Podcasts about Central Texas

A little more than a year after catastrophic floods devastated Central Texas, another deluge hit the area. How are residents and the state responding to this new tragedy?

She Was 500 Years Off! The Hilarious Minute-to-Win-It Moment You Have to Hear How far off can one answer be and still have everyone laughing? On this entertaining episode of The JB and Sandy Show, the crew tackles the realities of getting older with a hilarious conversation about unexpected hair growth, eyebrow battles, and Tricia's ongoing “whisker war.” What starts as a relatable discussion about aging quickly turns into one of the funniest exchanges of the morning. The show also dives into the aftermath of Central Texas flooding, with updates on lake restrictions, dam operations, and the remarkable power of moving water. Sandy shares stories about people gathering to watch water rush through Mansfield Dam, while the team reflects on the lasting impact these weather events can have across the region. Plus, in Care Don't Care, the gang uncovers some of the delightfully eccentric requests reportedly associated with William Shatner. From unusual transportation preferences to dressing room demands, the conversation proves that some personalities only get more interesting with age. You'll also hear a fascinating story about Austin firefighters using real-world flood conditions to sharpen their swift-water rescue skills, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the training and dedication that keeps communities safe. And then comes the unforgettable edition of JB and Sandy's Minute to Win It. Contestant Gracie is cruising through the questions until one history question creates an instant classic radio moment. When she confidently misses the year Columbus sailed by about five centuries, the laughter that follows is pure JB and Sandy gold. Memorable Moments: “We're fighting the ear, nose, and eyebrow hair.” Tricia's declaration: “I'm winning the whisker war.” The contestant who was “about 500 years off” on a history question. A hilarious deep dive into William Shatner's larger-than-life personality. Enjoyed the show? Be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with your friends so they can join the fun and catch every unforgettable moment from The JB and Sandy Show. 

