Made in Nacogdoches with Brad Maule

What do chicken houses, 71 KFC restaurants, and the Fredonia Hotel have in common? Richie DeWitt! Join Brad Maule on Made in Nacogdoches for a fascinating conversation about Richie's East Texas roots, his family's business legacy, his restaurant ventures, and the experiences that shaped his life. Plus, hear some unforgettable stories from his childhood, including a few watermelon-stealing...

Meet Caleb Jones of Gen 1 Greenhouse, a young East Texas entrepreneur who's been turning his passion for plants into a business since he was just 15. On this episode of Made in Nacogdoches with Brad Maule, Caleb shares how it all started, demonstrates how to propagate plants, and explains what it takes to build a nursery and landscaping business from the ground up. From plant-care mistakes to...

In this special episode of Made in Nacogdoches with Brad Maule, we remember Nathan “Poogie” Alders, a true original whose unforgettable stories, mischievous spirit, and larger-than-life personality made him a beloved part of Nacogdoches history. Poogie takes us back to his childhood in East Texas, sharing hilarious and unbelievable stories about growing up in a Pentecostal home where the televisio...

What happens when a Nacogdoches native returns home after years in New York City with a dream of creating something extraordinary? Ryan Hairston joins Brad Maule to share the story behind Aperitivo, a unique Italian-inspired café bringing gelato, coffee, shared plates, and European atmosphere to the heart of Nacogdoches. From the inspiration behind the restaurant to the challenges of building a bu...

What happens when a shy girl from East Texas leaves Nacogdoches and winds up surrounded by musicians, artists, authors, presidents and some of the biggest names in entertainment? Brad Maule sits down with Lisa Steed for one of the most fascinating conversations yet on Made in Nacogdoches. Lisa shares stories from growing up around Millard’s Crossing, discovering drama, moving away, living in New Y...

Ron Raines has spent 50 years pursuing his passion for acting and singing. In this episode, he sits down with Brad Maule to discuss his career, his Nacogdoches roots, Broadway, Guiding Light, and the realities of life as a performer. From lean years in New York to major opportunities on stage and television, Ron shares stories about perseverance, humility, and following your calling. If you enjoye...

A missing goose. A secret trip before sunrise. A sheriff who basically said, "I have to tell you not to do this… but here's how." And somehow, this is a true story about Nacogdoches businessman and philanthropist Charles Bright. Brad Maule sits down with Greg Williams to talk about Charles Bright, his family, his businesses, his philanthropy, and the incredible legacy he left Nacogdo...

If you enjoyed this episode of Made in Nacogdoches with Brad Maule, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you never miss a story from the oldest town in Texas. Your support helps this podcast reach more people who love great stories, rich history, and the magic of East Texas. Host Brad Maule is an accomplished American actor, director, and educator best known for his 22...

Joe Lansdale joins Brad Maule on Made in Nacogdoches for a fascinating conversation about 53 years of writing, movies, martial arts, East Texas, Hollywood and the stories that shaped his life. From comic books and The Twilight Zone to Bubba Ho-Tep, Hap and Leonard, Cold in July and more, Joe shares how he discovered his own voice—and why East Texas became such an important part of his storytelling...

Justin Ward was born and raised in East Texas, but his curiosity eventually took him around the world. From Bible college and Romania to culinary school and teaching cooking in Paris, Justin has lived a life full of incredible twists, cultures, food, and adventure. In this episode, Brad Maule talks with Justin about growing up in Nacogdoches, learning to cook, life in France, Romanian adventures,...

What happens when you spend years planning to become a helicopter pilot… and suddenly realize God might be calling you in a completely different direction? Father George Elliott joins Brad Maule on Made in Nacogdoches to share his incredible journey from the Air Force Academy to the Catholic priesthood. They talk about faith, loss, family, military service, seminary life, answering God’s call, and...

What happens when you sit down with someone whose family has been in Nacogdoches since 1832? You get stories about pioneer Texas, Millard’s Crossing, the Alamo, NASA, Texas A&M, family, failure, success and everything in between. Taylor Millard joins Made in Nacogdoches for a conversation that proves you can know someone for years and still discover you know almost nothing about them. His fami...

