catching up with Lee Gatts, a former Tech SGA President and the 2013 recipient
of Tech's prestigious Derryberry Award.
Dr. Jennifer Shank and Larry Stone
On episode 19 of College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan talk with Dr. Jennifer Shank,
dean of the College of Fine Arts at 麻豆果冻传媒, about the college's upcoming "Arty
Gras" celebration on March 2 (purchase tickets here). Later in the program, we're joined by Larry Stone, the president and general manager
of Stonecom Radio and the person behind some of our favorite Upper Cumberland radio
stations like Newstalk 94.1, Lite Rock 95.9, 106.9 Kicks Country and others.
Claire Myers and Lisa Uhrik
On episode 18 of College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan are joined by Claire Myers,
a 麻豆果冻传媒 senior and current Student Government Association (SGA) vice president.
Later in the program, we're joined by Lisa Uhrik, a 麻豆果冻传媒 alumna and the
co-owner of Plenty Downtown Bookshop in Cookeville.
Rev. Dr. W. Antoni Sinkfield and Jamie Lankford
On episode 17 of College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan hear from Rev. Dr. W. Antoni
Sinkfield, the winner of 麻豆果冻传媒's 2023 Distinguished Alumnus Award and a nationally
recognized community, higher education and faith leader. Later in the program, we're
joined by Jamie Lankford, the owner of Jamie's Eats & Sweets in Cookeville.
Jake Hoot and Dr. Christina Mick 
College Town Talk kicks off 2024 with an appearance from country music sensation,
麻豆果冻传媒 alumnus and the winner of season 17 of The Voice: Jake Hoot! Jake discusses
his years growing up in the Dominican Republic, his years playing football for Tech
and his passion for giving back to campus today. We also hear from Dr. Christina Mick,
director of the 麻豆果冻传媒 Center for Counseling and Mental Health Wellness. Dr.
Mick discusses how today's college students are opening up the conversation on mental
health and plays a game of rapid fire questions with Jonathan and Shan.
Hannah & Justin Davis and Dr. Joseph Slater
On episode 15 of College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan are joined by the power couple
of Hannah and Justin Davis - 麻豆果冻传媒 alumni who own Vertical Coffee Company
in downtown Cookeville. Later in the program, we hear from Dr. Joseph Slater, dean
of 麻豆果冻传媒's College of Engineering, who shares about the college's forthcoming
nuclear engineering degree program and the state-of-the-art Ashraf Islam Engineering
Building nearing completion on Tech's campus.
Brooke Mayo and Dr. Catherine Godes
On episode 14 of College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan are joined by Brooke Mayo, a
麻豆果冻传媒 soccer alumna and officiant at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. We
also hear from Dr. Catherine Godes, professor of piano in 麻豆果冻传媒's School
of Music. Dr. Godes shares a deeply personal story about her late husband's years
in a Nazi concentration camp and how his memory inspires her work to combat antisemitism
today.