https://youtu.be/RI_6ZvdjVuE Matt Andersen, CEO of Westlake Securities, LLC, is driven by a mission to create value that changes lives by helping business owners follow the 4 Steps to Creating Equity Value, intentionally grow their companies, maximize enterprise value, and achieve successful liquidity events. Through strategic planning, disciplined execution, and a purpose-driven approach, Matt has helped companies achieve significant growth while empowering entrepreneurs to build businesses that create lasting financial and personal impact. We explore Matt Andersen’s Reverse Engineer Your Outcomes Framework — Define Your Financial Goal and Timeframe, Design a First 100-Day Plan, Build an Annual Plan, and Adjust and Reset Quarterly. Matt explains why business owners should reverse-engineer their desired financial outcome before creating a growth strategy, how a focused 100-day plan builds early momentum and accountability, and why quarterly adjustments keep organizations on track toward long-term goals. He also discusses how thought leadership, educational content, internship programs, and AI-powered client experiences have fueled Westlake Securities’ growth while helping entrepreneurs achieve private equity-like results without giving up ownership of their businesses. — 4 Steps to Creating Equity Value with Matt Andersen  Good day. Steve Preda here with the Management Blueprint Podcast, and my guest today is Matt Andersen, the CEO of Westlake Securities, LLC, the number one lower middle-market investment bank in Central Texas, focused on advising companies seeking to intentionally grow or obtain liquidity. He’s also the author of Intentional Growth, as you can see behind him on the screen. Matt, welcome to the show.  Hey, Steve. Thanks so much for having me. I’m super excited to be joining you on today’s show.  Yeah. I love the title of the book and the cover. This is exactly what you want to do with companies, right? You intentionally want to grow them, and then you want to grow their value and create great exits, which I’m sure you have a lot to tell us about. Yeah, that’s exactly right. Our business model… Taking a quick step back, I’m CEO of Westlake Securities, as you mentioned, a lower middle-market investment bank. A lot of the companies we work with, we’re really helping them grow. That’s about half our business. The other half of our business is folks who, once they’ve grown and achieved a certain position or value in the organization and have gotten to a certain point in their career, might want to start thinking about liquidity, or maybe an ultimate exit plan for liquidity—not just for their financial tie-up in the business, but also for their time. So that’s the other half of what we do. We help people think through that next step.  Yeah, because you need both, right? If you have a lot of money but no time to enjoy it, that’s not really good. If you have a lot of time but no money, that’s not good either. So you need both.  That’s right. So yeah, the business fits really, really well. For a lot of our folks, we’re with them on very long-term journeys. In some instances, it’s been six, seven, eight, nine, even 10 years for them to grow the organization to a value that’s truly exciting for them, and then help them think about how best to monetize that once the organization has hit a goal based on size and time. Okay. That’s fascinating. So let me take a step back and ask you: what is your personal why, and how are you manifesting it in this business?  Yeah, that’s a great question. I think about it this way. A lot of companies have mission and vision statements. We actually do something a little different. We have a purpose statement. That purpose statement is: We create value that changes lives.Share on X At this point in my career, if you define careers as you would maybe a sporting event, I’m probably in the third quarter of my career.  One of the things that gets me excited every day is a transaction, for instance, that we had about two weeks ago. There were about eight people who had a truly life-changing experience in a positive way. That’s really neat. In addition to those eight people, there was a group of four people who became shareholders for the first time in this organization. It was really neat. Those sorts of conversations are really fun to have. So creating value that changes lives is really important. We tend to think about that holistically too. For our team, we've been fairly blessed with growth.Share on X  Then, if you think about the full cycle back to the community, we typically pick one charitable organization each year, and we try to make an impactful donation to that one charitable organization. So I think, from client to team to community, that holistic vision is what gets me skipping into work every day.  Yeah. I mean, if you can change your clients’ lives and you change your team members’ lives for the better, that’s very powerful. That’s very empowering. Yeah. And then to see that roll through the community is even… Yeah, it’s pretty neat. It’s pretty neat to see.  So that’s the third leg of the stool: the clients, the team, and your community.  That’s right. You’re really embedded in there. My question is, how do you do that? Do you have a framework for changing these lives? Obviously, you wrote a book, so maybe it’s the spine of the book that you might share with us, or maybe another framework. This podcast is all about frameworks.  So what is a three- to five-step process, or maybe three or four ways to look at something, that informs you or your clients? Or it can be anything that helps you streamline things in your business and make things simpler, which our listeners might benefit from and interpret in their own way.  Yeah. I’m a big framework fan, which is part of the reason I was excited to join the podcast, because I think about things that way. Especially if you figure out what works over time, the goal is to replicate that. Just like a manufacturing facility figures out how to make everything from a microchip to a pair of shoes, and they keep doing the same thing repetitively, I think frameworks in business, if they’re given enough flexibility, can be hugely powerful.  I’ve written two books. Completing the Deal is my first book. “Intentional Growth” is my second book. Intentional Growth is really about organizational growth, and the book is full of great frameworks.Share on X But if I were to share the one I believe is the most impactful—and it’s also fairly simple—it would be this: Reverse-engineer your desired outcome upfront.  So often, businesses we come into contact with know they want to grow. They know they want to achieve certain things. But oftentimes, they haven’t done a great job of defining two things: The timeframe they want to do it in, and the level of achievement they want to get to. One of the things we tend to see in business is that people will make a budget, for instance. They’re going to pull in a sales backlog and a CRM report. A customer did X last year, so we’ll just add 4%, and they’ll do Y this year.  We’ll hire a couple of people. That can be a way to budget. But I think the better way to approach budgeting is, once you’ve reverse-engineered the course, to say, “Over the next five years, we’re going to get from here to here.” Then really think about that as a stair-step process, almost like the path behind me. If we need to go from here to here, year over year, how do we actually grab that growth out of the marketplace? How do we make sure that we’re on the right path?  One of the things we spend a lot of time on with companies we're helping grow is this reverse engineering.Share on X It’s a great framework. There’s a lot about it in the book. A couple of really important takeaways, probably the most important one I can share is the timeframe. What we’ve found is that three to seven years is the best timeframe. Anything less than three years starts to feel like there’s not enough time to actually see the seeds you’ve planted bear fruit. Anything longer than seven years…  Well, Steve, seven years is just a long time. It’s hard to predict cycles and things of that nature. By default, absent another driving force, we tend to think in five-year increments. Kind of split the difference. Five years. The other framework we really focus on is picking a financial destination that’s truly impactful. A lot of times, when people think about the stress of business growth, part of the reason it’s stressful instead of exciting is because they’re worried about growing 8% to 10%, or maybe 12%. That’s good growth. It’s nice.  But it’s not exciting. To me, that feels more like a burden than excitement. If you went into your business planning thinking, “Over the next five years, we’re really going to 3X the size of the business, 4X the size of the business, maybe even 5X the size of the business…” Then, in order to achieve that, we need to hit Y growth over the next 12 months.  That really reshapes what might otherwise be a stressful scenario based on anecdotes into something much more exciting and engaging. Those are the two main frameworks: Time and a financial outcome that would truly be exciting. That’s the premise the book starts with, and it’s something we use all the time, every day.  So that’s interesting. If I were to translate it into a three- to five-step framework or process, what’s step number one? Is it defining the financial destination, or is it the timeframe?  So, number one, those two things are probably going to go together. Timeframe and financial outcome. From a framework perspective, first we’re going to set that destination. Then we’re going to move into the other pieces. Step two is likely going to be creating a 100-day plan. Why do we want a 100-day plan?  Because we want to make sure tomorrow is going to be different from today. Again, it’s one of those things where a 30-day plan is too short, and a six-month plan is too long. A 100-day plan is a way to jump-start a growth plan, and we really want to see a few things from it. One is some early wins, because we’re all wired that way. The more we win, the more we want to play the game, right? Yeah. So you do want to have some early wins.  You want to have some visibility. Organizationally, we plan to communicate the goals and objectives of our destination and outcome, what our 100-day plan is, and then accountability. Accountability to outcomes. Those are the three main things we want to see from that 100-day plan, even though there are a lot of details. Step three would be a one-year plan because we really want to say, “Okay, we’ve got this timeframe. We’ve got this destination we want to get to. We’ve got a 100-day plan to jump-start it.  Now we have a one-year check-in.” From that one-year point, in addition to things like KPIs or Rocks—or whatever an organization uses to manage accountability to outcomes—we want to reset the sails every quarter to six months going forward. But the 100-day and one-year plans are really important to making sure we’re off to a good start on our journey to get where we want to be in five years.  Love it. So that’s interesting. It’s more of a bottom-up approach. Some people preach a top-down approach. You do have a top as well because you have a financial destination three to seven years out. That’s fascinating. You also follow the private equity idea of a 100-day plan, so it aligns with that approach too. One of the things I like to talk about with clients is, how can we create private equity without private equity? How can we get private equity results without having to give up a chunk of the pie? So that is fascinating.  Yeah. And that’s a big part of it. Anyone who’s looking for that message is really going to gravitate to this book. What I do tell people is, you don’t have to sell to grow, but you do have to plan. This is a great framework for doing that, based on 27 years of personal experience and 23 years of firm experience. I’ve personally helped 40 companies achieve seven-, eight-, and nine-figure growth in enterprise value, and we’ve closed $5.7 billion in transactions. All of that feeds into this book, which I think people can use to find a better path—and a proven guide—toward growth without having to give up control.  Yeah. I love it. So tell me, Matt, what drives growth in your business at Westlake Securities?  I think there’s a few things that have been helpful to our growth. Number one, we’ve been fortunate to be in markets that are robust. So we do have a bit of a perfect storm going on right now. There’s a lot of capital available. There are a lot of tools available. And we’ve got an aging demographic of business owners. All of those things are creating this perfect storm of either growth or liquidity.  These conversations are happening more now than they ever have in the last 27 years of my career. It’s unbelievable. These conversations went from things people talked about maybe once a year to, for some organizations, getting outreach every week from somebody who wants to talk to them about a growth investment or buying their business. These topics are coming up more and more, and I think in a much more impactful way.  So number one, there are a lot of favorable market dynamics. Number two, we have the history and track record that’s helpful when a business owner is asking, “Can this company really help me grow?” or “Can this company really help me sell?” We’ve got a great track record for that. That track record is built on, number three, our team.  A lot of our people have spent time with Fortune 1000 companies. They’ve worked for major banking organizations, run brands for Fortune 1000 companies, worked in private equity, or worked for other investment banks. So they bring tremendous experience. And then, last, is our process. Part of the reason for creating the two books is to be very transparent about what our processes are and to lead our advisory work by example.Share on X  We want to be transparent in how we think about helping companies either grow or obtain liquidity. I think those four legs of the stool are the reason we’ve been able to grow so much over the last few years.  You say the market is good because of the Silver Tsunami, as some people call it. Yeah. It’s kind of a cliché. And also the abundance of capital. Private equity has a lot of money to spend, as do strategic buyers. So I get that part. I also understand that you have great assets inside the company—your track record, your team, your processes, all of that. Then what happens? Do those people just find you, or do you actually have to intentionally do something to drive the growth?  Well, that’s well said. Just like we preach, we have to practice. Some of the ways we’ve been able to attract companies to our organization are through our digital presence. If you check us out on LinkedIn, we post a lot of great content there. We provide a lot of data. We do a quarterly deep dive by industry on where transactions have been. We share growth tips very openly. We provide downloadable resources.  The books have been helpful. The books have led to speaking opportunities. I speak internationally on the topics of capital raising, growth, and M&A. Lastly, joining awesome podcasts like yours has become one of our 2026 initiatives, and it’s been a lot of fun. It’s been amazing to see the response. Inevitably, somebody emails and says, “Hey, I saw your conversation with Steve. I thought it was pretty cool. Here’s something about my business.  How can you help, or what do you think?” For everyone, we’ve got something. For our ideal client, we obviously have our core services. For folks who are a little smaller, we’ve got a whole suite of workshops that range in cost and time commitment. Then, all the way down to a $17 or $25 book, which we feel is within everyone’s reach.  Part of this—and I’m sure you’re wired the same way—is just a pure passion for helping others find their own form of success. Whether it’s a $17 book, a multimillion-dollar capital raise, or a $300 million sale of a business, everywhere in between, we can provide someone with some element of value if they’re interested in engaging with us in a conversation. So that’s been helpful too.  Yeah, I love it. It’s very smart. You basically have a long-term view and a long funnel. You can connect with people at any stage of where they are and then support them through increasingly intensive ways.  Can I share with you the funniest one that I ever saw coming? Of course. We’ve always been big believers in giving back through university talks and internship programs. That’s been going on for some time, and it really took the next step in 2020 when all the internships were shut down. We were one of the early firms to launch a virtual internship program.  Now we’ve had over 1,000 interns go through our various internship programs, completing them from five different continents. Now those people have graduated. Several of them have been out of school for many years and are building their own careers. It’s been amazing to see that an experience they had when they were 19, 20, or 21 is now paying dividends five to ten years later. That’s one I never saw coming. We always did it as a way to give back. But it's been interesting to see it become a long-term brand-building exercise and a positive way of giving back to the community that has honestly created more opportunities than I ever would have thought.Share on X That’s amazing. So you created all these ambassadors, then, that I think will bring you clients.  You know, that wasn’t probably the intention when we started. But we’ve had people come back and tell us, “Hey, that internship changed the course of my career.” We’ve had parents whose kids got their first job out of school after doing an internship with us say, “Hey, I can’t guarantee you’re going to get the project, but I at least want to offer you the opportunity to participate because I appreciate what you did for my son or daughter during that internship.” So that’s been really cool. Again, it’s this kind of karma, give-back mindset.  Yeah, I love it. That is very valuable. These days, internships are really challenging to come by, so they can be a really valuable building block for young people. So let me switch gears here and ask you another question. What’s one thing that you’re trying to figure out in your business right now?  That’s a great question. We’re laser-focused on a couple of things. I would say one that a lot of businesses are going to share in common is AI and implementing what I’m calling the light side of AI. I feel like there are really three views of AI in the marketplace. One is a group of people who are still asking, “What does AI stand for?” We’ll put them off to the side for a second. Then there’s the light side and the dark side conversation going on.  The dark side is more about automation leading to job elimination. The light side is really about how we elevate the customer experience or the client experience. How do we elevate what our people are doing and delivering every day? That’s really the area we’re focused on. We have a strategy inside our company as it relates to AI, but the simplest way I can describe it is that we're going to be customer-centric—client-centric—in what we do with AI.Share on X  We want to create the best experience for those who engage with us by using better technology to do it. That’s really a major focus for us in 2026. The other focus is making sure that Intentional Growth gets off to a great start. It’s available for pre-order right now. It’s debut week for pre-orders. It hit number one in four categories. It officially launches in October. The book, speaking, workshops—the whole growth initiative—is really important for our firm, but also for the people we come into contact with.  Who wouldn’t want to grow their business and increase its value by $5 million, $10 million, or $50 million over a reasonable period of time? I think most people who decided to go down the entrepreneurial path did so with the hope of creating abundance. The only way to create that abundance for themselves, their customers, their employees, their vendors, and all their key stakeholders is to grow the organization. So AI and Intentional Growth are our two main business challenges and opportunities for the year.  Yeah. That’s great. And hitting number one in four Amazon categories on pre-order, that is actually very rare. So you must be doing something right there. Either you have an amazing PR machine, or the book is just very, very good. Well, I’m hoping it’s the latter—that the book is going to be that good. I do think the first book created a nice foundation. There are thousands of copies in print. It got a lot of great feedback on Amazon. It’s been used by universities, industry groups, and others. So I think there’s a nice nucleus of potential readers for book number two.  I’m really excited because Intentional Growth is going to be much more interactive than the first book. It’s going to include downloadable forms and AI-powered interactive tools at the end of each chapter, so readers can take what they’ve learned in that chapter and immediately translate it into practical tools for their business.  My hope is that it gets into the hands of any business owner or organizational leader—from someone at an early-stage company to someone running part of a large publicly traded company. If they have a real desire to grow and are looking for a better path to do it, my hope is this book ultimately finds its way into their hands. Yeah, definitely. So if people would like to connect with you, obviously they can go to Amazon and buy Intentional Growth by Matt Andersen.  Yeah.  Definitely do that. And where else can they find you?  There are a few places. Book-wise, Amazon first, then all the major retailers—Barnes & Noble, Porchlight, and others. Both books are available now, and Intentional Growth will ship in October. I would encourage people to find us first and foremost on LinkedIn. I do a lot of personal posts there. We also host events. Westlake Securities has a strong presence on LinkedIn as well. Again, we share a lot of events, free content, and free data.  We spend six figures a year purchasing proprietary data and organizing it in a way that’s useful for business owners to understand trends, valuations, what’s happening in the capital markets, the cost of debt, how much equity was invested in private companies last quarter and last year. There’s a lot of great free information available through those two resources. I also do quite a bit of speaking. If you’d like to attend a talk, I speak internationally on capital raising, growth, and M&A.  That’s amazing. So definitely check it out. Check out Matt’s LinkedIn, especially the quarterly market reports. Those are going to be very interesting. I’m sure you’re using your six-figure database to produce some great charts. So check that out. Buy Intentional Growth, and see how it can help your business. I love your framework—the reverse-engineering idea. You really have to know where you want to get to, how much time you have, and then figure out what it takes to get there.  What’s going to be that above-10% exciting growth rate that’s going to 3X or 5X your business? So thank you, Matt, for coming and sharing your wisdom. And if you’re listening out there, make sure you follow us on LinkedIn, subscribe on YouTube and Apple Podcasts, and leave us a review, because every week I bring you an exciting entrepreneur who’s growing their business. So thanks for coming, Matt, and thanks for listening. Thank you, Steve. I appreciate you having me. To everyone listening out there, best of luck until we interact next. Let’s grow. Important Links: Matt's LinkedIn Matt's  website

