Episodes

What is it that makes Texas special? Is Texas special? What has happened in the land that is Texas to create our present world? In this episode we begin exploring these ideas that make up the Texas mystique. The goal of Lesson Zero is to serve as an introduction to Texas History Lessons. It’s like the first day of a Texas history class when the professor explains the goals and expectations of the class, except I am not a professor and instead of fitting it all into one class I will be taking my ...

WARNING: For those that might be stressed or bothered by unexpected loud noises or sounds of gunfire, near the middle of the episode there are unannounced sounds of artillery. As an afterword to the previous episodes investigating the life of Louis Jordan, University of Texas football, and the First World War and Texas, this episode presents Mark Twain's "radical" story 'The War Prayer' that remained unpublished during his lifetime. Also presented are several World War I resources. The songs at ...

This is part 2 of the story of Louis Jordan, Texas football, and the Great War of 1914 to 1918. It is a story of patriotism and teamwork, loss and sacrifice. It is about leadership and the cost of war. This episode covers his service in the First World War. There will be a short bonus episode to follow this one up. The song at the end is Floating Bone by the JR Tully. The Texas History Lessons Theme song, Walking Through History , was written and recorded by Derrick McClendon . Listen to his new...

This is part 1 of the story of Louis Jordan, Texas football, and the Great War of 1914 to 1918. It is a story of patriotism and teamwork, loss and sacrifice. It is about leadership and the cost of war. This episode covers his successful career as a student and athlete with the University of Texas-Austin Longhorn's football team. The next episode will cover the next stage of his life after graduation. The song at the end is Fight by the great Colton Mathis. The Texas History Lessons Theme song, W...

Goodbye 2022 and hello 2023! For a special treat, in this episode we look back to the foundations of the Texas History Lessons Podcast and share an episode of the 2BT Podcast from the archives. This one is heavy on Star Wars-two hours worth! Enjoy the show and thanks for listening. The Texas History Lessons Theme song, Walking Through History , was written and recorded by Derrick McClendon . Listen to his new album, Interstate Daydreamer! Available everywhere you find good music. Thank you Derri...

In this episode we take a look at the many changes in Texas and our relationship to the past by looking at the life of Ruby Viola Davidson. The song at the end is Make My Heart Great Again by Derrick McClendon. The Texas History Lessons Theme song, Walking Through History , was written and recorded by Derrick McClendon . Listen to his new album, Interstate Daydreamer! Available everywhere you find good music. Thank you Derrick! Twitter: @dmclendonmusic If you are enjoying Texas History Lessons, ...

In this episode we look a little into 19th Century folk medicine and some of the medicines offered for sale to the public for everything that ailed them. The song at the end is Country Standards by JR Tully and the Dreamland Band . The Texas History Lessons Theme song, Walking Through History , was written and recorded by Derrick McClendon . Listen to his new album, Interstate Daydreamer! Available everywhere you find good music. Thank you Derrick! Twitter: @dmclendonmusic If you are enjoying Te...

This episode is the fourth and final part of a series on the importance of the California Trail and the Chisholm Trail to the settlement of Northwest Texas. The songs at the end are Rosmand's Living This Way, followed by Seth Jones' Better Off Alone. The Texas History Lessons Theme song, Walking Through History , was written and recorded by Derrick McClendon . Listen to his new album, Interstate Daydreamer! Available everywhere you find good music. Thank you Derrick! Twitter: @dmclendonmusic If ...

This episode is part three of a series on the importance of the California Trail and the Chisholm Trail to the settlement of Northwest Texas. The songs at the end are Jerrod Flusche's Fan the Flames and Mama's Don't Let Your Babies..., Payton Matous' Sing the Darkness Away, and Zach Welch's Ada. The Texas History Lessons Theme song, Walking Through History , was written and recorded by Derrick McClendon . Listen to his new album, Interstate Daydreamer! Available everywhere you find good music. T...

This episode is part two of a series on the importance of the California Trail and the Chisholm Trail to the settlement of Northwest Texas. The songs at the end, The Ballad of a Small Town is by Texas History Lessons spotlight artist Derrick McLendon, followed by Mando Salas and Rosmand's Devils River. The Texas History Lessons Theme song, Walking Through History , was written and recorded by Derrick McClendon . Listen to his new album, Interstate Daydreamer! Available everywhere you find good m...

This episode launches a series on the importance of the California Trail and the Chisholm Trail to the settlement of Northwest Texas. The songs at the end, Rituals is by Texas History Lessons newest spotlight artist Ghost Dance Band, followed by Jason Harrell's Ghost.. The Texas History Lessons Theme song, Walking Through History , was written and recorded by Derrick McClendon . Listen to his new album, Interstate Daydreamer! Available everywhere you find good music. Thank you Derrick! Twitter: ...

In this episode, Melvin E. Edwards returns to discuss his powerful, new book, The Strength of a Thousand Sons. In it he recounts more stories from his Texas family and illustrates the power of a father's love and the effect it can have on generations. We also discussed many other topics, including baseball, fishing, the legislative process in Texas and much more. Be sure to get a copy of Melvin E. Edwards' The Strength of a Thousand Sons and The Eyes of Texans . The song at the end, Old Dogs is ...

