In the spring of 1541, a Spanish army led by Francisco Vázquez de Coronado rode east out of New Mexico in search of golden cities. What they found instead was West Texas.

This episode traces one of the most ambitious—and disastrous—expeditions in New World history, from the jungles of Mexico to the staked plains of the Llano Estacado. You'll meet Coronado, the ambitious conquistador chasing legacy. El Turco, the captive turned con man who spun a lie bright enough to lure 2,000 men into the wild. And Isopete, the rival guide who told the truth no one wanted to hear.

Through burned pueblos, desperate councils, and storms that shook the earth, this is the true story of how a lie shaped a landscape—and left behind something far more powerful than gold.

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Visit our website at wtxpodcast.com for companion articles, show notes, and photos for each episode.

Contact the host via email or Twitter for questions, comments, or show ideas.

Music by Gentry Ford and the Homeless Lobos.

Sponsor: Ghost Coast Surf Co., show off your West Texas pride with hats, hoodies, and t-shirts. Out here, surf is what you make it.

Credits:

• Writer: Jody L. Slaughter
• Producer: Jody L. Slaughter
• Editor: Jody L. Slaughter
• Engineer: Jody L. Slaughter

Welcome to Season 2 of WTX: A History of West Texas! In this episode, we’re starting at the very beginning. Not the beginning of cowboy stories or Comanche raids — the beginning. Before the first human foot ever stepped onto the Llano Estacado. Before the great herds roamed, before the rivers carved their canyons, before the very Caprock stood sentinel. We’ll come face to face with Columbian mammoths, saber-toothed cats, and even dinosaurs. Each once king of these plains.

Send us a text

Visit our website at wtxpodcast.com for companion articles, show notes, and photos for each episode.

Contact the host via email or Twitter for questions, comments, or show ideas.

Music by Gentry Ford and the Homeless Lobos.

Sponsor: Ghost Coast Surf Co., show off your West Texas pride with hats, hoodies, and t-shirts. Out here, surf is what you make it.

Credits:

• Writer: Jody L. Slaughter
• Producer: Jody L. Slaughter
• Editor: Jody L. Slaughter
• Engineer: Jody L. Slaughter

Just in time for your holiday road trips, this is a special episode that the whole family can enjoy! Kick off your boots and settle in for the legend of Pecos Bill, the Texas folk hero who was raised by coyotes, rode a tornado, tamed the wildest horse on the plains, and invented everything from the branding iron to the lasso! 

Send us a text

Visit our website at wtxpodcast.com for companion articles, show notes, and photos for each episode.

Contact the host via email or Twitter for questions, comments, or show ideas.

Music by Gentry Ford and the Homeless Lobos.

Sponsor: Ghost Coast Surf Co., show off your West Texas pride with hats, hoodies, and t-shirts. Out here, surf is what you make it.

Credits:

• Writer: Jody L. Slaughter
• Producer: Jody L. Slaughter
• Editor: Jody L. Slaughter
• Engineer: Jody L. Slaughter

Last time, we experienced the wild rise of Tascosa, the frontier town that became the hub of lawlessness in the Texas Panhandle. Now, in part two, we see Tascosa at its peak, and the random violence that helped to fill Boothill Cemetery, concluding in a dramatic shootout that took more lives than even the O.K. Corral. Finally, the drastic collapse of this boom town and why you won't even find it on a map anymore.

Send us a text

Visit our website at wtxpodcast.com for companion articles, show notes, and photos for each episode.

Contact the host via email or Twitter for questions, comments, or show ideas.

Music by Gentry Ford and the Homeless Lobos.

Sponsor: Ghost Coast Surf Co., show off your West Texas pride with hats, hoodies, and t-shirts. Out here, surf is what you make it.

Credits:

• Writer: Jody L. Slaughter
• Producer: Jody L. Slaughter
• Editor: Jody L. Slaughter
• Engineer: Jody L. Slaughter

Ghost Riders in the Sky is one of the most popular Country songs of all time. But did you know it was inspired by events right here in West Texas? Join us as we take a spooky look at the Legend of Stampede Mesa. Just don't listen before bedtime... 

Send us a text

Visit our website at wtxpodcast.com for companion articles, show notes, and photos for each episode.

Contact the host via email or Twitter for questions, comments, or show ideas.

Music by Gentry Ford and the Homeless Lobos.

Sponsor: Ghost Coast Surf Co., show off your West Texas pride with hats, hoodies, and t-shirts. Out here, surf is what you make it.

Credits:

• Writer: Jody L. Slaughter
• Producer: Jody L. Slaughter
• Editor: Jody L. Slaughter
• Engineer: Jody L. Slaughter

Join us as we uncover the wild rise of Tascosa, the frontier town that became the hub of lawlessness in the Texas Panhandle. In this first of two episodes, we focus on the town's early days, from violent sheep wars to its transformation into a trading hub. Along the way, we’ll meet figures like Charles Goodnight and Casimero Romero, and set the stage for the arrival of Billy the Kid. Stay tuned for part two, where the story takes an even darker turn with outlaws and lawmen battling for control.

