Hey Elgin!

Welcome back to another episode of Hey Elgin!! Thisweek, Tony, Ben, and Boston Nick are sitting down with a guest who needs no introduction if you spend any time on local social media—Judah Ross, Bastrop County real estate agent and fellow podcaster.

After a long history of butting heads online and runningwhat felt like rival shows, we finally bury the hatchet and get everything out on the table. Judah opens up about his journey to settling in Bastrop, his highly active social media presence, and the drama that comes with sharing his unapologetic, controversial views on politics and local topics. He even tellsthe story behind earning his very own "F*** Judah Ross" sticker, proudly displayed in local dive bar bathrooms. We also dig into how this kind of notoriety actually impacts his day-to-day real estate business.

Once the air is cleared, the crew does what it does best:diving headfirst into the weird and unexplained. We get into the deep history of Bastrop County, tracing the wild true story of the Baron of Bastrop. From there, the conversation goes completely off the rails as we explore local haunts, buried bodies (both ancient and potentially new), our favoriteconspiracy theories, and Boston Nick's burning question about why the local Indigenous tribes didn't leave behind written notes explaining why they chose to settle in Elgin and Bastrop County.

Grab a drink, get comfortable, and tune in for a hilarious,wide-ranging conversation that proves even internet rivals can share a great time in the studio.

Welcome back to Hey Elgin!! In this episode, Tony, Ben, and Boston Nick sit down with Rich Lucero, the Head Football Coach and Boys Athletic Coordinator for the Elgin Wildcats.

Coach Lucero, who previously served as the Wildcats'offensive coordinator since 2021, shares the story of his 25-year coaching career. A native of Bangs, Texas, and a Texas Tech graduate, Coach Lucero has traveled extensively, from coaching six-man football in Lohn, Texas, to collegiate roles in New York and Indiana, before finding his true home inElgin. We discuss why his family fell in love with our community and how the "One Town, One Team, One Family" (OTOTOF) mindset perfectly aligns with his vision for the program.

Coach Lucero isn't shying away from the challenges ahead. Heopens up about taking over a team that lost many starters to graduation, his commitment to establishing a culture of excellence (both on the field and in the classroom), and his ultimate goal of building a consistent playoff contender. Plus, as always, Boston Nick (our resident hockey fan who doesn'tquite understand football) asks the hard-hitting questions, making this a fun and educational ride for everyone.

Tune in to learn the man behind the whistle and get ready for Friday Night Lights!

Welcome back to another episode of Hey Elgin!! Thisweek, Tony, Ben, and Boston Nick are sitting down for an official "Chat with Kat," featuring Bastrop County Precinct 4 write-in candidate Kat Hammer.

We dive deep into Kat’s fascinating background, exploringher travels across the United States and her incredible 30-plus-year career as a dedicated social worker. Kat breaks down exactly how those decades of on-the-ground experience uniquely equip her for the challenges of thisposition. We also discuss what truly sets her apart from her opponent and why genuine leadership means actually listening to the people—even if she isn't a fan of the word "politician."

But it wouldn't be a proper trip to the studio without a fewcurveballs. To wrap things up, Boston Nick takes the mic to explore Kat’s wildly diverse, genre-hopping taste in music, before taking a sharp turn into the strange, the unexplained, and our favorite conspiracy theories.

Tune in for an honest, grounded, and incredibly fun conversation with someone fighting hard to represent our community!

Welcome back to another episode of Hey Elgin!! This week, Tony, Ben, and Boston Nick are stepping back in time with Media Producer, Director, and Editor, Karen Bernstein.

After trading New York for Elgin in 2018, Karen quickly embedded herself in the civic heartbeat of the town, bringing her extensive documentary expertise to the Elgin Oral History Project. We sit down to dive deep into the rich history, local legends, and lore that built our community.From the early days of Perryville and the dust of the Hogeye stagecoach to the influential leaders who shaped Elgin into what it is today, nothing is off the table.

Of course, it wouldn't be a proper episode if things didn'tget a little weird at the end. Boston Nick takes the wheel to steer the conversation into the unknown and spooky side of Elgin's history, wrapping it all up with some classic music talk.

Tune in for a fascinating ride through the past, present,and paranormal!

Welcome back to Hey Elgin!! This week, Tony, Ben, andBoston Nick are shifting gears for a heavier, but deeply important, conversation.

We are honored to sit down with Stephen Wusterhausen andCurtis Craig from the Little Stars of Texas Foundation. They share the heart behind their mission: providing beautiful, handcrafted infant caskets entirely at no cost to families navigating unimaginable tragedy. During the interview,Curtis opens up and shares his own heartbreaking personal story of losing a child at birth, illustrating exactly why this foundation’s work is a vital light in the darkest of times.

To continue providing this gift to grieving families, LittleStars of Texas needs our community's support. We get the full rundown on two massive upcoming events: their 1st Annual BBQ Fundraiser & Silent Auction at the SPJST Hall on Saturday, August 1st at 6:00 PM, and their epic Christmas Ride Giveaway, where one lucky winner will drive off witha brand-new Harley-Davidson Nightster® (or a cool $10,000 cash).

