Texas offers wide-open spaces, beautiful rivers, legendary barbecue—and a surprising number of creatures capable of turning an ordinary afternoon into a story you will be telling for years.

In the first episode of our three-part series on Texas pests, we meet the stingers, biters and creepy-crawlies that announce themselves immediately. From the deceptively furry asp caterpillar and aggressive Africanized honey bees to fire ants, red paper wasps, scorpions and the infamous “cow killer,” this episode separates the genuinely dangerous from the merely terrifying-looking.

You’ll learn why an asp should never be touched, what to do if a swarm of bees comes after you, why fire ant bites seem to happen all at once and whether the enormous wasp dive-bombing your head can actually sting you.

We also tackle some of the biggest Texas pest myths, including:

• Why the “red hornet” in your yard probably isn’t a hornet
• Which Texas creature in this series has actually killed people
• Why jumping into water will not save you from attacking bees
• What every Hill Country resident should shake out before putting it on
• Which nightmare-looking insects are mostly harmless
• What you should do during the first 60 seconds after a sting
• The symptoms that mean it is time to seek medical attention

Whether you were born in Texas, recently arrived or are thinking about making the move, consider this your practical—and occasionally unsettling—introduction to the wildlife sharing your yard, porch and occasionally your shoes.

Coming next in the series: the Texas pests whose damage does not show up immediately, followed by the creatures that would rather eat your house than sting you.

Thanks to Our Sponsors

Sharon Hayes — Realtor with Dalton Wade Real Estate Group
A retired U.S. Army combat veteran and certified Military Relocation Professional, Sharon brings discipline, patience and firsthand relocation experience to every transaction. She helps homebuyers, sellers and military families navigate the Central Texas real estate market with confidence.
TREC #683930-SA

Liz Rich — Edge Home Finance NMLS 891464
Mortgage broker Liz Rich helps Central Texas homebuyers understand their financing options and move confidently toward homeownership.
NMLS #1983319 | Equal Housing Opportunity

Welcome to the definitive audio roadmap for the Central Texas and Hill Country rodeo circuit!

In this episode of The Texas Current Podcast, hosts Tyler Brooks and Maddie Lawson hand you a completely comprehensive guide to the region’s incredible Western sports landscape. Geographically, we are casting a wide net—stretching down the I-35 corridor from Georgetown to Converse, pushing deep west into the rugged hills of Fredericksburg, and tracking all the way east over to the piney woods of Bastrop.

Rodeo culture in Central Texas is anything but monolithic. It is a living, breathing map of an evolving regional identity, operating on its own unique economic, environmental, and cultural rhythms. Together, Tyler and Maddie explore how two completely different realities can coexist in the exact same month:

• The High-Tech Indoor Spectacle: Stepping out of 105-degree August heat into the crisp, air-conditioned concourse of a modern sports arena like the Cedar Park Pro Rodeo, complete with video boards, high-definition instant replays, and cutting-edge halftime acts.
• The Century-Old Outdoor Heritage: Sitting on wooden bleachers covered in dust at an outdoor track like the Gillespie County Fair and Rodeo in Fredericksburg, experiencing the raw rumble of the horses and the thrill of live, community-driven pari-mutuel track betting.

Beyond the dust and the adrenaline, this episode takes a hard look at the mechanics, logistics, and unsung history of the sport. We pull back the curtain on the complex judging math behind a perfect 100-point rough stock ride (where up to half the score belongs entirely to the horse or bull), explain the sudden-death pressure of bracket-style tournaments like Rodeo Austin, and demystify "Slack"—the stripped-down, sunrise qualifying rounds where the real cowboy grit is tested away from the bright lights and the funnel cakes.

Most importantly, we look at how these events serve as vital economic anchors for their communities. From funding million-dollar youth agricultural scholarships via livestock auctions to supporting local veterans organizations and preserving hyper-local historical landmarks like the Chisholm Trail, rodeos are the lifeblood of the Hill Country's social infrastructure. We also confront the sobering reality of rapid urbanization along I-35 and what the concrete creep means for the future survival of these historic dirt arenas.

