In this episode of Waiting Tables, Nolan West sits down with Dr. Ashley Owen, Director of Counseling Services at Louisiana Tech University, to talk about service in its many forms. From growing up in Farmerville and the Louisiana Watermelon Festival, to pageantry, mentorship under the late Freeman Stamper, and leading mental health care on a college campus through and beyond COVID, Dr. Owen shares a powerful story about purpose, vulnerability, and showing up for others.

This conversation explores how service shapes leadership, why mental health access matters, and how small moments of mentorship can ripple into lifelong impact. Rooted in North Louisiana but relevant everywhere, this episode is a reminder that some of the most meaningful work happens far from the spotlight.