Podcasts about South Padre Island

Send us Fan MailWelcome back to the Ready Set BBQ podcast, your go-to destination for the latest and most exciting happenings around the world! In this episode we talk about WNBA, Sophie Cunningham, Perez Hilton, Hall of Fame, Beach BBQ, Salmon Tacos, Fantasy Football, Wrestling, and Nashville.  WNBA: Some male players want to claim their transgender to turn the WNBA upside down, Sophie gets clotheslined in a game. Perez Hilton:  The former biggest influencer has a scary live video Hall of Fame: We talk about the NFL hall of fame. Beach talk: We talk about our annual beach trip and the shenanigans that went down 20:30 mins: BBQ Time Beach BBQ: Johnny throws down the valley trinity on the beach . Salmon Tacos: We cook up some smoked salmon tacos on the pellet smaokerJoe's Oyster Bar: shoutout to Joe's Oyster bar 30-45 mins: More Football Talk Fantasy Football: it's that time a year again Wrestling: We talk about wrestling and upcoming events Nashville: Our next trip is to Nashville and we invite all the buckle bunnies out Etsy/ShopReadySetBBQ - EtsyFacebook Pagehttps://www.facebook.com/readysetbbqFeedspothttps://podcast.feedspot.com/barbecue_podcasts/Etsy/Shop ReadySetBBQ - EtsyFacebook Page https://www.facebook.com/readysetbbqFeedspot https://podcast.feedspot.com/barbecue_podcasts/

