College Town Talk is a podcast from Tennessee Tech University in partnership with the Cookeville-Putnam County Visitors Bureau. Each week, hosts Jonathan Frank and Shan Stout introduce listeners to Tech faculty, staff and students – as well as successful Tech alumni, local business owners and civic leaders – who are making a difference and living Wings Up in their community.
This week on College Town Talk, we catch up with John Williamson, a Tennessee Tech junior studying civil engineering who stays busy helping other students make the most of their college experience. As a Trailblazer, Student Orientation Assistant and President’s Ambassador, John plays a role in welcoming prospective students and helping new Golden Eagles find their footing on campus.
John shares what drew him to Tech, what he’s learned from helping students navigate their first days of college, and what he hopes to do after graduation. Plus, he tells us all about Tech intramurals and takes on a Golden Eagle-themed game of “this or that."
14 Oct 2026
College Town Talk, Episode 96 - Dr. Teresa Chasteen-Dunn
This week on College Town Talk, we sit down with Dr. Teresa Chasteen-Dunn, a longtime educator, philanthropist and business leader who now serves as a member of the Tennessee Tech Board of Trustees and Tennessee Tech Foundation Board of Directors.
Dr. Chasteen-Dunn shares her educational journey, from community college to postdoctoral work at Harvard University, and the story behind WIN Learning, the organization she co-founded that has helped more than 10 million learners worldwide develop the skills they need to succeed in life and in the workplace.
She also discusses her role as board chair for Mustard Seed Ranch, a local nonprofit serving children from difficult circumstances, as well as her generous financial support of Tennessee Tech and how overcoming serious health challenges has given her a deeper sense of purpose and gratitude.
30 Sept 2026
College Town Talk, Episode 95 - Dr. Russ Witcher
This week on College Town Talk, we sit down with Dr. Russ Witcher, a longtime Tennessee Tech journalism professor who has some big news to share about his future after more than 35 years of service to the university.
Dr. Witcher also talks about the changing world of journalism, his role as faculty advisor for the Society of Collegiate Journalists, his research into former President Richard Nixon and the fascinating piece of history that inspired his latest book and award-winning screenplay. Plus, he takes on our rapid-fire round and shares what Tennessee Tech has meant to him.
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Apple Podcasts (US)
4.3 / 5
4 ratings
Spotify
4.5 / 5
15 ratings
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