Try @ TXST

What does it take to turn a passion for boxing into one of Texas State's fastest-growing student organizations? In this episode of Try @ TXST , Brynn steps into the world of Bobcat Boxing with president Eric Saavedra and vice president Erik Brito. They share how a few students hitting bags in the Rec evolved into an officially recognized club, the challenges they faced along the way, and their vis...

Andrea sits down with Andrea Estela Pabon, a senior public relations and business management double major (with a minor in mass communication) and current president of Texas State’s Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). She shares how she made the unexpected switch from industrial engineering to PR after discovering her passion for writing and communications—and how one class and a...

What does 2,500 TXST students look like when they come together to give back to the community in one day? In this episode of Try @ TXST , we try volunteering by going behind the scenes of Bobcat Build’s Big Event, Texas State University’s largest student-led community service project. Bobcat host Nora sits down with Candace Taggart, Marketing and PR Director for Bobcat Build, to talk about what it...

What does it take to design, fund, and build a $70,000 Formula-style race car in college? In this episode of Try @ Texas State , we sit down with leaders from Bobcat Racing, Texas State University’s Formula SAE (FSAE) team, to talk about engineering, branding, sponsorships, and the year-long process of bringing a race car to life. From welding the chassis and designing electrical systems to securi...

Join us for a Study Abroad edition of Try @ TXST as Texas State student and digital media intern Nora Parkhurst shares how one month in Cuenca, Spain transformed her confidence, language skills, and community abroad. From hosting fiestas and bonding with her host family to exploring historic towns and immersing herself in Spanish courses, Nora gives an inside look at why studying abroad is not jus...

In this special edition of Try @ TXST , we bring together four talented TXST alums who have forged their paths in media, marketing, journalism, and tech. Hosted by Giselle Kowalski and Dale Blasingame, associate professor of practice in the School of Journalism and Mass Community, listen as we sit down with: Hailey Aaron, assistant media planner at RPA Jonathan Campbell, software engineer at 2K Al...

In this episode of Try @ TXST, we sit with Mary Duggan to explore Texas State's Outdoor Rec Center. From paddle boarding to camping, there's plenty of natural beauty to enjoy around campus and San Marcos. If you're looking for some inspiration to get outside, take a listen and learn how the Outdoor Center helps students connect with nature, develop leadership skills, and transform their student ex...

Try @ TXST will be back next month with a brand-new episode. In the mean time, we're excited to bring to you Office Hours — a show where students interview TXST professors about their lives, careers, and journeys to get to where they are today. In this episode, Tyson chats with TXST legend, Dr. Laurie Fluker. Listen to more shows from the TXST Podcast Network: https://www.txst.edu/podcast-network....

What's Texas without two-stepping? In this episode of Try @ TXST, we head to the dance floor with Texas State's very own country dancing club - the Boot Scootin' Bobcats! Join us as we talk with VP and co-founder Wade Meyer about western swing, building community through dance, and finding your rhythm. And make sure to follow @bootscootinbobcats  for practice times, meetups, and all things TXST co...

Graduation is here, and it’s time to reflect. On this episode of Try @ TXST , guests AnaBelle and Tyson join Giselle for one final conversation before crossing the stage. From awkward freshman year moments to finding their voice and chasing their passions, this episode is packed with nostalgia, laughter, and a few words of wisdom for anyone still figuring it all out. Whether you’re a fellow senior...

The worldwide phenomenon has officially hit Texas State—pickleball! On this episode of Try @ TXST, we dive into the sport that’s sweeping the courts with help from Camaren Gell, president of the TXST Pickleballers Club. Whether you’re a total newbie or paddle pro, you’re sure to have fun as we talk about why pickleball is so easy to love, how it’s building community on campus, and where the heck i...

Since 1960, the Texas State University Strutters have been dazzling audiences worldwide. The first American precision dance team founded at a four-year university, the Strutters are an incredible group of talented young ladies. In this episode of Try @ TXST, we sit down with current team captain Jillian Martin to talk all things Strutters.

