The Rio Grande Podcast

Marvel’s Echo- and Tom Hanks’ Here Actress Dannie McCallum is an Edinburg native who has excelled in the world of film/theatre since her time with ECISD. Now in LA, Dannie is a full-time actress who has already taken on multiple roles in her exciting career. Today, she hops on the podcast to spend some time with the place she calls home.  Get to know her as she reflects on her journey and shares h...

V’s Up! This week we sit down with UTRGV Football RB Coach Marco Regalado, a Zapata, TX native who found his way back to South Texas. You’ll find him on the sidelines or on stage, and you just might find him behind the grill. Find out how he discovered his love for coaching and what drives him every day. Get to know another member of your all-new D1 college football team and get ready for Vaquero...

This week and we sit down and get to know one of the most recognized and loved faces of the Rio Grande Valley: Channel 5’s very own Tim Smith! Tim reflects on his career journey, shares what he loves about covering weather in South Texas, and answers some fun questions in between.  Huge thanks to Tim for taking some time to share his story with the valley! Thanks for listening and don’t forget to...

This week we sit down with Madelynn Birdwell, founder/owner of the beloved ‘Cookies4College’ in Harlingen. We wanted to know: How do you grow a small unknown college-saving side gig into a thriving high-demand business that everyone loves?  This is another RGV market/pop-up shop success story that you’ll love, from an incredible local you should know. Thanks for listening and don’t forget to follo...

Have you been to @NanasTaqueria in Weslaco? What has blossomed into a ‘Business of the Year’ success story started out as a last-ditch effort to stay afloat in the middle of life-changing moves on a small corner lot in Weslaco. Listen in as owner Roxanna Treviño looks back on a whirlwind journey of determination, necessity, vulnerability and love that has shaped the story of Nana’s Taqueria. We wa...

Meet Stephen Rogers, an auto-pedestrian accident victim who lived to tell the tale. Rogers’ life got slammed to a halt by a nightmare of an accident right in front of his daughter. One month-long medically induced coma and multiple trauma and reconstructive surgeries later, he joins the show to reflect on his journey to recovery. Make sure to follow and subscribe to @TheRioGrandePodcast and thanks...

A look inside the lives of our local first responders: Rick Torres is a veteran paramedic with also 10 years of service as a firefighter.  As citizens/residents of our communities, we don’t always get to see what really goes on inside the lives and careers of our first-responder neighbors. We learn today that the role of a paramedic involves a lot more than just transferring a patient to the hospi...

A look inside the lives of our local first responders: Rick Torres is a 10-year veteran firefighter with 2 years of service as a paramedic.  As citizens/residents of our communities, we don’t always get to see what really goes on inside the lives and careers of our first-responder neighbors. We learn today that the role of a firefighter involves a lot more than just responding to fire calls, and w...

This week we take a deep dive into the work going on at Sea Turtle, Inc. in South Padre Island. Have you visited yet?  Sea Turtle, Inc. truly is the future of sea turtle conservation for the world. The most common species found here is the Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle - a critically endangered species. One of the facility’s biggest objectives? Educating the community and teaching us how we do our part...

Have you checked out ‘Búho’ bookstore? Búho is the Rio Grande Valley’s newest local bookstore in downtown Brownsville. What started out literally as a wandering shower thought turned into a local gem of a bookshop that is bringing people together every week to help build the sense of community that the 956 deserves. From regular wine tastings to adult spelling bees, you can find more than just you...

This week we take a dive into the world of therapy and counseling with licensed therapist Valerie Rivera to discuss the state of mental health in the Rio Grande Valley. As a specialist in childhood trauma and couples therapy, Valerie works hard to brighten the lives of her neighbors by helping them heal from life’s trials and navigate everyday challenges. We’re excited to have you meet the wonderf...

Freddsters is in the building! This week we sit down with viral tik tok foodie Alfredo Garcia to talk about his career in content creation and explore how he was able to go from working with the family business to exploding into social media stardom. We also discuss how he found himself in the middle of a viral situation with singer Cardi B! With over 1 million TikTok- and 750k Instagram followers...

