The Hill Country Podcast

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, Tom’s partners, Gilbert Paiz and Andrew Gay, take the lead in visiting with AJ Rodriguez, now the interim CEO and board member of Guadalupe Bank.

AJ recounts entering banking after a ranch fire led him to college, an internship, and an examiner role with the U.S. Treasury, and subsequent roles at larger banks before becoming CEO of a South Texas community bank that grew to 31 branches and $2.2B in assets; after retiring in 2012 and moving to Fredericksburg, he helped launch the Backwoods barbecue restaurant and later joined Guadalupe Bank, stepping in as CEO after the prior CEO resigned. They contrast community banks with national banks, emphasizing local decision-making, relationship-based service, community involvement, and support for small businesses, and provide Guadalupe Bank details (about $254–$256M in assets, ~37–38 employees, locations in Kerrville and Fredericksburg, and a San Antonio production office planned to become a branch). They cover recruiting talent via a Schreiner University internship rotation program, regional optimism post-flood and amid steady growth, current products and fraud-prevention investments, and non-advisory commentary on interest rates, inflation, and market volatility.

Resources:

Guadalupe Bank 

Other Hill Country-Focused Podcasts:

Hill Country Authors Podcast

Hill Country Artists Podcast

Texas Hill Country Podcast Network

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Nancy Huffman

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 one of the most unique areas of Texas. In this episode, host Tom Fox speaks with Sage Walter about the upcoming Jane Ragsdale Memorial Polo Celebration, which will be held at Camp Stewart in Hunt, Texas, on Saturday, April 18, 2026.

The event honors longtime Schreiner Board member Jane Ragsdale, who was lost in the July 4 flood, and raises funds to build an endowment for Schreiner’s equestrian team led by head coach Ashley Brune, whose riders compete through IHSA against larger universities and have recently attended a national qualifier. Sage outlines event logistics and programming, including sponsor/VIP tents, general admission options, halftime equestrian demonstrations, hat contest, divot stomping, polo basics, parking details, and “rain or shine” execution. VIP and sponsorships are sold out, with general admission still available, and attendees are advised on smart-casual polo attire.

Highlights include:

Jane Ragsdale Memorial Polo Celebration 

Other Hill Country Focused Podcasts

Hill Country Authors Podcast

Hill Country Artists Podcast

Texas Hill Country Podcast Network

Cover Art

Nancy Huffman

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 speaks with Doug Hetzler about Kerr250, a community effort to celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary leading up to July 4, 2026.

 We discuss the “Evolution Car Show” envisioned as 250 cars displayed in chronological order to show the evolution of American auto manufacturing. The event will be a free show at Louise Hays Park, with food trucks and vendors, aiming to rebuild positive community memories after the flood. Doug describes other Kerr250 initiatives, including DAR-supported flag displays on Sydney Baker Street, commemorative tree sales with medallions, and a Fourth on the River program split into a memorial and a celebration. He emphasizes broad community participation, provides the website (kerr250.com) and contact ([email protected]), and encourages inclusion of everyday vehicles, not just high-end classics. 

Highlights Include: 

·      Vision for Evolution Car Show

·      What Is Kerr250

·      How to Join and Website

·      Why 250 Years Matters

·      Car Show Open to All Cars

  Resources

Kerr250 website

Evolution Car Show

Other Hill Country Focused Podcasts

Hill Country Authors Podcast

Hill Country Artists Podcast

Texas Hill Country Podcast Network

Cover Art

Nancy Huffman

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 one of the most unique areas of Texas. In this episode, host Tom Fox speaks with Greg Faldyn, a seasoned insurance industry professional and a long-time Rotarian.

Greg, an insurance professional with over 40 years of experience and a dedicated Rotary Club member for nearly 25 years, views the 100th anniversary of Rotary in Kerrville as a landmark achievement in the organization’s enduring commitment to community service. Having played a pivotal role in organizing the celebration as the foundation chair, Greg has been instrumental in highlighting Rotary’s century-long partnerships with key local organizations, such as the Peterson Foundation and the Raphael Clinic. He proudly points to the Hill Country community’s collective resilience, particularly in the wake of events like the July 4th flood, as a testament to Rotary’s strength and impact. Passionate about engaging young professionals, Greg believes that the milestone anniversary serves not only as a celebration of past achievements but also as a call to future service and community enhancement.

Highlights include:

Resources:

Rotary Club of Kerrville

Rotary District 5840

Rotary International

 Other Hill Country Focused Podcasts

Hill Country Authors Podcast

Hill Country Artists Podcast

Texas Hill Country Podcast Network

Cover Art

Nancy Huffman

Key highlights:

West Kerr Current

 Other Hill Country Focused Podcasts

Hill Country Authors Podcast

Hill Country Artists Podcast

Texas Hill Country Podcast Network

Cover Art

Nancy Huffman

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 one of the most unique areas of Texas. Today, I begin a two-part series with Lorena Guillen, owner of Howdy’s Restaurant and Blue Oak RV Park. The July 4th flood completely inundated her RV Park. In Part 1, Guillen discussed the events of the morning of July 4. Today in Part 2, she discusses the aftermath of tragedy and attempts at recovery.

