Fearless

Brandon Weaver's adventures across the country are well documented in his podcast, The Tinstreamer, and is featured in immersive storytelling as a freelance writer for a variety of publications. In what he calls his writing career 2.0, Brandon has rediscovered his passion for the outdoors through his friendship with Texas Tech professor Jerod Foster as he finds himself along for the ride in some of Texas Tech's most unique student experiences.   Listen to The Tinstreamer Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1hx2q4RTwx4xLt3vuvtO0D?si=17938c85b2b8409f   Learn more about the College of Media & Communication here: https://www.depts.ttu.edu/comc/   Listen to Shifting Gears, featuring Adventure Media 2023 here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5m0qfl8oZIqHYr0vo6HpuX?si=b4e0420118ba40c6   Introduction- What are we doing in Post, Texas?   5:40 Where did Brandon's love for the outdoors come from?   6:30 How a wildlife refuge in Muleshoe, Texas, became the birthplace of one of Brandon Weaver's most important friendships.   9:50 The Great Plains Project was a cross-country venture from the Mexico to Canada border. Where the idea came from and how it became a course for Texas Tech students.   16:40 What Brandon, Jerod and COMC students have learned through the years with experiential learning opportunities like the Great Plains Project and Adventure Media.   25:54 The unique challenges the Great Plains Project posed and how Brandon overcame them.   30:06 What role did yoga and squats play in keeping Brandon on the bike for the 3-week Great Plains Project trip.   38:21 Adventure Media was the spark that relaunched what Brandon calls his writing career 2.0   52:49 What makes Brandon hopeful about the future of higher education and Texas Tech.

Cleto Cordero is a founding member of the band Flatland Cavalry, a Midland native and a proud Red Raider. From performing on campus and at Lubbock's own Blue Light to some of the most iconic venues across the country, this group of humble people is soaring to new heights.   Introduction   2:21 Cleto reflects on where it all started for him and his band and how far they've come to return and perform at the iconic Buddy Holly Hall.   3:15 His dad's advice about fame and remaining humble despite success.   4:10 The cost of our dreams and the what it requires of ourselves and our people.   5:55 Scott Faris joins Flatland Cavalry on stage for part of their performance. The importance of celebrating the people who have been part of your journey from the beginning.   7:24 The band returned to the birthplace of Flatland Cavalry and where the newly released single Three Car Garage was written.   13:11 The importance of sharing your gifts with others.   14:26 Cleto's dream to create a non-profit foundation and what he plans to do to give back.   16:01 More wisdom from Cleto's dad and why his influence and support is so important to the songwriter and musician.   19:29 Cleto's one-of-a-kind custom Texas Tech leather boots. The story of where they come from and how he came to own them.   21:15 Taylor surprises Cleto with a recovered photo of him as a student at Texas Tech.   23:23 Where does Flatland Cavalry want go when they return to Lubbock?

Texas Tech made history when it announced the opening of its School of Veterinary Medicine in 2022. Now, two years later, the first graduating class is in it's final year of clinical rotations. Join these students as they experience the joys and challenges of each rotation.   Listen to Fearless on your favorite podcast platform: https://linktr.ee/fearlesstexastechpodcast   Follow us on social media and check out our YouTube playlist for special Fearless content! Instagram: @TexasTech Facebook: Texas Tech University X: @TexasTech Threads: @TexasTech   Interested in learning more about the $10K degree plan? Learn more here: 10K Degree plan: https://www.depts.ttu.edu/online/DFW/programs/10K/   From Texas Tech University, we bring your Fearless. It's a podcast that features the untold stories of the school we love so dearly. Fearless is produced by the Texas Tech Office of Marketing & Communications.  

He's a dad, a husband, a lover of the outdoors and he leads our Red Raider Basketball program. Head Coach Grant McCasland and his wife Cece have long dreamed of returning to the her alma mater and the place that has been foundational in his basketball coaching career. Now, "Coach Mac" and his family are loving Lubbock and giving back to the place where it all started for them.   Introduction   1:00 Building a culture around community and the importance of relationships within the program.   2:30 How relationships between coaches, families and players makes a difference in the locker room and on the court.   3:30 Grant's wife Cece is a former student-athlete for Red Raider soccer and what inspired his journey to start in Lubbock.   6:00 Grant and Cece's kids are responding well to their new life and home in Lubbock, enjoying the community that rallies for Red Raider basketball.   9:00 Who is more competitive in pickleball between Grant and Cece?   10:00 How Grant finds balance in his life to be more than a great basketball coach and the importance of family in that dynamic.   15:00 The men's basketball team attempted an on-field run on and pregame rehearsal. Why school spirit and appreciation for Texas Tech history matters to coach and the program.   19:00 When he's not coaching basketball, Grant loves to be outdoors with his kids. What does he do in his spare time?