Plus, there are now multiple independent investigations into last week's deadly ICE shooting in Houston, attorney's for Tanner Horner are asking for a new trial, Dallas police are searching for the people responsible for shooting four victims last night in the Highland Hills neighborhood of southeast Oak Cliff, and more!

President Donald Trump's is expected to discuss the security of US elections tonight, but critics worry it will sow mistrust in the 2020 elections. We'll take you to Central Texas at least one person has died in the catastrophic floods. Prosecutors are pushing back on new FBI claims about the fatal ICE shooting in Houston. The woman at the center of an International Criminal Court sexual misconduct case spoke with CNN. Plus, Trump media is coming up with an early access plan for traders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When building a custom home, it is easy to spend money on upgrades that look impressive during the design process but provide very little value once you move in.In Episode 38 of Building With Breven, Steven and Mike break down 10 custom home upgrades that are worth every penny—and 10 that may waste your budget.They discuss practical upgrades such as wider garages, functional pantries, layered lighting, better windows, improved insulation, outdoor living infrastructure, accessible storage, and future-ready electrical planning.They also explain why homeowners should think carefully before spending heavily on oversized bedrooms, enormous kitchen islands, complicated smart-home systems, trendy permanent finishes, expensive decorative fixtures, and premium cosmetic selections that come at the expense of the home's core construction systems.The biggest takeaway: Spend first on the parts of your home that are difficult, expensive, or disruptive to change later. Cosmetic upgrades can often be replaced or added after you move in.IN THIS EPISODEUpgrades worth considering:• A wider and deeper garage• A functional pantry with outlets and counter space• Thoughtful electrical planning and future-ready wiring• Layered lighting and dimmers• Better windows and intentional natural light• Improved insulation, air sealing, and HVAC design• Accessible storage in practical locations• Outdoor living infrastructure and rough-ins• A well-designed laundry room• Whole-house surge protection and backup-power preparationUpgrades that may waste your budget:• An oversized primary bedroom• A massive bathtub that rarely gets used• Too many complicated smart-home systems• An enormous kitchen island• Too many highly specialized rooms• Excessive built-in cabinetry• Trendy finishes in permanent locations• Expensive decorative fixtures throughout the home• Too much glass without considering orientation• Premium finishes purchased at the expense of windows, HVAC, insulation, drainage, or waterproofingABOUT BUILDING WITH BREVENBuilding With Breven provides an inside look at custom homebuilding, design, construction, budgeting, and the decisions homeowners face when creating a one-of-a-kind home.Breven Homes builds thoughtfully designed custom homes for busy professionals throughout the Central Texas Hill Country.Planning a custom home in Central Texas?Contact Breven Homes to discuss your property, plans, budget, and goals. www.brevenhomes.com

Plus the Rangers make a shocking move mid-season

JOB FAIR-CON is back and bigger than ever! On July 22, 2026, veterans, transitioning service members, spouses, and Central Texas job seekers join us for the third annual JOB FAIR-CON at Kalahari Resorts in Round Rock. With more than 200 employers ready to hire, on-site interviews, career counseling, and resume assistance, you may find your next career opportunity. Learn how the Texas Veterans Commission Employment Services team offers services all year round, to get you ready to take the next step toward a rewarding civilian career.

