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, Hill Country resident Tom Fox visits with the people and organizations that make this the most unique area of Texas. This week, Tom welcomes Jen Hardy, who shares her inspiring journey from being a high school soccer player in Austin, Texas, to becoming a successful coach and leader.

Jen talks about her challenging yet transformative experience at Schreiner University, where she transitioned from playing to coaching soccer. She elaborates on how she developed her leadership skills, the lessons learned from coaching, and how she addressed her shortcomings to support her athletes better. After leaving public education, Jen co-leads the Academy of MotivAction, focusing on supporting high-stress professionals in overcoming burnout and building resilience. She also discusses her recent honor of giving the commencement speech at Schreiner University and her key message on the importance of self-identity beyond professional achievements.

Key highlights:

Resources:

Jen Hardy on LinkedIn

MotivAction

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Artwork

Nancy Huffman Fine Art

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. This week Tom Coni Myers, an expert in crisis preparedness and sustainability. 

Coni discusses her extensive background, including her time as a FEMA inspector and trainer, and how it led her to her current mission of educating communities on disaster resilience through her initiative, Be Prepared Be Ready. The highlight of their conversation is Coni's Kids for Kids initiative, which empowers young people to become spokespeople for emergency preparedness in their communities, thereby addressing broader concerns including mental health and sustainability. Throughout the episode, Coni emphasizes the importance of local community involvement and innovative solutions in disaster preparedness and sustainability, making a strong case for proactive measures to mitigate the impacts of increasing climate-related disasters.

Key Highlights

·       The Importance of Crisis Preparedness

·       Kids for Kids Initiative

·       Community and Organizational Collaboration

·       Preparedness and Sustainability in Business

·       Innovative Solutions for Disaster Resilience

·       Kids for Kids: Spokesperson Campaign

Resources

Coni Meyers on LinkedIn

Coni Meyers on Instagram

Coni Meyers on Facebook

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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 sits down with Kerrville-based entrepreneur Mike Russ, owner of Mr. Mint Coins & Collectibles.

Mike shares his journey from starting a car audio business at 19 to eventually transitioning into the collectibles market. He details his experience in buying and selling gold, silver, collectible coins, and sports memorabilia. Mike discusses the importance of educating new collectors, his passion for coins, and how he has built a successful business around his lifelong hobby. The conversation also touches on the challenges and rewards of running a small business, the impact of market trends on gold and silver prices, and Mike’s plans for the future of his shop. Listeners will get insights into the unique world of collectible trading and the practical aspects of managing such a venture.

Key highlights:

Resources:

⁠MR Mint Coins & Collectibles⁠

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 Cover Art

⁠Nancy Huffman Fine Art

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, we have our first guest host from Schreiner University, RJ Ochoa, who visits with Kiara Garza, a junior from the Class of 2026 and a guard on the Schreiner Women’s basketball team, to discuss her journey from Rio Grande City, TX, to pursue a degree in exercise science.

Garza shares her experiences growing up in a small, close-knit community and how it influenced her personality and aspirations. She delves into her high school basketball career, reaching the Thousand Point Club and transitioning to college basketball with its higher level of competition and maturity. The discussion takes a poignant turn as she recounts her freshman year injury, a severe ankle fracture, and the subsequent challenging recovery period. Despite the setback, her determination, buttressed by a strong support system of family, friends, and teammates, kept her motivated to return to the court. Garza talks about the emotional and physical hurdles she had to overcome and emphasizes the importance of resilience, teamwork, and never giving up on oneself. She also shares her future goals in basketball, plans for PT school, and a personal dream of opening a cafe with karaoke. The episode concludes with Rabell giving heartfelt advice to younger athletes facing setbacks or doubts.

Key highlights:

Resources

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Reel Creators of the Texas Hill Country

Rotary Voices of Kerrville

Cover Art

Nancy Huffman Fine Art

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 welcomes back Abby Filyaw and Phil Taylor from the Hill Country Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

Together, they take a deep dive into the pressing issues of alcohol abuse and recovery in the Hill Country. They discuss the continuing prevalence of alcohol abuse, particularly among teenagers, and emphasize the importance of prevention, education, and recovery support services. The discussion highlights the critical role of building individual recovery plans and the need for person-centered care. Additionally, they touch on the importance of forming networks with other healthcare providers to offer comprehensive support to individuals facing substance abuse and mental health challenges. The episode concludes with the introduction of the Recovery Bill of Rights, which advocates for the dignity and respect of individuals in recovery.

