Community Leaders Episodes

Guest: Pam King serves as Tourism Manager for Destination Dripping Springs, the tourism department of the City of Dripping Springs. In her role, she helps showcase everything that makes Dripping Springs special—from its rich history and vibrant arts scene to its wineries, breweries, live music, outdoor recreation, and reputation as the Wedding Capital of Texas. She also plays a key role in community initiatives and events that attract visitors while celebrating the unique character of the Texas ...

SPECIAL GUEST HOST CARLISLE KENNEDY FILLS IN FOR MICHELLE Guest: Today’s guest is Robert Parker II, Commander of VFW Post 2933 in Dripping Springs — a guy who went from growing up on a tiny island in Maine and commercial fishing to serving 30 years in the U.S. Army as a Military Policeman, Drill Sergeant, Recruiter, and Command Sergeant Major. Basically, if leadership had a uniform, Rob wore it. Now he’s serving veterans and the local community here in the Hill Country with the same steady, no-d...

Guest: Olivia Barnard brings a fresh, thoughtful voice to the Dripping Springs School Board, pairing a deep love for her hometown with a genuine commitment to its future. As part of a new generation stepping into leadership, she’s focused on supporting students, strengthening schools, fiscal responsibility and helping the district grow without losing what makes it special. Approachable, engaged, and grounded in community values, Olivia represents the kind of leadership that listens first and lea...

Guest: Mindy Laird is the Executive Director of the Dripping Springs Library, and if you think libraries are just quiet rooms full of dusty books and people shooshing you, she’s here to politely prove you wrong. Mindy oversees one of the busiest community hubs in town. Where story time, technology, research, and a surprising amount of local energy all come together under one roof. In a fast-growing Hill Country town, she’s the one making sure the library keeps up with the pace while still keepin...

Guest: He’s not your typical politician—and that’s exactly the point. Rob McClelland is running for Hays County Commissioner in Precinct 4 with a mission to bulldoze the bureaucratic BS and bring some real-deal accountability back to local government. In this episode, we talk about what’s broken in county politics, why your property taxes keep climbing while your roads keep crumbling, and what it’s going to take to flip the script. Whether you’re fired up or fed up, Rob’s got a message for you—s...

Monologue: Animal Cruelty or Animal Welfare? Too Much Birthday Fun For The Double Nickel Shien Gets Investigated No Music Venue! Guest: Kenny Kane is a mission-driven CEO known for building high-integrity organizations across real estate, technology, and the nonprofit sector. He leads Firmspace, a premium private-office and proworking company, where he focuses on operational excellence, hospitality-driven service, and modernizing how high-performing professionals work. Kenny also serves as CEO o...

Monologue: Deep Eddy Contest Real Estate Tid Bits Governor Facts Guest: Dr. Pete “Doc” Chambers is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, Green Beret, and physician who served for nearly four decades in both active duty and reserve roles. A decorated combat veteran, Chambers has also been an advocate for veterans’ health and medical freedom since leaving the military. He recently announced his candidacy for Governor of Texas, focusing his campaign on border security, personal liberty, and stre...

Monologue: Schumann Resonance AOL Is No More Junk and SPAM Adult Sized Pacifiers Get Us In Trouble Death Of The Newspaper? Guest: John Garrett is the founder and CEO of Community Impact Newspapers, a hyperlocal news publishing company he launched in 2005 with his wife, Jennifer, out of their home in Pflugerville, Texas. A former Austin Business Journal advertising director, Garrett saw a void in community-focused journalism and created a model centered on mailing free, advertiser-supported newsp...

Monologue: Steve and Michelle Have Great Genes Airplane Yucks Presidential Physical Fitness Test Is Back Trapped Water Guest: Kristen Currie, a California native with a big heart, is the morning meteorologist at KXAN in Austin. She’s known for tackling Texas’s wild weather with equal parts science and sass, all while keeping her viewers calm and informed. Off air, Kristen loves good wine, snapping pictures with fans, and soaking up everything the Hill Country has to offer. She’s the kind of mete...

Monologue: Oregon Coast Trail Trip Fireworks and FIX THE ROADS Please! Shout Outs No Paper Plates History of Burke Center for Youth Guest: Steve Fournier, a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, has led the Burke Center for Youth in Driftwood since 2015, beginning as a volunteer before becoming Executive Director. Under his leadership, the center has expanded its capacity, modernized operations, and added transition homes to support young men aging out of foster care. He has introduced new ...

Monologue: Wedding BlissFounder's Day HangoversDevelopment in Dripping Springs UpdateOutdoor Patio at Austin Airport is Hot and SmellyGuest: Sheri Soltes founded Service Dogs, Inc. in 1988 on the concept of using dogs rescued from animal shelters. An honors graduate from both the University of Texas School of Law and the University of Texas Plan II Honors undergraduate program, she left her law practice to devote her full time to building Service Dogs, Inc. Under her guidance, Service Dogs, I...

Monologue: Book Recommendations Manners Done Right! Mystery Seeds Republican Make Up AI Leans Left Presidential Pups Guest: We discuss taxes, bonds, community and rowdy school board meetings with Rob McClelland. Rob who is the Director of Business Development at Bauerle Partners, Inc., is currently in his second year on the DSISD Board of Trustees and is the board liaison for the district's Safety and Security Committee. He also serves on the Hays County Sheriff's Office Training Advisory Board ...