KTSA News Director Christian Blood breaks down the current flooding situation, emergency response measures, and the challenges facing communities across Central Texas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Market Pulse presented by SmartTouch® Interactive, host Aaron Fichera sits down with Ben Bollman, Director of Business Development at Zonda, to explore one of the fastest-growing regions in the country, the emerging Austin–San Antonio metropolitan corridor.Drawing on Zonda's industry-leading housing data and market intelligence, Aaron and Ben examine the macroeconomic forces driving long-term growth across Central Texas, from sustained population migration and job creation to the influx of major employers reshaping the region's economy. The conversation also explores why both believe the Austin–San Antonio corridor is evolving into one of America's most significant economic hubs.The discussion moves beyond the headlines to provide actionable insights for home builders and developers navigating today's market. Ben shares key data fromZonda on buyer demand, housing supply, pricing trends, and opportunities that can help builders make more informed land acquisition, product, and marketing decisions in an evolving economic environment.Whether you're a builder, developer, marketer, or industry professional, this episode offers valuable perspective on where Central Texas is headed and how data-driven decision-making can position your business for long-term success.

In this episode of From Waterloo to the Alamo, Traci Wilson Turnquist sits down with Wes Wiggington, owner of Foursquare Builders and board secretary at BGiving, for a conversation that moves between craft, community, and the evolution of custom home building in Central Texas. From his early days building vacation homes in Orlando to more than two decades leading one of Austin's most respected custom building firms, this episode unpacks how precision, partnership, and purpose come together to shape homes that are built to last.They dig into the story behind Bluff House, what a great architect builder relationship looks like from the builder's side, the exacting details nobody else would notice but that keep Wes up at night, what most people get wrong about budgeting for a custom home, and how the green building conversation has shifted over twenty years in Texas. Wes also shares his read on where Austin's custom home market is heading, why giving back runs so deep in the Austin building community, and yes, they get into competitive racing and what's in the garage.Rooted in the perspective and global standard of Engel & Völkers, this conversation reflects the craftsmanship, integrity, and vision that define the next era of custom building and real estate across Austin and beyond. If you are building, designing, investing, or dreaming up a home of your own, this is the conversation you want in your ear!

Join Chef Dan Marek in his virtual office as he welcomes all of your questions. From cooking techniques to course-specific questions, to how to turn your cooking passion into profit or simply hearing the perspective of a professional chef, Chef Dan tackled all variety of questions!Dan Marek is a chef educator who has been teaching vegan and vegetarian cooking for over 15 years. At Rouxbe, he is our Director of Plant-Based Culinary and Development where he helps develop content, classes and builds courses for many of our partners.Dan is a board member of Slow Food Austin, the Institute of Child Nutrition, and Conscious Capitalism. He has earned his BA in Journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University and holds certificates in Nutrition from Cornell University.Prior to his role with Rouxbe, Dan worked with Whole Kids Foundation training teachers and food service at schools across the country on nutrition and culinary best practices. He also worked as a Healthy Eating Educator at Whole Foods Market's flagship store in Austin, TX, was a personal chef for some of Austin's elite business people, taught classes in culinary techniques at Austin Community College, The Natural Epicurean, and Le Cordon Bleu.Dan also regularly volunteers cooking or speaking about nutrition for the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, Marathon Kids, Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Austin and Central Texas.You can watch the original video version of this episode on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rouxbe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

How should Texas prepare for rapid growth, extreme weather, and increasing demands on its infrastructure? On this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Texas State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt to discuss the state's response to flooding, water infrastructure, data centers, public education funding, property taxes, and redistricting. Sen. Eckhardt reflects on the aftermath of the devastating Central Texas floods, arguing that while progress has been made, key recommendations on emergency communications and floodplain regulations remain unaddressed. She also explains why long-term investments in water infrastructure and disaster preparedness are becoming increasingly important as Texas continues to grow. The conversation covers: Lessons learned from recent Texas flooding Emergency response and radio interoperability Water infrastructure, drought, and desalination Data centers, energy demand, and water consumption Public education funding and property taxes Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) and school finance Texas redistricting and the state's political future The discussion also explores balancing state and local authority, managing Texas' continued population growth, and how policymakers can prepare for future infrastructure challenges while maintaining affordability for Texans. 00:00 — Intro & Sen. Sarah Eckhardt joins the show 01:51 — Texas flood preparedness one year later 09:47 — Building standards and floodplain development 16:14 — Water infrastructure and drought concerns 21:05 — Data centers and Texas growth 27:00 — Public education funding and ESAs 38:44 — Redistricting and Texas politics 43:26 — Final thoughts Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks Follow us on social mediaX: @Texas_DispatchInstagram: thetexasdispatchLinkedIn: The Texas DispatchTikTok: texas_talks_podcast Find more at The Texas DispatchYour source for state news, policy, and investigative journalism.https://thetexasdispatch.com

*Another case of screwworms is confirmed in Texas.  *Texas A&M AgriLife is producing screwworm kits to help identify screwworms.  *Heavy rains are taking a toll on watermelons in South Texas.   *Drought conditions are improving in the Texas Panhandle.*The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is planning to build new facilities.  *The White House is asking for money to help U.S. farmers.*June was a wet month in Central Texas.  *Elastic therapeutic tape is being used on horses.  

The Texas Newsroom and FRONTLINE (PBS) are collaborating on a new five-part podcast series, After the Flood, an intimate and deeply reported look at the catastrophic Central Texas flooding that killed more than 130 people over the Fourth of July weekend in 2025.

Central Texas residents urging local leaders to take a tougher stance on proposed data centers got a response this week in Hays county, where commissioners approved what they called one of the strongest industrial high-water resolutions in Texas, Travis county district attorney Jose Garza has caught the attention of the lawmakers in the nation's capital as congressmen chip roy and Jim Jordan are among the lawmakers who are demanding that Garza's office hand over records related to interactions with federal immigration authorities, as well as records on the treatment of non-citizen defendants, senator Cornyn says he will play hardball in his final six months in office if he has to as he told Semafor that he told senate republican leadership that in order for him to vote on a 70-billion dollar immigration spending bill, the White House must reimburse Texas for border security spending, and Texas attorney general Ken Paxton is sitting on a 2-percent lead over his democrat senate opponent, James Talarico. 49-percent of 800 likely Texas voters support Paxton for senate, 47-percent are behind Talarico.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

*Wildfires have devastated some Texas Panhandle cattle operations.  *The cotton jassid is a highly destructive pest. *Texas Farm Bureau's Ag Mechanics grant program will award ten $2,500 grants this year. *El Nino is here.  *The South Texas Cotton and Grain Association addressed farmers in Southeast Texas.  *Representatives from the Food and Drug Administration gave Texas lawmakers an update on what they are doing to fight the screwworm. *Central Texas and the Hill Country have been blessed with rain.  *Treatment options for intestinal parasites in cattle are different now than they were several years ago.  

