Sarah Sigmon is a third-generation resident of Del Rio who lives and breathes the essence of border life. Sarah’s story will challenge everything you think you know about the southern border. And she’s a tough cookie. You’ll hear about the time she was surrounded by Federales with machine guns and how she found her way out. She’s also tender, speaking with a warmth and love for her hometown that’s so palpable, it brings her to tears. She opens her heart about the day her world stopped – as news broke of the mass shooting just an hour away in Uvalde. The pain and trauma hitting home, as Del Rio first responders, including her close friend, rushed to help. Feel the fire in her voice as she talks about Del Rio’s resilience and the power of community. And she doesn’t hold back her strong feelings about immigration. This episode will leave you thinking about the true meaning of home, pride, and what it takes to create a life worth living. 

00:00 Introduction to Border Kids
01:15 Meet Sarah: A True Border Life Story
02:19 Sarah's Family History in Del Rio
04:36 Returning to Del Rio: A Family Decision
10:26 Building a Community Hub: Mesquite Creek
14:26 Navigating the Pandemic and Expanding Business
20:38 The Importance of Bilingualism
27:45 Growing Up on the Border: The Good and the Bad
30:33 Appreciation for Security and Opportunities in the U.S.
31:21 Misconceptions About Safety and Culture in Del Rio
33:23 Community Pride and Frustrations
35:41 Entrepreneurship and Community Involvement
36:15 Memorable Anecdotes from Del Rio
45:07 Challenges and Realities of Immigration
55:54 Emotional Impact of the Uvalde Shooting
59:14 Final Thoughts and Farewell




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Vanessa Sanchez came to Del Rio just before her sophomore year in high school, bringing with her a whirlwind of experiences from Eagle Pass, California, and North Dakota, —thanks to her father’s role as a Border Patrol agent. Born into a Mexican-American family but raised on the move, Vanessa’s journey is a fascinating blend of cultures and contradictions. She's now "Brown and Proud", but with a Spanish fluency that’s more of a work in progress, thanks to her family's complex relationship with the language. Vanessa’s story reveals the striking contrast between media portrayals and the lived reality of border life, and how her time in Del Rio reshaped her understanding of her own culture and identity.


00:00 Introduction to Border Kids
01:16 Meet Vanessa 
02:03 Life in Del Rio
03:23 Cultural Challenges and Language Barriers
06:30 Social Dynamics and Friendships
09:25 Nightlife and Safety Concerns
17:55 Misunderstandings and Media Portrayals
21:18 Immigration Issues and Political Views
28:34 Reflecting on Immigration Reporting
29:08 Life as a Border Patrol Agent's Child
33:12 Cultural Identity and Growth
35:49 Memorable High School Experiences
38:35 Challenging Moments and Realizations
42:37 Impact of the Uvalde Tragedy
47:54 Participating in the Project
50:22 Final Thoughts and Farewell





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Ashlie Nebel has spent most of her life in Del Rio. Her story shows us growing up in a border town isn’t just about geography—it’s about straddling two worlds, two cultures, and two identities. She speaks candidly about the bonds between Del Rio and Acuña, and the harsh realities that have shaken this tight-knit town, including how she learned more than 100 people were seeking shelter in an abandoned building, resorting to splicing a neighbor’s electricity to survive. This episode will shed light on some of the invisible struggles playing out in this community. Listen as Ashlie opens up about what it truly means to be a 'Border Kid' and why this place, with all its complexities, will always be home. 

00:00 Introduction to Border Kids
01:16 Meet Ashlie: A Life in Del Rio
02:09 Balancing Two Worlds: Family and Career
07:06 The Impact of Immigration on Community Safety
23:18 Navigating Cultural and Social Dynamics
28:13 Reflections on Growing Up in a Border Town
39:34 The Changing Social Scene in Del Rio
40:42 Closing Thoughts and Farewell


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Jake Bostick's family moved to Del Rio as part of his dad’s job as a federal border agent. What started as a fresh start, turned to chaos. Jake was arrested during baseball tryouts for a reason that would disgrace his family. Hear his recollection of seeing his classmates openly use drugs in the classroom and how he lost a dear friend to drug-running and crime. The border’s dark underbelly nearly swallowed Jake whole. He left Del Rio to escape the downward spiral, but the border town never left him. Listen as he shares his journey from addiction to rebuilding his life, and the shocking realities of exactly what 40 bucks could get you just over the river. Listener discretion is advised. 