The TMG Hospitality Trailblazers welcomes the latest addition to the series, Kim Wootteon, Sr. VP of Commercial Strategy at Kampgrounds of America, Inc. to discuss the outdoor hospitality landscape and how artificial intelligence and technology are playing a key role in connecting different generations of travelers to the KOA vast portfolio of properties. Ryan Embree: Welcome to Suite Spot, where hoteliers check in and we check out what’s trending in hotel marketing. I’m your host, Ryan Embree. Hello, everyone. Welcome to another episode of The Suite Spot. This is your co-host, Ryan Embry. Cassady Quintana: And I’m your co-host, Cassady Quintana. Ryan Embree: We’re excited to have you here with us for another edition of our TMG Hospitality Trailblazers series. We’ve been running this series for quite a while, paving those management companies, individuals that are paving a way into the future for hospitality, which feels like is changing on a weekly basis. I’ve been really looking forward to this episode. A familiar face and voice with us. It’s the first time you’re joining us virtually. Kim Wootteon, Senior Vice President, Commercial Strategies at Kampgrounds of America. Kim, thank you so much for joining us back on The Suite Spot. Kim Wootteon: Yes, it’s great to see you both. Thanks for having me today. Ryan Embree: Yeah, we’re gonna have a super fun conversation. You have an incredible brand. We can’t wait to jump in. But before we start talking about Kampgrounds of America and KOA, I wanna start because we missed it when we were in Arlington at the Digital Transformation Summit of getting a little bit about your hospitality background and journey that led you to such a cool position at KOA. Kim Wootteon: My kind of career path has been quite interesting. It’s really led to the role I have today. So the first 12 years of my career was spent in retail. And for all of you millennials, I started with PacSun. I was an OG, skate and surf lifestyle fanatic. And I worked in retail for 12 years and really learned operations, marketing, and quite frankly, leadership. PacSun was a really great people-centric company. And it’s really where I got my foundation for leadership and my drive for results. And then I transitioned for retail into the more traditional hospitality sector and worked for four years with Marshall Hotels and Resorts, leading sales, marketing, and diving into revenue management. And then was recruited by a company called Bluewater Development, who was really pioneers within the outdoor hospitality industry and very traditional owners in the indoor hospitality industry. So great experience. I was introduced to KOA with them and the entire glamping and camping sector of hospitality, which was super exciting. And then also got to work with some really great brands such as Marriott and Hilton and IHG and independent properties, independent campgrounds. It was quite an eclectic mix of properties, that I got to support in sales, marketing, and revenue. And I joined KOA about five years ago, leading marketing at the local level. And in 2022, we established the commercial strategy team at KOA, and, I now oversee revenue management, local marketing or field marketing, retail, distribution, and sales across the entire KOA portfolio, both our owned assets and our franchise locations, and support for KOA, Inc. as well. Ryan Embree: So this is why I love this question so much, because we get such an eclectic melting pot of backgrounds of hospitality professionals, maybe starting in retail. I hear F&B a lot recently. And then you go from the brands, you go, outdoor hospitality, and you get this big melting pot, and it kinda defines who you are as an industry professional, but also gives you, I think, an appreciation of some of those other places that you’ve been or even properties which can span from the giant resorts that we’ve seen all the way to, maybe it is a campsite where it’s a lot more local and kinda community and, and tight-knit feeling. Kim Wootteon: Absolutely. Absolutely. I’ve enjoyed my journey. It allows me to bring perspective to the work we do every day that is unique. And we’ve done a really great job at KOA of hiring a team of leaders and a team of people, in the field with really diverse backgrounds, which I think is a great compliment to the diversity across our portfolio. Cassady Quintana: Yeah, I think it’s interesting because you talk about this new team that you guys have created at KOA and the things that you’re developing and introducing into this outdoor hospitality. But for our listeners who may not know too much about KOA, we have a lot of hotel listeners. So if you can just give us a little bit of background about the brand and how it’s found its way to becoming one of the number one outdoor hospitality leaders. Kim Wootteon: So KOA was founded in 1962 by Dave Drumm in Billings, Montana. He saw this surge of travelers heading to the world’s fair in Seattle, and he opened the Billings Campgrounds, on his property along the Yellowstone River. And today, Kampgrounds of America is the largest system of privately owned campgrounds across the US and Canada with over 500 locations. We have 50 locations that are owned and operated by KOA, and 450 plus locations that are franchised. It’s a really interesting segment or vertical within the hospitality industry. Incredibly diverse portfolio, incredibly diverse guests. And we’re really fortunate to be the leader within this segment of the industry. Ryan Embree: And we mentioned at the top of this episode, this is our TMG Hospitality Trailblazer series. Now, I don’t think there is a much more fitting brand than KOA as far as being a trailblazer when you, when you think about that term, but I’ve been surprised to learn from getting to know you and the KOA brand of the different modern way that we kind of talk about trailblazers in our industry. And so, Kim, you and your team have been doing some incredible work. We’re gonna mention it in this episode, but what do you think makes the Kampgrounds of America brand a true embodiment of trailblazers and trailblazing in our industry right now? Kim Wootteon: It starts really with our vision at KOA. And our vision is to be the world leader in defining and advancing the business and experience of outdoor hospitality. And that’s been a focus for our company for years. We have taken a really unique approach to, I’d say, the traditional hospitality industry. We understand camping, we understand hospitality, and we are really committed to being the leader within not just the outdoor hospitality space, but the overall hospitality space in general. And it really starts with knowing our guest. And we are fortunate. We have tons of first-party guest data. We have years and years of history. And we’re known in our segment of the industry for the research we do to really better understand our guest and how our guest changes and what they expect. So it’s a really unique advantage. And the research we provide is not just for KOA and our franchisees, but it’s for the entire industry. And trailblazing shows up in a variety of ways, almost every decision that we make as a brand. So from the guest experience standpoint, we’re launching a new koa.com website that’s really powered by AI and focused on personalization and trip planning and flexible cancellation policies and the guest’s ability to manage reservations. So some of the more traditional things that you would see in the hospitality industry, but with some unique features that are custom to how guests like to camp. From an organizational structure standpoint, we have a commercial strategy team, which we really are the only one in the industry that has a full commercial strategy arm. And we have an AI team. We built our AI department at the beginning of this year, and that team continues to grow and really focus both internally and externally on how we can use AI to enhance the employee experience and the guest experience. And then within outdoor hospitality, technology has kind of always been a little bit of an opportunity. We don’t necessarily follow some of the mainstream tech choices that you see in indoor hospitality. So our focus has really been how do we align with what works well within indoor hospitality? We’ve been exploring OTA integrations and an RMS integration and enhanced text messaging capabilities and housekeeping modules to help operations be more efficient. It’s about really how can we be the first in the outdoor space to align most closely with what works in indoor hospitality, and then try to address the points of friction where we can that are really unique to outdoor hospitality. Cassady Quintana: I love that you mentioned this balance of outdoor hospitality and what that means to people, but also finding those opportunities for technology because that is the trend these days, right? Is AI this, AI that, and how can we bring in that technology? And we know that KOA has built such a recognizable brand in outdoor hospitality. So how do you guys find that you’re balancing and maintaining what Dave built back in the ’60s, that trusted legacy of what KOA is with continuing to try and attract a younger generation or maybe people that have never been camping before? Kim Wootteon: It is a really fine balance that is not easy. We truly work at it every day and we’re really, really fortunate to have such a legacy brand and such a trusted brand. And so it’s really this balance of how do we stay rooted in our core values and our mission with connecting people to the outdoors and each other while meeting guest expectations for who the camper is today? And so, we see participation in camping across all generations, which is really fascinating. In 2025, participation among adults, 65 or older, reached its highest level in eight years. So we’re seeing this rebound in the boomer population. 25% of all new campers in 2025 were boomers. And at the same time, younger generations, particularly millennials, continue to make camping a really meaningful share of their leisure travel. So it’s this ongoing challenge of how do we attract and retain campers? It’s the same challenge everybody has in our industry. And then keeping existing campers and getting new ones to come back. It’s really that frequency question. We’ve seen some shifts in frequency over the past several years. Our more legacy campers used to take two, three, four trips a year. And we’re seeing that frequency diminish slightly. New campers come and experience it. And maybe don’t, maybe don’t camp again in the same year. It may take one camping trip a year. So that’s a unique challenge our industry is navigating. But we do a lot of research to understand what inspires each generation to camp, and we work really hard to deliver memorable experiences to keep them coming back. But I think the thing that is consistent across all generations and what really matters most to campers, whether they’re new or they’re legacy campers, there’s some core foundational items that we really pride ourselves in across the KOA system. So safety and security is one, cleanliness and quality. We have a really rigorous quality assurance program, and we visit every single campground every single year to ensure each campground is meeting quality assurance standards. And we’re okay to say goodbye to those campgrounds that maybe aren’t meeting our standards. Campers are looking for some self-guided recreation. So if they want to be in the outdoors and really utilize their time as they see fit, the amenities and the recreation continue to play a critical role in that decision-making process. Pet friendliness is really critical and so many people in outdoors love to camp with their pets. And so it’s vital that all of our properties be really pet-friendly. And we have pet-friendly accommodations, pet walks, and camp canine parks. Pets are, are really an extension of our guest base, truly. And then basics like clean laundry, clean restroom facilities, clean laundry facilities, all the essentials that are needed for a great camping experience. Ryan Embree: You definitely have the advantage of a memorable experience on your end, right? I think that has been the knock on the indoor hospitality space, is that sometimes it’s your hotel stay or experience there might not be the most memorable part of a trip versus camping feels like something, if done right, and the quality is there, that is a memory that’s not just gonna stick with you for a year that you might just tell a couple people about, but maybe decades. Maybe it becomes a family tradition, and I’m sure you have some incredible stories to share there. But as I mentioned at the top of this episode, Kim, we had the pleasure of meeting you in Arlington, Texas at the Digital Transformation Summit and Hospitality and Hotels. And again, from what I knew about Kampgrounds of America then and what I know now, it was like kind of one of those spaces where I was like, “Well, I wonder, I wonder what KOA is doing in this space.” And then I got to hear your keynote and I was blown away. But it was also one of the most fascinating conversations I had at that event because of the relationship with technology where some of your guests might be looking for an escape from that technology while others kind of see it as this is the baseline and maybe WiFi isn’t a tech- technology to them. Maybe that’s just a standard for them. So it’s so interesting. It’s fascinating. I’m sure it’s that balance what you’re talking about, Kim, but you also have to balance between the guest and you also have 450 franchisees out there, right? And you’re an owner yourself of 50 properties. So I wanna get into both of those kinda spectrums. One is, what are you seeing the guests, their relationship with technology when it comes to KOA? And then maybe you can speak to the owner side of it, of are you hearing owners wanting to implement more technology or are they kind of resisting that when you’re saying, “Hey, let’s start to look at these new kind of maybe fancy technological updates.” I know there’s a packed question there, so. Kim Wootteon: Yeah, no. And lots to unpack within that question. So let’s start with the guest first and really the unique expectations that come from our campers. And while historically, camping has been a way of a form of leisure travel where you can kind of disconnect from everything that’s going on in daily life and really spend time in the outdoors, nearly half of all campers, about 47% site wifi as very important. So we have learned over the years that wifi is a utility. It is not an amenity anymore. It is a price of admission expectation for campers. Technology and remote work is still shaping camping behavior. And then Gen Z is the most likely to work while camping. So, we cater our experiences to every generation. And so Wi-Fi becomes a critical, critical component. While we’ve seen a slight decline in work camping, with people going back to the office and those just individual changes, it’s still really important. And it, what’s really unique is new campers, and again, kind of new campers, 25% of all new campers last year were boomers. So when we think about new campers, they are more likely than experienced campers to prioritize connectivity. So about 50% of new campers versus 43% of experienced campers. So access to technology directly influences length of stay and the experience. So we have focused heavily on tech and not just wifi at the campground, but how technology is used throughout the guest journey. Have we made it really easy for them to book and find the campground that meets their experience expectations? What’s the communication with the guests look like pre and post, or pre-during, quite honestly, and posts say through text messaging or, or other forms of technology? How easy can they find their site? Just all of those simple things where tech is a really great way to create efficiencies in operations, still have really, really connected touchpoints, relationship-wise, because I think that is, one of the most critical pieces of outdoor hospitality is the relationship our owners build with their campers. And then can they connect while they’re on site? And for those who don’t want to connect and really wanna disconnect during their stay, have we effectively marketed those sites that are best for them to stay in? Have we created connectivity zones where if they do choose to connect, there’s a place on the campground that is best for that, and the rest of the park could be more of a disconnection zone. So really thinking about how a camper is using the space. On the flip side, our owners, this has been an interesting challenge and journey. Just like our campers, our owners are incredibly diverse as well. We’re really blessed. And I think this kind of lends to the success of our legacy brand. We have legacy owners within the KOA brand. We have franchisees that have been in the system for 50 and 60 years. They’ve been here since the beginning, and that ownership has passed down through generations, which is really rare to find across our industry today. We have a lot of individual owner operators that, they gave up their careers as nurses and as architects, and they follow their passion for the outdoors, and they built and own, decide to buy a campground and and be entrepreneurs. And then we have a lot of investors coming into our space, that are diversifying their portfolio. They have hotels, like that public storage and outdoor hospitality is just a natural transition in their portfolio diversification. So the diversity amongst our owners is a unique challenge when it comes to technology. And then across multiple, age demographics as well. So from a wifi standpoint, we make it a requirement. It is now part of our quality assurance. We incentivize our owners to deliver really great wifi. We have a wifi royalty incentive program, and they can receive reduced royalties for a select period of time if their wifi meets certain standards. We believe it’s that important to the guest experience. And then really from tech adoption, I think that’s where we see some of the larger pieces of friction as our industry evolves and we’re constantly trying to balance the expectations of the guests with the needs of our owners and operators. Things like a couple years ago, we were getting ready to launch online reservation management. Okay, I can, I can book, I can change, I can cancel my reservation all on my phone through the app or otherwise. And then was faced with quite a bit of resistance because it was different and it was new and it took some of the control out of the hands of the owner. And