Over the past year, we've explored some of the most exciting, unique, and unexpected experiences Texas State has to offer. In this episode, we’re taking a look back at some of our favorite moments—highlighting key conversations that you won’t want to miss. Whether you’re into space exploration, rock climbing, bees, or even Dungeons & Dragons, we’ve got something for you. And if any of these sn...

What makes Texas State, Texas State? To celebrate 125 years of Bobcat pride, the Try @ TXST team hit the Quad to hear straight from the source — our students! In this special episode, our Bobcats share their own unique reasons why TXST feels like home and what makes our university truly unlike any other out there.

Back in early October, the Try @ TXST team went to experience the Sacred Springs Powwow, where people from different tribes as well as the San Martian community come together to witness Native American dances, food, clothing, and more at the Meadows Center. Giselle chats with Aaron Pyle, elder and director of the Sacred Springs Powwow, about the history behind the event & Indigenous culture in...

Imagine a game where you create a fantasy realm, built off characters and backstories your friends have given you, with twists and turns that make for one epic story. That's Dungeons and Dragons, and there's a club for it at TXST. Giselle talks with TXST DnD president, Allison Drinnon, about the game and the connections you make, and dives into the world of fantasy and combat herself on this episo...

In our last episode, we talked with School of Journalism and Mass Communication professor Jenny Buschhorn and student Mac Blackwell about their plans and expectations for their trip to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The 2024 Paris Olympics have the whole world on the edge of their seats, and TXST students are in the front row to watch it all. Associate Professor of Mass Communication and Journalism, Jenny Buschhorn, is taking 25 students to Paris to experience it all and to get the chance to interact with the games, the media, and the Parisian lifestyle. In this Episode, Giselle chats with Jenny and student M...

TXST's rugby team was originally founded in 1983 and has been a pillar of the campus and San Marcos community ever since. Known for its seemingly brutal game with incredibly tough, fast, and agile players, there's a side to rugby that the average onlooker might miss. Giselle chats with Kyle Campbell, president of the TXST rugby team, to talk about the game, the players, and the camaraderie of the...

From rolling hills and valleys to rivers that run wide and underground caves that go on for miles, Texas is a geological wonder. Giselle chats with Alan Martinez, a TXST student and the president of the Geology club, about geology basics, their trip to A Cave Without A Name, and how geology plays a part in our everyday lives. 

If there's one thing we know about bees, it's that we need to save them, but why? On this episode of Try @ TXST, Giselle chats with Christopher Miranda, a member of the Bobcat Buzz club at TXST that specializes in the care, maintenance and education of bees. From their intricate hives to their bee hierarchy, get ready to dive deep into the world of these tiny creatures. 

If TXST has a hidden gem, it'd be The Wittliff Collections. On Alkek's seventh floor, The Wittliff has treasures from Texas history and highlights themes and events of the Southwest. Director of The Wittliff, David Coleman, talks with Giselle about the museum's namesake, its beginnings, and the spirit it brings to our campus. 

When you walk into TXST's Recreation Center, you're immediately greeted by one of the tallest indoor rock walls in Texas. Not only are TXST's students climbing new heights, but so is San Marcos. Giselle sat down with TXST's Rock Climbing president to chat about the sport, what it's like to do it outdoors, and everything that makes it so addicting. 

The TXST physics program has given students the chance to run a Space Lab, and with it, build the first ever manufactured satellite at TXST. Giselle chats with grad student Evan Jellison and senior Matthew Johnson about the Space Lab, physics, building the satellite, and why space is for everyone. 

The TXST Trap and Skeet club meets on Fridays out at Freeman Ranch to practice their aim, shoot some clays, and hang out. Safety Officer Hunter Haug and club Secretary Taylor Swanson discuss the intricacies and the simple fun of trap and skeet with Giselle, how to stay focused and calm while holding a gun, and what makes the club feel like a second family.