Texas Hill Country Insider
Claim This Podcastby Ryan Rendon & Steven Butcher
Podcast Overview
<p>Texas Hill Country Insider is a local podcast about the people, business, growth, and culture shaping the Texas Hill Country. Hosted by Ryan Rendon, a top-producing Texas Hill Country realtor, and Steven Butcher, a custom home builder and design expert, the show explores real estate, custom home building, development, community, and local life across Fredericksburg, Kerrville, and the surrounding region.</p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
4/2/2026
1 verified contact email on file for Texas Hill Country Insider
Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.
Recent Episodes
August 5, 2026
From Math Teacher to Social Media Director at GSM Outdoors | Episode 19
<p>Ryan Rendon and guest cohost Brock Carroll sit down with Will Cooper, Social Media Director at GSM Outdoors and co-host of the HuntStand Podcast, for a conversation about hunting, outdoor media, family traditions, conservation, and building a career in the outdoor industry.</p><p><br></p><p>Will shares how a track injury led him to start a college bass-fishing club, opening the door to outdoor television, archery retail, HuntStand, and GSM Outdoors. They also talk about Western hunting, bow setup, fitness, backcountry safety, introducing children to hunting, protecting public access, uniting hunters, and why anyone hoping to enter the industry should not be afraid to shoot their shot.</p><p><br></p><p>YouTube Link:</p><p>https://youtu.be/uYUouMzri6A</p><p><br></p><p>Chapters</p><p>00:00 Welcome to Episode 19</p><p>01:25 Opening prayer</p><p>02:02 Meet Will Cooper</p><p>04:13 Growing up in Fredericksburg</p><p>05:58 Starting the McMurry Bass Club</p><p>08:11 Entering the outdoor industry</p><p>10:31 Career pivots and archery retail</p><p>15:27 Working as a bow technician during Covid</p><p>17:19 Joining HuntStand and GSM Outdoors</p><p>21:51 New outdoor products and hunting gear</p><p>26:13 Preparing for unpredictable mountain weather</p><p>33:24 Raising children around hunting</p><p>41:16 Scouting and ElkShape Camp</p><p>46:11 Learning to tune and repair a bow</p><p>54:35 Bowhunting elk and hard lessons</p><p>01:00:09 Hunting Alberta</p><p>01:04:31 Fitness for Western hunting</p><p>01:12:20 Essential backcountry gear and safety</p><p>01:17:53 Lessons from podcasting</p><p>01:26:20 Breaking into the outdoor industry</p><p>01:30:15 Why hunters need to unite</p><p>01:34:25 Ethics and responsibility in hunting media</p><p>01:42:22 Hunting the Texas Hill Country</p><p>01:46:01 Passing hunting traditions to children</p><p>01:54:21 Final advice from Will</p><p>01:56:49 Closing remarks</p><p><br></p><p>Resources and links:</p><p><br></p><p>Support us at : https://linktr.ee/texashillcountryinsider</p><p><br></p><p>Will Cooper</p><p>Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willtcooper/</p><p>LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-cooper-5a2a9a85</p><p><br></p><p>GSM Outdoors</p><p>Website: https://www.gsmoutdoors.com/</p><p>Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gsmoutdoors/</p><p>LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gsmoutdoors</p><p><br></p><p>HuntStand</p><p>Website: https://www.huntstand.com/</p><p>Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huntstand/</p><p>Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/huntstand-podcast/id1612863157</p><p><br></p><p>Brock Carroll</p><p>Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brock_carroll/</p><p><br></p><p>Ryan Rendon</p><p>Website: https://www.ryanrendon.com</p><p>Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryan_rendon_realtor</p><p>Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RyanRendonRealtor</p><p>YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ryanrendon-RealEstate</p><p>Phone: +1 830-890-1943</p><p><br></p><p>Mentions</p><p>Will Cooper</p><p>Brock Carroll</p><p>Josh Dahlke</p><p>GSM Outdoors</p><p>HuntStand</p><p>McMurry University</p><p>Fredericksburg</p><p>Texas Hill Country</p><p>Bowhunting</p><p>Western hunting</p><p>Public-land access</p><p>Hunter recruitment</p><p>Backcountry safety</p><p>Outdoor media</p><p>Conservation</p><p><br></p><p>Follow Texas Hill Country Insider for more conversations on local business, real estate, growth, and life across the Texas Hill Country.</p>
July 29, 2026
From Army Ranger To Cameron-Brooks CEO | Episode 18
