A podcast for Houstonians who want to engage more with their hometown and learn about the people driving its growth. These are the stories about the individuals, businesses, and organizations that make the greater Houston area GREAT.
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April 13, 202622 min
Cruz Through HTX Series Finale: The Heart of Houston in 5 Stories
This series finale of Cruz Through TX is a love letter to Houston and the everyday people who make this city impossible to quit. From Bubbles, the one eyed miracle dog who survived a bullet and a broken jaw, to the hill at Miller Outdoor Theatre built from Texas Medical Center dirt, these stories capture the grit underneath the skyline. You will hear suburban preppers game out an EMP attack, a mugshot that led to sobriety and a veterans court program, and the childhood threads that pulled a future CEO toward Crime Stoppers. Cruz Through TX is ending on purpose, but the archive stays live on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify for anyone who loves Houston, resilience, and real human stories. The next chapter continues at Your Mic, where the focus shifts to helping creators and Houston podcasters build shows that actually matter. Support the show: https://cruzthroughhtx.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 6, 202623 min
Inside a Houston Food Writer’s Life: Dogs, Deadlines, and Underdog Restaurants
Food writer Megha McSwain talks about balancing two very different rescue dogs with a career writing for Texas Monthly, PBS, and Food Network. She shares micro‑walks, immigrant lunchroom memories, and why she cares more about the people behind the plates than burger‑versus‑burger debates. Learn more about Megha HERE. Subscribe on Apple, Spotify and YouTube! This season of Cruz through HTX is powered by Speke Podcasting. Have an idea for a show? Let's get a conversation started. Start HERE. Key Takeaways 1. How Pax and Wadsworth force healthy breaks and protect her from endless WFH grind. 2. Why she wrote for twenty dollars a story just to see her name in print. 3. Shining a light on underdog restaurants that survive hurricanes and floods. 4. The Food Network essay about learning American food in a Houston school lunch line. 5. Why storytelling about people, not dishes, keeps her obsessed with food writing.Support the show: https://cruzthroughhtx.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
March 30, 202634 min
How Growing Up in a Rotating Zoo Made Her a Better Health Coach
Health coach and podcast host Samantha Elizabeth grew up in a vet family with snakes, gators, and rescued farm animals. She explains how pets shape our stress, why dogs absorb our energy, and how coaching differs from therapy when you’re trying to change your life. Learn more about Samantha’s coaching and consulting HERE, and subscribe to her podcast Stress Mess HERE. Subscribe on Apple, Spotify and YouTube! This season of Cruz through HTX is powered by Speke Podcasting. Have an idea for a show? Let's get a conversation started. Start HERE. Key Takeaways 1. Growing up in a family of vets and feed stores with constant rescue drop‑offs. 2. Life with snakes, alligators, horses, and why nothing grosses her out. 3. The difference between therapy (past‑focused) and coaching (present‑future). 4. How pets regulate stress through movement, routine, and emotional support. 5. Why dogs absorbing our pain should change how we show up for them.Support the show: https://cruzthroughhtx.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
March 23, 202626 min
Candles, Dogs, and Buc‑ee’s: Inside Manready Mercantile
Manready Mercantile founder Travis Weaver connects life with his dogs Delilah and Indy to the discipline of building a national retail brand from a hungover bubble‑bath epiphany and homemade candles in whiskey glasses. Consistency, routines, and responsibility are the throughline. Learn more about Manready Mercantile HERE. Subscribe on Apple, Spotify and YouTube! This season of Cruz through HTX is powered by Speke Podcasting. Have an idea for a show? Let's get a conversation started. Start HERE. Key Takeaways 1. Why daily walks and sensory enrichment for dogs mirror business fundamentals. 2. How a hungover bath with stolen Bath & Body gear led to candle classes. 3. The evolution from stove‑top candles to farmers markets to a Heights flagship. 4. Making “unisex but guy‑friendly” products in a pink‑bottle industry. 5. How naming, Twitter‑era character limits, and Instagram helped grow Manready.Support the show: https://cruzthroughhtx.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
March 16, 202616 min
He Quit Corporate Oil & Gas to Open a Dog Resort in 90 Days