Because this is still Hey Elgin!!, we couldn't let them leave the studio without a little bit of our signature chaos. To lightenthe heavy air, Boston Nick wraps things up with our famous two questions, taking us on a sharp left turn into classic rock and the delightfully weird.

Grab a tissue for the first half, a drink for the second,and join us for one of the most powerful, real, and raw episodes we've ever recorded.

Welcome back to another highly entertaining episode of HeyElgin!! This week, Nick, Ben, and Tony are sharing a lot of laughs with Bob and Caleb, the guys behind the beloved downtown staple, the Lightnin’ Bar.

We pull back the curtain on what it is actually like to runa bar right in the heart of historic downtown Elgin. Bob and Caleb share their deep passion for this community, what makes the people here so incredibly special, and give us the full, hilarious rundown on their highly anticipated upcoming event: the 4th Annual Sausage Fest and its legendary Sausage Eating Contest!

It wouldn't be a proper episode without our signaturecurveballs. Before we let them get back to slinging drinks, we put Bob and Caleb in the hot seat to debate their all-time favorite classic rock albums.Finally, we hand the mic over to Nick to dive headfirst into the weird, the wild, and their favorite conspiracy theories.

Grab a cold drink, settle in, and get ready to laugh alongwith one of our most fun conversations yet!

Welcome back to another exciting episode of Hey Elgin!!For Episode 38, Nick, Ben, and Tony sit down with the newly appointed President of the Elgin Chamber of Commerce, Heather Bloom. If you’ve ever wondered what exactly the Chamber does for the town, Heather is here to break it all down. She shares the immense joy she finds in her new role, her deep passion for promoting local businesses, and what makes the people of Elgin so incredibly special. We also look ahead and get all the details on the highly anticipatedWestern Days event coming up on the calendar!

But of course, we couldn't let the Chamber President get outof the studio without putting her in the hot seat. We find out where she stands on our signature classic rock question before taking our usual sharp left turn into the weird, the wild, and the spooky. Grab a drink, settle in, and get ready for a fun, informative, and strange conversation about the town we love!

Welcome back to another episode of Hey Elgin!! Thisweek, Nick, Ben, and Tony sit down with a guy who arguably has his hands in more local projects than anyone else in town: Stef Finley.

As the owner of Elgin's own Smash Daddy Burgers, Stef isalready famous for feeding the community, but his impact goes way beyond the grill. We dive into his extensive volunteer work with the local VFW, his relentless drive to always do good, and his massive, inspiring plans for makingElgin a stronger, more connected place for all of us. If there is a positive initiative happening in town, there's a very good chance Stef is involved behind the scenes.

But of course, this is the Hey Elgin!! studio. Afterwe talk about burgers and community betterment, you know we have to hand the reins over to Boston Nick. We wrap up the episode with our signature detour into the weird, the wild, and the unexplained.

Grab a Smash Daddy burger, settle in, and get ready for afantastic conversation with a guy who is truly making a difference in Elgin!

Welcome back to another episode of Hey Elgin!! Thisweek, Nick, Ben, and Tony are incredibly honored to sit down with Curtis Craig Jr., a dedicated Firefighter and EMT with Bastrop/Travis County ESD 1.

In one of our most powerful and moving episodes yet, Curtisopens up about his unbelievable 10-year journey to the frontlines. Tipping the scales at almost 500 pounds, he shares the profound motivation, immense grit, and relentless dedication it took to completely transform his life, lose theweight, and achieve his ultimate dream of becoming a firefighter.

We also dive deep into the emotional, inspiring work he doesoff-duty. Curtis bravely shares the heartbreaking story of losing his own child, and how he channeled that unimaginable grief into a mission to support others. We discuss his involvement in a non-profit organization, which steps into help families on the absolute worst day of their lives by providing donated caskets for lost children. It is a raw, honest look at resilience, tragedy, and what it truly means to serve your community.

It is a heavy conversation, but true to the Hey Elgin!!format, we couldn't let a guest leave the studio without shifting gears. We wrap up the episode by taking our signature detour into the weird, the strange, and the spooky.

Settle in, get ready to be inspired, and join us for anunforgettable conversation with a true hometown hero.

Welcome back to another episode of Hey Elgin!! This week, Nick, Ben, and Tony are sitting down with a true local talent, Elgin’s very own Willie 2 Strings.

We trace Willie's incredible 15-year journey through themusic scene, starting all the way back with the very first chords of Johnny Cash’s "Ring of Fire." From there, we follow his evolution through various band stints, the lessons learned on stage, and the deeply personal story of his mother’s long-standing connection to the Elgin community. It’s a great look at the heart and hustle it takes to keep the music playing.

But you already know how we do things in this studio. Wecouldn't let a guest get out the door without taking our signature detour into the weird and wild. Things get strange, the laughs get loud, and we dive headfirst into the unexplained.

Grab a drink, settle in, and tune in to a fantastic conversation that perfectly blends local music history with the bizarre!