HEY ETX

What happens when a family pours everything — even living in the back of an auto shop with six kids — into building a business on honesty and faith? Tony and Josh Spraggins, two of several family members behind Spraggins Auto Repair, share 25 years of family-run service in Longview and their bold step into Tyler. From sweeping floors at 14 to navigating today's high-tech diagnostics, their story is a testament to doing things the right way and treating every customer with respect and honesty.Discover more local stories and stay connected: https://heyetx.vista.page/Find out more about Spraggins Auto Repair here: https://www.spragginsautorepairtx.com/Chapters00:00 - Intro & Sponsor Shoutouts02:30 - Meet Tony & Josh Spraggins04:15 - From Sweeping Floors to Owning a Shop05:50 - Living at the Shop with Six Kids08:15 - Family at the Heart of the Business08:55 - Why Honesty Matters in Auto Repair10:15 - The Complexity of Modern Vehicles13:30 - Building Trust with Every Customer16:35 - Preventative Maintenance Tips from a Pro20:00 - Opening the Tyler Location22:55 - The Big Seven Rapid-Fire Questions36:15 - Prayer & Closing#HeyETX #Podcast #EastTexas #SupportLocal #CommunityVoices #ETXStories #SpragginsAutoRepair #LongviewTX #TylerTX #AutoRepair #FamilyBusiness #FaithAndWork #AutomotiveTechnician #CarMaintenance #EastTexasAutoRepair

Meet Jason Williams — co-owner of Fabulous Cookies in Longview, Texas — who, along with his brother John and close friend Jason Holt, took over a beloved 20-year bakery tradition from founder Jeff Steinmeyer and hasn't changed a single thing about the recipe. In this episode, Jason shares the wild story of buying the shop, the chaotic first day of extended hours that sold 200+ dozen cookies in seven hours, and some big first-time announcements about nationwide shipping, a mobile app, a building expansion, and new flavors on the way. It's a celebration of local entrepreneurship, family, faith, and the community that makes East Texas sweet.Discover more local stories and stay connected: https://heyetx.vista.page/Find out more about Fabulous Cookies here: https://fabulouscookies.com/Chapters00:00 - Intro & Sponsors02:30 - Meet Jason Williams04:00 - The Story Behind Fabulous Cookies05:10 - Buying the Bakery: Jason's Journey07:20 - Keeping the 20-Year Tradition Alive09:00 - The Cookie Rush & 400% Growth13:00 - Shipping, Delivery & Online Ordering14:30 - The Four Fabulous Cookie Flavors18:30 - Saturday Hours & Building Expansion22:00 - Challenges, Family & What's Next30:50 - The Big Seven Questions38:30 - Prayer & Closing#HeyETX #Podcast #EastTexas #SupportLocal #CommunityVoices #ETXStories #FabulousCookies #LongviewTX #JasonWilliams #BakeryBusiness #SmallBusiness #LocalBakery #EastTexasFood #CookieShop #MobberlyBaptistChurch

Reed Livesay, President and CEO of Pine Cove, joins us to share his journey from the corporate world to camp ministry — and how Pine Cove is transforming families, students, and college staff across East Texas and beyond. From camp traditions and core values to the incredible stories of life change happening every summer, this conversation celebrates a ministry that's deeply rooted in our region and growing across the nation.Learn more about Pine Cove here: https://www.pinecove.com/Discover more local stories and stay connected: https://heyetx.vista.page/

Chapters:00:00 - Welcome & Sponsor Shoutouts01:33 - Meet Reed Livesay: From Auditor to Camp CEO04:52 - Pine Cove's Core Values06:42 - Camps & Locations Across Texas and Beyond10:38 - Growth, Legacy, and Stewardship11:57 - The Pine Cove Family Culture13:36 - What Makes the Camp Experience Special15:41 - Why Family Camp Is in High Demand17:13 - The Camp Names Tradition19:19 - Hopes, Dreams & a Story About Prayer23:43 - How to Attend or Support Pine Cove25:43 - The Big Seven & Closing Prayer#HeyETX #Podcast #EastTexas #SupportLocal #CommunityVoices #ETXStories #PineCove #ReedLivesay #ChristianCamps #TylerTexas #CampMinistry #FamilyCamp #FaithAndFamily #NextGeneration