Featured music in this episode: "Say Goodbye" by Charlie Stout, from his 2016 album Dust & Wind (New American Frontier). Recorded live at the Taiban Church Historic Site, just a couple of miles from the site of Billy the Kid's capture.

Send us a text

Visit our website at wtxpodcast.com for companion articles, show notes, and photos for each episode.

Contact the host via email or Twitter for questions, comments, or show ideas.

Music by Gentry Ford and the Homeless Lobos.

Sponsor: Ghost Coast Surf Co., show off your West Texas pride with hats, hoodies, and t-shirts. Out here, surf is what you make it.

Credits:

• Writer: Jody L. Slaughter
• Producer: Jody L. Slaughter
• Editor: Jody L. Slaughter
• Engineer: Jody L. Slaughter

In this episode we explore how Texas, once considered an unlikely place for wine production, has risen to become a significant player on the global wine stage. Through the stories of pioneers, scientists, and modern-day winemakers, we trace the history of Texas wine back over 350 years and uncover the pivotal moments that shaped the state and region's wine legacy.

Send us a text

Visit our website at wtxpodcast.com for companion articles, show notes, and photos for each episode.

Contact the host via email or Twitter for questions, comments, or show ideas.

Music by Gentry Ford and the Homeless Lobos.

Sponsor: Ghost Coast Surf Co., show off your West Texas pride with hats, hoodies, and t-shirts. Out here, surf is what you make it.

Credits:

• Writer: Jody L. Slaughter
• Producer: Jody L. Slaughter
• Editor: Jody L. Slaughter
• Engineer: Jody L. Slaughter

Join us as we explore the mysterious legend of Sublett's Lost Gold. Hidden deep within the rugged Guadalupe Mountains, this elusive treasure has captivated the imaginations of treasure hunters and adventurers for over a century. Discover the intriguing story of Will Sublett, a Texas Pacific Railroad scout who veered off his path in search of untold riches, and his relentless quest that spanned decades. From Apache legends to modern-day explorers, this episode unravels the tantalizing mystery of the hidden gold and the enduring legacy it has left behind. Tune in for a tale of adventure, danger, and the undying allure of buried treasure that continues to spark intrigue and curiosity today. 

Send us a text

Visit our website at wtxpodcast.com for companion articles, show notes, and photos for each episode.

Contact the host via email or Twitter for questions, comments, or show ideas.

Music by Gentry Ford and the Homeless Lobos.

Sponsor: Ghost Coast Surf Co., show off your West Texas pride with hats, hoodies, and t-shirts. Out here, surf is what you make it.

Credits:

• Writer: Jody L. Slaughter
• Producer: Jody L. Slaughter
• Editor: Jody L. Slaughter
• Engineer: Jody L. Slaughter

In this episode, part 2 of a series, host Jody Slaughter investigates the life of Pinkie Roden, who built a West Texas bootlegging empire in Prohibition that lasted all the way into modern times.

From moonshiner to political influencer, Pinkie's story is a blend of daring escapades, high-stakes chases, and a relentless pursuit of fortune. Seldom talked about today, Pinkie's mark is all over West Texas, if you know where to look.

Send us a text

Visit our website at wtxpodcast.com for companion articles, show notes, and photos for each episode.

Contact the host via email or Twitter for questions, comments, or show ideas.

Music by Gentry Ford and the Homeless Lobos.

Sponsor: Ghost Coast Surf Co., show off your West Texas pride with hats, hoodies, and t-shirts. Out here, surf is what you make it.

Credits:

• Writer: Jody L. Slaughter
• Producer: Jody L. Slaughter
• Editor: Jody L. Slaughter
• Engineer: Jody L. Slaughter

In this episode, host Jody Slaughter investigates the life of Pinkie Roden, who built a West Texas bootlegging empire in Prohibition that lasted all the way into modern times.

From moonshiner to political influencer, Pinkie's story is a blend of daring escapades, high-stakes chases, and a relentless pursuit of fortune. Seldom talked about today, Pinkie's mark is all over West Texas, if you know where to look.

Send us a text

Visit our website at wtxpodcast.com for companion articles, show notes, and photos for each episode.

Contact the host via email or Twitter for questions, comments, or show ideas.

Music by Gentry Ford and the Homeless Lobos.

Sponsor: Ghost Coast Surf Co., show off your West Texas pride with hats, hoodies, and t-shirts. Out here, surf is what you make it.

Credits:

• Writer: Jody L. Slaughter
• Producer: Jody L. Slaughter
• Editor: Jody L. Slaughter
• Engineer: Jody L. Slaughter