Butch Martin has Allison Clayton, her law students and Texas Tech University to thank for his freedom. When Texas Tech's Innocence Clinic got involved in his case, Allison and third-year law students believed Butch would get the justice he deserved. In 2023, they saw that come to fruition. See photos and learn more about Butch and Allison here: https://www.ttu.edu/now/posts/2024/10/the-story-of-butch-martin-and-allison-clayton.php During his incarceration, Butch provided homemade gifts to Allison. See them here: https://youtu.be/UQKvZ_RRsqw The Texas Tech Innocence Clinic: https://www.depts.ttu.edu/law/clinics-and-externships/clinics/innocence/index.php Listen to Fearless on your favorite podcast platform: https://linktr.ee/fearlesstexastechpodcast  Follow us on social media and check out our YouTube playlist for special Fearless content!  Instagram: @TexasTech  Facebook: Texas Tech University  X: @TexasTech  Threads: @TexasTech  Linktree: https://linktr.ee/texastechuniversity From Texas Tech University, we bring you Fearless. It's a podcast that features the untold stories of the school we love so dearly. Fearless is produced by the Texas Tech Office of Marketing & Communications.

A house fire killed Butch Martin's wife and two children in 1999. He was sentenced to life in prison. After serving 24 years of that sentence, he was exonerated through the work of faculty and students at Texas Tech's School of Law.   Visit Fearless online: https://www.ttu.edu/fearless/seasons/season-four.php

Holly Young Sudduth met the love of her life at Texas Tech. Holly and Toby graduated and built the life they'd always dreamed about - 23 years later, it came crashing down. Today, Holly uses her podcast "Every Widow Thing" to encourage and help others through unimaginable loss. With candor, grace and a good dose of dark humor, Holly and her co-hosts welcome you to the widowhood. Every Widow Thing Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5XO1NK5... Listen to Fearless on your favorite podcast platform: https://linktr.ee/fearlesstexastechpo... Show Notes: Introduction 4:00 Holly's Texas Tech Story. 8:45 How Holly and Whitney met and what inspired the Every Widow Thing Podcast. 16:10 Grief motivated Holly to step out of her comfort zone and become the person she is today. 18:10 The community that comes with Every Widow Thing. 23:00 The ways that grief has helped Holly and Whitney connect with others in different stages of their own journey. 26:05 The irrational feelings that come with grief and how to process them. 29:10 Raising young men and what it means to be a Free Bird. 32:00 What would you want widows to know?

The Thoma family believes in the future of small towns, it's why they created a scholarship to fuel and fund the Red Raider dream for students from those areas. Follow the journey from the very beginning of finding the first cohort of the Thoma Scholars.   Visit Fearless online: https://www.ttu.edu/fearless/seasons/season-four.php   https://linktr.ee/texastechuniversity

Nothing comes easy in rural areas, including healthcare. In this episode featuring One Health, our experts dive into the health challenges being faced by humans, animals and the environment across rural America. This is what Texas Tech's One Health initiative is doing to solve them.   Show Notes 1:09 Introduction 1:51 - Challenges Facing Rural Communities 4:54 - Student Recruitment 9:04 - Access to Resources 16:49 - Life Expectancy 20:21 - Medical Care Access 22:13 - Transmission of Disease 25:54 - One Health Education and Careers 28:26 - Andrew Shin Final Thoughts 30:17 - Kelly Williams Final Thoughts 32:20 - Babafela Awosile Final Thoughts 33:43 - Steve Presley Final Thoughts 37:07 - Jayme Lozano Carver Final Thoughts 38:31 - Dr. Adrian Billings Final Thoughts   Panel • Babafela Awosile - https://www.depts.ttu.edu/vetschool/a... • Kelly Williams - https://www.depts.ttu.edu/vetschool/a... • Dr. Adrian Billings - https://www.ttuhsc.edu/about/profile.... • Steve Presley - https://www.entx.ttu.edu/dr.-steven-p... • Jayme Lozano Carver - https://www.texastribune.org/about/st... • Andrew Shin - https://www.depts.ttu.edu/hs/ns/shin.php   Texas Tech University Social Channels: https://linktr.ee/texastechuniversity YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@texastech  

Scott Robertson has a vision to serve people. It's what started his foundation all those years ago and what still fuels him today. Each year, he looks to Texas Tech students and faculty to help him keep his dream alive by providing medical and infrastructure needs to rural communities in Mexico.   Fearless Website: https://www.ttu.edu/fearless/seasons/season-four.php

