Wise About Texas

Wise About Texas

Author: Ken Wise Language: English Episodes: 50
There’s a particular feeling you get standing on a wide stretch of prairie or walking through a quiet courthouse square that seems to hold a century of stories. Wise About Texas is about uncovering those stories, layer by layer, with the kind of depth and context that makes the past feel immediate. Hosted by Ken Wise, each episode goes beyond the well-trodden tales of the Alamo and cowboy legends to explore the people, places, and pivotal moments that truly shaped this unique state. You’ll hear about forgotten communities, surprising cultural intersections, and the everyday lives that built Texas from the ground up. This isn’t just a dry recitation of dates; it’s a thoughtful exploration that connects history to the landscape you can visit today. Whether you’re a lifelong resident, a curious newcomer, or someone planning a trip with a desire to understand what you’re seeing, this podcast serves as an engaging guide. Tune in for narratives that are meticulously researched yet told with a conversational ease, making each chapter of Texas history accessible and genuinely compelling. The aim is to leave you not just better informed, but with a richer sense of the spirit and complexity that defines the Lone Star State.
Episodes
Ep. 154: When Lone Star Cowboys Took the Sport of Kings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:09
In This Episode • The origins of polo in sixth-century B.C. Persia — and why it was war training, not sport • How the British found the game in India, and the first formal English rules in 1875 • James Gordon Bennett bri…
EP. 153: How to Start a War- The Warfield and Snively Raids [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:16
Show Notes The 1842 Mexican invasions of Texas and their aftermath, including the Mier expedition and the Black Bean Incident. Sam Houston's use of privateer-style commissions, authorizing Charles Warfield and later Jaco…
Ep. 152:  Teeing off with Wise About Golf! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:59
Episode 152 — Introducing Wise About Golf Golf reached Texas before the automobile did — back when men who remembered San Jacinto were still walking around. Ken introduces Wise About Golf, a new Texas golf history podcas…
EP. 151: A Road Trip Through the Republic [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:17
We think and talk a lot about the Republic of Texas (I hope). But what are we talking about? Most of the early settlement in Mexican Texas was east of the Colorado River and extended up the river as far as La Grange. The…
Ep. 150:  Happy 250th Birthday America! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:52
250 years ago, the “American Experiment” began, with the result being the freest and most successful nation in the history of the world. The American Revolution, like the Texas Revolution, was the unlikeliest of victorie…
EP. 149: Up the River (road) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:59
There is nothing prettier than a river flowing gently through the canyons of the Texas hill country. But traveling along the river can be treacherous. The canyon walls are steep and rocky. The path is narrow and the drop…
Bonus: A Quick Notice to Subscribers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27
The podcast has a good problem. There are so many listeners and downloads I had to move the podcast to a new RSS feed. There should not be any interruption, but if you notice that you may not be getting all the new episo…
EP. 147: Teeing Off With Texas Golf [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:49
Here at Wise About Texas world headquarters we love our golf. Texas has made, and continues to make, an outsized impact in the world of golf. With over 100 yers of Texas golf history, I plan on doing some episodes on the…