so different components of that have kind of made it out to the public, and then there are some key components that have not quite made it out yet. So it’s really that balance of how do we meet guest expectations and owner expectations? But at the end of the day, we do have the responsibility to ensure our brand stays profitable and our owners are profitable. And so sometimes we do have to make those decisions that may not be as favorable to our owners, but are truly the best decision for the business. And it comes down a lot to training and education and really making sure they understand. So we have a great learning and development team, great communications team, a great project team that really ensures all of these initiatives come to fruition in the way they need to be successful. Ryan Embree: Well, and you also have, like you said, 50 properties that you own and manage, which I’m sure is a great kind of sandbox that you can play before you roll something out across the entire brand. But to put this in perspective for our listeners, you just mentioned that maybe there was some resistance to the online bookings that you were talking about, all the way to the owner that you were talking to me. I had to bring this up again, that there was drones bringing firewood to campsites at your property, right? So, I mean, that is the spectrum that you’re talking about. And I think that also is on the guest side. And that’s why probably, you and your team do such a great job of keeping your ear to the ground with these guests and constantly staying. I thought it was a fascinating stat that you talked about, Kim, where you’re saying that the first time campers are expecting more tech than maybe your returning campers or campers that have done that before. And I think that is a, it’s a telling statistic of, “Hey, we’re gonna try this for the first time. We’re gonna go camping.” And they’re coming to the camping site and being like, “All right, well, where’s the plugs and where’s the, the wifi and all that stuff?” Versus the campers that have been there have been like, “Oh, you, you’re camping. What are you talking about?” So interesting. Kim Wootteon: It’s a fun challenge. Cassady Quintana: I’m glad you mentioned that because when I think about it from a marketing perspective, you’ve talked about the different types of guests. You also have diverse owners, but you have diverse guests. When you think about hotels in the hotel industry, a lot of them have their niche and what they expect their demographic to look like when they come visit them. And so they can kind of cater that marketing a little bit better. But you have people ranging from children all the way up until boomers, and so they’re all expecting something different and they all want it to be exactly what they want. So when I think about it, I’m Gen Z, and this outdoor hospitality thing has really started to become a big thing for us. Like, whether it is because we wanna fully disconnect everything is too technologically advanced now, or I want a little bit of the best of both worlds. I wanna feel like I’m in nature, but also I can check my Instagram later if I really need to. So when you guys think about that from a marketing perspective, what do you think is driving that Gen Z interest, but also how do you develop a marketing strategy so that you can connect with those new campers and that, that younger generation? Kim Wootteon: Oh, my gosh. It’s a nonstop kind of everyday challenge that our teams work through at both the national level. How do we really connect the brand to people? I mean it’s so much of the success of our brand, and really camping and outdoor hospitality in general is built off of some, like, this emotional connection to nature and this desire to be outdoors. And how do we be part of that journey? And how can we be a catalyst to creating that experience for people, whether it’s their hundredth time camping or their first time camping? And there’s so many different tactics and strategies, within the marketing space that are available to us now. And it’s constantly evaluated with AI. We are traditionally rooted in SEO, and now we’ve got GEO to adapt to. But the Gen Z population within our camper mix is about 13% of all of our campers, as of 2025, and had been up to about 25% of our camper mix in 2022. So a really significant portion of all of those people that are participating in camping are in that Gen Z demographic. And it really comes down to doing a lot of research and understanding, what motivates people to connect to a brand, what’s important to them, whether it’s sustainability or looking at the health benefits from being outdoors, whether it’s the thrill of trying something new and really adventure-seeking, whether it’s we camped with our parents as kids, and we wanna try it again as adults. And the value proposition for, especially Gen Z is not to that point in life where you’re fully invested and you have a ton of disposable income. And so camping has always been a really affordable way to travel and leisure travel and experience and see things. So it’s this balance of how do we connect with each generation on the right channel? Social media plays a really critical role in our marketing strategy, having a presence across multiple platforms, Facebook, which tends to cater to a little bit more of our Gen X and baby boomer population, TikTok, Instagram, other channels for Gen Z. So social media plays a really key role, and we’ve seen a huge insurgence of social media conversions in our marketing strategy over the past several years. And then the technology piece of some of our generations like to pick up the phone and call and ask questions about their stay. And then others really just wanna be 100% booked online, make all of their change, and make all of their choices without any human connectivity. So finding that balance. But the, the Gen Z demographic is really fascinating. And I love watching how they use campgrounds. We see a lot of Gen Zers use campgrounds as that hub for all of their outdoor adventures, really wanting to spend time in nature and are utilizing a campground to facilitate that experience. Ryan Embree: This question is certainly resonating with me. I’m a little bit older millennial. I have a two and a five-year-old. And I remember camping as a kid. I wanna take my kids, but I also do not want to just maybe stay in a tent and not have any sort of. So, I want, I want that, that nice little balance of, yes, we are camping, but we might be going into a nice air-conditioned cabin or lodge, and we might be able to still watch a little TV. But I think it’s fascinating what we’re talking about, because that’s exactly it. And Gen Z, they’re great storytellers. Let me tell you about marketing. They’ll do most of your marketing for you if you put them in the right position, especially on Instagram and TikTok. Kim Wootteon: I’m really fortunate on my team. We have a really diverse team as well. And I have, I have kind of boomers and I have a ton of Gen Zers on my team. And so it’s great just to watch those generations meld and figure out how we, how we best connect to our owners and our audience. We spend a lot of time in the outdoors just as a team, when we have meetings and stuff like that. And I just love what comes from it. And then we take those best practices and really implement them with our guests because it’s, it’s the same. We all camp. Most of us in our team, we love spending time in the outdoors. So it’s like what’s gonna be attractive to us? We are our own demographics, right? Ryan Embree: There you go. Well, I wanna shift gears and congratulate you and your team, the entire KOA team, recognized as one of the top 50 most profitable franchises by Franchisee Business Review. What do you think Kim, I mean, obviously, when we talk about franchises and we look at the ROI, but I think there’s probably a different type of reward that comes with having a KOA franchise, being obviously we look for that, that financial one, but also from kinda to build something meaningful. You talked about the legacy of some of your franchisees and that being a family business. We’ve talked about the close connection and memories that you get from camping. Well, first of all, congratulations, but what do you think you and your team did to kinda make that list? Kim Wootteon: Thank you. We’re really, really proud of this recognition. And I think it speaks to just the uniqueness of the brand. So we have a unique mix of brand standards and entrepreneurial spirit. KOA is a franchisor unlike no other, you know? And I’ve worked with a lot of the big franchisors, especially in our industry. I’ve worked with the Marriott brand and Hilton and IHG and Jellystone and Sun Outdoors. But what I think I love most about KOA, which makes it such an attractive business opportunity, is, we’re hyper-focused on quality. We’re hyper-focused on our brand position consistency. We have three brand positions within the KOA brand. We have the KOA journey, the KOA Holiday, and the KOA Resort to really help campers identify and connect with the experience they’re looking for. But what I love the most about our franchise that is different from a lot of others is that each location is truly unique to space and place, which fuels the creativity and the pride of our owners. So there are certain things that you will find very standard across the KOA portfolio, and there, there’s an expectation campers have with KOA, but every single location is unique. And that’s what makes the system of campgrounds truly special. You’re not gonna get the same overall experience at any two locations. And our owners take an immense amount of pride in understanding the market that they’re in, understanding their campers, and building an experience that drives them to come back and stay with the KOA brand and book again, and at the same time, is quite profitable. So that unique blend of uniqueness and standards is what really sets us apart. And I will say to you, I remember this, if I didn’t shout out just the incredible support that KOA offers its franchisees. Again, I’ve kind of worked with many franchisors, but the support that KOA offers is quite unique. I’m very, very proud to be part of that. We have an amazing field operations team, franchise operations team. We have a team of just passionate, dedicated franchise business coaches that are working with our owners every single day to help them truly grow their business and optimize their investment in the KOA brand and then their campground. We have a whole coaching team within commercial strategy focused on marketing and revenue, and how to maximize revenue and optimize profitability. And then multiple other departments across the organization that really, their customer is the franchisee. And so I think this is a really adequate representation of the hard work our team puts in to support our owners on a daily basis. Ryan Embree: Yeah. I mean, with a, such a complex ecosystem that we kind of talked about throughout this episode, it’s a true testament to the work you and your team are putting in to be recognized. So again, congratulations to you and your team on that. We’re gonna shift gears. This is the rapid fire portion of our episode. I love doing this and I was looking forward to your portfolio specifically. You’re no stranger to travel, Kim, you’ve already mentioned. So we’re gonna get to list a series or a series of questions to get to know you and the KOA portfolio a little bit better. So let’s start with favorite view at one of your properties. Kim Wootteon: Yeah. So, and just for the record, so I have been to well over 100, almost 200 KOAs across our systems. I’ve been really fortunate to see a lot of our portfolio with some amazing, amazing properties and experiences. But I was just recently at the campground in Fredericksburg, Texas, which is under construction. We are building it and it’ll be introduced to the KOA system this fall. But the view from The Overlook, which is sort of our main building in the back part of the campground with all of our food and beverage and our meeting space and our pool and our lazy river, the view is absolutely spectacular overlooking the entire campground. The sunsets are great, and it was just, it was a really magical moment. Cassady Quintana: Awesome. Ryan, write that down. We gotta take a look at when that one opens up. Ryan Embree: Yeah, for sure. Kim Wootteon: You’ve gotta come experience it. And, and Ryan, we do have some amazing glamping accommodations, so you’ll get all of the amenities of home and a really cool outdoor setting. Ryan Embree: Love it. Best both worlds, for sure. Cassady Quintana: All right, Kim, favorite fun fact about one of your properties? Kim Wootteon: Oh my gosh. There’s so many options because we have such a diverse portfolio. But one of the things we learned as we were prepping for America 250 and just kind of learning our history is the Mystic KOA campground in Connecticut has a house on property that wasn’t built in the United States. It actually existed before the United States existed. It was brought over as settlers have founded that area. And it’s still standing on our campground today. And there’s a lot of history with that property. Ryan Embree: So it’s one of my favorite questions to ask, just because you get to learn these, these stories that you would have no idea about. Very, very cool. What about favorite guest experience or amenities at one of your properties, Kim? Kim Wootteon: So, the Mount Rushmore KOA Resort at Palmer Gulch has a rodeo, like a full-on rodeo. So that’s a crazy thing to experience. The campground in South Padre Island is right near SpaceX, and we just built these beautiful, RV sites, along this peninsula on the water, so you can see the SpaceX launches. And then there’s simple things like blueberry picking in covert and just amazing hiking near some of our National Park properties. Cassady Quintana: Awesome. Something for everybody. There’s something for everybody at every different property. Yeah. So kind of with that in mind, what’s one of your favorite locations of your properties? Kim Wootteon: So it’s funny. So I am a camper myself and I love to spend time outdoors. And I have kind of this unique mix of properties that I love to visit because, every time I camp, I look for a different experience. So I love, like, Lake Placid, KOA, it’s just that, like, quintessential camping experience, really, really wooded and nature-driven. If I’m looking for just incredible beauty with really, really amiditized recreation, I love the Astoria KOA on the Oregon Coast. If I want a tropical resort retreat, I go to Sugarloaf KOA or Fort Myers KOA. So it’s just, it’s. I don’t know. I can’t pick one. I love too many of them, which is my problem and why I’m always on the road and traveling. . Cassady Quintana: It’s a good problem to have. Kim Wootteon: Exactly. I know, right? Ryan Embree: That’s what I was gonna say. . Well, we appreciate you playing along with us. As we wrap up today, we always have kind of a tradition to, especially, with some of our industry leaders that we get the opportunity to speak to multiple times. You teased back in March, you had working on that revamped website that we talked about you formed a new AI team. What’s the status of those projects? And then maybe just looking into the future, what’s your vision for, for KOA as we wrap. Can’t believe I’m saying this. Wrap up 2026 and go into 2027. Kim Wootteon: Oh, my gosh. Yes. We, we are really hyper-focused on 2027 right now as a leadership team, which is crazy. I’m like, we’re all happy through 2026. But yeah, we ha – we’ve had a ton of really large projects this year as a brand, and really in, in that vein of trying to modernize our brand to meet the guest expectation, the owner expectations, and stay that, brand of choice. Both of our projects, the development of our AR team and the rebuild, redesign, and launch of our new website, as well as campground landing pages and a new content management system are going incredibly well. We are on track to launch in Q4 with a slew of continued enhancements throughout 2027. A lot of really AI-focused efforts for koa.com, specifically in trip planning and just communication on a site, as well as personalization. We know that that’s so important. How does a guest land on the site and how is everything really customized and tailored to what they’re looking for and what their needs are and how they’ve came to before? So those two teams have been really, really critical in, in the rollout of this project. And selfishly for me, the AI team does a, a lot of work with our internal teams, and how do we impl – improve the employee experience? So the work they’ve been doing just, I mean, so many efficiencies for my role and so many other roles across the organization around really quick access to data within our KOA ecosystem. Like every bit of data I could ever want to access is available through our AI platform. I am able to ask questions quickly, research things quicker, and really get to an end result, which makes the analysis of our business so much easier in identifying trends and opportunities. So those two pieces are just really game changers, not only for our brand, but in the industry right now. And 2077 is stacking up to be a pretty, pretty insane year as well, with just really double down focusing on how do we continue to attract guests, retain guests, really strong focus on that short-term leisure RV camper, and kind of that mash of how do we take all of our legacy campers and all of these new campers and really just exceed expectations to grow the business next year. Ryan Embree: Wel like I said, a true embodiment, a brand that is truly trailblazing in hospitality. So wish you luck with all of those projects. We’ll have to keep a close eye on which campgrounds we’ll do an onsite. I still haven’t given up on that dream of doing – Kim Wootteon: No, we’re, we’re gonna get you outdoors, Ryan. Ryan Embree: Let’s do it. I’m, I’m looking forward to it. I can’t, I can’t wait. So, Kim, we know you’re busy. Thank you so much for taking the time to join me and Cassady here on The Suite Spot. Kim Wootteon: Yes, thank you both. It’s a pleasure. Cassady Quintana: Thanks, Kim. Ryan Embree: All right. Thanks, everyone. And thank you for listening to Suite Spot. We’ll talk to you next time. To join our loyalty program, be sure to subscribe and give us a five-star rating on iTunes. Suite Spot is produced by Travel Media Group. Our editor is Brandon Bell with cover art by Bary Gordon. I’m your host, Ryan Embree, and we hope you enjoyed your stay.