Key highlights:

Resources:

Check out the Hill Country Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (HCCADA) for further information on services, programs, and resources.

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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. In this episode, Andrew Gay steps in for Tom Fox and welcomes Rod McGehee and Reggie Knowles of the newly formed band Marathon Highway.

They discuss the band’s formation highlights, their dedication to creating original music, and how each member’s unique musical background contributes to their collective sound. Rod and Reggie share insights into their personal music journeys, songwriting processes, and the communal effort involved in bringing their music to life. They emphasize music’s emotional impact and universal language, drawing parallels to other art forms like painting. The conversation concludes with details about their upcoming performance and how they hope to engage the local arts community through their music.

Resources:

Other Hill Country Network Podcasts

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Artwork

Nancy Huffman Fine Art

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 welcomes Dr. Alan Peterson back to discuss their mutual passion for the MS 150 bike ride, a major National Multiple Sclerosis Society fundraiser.

Alan shares the historical context of the event, which began in Minneapolis in 1980 and is now most prominent in Texas. The ride has raised over $1.3 billion for MS research. Alan reveals his motivation for participating in the event, rooted in his mother’s battle with the disease. He emphasizes the significant advancements in MS treatments funded through these initiatives and touches on the unique experiences of the ride, including the camaraderie at La Grange and the multiple routes participants can choose from. Alan and Tom also reminisce about their past participation and the importance of individual and corporate sponsorships in making the event successful.

Key highlights:

Resources:

Alan Peterson Facebook Page

Nancy Huffman Fine Art

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Alan Peterson QR Code for Donation

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 welcomes Dr. Charlie McCormick to discuss the innovative changes and plans at Schreiner University.

Tom welcomes back Dr. Charlie McCormick, the President of Schreiner University, to discuss the significant developments from the 2024-2025 academic year and look ahead to the 2025-2026 academic year. Dr. McCormick highlights the new initiatives at the university, including the Center for Talent and Workforce Development, the launch of a mechatronics program, and the new football team. He also emphasizes the university’s commitment to serving rural students and families, discussing the establishment of a rural banking program and the effort to ensure affordability and value in education. Additionally, Dr. McCormick gives a sneak peek into next year’s exciting developments, including the official launch of football, a new women’s flag football team, and innovative educational programs at the Texas Center.

Key highlights:

Resources:

Schreiner University

Nancy Huffman Fine Art

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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 welcomes Dr. Adolfo Mora, an Associate Professor of Communication at Schreiner University.

Dr. Mora shares insights into his academic journey, from high school media projects to his PhD. He discusses his research on colorblindness and ethnic representation in media and details his teaching philosophy and method at Schreiner University. The conversation delves into the practical and theoretical aspects of communication studies, the evolution of media, and the digital divide influenced by geographic, socioeconomic, and generational factors. Dr. Mora also reflects on the differences between teaching at a large university like UT Austin and a smaller institution like Schreiner, emphasizing the importance of personalized education and student engagement.

Key highlights:

Resources:

De. Adolfo Mora

Nancy Huffman Fine Art

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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 welcomes back Darrell Beauchamp, Executive Director of the Museum of Western Art, to discuss upcoming events at the MOWA.

Darrell provides insights into the museum’s recent and upcoming exhibits and events. The conversation highlights the museum’s 42nd Annual Roundup Exhibition and Sale, set to kick off on April 25th, featuring a diverse range of 180 works from over 70 artists. Darrell also previews intriguing exhibitions like Rachel Spencer’s ‘Icons of the American West’ photography show and Walt Gonski’s impressionist Western art series, among others. Darrell recaps the museum’s successful past few months, including notable shows such as Kevin McPherson’s ‘Pond Series’ and ‘South Texas Aesthetic’ by Jason Scull and Noe Perez. Darrell discusses the museum’s artist-in-residence program and commitment to bringing visitors unique, quality art.

Key highlights:

Resources:

Museum of Western Art

Nancy Huffman Fine Art

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