Texas Tech alumna Tiara Williams is living her best life. The former track and field athlete's Q&A-style social media show 'Real Talk with Tee' has taken off and catapulted her onto the biggest stage in the world: The Summer 2024 Olympics.   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_realtalkwithtee/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@realtalkwithtee   Show Notes:   Introduction   3:50 Establishing Chemistry in Interviews.   5:27 Tee spent 3 weeks in Paris for the 2024 Olympics interviewing athletes, hosting the Puma House, attending events.   9:45 Olympic Trials coverage for NBC. Tee's experience doing interviews post race with athletes, meeting strong women in the industry, learning and growing as a strong woman in her industry.   12:00 Taylor and Tee talk about the early days of discovering Tee's passion of telling stories and interviewing during her time as a student-athlete.   14:52 Former female Red Raiders Tee has covered as professionals and Olympians including Ruth Usoro (Long Jump), Alaysha Johnson (Hurdles) and Monae Nichols (Long Jump).   16:40 "Ruth is the best teammate I've ever had."   18:00 What is the future of Real Talk with Tee and what is next?

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) evolves, faculty and staff at Texas Tech grapple with how it's changing the college classroom. In this episode we'll explore the challenges this technology presents and what professors and students are doing about it.   Visit our website to learn more about Fearless and meet some of the characters from this season. Follow us on social media and check out our YouTube playlist for special Fearless content!   Instagram: @TexasTech Facebook: Texas Tech University X: @TexasTech Threads: @TexasTech

At Texas Tech, we're inspiring conversations in our YouTube series Foundations. We're bringing together experts across multiple fields to discuss important issues that impact all of us. This time, it's about water. What happens to this agriculture-rich area if water resources dry up? What do Texas Tech researchers propose we do about it. Watch this episode of Foundations on our YouTube channel and learn more about the characters you hear - Foundations | Water

For the first time, the Texas Tech Goin' Band appeared front and center at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It was a week in the Big Apple that garnered national attention and created memories that will last a lifetime.

Francis Wuensche blazed the trail that would become a Guinness World Record. This is the story of how she launched her family tradition. This story, written by Evermore Editor Glenys Young is featured in issue four, read by Allison Hirth.

There is little Texas Tech history this family has not experienced, and they have the Guinness World Record to prove it. Meet the Wuensches, a family that's proudly worn the Scarlet and Black for generations. In this episode, we explore their legacy through the eyes and voices of the people who have been part of it.  

When David Copeland graduated from Texas Tech's School of Law, he defied all odds. The first-generation college student spent his life ensuring students like him could attend college, and he's not alone; this episode features stories of generous alumni who have helped make futures possible for thousands of students.

If you ask anyone working in higher education, the college recruitment process is very different from what it used to be. Texas Tech has embraced that challenge, turning to technology to identify the next generation of Red Raiders.

The mission of Texas Tech is to educate and graduate students with the knowledge, skills, and personal qualities that enable them to contribute to the workforce. Still, finding a career after college can be a challenge, and the faculty and staff at Texas Tech are here to help make that transition as smooth as possible.

Without student collaborators Katie Perkins and Cole Rohrbach, the story of Adventure Media 2023 wouldn't have been the same. In this bonus episode, we sit down to talk about the memories that made this an unforgettable experience.

You may have heard of "experiential learning opportunities," but what does that mean at Texas Tech? In episode four, we'll take you on an adventure to share how some faculty have inserted their curriculum into the community and transformed how their students learn. 

Creating the ideal student experience is like building a home; it should be customized to fit your needs. With more than 40,000 students at Texas Tech, finding where you fit in can be challenging, but in episode three, you'll meet the staff dedicated to helping all students find success.

They're at nearly every athletics event, leading the fans in support of our teams, but the commitment of these students goes beyond the sidelines. In episode two, learn how Texas Tech's Goin' Band from Raiderland and cheer and pom squads represent our university nationally and are essential to our most beloved traditions.

Certain things in life go together—peanut butter and jelly, salt and pepper, Tom and Jerry. For Texas Tech, it's the scarlet and black or the Masked Rider and Raider Red. In the season premiere, we (re)introduce you to these beloved mascots and explore their history and influence on Red Raiders across the globe. 

At 100 years old, Texas Tech has become a world-class, internationally recognized institution. While much has changed, our traditions, values, and focus on graduating students with the skills to contribute to society remain steadfast. In season three, we celebrate Texas Tech's progress by reflecting on the past, embracing the present, and preparing for the future. 