Bill and Pete at the SolderSmoke Podcast refer to my guest today as the Heathkit Guru of South Texas, a mantle that Will Everett, N5OLA, wears with pride. After returning from civilian life as a reporter and aid worker in Afghanistan in 2015, Will relicensed in 2019 and took his passion for vintage Heathkit amateur radio transceivers to a new level, restoring them to their former glory before sending them on to new owners. Operating from South Padre Island, Will enjoys CW on his Heathkit HW-101, finding quiet moments between running his coffee shops and pursuing his restoration passion. N5OLA is my QSO today.

SPONSORS: Mars Men -For a limited time, our listeners get 50% off FOR LIFE, Free Shipping, AND 3 Free Gifts at Mars Men at Mengotomars.com. Comedian Jamie Lee hops in The Wayback and we head to 1980s/90s Dallas, Texas! Jamie gets nostalgic about family vacations to South Padre Island, skiing in Mont-Tremblant, her first concert, wild house parties, and sneaking out as a teenager. We also talk about summer day camp, being completely boy crazy, memorable Thanksgivings with her aunts, and her outrageous teenage antics—peeing in dressing rooms! Go see Jamie Lee live, and don't miss her true crime stand up show "My Friend Katy!" SUBSCRIBE to The Wayback for new episodes every week!

The Supreme Court intervenes in the battle over the medication mifepristone that is used for abortions mailed across the country.An ICE agent shot and killed Ruben Ray Martinez, a U.S. citizen, on South Padre Island in 2025 — but his family in San Antonio didn’t find out how he died for nearly a year. What […] The post Supreme Court order keeps abortion pill access in flux appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weather-with-enthusiasm--4911017/support.

HARLINGEN, Texas - Doug Allison, a board member and regulatory counsel for US Desalination, has given an in-depth interview about plans for the largest water infrastructure project ever built in South Texas. “We're partnering with communities, agencies, and industry to ensure a reliable water future for generations to come,” Allison told Ron Whitlock Reports, following a news conference at the Hilton Garden Inn in Harlingen. Allison said US Desalination has partnered with IDE Assets to form RGV Desal, LLC.“RGV Desal, LLC. represents the largest water infrastructure project ever built in South Texas. Our advanced desalination plant uses state-of-the-art reverse osmosis and energy recovery systems to efficiently transform seawater into fresh drinking water,” Allison said.Allison said there would be a regional impact, with a reliable supply for municipalities, industry, and agriculture. He said the plan, to be built on South Padre Island, would use cutting-edge reverse osmosis technology. “By turning seawater into clean, reliable water, RGV Desal, LLC, will ensure water independence for families, farmers, and businesses across South Texas,” Allison said.“RGV Desal, LLC, is a regional initiative (that aims to deliver) a drought-proof water supply for the Rio Grande Valley. Through advanced desalination, we convert seawater into clean, reliable water—supporting families, farms, and businesses across South Texas.”Allison stressed there would be water independence, with a stable, drought-proof supply of water for decades ahead. He said the project would generate economic growth, thus supporting jobs and regional investment. And he said the project would be sustainable because it would harness renewable energy and advanced desalination technology.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos. 

Hey, welcome once again to Living Large Theater Podcast with Gary Rodriguez and Billy Santiago and Super producer Noe Ayala. On today's show South Padre lsland Chamber of Commerce President Jeanette Greider talks about the upcoming events becoming a member of the Chamber and fun facts. Fire us an email: thelivinglargetheater@gmail.com  South Padre lsland Chamber of Commerce President Jeanette GreiderA. 4113 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597 P. (956) 761-4412 E. www.spichamber.com

Episode 412: In March 1989, 21-year-old University of Texas pre-med student Mark Kilroy travelled to South Padre Island with friends for spring break. One night, they crossed the international bridge from Brownsville, Texas, into Matamoros, Mexico, for drinks and a night out. In the early hours of March 13, as the group headed back toward the United States, Mark was briefly left standing alone near the roadside. When his friends turned back moments later, he had vanished. At first, they assumed they had simply become separated in the crowds, but Mark never returned. His disappearance triggered an urgent search on both sides of the border that would soon uncover something far more disturbing than anyone imagined, a discovery that exposed a hidden world of violence and horror behind one young man's spring break trip. The Work of the Devil | Texas MonthlyCult commits murder at Rancho Santa Elena | March 14, 1989 | HISTORY"Spring Break Murders" Mark Kilroy (TV Episode 2025) | IMDbMark Kilroy Murder - Arrests (1989) - KPRC-TV CollectionThe Believers: Cult Murders in MexicoMurder, Madness & Mayhem by Mike BrowneKidnap, murder, ritual sacrifice | University PressMurder of Mark Kilroy | WikipediaMark Kilroy Foundation, Santa Fe, TexasMark James Kilroy (1968 - 1989) - Find A Grave MemorialMemory Mark Kilroy | YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:A Trump-appointed federal judge has upheld a longstanding Texas law forbidding the carrying of guns into bars, stadiums, school events and other "sensitive places", after Ken Paxton refused to defend a challenge to it: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/litigation/judge-upholds-texas-firearm-ban-for-bars-schools-stadiumsAustin Congressman Greg Casar is joined by California Congressman Robert Garcia in demanding an investigation into the federal immigration-related killing of Ruben Ray Martinez last year in South Padre Island: https://www.newsweek.com/congressmen-demand-probe-ice-killing-us-citizen-ruben-ray-martinez-11733802Islamophobia has become central to Republican political strategy, without much more reasoning than red meat for the MAGA base: https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/islamophobia-as-political-strategy/...Along that line, acting and soon-to-be-former State Comptroller Kelly Hancock has asked Ken Paxton to shut down a highly-rated Houston Islamic private school: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/comptroller-ken-paxton-houston-quran-academy-22096036.php...Paxton's response is that Hancock is an "incompetent loser" who should be replaced by current Republican nominee Don Huffines: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas-take/article/why-ken-paxton-wants-republican-kelly-hancock-22099291.php...GOP hate has room for undocumented children too, as Stephen Miller continues a years-long crusade to kick them out of public schools: https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/03/stephen-miller-public-schools-immigration-plyler/Progress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KPFT-FM in Houston⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and to our Spanish expansion ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Under pressure from both Donald Trump and Ken Paxton - after years of defending the filibuster in the U.S. Senate - Senator John Cornyn, desperate for Trump's endorsement, has changed his position on a primary safeguard for the minority party in that body: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/11/john-cornyn-filibuster-save-america-act-texas-senate-runoff-voter-id/...For now, the actual end of the filibuster seems unlikely - but Donald Trump is frantic and determined: https://www.axios.com/2026/03/11/save-act-talking-filibuster-senate-thune-republicansGovernor Greg Abbott is threatening a state takeover of Corpus Christi's water system as they plunge into a deep supply crisis - though it's unclear what the state would be able to do about it: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/greg-abbott-corpus-christi-water-crisis-22070712.php...Meanwhile, a huge chunk of Texas between San Antonio and south Austin is under a similar threat as the Edwards Aquifer nears its most severe warning level ever: https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/edwards-aquifer-nears-emergency-drought-conditions/A group of reporters at the New York Times analyzes the video of the ICE-involved shooting of Ruben Ray Martinez in South Padre Island - and reveals the name of the agent who pulled the trigger: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/12/us/texas-ice-shooting-south-padre-video.htmlProgress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KPFT-FM in Houston⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and to our Spanish expansion ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:As we reported Friday morning, Texas DPS released footage related to the federal border officer-involved killing of 23 year old Ruben Ray Martinez last year in South Padre Island, and it does not appear to justify lethal force: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/06/south-padre-immigration-officer-shooting/...Meanwhile outrage is building over the ICE detention of a family including two celebrated teenaged mariachi musicians who have recently performed on Capitol Hill on the invitation of Republican Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz, after the case was exposed by her Democratic challenger, Bobby Pulido: https://www.ksat.com/news/texas/2026/03/08/mcallen-isd-family-detained-by-ice-high-school-mariachi-student-separated-from-family/...Meanwhile, at the Camp East Montana ICE lockup at El Paso, federal guards are alleged to have been betting amongst themselves as to which of their detainees will be next to commit suicide: https://apnews.com/article/suicide-ice-detention-centers-b2d1cb0e4b579e0d89caabd00aa04e34The expected endorsement of Donald Trump in the Texas GOP Senate race, intended to circumvent an ugly and expensive fight between John Cornyn and Ken Paxton, has thus far failed to arrive: https://www.semafor.com/article/03/09/2026/delay-in-trumps-texas-endorsement-raises-gop-anxiety...Trump has, however, declared that he'll refuse to sign ANY legislation until the Senate kills the filibuster and passes the SAVE America Act: https://www.npr.org/2026/03/09/g-s1-112966/up-first-newsletter-iran-israel-us-mojtaba-khamenei-trump-voting-openaiProgress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KPFT-FM in Houston⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and to our Spanish expansion ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Angela Randall, a lesbian Latina from Donna, Texas, talks about her experience of coming out. She recounts growing up in a racially segregated valley, dealing with homophobia, and discovering her Black ancestry through an Ancestry DNA that connected her family's history to the Underground Railroad and a legal battle over land in South Padre Island. She also emphasizes the importance of the significance of family and community in her life, particularly in Dallas's LGBTQ+ scene. -Edited by: Amanda Ramirez 

Episode Description: “Have you ever wondered if bike lanes actually make cycling safer—or are they just another hazard waiting to happen?”

