The Hill Country Podcast

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 2, we consider power in Texas. In the book, the massive power lines to the plant play a seminal role in the story. How do you bring the massive amounts of power needed to run a semi-conductor plant to rural west Texas. How is power generated? The Texas power grid has sustained three major failures over the past 12 years, does the Texas Legislature have the political will to ever fix it? What about alternative forms of power and why is Texas uniquely situated to exploit wind and solar power? Many companies and homeowners are now onsite power generation. What does this mean for the Texas power grid? For Texas to continue to bring high tech manufacturing facilities, the state will have to address these issues.

Purchase The Big Empty

This begins 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 1 we consider water and water resource in a time of water scarcity. In the book, the newcomers build out a lake which sits in the front of their gated community and is used to water their private golf course. We explore questions of where water is found and how is it delivered, transmission to move to water where you need it and what happens if you have too much water. We consider the clash of culture in using water to create a water feature for a gated community that is either seen as a positive by its residents or a waste of water in the time of draught by the locals. Water as a sustainable commodity is a question facing Texas today and for the future. 

Purchase The Big Empty.

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 visit with Aamil Sarfani, a commercial real estate developer in San Antonio. He talks about the current business market for commercial real estate and his strategy for long term growth in San Antonio and the Hill Country.  

Resources

Sarfani Commercial Advisors

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 visit Judy Miller, President of Outback Patio Furniture, which has stores in Kerrville and Marble Falls. Miller talks about growing up and living in the northern part of the Hill Country, how she and her husband came to found Outback Patio Furniture with their first store in Marble Falls, the opening of the second store in Kerrville and the differences in lifestyles in different parts of the Hill Country. 

Resources

Outback Patio Furniture

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 visit with James and Kelli Wright, owners of the Cowboys and Angels Retreat and the Hill Country River Rat. This husband-and-wife team have created a bit of heaven on land and in the water in the Hill Country. Highlights include:

·       What brought them to the Hill Country?

·       What is the Hill Country River Rat?

·       What is the Cowboys and Angels Resort?

·       What they both love about their work?

For more information on the Cowboys and Angels Retreat, click here. 

For more information on the Hill Country River Rat, click here.

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 visit again with Don Frazier, head of the Texas Center at Schreiner University on his summer trip to Scotland with the Eddington Society, his work with TEKS and what is going on now and in the fall at the Texas Center. 

Resources

Texas Center at 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 visit with Kenneth O’Neal who is a Zig Ziglar Legacy Certified Coach and Trainer; Public Speaker; Mentor; Mediator; Business Executive and Personal Coach. Highlights include:

·      Professional background.

·      Who was Zig Ziglar and why is he still so important today?

·      His life in Kerrville. 

·      What a Zig Ziglar Legacy Certified Coach and Trainer?

·      Why should you consider a personal coach. 

Resources

Kenneth O’Neal on LinkedIn

Kenneth O’Neal website

For a copy of Kenneth O’Neal’s book Road Trip, purchase here.

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 visit with Becky Crouch Patterson, daughter of Imagineer Hondo Crouch, lifelong Hill Country resident and famous artist. Highlights include:

·       The free thinker tradition in the Hill Country.

·       Growing up on the ranch with Hondo.

·       Her MOWA exhibit, Cherishing a Sense of Place. 

·       The creation of beauty through the experience of pain.

Resources

Luckenbach Texas-The Center of the Universe by Becky Crouch Patterson

Hondo-My Father by Becky Crouch Patterson

The Ranch That Was Us by Becky Crouch Patterson

For more information on the Museum of Western Art, click here.

For information on the exhibit, Becky Crouch Patterson – Cherishing a Sense of Place, click here. 

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 the people and organizations that make this a unique area of Texas. Join Tom as he explores the people, places, and activities of the Texas Hill Country. In this episode, I visit Kathleen Hudson about the upcoming Jimmie Rodgers Tribute, which will be held at the Café at the Ridge on September 10, 2022. Highlights include:

·       Who was Jimmie Rodgers?

·       Why is he so important today?

·       His life in Kerrville.

·       What will the Tribute entail?

·       Information about the Jimmie Rodgers Tribute-Best of all, it's free.

Resources

Jimmie Rodgers Tribute

Facebook

Kathleen Hudson on Facebook

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 visit with Toby Appleton, University Relations Specialist and Charlie Huebner, Dean of Student; both from Schreiner University, on the recent Eddington Society trip to Scotland. Highlights include:

·       What is the Eddington Society?

·       The Schreiner University covenant with the Presbyterian church?

·       The influence of John Knox. 

·       The island of Iona?

·       Roslyn Chapel and St. Andrews.

For more information on Schreiner University, click here.