South Texas Stories

By Lisa Louis. This episode of South Texas Stories features an interview with Arlene Long, Artistic Director of the Corpus Christi Chorale, and celebrates the 75th year of the Chorale performing choral music in Corpus Christi, Texas.

By Jeff Dillard. This episode recounts the experiences of Corpus Christi musician and promoter Robert Stoner at the Ritz Theatre in the 1970s. His love for live music would later lead him to play a pivotal role in the effort to renovate the Ritz.

Season One explores the history and culture of Corpus Christi, Texas, through music.

By Amanda Kowalski. The House of Rock is a downtown bar and music venue imbedded in Corpus Christi culture. Casey Lain, the owner and operator, explains these connections.

By Charles Prothro. In this episode, we hear about local artist David King discussing the musical culture of Corpus Christi, Texas, and his band The Independent Thieves.

By Nicholas Vela. This episode features Jesse "DJ Diamond" Valdez and the connections between family and music. The local music scene, dependent on DJs, can be used to bring people together in a unique way.

By Ed Warga. In this episode, we hear from Nicholas Fair, an independent musician in Corpus Christi.

The South Texas Stories podcast preserves and shares community history. Season Two explores all sorts of wonderful, funny, touching, and educational local stories. Each episode highlights the rich diversity of this place, its people, and its history. Coming December 2020.

By Zachary Solano. This episode brings you into the world of Judge Robert Pate, a former district judge in Nueces County, Texas. It covers his other ventures in local business and philanthrophy and his distinct perspective and experiences in Corpus Christi, Texas.

By Ava Constant. This episode follows the childhood of my father Anthony Constant, who grew up in Victoria, Texas. His childhood stories reveal a lot about his community, and the overall atmosphere of the United States during the 1950s and 1960s. These are the experiences helped him become a wise and caring father.

By Michael Watson. This episode brings Dr. Ariel Kelley, a history professor at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, to discuss the Battle of Corpus Christi during the American Civil War.

By Rene Ruiz. This episode focuses on Hurricane Celia and shares Martin Sanchez's personal experiences of witnessing Hurricane Celia. He had just turned ten years old when Celia, a category five hurricane, hit Corpus Christi in 1980. Throughout this episode he recalls some of the most memorable moments that he can remember. It was one of the worst hurricanes to have hit Nueces County, resulting in about two billion dollars in damage.

By Richard Quiroz. This episode presents the experiences of Joel Garcia. As a well-known resident, and pastor in Refugio, Texas. Mr. Garcia helped provide shelter during Hurricane Harvey for the residents of Refugio through his church Joy Ministries. This episode details his prior experiences with hurricanes, the impact of Hurricane Harvey on the community, and the critical role the church, and efforts of other residents in assistance after the storm. The impact of the storm, and the community’s response to those challenges are discussed, as well as the past reflection of the storm three years later.

By Shelbylynn Mendive. This podcast follows Erika Vera's experience with the 2008 Hurricane Ike that hit and devastated the US Gulf Coast. Erika lived in Galveston, Texas, prior to the hurricane landfall and shares how this hurricane affected her and her family, and what it was like as a child to experience Hurricane Ike.

By Mia Valdez. This episode tells the story of Mia's grandfather, Carlos H. Valdez, Sr., and his involvement in the Steelworker Union, Local 5022 in Corpus Christi, Texas, while working for Asarco. Asarco was cited many times for hazardous practices that were dangerous to employees and the surrounding environment. This podcast illuminates the impact labor unions have on their workers and the surrounding communities and why Asarco eventually had to shut down operations in Corpus Christi.

By Kenya Zarate. This episode details the life of Jeremiah Baldwin, a young man from Corpus Christi, Texas and his journey throughout higher education. Baldwin believes that education is important and has used this to educate others on different topics such as the Black experience.

By Troy Nessner. This episode introduces local history professor Dr. Mark Robbins, who discusses coming to Corpus Christi, imersing himself in local history, working with the Nueces County Historical Commision and others to do a collaborative history/archeological dig at Artesian Park in Corpus Christi Texas.

By Justin Bucholtz. This episode follows the story of Elena Crawford, a resident of Port Aransas, Texas. She was just starting her senior year of highschool when a life-shattering event took place. Hurricane Harvey hit her little home town and blew away her home in one fell swoop. Hear how she and the rest of her community coped with the lost, and came together to reforge their future.

By Maxwell McClure. This episode explores the study of dolphin genitals, drunk bats, and other fascinating and quirky research projects conducted by Dr. Dara Orbach of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Find out how a woman who yearned for a way to live on the beach found herself running a lab with the largest collection of marine mammal penises in the world!

By Emily Torres. This episode is about my grandfather, Frank R. Torres's life on the railroad. Frank dedicated 38 long working years to the railroad and recounts many special stories, memories, and accomplishments along the way. The railroad holds a special place in Frank's heart not because of his service but how he followed in the footsteps of many other railroaders in our family.

By Nicholas Himes. This episode speaks on the controvery surrounding the Robstown High School mascot 'The Cotton Pickers.' Many Black people have shown disapproval of the mascot in the media. In this episode Mr. Gordon Leavell, an African American man who picked cotton as a child, shares his thoughts and prespective on the mascot.