On this episode of The Round Up with Capitol Ranch, host Colton Harbert and co-host Cody Maxwell sit down with Pieter Human Swart, a South African-born wildlife and ranch management professional now based in Texas. Pieter shares his journey from Africa to the United States, his decades of experience in wildlife, exotics, and ranch operations, and the leap of faith that brought his family to Texas. The conversation covers exotic ranching, land stewardship, faith, resilience, and what it truly means to live and work on the land.

In this episode, we rounds up Jonathan Newar the Co-Founder & CEO of Captain Experiences—the Austin-based marketplace that’s unlocking the outdoors one booking at a time. After a botched attempt to organize an office fishing trip, Jonathan left a career in oil-and-gas finance and, in 2019, launched Captain to make finding a “damn good guide” as easy as calling an Uber.Fast-forward to today and Captain is the largest platform for booking fishing guides in the United States expanding into hunting and other adventures while maintaining a 4.9-star average rating. The site now connects anglers and hunters to 2,000+ vetted guides across 850-plus destinations.In this episode, Jonathan shares:- The scrappy origin story behind the “Damn Good Guides” network and how technology is changing the way we access wild places.- Marketplace lessons every land and ranch entrepreneur can steal—from building trust at scale to turning friction into opportunity.- Ideas for monetizing recreational assets on your own property (think fishing leases, upland hunts, and hosted experiences).- His favorite Texas fisheries, bucket-list species, and why outdoor hospitality is the important. Find out more at www.captainexperiences.com

IN THIS EPISODE:

Cody Maxwell, Broker/Owner of Capitol Ranch Real Estate
Gavin Grahovac, Aggie Baseball - INF/OF

Cody Maxwell joinsGavin Grahovac for a great day at Vaquero Ranch getting to know the person behind the game ahead of first pitch Explore additional Capitol Ranch Real Estate listings atRanchRealEstate.com.

Connect with Capitol Ranch:
Instagram:@capitolranch

About Gavin Grahovac 

ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS

- 2025 Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List
- 2025 Preseason Second Team All-American (D1Baseball/NCBWA)
- 2025 Preseason Third Team All-American (Perfect Game)
- 2025 Preseason First Team All-SEC
- 2024 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team
- 2024 SEC Freshman of the Year
- 2024 ABCA/Rawlings Third Team All-American
- 2024 Baseball America First Team Freshman All-American
- 2024 D1Baseball First Team Freshman All-American
- 2024 NCBWA Second Team Freshman All-American
- 2024 Perfect Game First Team Freshman All-American
- 2024 ABCA/Rawlings All-Region First Team
- 2024 Freshman All-SEC Team
- SEC Freshman of the Week (4/15 & 4/22)
- D1Baseball Preseason SEC Freshman of the Year

In this episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Jesse Griffiths, a chef, author, and one of the most influential figures in Texas outdoor culture and cooking. As the owner of Dai Due Supper Club and Butcher Shop in Austin, Jesse has redefined the relationship between hunting, sustainability, and the culinary arts. His acclaimed books, The Hog Book and The Turkey Book, are go-to guides for hunters and food enthusiasts alike, teaching the art of cooking wild game with respect and intention. With appearances on The MeatEater show and podcasts like The Joe Rogan Experience, Jesse continues to inspire a deeper appreciation for local food and ethical eating. Few have done more to bridge the gap between the outdoors and the kitchen than Jesse Griffiths.

Camelot Bell is unique in many ways! The forty acre lake that was built from scratch over twenty years ago is host to a pure Florida strain of large mouth bass.

Cody Maxwell, Broker/Owner for Capitol Ranch Real Estate

Henry Coleman III, Aggie Basketball - Power Forward

Cody spends a day on the lake with Henry Coleman III getting to know the person behind the game ahead of tipoff.

About Henry Coleman III

Henry is a key player for the Aggies, known for his rebounding and scoring skills. He's a force on the interior, using his strength and effort to crash the glass and score inside the paint.

Tune in for an exciting crossover between sports and real estate!

About Jace LaViolette:

2024 ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS

In this episode, we welcome Tootsie Tomanetz, a legendary figure in Texas barbecue, best known as the pitmaster at Snow’s BBQ in Lexington, Texas. Even into her 80's, she continues to work the pits every Saturday morning, a role she's held since 2003 alongside owner Kerry Bexley. Despite her age, Tootsie is hands-on, preparing meats and tending the barbecue pits herself. Her journey into barbecue began in the 1960s, and over the years, she has become a beloved icon in the culinary world.

Capitol Ranch welcomes Calan Ahrens the owner and CEO of Ahrens Ranch & Wildlife. Calan sits down to talk about what it takes to run a company that manages ranches; cattle, outfitting, buying and selling exotics, and supporting an ecosystem all across Texas. Calan is a wealth of information and has some excellent insights into these topics. We discuss Texas growth, The King Ranch, and dig into the Aoudad Sheep. Calan and his team really do it all!

In this Episode:

Colton H., Capitol Ranch Real Estate

Calan Ahrens, Ahrens Ranch & Wildlife, owner/CEO

At a very young age, Calan grew a love for ranching and the outdoors. Spending his youth on family ranches in Kerrville helping feed his grandfather's black Angus herd or down in Beeville, Texas chasing whitetail deer. Calan graduated from Texas A&M University- Kingsville with a Bachelor's Degree in Wildlife Recreational Entrepreneurship. While in college, he gained experience on the King Ranch working for a hunting lease on the Laureles Division. After college, Calan was the ranch manager/biologist for a 14,000-acre ranch south of San Angelo, Texas.

He then was hired as a Unit Manager for the King Ranch on the Laureles Division overseeing the cow/calf production and daily operations for his unit and unit cowboys.

Calan has spent his entire life in the outfitting, consulting, cattle ranching, and exotic industries, striving to provide the utmost professional services. Calan is a member of many professional organizations including Texas Southwestern Cattle Raisers, Salt Water Fisheries Association, CCA, Texas Wildlife Association (where he serves on the Texas Big Game Committee), Safari Club International, Board of Directors for Exotic Wildlife Association, and Trophy Game Records of the World (he currently serves on the board of directors and secretary for TGR).