What does it take to build one of the best barbecue restaurants in Texas? Brendyn Todd, owner and pitmaster of Brendyn's BBQ in Nacogdoches, shares how he went from working at Chick-fil-A to being named one of Texas Monthly's Top 50 BBQ restaurants. Along the way we discuss leadership, family, customer service, entrepreneurship, Spider-Man, faith, and why treating people well is the real s...

Charlene Rees and Wendy Floyd, two lifelong friends from Nacogdoches, share the incredible story behind Psalms of My Heart. What began as beautiful East Texas photographs became hundreds of heartfelt prayers, eventually transforming into a book filled with faith, hope, and worship. Along the way they discuss hearing God's voice, learning to pray, photography, miracles, and the importance of ob...

In this episode of the Made in Nacogdoches Podcast, Brad Maule sits down with Father Gavin Vaverek for a wide-ranging conversation about faith, purpose, technology, community, and why so many people feel disconnected in modern life. Father Gavin shares his incredible journey from engineering to the priesthood, discusses why Christianity grew through love rather than force, explains the process of...

Could East Texas become the next destination for filmmaking? In this episode of Made in Nacogdoches, actress Jessica Shelkey shares an incredibly honest conversation about losing her mother at sixteen, discovering acting as a way to heal, and helping launch the Nacogdoches Film Commission. She also explains how professional productions could create jobs, grow the local economy, and give aspiring f...

Texas State Representative Joanne Shofner joins Made in Nacogdoches for an honest conversation about faith, politics, leadership, and serving the people of East Texas. From working with Democrats to navigating the Texas Legislature without a manual, Joanne shares stories that rarely make the headlines. If you enjoyed this episode of Made in Nacogdoches with Brad Maule, don’t forget to like, subscr...

Why do churches sing? What is worship actually supposed to accomplish? Brad Maule sits down with First Baptist Nacogdoches Worship Pastor Tom Webster to discuss the purpose of worship music, church history, and why music remains one of the most powerful ways people connect with God. If you enjoyed this episode of Made in Nacogdoches with Brad Maule, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the not...

What do Memorial Hospital, Stephen F. Austin State University, amateur radio, and wildlife tracking all have in common? Philip Blackburn. In this episode of Made in Nacogdoches, Brad Maule sits down with one of East Texas' most fascinating minds to discuss his career as an SFA physics professor, his work designing radio tracking equipment for wildlife research, his passion for amateur radio, a...

Juan Gonzalez's story is one of perseverance, gratitude, and service. Born in Mexico and arriving in East Texas at age 10 without speaking English, Juan shares how supportive teachers, family values, and community members helped shape his journey. Today he serves as a banker, community advocate, and former Rotary Club president dedicated to improving financial literacy and creating opportuniti...

Brad Maule sits down with David Sowell of the Nacogdoches Cigar Company for a conversation that starts with cigars and quickly turns into local history, tobacco farming, and the forgotten cigar factories that once existed in Nacogdoches. Along the way, Brad discovers he's been doing cigars completely wrong, and David explains why premium cigars are about far more than smoking—they're about...

Welcome to Part 2 of this Episode of Made in Nacogdoches. Casey Kennedy, a former Green Beret opens up about growing up in East Texas, surviving a chaotic childhood, joining the military, and discovering purpose through service. From wild camping stories to Army basic training, this episode is packed with unforgettable moments. If you enjoyed this episode of Made in Nacogdoches with Brad Maule, do...

A former Green Beret opens up about growing up in East Texas, surviving a chaotic childhood, joining the military, and discovering purpose through service. From wild camping stories to Army basic training, this episode is packed with unforgettable moments. If you enjoyed this episode of Made in Nacogdoches with Brad Maule, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you never...

Retired educator Faye Curl joins Brad Maule on Made in Nacogdoches to discuss life in old Nacogdoches, growing up in East Texas, faith, family traditions, gardening, education, literacy, classroom discipline, parenting, and how society has changed over the years. Faye shares stories about teaching special education, helping struggling readers, raising children, surviving bullies, and maintaining a...

Amos and Ben from Wildworks Film Productions join Brad. What starts as a discussion about filmmaking and podcasting quickly spirals into Bitcoin, biblical giants, prepping for the apocalypse, Pokémon cards, homeschooling, growing up overseas, and building community in East Texas. Ben shares stories from living in China as a missionary kid, while Amos talks writing, filmmaking, and why learning pra...