Microsoft partners have a new event experience to consider in early 2026: PartnerIn's Vibe 2026. Note: MSDW is a media partner of Vibe 2026. Register with code FeeltheVibe15 for 15% off your registration. The conference takes place January 28 to 30 on South Padre Island. And while it is new, the founders and event organizers, Molly Fuchsel and Liz Hallen, bring years of work in the Microsoft ecosystem to the iniative. Molly joins us on this episode to share a quick rundown of the new event and how they came to the decision to focus it on building partner relationships and skills. Molly shares details about developing the idea ofr the event, experiences the team is planning, and what she believes attendees will take away from the three days on the Gulf Coast. More information: Hotel info, booking link, and airport details: Vibe 2026 Logistics Sponsorships available (including customized packages): Vibe 2026 Sponsor Interest Form

“Politics, economy, and power moves – real talk with Tara

They say life is a journey, but it becomes a true adventure when you find someone who not only rides shotgun but cheers you on at every turn. In She's Not Just Along For the Ride: A Journey With My Biggest Fan, Keith Thorn invites readers into a soulful, humorous, and heart-filled memoir-turned-travelogue of love, second chances, and the beauty of shared roads. From the palm-lined coast of Port Isabel to the sun-drenched beaches of South Padre Island, every stop tells a story—of laughter echoing over poolside chats, of slow dances under Texas skies, of RV mishaps turned into memories, and of quiet moments that say more than words ever could. But above all, it's a tribute to Melody—the woman who chose not just to come along but to believe in the dream, the writer, and the man at the wheel. This is a book for anyone who's ever found love later in life, for winter wanderers, and for those who know that the best journeys are shared.

In this conversation, Esteban Flores, a broker and developer based in South Padre Island, shares his journey into real estate, his bilingual advantage in working with Mexican investors, and his candidacy for city council. He discusses the importance of solutions-oriented thinking in politics and the unique opportunities available in Texas real estate, particularly for investors. Esteban emphasizes the welcoming nature of Texas for business and development, and he invites listeners to explore the affordable real estate market in South Texas.   Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind:  Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply   Investor Machine Marketing Partnership:  Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true ‘white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com   Coaching with Mike Hambright:  Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike   Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a “mini-mastermind” with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming “Retreat”, either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas “Big H Ranch”? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat   Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform!  Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/   New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club   —--------------------

On today's show The Texas Sportsman Fred Rodriguez joins us at White Sands Marina to talk about fishing tournaments and South Padre Island, Tx!Fire us an email: TheLivingLargeTheater@gmail.com Fred Rodriguez(956) 776-4623www.texassportsmantv.Comfredrsportsman@yahoo.com

In this episode of Identified, Nabil Ayers is joined by Laura Lee, founding member and bassist of the globally acclaimed band Khruangbin, for a vulnerable and wide-ranging conversation about family, ancestry, identity—and what it means to raise a child while on tour. Laura shares the emotional story of her parents’ abrupt separation when she was just six years old, a rupture that left her bouncing between homes and questioning the meaning of “family.” She talks about the pain of being labeled a “rebel” as a teen when she was simply hurting—and how the emotional safety she found in her grandparents’ home shaped her sense of belonging more than anything else. The episode also dives into her Mexican and Spanish lineage, including a fascinating (and literal) claim to South Padre Island through a centuries-old lawsuit. Now a mother herself, Laura talks candidly about touring with her baby and partner, carving a path for motherhood in an industry with no blueprint. She calls her Khruangbin bandmates her family, describing their deep trust, creative intimacy, and the joy her daughter has brought to the entire touring crew. This is a story about making peace with the past, building your own version of home, and finding family in both bloodlines and bandmates. Host: Nabil Ayers Guest: Laura Lee (Khruangbin) Executive Producer: Kieron BanerjiSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey, welcome once again to Living Large Theater Podcast with Gary Rodriguez and Billy Santiago and Super producer Noe Ayala. On today's show South Padre lsland Chamber of Commerce President Jeanette Greider talks current events and future events at SPI. Fire us an email: thelivinglargetheater@gmail.com A. 413 Padre Blvd, South Padre lsland, TX 78597 P. (956) 761-4412 E. www.spichamber.com

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with actor,Mariana Treviño from the Apple TV+ series “Stick”, as well as projects such as "A Man Called Otto" and host of film and TV work in Mexico. We discuss her life and career, as well as her thoughts about working with co-stars Owen Wilson and Marc Maron. We also touch on Mariana's Mexican roots, her journey into acting, and her fond memories of family trips to South Padre Island, Texas. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS01:30 Mariana's Background and Career02:08 Monterey and Family Connections04:11 Acting Journey and Inspirations07:24 Golf and Life Metaphors09:56 Theater and TV Career13:11 Cultural Heritage and Memories16:20 On-Set Experiences and Chemistry19:00 Reflecting on Character Dynamics19:25 Working With Marc Maron20:58 The Seven QuestionsListen and subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Also, check out the show and sign up for the newsletter at www.storyandcraftpod.com...#podcast #MarianaTrevino #Stick #AppleTV #OwenWilson #MarcMaron #JudyGreer #PeterDager #TimothyOlyphant #Actor #Acting #storyandcraft #Golf #Monterrey #SouthPadreIsland #SPI

Host Tyler Jones (@TylerJonesLive) is joined by The Oklahoman Sports Columnist Jenni Carlson (@JenniCarlson_OK) & Thomas Bridges (@Thomas_Bridges).(0:30-19:25) The #SummerOfJones thrives in South Padre Island! (19:30-45:30) NBA Finals Preview.(45:30-1:09:45) Around the NFL: Why Aaron Rodgers might not be a good idea for the Steelers, Sam Darnold struggles in Seattle with Jalen Milroe behind him, Jalen Ramsey trade rumors and the latest on Trey Hendrickson.(1:09:45-1:19:00) College Football Playoff expansion update.(1:19:00-1:48:45) NBA Finals Breakdown with Jenni Carlson.(2:11:20-2:33:00) Tom Foolery Story of the Week: New Mexico high school baseball player accused of peeing in opponent's water jug and faces no chargers. Today's show is sponsored by O'Connor Advisory Group. Start planning for your future now at https://oconnoradvisorygroup.com!Follow Tyler Jones on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TylerJonesLiveFollow Tyler Jones on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tylerjoneslive/Follow Tyler Jones on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tylerjonesliveFollow Studio Soapbox on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Studio_SoapboxFollow Studio Soapbox on Facebook: https://facebook.com/studiosoapboxFollow The Jones Report on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jones_report

Lola Linarte reveals her three-part framework for building a strong personal brand.— YOU'LL LEARN — 1) Why every professional should care about their brand 2) The critical first step to building your brand 3) The minor tweaks that greatly improve your online presenceSubscribe or visit AwesomeAtYourJob.com/ep1062 for clickable versions of the links below. — ABOUT LOLA — Lola Linarte is a New York City-based international model, marketing expert, and entrepreneur. She was born in Bluefields, Nicaragua, and was raised in South Padre Island, Texas. Lola attended Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, where she studied Social & Cultural Anthropology, which inspired her career transition into media & entertainment. In 2022, Lola founded Alma Feliz Group, a boutique marketing strategy & personal branding agency that centers on helping emerging & established brands elevate their image, clearly sharing their story, and connecting them with the right audience. Lorraine's insights have been featured in media outlets including CNBC, Forbes, Inc., Bloomberg, Fast Company, and Entrepreneur. • Company: AlmaFelizGroup.com• LinkedIn: Lola Linarte • Website: LolaLinarte.com — RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW — • Book: The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle • Book: Habits for Healing: Reclaim Your Purpose, Peace, and Power by Nakeia Homer — THANK YOU SPONSORS! — • Strawberry.me. Claim your $50 credit and build momentum in your career with Strawberry.me/AwesomeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Send us a textWelcome back to the Ready Set BBQ podcast, your go-to destination for the latest and most exciting happenings around the world! In this episode we talk about  WNBA, Miller Lite Charcoal, Diddy Freak offs, Beach Talk, Flag Football, Memorial Day BBQ, Bday Memories, and Foodie Reviews.  0-30 mins: Headlines WNBA: Hiram gives us his WNA recap and the new name of his favorite players Tres Leches.  Miller Lite Charcoal: BBQ Expert Eddie gives us his recap of this new Kingsford beer infused charcoal.  More Diddy News: The guys give us some updates on the Diddy scandal. Beach Talk: I take a short vacation to SPI for Memorial Day Weekend. Flag Football: The guys debate if the professional flag football guys should go to the Olympics instead of NFL players. 30-50 mins: BBQ Time Memorial Day BBQ: We talk about what we cooked over the holiday. Bum Fights: We share some stories about fights. New Shirts: We are getting more shirts from our friends at 7 Day AddictionShout Outs: We give some kudos and shout outs to some of our BBQ Family.          https://podcast.feedspot.com/barbecue_podcasts/50-1:10 mins: Jaime's Bday Bash Memories: The Guys share stories about Jaime's birthdays and birthday meals. Foodie Reviews: The guys review some local eating spotsMelissa Bankard Farmer's InsuranceMelissa Bankard - Farmers Insurance Agent in Richardson, TXEtsy/Shop ReadySetBBQ - EtsyFacebook Page https://www.facebook.com/readysetbbq Feedspot https://podcast.feedspot.com/barbecue_podcasts/

Mark, Brad, Bill y Brent están viviendo, probablemente, el último viaje que van a poder disfrutar juntos antes de terminar la Universidad: pasar la temporada de Spring Break en South Padre Island, una isla de Texas que hace frontera con México. Sin embargo, la noche del martes 14 de marzo de 1989, Brad, Bill y Brent vuelven al hotel sin Mark, al que han perdido de vista entre una multitud de gente...Más información en el blog:https://criminopatia.com/136-mark-kilroy¡Hazte fan de Criminopatía! Tendrás dos nuevos episodios exclusivos cada mes, todos los meses del año:http://criminopatia.com/fansY síguenos en redes en @criminopatia.