When Dr. Andy Mack was eight years old, he was cutting sutures for his father in a Longview emergency room, back before HIPAA made that impossible. Nearly four decades later, he's an oral and maxillofacial surgeon who has cared for East Texas smiles his entire career, and a former Longview mayor who spent nine years in office, leading the city through COVID-19 and a historic ice storm. On this Season 5 premiere, Dr. Mack sits down with Brandon to talk about growing up on a dirt road in Longview, the family of surgeons who raised him, and the faith that carried him through the hardest season of public office.

Discover more local stories and stay connected: https://heyetx.vista.page/

#HEYETX #Podcast #EastTexas #SupportLocal #CommunityVoices #ETXStories #LongviewTX #DrAndyMack #OralSurgeon #FormerMayor #LongviewMayor #EastTexasLeaders #FaithAndFamily #communityleadership

For James Chesnut, a good day on the water was never really about the fish count. It's about the peace he gets to hand someone else, a grieving widower who just needed to breathe again, a dying grandfather's last trip with his son and grandson. East Texas Outdoors exists because James believes everyone needs a reset, and he's found his calling giving people exactly that.

This week on HEY ETX Spotlight, James — owner of East Texas Outdoors and a full-time air traffic controller — joins Brandon to share how a single fishing trip during COVID turned into a full guide service on two of East Texas's best crappie lakes, the team that makes it possible, and the moments on the water that remind him why he does this work.

Discover more local stories and stay connected: https://heyetx.vista.page/

Chapters:

00:00 – Welcome to Hey ETX Spotlight

00:53 – Meet James Chesnut & East Texas Outdoors

02:11 – What East Texas Outdoors Is All About

02:41 – How It Started: A COVID Fishing Trip with Marty Thomas

04:01 – The Team Behind East Texas Outdoors

05:34 – Gear, Sponsors & Keeping the Boat Running

06:37 – Guided Trips on Lake O' the Pines & Lake Bob Sandlin07:33 – Why Hire a Fishing Guide?

08:55 – Best Crappie Lake & the Forward-Facing Sonar Debate

10:30 – The Moment Behind "Lost in the Pines"

13:27 – The Trips That Give People Peace17:25 – Air Traffic Control, Time & Growing a Business

19:44 – What's Next for East Texas Outdoors

22:14 – Find & Book with East Texas Outdoors

#HEYETX #Podcast #EastTexas #SupportLocal #CommunityVoices #ETXStories #EastTexasOutdoors #FishingGuide #LakeOThePines #CrappieFishing #HallsvilleTX #FishingTherapy

Sourdough roots. Brick oven pizza. A food trailer dream 12 years in the making. Curtis & Mande Brightwell of Crust & Crumb Bread Co. in White Oak are the real deal — and their story is equal parts inspiring and delicious. They bought this beloved local bakery and pizza spot because they believed in what was already there, and then put their own fingerprint on it with an expanded scratch-made bakery, a monthly pizza special, and a stunning new wood-fired food trailer out of Italy.Mande talks about imposter syndrome, juggling motherhood and ownership, and the small miracles that keep showing up. Curtis talks about the food trailer dream he finally got to chase. And both of them talk about why it's never really been about the pizza — it's about the people around the table.Discover more local stories and stay connected: https://heyetx.vista.page/#HEYETX #Podcast #EastTexas #SupportLocal #CommunityVoices #ETXStories #CrustandCrumb #SourdoughPizza #WhiteOakTX #BakeryLife #ETXEats #FoodTrailer #FaithFilledBusiness #LocalLove

