Corpus Christi Originals Podcast

"I'll see you when I'm looking at you!" On this episode of The Corpus Christi Originals Podcast, we are coming to you live from The Artisan at 218 N. Chaparral. Host Jesús Hilario Hernandez sits down with born-and-raised local comic and storyteller Wendell Williams (aka Mr. Wendell) for an incredibly candid, laid-back conversation. Wendell drops decades of "old school knowledge," sharing his lived...

In Episode 124 of the Corpus Christi Originals podcast, host Jesús sits down with high school classmate and local business owner John Hanzalik, who is running for Corpus Christi City Council – District 5. John strips away the political theater to discuss the pressing issues facing our community. He breaks down the realities of the Inner Harbor desalination project, clarifies how industry partners...

Corpus Christi Originals is back at it again! For Episode 123, we’re posting up at the Ink Plug (4701, Suite 202) to catch up with a true cultural heavyweight: Ledswards. After stepping away from music for two years following a horrific accident where he fell four stories—breaking his back, wrist, and feet—Ledswards is back to reclaim his spot and serenade the city. We dive deep into the pain, the...

The Art Center of Corpus Christi is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit at 100 North Shoreline Boulevard — right next to the Whataburger by the bay — and most people have driven past it a thousand times without knowing what's inside. In this episode of the Corpus Christi Originals Podcast, recorded on the second floor of the Art Center (same floor where Jesús had his wedding reception), he sits down with Kailey...

Actors Creating Together Facebook Actors Creating Together YouTube   Chapters (00:00:00) - CORP Christi Originals Podcast (00:00:37) - Theater Voices: A Podcast (00:03:55) - Lighting the Night Creature (00:05:04) - Local actress and director on the challenges of promoting local theater (00:09:59) - Local theatergoers talk about musicals (00:11:28) - Getting the Word Out About Community Theater (00...

Tony Gomez has been in the Corpus Christi metal scene since 1979, when he rode the C101 party bus to see Kiss on the Dynasty Tour and decided that was what he wanted to do with his life. Since then he's fronted or played in more bands than most people can count — Malignancy, Sintegrity, Killamora, War Cult, Annihilator, a Pantera tribute, an AC/DC tribute, and several others — and now hosts The To...

Caitlin Shook is the co-owner of The Annex — a bar at 312 South Chaparral in downtown Corpus Christi that doubles as a comedy venue, event space, and community gathering spot — and the host of The Bad Blonde, a live radio show on 1440 KEYS turned podcast about automotive history. In this episode of the Corpus Christi Originals Podcast, recorded at The Annex, they talk about how Caitlin went from b...

In this unfiltered, adult-oriented "bull session," host Jesus Hilario Hernandez sits down with the Sports with Roland crew—Andy Gomez, Merri Garcia, and Roland Alaniz—for a raw and hilarious look at the Corpus Christi comedy scene. The group covers everything from their 200-episode podcasting journey and the "catalyst" that started it all to the gritty reality of bombing on stage at local pizza jo...

In this special solo episode recorded on-location at The Coffee Mug, host Jesus Hilario Hernandez pulls back the curtain on the "unseen" side of the Corpus Christi Originals network. From the "unheard voices" that form the city’s backbone to the raw, personal lessons learned during his first 15 stand-up comedy open mics, Jesus shares an unscripted look at the reality of balancing life as a hazmat...

Magnu5 (pronounced Magnus) is a North Side Corpus Christi rapper, beat maker, and co-host of the Marauders Podcast who has been putting in work since high school — freestyling at lunch tables, selling CDs downtown for ten bucks, riding with DSR, and learning to make his own beats from a local producer who had placements with 50 Cent. In this episode of the Corpus Christi Originals Podcast, recorde...

Daryl Felsberg is a professional comedian, producer, and comedy club owner from Corpus Christi, Texas who's been doing standup since 2001 and full-time since 2008. He's shot four specials, toured the country, headlined the Selena Auditorium, survived a TIA stroke, and is currently putting fake antique photos of himself inside Cracker Barrel restaurants across the country. In this episode of the Co...

Brandon — better known as Texas Gulf Fish Hunter — moved to Corpus Christi from the mountains of Appalachia and never looked back. Now he's one of the most recognizable fishing content creators on TikTok, going live from the Texas coast and sharing the kind of knowledge most fishermen keep to themselves: where the fish are, why they're there, and how to put yourself in the best position to catch t...

Ben Mann is one of the most recognizable voices in the Corpus Christi comedy scene — a four-year standup veteran, all-state debater, full-time uncle, and visually impaired comedian from Port Connor who figured out early that the best way to beat a bully to the punch is to throw the first joke yourself. In this episode of the Corpus Christi Originals Podcast, we talk about what it's like to pursue...