We are happy to use this episode to introduce you to the Dicta. Podcast - a podcast about the cases that made us. An exploration of the United States Constitution and those decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States that have shaped our relationship with, and understanding of, the law of the land. Hosted by Ian and Casey. In this episode Ian reflects on an important subject, "Should we revere the Founding Fathers?" This subject will be looked at in future Texas History Lessons episodes....

With this episode we finish up our series on the Second Battle of Adobe Walls. We learn a little more about the background and we learn a lot about the Native American side of the conflict. The song at the end, Hi-Line Wild Horses, is by the great Kade Anson! The Texas History Lessons Theme song, Walking Through History , was written and recorded by Derrick McClendon . Listen to his new album, Interstate Daydreamer! Available everywhere you find good music. Thank you Derrick! Twitter: @dmclendon...

In this episode we return take a look at the man that made the famous shot at the Second Battle of Adobe Walls and hear from him about what he remembered. This episode shares his memories of the attack and fight. What was it like to actually be there? Listen and hear from someone who experienced it firsthand. The song at the end, Magenta, is by the great Bo Bundy! The Texas History Lessons Theme song, Walking Through History , was written and recorded by Derrick McClendon . Listen to his new alb...

With this episode we take a look at the man that made the famous shot at the Second Battle of Adobe Walls and hear from him about what he remembered. This episode shares his background memories to the days leading up to the conflict. What was it like to actually be there? Listen and hear from someone who experienced it firsthand. The song at the end, Mi Barrio, is by the great Bo Bundy! The Texas History Lessons Theme song, Walking Through History , was written and recorded by Derrick McClendon ...

In 1874 a group of buffalo hunters were camped about a mile from the site of where representatives of the trading firm of Bent, St. Vrain and Company had established a trading post in the 1840s. Ten years later the encamped buffalo hunters, hide men and merchants fought the Second Battle of Adobe Walls on June 27, 1874. The hide hunters had built a number of log buildings and surrounded it with an eight foot high corral fence made from cottonwood tree trunks that they had harvested from nearby c...

In June 1939 the Flake family, originally from Marshall, Texas bought a house in the 900 block East Annie Street in Fort Worth, Texas. On June 19, 1939, Juneteenth, a mob numbering near 500 destroyed their home. Why? They were black and had been audacious enough to move into a mostly white area of the north Texas city. That day should have been a day of celebration for the Flake family. Seventy-four years earlier, in the island city of Galveston, Union troops, many of them being black men servin...

On May 31, 1783, a band of Mescalero Apaches killed a man named Fernando Veramendi near the presidio of San Juan Bautista in Coahuila. Veramendi and the Veramendi family played an important part in the early history of Texas and of San Antonio. A San Antonio businessman and alderman, Veramendi was only about forty years old on May 31, 1783 when he was away from home on a business trip to Mexico City when he found himself at the mercy of the Apache raiders. Fernando had been born in Pamplona, Spa...

Let's go to Polkafest on Memorial Day Weekend! In this episode Payton Matous joins the podcast to talk about the history and heritage of Czech Texans with a special focus on the National Polka Festival in Ennis. Make plans to visit Ennis, Texas in Memorial Day weekend this year and in the future for a great time. Payton is a talented musical artist and graces the show with two unreleased songs. His EP Prayers to a Lesser God was released on May 11, 2022 and the title track ends this episode. Fol...

On May 5, 1718, Martin de Alarcon founded the San Antonio de Bexar Presidio on the west side of the San Antonio River, about a quarter league from the San Antonio de Valero Mission that had been established on May 1. Settlement did not happen immediately but the presidio and the mission were the foundation of the Villa de Bexar, the most important town in Spanish Texas. A lot of history has happened in this very special site near San Pedro Springs. What began as a village of Payaya Coahuiltecans...

On May 4, 1847, Pope Pius IX established the Catholic Diocese of Galveston. From 1847 until 1874 the diocese covered all of Texas and parts of modern day Oklahoma, New Mexico, Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming. The Diocese of San Antonio and the Vicariate Apostolic of Brownsville were carved out of it 1874. Jean Marie Odin was named the Diocese of Galveston’s first bishop and with twelve priests he served 20,000 Catholics that were spread out over about 360,000 square miles. The Diocese included ten...

On May 3, 1968, a major medical advance occurred at Houston’s St. Luke’s Hospital. Surgeon Denton Cooley and his associates transplanted the heart donated by a fifteen year old girl to Everett Thomas. Cooley and Houston doctor Michael E. DeBakey had been working on developing heart surgery to the point that they could do heart transplantation. Cooley got there first and DeBakey and he would have a strange competition for years to come. Despite the odd rivalry, or maybe because of it, as Chester ...

In lesson 17 we take a look at al-Andalus, Moslem Spain, and the Reconquista. The Texas History Lessons Theme song, Walking Through History , was written and recorded by Derrick McClendon . Listen to his new album, Interstate Daydreamer! Available everywhere you find good music. Thank you Derrick! Twitter: @dmclendonmusic The song at the end of the episode is by Texas History Lessons new spotlight artist, Jason Harrell. The song, Free is on his More Than I Was album.. If you are enjoying Texas H...