<p>Ryan Rendon and Steven Butcher sit down with Chuck Alvarez, President and CEO of Cameron-Brooks, Inc., for a conversation about military service, leadership, personal agency, career transitions, Fredericksburg, aviation, and building a life with purpose.</p><p><br></p><p>Chuck shares his journey from being born in Beirut to growing up in Washington, D.C., serving as an Army infantry officer, completing Ranger School, and eventually joining Cameron-Brooks in Fredericksburg. They talk about helping junior military officers transition into corporate careers, why discomfort builds leadership, how young people can take ownership of their growth, what makes Fredericksburg special, and why the best advice may be simple: wear out, don’t rust out.</p><p><br></p><p>YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/2NKnHZ42H5Y</p><p><br></p><p>Chapters</p><p>00:00 Welcome to Episode 18</p><p>01:04 Opening prayer</p><p>02:05 Meet Chuck Alvarez</p><p>03:43 Growing up overseas and in Washington, D.C.</p><p>07:10 ROTC, college, and entering the Army</p><p>10:09 Choosing Army service</p><p>11:22 Mentors and the path to infantry</p><p>12:21 Ranger School and learning not to quit</p><p>16:49 Suffering, growth, and self-agency</p><p>20:58 Ownership and personal responsibility</p><p>21:40 The story of John and the American dream</p><p>25:33 Why struggle can build strength</p><p>27:35 Transitioning out of the Army</p><p>28:11 Joining Cameron-Brooks</p><p>29:16 Learning the business from Roger and Rene</p><p>31:09 Opportunity inside small businesses</p><p>32:37 Buying and continuing Cameron-Brooks</p><p>33:13 What junior military officers bring</p><p>38:41 Recruiting versus headhunting</p><p>41:16 Career mistakes young people make</p><p>44:01 Filling your own cup</p><p>46:19 Taking initiative after military service</p><p>48:13 Starting over today</p><p>49:22 Sales, rejection, and mindset</p><p>50:50 Growth, leadership, and business challenges</p><p>53:21 Hiring people with different strengths</p><p>55:12 The value of business partners</p><p>57:10 Why companies hire military leaders</p><p>01:03:15 The crucible of leadership</p><p>01:07:57 Why Fredericksburg became home</p><p>01:12:52 Preserving local stories</p><p>01:21:50 Aviation and becoming a pilot</p><p>01:26:10 Where to find Cameron-Brooks</p><p>01:28:13 Advice for young people</p><p>01:29:22 Chuck’s morning routine</p><p>01:31:24 The Fredericksburg Racket Center</p><p>01:33:12 Closing thoughts</p><p><br></p><p>Resources and links:</p><p><br></p><p>Support us at : https://linktr.ee/texashillcountryinsider</p><p><br></p><p>Chuck Alvarez</p><p>Cameron-Brooks, Inc.</p><p>Website: https://www.cameron-brooks.com/</p><p>Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cameronbrooksusa/</p><p>LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-alvarez-1416606</p><p>Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cameron-brooks-inc-</p><p>YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCameronBrooks</p><p>Email: calvarez@cameron-brooks.com</p><p>Phone: 210-874-1500</p><p><br></p><p>Steven Butcher</p><p>Website: https://www.butcherbehrens.com</p><p>Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/butcher_behren_signature_homes/</p><p>LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-butcher-8678841b5/</p><p>Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ButcherBehrens</p><p>TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@butcherbehrensighomes</p><p>YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ButcherBehrensSignatureHomes/shorts</p><p>Phone: +1 210-636-5387</p><p><br></p><p>Ryan Rendon</p><p>Website: https://www.ryanrendon.com</p><p>Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryan_rendon_realtor</p><p>Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RyanRendonRealtor</p><p>YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ryanrendon-RealEstate</p><p>Phone: +1 830-890-1943</p><p><br></p><p>Mentions</p><p>Chuck Alvarez</p><p>Cameron-Brooks, Inc.</p><p>Fredericksburg</p><p>Beirut, Lebanon</p><p>Washington, D.C.</p><p>World Bank</p><p>Booz Allen</p><p>Saudi Arabia</p><p>ROTC</p><p>Army Infantry</p><p>Fort Drum</p><p>Ranger School</p><p>Junior military officers</p><p>Roger Cameron</p><p>Rene Brooks</p><p>Security State Bank & Trust</p><p>Dan Kemp</p><p>Fredericksburg Racket Center</p><p>National Museum of the Pacific War</p><p>Chester Nimitz</p><p>Gillespie County Airport</p><p>CrossFit</p><p>Aviation</p><p><br></p><p>Follow Texas Hill Country Insider for more conversations on local business, real estate, growth, and life across the Texas Hill Country.</p>
July 22, 2026
Dan Kemp On Community Banking And Not Quitting | Episode 17
