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In this episode of The Green Room, host Jonathon Platt sits with Emily Mills, founder of Lovely Village, and Dr. Jeremy Everett,  founder of the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty, in a conversation about their intersection of faith, philanthropy, and the hunger crisis.  Everett emphasized the truth: there is enough food in the U.S.

In this episode of The Green Room, host Jonathon Platt will not be joining us. Instead, digital editor Kassidy Tsikitas takes over The Green Room for one night, and one night only, for a rewind.  Tsikitas takes us through her favorite moments from The Green Room: the famous Molly Llama [yes, that Molly Llama], former

In this episode of The Green Room, host Jonathon Platt and Dr. Jerry Park, associate professor of sociology, discuss being a minority within a minority, an accidental baptism, and research on racial minorities within religious congregations.  Park reflects on his childhood with his single mom, being one of a few Asian students at Carver High

In this episode of The Green Room, host Jonathon Platt is joined by members of The Baylor Line team, Kourtney Nering, editor-in-chief; Kassidy Tsikitas, digital editor; and Nina Um, executive assistant to the CEO,  to reflect on the year of growth, change, and gratitude for everything they have learned.   The Baylor Line team has all

  In this episode of The Green Room, host Jonathon Platt and Amira Lewally, supervising producer at A&E, look back on a decision that changed the trajectory of Lewally’s career. A simple creative spark led her to add a film and digital media minor to her college studies, to which she credits her success in

In this episode of The Green Room, host Jonathon Platt and Jackie Baugh Moore, president of the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation, explore the Baugh legacy: Eula Mae and John Baugh’s lives, the founding of Sysco, and looking at things through the lens of love. Moore reflects on a legacy defined by conviction and

In this episode of The Green Room, host Jonathon Platt is joined by three culinary entrepreneurs during the Waco Restaurant Week panel hosted by The Baylor Line.   Jake Patterson turned an abandoned Sonic Drive-In into Yaki Texas Teriyaki – inspired by a mom-and-pop teriyaki truck behind his former job at a dealership in Portland.  Danielle Young,

In this episode of The Green Room, host Jonathon Platt sits with Dr. Mary Landon Darden, president of Higher Education Innovation, LLC, and Dr. Ray Perryman, president and CEO at The Perryman Group. The group unpacks the focus of The Baylor Line’s article It’s a New World – skyrocketing graduate enrollment and what the future

In this episode of The Green Room, host Jonathon Platt sits with Devin Li and Jaja Chen, 2025 Abner V. McCall Humanitarian Award honorees and co-founders of Cha Community – a Taiwanese and Chinese fusion boba shop. Their story begins in June 2018 at the Waco Downtown Farmers Market with laminated logos and borrowed tables,

In this episode of The Green Room, host Jonathon Platt sits down with Carole Fergusson, Executive Director of Keep Waco Beautiful and founder of Waco Restaurant Week. She discusses the story behind Waco Restaurant Week – how it’s grown, the opportunities for growth, and the purpose of the week.  What began in 2019 as an

In this episode of The Green Room, host Jonathon Platt talks with the founders of 1953 Tequila – a premium, women-owned tequila brand. Baylor alumna Lindsey Davis Stover and partners Shivam Mallick Shah and Adriana Lopez tell the story of their shared vision turned into community and empowerment.  The year 1953 honors a historical moment

Welcome to ‘Episode 20’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast. For the first time in The Baylor Line’s history, host Jonathon Platt takes you on the ride of your life around Waco – accompanied by stories gleaned from the forty-year-long byline of Robert F. Darden. Along the way, Darden shares the tales from decades of

Welcome to ‘Episode 19’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast.  Host Jonathon Platt meets with John David Rainey, EVP & CFO of Walmart. From small town Angleton, his life lesson of leadership begins with how you treat people.  We navigate his career in three major companies: United Airlines – formerly Continental Airlines – during its

Welcome to ‘Episode 18’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room. Host Jonathon Platt meets with Dr. Mia Moody, professor and former chair of the Baylor University Department of Journalism, Public Relations, and New Media. Known for mentoring students within the journalism department and in-depth research into image repair, intersectionality, critical race theory,

After a short hiatus, we are back! Welcome to ‘Episode 17’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room. Host Jonathon Platt meets with former Congressman Chet Edwards, Baylor’s W.R. Pogue Distinguished Chair of Public Service, and recipient of The Baylor Line’s Babs Baugh Servant Leadership Award. Chet and Jon reflect on 9/11 and

Why did Jonathon Platt bring a donut to the interview? Because he knew this conversation would be jam-packed! Welcome to ‘Episode 16’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room.  Host Jonathon Platt sits down with Omari and Abby Head, the couple behind some of Waco’s most beloved spots – Pop’s Lemonade, Cheddar Box