Lupe Ramos is the founder of Choose Wisely — a faith-based apparel brand and design studio born in Corpus Christi, Texas. In this Corpus & Coffee edition of the Corpus Christi Originals Podcast, we sat down at his shop inside Texas Arena Strength & Fitness (5802 Woodridge) to talk about everything that made him who he is. Lupe went from being raised by his grandmother on the west side to s...

Corpus & Coffee: Chef Zay (Isaiah from Houston, family in Corpus) discusses selling Five gum in middle school without paying, reinvesting into Sam's candy bars, COVID trunk candy hustle at T-Mobile, first Houston candy competition (didn't place but Yum Yum Candy judges bought $50), meeting Chingo Bling, second place win judged by SPM's son Baby Los, meeting Mexican OT at show (poncho hat boots...

Corpus & Coffee edition: DJ Lil King (Derrick Boston) at Ridin' High Studios discusses growing up West Oso/Molina/Crestmont, talk boy DJ Screw mixtapes, discovering PC DJ software on computer, 1998 Swisha House website with intro song, Napster mislabeled downloads, opening The Plug store in 45 minutes with $120, paying rappers cash for CDs ($5 per copy), ESG in-store signing teaching the game,...

Fourth Corpus & Coffee: Danny Powers, owner of Powers Tattoo and Body Piercing (30 years), discusses meeting Don Powers as a customer getting naval piercing, marrying the shop owner, husband dying in 2003 leaving her with 5-year-old son and active shop, choosing to fight and run it 30 more years, moving from McAllen to Corpus after meeting second husband Steve on Facebook, CPR and bloodborne p...

Third Corpus & Coffee: Susana Salinas, owner of The Coffee Mugg (Harry Potter-inspired), discusses newly divorced with two kids on food stamps, opening upstairs with zero customers, viral post changing everything, CNN interview from Germany, Warner Brothers cease and desist ("they know you exist"), moving from Coffee Muggle to Coffee Mugg, espresso machine bursting into flames after COVID shut...

Second Corpus & Coffee: comedian Bobby Peña III (co-admin of CorpusChristyComedy.com) and daughter Elisa (Artistry by Elisa) discuss retiring from AT&T to pursue comedy full-time, raising kids who follow their dreams, winning Rock Hard Roast Battle while family's heart monitors went off, why comedians need social media, collaboration over competition in art community, sixth-generation Corp...

First Corpus & Coffee edition: casual conversation over coffee with comedian Miguelito (Miguel Porfirio), 5 years into comedy, discussing why open mics are gyms not performances, the pressure of proving you're still funny, when audiences mouth your material, the night he crashed out at Mesquite Street, gratitude vs. hostility mindset, joyous communication on stage, why word choice matters, jok...

Luis Buentello brings 12 years of congressional experience working for Blake Farenthold and Michael Cloud to his run for Texas District 34. Born in Mexico, became a citizen after a 5-year process, cut red tape for veterans and constituents, and now wants the job for himself. Discusses why he resigned from Cheniere Energy to run, running a clean campaign despite dirt on opponents, the Farenthold se...

Mayra Flores discusses her run for Texas District 34, which now includes Corpus Christi. From working cotton fields in Memphis, Texas to respiratory therapy to Congress, she addresses water crisis solutions, border security misconceptions, faith through political betrayal, her divorce as a Christian, Trump's endorsement flip, and why she believes Corpus needs $20-30/hour jobs. Unfiltered conversat...

Bull session with three Corpus Christi comedy veterans: Tina La Cochina fresh off her Kill Tony appearance at the Mothership, Javi Luna discussing comedy etiquette and roast battle boundaries, and Lito Cortez running the only clean comedy showcase in town for 9 years. Topics: surviving panic attacks on stage in front of 2.5 million viewers, why Corpus is big enough for everyone, the social media t...

Comedian Javi Luna returns for his third appearance discussing 14 years in comedy, touring 150 shows a year with Chingo Bling, the craft evolution from writing 30 minutes daily to organic improvisation, and why being second act is the sweet spot. From Latin Comedy Jam to self-producing specials, creating Tag Your Bit to give newer comics stage time, and the "heartbroken still joking" era that defi...

Marty and Amber Flores share the story of Marty McPies, the downtown Corpus Christi pizza restaurant born from a Marine Corps veteran's journey home. Marty spent years in Iraq, the Navy, railroads, and refineries while teaching himself to make pizza with one goal: come back to Corpus Christi and build a life. Amber left 10 years of teaching to help grow the business from food truck to brick-and-mo...