In Part 2, Guillen shares the harrowing aftermath of a devastating flood that hit her RV Park on July 4th. Her details reveal the initial chaos, rescue efforts, and the critical role her property played in facilitating emergency response. The narrative transitions to the prolonged struggles to restore her business, the challenges of navigating FEMA and SBA processes, and the emotional and financial toll on her family. Despite immense difficulties, the unwavering support from the community provides hope and highlights the importance of local resilience. This story offers insight into disaster recovery and the bureaucratic obstacles small business owners often face.

Highlights include:

 Other Hill Country Focused Podcasts

Hill Country Authors Podcast

Hill Country Artists Podcast

Texas Hill Country Podcast Network

Cover Art

Nancy Huffman

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 one of the most unique areas of Texas. Today, I begin a two-part series with Lorena Guillen, owner of Howdy’s Restaurant and Blue Oak RV Park. The July 4th flood completely inundated her RV Park. In Part 1, Guillen discusses the events of the morning of July 4. In Part 2, she will discuss the events of that tragedy through today.

She begins with the beauty of July 3rd and goes to bed early on July 4. Guillen relates being awakened by flashing lights of a swift water rescue team, putting into the river. She recounts the devastating flood event where a second wave of water caused severe damage and displacement. She describes the rapid onset of the flood, the destruction of RVs, and the harrowing survival of her husband, who was swept 30-45 feet down a river but managed to climb to safety. She relates the surreal sensation of feeling electricity in the water and the loss of animals they were trying to rescue. The fire department eventually evacuated everyone from a nearby restaurant as the water levels continued to rise.

Other Hill Country Focused Podcasts

Hill Country Authors Podcast

Hill Country Artists Podcast

Texas Hill Country Podcast Network

Cover Art

Nancy Huffman

Welcome to a special production of the Hill Country Podcast, a 12-part series in collaboration with the communicators of tomorrow from right here in the Texas Hill Country. The Hill Country Podcast and the Texas Hill Country Podcast Network have partnered with the talented students from Dr. Adolfo Mora’s Communications class at Schreiner University to turn the microphone over to them. Join us each episode as these fresh voices explore critical topics, challenge modern ideas, and provide their unique perspectives on the world of communication.

In this episode, hosts Alina and Bailey are joined by Autumn Pate, a history enthusiast specializing in old advertisements. Together, they delve into the realm of advertising and PR controversies. The conversation kicks off with a light-hearted game about distinguishing between makeup and food products, setting the stage for a lively discussion. The episode then explores major controversies, such as the Mario Badescu Healing Cream scandal and the SK-II Essence serum by Procter & Gamble, and examines the unforeseen risks posed by undisclosed ingredients. Autumn shares the infamous New Coke disaster of 1985, highlighting corporate missteps in altering beloved products. The hosts also tackle recent controversies, such as American Eagle's tone-deaf ad campaign featuring Sidney Sweeney, juxtaposed with Gap's more inclusive approach. Additional discussions cover the provocative Calvin Klein ads of the 1980s, Childish Gambino's 'This is America,' and the impact of storytelling in modern advertisements. The episode concludes with reflections on the importance of strategic communication and the challenges of balancing goodwill with public perception.

Key highlights:

Other Hill Country Focused Podcasts

Hill Country Authors Podcast

Hill Country Artists Podcast

Texas Hill Country Podcast Network

Cover Art

Nancy Huffman

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. This week, Tom visits with Pat Flynn, who has been running a stump grinding and removal business in Keville since 2012.

Pat shares his unique journey into the business, from meeting an inventor of a specialized stump grinding machine to operating his own custom-built grinder. He discusses the high demand for stump removal in the Hill Country, particularly due to oak wilt and drought. Pat also talks about the versatility of his equipment, which can handle both large and small stumps. Operating as a one-man band, with his dog Jackson, who doubles as his customer service representative, Pat provides insights into his business operations, pricing strategies, and the geographic areas he serves. He highlights some of his most extensive projects, including a major post-snowpocalypse job, and his preferences for working in Dallas and the Hill Country.

Key highlights:

Resources:

Pat Flynn Stump Removal on Facebook

Other Hill Country Focused Podcasts

Hill Country Authors Podcast

Hill Country Artists Podcast

Texas Hill Country Podcast Network

Cover Art

Nancy Huffman

Welcome to a special production of the Hill Country Podcast, which is a 12-part series collaboration with the communicators of tomorrow from right here in the Texas Hill Country. The Hill Country Podcast and the Texas Hill Country Podcast Network have partnered with the talented students from Dr. Adolfo Mora’s Communications class at Schreiner University to turn the microphone over to them. Join us each episode as these fresh voices explore critical topics, challenge modern ideas, and provide their unique perspectives on the world of communication.

In this episode of 'Would You Skip It,' hosts Pilar and Brianna delve into the captivating world of social media and influencer advertising. They explore how parasocial relationships—one-sided bonds formed between audiences and influencers—impact purchasing decisions. The episode breaks down three key aspects: perceived intimacy, authenticity, and emotional investment, using examples like Emma Chamberlain, Mr. Beast, and Selena Gomez. The discussion aims to unravel why influencer ads often feel more genuine and effective compared to traditional advertisements. By understanding these dynamics, listeners can better navigate the digital marketing landscape and make more informed choices.

Key highlights:

Other Hill Country Focused Podcasts

Hill Country Authors Podcast

Hill Country Artists Podcast

Texas Hill Country Podcast Network