We love hearing from our fans! Texas was built on open ranges and wide horizons—until barbed wire started carving up the frontier. In this episode, we dive into the wild and chaotic Fence-Cutting War of the 1880s, when furious cowboys and landowners clashed over who controlled the land. Armed with wire cutters and a deep sense of frontier justice, Texas ranchers waged a battle that turned neighbor against neighbor and led to gunfights, political showdowns, and some downright bizarre tactics. Joi...
Feb 25, 2025•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast We love hearing from our fans! Texas never did take kindly to being told what it can’t do—so when Prohibition outlawed alcohol in 1920, Texans found their own way to keep the good times rolling. Deep in the piney woods of East Texas, moonshiners built hidden stills, bootleggers outran the law, and speakeasies flourished under the cover of night. Meanwhile, a flour salesman named W. Lee "Pappy" O’Daniel used radio waves, Western swing music, and a whole lot of biscuits to become a house...
Feb 18, 2025•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast We love hearing from our fans! What happens when a country prints its own money with no real plan to back it up? Welcome to the wild financial experiment of the Republic of Texas! In this episode, we dive into the history of the Redback , the infamous Texas currency introduced by President Mirabeau Lamar. Lamar had big dreams—expanding Texas, driving out Native Americans, and keeping the Republic independent from the United States. But his economic policies? Well… let’s just say they were a disa...
Feb 04, 2025•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast We love hearing from our fans! Journey with us into the hauntingly beautiful world of Caddo Lake in this episode of Texas Tales . As Texas’s only natural lake, Caddo is a mesmerizing labyrinth of bayous, cypress trees, and Spanish moss—but beneath its serene surface lies a wealth of history, mystery, and lore. We’ll explore its legendary creation during the New Madrid earthquakes and the scientific tale of the Great Raft that shaped its formation. Discover the sacred connection the Caddo Nation ...
Jan 28, 2025•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast We love hearing from our fans! We have come a long way in our production quality since we started. We did our best to REMASTER some “oldies but goodies” and ensure the production offers a better listening experience. Not perfect, but much better. Hope you enjoy! In this captivating episode of Texas Tales , we unravel the mysterious story of the Lady in Blue, a Spanish nun who miraculously appeared to the Jumano Indians in Texas during the 17th century. Through her remarkable spiritual encounters...
Jan 23, 2025•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast We love hearing from our fans! Step back into the captivating world of Baron de Bastrop, a man whose name echoes through the annals of Texas history. In this episode of Texas Tales , we unravel the enigmatic story of the man who shaped two great regions—Louisiana and Texas. Discover how a mysterious European émigré became a trusted advisor, a political influencer, and a cornerstone of Texas colonization. From his pivotal role in shaping early settlements to his enduring impact on the Lone Star S...
Jan 21, 2025•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast We love hearing from our fans! This is the second part of a two-part Texas Tales. Make sure you listen to Part 1 before this episode. Get ready for an action-packed journey through the Texas Revolution like you’ve never experienced before! In this episode, we’re breaking down every major battle, from the first shots at Gonzales to the triumphant cries at San Jacinto, with a rapid-fire approach that keeps the excitement alive. We’re not just telling stories—we’re keeping score. Who won, who lost,...
Jan 16, 2025•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast We love hearing from our fans! Get ready for an action-packed journey through the Texas Revolution like you’ve never experienced before! In this episode, we’re breaking down every major battle, from the first shots at Gonzales to the triumphant cries at San Jacinto, with a rapid-fire approach that keeps the excitement alive. We’re not just telling stories—we’re keeping score. Who won, who lost, and what it all meant for the fight for Texian independence? Along the way, we’ll tally the victories,...
Jan 14, 2025•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast We love hearing from our fans! We have come a long way in our production quality since we started. We did our best to REMASTER some “oldies but goodies” and ensure the production offers a better listening experience. Not perfect, but much better. Hope you enjoy! Saddle up and join us on a journey through the vibrant history of the Texas rodeo, a cornerstone of Lone Star culture and tradition. In this episode, we trace the roots of rodeo back to the days of the vaqueros, the skilled horsemen of S...