Have you discovered the beautiful Daphne Michelle? Check out this week’s episode to see what it took to turn a dream into a goal - and a goal into an unfolding beautiful reality. Listen to Daphne’s story and check out the music style that is taking her to new heights in the Latin American music world. Support her work and don’t forget to follow @DaphneMichellee and @TheRioGrandePodcast on social m...

Tessie Ledesma is a new author who chased her lifelong dream of writing a book, a journey that took her from pageants to possums in the middle of the pandemic. When she saw first-hand the need to spread a much-needed message about self-love and belonging, she knew she had to act, but she needed to find a way to speak to the thousands of kids that needed the same reassurance. The solution? Polly th...

Hey guys! This week we head to Harlingen to talk to Ms. Lexi Peralta of Jade Candle Co. to meet another local business owner who has taken Cameron County by storm with her non-toxic custom made candles. The story of how she got into this business is as fun and interesting as she is herself! Learn about the candle-making process, what she loves about her community and the things she’d learned from...

Did you know the Rio Grande Valley is home to a Michelin-starred celebrity chef?  Meet Chef Graham Campbell, owner of Castlehill Bistro in Edinburg, Texas. Find out how a bona fide Scottish Head Chef found his way from the small towns of Scotland to the biggest cooking competitions in the USA. Before he finally found his place in South Texas, he toured the depths of Mexico and the most competitive...

This week we head to Rio Grande City to talk to Mr. Isaac Anzaldua, Registered Dietician. You might recognize his last name as he is connected to the people that the Anzalduas Park and Bridge around Mission, Texas are named after.  Join the conversation as he reflects on his love of food, culture and his people.  Be sure to follow @nuestro.nutrition and @TheRioGrandePodcast on social media for mor...

Hey #VaqueroNation! Your very first UTRGV Football Head coach Mr. Travis Bush has arrived to #RallyTheValley behind our new D1 football program and it’s time to get to know him a little better!  A true Texan through-and-through, Coach Bush has absolutely made his mark at the highest levels of Texas High School- and College football, both as a player and coach.  Growing up all around South Texas, T...

Brody Rivers is a rising Texas country music artist from Rio Hondo, TX. Join him on his journey through the raging country music scene as he reflects on the start of his newfound career and all that has come with it, including a shot at competing on the hit series American Idol. Be sure to check out @BrodyRiversMusic on social media and your favorite streaming service to support local talent strai...

Hey RGV! Season Two is here and it’s starting off with a bang! Meet Ingrid Monserrat, local visionary and owner of Maria Cruz Cuisine plant-based restaurant. Driven by a mission to “Be the Change”, Ms. Ingrid has found her passion of guiding the community to a healthier lifestyle through wellness and plant-based eating. Growing up around ranching and delicious (but not always healthy) Mexican food...

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And so, just like that… Season one of @TheRioGrandePodcast is officially wrapped up! We want to thank all of our listeners for the amazing support and all the feedback and positive comments over the last several months. This level of engagement was almost unprecedented/unexpected for the show’s first set of episodes, so we really felt that it was best to take a short break to step back and work on...

And so, just like that… Season one of @TheRioGrandePodcast is officially wrapped up! We want to thank all of our listeners for the amazing support and all the feedback and positive comments over the last several months. This level of engagement was almost unprecedented/unexpected for the show’s first set of episodes, so we really felt that it was best to take a short break to step back and work on...

Meet Nick Stacey, local wildlife conservationist and co-owner of Fragile Planet Wildlife Park, a new wild immersive attraction here in Los Fresnos, TX. Listen to the story of how and why he decided to bring a whole new zoo experience to the Rio Grande Valley and what this new wildlife park has to offer. From exotics to native species, this place definitely is teeming with life. Animal enthusiasts...

This week we sit down with Alex Velasco, local visionary and co-Founder/CEO of @ForkToFitKitchen based in McAllen. Driven by a passion for health and wellness , he has taken on the challenge of working to “revolutionize the way people eat,  to empower a happier, healthier world.” Deep within a society where fast life is powered by Fast Food, Velasco saw a need to empower the people trying to reach...