Do Texans really need to pick a side? Do any of us need to?

Lisa Singer, founder and editor-in-chief of Independent Times News, joins Mitch to explore the growing influence of independent voters—and what happens when the issue in front of us matters more than the party.

From close elections to the enormous growth of AI data centers in Texas, some of today's biggest questions don't fit neatly into a Republican or Democratic box. Can independent voters help bridge that divide and bring people together around the issues that matter?

Politics? Sort of. Texas? Absolutely.

This is Episode 215 of The Mitch Wonders Podcast: Do Texans Need to Pick a Side?

Mitch Wonders is where Texas porch talk meets life’s bigquestions. Each episode, Mitch — a cranky but curious Texan — takes a plainspoken look at today’s world with humor, humility, and a shot of wisdom you can actually swallow.

Catch up on all episodes, see recent guests, YouTubeclips, BBQ and whiskey reviews, subscribe, and visit the Mitch Merch Store at the Mitch Wonders newly updated and streamlined website:  ⁠https://mitchwonders.com/⁠

Got feedback? Hit Mitch up at ⁠https://tinyurl.com/kc2e4wu3⁠ and...thank you!

At 25, Simone Vitale left Sicily for a job opportunity in America. Twenty-six years later, he has spent more than half his life here, built a career and family, and become an American citizen.

In this episode, Simone shares what America looked like from Italy, what surprised him when he arrived, and why he believes the American Dream is still alive—but is often misunderstood. Opportunity, he says, isn't a gift. America gives you the freedom to pursue the life you want; what happens next is up to you.

We also talk about the American influence he experienced growing up in Sicily, the differences he found in American working culture, the day he and his wife became U.S. citizens, and a bit of Italian wisdom worth remembering: Tutto passa. Everything passes.

After 26 years, knowing everything he knows now, would Simone choose America again?

His answer: “Of course.”

And Mitch gets it.

Mitch Wonders is where Texas porch talk meets life’s bigquestions. Each episode, Mitch — a cranky but curious Texan — takes a plainspoken look at today’s world with humor, humility, and a shot of wisdom you can actually swallow.

Catch up on all episodes, see recent guests, YouTubeclips, BBQ and whiskey reviews, subscribe, and visit the Mitch Merch Store at the Mitch Wonders newly updated and streamlined website:  ⁠https://mitchwonders.com/⁠

Got feedback? Hit Mitch up at ⁠https://tinyurl.com/kc2e4wu3⁠ and...thank you!

Technology makes life easier. That's the pitch. Until, maybe, it starts making a few too many decisions for us.

Mitch's good pal from Australia , Gavin, returns to Mitch Wonders for a conversation about smart homes, AI assistants, convenience creep, and the little habits we've adopted without ever really deciding to.

We're not rejecting technology—we love plenty of it. The question is where each of us draws the line. (And you don't want to miss Gavin's borderline epic electric bike analogy!)

What do we really need? What do we simply enjoy? And when does useful become unnecessary?

Welcome to The Smart Home vs. The Simple Life. Welcome, to Mitch Wonders.

Mitch Wonders is where Texas porch talk meets life’s big questions. Each episode, Mitch—a cranky but curious Texan—takes a plainspoken look at today’s world with humor, humility, and a shot of wisdom you can actually swallow.

Catch up on every episode, meet recent guests, watch YouTube clips, check out BBQ and whiskey reviews, visit the Mitch Merch Store, and more at the newly updated Mitch Wonders website: https://mitchwonders.com/

Got feedback, an idea, or something you just need to tell Mitch? Reach out here: https://tinyurl.com/kc2e4wu3

And as always...thank you for listening.

It's football season, and 'Ol Mitch cant' help but wondering. We celebrate the touchdown. We cheer the quarterback. But what about the people doing the dirty work that makes everything else possible? What about dem dogs?!

From football fields to factory floors, from parents to grandparents, and from friends to teachers, coaches, and mentors. Mitch and good buddy Vincent explore the people who rarely get the spotlight—but often deserve it the most.

Mitch Wonders is where Texas porch talk meets life’s bigquestions. Each episode, Mitch — a cranky but curious Texan — takes a plainspoken look at today’s world with humor, humility, and a shot of wisdom you can actually swallow.

Catch up on all episodes, see recent guests, YouTubeclips, BBQ and whiskey reviews, subscribe, and visit the Mitch Merch Store at ⁠https://mitchwonders.com/⁠.

Got feedback? Hit Mitch up at ⁠https://tinyurl.com/kc2e4wu3⁠ and...thank you!

Were you really a Baby Boomer—or did you grow up in a generation of your own?

In this solo episode, Mitch goes solo to explore the often-overlooked "Generation Jones"—those born between the Baby Boomers and Generation X. From riding bikes until dark and fixing what broke to growing up through Watergate, inflation, and the dawn of the digital age, this episode looks at the unique experiences that shaped a generation that quietly bridged two very different Americas.

Whether you call it Generation Jones, Late Boomers, or simply The Last Free Generation, this week it's about resilience, responsibility, and the stories that defined us.

Mitch Wonders is where Texas porch talk meets life’s big questions. Each episode, Mitch — a cranky but curious Texan — takes a plainspoken look at today’s world with humor, humility, and a shot of wisdom you can actually swallow.

Catch up on all episodes, see recent guests, YouTube clips, BBQ and whiskey reviews, subscribe, and visit the Mitch Merch Store athttps://mitchwonders.com/ .

Got feedback? Hit Mitch up at https://tinyurl.com/kc2e4wu3  and...thank you!

This week, Mitch welcomes The Professor back to the porch to ask a simple question: Why did commercial aviation stop getting faster?