Jan 09, 2025•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast We love hearing from our fans! Join us as we delve into the daring exploits of James Long, the audacious Texas filibuster who dreamed of claiming Texas for himself. From high-stakes missions to untimely ends, Long's adventures epitomize the ambition and chaos of the early Texas frontier. But the story doesn't end there—meet Jane Long, his incredible wife and a Texas legend in her own right. Known as the "Mother of Texas," Jane's resilience, determination, and pioneering ...
Jan 07, 2025•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast We love hearing from our fans! We have come a long way in our production quality since we started. We did our best to REMASTER some “oldies but goodies” and ensure the production offers a better listening experience. Not perfect, but much better. Hope you enjoy! Step into the wild, wicked world of Hell’s Half Acre in Fort Worth, where the legends are as large as the Longhorns that once roamed its streets. We're peeling back the layers of history to reveal the raw, raucous reality of this no...
Jan 02, 2025•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast We love hearing from our fans! Join us for an engaging dive into the post-Civil War era when Texas became the land of new beginnings. Discover the stories of adventure, opportunity, and transformation as we explore why countless Americans packed up and headed south to the Lone Star State. We'll journey through the economic boom spurred by the Homestead Act and the expansion of railroads, witness the cultural melting pot that emerged as diverse groups settled in, and hear tales of resilience...
Dec 31, 2024•42 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast We love hearing from our fans! We have come a long way in our production quality since we started. We did our best to REMASTER some “oldies but goodies” and ensure the production offers a better listening experience. Not perfect, but much better. Hope you enjoy! In the 1800s, a Texas innkeeper lured weary cattle drovers to his inn along the Opelousas Trail—a rest stop that became their final destination. After selling their cattle in New Orleans, drovers would return to the inn with pockets full...
Dec 26, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast We love hearing from our fans! Ready for a wild ride through Texas history? Join us as we unravel the incredible story of Green DeWitt—a man with big dreams, bold moves, and a knack for navigating the chaos of early Texas. From his journey across states to his alliances with legends like Moses Austin, Stephen F. Austin, and Baron de Bastrop, we dive into the drama, determination, and downright grit it took to build his colony. You'll hear about his triumphs, struggles, and the larger-than-l...
Dec 24, 2024•33 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast We love hearing from our fans! We have come a long way in our production quality since we started. We did our best to REMASTER some “oldies but goodies” and ensure the production offers a better listening experience. Not perfect, but much better. Hope you enjoy! Step into the wild and fascinating history of the Chicken Ranch, the infamous Texas establishment that served as more than just a brothel—it became a cultural icon. From its humble beginnings during the Great Depression to its heyday as ...
Dec 19, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast We love hearing from our fans! Journey back tens of thousands of years to uncover the untold story of prehistoric Texas—a land teeming with mammoths, saber-toothed cats, and ancient humans thriving amidst the Ice Age. In this episode, we dive into the groundbreaking archaeological discoveries that challenge what we thought we knew about human history. From the tools at Buttermilk Creek to the haunting White Sands footprints and the global myths of catastrophic floods, this podcast weaves science...
Dec 17, 2024•52 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast We love hearing from our fans! We have come a long way in our production quality since we started. We did our best to REMASTER some “oldies but goodies” and ensure the production offers a better listening experience. Not perfect, but much better. Hope you enjoy! In this episode, we dive into the fascinating and tumultuous tale of Jean Lafitte, the infamous pirate who once ruled Galveston Island, and his dramatic interactions with the indigenous Karankawa people. Set against the backdrop of early...
Dec 12, 2024•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast We love hearing from our fans! Saddle up for a journey into one of Texas' most chilling legends! In this episode, we uncover the spine-tingling tale of El Muerto , the infamous Headless Horseman of South Texas. From his violent origins as a cattle rustler to his eerie transformation into a ghostly rider haunting the borderlands, this story weaves together history, folklore, and the wild spirit of the Lone Star State. Discover how justice, revenge, and mystery forged a legend that still send...
Dec 10, 2024•26 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast We love hearing from our fans! Step into the heart of Texas’ role in space exploration with this captivating episode! Discover how Houston became “Space City” during NASA’s Apollo program, where iconic missions like the moon landing and Apollo 13 unfolded. Then, journey to the cutting-edge innovation of SpaceX at Boca Chica, where reusable rockets and the Starlink satellite network are reshaping the future. Packed with fascinating stories of legendary astronauts, groundbreaking rockets, and Texa...