00:00 Introduction to Border Kids
01:18 Meet Jake: A Border Kid's Story
02:04 Jake's Early Life and Family Background
04:10 Challenges and Realities of Border Life
07:21 Jake's Troubled Youth and Turning Point
17:45 Confronting the Consequences
20:42 A Lighthearted Shift: Language and Culture
22:11 First Day Cafeteria Confusion
23:15 Language Barriers and Lessons
24:30 Experiences of Discrimination
26:08 Community Support in a Border Town
27:55 Challenges and Dangers of Border Life
30:56 Misunderstandings About Border Life
34:08 Personal Reflections and Immigration Views
40:58 Memorable Anecdotes and Closing Thoughts





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Christina Yawn is a woman of mixed Mexican and American heritage and doesn’t hold back on the stark realities of growing up in a border town, where blending two cultures shaped her identity and her struggles. She’s also the spouse of an officer stationed at Laughlin Air Force Base, and she, too, has served our country, as a medic in the Navy. She shares a gut-wrenching encounter with a migrant woman that cuts through the political noise to expose the raw humanity of life at the border. Hear how her own church played a frontline role.


00:00 Introduction to Border Kids
01:16 Meet Christina: A Border Kid's Journey
01:57 Life in the Navy and Beyond
04:31 Cultural Identity and Growing Up Mixed
16:27 Returning to Del Rio: Challenges and Opportunities
20:40 Perspectives on Immigration
22:23 Personal Encounters with Immigrants
22:49 The Val Verde Humanitarian Coalition
26:01 Stories of Struggle and Survival
29:51 Challenges and Realities of Immigration
35:37 Growing Up in Del Rio: The Best and Worst Parts
39:17 Reflections on Immigration and Media Portrayal
41:37 Conclusion and Final Thoughts






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Josue Gonzalez is a talented musician turned educator. He left Del Rio to see the world, only to return home, driven by a fierce devotion to his family. His story is one of striking contrasts: from his parent’s selfless act of aiding a migrant in distress to the chilling moment when the Los Zetas cartel brutally assaulted a family member. Josue’s heart was shattered by the Robb Elementary School mass shooting in Uvalde. The event made him confront the terrifying reality of violence in our schools and question the very system meant to protect both students and educators. Josue is a passionate voice for cultural heritage, urging schools to embrace the roots of their students' identities so they can achieve success in areas which they’re more naturally inclined, like music, art and drama. 

00:00 Introduction to Border Kids
01:18 Meet Josue: Musician Turned Educator
02:13 Josue's Journey: From Del Rio to the World and Back
03:53 The Impact of Music and Arts in Border Towns
08:11 Growing Up Bilingual and Cultural Identity
12:28 Challenges and Triumphs of Border Life
15:57 The Role of Arts in Hispanic Communities
20:42 Childhood Memories and Family Encounters
22:03 Life Lessons from the Border
23:03 Growing Up in Del Rio
26:09 Challenges and Dangers at the Border
29:47 Immigration and Media Perception
35:33 Reflections on School Safety
38:34 Final Thoughts and Farewell





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Vianka Heary is a real estate powerhouse now thriving in England as part of her husband’s service in the United States Air Force. Vianka grew up in Mexico but crossed the international bridge daily to attend an American elementary school. But when high school rolled around, she made the remarkable decision to live apart from her parents in a different country—find out why. Her experiences offer a fascinating glimpse into the duality of growing up on the border. And let's not forget the time her grandfather offered her very American future husband tequila in the morning - an example of the cultural differences she navigated with grace and humor. 

