In Episode 41 of Downtown Depot, show host Austin Meek interviews Mary Duty. Mary is the chair of the McLennan County Democratic Party, a longtime Waco ISD teacher, and a partner with her husband in the famous local favorite, Poppa Rollo's Pizza. Before their conversation, Austin recaps last week's 1 Million Cups event featuring a panel of insightful female entrepreneurs, and he reviews a new book, "Our Towns: A 100,000 Mile Journey into the Heart of America," to ascertain what other cities across the country can teach about Waco.

Inside the Episode:

0:40 - Recap of the all-female business owner panel at 1 Million Cups
3:57 - Why young Americans are moving to small(er) cities like Duluth and Fresno
6:36 - Mary Duty's Waco history
7:11 - Baylor in the 1960s
8:46 - How Poppa Rollo's got rolling
10:00 - Family business
11:33 - Politics through Poppa Rollo's
13:25 - Benefits of a two-party system
14:43 - Addressing racial inequality in our communities
17:16 - Her experience teaching in Waco ISD
18:55 - Success in mixed classrooms
20:16 - Developing diverse communities
20:46 - Memories of segregated Waco
22:47 - Changes in Waco in the late 60s
25:05 - Focusing on the positives