The Hill Country Podcast

Welcome to award-winning The Hill Country Podcast. The Texas Hill Country is one of the most beautiful places on earth. In this podcast, Hill Country resident Tom Fox visits with the people and organizations that make this the most unique areas of Texas. Join Tom as he explores the people, places and their activities of the Texas Hill Country.  In this episode, host Tom Fox visits with Darrell Beauchamp, Executive Director of the Western Museum of Art, discussing his relationship with musician Michael Martin Murphy, including hosting him at a benefit concert. 

The podcast also delves into Beauchamp's personal relationship with Murphy, including a gifted Yamaha guitar signed with the lyrics to "Wildfire." The museum's unique exhibit approach is also detailed, showcasing personal favorite works from the collection. The upcoming exhibit, "40 Years of Western Arts," will display works from influential artists and lesser-known artists alike, including a rare painting by Clark Healings on loan from a collector in Tulsa. With vibrant storytelling and a new podcast, the Museum of Western Art is sure to captivate art enthusiasts and visitors alike.

 Key Highlights

·      Tom Fox and Darryl Beachamps joint love for Michael Martin Murphy

·      Hosting Michael Martin Murphy for a Benefit Concert

·      Receiving a Special Guitar from Michael Martin Murphy

·      Michael Murphy's Influence in Storytelling Music

·      The Significance of Cowboy Songwriters in the West

·      Rediscovering overlooked art through guest favorites

·      Unearthing Employee Favorites

·      Upcoming Western Art Exhibition

 Notable Quotes 

1.     “The American West is all about telling stories and that's what Michael does and Willie and George Strait and all those guys through their lyrics.”

2.     “I know we let the people choose. I know we let our docents, our volunteers our guests, you know, come in and we say to them what's your favorite work in our in our collection.”

3.     “For the first time, I was really awestruck. And it seemed to me to be the most personal exhibit and it turned out it was.”

4.     “We're putting together a show called 40 years of Western Arts.”

 Resources

Western Museum of Art

Wildfire by Michael Murphy on YouTube

Welcome to award-winning The Hill Country Podcast. The Texas Hill Country is one of the most beautiful places on earth. In this podcast, Hill Country resident Tom Fox visits with the people and organizations that make this the most unique areas of Texas. Join Tom as he explores the people, places and their activities of the Texas Hill Country.  In this episode, host Tom Fox visits Utopia artist Peggy Vesper.

Tom explores with Peggy her journey to Utopia, Texas and how she found her passion for painting. She explains how she began painting with acrylic since she is a fast painter and likes to work quickly. She shares her experiences painting pet portraits and later exploring the vibrant art community in Utopia, Texas. Peggy reveals how she began to focus on the views of the landscape in the Hill Country. Lastly, we learn about Peggy's daughter following her dreams and majoring in fine arts. Don't forget to check out Peggy Best's website for updates on upcoming shows. 

 Key Highlights

The Appeal of Utopia

Managing Stress Through Art: A Journey to Finding Creative Release with Acrylic Painting

The Art Scene and Community in Utopia, Texas

The Art of Painting Landscapes: Peggy's Unique Approach

The Power of Encouraging Dreams in a Supportive Environment

Sharing Artwork on Social Media

 Notable Quotes 

1.     “I just set up a little table and started doing pet portraits."

2.     "I had several friends that I made by going to the shows and artists that, you know, would give me tips and such. And I thought they have the most incredible life."

3.     "And I love the acrylic. Because I paint quickly and I am not a patient person. o I loved it because all of a sudden you made a mistake, you could just do it over again, ma'am." 

 Resources

Peggy Vesper

Welcome to the award-winning The Hill Country Podcast. The Texas Hill Country is one of the most beautiful places on earth. In this podcast, Hill Country resident Tom Fox visits with the people and organizations that make this the most unique area of Texas. Join Tom as he explores the people, places, and activities of the Texas Hill Country. In this episode, host Tom Fox visits with Robbie Closson, founder of Bausen Technology.

Closson discusses the expansion of his company, Bausen Technology, which has seen success on the way to becoming a major player in the computer and smartphone repair market in Kerrville and Kerr County. Attempting to teach businesses about the cost benefits of proactive upkeep, Closson has encountered hurdles in convincing business of the cost benefits. Likewise, new business initiatives can be hard to manage due to decreased costs of services but are better in the long run. Nevertheless, Closson is eager to expand their horizons in the process.

Key Highlights

The Success Story of Robbie Closson of Bausen Technology [002:45]

The Benefits of Buying Bulk with Bausen Technology [03:48]

The Importance of Routine IT Maintenance for Businesses [06:40]

The Challenges of Becoming a Self-Employed Entrepreneur [09:40]

Hiring a New Employee as a Business Initiative [12:45]

 Notable Quotes

 1.     “We just had our 10-year anniversary in January.”

2.     “We started trying to get more business contracts with people’s businesses, companies that need tech support, need help, and that we’re trying to give them a discount if they buy a bulk number of hours with us. That’s been our saving grace so far.”