In today's episode, I sit down with Devon Cowan from HuntFit. Devon is a Bowhunter, Athlete, and Land Agent living in Central Texas. We discuss his home farm in Kansas - how they grow big bucks, what's changed over the years, deer management, land management, and more. We try to answer the question, "Can it still be done today?" Please subscribe if you enjoyed the episode.- Get Tactacam Cameras for 15% off use code HA152026 - https://www.tactacam.com/- Get 20% Off Pnuma Outdoors Gear here: https://pnumaoutdoors.com/?rfsn=8534842.ba528a- Use code HNTA15 for 15% off Out On A Limb MFG products! https://outonalimbmfg.com/ - Use code HA10 for 10% VPA Broadheads: vparchery.com - Check out Alberta Professional Outfitters Society for Hunting Alberta: https://www.apos.ab.ca/ -Follow our socials: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@huntersadvantage Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hunters_advantage Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thehuntersadvantage Gmail: thehuntersadvantage@gmail.com

He was working 80 hours every two weeks in a hospital ICU.Open heart surgery patients. Life or death. No room for error.And in the gaps between shifts, sometimes still in his scrubs, he was quietly building a short term rental business that would set him free.In this episode, E sits down with Jeremy Rosen for one of the most honest W2-escape stories this show has ever told.Jeremy joined STR Secrets with 4 properties and a full-time nursing job he loved but knew he had to leave. He went from 4 to 8 to 12 to 20 properties, all while clocking 12-hour shifts at the VA. Then he merged his company into Five Star Vacation Rentals, now running 67 properties across Central Texas, and finally walked away from nursing for good.In this episode: → The exact mindset shift that took Jeremy from sick patients to happy guests, and the nurse's instinct that makes him a better host than most operators will ever be→ How he used his days off, while everyone else scrolled, to prospect, sell, and grow→ The "who not how" decision that broke him out of doing everything himself, and the one hire that changed his entire business→ Why he refused to build in secret, and how speaking his goals out loud actually made them happen→ The honest truth about quitting your W2 that almost nobody talks about, including the strange struggle of suddenly owning all of your own time→ Why "everything is figure out able" is the only belief you need to finally make the leapIf you have a good job you're scared to leave, this is the episode you need to hear.Free 6-step course to start your day right: level.strsecrets.com/pc-bookJoin the community: STR Secrets Facebook Group

He was working 80 hours every two weeks in a hospital ICU.Open heart surgery patients. Life or death. No room for error.And in the gaps between shifts, sometimes still in his scrubs, he was quietly building a short-term rental business that would set him free.In this episode, E sits down with Jeremy Rosen for one of the most honest W2-escape stories this show has ever told.Jeremy joined STR Secrets with 4 properties and a full-time nursing job he loved but knew he had to leave. He went from 4 to 8 to 12 to 20 properties, all while clocking 12-hour shifts at the VA. Then he merged his own company into Five Star Vacation Home Rentals, where he now owns the San Antonio division, part of a portfolio of 70 properties across Central Texas. And he finally walked away from nursing for good.Today, based in San Antonio, Texas, Jeremy focuses on revenue optimization, guest experience, property operations, and scaling high performing vacation rental portfolios.In this episode:→ The exact mindset shift that took Jeremy from sick patients to happy guests, and the nurse's instinct that makes him a better host than most operators will ever be→ How he used his days off, while everyone else scrolled, to prospect, sell, and grow→ The "who not how" decision that broke him out of doing everything himself, and the one hire that changed his entire business→ Why he refused to build in secret, and how speaking his goals out loud actually made them happen→ The honest truth about quitting your W2 that almost nobody talks about, including the strange struggle of suddenly owning all of your own time→ Why "everything is figureoutable" is the only belief you need to finally make the leapIf you have a good job you're scared to leave, this is the episode you need to hear.Connect with Jeremy:Instagram and Facebook: @fivestarvhrEmail: jeremy@fivestarvacationhomerentals.comWebsite: fivestarvhr.comFree 6-step course to start your day right: level.strsecrets.com/pc-bookJoin the community: STR Secrets Facebook Group

What does it take to become a regenerative farmer with no agricultural background? Recorded live at Regenerative Revival in Salado, Texas, the Soil Sisters sit down with David Deitsch of The Moody Goat to talk about building a regenerative goat operation from the ground up. From growing up in suburban Connecticut to managing a thriving herd in Central Texas, David shares the hard-earned lessons, failures, pivots, and mindset shifts that are helping him create a resilient farm business. Whether you're interested in regenerative agriculture, livestock management, grazing systems, homesteading, ranching, or starting a farm from scratch, this episode offers an honest look at what it takes to keep moving forward. Connect with and shop The Moody Goat: Follow David's regenerative farming journey, learn about his goat herd, and discover Moody Goat meat sticks and swag through The Moody Goat website and on Instagram @themoodygoat_ and @moodygoatmeat TIME STAMPS: 00:00 Welcome to Regenerative Revival 01:14 Why regenerative agriculture came first 04:01 The Moody Goat's origin story 06:41 Finding the land in Moody 07:49 Going all in with goats 10:21 Markets and money lessons 15:00 Raising children on the ranch 20:28 Passing a love of land to the next generation 24:18 Dreaming up a rent-a-goat business 25:58 NRCS programs teaser 26:40 Free USDA assistance available to producers 27:47 Regenerative training opportunities 28:31 Learning through community 31:23 Herd-building strategy 33:10 The importance of rest and deferment 35:07 Pivoting through setbacks 36:02 Creating goat meat snack sticks 38:49 How to connect with The Moody Goat 39:57 Why now is the time to start 43:48 Red flags when purchasing your first farm 45:51 The "don't quit" mindset 49:16 The future of regenerative agriculture 51:48 Pride in producing clean food 53:18 Closing remarks

*Texas wheat harvest is 75% done.  *USDA Farm Service Agency county committee nominations are now open.  *The number of screwworm cases now stands at 12.   *There's been a slump in fed cattle prices lately.  *A beef research project from 30 years ago is paying off today.  *Representatives from the dairy industry are hoping to get more access to the Canadian market.  *More rain is falling in Central Texas.  *Difficulty giving birth is common in cows.  

Plus, the deal includes a 14 point Memorandum of Understanding, we're already enjoying the lower gasoline prices around North Texas, heavy rain brings widespread flooding to Central Texas overnight, and more!

The Germans, Czechs, and the Making of Texas I live in Central Texas in an area called the Hill Country. We have an old saying that if you drive far enough through the Hill Country, you'll eventually find three things:a church steeple,a dance hall,and the smell of barbecue smoke drifting across the fields. But behind those familiar, almost stereotypical, Texas scenes lies a deeper story. A story carried across oceans by immigrants who arrived with little more than trunks, tools, family Bibles, recipes, songs, and hope. During the 1800s, thousands of Germans, Czechs, Poles, and other Europeans came to Texas searching for something they could not find in the Old World:land…freedom…and the chance to build a new life. And in doing so, they helped shape the Texas we know today. This is the story of the Germans, the Czechs, and their role in the making of Texas. THE JOURNEY TO TEXAS For many immigrants, Europe in the mid-1800s was a difficult place. Germany was divided into small kingdoms and states. Political unrest swept through Europe after the revolutions of 1848. Economic hardship and land shortages left many families struggling to survive. Meanwhile, in the Austro-Hungarian territories, Czech farmers and laborers faced poverty, overcrowding, and limited opportunity. Then came the stories about Texas. Cheap land.Open skies.Fertile soil.A place where a man might own property for the first time in his life. For many families, the journey began with a crowded ship crossing the Atlantic.Then came the rough Gulf waters to Galveston or Indianola.After that…weeks of travel by wagon, horseback, or simply on foot into the interior of Texas. The Texas they found was not easy. There were droughts.Floods.Disease.Isolation.And the constant challenge of carving homes and farms out of untamed land. But they endured..... This is their story.....

From Apple News In Conversation: On July 4, 2025, catastrophic flooding tore through Central Texas, killing more than 130 people and destroying communities along the Guadalupe River. Aaron Parsley, a senior editor at Texas Monthly, was there — and though he survived, his family suffered a devastating loss. His harrowing account of what happened when floodwaters overwhelmed their house and ripped them apart won the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing. Now he’s out with a new essay and a podcast about what their recovery has looked like. Parsley joined Apple News In Conversation guest host David Greene to talk about grief, the evolution of his faith, and what survival really means.

*Farm groups are reacting to the detection of New World Screwworm in Texas.  *USDA has deployed a strike team to Texas to deal with the screwworm.*Hurricane season is here.  *The opportunity to increase base acres is an opportunity for cotton farmers in the Texas High Plains.  *The Central Texas wheat harvest is wrapping up.*Choosing a supplement for your horse can be complicated.  