<p>Ryan Rendon and Steven Butcher sit down with Dan Kemp, Chairman and CEO of Security State Bank & Trust, for a conversation about community banking, leadership, family, hard work, entrepreneurship, and building something that lasts in the Texas Hill Country.</p><p><br></p><p>Dan shares how he went from Corpus Christi to Texas Tech, worked his way through school, learned hard financial lessons early, and eventually joined Security State Bank & Trust in 1995. They talk about growing the bank from a small community institution into a $2.2 billion organization, why local banking still matters, how the bank develops long-term leaders, the importance of giving back, Hill Country United Soccer Club, family, hunting, flying, and why fraud awareness matters more than ever.</p><p><br></p><p>YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/RkcDOi-rs4s</p><p><br></p><p>Chapters</p><p>00:00 Welcome to Episode 17</p><p>00:47 Opening prayer</p><p>01:24 Meet Dan Kemp</p><p>03:57 Growing up in Corpus Christi</p><p>05:06 Choosing Texas Tech</p><p>07:29 Hard financial lessons in college</p><p>10:21 Working in Colorado and paying off debt</p><p>12:15 Finding a path through school</p><p>14:06 How Dan entered banking</p><p>15:09 The Kemp and Keller family connection</p><p>17:20 Why banking felt like the right fit</p><p>18:09 Learning not to quit</p><p>21:52 Careers in banking without a degree</p><p>23:46 Lifelong friendships and hunting traditions</p><p>28:45 Bow hunting and Bow Pros</p><p>33:16 Staying loyal to Security State Bank & Trust</p><p>40:12 Growing from $230 million to $2.2 billion</p><p>43:09 The early growth of the bank</p><p>48:13 Technology, systems, and scaling well</p><p>51:07 Community banks versus big banks</p><p>55:25 Giving back to local communities</p><p>57:21 Banking competition in the Hill Country</p><p>01:01:27 Leading through 2008 to 2012</p><p>01:04:18 Changing the mindset after hard years</p><p>01:12:09 Building the best community bank in Texas</p><p>01:13:55 Promoting long-term leaders</p><p>01:24:14 What people misunderstand about community banking</p><p>01:25:36 Family, work ethic, and raising daughters</p><p>01:28:02 Building Hill Country United Soccer Club</p><p>01:35:30 What Dan is excited about next</p><p>01:39:25 Where to find Security State Bank & Trust</p><p>01:39:46 Fraud awareness and banking safety</p><p>01:43:40 Closing thoughts</p><p><br></p><p>Resources and links:</p><p><br></p><p>Support us at : https://linktr.ee/texashillcountryinsider</p><p><br></p><p>Dan Kemp</p><p>LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-kemp-b8b58ba</p><p>Company Contact: https://www.ssbtexas.com/hi-yall/dan-kemp</p><p><br></p><p>Security State Bank & Trust</p><p>Website: https://www.ssbtexas.com</p><p>Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ssbtexas1941/</p><p>Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SSBTexas</p><p>LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ssbtexas/</p><p><br></p><p>Hill Country United Soccer Club</p><p>Website: https://www.hcunitedsoccer.com/</p><p><br></p><p>Steven Butcher</p><p>Website: https://www.butcherbehrens.com</p><p>Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/butcher_behren_signature_homes/</p><p>LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-butcher-8678841b5/</p><p>Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ButcherBehrens</p><p>TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@butcherbehrensighomes</p><p>YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ButcherBehrensSignatureHomes/shorts</p><p>Phone: +1 210-636-5387</p><p><br></p><p>Ryan Rendon</p><p>Website: https://www.ryanrendon.com</p><p>Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryan_rendon_realtor</p><p>Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RyanRendonRealtor</p><p>YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ryanrendon-RealEstate</p><p>Phone: +1 830-890-1943</p><p><br></p><p>Mentions</p><p>Dan Kemp</p><p>Security State Bank & Trust</p><p>Kemp and Keller families</p><p>Fredericksburg</p><p>Corpus Christi</p><p>Texas Tech</p><p>Del Mar College</p><p>Lubbock</p><p>Colorado</p><p>Kerrville</p><p>Marble Falls</p><p>Kingsland</p><p>Harper</p><p>Lago Vista</p><p>Johnson City</p><p>Weatherford</p><p>Trish Perez</p><p>Hill Country United Soccer Club</p><p>Fredericksburg Soccer Park</p><p>FHS Incubator Program</p><p>Gillespie County Airport</p><p>Community banking</p><p>Fraud prevention</p><p>Student loans</p><p>Soccer</p><p>Bow hunting</p><p>Greenland hunt</p><p><br></p><p>Follow Texas Hill Country Insider for more conversations on local business, real estate, growth, and life across the Texas Hill Country.</p>
19 total episodes available
Similar Podcasts
Discover related shows you might enjoy
Deep-dive analytics for Texas Hill Country Insider
Frequently asked questions
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- What is Texas Hill Country Insider?
<p>Texas Hill Country Insider is a local podcast about the people, business, growth, and culture shaping the Texas Hill Country. Hosted by Ryan Rendon, a top-producing Texas Hill Country realtor, and Steven Butcher, a custom home builder and design expert, the show explores real estate, custom home building, development, community, and local life across Fredericksburg, Kerrville, and the surrounding region.</p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
Legal Disclaimer
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.