3.     “The last time we visited, you were moving towards this enterprise model that you’ve described with businesses, but you were having really a lot of dialogue with businesses to help them understand why it was to their advantage. That really turned, and they have seen the advantage of buying bulk, whether it’s service hours or something else in getting a discount or at least having an ongoing relationship with Boston Technology.”

4.     “That’s 1 of the major onboarding things that we do with the customers that we do have with their contract stuff is sit down, take a look, see what all they have, and see the areas they need to remediate.”

 Resources

Bausen Technology

Welcome to award-winning The Hill Country Podcast. The Texas Hill Country is one of the most beautiful places on earth. In this podcast, Hill Country resident Tom Fox visits with the people and organizations that make this the most unique areas of Texas. In this episode, host Tom Fox interviews Dr. Charlie McCormick, President of Schreiner University, on the Hill Country Podcast. Join Tom as he explores the people, places and their activities of the Texas Hill Country.  

Dr. McCormick talks about his upbringing in Snyder, Texas and his folklore and folklife studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He shares how he has evolved the college over the years emphasizing affordability and the importance of location. He also discusses the historical background of Schreiner Institute and the upcoming centennial celebration with the unveiling of Schreiner's Centennial Team. He wants students from Schreiner to be critical thinkers, analytic problem solvers and to understand the world around them. Experience the untold stories of the Texas Hill Country with host Tom Fox and guests like Dr. Charlie McCormick share stories of the past and present.

Key Highlights

·      The History and Legacy of Schreiner University and Schreiner Institute [00:03:30]

·      The Evolution of Presidential Leadership [00:06:45]

·      A Look At The Evolution Of Higher Education [00:10:26]

·      Celebrating 100 Years of Schreiner Athletics [00:13:26]

·      Developing Critical Thinking and Analytic Problem-Solving Skills [00:16:38]

Notable Quotes

1.     "You did grow up in a very literate place. They just told stories instead of writing them down." 

2.     "Higher education is at its most fundamental level, a local or regional enterprise."

3.     "Schreiner has been good at very good at, but it's also seen in terms of the history of higher education is adapting and changing over time." 

4.     "This isn't just a job, but this is a calling. And we're not trying to over romanticize that idea, but also not trying to just see ourselves as automatons who we go through the day mindlessly. We can be intentional and deliver it." 

 Resources

Schreiner University

Welcome to award-winning The Hill Country Podcast. The Texas Hill Country is one of the most beautiful places on earth. In this podcast, Hill Country resident Tom Fox visits with the people and organizations that make this the most unique areas of Texas. Join Tom as he explores the people, places and their activities of the Texas Hill Country. In this episode, I am joined by guest Alan Peterson to discuss the MS 150, an event that sees over 7000 people on their bikes. Alan himself is a rider in this year's 2023 event and is part of the 300 club, where 70% of the money for the MS Society is raised. Alan talks about the event’s history and discuss all the support that comes from the thousands of people involved and the effort the people with MS put in to make the event special by waving flags and counting bills. Alan’s conversation gives a great insight into the event and all that is involved.

Highlights Include

·      Riding the MS150 Challenge: An Inspiring 35-Year Journey [00:04:56]

·      Rider Support Teams for People with Multiple Sclerosis [00:08:50]

·      Participating in Long-Distance Biking Events [00:12:22]

 Notable Quotes

1. "My dad was the one that told me about it."

2. "The MS Society, of course, has buses to do the contract to do that. But in our case, my dad would drive a van back." 

3. "But he made a mistake and was at this finish line for several hours the first time. And I he thought that he was going to be bored and he when we came to find him at the at the finish line, he was he was 10 years younger than I saw him at the at the start line." 

4. "There are people that are along the way with you. There are bicycle police. There's bicycle EMS. There are ride marshals. There are motorcycle escort folks that are either alongside or ahead of you trying to keep traffic managed for the riders. There's rest out personnel and I've been at some rest stops where I thought the people who were passing out the drinks and fruit out to a number of the riders, it was just amazing.”

 Resources

1. Support Alan Peterson

2. MS 150 Ride and Registration

3. Donate for the fight against MS

Welcome to award-winning The Hill Country Podcast. The Texas Hill Country is one of the most beautiful places on earth. In this podcast, Hill Country resident Tom Fox visits with the people and organizations that make this the most unique areas of Texas. Join Tom as he explores the people, places and their activities of the Texas Hill Country. In this episode, I welcome Wynita Yancy, Kerrville transplant and Chief Marketing Officer at the Hill Country Youth Ranch. Some of the highlights include

·      Founding of the Hill County Youth Ranch

·      Mission of the Hill Country Youth Ranch

·      Wynita’s journey from Chicago to Kerrville

·      Wynita’s experiences in Leadership Kerr County 

Resources

For more information on the Hill Country Youth Ranch, click here. 