Segment 1: In breaking news, the Pope has passed away, just hours ago. While the specifics of his passing remain unclear, his declining health was well-known, especially after his recent battle with double pneumonia. Major networks have been broadcasting the story live, and the world now turns to the centuries-old process of selecting the next Pope. Behind closed doors, there has likely been preparation for this transition, and the coming weeks will bring a global focus on who will step into one of the most influential roles in the world. Segment 2: SCOTUS Shake-Up and Political Fireworks At home, the Supreme Court has stirred fresh controversy, drawing sharp rebuke from conservatives after a recent ruling blocked the President's deportation authority—something the Court had previously upheld. Justice Alito's dissent was particularly pointed, criticizing what he called a politically motivated move that undercut the Constitution. As the border crisis continues to escalate, frustration grows around the sheer number of illegal entries and the logistical nightmare of assigning individual court dates. The sentiment? Enough is enough—secure the borders and restore order. Segment 3 Kim on a Whim: Spring Break Chaos in Coastal Communities Switching gears to a more local level, the annual madness of spring break is once again testing the limits of patience in beachside communities. While places like Panama City Beach and South Padre Island have long been party destinations for college students, the chaos has seemingly reached a boiling point. Local officials and police departments are speaking out, saying the influx of wild behavior—ranging from underage drinking to more violent crimes—no longer aligns with their community values. The line between youthful fun and lawlessness is being crossed, and residents are saying, "enough." Segment 4: Politics, Deportations, and the Courts Back in the political trenches, debates over immigration enforcement have sparked new firestorms. A recent deportation case involving a suspected gang member from El Salvador, and the courts' back-and-forth over its legality, highlights deep divisions between branches of government. Critics argue that activist judges are overreaching and politicizing the law, while others call for due process and international accountability. This all folds into the broader narrative about Guantanamo Bay, constitutional rights, and how administrations handle suspected threats. For some, it's about safety and sovereignty—for others, it's a matter of legal integrity.

Welcome back to the Ready Set BBQ podcast, your go-to destination for the latest and most exciting happenings around the world! In this episode we talk about the RGV flood of 2025, March Madness, Torpedo bats, Jake Paul, Snow White, Lebron, Meal preps, bacon wrapped mollejas, and movies to watch. 0-20 mins: Headlines March Madness : The final 4 is set for the upcoming weekend. Has NIL ruined the tournament?RGV Flood: We get a flash flood with record rain in one day. Torpedo Bats:  The Yankees start the season with a homerun derby with many blaming the new torpedo bats. Paul American: I ask the guys if they plan to watch the new Paul brother reality show. Snow White: the new Disney movies is setting all the wrong kind of records. Jaime has an easy fix.  Lebron: Lebron has more drama as he goes on the Pat McAfee show to put people on blast. 20-30 mins: BBQ Time Meal Preps: I make some more meal preps on the Blackstone and ask if Hiram can use one in LA. Bacon Wrapped Mollejas: Our compa Eddie comes up with a new recipe that we've never heard of. Beach Cookoff: The Queen of BBQ plans to compete at the Bash on the Beach cookoff. Watermelonfest : We set our sites on our next cookoff with the full team.30-45 mins: 2024 Recap TV Shows: We talk about what shows we recommend to check out. Movies: We also talk about upcoming movies and some that may not be worth checking out.  Melissa Bankard Farmer's InsuranceMelissa Bankard - Farmers Insurance Agent in Richardson, TXFacebook Pagehttps://www.facebook.com/readysetbbqWebsite/Shophttps://www.readysetbbq.com/Website/Shop https://www.readysetbbq.com/Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/readysetbbq

It's Spring Break and we go back to March 27, 2000, WCW Nitro emanated from South Padre Island, TX, smack dab in the middle of the beach for Spring Break..........and nobody cared!!! As usual, this is WCW in 2000 and the wheels have fallen off!!! A Texas Tornado Tag Team Beach Brawl, a 500K bounty on Hulk Hogan and a whole lot of nothing nobody cared about round out this episode of WCW Nitro!!! Plus I share my thoughts on the current WrestleMania 41 build up and more!!!  Enjoy!!!! 

Welcome back to the Ready Set BBQ podcast, your go-to destination for the latest and most exciting happenings around the world! In this episode we talk about March Madness, Angel Reese, Sabrina Carpenter, Tesla, Egypt, Kings Inn, Corpus Christi, Selena, UTRGV and Sam's Club.  0-20 mins: Headlines March Madness : We talk about he NCAA tournament and Texas firing and hiring a coach on the same day. Angel Reese: Our girl wants WNBA players to get paid like the men. Hiram tells us why that's not possible.  Sabrina Carpenter:  Sabrina performs a call back to a move we used to make fun of in high school 20 some years ago. Teslas Burning: we can't make sense of why people are vandalizing and burning down Teslas because they don't like Elon Musk.Egypt: New technology as found some interesting structures under the pyramids that were definitely built by Aliens.  20-30 mins: BBQ Time Kings Inn: I make a small detour on our way to Corpus Christi so my mom and aunt can feel some nostalgia at a restaurant near their college stomping grounds.  Corpus Christi: We visit an eatery on the bay, see the Selina statue and attend a Brooks and Dunn concert.  Blackstone: I do some more meal preps on the blackstone and ask Hiram if that's an options in LA.  UTRGV Vaquero's Cookoff: We compete at the 2nd Annual Vaqueros cookoff with some surprising results.  30-45 mins: 2024 Recap Sams Club: Hiram takes another trip to Sam's Club and comes home with a massive haul.  Beach Trip: We talk about plans for our annual beach trip and the fall of spring break.  A bunch of joes that cook like pros!!!Melissa Bankard Farmer's InsuranceMelissa Bankard - Farmers Insurance Agent in Richardson, TXFacebook Pagehttps://www.facebook.com/readysetbbqWebsite/Shophttps://www.readysetbbq.com/Website/Shop https://www.readysetbbq.com/Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/readysetbbq

On this week's Just the Tip we go to South Padre Island, TX for a quick beach getaway. In this episode we share where to stay, things to do, and how to enjoy the most of this vacation getaway destination.Highlights of South Padre Island include:Beach activitiesFireworksOcean side resort poolTurtle SanctuaryAnd so much more!These are the tours and hotels we recommend in South Padre Island:Courtyard Marriott South Padre Island Margaritaville Beach ResortHoliday Inn Express Hotel and Suites South Padre IslandSouth Padre Island Tours & Experiences on ViatorIf you're looking for a flight deal to the area, we recommend signing up for Thrifty Traveler Premium to get daily flight deals (points & cash) emailed directly to you! Use our promo code TS10 to get $10 off your first year subscription.—---------------------------------------Shop: Trip Itineraries ⁠& ⁠Amazon Storefront ⁠Connect: ⁠YouTube⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠, and ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠and contact us at travelsquadpodcast@gmail.com to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising. Submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.

 EEEP! Suspense and K-9 protection?  What more could you want?  How about it written by an author with lots of experience with fast-paced, exciting Christian romantic suspense novels under her belt?  Listen in while Terri Reed and I chat about her latest Love Inspired Suspense novel. note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. Author of dozens of books,many of which are published by Love Inspired, Terri Reed knows how to deliver everything readers of romantic suspense love in a good book.  And, as a dog trainer herself (she has an agility dog--an Aussie!!!), she knows what she's doing when she writes about dogs and their training. In fact, a quick look at Amazon showed around half of her books with dogs on the cover.  Don't know about you, but I love me a good dog in a book. And... for those who love to see characters again, she has a Christmas sequel coming out this fall.   Trained to Protect by Terri Reed  Protecting a witness could be a deadly mission for this K-9 team. K-9 officer Tarren McGregor never imagined that a cartel would find its way to Texas's South Padre Island—or target his best friend's sister. But when Julia Hamilton witnesses and prevents the kidnapping of a teen girl, Tarren knows that trouble is soon to follow. Because Julia didn't just protect the girl—she saw the abductor's face. Now she's marked for murder, and it's up to Tarren and his K-9 partner to keep Julia safe from the human traffickers in pursuit…even if it means putting themselves in the line of fire. From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith. Learn more about Terri on her WEBSITE and follow her on GoodReads and BookBub. Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at: Apple Castbox Google Play Libsyn RSS Spotify Amazon and more!

I was born in Muskogee Oklahoma in November 27, 1973.    I lived in Guthrie from 1974 to 1990.  Moved to South Padre Island in 1990 graduated in the spring of 1992.  I was given an academic scholarship to Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Tx.  Transferred to Southwest Texas University in 1994.  Graduated with a bachelor's in fine Arts.  I started  a mural business but  helped out my friend and his house painting business when I didn't have work.  Although I've always painted murals and signs, I've gone through several other supporting jobs such as a restaurant line cook, delivery guy, plastic process line worker, construction worker, cement plant crewman, substitute teacher, art teacher, and mail carrier.  Now I've taken over my parents publishing business, Garland Publishing. Follow GuthrieAmerica: Instagram - GuthrieAmerica Facebook - GuthrieAmerica Twitter - GuthrieAmerica Follow Heady: Instagram - Heady.Coleman Facebook - Heady Coleman Twitter - Heady Coleman LinkedIn - Heady Coleman Having challenges with being consistent with your social media? Looking to connect with people in your industry, customers or people you want to learn from? You should start a podcast. I wrote an ebook on how to start a successful podcast and it's free because of our great friends at https://craftyourinsurance.com/. Download at the link: https://heady.media/ebook Download my latest ebook Hello, A Letter to Teachers at the link below. Ebook is free thanks to Dr. Michael Chandler and Edmond Dental Center (EdmondDentalCenter.Com). Download ebook at this link: https://heady.media/hello-ebook