In this classic episode Greg Lawson is talking about his book 'Roswell: The After Action Report'. The Roswell Incident is possibly the most investigated and controversial UFO case in history. There are no shortages of beliefs and opinions to the actual events of this unusual happening. Dozens of corroborated witnesses and hundreds of professed witnesses have been interviewed, each with their varying degree of credibility. In Roswell: The After-Action Report, veteran detective Greg Lawson uses forensic statement analysis and his thousands of hours of training and experience to review the cultural influence, historical context, and eyewitness testimony of those closest involved. The results of his review prove once again, citizens should always be skeptical of those in charge. Bio ​Have you ever experienced something you could not explain? A feeling, a presence, a voice or a vision? If so, you are not alone. Millions of people have reported such experiences and they often dismiss them as misunderstandings. Still others hastily attribute them to ghosts, spirits, hauntings, the paranormal or the supernatural. Greg Lawson has traveled to over 40 countries visiting some of Earth's strangest sites and conducting his own investigation of their paranormal histories. Greg is a 30-year law enforcement officer, professional investigator, police academy instructor, college educator, and former expert witness for investigative procedures.  He  also researches and investigates human paranormal experience and locations known for spiritual or unusual activity. He has authored two books on the subject and specializes in providing alternative perspectives to explain human experience. Greg is also a 10-year military veteran with the US Army, Navy, and Air Force, (...yes you can do that...) and is currently a street patrol lieutenant in Central Texas. He uses the thousands of hours of training he has received through his profession and his experience as a detective along with his Masters Degree in Education to study paranormal human experience and physical anomalies. With deployments to Central America, Europe, Northern Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and two Western Pacific sea deployments, Greg is a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and holds an honorary Admiral commission in the Texas Navy. Greg received his bachelors degree in applies arts and sciences and his master's degree in education, specializing in complex adaptive human systems. He is a proud alumni of Texas State University. Go Bobcats! https://www.amazon.com/Roswell-After-Action-Report-Greg-Lawson-ebook/dp/B09GRCPTG1 https://www.authorgreglawson.com/ https://www.pastliveshypnosis.co.uk/ https://www.patreon.com/alienufopodcast https://simonbown.com/ My new book, Aspects of Alien Abduction https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GRRPCT9Y Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

*Screwworms are in Texas.  Now what?  *Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has been found in a Texas dairy.  *The Texas wheat harvest is now 23% complete. *The winter wheat season in the Texas High Plains will be remembered as a crop devastated by drought.  *El Nino will affect this year's hurricane season.  *The EPA is working on the problems with Diesel Exhaust Fluid.  *Summer is creeping into Central Texas.  *Calves are worth a lot of money today, so calf survival rate is more important than ever.

On July 4, 2025, catastrophic flooding tore through Central Texas, killing more than 130 people and destroying communities along the Guadalupe River. Aaron Parsley, a senior editor at Texas Monthly, was there — and though he survived, his family suffered a devastating loss. His harrowing account of what happened when floodwaters overwhelmed their house and ripped them apart won the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing. Now he’s out with a new essay and a podcast about what their recovery has looked like. Parsley joined Apple News In Conversation guest host David Greene to talk about grief, the evolution of his faith, and what survival really means.

In this episode, Claudia Lucchinetti, MD, VP of Medical Affairs and Dean of the UT Austin Dell Medical School, discusses building an AI-native academic medical center, expanding access to advanced care in Central Texas, and integrating research, education, and clinical care into one connected ecosystem.

In this episode of the Inventive Journey podcast, host Devon Miller talks with Michael Timmons, founder of GoodFences.ai, about a career built around solving difficult problems in unexpected places.Michael's journey started in Central Texas, where football taught him teamwork and an early software engineering job introduced him to the power of technology. He went on to earn an aerospace engineering degree from the University of Texas and spent four years working on NASA ground control software for the space shuttle. There, he helped modernize legacy code that traced back to the Apollo era and learned how high-pressure teams make decisions when the mission matters.From NASA, Michael moved into logistics work with American Airlines, where he helped solve complex railroad optimization problems. Later, he reunited with former NASA colleagues and launched a consulting company that ran for 17 years. That business exposed him to national missile defense, energy, insurance, criminal justice, international distribution, and large-scale modernization projects. In other words, Michael did not choose easy puzzles. Easy puzzles apparently did not make the calendar.The idea for GoodFences.ai came from a personal frustration. Michael and his wife bought a home and wanted to install solar panels. They knew the HOA rules, understood the state law, had a vendor selected, and expected the approval to move quickly. Instead, the process dragged on for eight months. Michael eventually joined the HOA board, giving him a front-row seat to both homeowner frustration and board-level inefficiency.That experience revealed a business opportunity. Many HOA architectural requests are repetitive, rule-based, and similar to past approvals. Yet boards, managers, and homeowners often spend hours or months moving them through manual processes. GoodFences.ai was created to automate much of that work, improve consistency, reduce administrative burden, and help communities approve compliant requests faster.Michael also shares practical founder lessons. One of his worst business decisions was buying an expensive tool before the company was ready for it. It looked useful, but timing matters. A powerful tool adopted too early can become a very polished money pit.His rule of thumb for new founders is simple: talk to people. Especially for technical and introverted founders, it is easy to stay heads-down building. Michael argues that conversations are essential because they create feedback, customers, partnerships, introductions, and momentum.This episode is a strong listen for SaaS founders, AI entrepreneurs, HOA professionals, property managers, technical founders, and anyone trying to turn operational frustration into a real company. Michael's journey proves that startup ideas do not always come from glamorous brainstorming sessions. Sometimes they come from trying to install solar panels and realizing the neighborhood approval process needs a software intervention.The most interesting part of Michael's story is that every chapter connects. Aerospace, logistics, missile defense, consulting, and HOA automation all involve systems thinking. They require someone to identify constraints, understand stakeholders, reduce waste, and create a process that works better than the old one. GoodFences.ai is the latest expression of that same skill set, aimed at a market where delays, inconsistent reviews, and volunteer board overload create very real pain. The result is a practical example of AI solving a workflow people actually experience.Learn more about Michael's company at goodfences.ai, and listen to the full episode for a practical look at AI automation, founder resilience, customer discovery, and solving painful business bottlenecks.To chat about this one-on-one, grab a free consult at strategymeeting.com

Interview recorded - 29th of May, 2026On this episode of the WTFinance podcast I had the pleasure of welcoming back Ted Oakley. Ted is the founder and managing partner of Oxbow Advisors, with more than four decades advising high net worth clients across multiple cycles. His highest conviction call for 2026 is not tech and it is not even gold. It is hard commodities and the old economy assets the market has spent the past decade ignoring. During our conversation we spoke about the market, historical comparison to other bubbles, how energy is vastly undervalued, AI capex & valuations, government bonds, precious metals and more. I hope you enjoy!0:00 - Introduction1:26 - Overview of markets and economy2:40 - Historical comparison5:50 - Energy companies undervalued9:07 - Commodities12:26 - AI Capex & valuation17:37 - Government bonds19:59 - Precious metals23:46 - Market correction24:51 - One message to takeawayTed Oakley is Managing Partner and Founder of Oxbow Advisors. With more than forty years of experience in advising high net worth clients in the investment industry, Oakley implements the firm's proprietary investment strategies and the “Oxbow Principles” to provide a unique investment perspective. He is a frequent guest on FOX Business News, Bloomberg Radio, KITCO News, Cheddar TV, Yahoo Finance, and many more.Mr. Oakley is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). He is a member of the Austin Society of Financial Analysts. He is also a Partner of Herndon Plant Oakley Ltd., an investment company. He is a Board Member of Texas State Aquarium, American Bank, and American Bank Holding Company. Mr. Oakley is a United States Army Veteran.Mr. Oakley began his career in Dallas, Texas, over 35 years ago. He is the author of nine books: You Sold Your Company, $20 Million and Broke, Rich Kids Broke Kids – The Failure of Traditional Estate Planning, Crazy Time – Surviving the First 12 Months after Selling Your Company, Wall Street Lies, Danger Time, My Story, The Psychology of Staying Rich, and Your Money Mentality.Mr. Oakley's primary philanthropic interest is helping children. He is Chairman Emeritus and Founder of the Foster Angels of South Texas, the largest foster child foundation in South Texas, as well as Chairman Emeritus and Founder of Austin, Texas-based Foster Angels of Central Texas. Also, President and Founder of Advocates for Foster Children Foundation.Ted Oakley - Website - https://oxbowadvisors.com/Twitter - https://twitter.com/Oxbow_AdvisorsLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ted-oakley-08444a32/YouTube - @OxbowAdvisors WTFinance - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/67rpmjG92PNBW0doLyPvfniTunes -https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wtfinance/id1554934665?uo=4LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-fatseas-761066103/Twitter - https://twitter.com/AnthonyFatseas

