This is the first episode of my HTX-cellence series, which highlights people doing awesome things in the Houston area. These episodes will pop up as bonus episodes, a tribute to my hometown.

First up? Kiki Searcy, Miss Black USA 2017 and a lupus warrior.

Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues and organs. Kiki, along with Anne-Marie Blacketer, Executive Director of the Lupus Foundation Texas-Gulf Coast chapter, join the podcast to talk about the fight to end lupus.

Be sure to join them on May 7th for the Walk to End Lupus NOW and grab all the deets HERE.

Support the podcast when you buy one of my novels or by becoming a Patron.

Credits:

Sound design and music by Ian Sturgeon of Sound Squatch.

Voiceover by bc of bcvoiceover.com.

https://patreon.com/freddycruz: https://freddycruz.link/saltylama

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the first episode of my HTX-cellence series, which highlights people doing awesome things in the Houston area. These episodes will pop up as bonus episodes, a tribute to my hometown.
First up?&nbsp;Kiki Searcy, Miss Black USA 2017 and a lupus warrior.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the body&rsquo;s immune system attacks its own tissues and organs. Kiki, along with Anne-Marie Blacketer, Executive Director of the Lupus Foundation Texas-Gulf Coast chapter, join the podcast to talk about the fight to end lupus.
Be sure to join them on May 7th for the Walk to End Lupus NOW and grab all the deets <a href="https://www.lupus.org">HERE</a>.
Support the podcast when you buy <a href="https://www.thefreddycruz.com/">one of my novels</a> or by becoming a <a href="patreon.com/freddycruz">Patron</a>.
Credits:
Sound design and music by Ian Sturgeon of <a href="https://soundsquatch.com/">Sound Squatch</a>.
Voiceover by bc of <a href="https://www.bcvoiceover.com/">bcvoiceover.com</a>.<a href="https://freddycruz.link/saltylama" rel="payment">https://patreon.com/freddycruz: https://freddycruz.link/saltylama</a>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

A podcast for Houstonians who want to engage more with their hometown and learn more about the people driving its growth.

Cruz through HTX spotlights the stories, individuals, businesses, and organizations that make the Houston area GREAT.

A podcast for Houstonians who want to engage more with their hometown and learn more about the people driving its growth.
Cruz through HTX spotlights the stories, individuals, businesses, and organizations that make the Houston area GREAT.

A podcast for Houstonians who want to engage more with their hometown and learn more about the people driving its growth.

Cruz through HTX

Twenty-six year radio veteran Freddy Cruz has gone indie.


From former special forces operators and CEOs to authors and journalists, join
Freddy as he seeks to learn from some of the highest achieving individuals in the
world. These are stories of grit and blasting through the crucible of life. Stories of
standing up to powerful corporations and defying the odds. Not all of his guests
are authors, but they all have epic stories to share.

Freddy Cruz

She faced death TWICE, each time during childbirth, and she's working to end lupus

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.

Doobie Dogs Pet Taxi owner Ron Velez went from oil and gas and cleaning Airbnbs to shuttling Houston&rsquo;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 <a href="https://doobiedogsus.com/">HERE</a>.
Subscribe on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cruz-through-htx/id1693177880">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2EipITDvfHUHanTmhWDVqp">Spotify</a> and <a href="https://youtube.com/@thefreddycruz?si=WATJcgjHMjja789L">YouTube</a>!
This season of Cruz through HTX is powered by Speke Podcasting. Have an idea for a show? Let's get a conversation started. Start <a href="https://www.spekepodcasting.com/">HERE</a>.
Key Takeaways 
1. How a routine Airbnb route and a doggy daycare sparked the pet taxi idea.
2. The greenlight from Ron&rsquo;s conservative dad that changed his career.
3. Why Houston&rsquo;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 &ldquo;the fun guy&rdquo; shape his daily grind.

Dog Taxi Confessions: Houston Traffic, Giant Breeds, and Second Vans

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.

Freddy explains why he killed Freddy&rsquo;s Huge ASK, how Cruz Through HTX was born, and why this final &ldquo;Powerhouse Pet Owners&rdquo; season is a breakup letter to Houston and a bridge to his new show, <a href="https://www.spekepodcasting.com/yourmic">Your Mic</a>. Burnout, Pod Bros, pets, and what&rsquo;s next for the mic.
Subscribe on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cruz-through-htx/id1693177880">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2EipITDvfHUHanTmhWDVqp">Spotify</a> and <a href="https://youtube.com/@thefreddycruz?si=WATJcgjHMjja789L">YouTube</a>!
This season of Cruz through HTX is powered by Speke Podcasting. Have an idea for a show? Let's get a conversation started. Start <a href="https://www.spekepodcasting.com/">HERE</a>.

The Final Season: Powerhouse Pet Owners and a Proper Goodbye

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.

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 <a href="https://www.cakefinepastry.com/">HERE</a>.
Subscribe on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cruz-through-htx/id1693177880">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2EipITDvfHUHanTmhWDVqp">Spotify</a> and <a href="https://youtube.com/@thefreddycruz?si=WATJcgjHMjja789L">YouTube</a>!
This season of Cruz through HTX is powered by Speke Podcasting. Have an idea for a show? Let's get a conversation started. Start <a href="https://www.spekepodcasting.com/">HERE</a>.
Key Takeaways
1. How a rescued &ldquo;diaper dog&rdquo; 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&rsquo;re literally getting tickets to deliver cakes.
5. Why being &ldquo;meant&rdquo; to own a business shows up most on the hardest days.

She faced death TWICE, each time during childbirth, and she's working to end lupus

Cruz through HTX

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Freddy Cruz

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