Former global program director Andy Raman walked away from corporate oil and gas to turn a house full of rescues into Fido’s Home, a dog resort in Katy. He breaks down patience, strict love, and why you never treat pet parents like walking dollar signs. Learn more about Fido’s Home HERE. Subscribe on Apple, Spotify and YouTube! This season of Cruz through HTX is powered by Speke Podcasting. Have an idea for a show? Let's get a conversation started. Start HERE. Key Takeaways 1. How Andy went from Shell/BP/Accenture to launching Fido’s Home in 90 days. 2. Lessons from living with sixteen dogs and running a dog resort for a decade. 3. Why patience and firm boundaries with dogs mirror leading a team. 4. The “extra mile” tactics that turn grooming freebies into long‑term loyalty. 5. How community barbecues and low‑cost vaccines turn a daycare into a hub.Support the show: https://cruzthroughhtx.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
March 9, 202619 min
Dog Taxi Confessions: Houston Traffic, Giant Breeds, and Second Vans
Doobie Dogs Pet Taxi owner Ron Velez went from oil and gas and cleaning Airbnbs to shuttling Houston’s dogs to daycare, vets, and groomers. He shares traffic nightmares, 165‑pound Newfoundlands, and the fatherly advice that pushed him to buy van number two. Learn more about Doobie Dogs HERE. Subscribe on Apple, Spotify and YouTube! This season of Cruz through HTX is powered by Speke Podcasting. Have an idea for a show? Let's get a conversation started. Start HERE. Key Takeaways 1. How a routine Airbnb route and a doggy daycare sparked the pet taxi idea. 2. The greenlight from Ron’s conservative dad that changed his career. 3. Why Houston’s dog culture makes this niche business work. 4. Handling anxious rescues, giant breeds, and kennel‑hating seniors without losing it. 5. How traffic, patience, and being “the fun guy” shape his daily grind.Support the show: https://cruzthroughhtx.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
March 2, 202610 min
The Final Season: Powerhouse Pet Owners and a Proper Goodbye
Freddy explains why he killed Freddy’s Huge ASK, how Cruz Through HTX was born, and why this final “Powerhouse Pet Owners” season is a breakup letter to Houston and a bridge to his new show, Your Mic. Burnout, Pod Bros, pets, and what’s next for the mic. Subscribe on Apple, Spotify and YouTube! This season of Cruz through HTX is powered by Speke Podcasting. Have an idea for a show? Let's get a conversation started. Start HERE.Support the show: https://cruzthroughhtx.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
March 2, 202623 min
Empty Nest, Stray Dog, Full Oven: Inside Cake Fine Pastry
Baker and business owner Liz Hale shares how a skinny street dog named Rihanna helped her family weather empty‑nest syndrome, post‑COVID gut punches, and the grind of running Cake Fine Pastry and Plum Coffee Shop in Houston. Rescues, cake, grit, and a whole lot of cheese tax. Connect with Cake Fine Pastry HERE. Subscribe on Apple, Spotify and YouTube! This season of Cruz through HTX is powered by Speke Podcasting. Have an idea for a show? Let's get a conversation started. Start HERE. Key Takeaways 1. How a rescued “diaper dog” became the emotional glue of an empty‑nest household. 2. Street‑dog reality in Houston and why keeping Rihanna was a no‑brainer. 3. The post‑COVID beating independent bakeries took and why Liz refused to fold. 4. What customer obsession looks like when you’re literally getting tickets to deliver cakes. 5. Why being “meant” to own a business shows up most on the hardest days.Support the show: https://cruzthroughhtx.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
March 18, 202528 min
Fighting the Inevitable: New Hope in Alzheimer's Research
What makes Alzheimer’s disease so uniquely devastating compared to other illnesses? Dr. Paul Schultz describes Alzheimer's as a neurodegenerative condition that not only deteriorates the mind slowly but also significantly impacts the lives of loved ones who endure watching their family members fade away, brain cell by brain cell. Unlike cancer, which, though lethal, involves an aware patient, Alzheimer's strips sufferers of their awareness and connections. It's a disease that Dr. Schultz believes can have its risk reduced by at least 50% through lifestyle changes. Key Takeaways Here are five key themes discussed in the transcript, along with the main conceptual takeaway for each theme: Understanding Alzheimer's Disease: Alzheimer's is a neurodegenerative disease, characterized by a progressive decline in cognitive abilities. The main takeaway is that Alzheimer's accounts for 60 to 80% of dementia cases, and it's essential to differentiate it from other forms of dementia that could result from reversible causes like strokes or vitamin deficiencies. Impact of Lifestyle Changes: Lifestyle changes can