Creating Us - A podcast for Texas Tech University System & beyond

Hosted by Office of Leader and Culture Development

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Episodes

141

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

A learning and development podcast focused on bringing the Texas Tech University System Values Based Culture to life.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 24, 2026Episode 2943 min

The Leader Fast Lane, Episode 29 - with Andrea Sparks, Dir. of Government & Strategic Relations with Buckner International

Send us Fan Mail Andrea Sparks joins The Leader Fast Lane to share leadership lessons from a career devoted to protecting vulnerable children, including her work helping build Texas’ response to child sex trafficking. We discuss servant leadership, the importance of listening and collaboration when tackling complex problems, having the humility to pivot when an approach isn’t working, and sustaining yourself while doing difficult, high-stakes work.

August 17, 2026Episode 2847 min

The Leader Fast Lane - Episode 28 - with Dr. Rick Lange, President of Texas Tech Health Sciences Center El Paso

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Leader Fast Lane , Dr. Rick Lange, founding president of Texas Tech Health El Paso, shares lessons from building a university, leading through failure, and creating a culture of excellence from the ground up. We explore why the best leaders embrace humility, build trust, develop great teams, and practice servant leadership—offering practical insights that leaders in any field can apply immediately.

August 10, 2026Episode 271 hr 5 min

The Leader Fast Lane - Episode 27 - with Namatai Kwekweza, Founding Director of WeLEAD Africa

Send us Fan Mail Namatai Kwekweza has endured arrest, intimidation, and imprisonment for standing up for democracy and human rights in Zimbabwe. Yet her leadership lessons extend far beyond activism, offering powerful insights on courage, community, reading, and developing the inner resilience needed to lead through uncertainty. This conversation is a compelling reminder that extraordinary leadership begins with ordinary people who choose to keep moving forward despite fear.

August 3, 2026Episode 2649 min

The Leader Fast Lane - Episode 26 - with Dr. Lori Rice-Spearman, President of TTU Health Sciences Center

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to lead one of the nation's premier academic health institutions? In this episode of Leader Fast Lane , TTUHSC President Dr. Lori Rice-Spearman shares lessons from her journey as a first-generation college student to becoming the first female president in the Texas Tech University System. We discuss trust, influence without authority, embracing failure as a catalyst for innovation, and why the simple discipline of listening may be the most powerful leadership skill of all.

July 27, 2026Episode 2551 min

The Leader Fast Lane - Episode 25 - with Billy Breedlove, Vice Chancellor for Facilities Planning & Construction at the Texas Tech University System

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I talk with Billy Breedlove, Vice Chancellor for Facilities Planning & Construction at the Texas Tech University System, to explore the leadership principles that have shaped his 35-year career. Billy shares why he believes servant leadership, trust, and strong relationships are the foundation of high-performing teams, explains the difference between pursuing success and pursuing significance, and reflects on the lasting influence of mentors, family, and character in developing leaders who leave an enduring impact.

July 20, 2026Episode 2453 min

The Leader Fast Lane - Episode 24 - with Derek McIntire, COO of TCP Software

Send us Fan Mail Derek McIntire, COO of TCP Software, joins me in this episode. Derek is an exceptional leader of a highly successful business and shares best practices on engaging with AI/LLMs, leading with vision, qualities he most values in leaders, and the impact Angelo State University has had on him.

July 13, 2026Episode 2351 min

The Leader Fast Lane - Episode 23 - with General David Hill, Executive Director of the Society of American Military Engineers

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I am joined by General (ret.) David Hill, Executive Director of the Society of American Military Engineers, and the former Commandant of the United States Army War College. In our conversation, General Hill shares why: Leadership is never about yourself—it's about the mission and the people entrusted to you. Humility means taking responsibility when things go wrong and giving credit when they go right. Kindness and high standards are not opposites—they reinforce one another. Optimism isn't wishful thinking; it's a leader's responsibility during uncertainty.

July 6, 2026Episode 2247 min

The Leader Fast Lane - Episode 22 - with Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Leader Fast Lane, I sit down with Texas Tech University President Lawrence Schovanec for a candid conversation about leadership in one of higher education's most complex environments. Drawing on more than four decades at Texas Tech—as professor, dean, provost, and president—Dr. Schovanec shares practical insights on making difficult decisions, leading through uncertainty, balancing competing stakeholder interests, and keeping an institution focused on its mission. The conversation explores the importance of humility, empathy, strategic thinking, and maintaining hope during times of significant change, offering leadership lessons that apply well beyond higher education.

June 29, 2026Episode 2152 min

The Leader Fast Lane - Episode 21 - with Jesse Rudy, Founder/CEO of Redeem International

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I talk with an old colleague, Jesse Rudy, who is the Founder & CEO of Redeem International, a Christian non-profit dedicated to protecting some of the world's most vulnerable widows and orphans from violent abuse and exploitation. Jesse is a leader I greatly admire. Listen as he shares about the risks of conflating your profession with your identity, how to deal with anxiety and stress in a healthy, sustainable way, and how to prepare yourself to have difficult conversations.

June 22, 2026Episode 2054 min

The Leader Fast Lane - Episode 20 - with Mike Millegan, Founder/CEO of the Millegan Advisory Group

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I talk with Mike Millegan, an exceptional leader of four decades across several sectors. An alumnus of Angelo State University, Mike considers his time at ASU as formative and foundational to his remarkable career success.