The podcast will provide a space for members of ’RooNation to tell and share their stories with the larger AC community.
“When I run into fellow alumni or people out in the community, they often ask me questions like, ‘How are things at the College? What’s new? What’s different? What are you excited about?’,” said Along Grand Avenue host and Vice President for Marketing and Communications Heidi Rushing ’04. “If you ask me what’s going on at Austin College, I might have to respond, ‘How much time do you have?’”
The podcast is the welcome answer to Rushing’s question. Each episode will focus on one unique aspect of Austin College in a roughly 45-minute conversation with various members of the AC community. Housed on the Austin College website, YouTube channel, and standard digital podcast platforms, Along Grand Avenue will post six episodes across the 2026-2027 academic year.
“Through this podcast, we are looking forward to sharing some stories with you that are a little bit more in-depth, but also a little bit more casual and conversational than we can do through other media,” said Rushing. “This is content for people who have an attention span longer than a caption or a reel.”
The first episode will feature Austin College President Rebecca Cantor as the podcast’s inaugural guest and will explore her background and the professional journey that brought her to the role of Austin College President. The first episode was released on Thursday, August 20. Two additional episodes will be released throughout the fall term, with three more planned for spring.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 45 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow an 11:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.