On this REMIX episode of What Happened When, Tony and Conrad take us back 25 years for a wild Spring Break edition of Monday NItro! In 2000, WCW took its traveling circus to South Padre Island in Texas for a show that would mark the beginning of the final year of the company. It was a show loaded with plenty of talent, plenty of risqué videos and plenty of wrestling action. Conrad and Tony take on the beginning of the end of WCW as only they know how...WHW style. March 27, 2000 Watch along with us on Peacock season 6, episode 13 MANDO - New customers get $5 off a Starter Pack with our exclusive code. That equates to over 40% off your Starter Pack. Use code WHW at https://mandopodcast.com/WHW ! #mandopod BLUECHEW - Try BlueChew FREE when you use our promo code WHW at checkout--just pay $5 shipping. That's https://bluechew.com/ , promo code WHW to receive your first month FREE SAVE WITH CONRAD - Stop throwing your money on rent! Get into a house with NO MONEY DOWN and roughly the same monthly payment at https://www.savewithconrad.com/ ADVERTISE WITH WHW - If your business targets 25-54 year old men, there's no better place to advertise than right here with us on What Happened When. You've heard us do ads for some of the same companies for years...why? Because it works! And with our super targeted audience, there's very little waste. Go to https://www.podcastheat.com/advertise now and find out more about advertising with WHW. Get all of your WHW merchandise at https://boxofgimmicks.com/collections/whwmonday On AdFreeShows.com, you get early, ad-free access to more than a dozen of your favorite wrestling podcasts, starting at just $9! And now, you can enjoy the first week...completely FREE! Sign up for a free trial - and get a taste of what Ad Free Shows is all about. Start your free trial today at https://adfreeshows.supercast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this REMIX episode of What Happened When, Tony and Conrad take us back 25 years for a wild Spring Break edition of Monday NItro! In 2000, WCW took its traveling circus to South Padre Island in Texas for a show that would mark the beginning of the final year of the company. It was a show loaded with plenty of talent, plenty of risqué videos and plenty of wrestling action. Conrad and Tony take on the beginning of the end of WCW as only they know how...WHW style. March 27, 2000 Watch along with us on Peacock season 6, episode 13 MANDO - New customers get $5 off a Starter Pack with our exclusive code. That equates to over 40% off your Starter Pack. Use code WHW at https://mandopodcast.com/WHW ! #mandopod BLUECHEW - Try BlueChew FREE when you use our promo code WHW at checkout--just pay $5 shipping. That's https://bluechew.com/ , promo code WHW to receive your first month FREE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to Episode 25 of the HECHO Podcast, the podcast featuring the Coastal Bend's creators, makers, doers, and builders. If you've attended school in the Coastal Bend at any time over the past 40 years, it's entirely possible that our guest on this episode, or his father, designed your school. On this episode, we visit with Nick Gignac from Gignac Architects in Downtown Corpus Christi. Nick is a second-generation architect, born and raised here in Corpus but with experience from around the state and the world. His dad Raymond, started the firm about 40 years ago, and after growing up in and around the office, Nick joined Raymond and the team of architects, designers, and other professionals and has been designing public and private buildings and homes around the Coastal Bend and across the state. Some of their notable projects here in South Texas include the American Bank Center, Veterans Memorial High School, Carroll High School, and the to-be-built convention center on South Padre Island, and some 600 other schools here and around the state.   I always envy those who get to leave their stamp on a community for 50 years like Nick discussed. What an honor! If you're curious about some of Gignac Architects' current projects here in the Coastal Bend, you can check out the new Fire and EMS station in Port Aransas, currently being built with Victory Building Team, the Education Service Center in downtown, being built with South Texas Building Partners, and Hamlin Middle School on Staples with PBK and Fulton Construction. Thank you, Nick, for coming on the show. Thank you to our infrastructure partners, Clint Tucker Homes and Sawyer Audiology. And thank you for taking time to listen!

Head to the Texas Gulf Coast with Randy, Caly, and travel photographer Carrie Hanrahan as they discuss kite flying, dolphin tours, rocket launches, and other top things to do in beautiful, windy South Padre Island.Subscribe to RV Destinations Magazine at https://RVDestinationsmagazine.comLearn more about Carrie Hanrahan at https://carriehanrahanphotography.com.CHAPTERS00:00 Intro07:38 Fun Facts15:09 Shopping19:22 Port Isabel Lighthouse24:40 Horseback Riding31:27 Bird Watching35:25 BattleBorn Batteries36:45 Dolphin Ride40:42 SpaceX Starbase43:19 Beach Bars46:33 Sea Turtle, Inc.50:24 Isla Blanca Park54:55 Beaches01:00:37 Campgrounds01:05:36 About Carrie HanrahanPARTNERSHIPSUpgrade your power with BattleBorn Lithium-Ion Batteries at https://battlebornbatteries.com

Welcome back to the Ready Set BBQ podcast, your go-to destination for the latest and most exciting happenings around the world! In this episode, we talk about NFL is coming back, the Paris Olympics,   0-10 mins: Headlines/Joe TalkFootball is back:  The NFL preseason has started and we talk about the Hall of Fame gameOlympics: We talk about the Olympics and some of the more memorable events.  LA Olympics: We talk about our expectations for the LA Olympics in 2028.10-30 mins: BBQ TimeScottish BBQ: We make some new friends on way of Scotland throwing down some beach Q.   Johnny Deep Beach Q : Johnny throws down a feast of fajitas and sausage,  Beach Joe Tips:  Some tips about cooking at the beach or a park Local Beach Restaurants and Bars : we give some joe reviews on some of the island restaurants.  30-45 mins: Beach Stories and Weenie Rides South Padre: We go out on the beach and out on the town at SPI. Weenie & Pickle rides: we have some ideas for some new innovative businesses at the island.  A bunch of joes that cook like pros!!!Website/Shophttps://www.readysetbbq.com/Facebook Pagehttps://www.facebook.com/readysetbbqWebsite/Shophttps://www.readysetbbq.com/Website/Shop https://www.readysetbbq.com/Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/readysetbbq

Welcome back to the Ready Set BBQ podcast, your go-to destination for the latest and most exciting happenings around the world! In this episode, we talk about Trump, Biden, Jake Paul, WNBA & NBA, BBQ Showdown, BBQ Sides, Tacos mi Gente, Bacon whiskey, 3 minute ribeye's, and more.   0-20 mins: Headlines/Joe TalkFootball is back:  The NFL preseason has started and we talk about the Hall of Fame gameOlympics: We talk about some Olympics and the big news with the Pole Vaulter who's anatomy caused him a medal.  We also talk some flag football and going to LA in 2028Deadpool : The new Deadpool movie is out.  We don't give any spoilers but we talk about how people are reacting. Yacht Party: apparently some guy came into some money and sank a yacht with too many prostitutes. 20-30 mins: BBQ TimeBrisket : I try something new with a brisket.  Didn't work out but I was able to overcome and put out some good eats. +  Tacos Mi Gente : Jaime goes back to Tacos Mi Gente and has  himself a feast. Catering:  Our number one Joe, Eddie puts on a Gucci catering for a local.  40-50 mins: Eats and Drinks   South Padre: We talk about our upcoming beach trip on the weekend.  Best Stories  - I ask the guys to share their most memorable beach stories. A bunch of joes that cook like pros!!!Website/Shophttps://www.readysetbbq.com/Facebook Pagehttps://www.facebook.com/readysetbbqWebsite/Shophttps://www.readysetbbq.com/Facebook Pagehttps://www.facebook.com/readysetbbqWebsite/Shop https://www.readysetbbq.com/Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/readysetbbq

Caden Kyles, owner and call builder with CK Custom Calls, joins Brian on the show. Caden became interested in waterfowl hunting through his grandfather who told him stories of Arkansas timber holes covered in ducks. He also gave him his first duck call and that began a love for hand made duck calls. We discuss what got him into making his own calls and how long he has been making them. We talk about his first duck hunt and some family hunting history. We discuss an incredible hunt from a floating house on a bay near South Padre Island. We also talk about his faith in God and the impact Cross Trail Outfitters Ministry had on his life.   Feel free to reach out: migrationwaterfowl@gmail.com   Facebook, Instagram & YouTube: @migrationwaterfowl   This episode is brought to you by:   Blue Bird Waterfowl https://bluebirdwaterfowl.com   The Duck Hole & Company https://m.facebook.com/duckholecompany   Golden Millet Seed https://www.goldenmilletseed.com   CK Custom Calls https://m.facebook.com/100088485616501/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us this week as we meet up with Ft. Worth Music Artist J/O/E while he is on a weekend getaway in South Padre Island. We try some brews and talk about his new album Craft Can Classics with producer SESHUN, his writing process, movies, leveling up and much more. Jam the new album Craft Can Classics by J/O/E & Seshun here: https://open.spotify.com/album/1hSRhCDcYqKnIBb9EV3ipi https://music.apple.com/us/album/craft-can-classics-deluxe/1748016973 Follow and check out J/O/E here: https://www.instagram.com/brewedupjoe/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCMbf_Yky-CckRICo6SI8tw Follow and subscribe to our social media and YouTube here: https://linktr.ee/9.56abv Thank you to the sponsors: The Landmark on Tower: https://landmarkontower.com/ King's Ink Tattoos: https://www.instagram.com/babygatortattoo/

Welcome back to the Ready Set BBQ podcast, your go-to destination for the latest and most exciting happenings around the world! In this episode, we talk about the Jaws 956, High Steaks, Fight Night, Hawk Tua, Fireworks, 4th of July, Hurricane Beryl and more.  0-20 mins: Headlines/Joe TalkJaws 956:  Looks like the whole country heard about this story as a shark takes a few bites of our people at South Padre Island, .High Steaks Down: With Hurricane Beryl looming the Texas Cook'em High Steaks in Edinburg get postponed. Fight Night : Multiple boxing matches one real and one not so real as two UFC legends duke it out.  LA Banned Fireworks: Looks like banning something just makes the masses want to do it even more. Hawk Tuah Girl:  We have some updates on some more current information about her.      20-30 mins: BBQ Time4th of July Cooks : We each talk about what we did on 4th of July and what we ate.  Loaded Ribs: Loaded Ribs make their way back on the the podcast as we cook some up for fight night.30-40 mins: Hurricane Prep Lost Power : The Joes give some tips on how to be prepared for a hurricane. Cooking:  We give some Joe Tips on what the best way is to cook if you don't have power: Storing Food: More joe tips on storing and saving your food. 40-50 mins: Johnny Deep  Deep: John makes a last minute appearance and tells us what he did with the food he bought for the postponed cookoff. A bunch of joes that cook like pros!!!Website/Shop https://www.readysetbbq.com/Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/readysetbbq