Dec 03, 2024•43 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast We love hearing from our fans! In this episode of our Texas history podcast, we dive into the fascinating story of Buc-ee's, the beloved roadside mega-stop that has captured the hearts of Texans and travelers alike. Discover how a small convenience store grew into a Lone Star legend, known for its spotless bathrooms, iconic beaver mascot, and world-famous brisket. We explore its history, its ambitious expansion beyond Texas, and the unique ways it embodies Texas pride. Packed with fun facts...
Nov 27, 2024•29 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast We love hearing from our fans! Who were the Karankawa? Feared warriors, misunderstood coastal nomads, or victims of slanderous folklore? In this episode, inspired by Texas Monthly’s powerful article “We No Longer Have to Live in Secret” by Stephen Harrigan, we dive into the rich and turbulent history of the Karankawa people. From their seasonal migrations along the Texas Gulf Coast to violent encounters with Spanish colonists and Anglo settlers, their story is one of resilience, betrayal, and su...
Nov 26, 2024•39 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast We love hearing from our fans! Want to keep away ghosts or witches? Ever wonder about gravesite etiquette or ensure you have a bountiful crop? Well...we did. In this episode, we cover a wide range of popular Texas superstitions just in time for Halloween. Grab yourself a drink, get dressed up in your Halloween costume and get ready for a very informative and fairly funny episode of your state's most spooky superstitions. Support the show...
Oct 26, 2022•27 min•Ep 13•Transcript available on Metacast We love hearing from our fans! In this episode we discuss the area of I-45 just south of Houston, heading towards Galveston. Over the years, many women and girls have gone missing along this thoroughfare and many have been found murdered. So many in fact, that this stretch of highway has been referred to by the police, FBI and locals as "The Killing Fields". This Texas Tale highlights four of the victims that presumably have nothing in common, except their final resting place. Support ...
Oct 19, 2022•31 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast We love hearing from our fans! Its the season! Spoooky season. Are you ready to scare yourself silly? Go check out the Emily Morgan Hotel in San Antonio. An early 1900's hospital, psych ward and morgue turned into a fancy hotel. If you can't find a ghost there, not sure where you will. In this episode, learn about the history, the namesake and the current day hauntings. Hope you enjoy! Support the show...
Oct 12, 2022•20 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast We love hearing from our fans! Long before there was the Chisolm or Goodnight Loving Trails, there was the Opelousas trail. Used by Native Americans, the Spanish, Mexicans, Texans and yes...cattle. Driving herds to New Orleans was not for the faint of heart, but for those that did it well, it seriously paid off. We hope you enjoy listening the our tale about the original Texas cattle drive. Support the show...
Jul 06, 2022•29 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast We love hearing from our fans! When European wines are under attack by a harmful little pest, who do they turn to save their butts? That's right....TV Munson from Dennison, Texas. What an interesting tale about how the Texas vines were the perfect solution for a European problem. We hope you grab your favorite glass of wine, sit back and enjoy listening to how the European wine industry has us to thank for their great wines. Support the show...
Jun 29, 2022•31 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast We love hearing from our fans! Five opportunities to strike it rich! We are trying to ensure that listening to our episode pays off for someone. In this episode we countdown the five most famous buried treasures in Texas. We hope that at the end of this episode you grab your shovel and start digging for treasure...and when you strike it rich, maybe you'll find it in your heart to share just a little. Support the show...
Jun 22, 2022•26 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast We love hearing from our fans! What if instead of horses and donkeys, camels were the animals that helped settle the west? This very well could have been our reality. On this episode we explore why horses rather than camels, but determine... maybe we chose wrong?!? Grab yourself and drink, sit back and enjoy this episode. Who knows...maybe you will learn something new. Support the show...
Jun 15, 2022•37 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast We love hearing from our fans! Battle so nice, they decided to have it twice. 29 buffalo hunters and traders against 700 plains Indians. This battle has incredible significance for both sides. It is the beginning of the end for the Comanches and other tribes and opens up Texas and the west to settlers once and for all. Hope you enjoy this one! Support the show...
May 25, 2022•45 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast We love hearing from our fans! What would you do if you were out numbered ten to one by the fiercest fighting Native American tribes. We don't know either, but it probably would not be pretty. In this episode we discuss the largest battle in plains history. We hope you enjoy this episode. Its a doozie. Support the show...
May 18, 2022•52 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast 