From the rise and fall of Concorde to the new Boom Supersonic's attempt to cut flight times in half, we explore whether technology, economics, or regulation has been holding us back.

Innovation versus optimization, the role of capitalism in bringing breakthrough ideas to everyday people, and why history is so often written by those willing to risk building what everyone else believes is impossible.

It starts with airplanes. It ends with a much bigger question: Have we stopped dreaming big enough?

Mitch Wonders is where Texas porch talk meets life’s big questions. Each episode, Mitch — a cranky but curious Texan — takes a plainspoken look at today’s world with humor, humility, and a shot of wisdom you can actually swallow.

Catch up on all episodes, see recent guests, YouTube clips, BBQ and whiskey reviews, subscribe, and visit the Mitch Merch Store at ⁠https://mitchwonders.com/⁠

Got feedback? Hit Mitch up at ⁠https://tinyurl.com/kc2e4wu3⁠ and...thank you!

Six months ago, in Episode #184, DT and Mitch began a three-part series exploring testosterone—what it is, who might benefit from it, and what it can and can't do. Three months later, they revisited the conversation in Episode #197 to share their early experiences and observations.Now, in the conclusion of the series, they compare where those two very different journeys have led them.DT discusses his experience with testosterone replacement therapy, while Mitch reflects on the results of taking a lifestyle-only approach. Together, they examine what changed, what surprised them, and what they've learned about health, aging, discipline, and the role testosterone really plays.Whether you've followed the series from the beginning or are joining us for the first time, this final conversation brings the journey full circle.Mitch Wonders is where Texas porch talk meets life’s big questions. Each episode, Mitch — a cranky but curious Texan — takes a plainspoken look at today’s world with humor, humility, and a shot of wisdom you can actually swallow.Catch up on all episodes, see pics. of recent guests, YouTube clips, BBQ and whiskey reviews, subscribe, and visit the Merch Store at https://mitchwonders.com/ . Got feedback? Hit Mitch up at https://tinyurl.com/kc2e4wu3 and...thank you!Catch up on all episodes, see pics of each weekly guest and visit the Merch Store at mitchwonders.com offer feedback at https://tinyurl.com/kc2e4wu3 and... Thank You!

In this episode of The Mitch Wonders Podcast, Mitch takes a hard look at the gap between what we say we want and what we actually spend our lives pursuing. From presence and meaningful friendships to simplifying life, finding purpose, and reclaiming our time, this conversation asks one uncomfortable question:

Seriously... what the fk do you want?

Because if we're honest, most of us aren't chasing the things that matter most—we're chasing the things that are easiest to measure.

If you've ever wondered why success doesn't always feel fulfilling, this episode is for you.

Mitch Wonders is where Texas porch talk meets life’s big questions. Each episode, Mitch — a cranky but curious Texan — takes a plainspoken look at today’s world with humor, humility, and a shot of wisdom you can actually swallow.

Catch up on all episodes, see pics. of recent guests,YouTube clips, BBQ and whiskey reviews, subscribe, and visit the Merch Store athttps://mitchwonders.com/ .

Got feedback? Hit Mitch up at https://tinyurl.com/kc2e4wu3  and...thank you!

Catch up on all episodes, see pics of each weekly guest andvisit the Merch Store at mitchwonders.com offer feedback at https://tinyurl.com/kc2e4wu3   and... Thank You!#Austin #Podcast #PersonalGrowth

Today we're doing something a little different. My son and I just got back from Scotland, but this isn't a vacation recap. It's about craftsmanship, curiosity, and a handful of moments we never saw coming.

We've each got three mystery drams in front of us. Every one tells part of the story. And I can’t help but wonder if we’ll inspire you to get up and go find your Scotland.

Let's see where they take us.

This is the Mitch Wonders Podcast.

Mitch Wonders is where Texas porch talk meets life’s big questions. Each episode, Mitch — a cranky but curious Texan — takes a plainspoken look at today’s world with humor, humility, and a shot of wisdom you can actually swallow.

Catch up on all episodes, see pics. of recent guests,YouTube clips, BBQ and whiskey reviews, subscribe, and visit the Merch Store athttps://mitchwonders.com/ .

Got feedback? Hit Mitch up at https://tinyurl.com/kc2e4wu3  and...thank you!

Hot damn I love summer and we've reached one of my favorite points on the sports calendar—the Major League Baseball All-Star Break. It's the halfway mark, the standings are starting to mean something, and every fan has an opinion about where the game is headed.

And that's exactly what we're talking about this week.It's not about online gambling or fantasy baseball. It's about the bigger questions. Is Shohei Ohtani already in the discussion as the greatest player we've ever seen? Why don't pitchers finish games anymore? Has analytics made baseball better...or just more complicated? And would a guy like Nolan Ryan even be allowed to become Nolan Ryan in today's game?

To help me sort it all out, I've brought back our resident baseball mind, Holly. He's going to help me understand what I'm seeing—and maybe challenge a few things I've believed about the game for the last fifty years.So grab a cold drink, settle into your favorite chair, and let's put modern baseball on trial. THIS...is the Mitch Wonders Podcast.

Mitch Wonders is where Texas porch talk meets life’s big questions. Each episode, Mitch — a cranky but curious Texan — takes a plainspoken look at today’s world with humor, humility, and a shot of wisdom you can actually swallow.

Catch up on all episodes, see pics. of recent guests, YouTube clips, BBQ and whiskey reviews, subscribe, and visit the Merch Store at https://mitchwonders.com/ . Got feedback? Hit Mitch up at https://tinyurl.com/kc2e4wu3 and...thank you!