We have a special guest. Alex Bosco the founder of SB Tactical and the inventor of the original pistol brace will join us to discuss the recent court ruling as well as the future of braces and our industry in general. During our Tech Talk from EOTech Inc. we will talk about the “tech” of modern helmets. Josh Brooks from Hard Head Veterans helps us to understand what goes into modern ballistic helmets.   There were numerous shark attacks during the July 4th Holiday Weekend. During our SOTG Homeroom segment we will examine them and discuss what we can do to be better prepared for emergencies. Thanks for being a part of SOTG! We hope you find value in the message we share. If you've got any questions, here are some options to contact us: Send an Email Send a Text Call Us Enjoy the show! And remember… You're a Beginner Once, a Student For Life! TOPICS COVERED THIS EPISODE Huge thanks to our Partners: EOTech | FrogLube | Hi-Point Firearms | Spike's Tactical [0:07:22] EOTech Talk - EOTechInc.com TOPIC: Protecting Your Melon with HHV - First Half of Interview Hear the FULL discussion on the Friday Bonus Hour! [0:29:30] Pro Tip of the Week - FrogLube.com TOPIC: Keep your Simple Machines Functioning [0:36:17] SOTG Homeroom - SOTG University TOPIC: More Shark Attacks that Never Happen Shark believed to have injured 4 people in waters off South Padre Island on Fourth of July abcnews.go.com North Texas woman attacked by shark in South Padre: ‘I thought it was a big fish' www.youtube.com Shark Attacks 4 Texas Beachgoers on Fourth of July, with Report of 1 Suffering 'Severe' Bite people.com 14-year-old boy bitten by shark while at junior lifeguard camp in Florida abcnews.go.com [0:56:35] Interview with Alex Bosco of SB Tactical  Braces are Back thanks to Alex and his organization www.fracaction.org FEATURING: ABC News, People.com, Firearms Regulatory Accountability Coalition, Madison Rising, Jarrad Markel, Paul Markel, SOTG University PARTNERS: EOTech, FrogLube, Hi-Point Firearms, Spikes Tactical FIND US ON: iTunes, Stitcher, AppleTV, Roku, Amazon, GooglePlay, YouTube, Threads, Instagram, Facebook, X

In this podcast episode, Tricia and Sandy chat with Kristen about her recent visit to an American Kennel Club (AKC) dog show. Kristen, an avid dog lover, attended the event with her less enthusiastic adult daughter. She shares her excitement about seeing various dog breeds, especially her favorite, the Great Danes. Kristen recounts a funny moment involving a dog owner feeding her dog cooked chicken from her bra. The hosts also discuss Kristen's consideration of adding a third dog to her household. The episode wraps up with a true crime podcast recommendation and a humorous story about the 100th anniversary of the Caesar salad. Timestamps (by podsqueeze) The santa show podcast (00:00:00) Introduction and sponsor mentions. Kristen's dog show adventure (00:00:53) Kristen and her daughter's visit to a dog show, including their experience and favorite moments. Understanding the dog show (00:01:54) Kristen explains the American Kennel Club show, her interest in dogs, and the different breeds showcased. Dog show experiences (00:02:38) Kristen's enthusiasm for the dog show, including her favorites and her return for the Great Danes. The chicken and dog handlers (00:03:56) Discussion about handlers using chicken to get dogs' attention and the humorous interactions at the dog show. Exploring the "dork forest" (00:06:08) Conversation about attending a dog show and the concept of being a "dork" in various interests. Kristen's dog show etiquette (00:07:39) Kristen's experience at the dog show, including her daughter's caution and her own interactions with the dogs. Considering a new dog (00:08:43) Kristen's contemplation of getting a new dog and the humorous conversation about adding another pet to the family. Discussion about a true crime podcast (00:11:21) Tricia's recommendation of a true crime podcast and her recent purchase of silver, followed by a brief summary of the podcast's content. The "problem with Eric" podcast (00:12:33) Detailed discussion about the true crime podcast "The Problem with Eric," including personal connections to the story and the impact on the community. The 100th anniversary of the Caesar salad (00:17:21) Sandy and Tricia's conversation about the 100th anniversary of the Caesar salad and a humorous anecdote about Tricia's father's joke related to it. 00:18:41 - Caesar Salad Critique Discussion about a family member's disdain for Caesar salad and humorous tattoo ideas. 00:19:10 - Taylor Swift's Tour Opinions on the duration of Taylor Swift's tour and the renaming of a city in Germany in her honor. 00:20:12 - Dolly Parton's TV Special Dolly Parton's response to a teenager's comment about not liking country music. 00:22:28 - Shark Attack Details of a shark attack in South Padre Island and the heroic actions of the victims and bystanders. 00:24:40 - Danny Trejo's Parade Incident Description of an altercation involving actor Danny Trejo during a parade in Los Angeles. 00:26:24 - Redneck Fun with Alligator Discussion about a video showing individuals using an alligator to puncture a beer can and shotgun it. 00:28:55 - Redneck Ingenuity Reflection on the "redneck" behavior in the previous segment and the potential consequences. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sandy-show1/support

More Democrats call on Biden to exit race. Vending machines selling ammo. Movie box office receipts. Waymo robotaxi pulled over by Phoenix police after driving into the wrong lane. Joe Biden accidentally says he is the 'first black woman' to serve in White House. North Texas woman recalls horrifying shark attack on South Padre Island.

4 shark attacks reported at South Padre Island in Texas during Fourth of July celebrations. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join us for a mini-episode of Dark Outdoors where we address the shark attack at South Padre Island that according to officials involved multiple victims. In this episode we address: *What is known about the attacks and victims *Exclusive info on what's going on with sharks in the area right now *Info on other rare multiple victim attacks in Gulf waters in recent years *A rumor killer about great white shark involvement.

The 4th of July holiday turned into a nightmare for one beachgoer who was bitten in the leg by a shark while swimming in the waters around South Padre Island, Texas. California is sweltering under extreme heat as firefighters battle wildfires near Oroville. The intense conditions have already resulted in at least eight firefighters suffering heat-related injuries. President Biden told a group of governors he needs to cut back on meetings and appearances that go past 8 pm to get more sleep, multiple sources tell CBS News. Adriana Diaz is in for Norah.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In March of 1989, Mark Kilroy was headed to South Padre Island for what was supposed to be one of his last Spring Break experiences. What started out as a good time with great friends, quickly turned into a horrifying occult encounter when Mark was targeted by a cult after crossing the border into Mexico. Meg tells you about Mark's disappearance, the cult responsible, and the man at the head of cult; Los Narcosatanicos.

SpaceX Explosion Damages Environment Around Launch Site Last Thursday, SpaceX's South Texas facility was awash in noise and fire, as crowds gathered in South Padre Island and Port Isabel to watch Starship's first orbital launch. It was the largest and most powerful rocket ever made, standing at around 400 feet tall. Four minutes into the launch, SpaceX detonated the rocket after the SuperHeavy booster failed to separate from the Starship as planned. The launch destroyed the company's launch pad, spreading concrete up to three quarters of a mile away. Cameras left by YouTubers were either knocked down or destroyed in the rumble, along with some of the fence surrounding the launch pad's road-facing property. To read the rest, visit sciencefriday.com.   The Private Space Race Takes A Toll On Planet Earth After the SpaceX explosion last month, debris wasn't the only thing on the minds of Science Friday listeners. The following messages arrived in our inbox after we reported on 3-D printed rockets in March. It was interesting to hear you discuss 7 space launches in 5 days, and then just moments later the fact that we're not on track to reduce carbon emissions. My understanding is that rocket launches release huge amounts of carbon and other greenhouse gases. Story idea?—@RevBobIerien, Twitter Also regarding the 3-D rockets there wasn't any concern made for space pollution was there? I may have tuned out unhappily before the end. —Juanita H, email How much carbon do rockets contribute to global warming? —Robert C, email Very disappointing to hear the report of new “cheaper” 3D-printed rockets are available so that, like fast food pods and big gulps, we can now drop even more cheap **** into the ocean. And, *immediately* following a story about the new report on climate change, what exactly is the carbon footprint resulting from the ability of more people to more cheaply fire rockets into space? —David M, email Carbon isn't the big pollutant that comes from spaceflight, says Dr. Eloise Marais, associate professor in physical geography at University College London. Instead, black carbon or soot particles are generated and released directly into the atmosphere, alongside reactive nitrogen and nitrogen oxides. Dr. Marais joins Ira to talk about how much of an impact increased rocket launches could have on the atmosphere, and how that compares to the auto industry.    How To Combat The Antibiotic Resistance Crisis For years scientists have been ringing alarm bells about a global antibiotic resistance crisis. Now hospitals and healthcare facilities face the consequences: In the United States, there are 2.8 million antimicrobial-resistant infections every year, and more than 35,000 people die from these infections. Bacteria naturally try to outsmart the drugs designed to kill them, which causes treatments to become ineffective over time. While new antibiotics are made to respond to these resistant strains, the bacteria continue to evolve—creating a constant, and costly, cycle. There's a number of added factors driving the crisis, including antibiotic use in livestock and the general overprescription of antibiotics. About 1 in 3 antibiotic prescriptions in outpatient settings like urgent care or emergency departments are unnecessary. Scientists are struggling to keep up with the need to replace antibiotics that no longer work. It's a never ending game of catch up. Ira discusses some of the possible solutions to this vexing problem and takes listener questions with Dr. Victor Nizet, faculty lead of the Collaborative to Halt Antibiotic-Resistant Microbes at the University of California San Diego and Dr. Eddie Stenehjem, executive vice chair of medicine at the University of Colorado.   Are Phages A New Page In Medicine? One of the many possible solutions to the global antibiotic resistance crisis is an old idea that's new again—bacteriophages, or phages for short. Phages are viruses that exist solely to kill bacteria and are abundant in nature. While scientists first discovered phages' ability to treat bacterial infections about a century ago, there's been little interest in turning them into a treatment for patients with antibiotic resistant infections—until recently. Ira talks with Dr. Graham Hatfull, professor of biotechnology at the University of Pittsburgh about the latest in phage science.   Transcripts for each segment will be available the week after the show airs on sciencefriday.com.