For more information on the lunch workshop on why your business needs a podcast, click here.

Wynita Yancy on LinkedIn

Welcome to award-winning The Hill Country Podcast. The Texas Hill Country is one of the most beautiful places on earth. In this podcast, Hill Country resident Tom Fox visits with the people and organizations that make this the most unique areas of Texas. Join Tom as he explores the people, places and their activities of the Texas Hill Country. In this episode, I welcome back Kenneth O’Neal, President/CEO of KRONEAL Coaching and Training, headquartered in Kerrville, Texas. He is a Zig Ziglar Legacy Certified Coach and Trainer; Public Speaker; Mentor; Mediator; Business Executive and Personal Coach. Kenneth has worked for Deliotte/Touche as a CPA in Atlanta, Georgia and Houston, Texas. He founded the accounting firm of O’Neal and White, CPAs in Houston and has more than 25 years of public accounting experience.  

We discuss the 2nd Annual Ziglar Explosion, scheduled for January 6 & 7 which will be hosted by O’Neal and put on in Kerrville TX. Attending again this year will be Tom Ziglar, proud son of Zig Ziglar and a host of other Ziglar Certified Coaches who will share the philosophy of Zig Ziglar and on his Legacy of hope and encouragement making a positive difference in lives of millions around the world. Podcast host Tom Fox will be speaking about Podcasting for Business. 

 Resources

For more information on the 2nd Annual Ziglar Explosion, click here. 

This is a special podcast series on current economic and culture issues faced by the state of Texas, its governments and its citizens. We will explore these issues with author Loren Steffy, through the prism of his book The Big Empty. The Big Empty set in 1999, is a tale about the sense of place and tells the story of a fictional company AzTech which builds a semi-conductor plant in the dying west Texas city of Conquistador. The attempt is beset by the clash of culture in bringing Silicon Valley tech entrepreneurs to rural Texas. The book also raises multiple economic issues facing Texas as we move towards the mid 21st century. Over this 5-part podcast series we will consider the following issues facing Texas today; including water, power, land investment, housing and the clash of cultures.

In Episode 5, we look at the issue of housing in Texas. In the book, the newcomers build a gated community, which has a huge fountain at the entrance. There is a private golf course attached to the gated community. What happens to small towns when a large manufacturing plant moves in? What happens to the property values? Where can local teachers, firefighter and police live? What happens when incoming plant workers have to live in other towns. What is affordable housing? What is achievable housing? Do you want long or even short term rentals to propagate in your small town. These and other affordable living issues are front in center in Texas today. 

Purchase The Big Empty

This is a special podcast series on current economic and culture issues faced by the state of Texas, its governments and its citizens. We will explore these issues with author Loren Steffy, through the prism of his book The Big Empty. The Big Empty set in 1999, is a tale about the sense of place and tells the story of a fictional company AzTech which builds a semi-conductor plant in the dying west Texas city of Conquistador. The attempt is beset by the clash of culture in bringing Silicon Valley tech entrepreneurs to rural Texas. The book also raises multiple economic issues facing Texas as we move towards the mid 21st century. Over this 5-part podcast series we will consider the following issues facing Texas today; including water, power, land investment, housing and the clash of cultures.

In Episode 4, we consider the clash of culture when a new employer moves into a small, rural town. Early in the book is ‘the punch’ where local leader Trace Malloy, punches Blaine Witherspoon in the face, breaking his nose. Much of the book follows from this act in detailing the clash of cultures brought to the tiny west Texas town of Conquistador. We consider what led up to the punch and how both sides deal with it going forward. Witherspoon goes on a roundup and Malloy visits a semi-conductor plant clean room. Finally the book shows how both communities can come together in a time of crisis and how they can use this as a basis to move forward together. As more people move to Texas, how will native Texans adapt to their new neighbors. 

Purchase The Big Empty

This is a special podcast series on current economic and culture issues faced by the state of Texas, its governments and its citizens. We will explore these issues with author Loren Steffy, through the prism of his book The Big Empty. The Big Empty set in 1999, is a tale about the sense of place and tells the story of a fictional company AzTech which builds a semi-conductor plant in the dying west Texas city of Conquistador. The attempt is beset by the clash of culture in bringing Silicon Valley tech entrepreneurs to rural Texas. The book also raises multiple economic issues facing Texas as we move towards the mid 21st century. Over this 5-part podcast series we will consider the following issues facing Texas today; including water, power, land investment, housing and the clash of cultures.

In Episode 3, we consider land and development. How was the town of Conquistador able to get AzTech to build a semi-conductor plant in their hometown. What are the laws in Texas which allow communities to cut taxes for new development and how are those laws employed? How do Chapter 313 incentives work? Who makes up the school district tax revenue shortfall? What is the resort effective and how does that impact local property values? How will Texas compete with other states for development going forward. For Texas to continue to grow it will have to entice companies to Texas but will it continue to do so based upon the pocketbooks of its citizens?

Purchase The Big Empty