The Thicket

From Tennis Courts to Bird Dogs: The Chad Leonard Story | Hill Country Gundogs What do a burnt-out tennis pro, a Georgia quail plantation, a near-death experience, and an English Cocker Spaniel named Blaze have in common? They're all part of one of the most compelling journeys in the gun dog world. In this episode, we sit down with Chad Leonard — Texas Hill Country ranch manager turned profes...

US Army veteran, Iraq combat tour, tattoo artist, restaurant owner, and co-founder of The Purple Heart Project — Chef Mark Sierra (Compadres Hill Country Cocina) sits down for a wide-ranging conversation about the road from the Rio Grande Valley to a combat zone to a Boerne kitchen that's been named the best Mexican spot in town two years running. Mark opens up about the parts of military ser...

Lifelong Kendall County resident J.C. Taylor (VP of Strategy, Texas Star Nut and Food Company) lays out pragmatic, local-first solutions for water, mobility, and emergency services while protecting property rights and the Hill Country character. We cover why Kendall County’s steady 3.5% annual growth since 1990 demands action, not slogans—and how to corral growth near existing corridors, partner w...

What does it take to build a top show-horse program — and a life — around two heartbeats? In this candid conversation, horseman and coach Reid Thomas (Reid Thomas Performance Horses) shares how he went from teaching lessons at 14 to leading a world‑class English/Western/ranch all‑around program. He breaks down the “underground” world of judged horse shows, how he pairs riders with the right horses...