Monologue: Dripping Updates-HEB and Dreamland Wasted $ on Home Upgrades Southern Girls Boomer-Asking The Way Gym Etiquette Guest: With 17 years of experience in business development, Will Rivera values building trust and strong connections with the people he works with. As a former Marine and platoon leader in Iraq, he understands the importance of morale, teamwork, and having a clear mission. Will believes inspiration is more powerful than fleeting motivation. His most recent venture is Publish...

Send us a text Monologue: Real Estate Minute-Buy Now! Gateway Mobile Home Park Update Sober Son iPhone and AI TV Dinners Spark Obesity in US Why Complain? Guest: Design wasn’t Kris Betts' first career, but it was always her true passion. For 12 years, she thrived in the fast-paced world of TV news, building a successful career. But even amid the excitement of journalism, her heart was in home design—a love sparked by her mother, an interior designer in Dallas, who often took her along on jobs. T...

Send us a Text Message. Monologue: Red Arena Round Up Bats Are On The Move! Marathon Denied Universal Basic Income Test for Austin Dripping Springs News Don't Drop Your Cell Phone 300 Feet! Guest: Sarah Pevehouse is a proven leader and self-starter. She has worked with the public in one capacity or another over the last 20+ yrs. Starting in the Fall of 2024 she will be the director of the Dripping Springs chapter of Apogee Schools. Apogee Schools offers a curriculum where students can excel outs...

Monologue: Dallas or Bust! Lawsuit Against Realtors Creates Chaos New Landscape Rules for Dripping Springs Marshall Kuykendall an American Legend Guest: Sarah Rose of the Dripping Springs Community Library believes building community means spending time with each other and growing together. Her vision is evident as she takes on the task of raising over $5M for the development and construction of a state of the art library in the heart of Dripping Springs. Sarah shares her passion for fundraising...

Monologue: Wild Game Dinner-Elk Enchiladas and Venison Cutlets Pink Mold-another fear you should have Ikea-The store we all love to hate Find the terrible drivers BEFORE they get on the road Cookie Sheet or Baking Sheet? ENM- Ethical Non Monogamy is Trending Guest: Jennifer Young the dynamic force behind RED Arena since 2008, is a trailblazing Physical Therapist hailing from El Paso, Texas. Licensed in Texas since 1997, she holds prestigious titles with the American Hippotherapy Association. Jen...

Monologue: Spirit Animal Tax Free Income! We Support Israel Guest: Marshall Kuykendall is a true Texas original and a classic story teller. Marshall is an author and an amateur historian with a love of Texas history. A descendant of Austin's Old 300 Club, Marshall was born, raised and can still be found wandering around the Texas Hill Country. Hunting, history, range riding and whiskey required. Marshall grew up on the largest ranch in Hays County spanning over 11,000 acres. He shares his love o...

Monologue: Todd has Officially Put Up with Michelle for 30 Years! Life in 1993-What Was Popular Austin-Everything Old is New Again Keeping Austin Weird Memorial Weekend Facts Guest: Marshall E. Kuykendall is an author rancher broker and Texan. A descendant of Austin's Old 300 Club, Marshall was born, raised and can still be found wandering around the Texas Hill Country. Hunting, history, range riding and whiskey required. Marshall grew up on the largest ranch in Hays County spanning over 11,00...

Marshall carries us through time as we follow him through the journey his family took to arrive in Texas with Stephen F. Austin and the Old 300. The Old 300 were the first US settlers who populated Texas in the early 1800's. Marshall E. Kuykendall is an author rancher broker and Texan. A descendant of Austin's Old 300 Club, Marshall was born, raised and can still be found wandering around the Texas Hill Country. Hunting, history, range riding and whiskey required. Marshall grew up on the largest...

Monologue: Remembering Mike Rose Kangaroos on the Loose! Iconic Dance Halls in TX Shield Ranch North of Dripping Guest: Cheryl Hughes is original Dripping Springs. She was born and raised here and graduated from Dripping Springs High School. Cheryl was one of the original Hi-Steppers when the dance team was started in 1988. She founded a dance studio in her senior year of High School and had a big impact in many girls lives that grew up as dancers in Dripping. Her grandfather was the Ranch Manag...

As a licensed foster parent, adoptive parent, and survivor of child abuse, Chrystal Smith saw the gaps in the system and the needs that were not being met, both for caregivers and for children intersecting with the child welfare system. It also helped her see how the families and children with consistent and therapeutic networks of support were the ones who ultimately had the most success in growth and redemption, inspiring the idea for Foster Village. Steve Mallett and Michelle Lewis meet the ...

Brad Hurlbut moved to Dripping Springs as a young man in 1972. His family's ranch was the site of the original Willie Nelson's 4th of July picnic in 1973. His grandfather bought the 7000 acre Hurlbut Ranch in the 60's and the Hurlbut's became an iconic family in the Dripping Springs area. Brad tell stories about the many famous country artists he met over the years (including Kris Kristofferson, Tom T. Hall, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings) and the adventures he had on the Hurlbut Ranch. Stev...

Carl Waits moved to Dripping Springs in 1965 from Rogers Texas to take a job with the Dripping Springs School District as assistant Football Coach. In 1969 he took the job as Head Football Coach and remained in that position until 1981. He talks about changes to Dripping Springs, the history of the town and some of the people that made it the great community that it is. Carl chronicled Dripping Springs history in his book "The Complete History of Dripping Springs Texas". He has worked for the Dr...