00:00 Introduction to Border Kids
01:15 Meet Vianka: A Unique Border Experience
02:02 Vianka's Early Life and Education
05:50 Navigating Cultural Differences
15:02 Challenges and Misunderstandings of Border Life
28:16 Reflections on Immigration
33:29 Conclusion and Final Thoughts




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Annaliz Bosquez is a businesswoman, mother and former beauty queen. She also happens to be the daughter of a border patrol agent and she’s married to one, as well. Imagine crossing the international bridge every day just to attend school, balancing the traditions of Mexico with the pressures of American life. She didnt blend in. She stood out, becoming a beacon of inspiration for young girls while representing her hometown in the spotlight. Having lived in Del Rio, San Antonio, and Austin, she’s witnessed the border's evolution firsthand—and she’s not afraid to speak up. 

00:00 Introduction to Border Kids
01:16 Meet Annaliz: A Border Kid's Journey
02:03 Life in Austin and Career Transitions
04:09 Balancing Cultures: Growing Up Bilingual
10:59 The Pageant Experience
15:23 Border Patrol Insights and Immigration Views
25:21 Concluding Thoughts and Call for Solutions
27:23 Closing Remarks




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Roberto Perez's roots stretch across the border to Ciudad Acuña, Mexico. Imagine moving to a new country in sixth grade, mocked for not knowing the language—and then turning that ridicule into fuel to master English in less than a year - with nothing but grit and a dictionary in hand. Roberto worked as a shoe salesman in Del Rio, scraping by on an unlivable wage, but hear how his brother's Nissan 300 ZX showed him that there was a whole world beyond the border. And then there’s the wild teenage years: driving friends across the border in his 'taxi' to party in Mexico, and fooling out-of-town girls into thinking he was older than he was. But life on the border wasn’t all parties and fast cars. When Haitian migrants sought asylum under Del Rio’s international bridge, his parents’ neighborhood was overtaken by law enforcement, a reminder of the complex, raw realities faced by border towns. 

00:00 Introduction to Border Kids
01:16 Meet Roberto 
02:44 Roberto's Journey to the U.S.
04:09 Challenges of Learning English
06:46 Life in Corpus Christi
11:10 Memories of Del Rio
12:09 Crossing the Border for Fun
17:01 Reflections on Safety and Growing Up
24:26 Current Border Issues
31:35 Conclusion and Final Thoughts


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Bruno Lozano is the former mayor of Del Rio, a man whose journey from growing up gay on the border to leading his city is nothing short of remarkable. Bruno’s story goes against a deeply rooted machismo culture, a fight to embrace his identity in a town bound by tradition. But that’s only the beginning. 

As mayor, Bruno faced one of the largest humanitarian crises on U.S. soil when nearly 15,000 Haitian migrants gathered beneath the international bridge, seeking asylum. He was thrust into the eye of the immigration storm, only to feel betrayed by his own political party. 

After his term ended, his life took a dramatic turn with an arrest for drunk driving, a story he’s now using to shed light on the very specific kind of trauma that border living can inflict on communities. 
Bruno pulls no punches as he opens up what really went down when the world was watching. 

00:00 Introduction to Border Kids
01:15 Meet Bruno Lozano: From Mayor to Advocate
02:11 Bruno's Current Endeavors and PTSD Awareness
04:06 The Hidden Trauma of Border Life
08:39 Bruno's Arrest and Path to Recovery
16:15 The Journey to Becoming Mayor
21:26 Challenging Machismo Culture
23:35 Cultural Influences and Personal Interests
24:13 Challenges of Growing Up Gay
26:00 Navigating Identity and Community
26:59 Bilingualism and Cultural Intelligence
28:17 Love for Del Rio and Tejano Culture
31:58 Misunderstandings About the Border
34:28 Migration and Political Challenges
43:08 Importance of Sharing Border Stories
45:30 Closing Remarks and Personal Reflections


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