Welcome to ‘Episode 15’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room.  Host, Jonathon Platt talks with Craig Nash, Senior Editor at Good Faith Media, to explore the quiet, meaningful spaces where faith, storytelling and community meet.  Nash’s journey starts out as a kid from East Texas to a community pastor at UBC Waco,

Sit down, get comfy and listen in. The Wise Molly Lama is ready to read your cards. The first card she pulls is The Fool. She pauses dramatically. “I didn’t know you were in this deck!”  Welcome to ‘Episode 14’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room.  Host, Jonathon Platt is met with

Welcome to ‘Episode 12’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room.  Host Jonathon Platt meets with Kristin Diwan, a senior resident at the Arab Gulf States Institute. The two dive into how her work as an analyst and geopolitics involving Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and beyond. This wide-ranging conversation takes you from Central

A Baylor alum is spotted in the wild – Jonathon Platt says, “Hey you, tell me a joke!” The alumnus starts out with “John Lennon and a zombie walk into a bar.” And that’s how we got this episode.  Welcome to ‘Episode 11’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room.  Host Jonathon Platt

Welcome to ‘Episode 10’ of the Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room. In this episode, host Jonathon Platt is met with Joanne Cummings, Director of Middle East Studies and Professor of Political Science, to discuss the politics and misunderstood narratives of the Middle East.  With decades of work in crisis management, intelligence, diplomacy, and

Welcome to ‘Episode Nine’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room.  In this episode, host Jonathon Platt sits down with Rev. Dr. Eric Mathis, associate pastor at First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, D.C. – a minister, musician, scholar, and Baylor Bear whose life bridges the academic, pastoral, and personal with

Welcome to ‘Episode Eight’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room. This time, we’re launching into orbit with one of Baylor’s brightest stars – Howard Chang, a NASA attorney whose work is out of this world.  Host Jonathon Platt sits down with Howard Chang to trace his incredible journey from the neuroscience labs

Welcome to ‘Episode Seven’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room.  On this episode, host Jonathon Platt meets with Booking Producer at Bloomberg TV, Amanda Hayes Roark.  Just a few years into post-grad life, Amanda has already charted an impressive path through some of the top names in journalism. From her early start

Welcome to ‘Episode Six’ of  The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room.  In this episode, host Jonathon Platt introduces Dr. Felipe Hinojosa, the John and Nancy Endowed Chair in Latin America and Professor of History at Baylor University.  Born and raised in Brownsville, Texas, Felipe brings a unique perspective shaped by his upbringing in

Welcome to ‘Episode Five’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room.  In this episode, host Jonathon Platt is joined by Dr. Coretta Pittman, associate professor of English and Baylor’s new vice provost for community engagement. With warmth, clarity, and depth, Dr. Pittman discusses what it means to foster a university community that reflects

Welcome to ‘Episode Four’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room.  In this heartfelt conversation, host Jonathon Platt sits down with his longtime mentor and personal hero, retired Director of Baylor’s Ministry Guidance Program and Professor of Religion, Dr. Jeter Basden.  His leadership helped shape generations of students preparing for lives of service,

Welcome to ‘Episode Three’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room.  In this episode, host Jonathon Platt sits down with two Baylor legends and authors of Soon and Very Soon, Robert Darden and Dr. Stephen Newby.  This conversation isn’t just about music – it’s about the history and cultural commentary of gospel music.

Welcome to episode two of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room.  In this episode, host Jonathon Platt sits down with former United States Marine Corps Reservist Alexandra Benda to explore a career that spans continents, combat zones, and the corridors of power. With a degree in Great Texts and over 13 years of

Welcome to the first episode of our new podcast, The Green Room. This go around, I’m joined by Dr. Steve Gardner, a respected economist and professor emeritus at Baylor University. I asked Steve for this conversation in order to unpack the latest on the Trump administration tariffs and to explore the broader economic theories behind tariff policies. Dr. Gardner brings decades of experience as an educator, researcher, and advisor, with deep expertise in international economics, trade policy, and market dynamics. Whether you’re an economist, a policy enthusiast, or simply curious about how tariffs impact your daily life, this conversation with Steve offers insights that are as timely as they are illuminating.

Nine years ago, Dolores Lozano claims she was violently assaulted by a Baylor football player and her boyfriend at the time. In 2016 she filed a lawsuit against the university, claiming that – despite having gone to administrators and football program leaders – her alma mater had been negligent in its handling of her reports of domestic violence and, as a result, violated her rights under the Title IX federal civil rights law. On Tuesday, a Waco jury found Baylor liable.

Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify Joanne Cummings is the director of Baylor’s Middle East Studies program and teaches in the BIC and Political Science department. She has also been instrumental in the development of an interfaith minor here at Baylor. A retired diplomat, her experience is wide-ranging. She was most recently the Foreign Policy