In this bonus episode, we revisit the story of CASFER, a new research facility on campus that garnered the largest National Science Foundation grant in Texas Tech history earlier this year. Its plans to create cheaper, cleaner, more sustainable fertilizer could be transformative for farmers. Level Up is going inside the research to discover more about CASFER through the eyes of a farmer who will feel its impact.  Learn more about CASFER here: https://www.casfer.us/ See photos and discover more about Gerri Botte here: https://today.ttu.edu/fearless/

"It wasn't just about writing papers anymore; it wasn't just about graduating students. It was about taking that knowledge and creating intellectual property.” -John Schroeder, Director, National Wind Institute. What happens after a groundbreaking discovery? Because of people like Cameron Smith, inventions have a life beyond a Texas Tech lab. Cameron and his Office of Research Commercialization colleagues empower researchers and bring their work to the marketplace. In this final episode of season two, we learn about the impact of these efforts.

From colonizing to commercializing, a local beekeeper is buzzing about the production of West Texas honey. What started as a hobby for one Texas Tech alumnus became a passion for promoting the value of honeybees in the region. Plus, university researchers have honed in on a sector of Texas' economy that's growing... on the vine.

The South Plains is the largest cotton-producing region in the world. With more than three million acres dedicated to the crop, there's no question that it's the fiber of our life. And at Texas Tech, researchers are leveraging the area's emphasis on cotton to explore the plant's entire life cycle, from a more weather-tolerant seed to uncovering a new use for cotton waste.  

Climate change. It's a subject that garners varying opinions. Is it real? What should we do about it? Who should we look to for answers? From atmospheric to social science, Texas Tech faculty are investigating all facets of our climate, including extreme weather patterns and their impacts on our health, and even how we process topics like climate change in the media.

Campus researchers are using their work to shape future generations in unexpected ways. For instance, recovering addicts and troubled youth benefit from animation skills learned in a Texas Tech art shop, and young adults with autism are learning to navigate parenting and relationships thanks to the Burkhart Center for Autism Education and Research. Finally, faculty in atmospheric and social sciences have joined forces to develop a smart home to teach all of us the power of conservation.

Many university researchers have spent their careers focused on clean energy, including using radar technology to make wind farms more efficient. And more than five decades after a tornado tore through Lubbock, Fearless looks at how that devastating storm impacted the work of two faculty in two different departments.

In this episode, we dive into how Texas Tech's Davis College faculty are taking their work beyond campus borders. How a girl from West Texas became the highest-ranking female in agriculture, using her discoveries to navigate important conversations about food safety. We'll also introduce you to Tate Corliss, whose involvement in Raider Red Meats began as a student more than ten years ago. Today, he's the program's director and leading one of the most significant distribution efforts on campus. Finally, born and raised in Texas, Dale Woerner understands that agriculture is the lifeblood of this region, so he's investigating how we keep the industry thriving despite a changing culture.

At Texas Tech, we talk a lot about research. But did you ever wonder how that research impacts you? What about how it affects our state, our nation, even the world? In season two of Fearless, we talk about the transformative research going on at Texas Tech and share stories of what motivates those doing the work. 

At Texas Tech, we talk a lot about research. But did you ever wonder how that research impacts you? What about how it affects our state, our nation, even the world? In season two of Fearless, we talk about the transformative research going on at Texas Tech and share stories of what motivates those doing the work. 

A return to normal may take a while. But we're committed to getting there. As the Delta variant of COVID continues to grip our country, we will continue to fight to return to pre-pandemic normalcy. That's when we will truly be able to appreciate a comeback from COVID. 

It's the small things. This episode highlights how good people performed great tasks to help their neighbors pull through. The city of Lubbock worked together to provide essential equipment for essential workers, and it all started on the Texas Tech campus.

As the global pandemic wears on, the dangerous side of isolation begins to take shape. During the months of navigating stay-at-home orders, dozens of individuals on campus were working to ensure emotional health remained a top priority. Meanwhile, many local business owners fought to stay afloat, even after months of locked doors.  

It took a village to make the transition to online learning possible and this episode features dozens of people who used their unique skills to make it happen. While the stay-at-home orders posed challenges in professional and personal lives, students, faculty, and staff were able to adapt. From university research to creative classroom content and everything in between, these stories highlight the way many individuals behind the scenes would soon stand at the center of our remote reality.  

This episode is for the sports lover. Texas Tech Athletics transitioned from a multimillion-dollar program to suffering one of the greatest losses of revenue in recent history. Athletics Director Kirby Hocutt, along with coaches and student-athletes share their disappointment and frustration as seasons were forced to end early. Seasons, budgets and futures of student-athletes were on the line with difficult decisions surfacing daily.   

In this debut episode, we relive the first moments of the pandemic with city and campus leaders. How, despite their initial feelings of shock and fear, individuals came together for the campus community. We explore how Texas Tech facilitated the first lab in the state to test COVID-19 samples and the hectic planning to bring home study abroad students amid a global travel advisory. 

In season one, we'll focus on Texas Tech's comeback from COVID-19. Join us each week as we uncover how Red Raiders turned the trials of a global pandemic into triumph.