significantly reduce the risk of Alzheimer's. The takeaway is that by controlling factors like blood pressure and adopting healthier habits, the risk of developing Alzheimer's can be decreased by at least 50%. Role of Inflammation and Chemotherapy: Inflammation is a significant factor in the progression of Alzheimer's, and surprisingly, chemotherapy may have a protective effect. The main takeaway is that chemotherapy reduces cell proliferation, which might lower inflammation and subsequently the risk of Alzheimer's. Genetic and Familial Risk: There is a genetic component to Alzheimer's, though not all cases are hereditary. The takeaway is that a significant portion of Alzheimer's can run in families, and genetic testing in certain cases might help assess risk, especially if there is a history in the family. Recent Advances in Treatment: Recent developments have led to the availability of medications that can significantly slow the progression of Alzheimer's. The takeaway is that these medications work by reducing amyloid plaques in the brain, offering hope for better management of the disease in symptomatic patients. Timestamped Overview 00:00 "Alzheimer's Risks and Prevention" 03:45 Preventing Alzheimer's and Related Diseases 07:36 ARBs: Alzheimer’s Risk Reduction? 10:23 Brain Protein Accumulation and Aging 16:25 Alzheimer's: Memory Loss and Anxiety 18:56 Gene's Role in Alzheimer's Risk 20:53 Youth Head Injuries and Cognitive Risks 23:44 Safety: Wear Helmets and SeatbeltsSupport the show: https://cruzthroughhtx.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
March 11, 202523 min
A Guide to Navigating the Medicare Maze of Options and Plans
What should you know about transitioning to Medicare? In this episode, Freddy Cruz speaks with Peter Remington from Remington Insurance Brokers about the complexities of Medicare. Peter outlines the shift from employer-sponsored health insurance to Medicare at age 65, discussing the many components involved, including premiums, deductibles, and various plans. He highlights common pitfalls like forgetting to sign up for Part B, which can lead to lifelong penalties. Medicare’s benefits, such as the freedom to choose doctors and lower deductibles, are emphasized. Preventative care, including the Silver Sneakers program and routine checkups, receives special attention. Peter stresses the importance of selecting a plan that fits individual needs, rather than relying on celebrity endorsements or recommendations from friends. He also underscores the role of continuous self-care and financial planning for a stable future. Key Takeaways 1. Understanding Medicare Basics Takeaway: Peter emphasizes the complexity and breadth of information related to Medicare that people encounter when they become eligible at 65. He highlights the transition from employer-provided insurance to Medicare and the common confusion people have about parts and plans, like Part B and penalties for late enrollment. 2. Differences from Employment-based Insurance Takeaway: Peter explains that Medicare is fundamentally different from typical employer-provided insurance. Medicare allows for greater freedom in choosing doctors and often has lower co-pays and deductibles. Understanding these differences can make Medicare a beneficial transition for seniors. 3. Role of Medicare Brokers Takeaway: As a Medicare broker, Peter finds satisfaction in guiding clients through the complexities of Medicare. Brokers can compare multiple plans to find the best fit for individual needs, unlike representatives who might only offer a single company’s products. 4. Preventative Care and Wellness Takeaway: Peter highlights Medicare's focus on preventative care, such as through Silver Sneakers, which encourages fitness and wellness as a way to prevent larger health issues. Medicare supports activities and regular check-ups to maintain good health and avoid costly interventions. 5. Navigating Medicare Enrollment and Resources Takeaway: Peter discusses the practical steps and resources available for new enrollees getting started with Medicare, including online tools and consultation services. He stresses the importance of taking proactive steps and working with knowledgeable professionals to avoid penalties and ensure proper coverage. Timestamped Overview 00:00 Navigating Medicare Complexities 03:48 "Medicare Signup Excitement" 07:25 Custom Medicare Planning Guidance 12:16 Redefining "Golden Years" Age 14:32 Entitlement Program Insolvency Concerns 18:31 Carriers Pay Equally 20:16 Exercise and Eat Healthy Learn more about Remington Insurance Brokers HERE. Subscribe to Cruz through HTX HERE.Support the show: https://cruzthroughhtx.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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