Whether you are a seasoned circuit fan or looking to attend your very first night under the stadium lights, pull up a chair, grab your boots, and join us on the trail!

Chapter Timestamps

• 00:00 - Episode Sponsor Introduction
• 00:45 - Welcome to the Circuit: From Georgetown to Converse
• 02:30 - The Big Leagues: Winter, Spring, and the PRCA
• 05:15 - The Code of the Dirt: How Scoring and Brackets Work
• 08:45 - The Summer Ground: Slack, Open Formats, and Local Legends
• 13:20 - The Ultimate Contrast: Air Conditioning vs. Pari-Mutuel Racing
• 16:40 - Protecting Hyper-Local Identity & The Urban Expansion Threat
• 20:15 - Episode Sponsor Conclusion

A Special Thank You to Our Episode Sponsors

Yvonne Hoffman, Realtor A sixth-generation Texan and Central Texas Hill Country native, Yvonne has been helping buyers and sellers achieve their real estate goals since 2001. Known for her truly Texan star service, expert negotiation skills, and deep local market knowledge, she's earned the trust of generations of clients who continue to send their friends and family her way. Whether you're buying your first home, relocating to the Hill Country, or preparing to sell, Yvonne is ready to help. Give her a call today at 830-626-8900 and put her experience to work for you.

Steve Tomaselli, Texas Mortgage Broker With 33 years of lending through every kind of market, Steve has learned the job isn't selling you a loan—it's getting you to the closing table on time with no surprises. Whether you're moving to the Hill Country, moving out, or buying your next place in Central Texas, Steve will guide you through a smooth, predictable transaction. To get started, visit him at homequalify.ai. Steve Tomaselli, NMLS number 358920. Edge Home Finance LLC NMLS 891464 Equal housing opportunity.

What if we told you that some of the world's most prestigious French wines are quite literally standing on Texas roots?

In this fascinating episode of The Texas Current, hosts Tyler Brooks and Maddie Lawson uncork one of the most surprising stories in Texas history. They explore how the Texas Hill Country has transformed from an overlooked wine region into an international powerhouse, earning historic recognition at the 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards—the world's most prestigious blind wine competition.

You'll discover why Texas wineries are no longer trying to imitate France and instead are embracing grape varieties perfectly suited to the state's unique climate, limestone soils, and rugged landscape. Along the way, Tyler and Maddie explain the science of terroir, why Mediterranean grape varieties are thriving in the Texas Hill Country, and what makes Texas wines increasingly competitive on the global stage.

But the story doesn't stop there.

Travel back to the late 1800s as you learn how a devastating vineyard plague nearly wiped out the entire European wine industry—and how native grapevines growing in the limestone hills of Central Texas ultimately became the biological lifeline that saved French vineyards. The work of Texas botanist T.V. Munson forever changed the future of winemaking, and his legacy continues to support an estimated 80% of the world's commercial vineyards today.

Whether you're a wine enthusiast, history buff, traveler, or someone considering a move to the Texas Hill Country, this episode offers an unforgettable look at one of the Lone Star State's greatest—and least-known—success stories.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why Texas earned worldwide recognition at the 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards
• The grape varieties driving Texas wine's explosive growth
• How Texas limestone soils compare to Europe's most famous wine regions
• The fascinating story of the Phylloxera crisis and how Texas saved French wine
• Why the Texas Hill Country has become one of America's premier wine destinations
• Where to experience award-winning Texas wines for yourself

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to The Texas Current, leave us a review, and share it with someone who loves Texas history, travel, wine, or discovering the remarkable stories hidden across the Lone Star State.

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

A sincere thank you to our sponsors for helping make The Texas Current possible:

Liz Rich – Mortgage Broker with Edge Home Finance, helping families confidently achieve homeownership throughout Texas with expert guidance and personalized mortgage solutions. Liz Rich NMLS #1983319 | Edge Home Finance NMLS 891464

Zach Allgeyer of Texas Property Inspections, providing thorough, professional home inspections that give buyers peace of mind before they invest in one of life's biggest purchases.