What happens when faith meets football in East Texas? 🙌🏈This week on HEY ETX Spotlight, Anthony McElroy of Impact Events and Coach Chris Cochran of Lindale High School share how they're investing in the next generation — one event, one team, one student at a time.With speakers like Colt McCoy and Greg McElroy coming to Texas THIS SUMMER, these aren't just sporting events. They're life-changing nights.3 events. 750+ in attendance. 250+ lives changed. And they're just getting started.Discover more local stories and stay connected: https://heyetx.vista.page/#HEYETX #Podcast #EastTexas #SupportLocal #CommunityVoices #ETXStories #ImpactEvents #FaithAndFootball #LindaleEagles #ColtMcCoy #GregMcElroy #EastTexasAthletes #CoachesWhoLead #TXHSFootball

What happens when you mix hunting guides, legendary fishermen, family-friendly activities, and the gospel all under one roof in East Texas? You get God & The Great Outdoors — and it's coming to Longview for the very first time.In this episode of HEY ETX Spotlight, Brandon sits down with Tom Williams, director of God & The Great Outdoors, to talk about East Texas' premier faith and outdoor expo happening June 19–21 at the Maude Cobb Convention Center in Longview, TX.Tom shares the heart and vision behind the event, what families can expect — from legendary bass fisherman Hank Parker and Realtree's Dr. Duck to live gator encounters, a free Zebco rod & reel for kids, and an ATV giveaway — and why this event is about so much more than the outdoors.🎟️ Just $10 for a full weekend pass | Kids 17 & under FREE📍 Maude Cobb Convention Center, Longview, TX📅 June 19–21 | Fri 3–8PM | Sat 9AM–7PM | Sun 12–5PM🌐 godandthegreatoutdoors.comDiscover more local stories and stay connected: https://heyetx.vista.page/#HEYETX #Podcast #EastTexas #SupportLocal #CommunityVoices #ETXStories #GodAndTheGreatOutdoors #OutdoorExpo #FaithAndOutdoors #HankParker #LongviewTexas #EastTexasEvents #FamilyOutdoors

What do you do when grief feels like it's going to swallow you whole? For Karen Holland, the answer was purpose.

In this episode of HEY ETX Spotlight, Brandon sits down with Karen Holland, President of the Fat Boy Foundation — a nonprofit created in memory of her son Jonathan, a driven, trade-passionate young man from Henderson, Texas, who lost his life in a tragic car accident in November 2023.Jonathan started a lawn care business at just 16, earned nearly $20,000 in scholarships, dreamed of becoming a lineman, and left a mark on everyone he met — including the CEO of Scag, who flew to Henderson for his funeral.

Today, the Fat Boy Foundation carries Jonathan's legacy forward by awarding scholarships to young adults pursuing skilled trades like welding, HVAC, lineman training, cosmetology, and more — right here in East Texas and across the United States.

In this episode, you'll hear:

✅ How Fat Boy Lawn Care got its name

✅ The heartbreaking details of Jonathan's accident

✅ How the community rallied together in grief

✅ Year-one scholarships totaling $24,500 to 17 young adults

✅ The NHRA/Scag story that'll give you chills

✅ Karen's tattoo — and why it's unlike any other

✅ How YOU can help or apply for a scholarship

Website: fatboyfoundation.org

Email: [email protected]

Discover more local stories and stay connected: https://heyetx.vista.page

#HEYETX #HEYETXPodcast #EastTexas #SupportLocal #CommunityVoices #ETXStories #FatBoyFoundation #SkilledTrades #TradeScholarship #JonathanHolland #HendersonTexas #GriefToTriumph #EastTexasPodcast #ETXStories #podcast

From dairy manager to catering king — Chance Alexander's story is one you need to hear. He felt God calling him toward food, said yes, and built Chance's Kitchen from scratch in Longview, TX. Now he's feeding crowds of 850, perfecting his cast-iron jambalaya, slinging Biscoff cheesecakes at Christmas, and bringing big-hearted hospitality to every table he sets.We sat down with Chance on HEY ETX Spotlight, and we're not gonna lie — we were hungry the whole time. 😄Tap the link in bio to listen and share with your foodie friends!Discover more local stories and stay connected: https://heyetx.vista.page/#HEYETX #Podcast #EastTexas #SupportLocal #CommunityVoices #ETXStories #ChancesKitchen #LongviewTexas #EastTexasCatering #CateringLife #LocalFoodLove #FoodieETX #FaithDrivenBusiness