Downtown Depot

As we deal with the corona virus and social distancing, in-house productions are temporarily suspended.

You will find some local programs on hiatus at this time, or programs pulled from the KWBU archives.

The health and well being of our volunteer hosts and staff is  top priority.

Today, in place of the regularly scheduled Downtown Depot, we revisit an episode of the Central Texas Leadership Series in which Nan Holmes interviews Waco Business owner and host of Downtown Depot, Austin Meek.  This interview was recorded January 9, 2019 in the KWBU studio. 

This week on Downtown Depot, Austin Meek speaks with real estate experts Austin Hooper and Greg Glime on the state of real estate in Waco. He also interviews Dr. Soo Battle on her child advocacy work and what we can do to stay safe during the COVID-19 outbreak. 

This week on Downtown Depot, Austin is joined by Corey Dickman of the Waco Escape Rooms to discuss his many business ventures in Waco. He also talks with Corey McEntyre, Chef at Milo All Day, about seasonal fruits and veggies and what's good around town. Finally, he shines the Small Business Spotlight on Becca McCormack of Refine31.

In Episode 79 of Downtown Depot, show host Austin Meek interviews Lindsay Liepman - news anchor at KXXV. Liepman discusses her love of broadcast reporting and her new documentary on the hip hop scene in Waco. Before that interview, Meek discusses the Purim Pub Crawl and the history and culture behind the event with Jillian Ohriner.

In Episode 77 of Downtown Depot, show host Austin Meek interviews Katie Selman. Selman discusses her move from Brooklyn to Waco and her desire to bring punk, rap, and rock music to Waco with her organization "Keep Waco Loud." Before that interview, Meek shines the Small Business Spotlight on Gene Vinnykov of Koko Ramen and talks with real estate experts Austin Hooper and Greg Glime about the Waco market heading into 2020. 

In Episode 76 of Downtown Depot, show host Austin Meek interviews Rocky Miller. Miller discusses how a military career prepared him for civilian life and previews the upcoming ”Feast in the East,” a yearly festival which Miller organizes for lower income Wacoans around Christmas time. Before that interview, Meek shines the Small Business Spotlight on Jonathan Martin of Black Oak Art and commercial expert Gregg Glime recaps the top real estate stories of 2019.

In Episode 75 of Downtown Depot, show host Austin Meek interviews Veronicka Thompson-Smith, owner of Flower + Ink Designs and community director of WacoWork. She shares what she's learned from her fellow entrepreneurs at Waco's first co-working space and gets personal telling stories of some uncomfortable realities stemming from her interracial marriage. 

In Episode 74 of Downtown Depot, show host Austin Meek interviews Vic Feazell. Feazell is a criminal defense attorney in Waco and former McLennan County D.A. who famously took on the Texas Rangers. Before that interview, Meek shines the Small Business Spotlight on Laverty's Antiques and gets Thanksgiving table tricks from Chef Corey McEntyre of Milo All Day. 

In Episode 73 of Downtown Depot, show host Austin Meek interviews Cindy Little, a paranormal investigator in McLennan County. Little discusses some of her spookiest moments on the job and explains why some people see ghosts while others don’t. Before that interview, Meek shines the Small Business Spotlight on Spin Connection, a local record store, and gets real estate updates from commercial expert Gregg Glime and residential expert Austin Hooper.

In Episode 72 of Downtown Depot, show host Austin Meek interviews Lais Loewen. Loewen is the owner of Sabor, a food trailer serving Brazilian cuisine. She explains how her South American heritage has affected her company's culture and why foster parenting isn't so different from running a business. 

In Episode 71 of Downtown Depot, show host Austin Meek interviews Cuevas Peacock. Peacock is a Community Organizer for Grassroots Community Development. He reframes the gentrification debate around cultural displacement versus economic displacement, shares success stories of working in Waco, and gives tips on how members of the community can take ownership for themselves. 

In episode 70 of Downtown Depot, host Austin Meek talks with Kimberly Batson, co-owner of the soon-to-be opening Fabled Bookshop & Cafe on 4th Street and Franklin.

In Episode 69 of Downtown Depot, show host Austin Meek interviews Devin Li. 

Li is co-owner of Waco Cha, a mobile boba tea company, and Waco Bao. Li recounts his experience as a young Chinese immigrant living in Texas and why he feels called to build a community through Asian food and drink. 

In Episode 68 of Downtown Depot, show host Austin Meek interviews Carole Fergusson. Carole is the Programs and Events Manager for StartUp Waco and will soon be launching Waco Restaurant Week, a food-filled philanthropic event partnering with some of the city's top establishments.