The Dome at Blueberry Hill, in Southern Illinois. The Farrs explain relocating from Central Texas after friends moved to the area, seeking a slower pace of life, more family time, and a better school system, and deciding to leave high-paying jobs to become their own bosses. They describe evolving from early ideas like canvas tents and cabins to a fully insulated geodesic-style dome assembled largely by themselves, designed with minimal, nature-focused interiors, a panoramic window, loft sleeping, kitchenette, bathroom, and year-round comfort. They detail the secluded two-acre property with a game barn, swings, and nearby draws like the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, Giant City State Park, Cobden, orchards, and trails. They discuss using guest feedback, five-star reviews, and consistent social media marketing, share lessons on working as spouses and entrepreneurs, and preview plans to expand with two additional units in Union County.Recorded at EThOs Small Business Incubator and Co-working Spaces in Marion, Illinois.https://members.ethosmarion.org/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTOur guest: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1269628820773673911?source_impression_id=p3_1779908464_P3JpK7b3dU6q0uKh

In this episode of As the Drum Turns, Jeff & Lora cover a BBQ-fueled trip to Central Texas and what rising diesel prices mean for the company and the economy.

“Are We Losing Our Edge—or Just Our Direction? Hilarious Truths, Storm Chaos & A Nostalgic Comeback You Didn't See Coming”  “Are we becoming too soft… or just overthinking everything?” That question sparks one of the most unexpectedly hilarious—and oddly honest—conversations in this episode of The JB and Sandy Show. From the jump, the crew—JB, Sandy, and Tricia—bring the laughs with Tricia's now fan-favorite “first thing that made me laugh,” delivering a perfectly sharp one-liner: “Your account is overdrawn… well so are your eyebrows, but here we are.” It's the kind of playful sass that sets the tone for a morning full of relatable humor and quick wit. But things quickly shift into a mix of absurd, nostalgic, and thought-provoking moments. The gang dives into a surprisingly passionate debate about modern trends—everything from bold eyebrows to whether men coloring them is crossing a line. Sandy's declaration hits hard and hilariously: “Being bald and having a bad day is better than having a great day with a man bun.” That leads into the now-legendary “Rules for Real Men” segment—equal parts tongue-in-cheek and oddly philosophical—with standout gems like: “Directions are for cowards.” “If you're going pink, go pink… don't try to sneak in with salmon.” Meanwhile, the energy shifts as the team shares wild real-life stories, including a man who survived being lost in the Thailand wilderness for a week… only to be discovered playing a saxophone in a cave. Yes, really. Closer to home, the episode captures the power of Central Texas weather after overnight storms bring intense winds and damage across the area—reminding listeners just how unpredictable life can be, even while you're asleep. And then comes the feel-good nostalgia: a beloved pizza chain is making a retro comeback, bringing back classic dine-in vibes, arcade games, and family-style experiences. It sparks a bigger conversation about slowing down, reconnecting, and why some things are worth revisiting. The episode wraps with uplifting local insights—from Central Texas cities ranking among the best places to live, to encouraging signs that rent prices in Austin are finally easing. It's a mix of humor, heart, and hometown pride that makes this show feel like catching up with old friends.  Why You'll Love This Episode: Laugh-out-loud one-liners you'll want to repeat all day Nostalgic throwbacks that hit you right in the childhood Real, relatable conversations about life today Unexpected stories that make you say, “Wait… what?!”  

“We May See It… But Do We Need It? The Costco Reality Check You Can't Ignore” That simple question turns into the ultimate test of willpower in this wildly relatable episode of The JB and Sandy Show—and if you've ever walked into a warehouse store for one item and walked out $500 lighter, this one's for you. JB and Sandy kick things off with a hilarious deep dive into the Costco effect, sharing a surprisingly powerful mantra that could save you from your next impulse-buy spiral. Sandy's unforgettable “Ode to Costco” steals the show, painting a vivid (and painfully accurate) picture of bulk-shopping chaos with lines like: “You enter for just toothpaste… then leave with a kayak, six muffins, and a 60-pound pie.” It's comedy gold—and maybe a little too real. The episode also taps into hot topics and everyday dilemmas, from whether the FIFA World Cup experience is worth the massive crowds to the charm of keeping things local and simple. Sandy shares a personal take that might surprise sports fans, while the crew weighs in on what truly makes an event memorable. Plus, there's a mix of nostalgia and current trends—from iconic restaurant throwbacks making a comeback, to quirky cultural observations (including a moment that left everyone stunned by a certain TV star's real accent). And just when you think it couldn't get more off-the-cuff, JB introduces his tongue-in-cheek “rules” that spark plenty of laughs—and maybe a little debate. You'll also hear about wild Central Texas weather, the chaos it caused, and how the community is bouncing back—adding a real-life, local heartbeat to the episode. Memorable Moments & Quotes: “We may see it… but we don't need it.” “You enter for just toothpaste… then leave with a flat screen and an aluminum shed.” “Directions are for cowards.” 

Stay informed on current events, visit www.NaturalNews.com  - Fossil Water Depletion and Its Impact on Central Texas (0:11) - Ogallala Aquifer and Its Significance (2:41) - Water Usage Statistics and Depletion Rates (6:27) - Impact on Agriculture and Future Projections (9:13) - Data Centers and Increased Water Demand (13:04) - Challenges in Water Management and Future Scenarios (17:37) - Environmental and Economic Implications (47:58) - Alternative Energy and Water Solutions (48:17) - Data Centers and Advanced Technologies (48:38) - Conclusion and Future Outlook (1:17:26) - Anti-Human Agenda and Energy Crisis (1:17:41) - Social Engineering and AI Manipulation (1:29:06) - Data Centers and Environmental Impact (1:30:41) - Simulation Theory and AI Superintelligence (1:33:15) - Global Famine and Energy Crisis (1:37:32) - AI Control and Human Extermination (1:42:00) - Technological Weaponization and Surveillance (1:48:33) - Food Supply and Economic Impact (1:53:17) - AI Automation and Job Displacement (2:18:40) - Preparedness and Future Outlook (2:26:04) Watch more independent videos at http://www.brighteon.com/channel/hrreport  ▶️ Support our mission by shopping at the Health Ranger Store - https://www.healthrangerstore.com ▶️ Check out exclusive deals and special offers at https://rangerdeals.com ▶️ Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed: https://www.naturalnews.com/Readerregistration.html Watch more exclusive videos here:

In today's episode, we sit down with Taylor 'Tank' Rost. He is a bowhunter, archery tech, Christian, and father from Central Texas. Taylor has been working at the famous Archery Country in Austin, TX, for nearly a decade. We quiz him on the secrets of shooting a bow accurately, which includes aiming, working a trigger release, arrow setups, tuning, and more! If you enjoy the episode, please make sure to subscribe and hit the bell notification. - Get Tactacam Cameras for 15% for HA152026 - https://www.tactacam.com/-- Get 20% Off Pnuma Outdoors Gear here: https://pnumaoutdoors.com/?rfsn=8534842.ba528a- Use code HNTA15 for 15% off Out On A Limb MFG products! https://outonalimbmfg.com/ - Use code HA10 for 10% VPA Broadheads: vparchery.com - Check out Alberta Professional Outfitters Society for Hunting Alberta: https://www.apos.ab.ca/ -Follow our socials: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@huntersadvantage Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hunters_advantage Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thehuntersadvantage Gmail: thehuntersadvantage@gmail.com

*The Trump Administration is thinking twice about interfering in the beef market.   *The Wexford Ranches of South and West Texas are recognized for their conservation work.  *More screwworm cases have been confirmed in northern Mexico. *Farmers in South Central Texas held a legislative ag day.  *The new growing season is just beginning in the Texas Panhandle. *E15 legislation is moving forward.  *Central Texas is currently in a wet weather trend.  *Mules are different from horses in many ways.  

Former President Barack Obama made a surprise stop in Texas. We'll dig more into what his appearance might mean for Democrats heading into the midterms.The number of students in Texas public schools dropped by tens of thousands at the beginning of this school year. We'll look into why.Plus, another Texas-based company is also now making […] The post Pulitzer-winning writer reflects on loss and survival in the Central Texas floods appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Could You Really Outrun Cops… in a Garbage Truck? Chaos, Cars & “Does That Make Me Crazy?” — Today's Can't-Miss JB & Sandy Show Could you honestly think you'd get away from police… in a full-size garbage truck? That's the jaw‑dropping real-life moment that kicks off a wildly entertaining episode of The JB and Sandy Show, packed with laugh‑out‑loud stories, instant nostalgia, and listener confessions that'll make you ask, “Okay… am I the weird one?” 

Nate is back from a busy week at Social Media Marketing World, learning about what the top marketers are up to. We discuss some of the takeaways. Plus, there's plenty of other tech news, tips, and picks to get caught up on. And don't worry, the hit game Within Reach is back. Watch on YouTube! - Notnerd.com and Notpicks.com INTRO (00:00) iPhone Crash detected SOS (04:15) Quarterly results are out, who cares (10:20) MAIN TOPIC:  State of Social Media Marketing (11:05) DAVE'S PRO-TIP OF THE WEEK: Apple Music Top Charts (28:10) JUST THE HEADLINES: (34:00) GameStop offers to buy eBay for $56 Billion ChatGPT became so obsessed with goblins that OpenAI had to intervene Robots are building clay homes in Central Texas using dirt from the ground Some children are drawing on fake moustaches to bypass online age checks Oxygen made from Moon dust for first time Apple Vision Pro used in world-first cataract surgery Electrical current might be the key to a better cup of coffee WITHIN REACH! Dave 5-3, this is round 10 Nate Goes First (36:40) TAKES: Bad Apple Rumors (43:10) Apple reportedly questioning whether iPhone should drop MagSafe Apple has reportedly 'stopped work on the Vision Pro' — here's what we know U.S. senators ban themselves from prediction markets trading (48:30) AI agent deletes company's entire database in 9 seconds, then confesses (49:40) BONUS ODD TAKE: Cursor Camp - Neal.fun (50:25) PICKS OF THE WEEK:  Dave:  I created Star Wars out of Cardboard - Zach King (53:25) Nate: Soda Can Opener Set, 10PCS Easy Tab Opener and Drink Protector with Reusable Complete-Cover Plastic Can Toppers, Fits Coke, Beer & Aluminum Beverage Cans, 5 Colors Lids for Party, BBQ, Camping (56:05)

In the spring of 1997, seven-year-old DaNydia “Nee-Nee” Thompson vanished just steps away from her elementary school in Killeen, Texas. What began as a confusing absence quickly escalated into a full-scale search involving family, volunteers, soldiers from nearby Fort Hood, and law enforcement across Central Texas.Witnesses reported seeing a man call DaNydia by name before carrying her away in broad daylight. Despite thousands of tips and an intensive search effort, no trace of her was found, until eight days later, when her remains were discovered in a rural ditch outside the city.Nearly three decades later, DaNydia's case remains unsolved.Investigators believe they may know who is responsible, but the key to justice may still lie with someone who has yet to come forward.If you have any information about the abduction and murder of DaNydia Betty-Jacqueline Thompson, please contact Bell County Crime Stoppers at 254-526-8477.You can support gone cold and listen to the show ad-free at https://patreon.com/gonecoldpodcastFind us at https://www.gonecold.comFor Gone Cold merch, visit https://gonecold.dashery.comFollow gone cold on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, and X. Search @gonecoldpodcast at all or just click https://linknbio.com/gonecoldpodcast#JusticeForDanydiaThompson #ChildAbduction #Killeen #KilleenTX #Texas #TX #TexasTrueCrime #ColdCase #TrueCrimePodcast #Podcast #Unsolved #MissingPerson #Missing #Murder #UnsolvedMurder #UnsolvedMysteries #Homicide #CrimeStories #PodcastRecommendations #CrimeJunkie #MysteryPodcastBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/gone-cold-texas-true-crime--3203003/support.

Under the weather, dealing with allergies and heavy rain - but the show must go on. Renae recaps MC'ing the disco-themed CASA of Central Texas gala, and there's a wedding story (and a photo) for the ages… told in a not-so-safe-for-work way. Let's just say it was the moment Steve knew Captain Evil was the ONE.

The First Elephants and 100 Year Old Yellow Donuts!JB, Sandy, and Tricia kick things off with a thought-provoking look back at the very first YouTube video ever posted.

Steve went to the Red Games, and was treated like a superstar. The couple talks a little sports, shares an incredible veteran story, and breaks down how a certain someone got hacked. Plus, Renae will be attending the CASA of Central Texas gala — if you'd like to support this great cause, visit https://www.casacentex.org/.

Christopher Watters didn't just have a slow start - he had a full-on crash. Bad investments, empty bank accounts, and a reality check that forced him to rebuild from scratch. Somewhere along the way, he figured out a system that works and we'll talk about what actually turned things around and how most agents could avoid making the same mistakes he made. If you're interested in hearing ways to fix one of the biggest gaps in the industry, you won't want to miss this episode.   Key takeaways to listen for What Chris learned after going broke in his 20s (and why it still matters) The difference between "internet leads" and high intent leads Why waiting 12–24 months for a deal to close should be a red flag How most agents are being taught the wrong things about lead generation An app that'll make your life as a real estate professional easier   Resources mentioned in this episode Landman (TV Series 2024– ) The Million Dollar Real Estate Team by Chris Watters & Bradley Pounds National Association of REALTORS®   About Christopher Watters Christopher has been a trusted real estate advisor to over 3000 families across Central Texas for the past 15 years. Giving him a level of market expertise that indirectly creates an enormous competitive advantage for his clients. He has been recognized by Inc5000, Wall Street Journal, and several local publications as the top broker in Central Texas.   Follow Christopher Website: Watters International Realty | Realsynch | TABLE | Performance Enforcement Systems for Real Estate Teams Instagram: @christopherwatters Contact Number: (512) 567-1597 Email: chriswatters@wattersinternational.com   About Leigh Brown Leigh Brown is a keynote speaker and leadership expert who helps organizations navigate growth, conflict, and change with clarity and courage. Her message resonates with leaders facing real-world pressure—whether that's housing challenges, organizational friction, or cultural shifts. Her latest book, Next Is Now, equips leaders to stop reacting and start leading with intention.