Welcome to West Texas. Where the sky stretches on forever, and the stories are as vast and rugged as the landscape itself. On this podcast we will explore the characters who have etched their names into the sun bleached history of this region. From outlaws and lawmen, to everyday folks who dared to dance with destiny, host Jody Slaughter explores the legends, the truths, and the tall tales that define this undefinable region.
Halloween Special - Close Encounters of the WTX Kind
Two of the most famous UFO cases in American history happened right here in West Texas, six years apart. Lubbock Lights (1951): professors watch, measure, and even photograph bluish formations. Levelland (1957): glowing, egg-like objects stall car engines and lift away—seen by a dozen witnesses, including the sheriff. A secretive Air Force unit investigates both. Its explanations raise more questions than they answer. We follow the paper trail across the South Plain...
7 Oct 2025
#11 - Texas Tech: The College West Texas Built
For nearly a decade, the people of West Texas fought for something most of the state took for granted: a college of their own. They battled through three governors, three legislatures, and one outright scandal. They were lied to, vetoed, ignored… and they refused to quit. This is the story of telegrams and barbecue diplomacy, of political brawls and backroom deals, of the long fight that gave birth to Texas Technological College, and with it, a new era for West Texas. ...
1 Sept 2025
#10 - The Comanche
Most stories of the Comanche are written from the white man’s point of view—heartless, brutal savages. But there’s more to them than that. In this episode, we reconstruct what the daily life of a Comanche warrior was really like: their training, spirituality, and family life; how they loved and lost; and the code of honor that guided everything they did. From childhood to marriage to thrilling raids under the Comanche Moon, this is life at full gallop on the hard edges of a changing fro...
24 Jul 2025
#9 - The Liar and the Spaniard
In the spring of 1541, a Spanish army led by Francisco Vázquez de Coronado rode east out of New Mexico in search of golden cities. What they found instead was West Texas. This episode traces one of the most ambitious—and disastrous—expeditions in New World history, from the jungles of Mexico to the staked plains of the Llano Estacado. You'll meet Coronado, the ambitious conquistador chasing legacy. El Turco, the captive turned con man who spun a lie bright enough to lure 2,000 men into the wi...
17 Jun 2025
#8 - Before There Were Boots on the Caprock
This episode explores the ancient history of West Texas, revealing the landscape's formation and the prehistoric creatures that roamed the plains before human settlement.
21 Nov 2024
Family Holiday Special: The Legend of Pecos Bill
Hosts Trey Powell and Jeff Guinn share the legendary tale of Pecos Bill, the Texas folk hero who defied the odds with his bravery and ingenuity.
4 Nov 2024
#7 - Tascosa: Ghosts and Outlaws, pt. 2
Last time, we experienced the wild rise of Tascosa, the frontier town that became the hub of lawlessness in the Texas Panhandle. Now, in part two, we see Tascosa at its peak, and the random violence that helped to fill Boothill Cemetery, concluding in a dramatic shootout that took more lives than even the O.K. Corral. Finally, the drastic collapse of this boom town and why you won't even find it on a map anymore.Send us a text Visit our website at wtxpodcast.com for companion articles, show n...
10 Oct 2024
Halloween Special - Ghost Riders in the Sky: The Legend of Stampede Mesa
Ghost Riders in the Sky is one of the most popular Country songs of all time. But did you know it was inspired by events right here in West Texas? Join us as we take a spooky look at the Legend of Stampede Mesa. Just don't listen before bedtime... Visit our website at wtxpodcast.com for companion articles, show notes, and photos for each episode. Contact the host via email or Twitter for questions, comments, or show ideas. Music by Gentry Ford and the Homeless Lobos. Sponsor: Code Ninja...
26 Sept 2024
#6 - Tascosa: Ghosts and Outlaws, pt. 1
Join us as we uncover the wild rise of Tascosa, the frontier town that became the hub of lawlessness in the Texas Panhandle. In this first of two episodes, we focus on the town's early days, from violent sheep wars to its transformation into a trading hub. Along the way, we’ll meet figures like Charles Goodnight and Casimero Romero, and set the stage for the arrival of Billy the Kid. Stay tuned for part two, where the story takes an even darker turn with outlaws and lawmen battling for contro...
26 Aug 2024
#5 - Grapes on the Caprock: The Texas Wine Revolution
In this episode we explore how Texas, once considered an unlikely place for wine production, has risen to become a significant player on the global wine stage. Through the stories of pioneers, scientists, and modern-day winemakers, we trace the history of Texas wine back over 350 years and uncover the pivotal moments that shaped the state and region's wine legacy.Visit our website at wtxpodcast.com for companion articles, show notes, and photos for each episode.Contact the host via email or T...
1 Aug 2024
#4 - The Lost Gold of West Texas
Join us as we delve into the mysterious legend of Sublett's Lost Gold. Hidden deep within the rugged Guadalupe Mountains, this elusive treasure has captivated the imaginations of treasure hunters and adventurers for over a century. Discover the intriguing story of Will Sublett, a Texas Pacific Railroad scout who veered off his path in search of untold riches, and his relentless quest that spanned decades. From Apache legends to modern-day explorers, this episode unravels the tantalizing mystery of the hidden gold and the enduring legacy it has left behind. Tune in for a tale of adventure, danger, and the undying allure of buried treasure that continues to spark intrigue and curiosity today.
Visit our website at wtxpodcast.com (https://www.wtxpodcast.com) for companion articles, show notes, and photos for each episode.
Contact the host via email (mailto:%20lubbockist@gmail.com) or Twitter (https://x.com/Lubbockist) for questions, comments, or show ideas.
Music by Gentry Ford and the Homeless Lobos (https://t.co/QTHCYm53Qc).
Sponsor: Code Ninjas (https://www.codeninjas.com/), creating a world where kids write the code. Secure your child's free video game building session today.
Credits:
Writer: Jody L. Slaughter
Producer: Jody L. Slaughter
Editor: Jody L. Slaughter
Engineer: Jody L. Slaughter
15 Jul 2024
#3 - Pinkie Roden: The Bootlegger King, pt. 2
In this episode, part 2 of a series, host Jody Slaughter delves into the life of Pinkie Roden, who built a West Texas bootlegging empire in Prohibition that lasted all the way into modern times.
From moonshiner to political influencer, Pinkie's story is a blend of daring escapades, high-stakes chases, and a relentless pursuit of fortune. Seldom talked about today, Pinkie's mark is all over West Texas, if you know where to look.
Visit our website at wtxpodcast.com (https://www.wtxpodcast.com) for companion articles, show notes, and photos for each episode.
Contact the host via email (mailto:%20lubbockist@gmail.com) or Twitter (https://x.com/Lubbockist) for questions, comments, or show ideas.
Music by Gentry Ford and the Homeless Lobos (https://t.co/QTHCYm53Qc).
Sponsor: Code Ninjas (https://www.codeninjas.com/), creating a world where kids write the code. Secure your child's free video game building session today.
Credits:
Writer: Jody L. Slaughter
Producer: Jody L. Slaughter
Editor: Jody L. Slaughter
Engineer: Jody L. Slaughter
28 Jun 2024
#2 - Pinkie Roden: The Bootlegger King, pt. 1
In this episode, host Jody Slaughter delves into the life of Pinkie Roden, who built a West Texas bootlegging empire in Prohibition that lasted all the way into modern times.
From moonshiner to political influencer, Pinkie's story is a blend of daring escapades, high-stakes chases, and a relentless pursuit of fortune. Seldom talked about today, Pinkie's mark is all over West Texas, if you know where to look.
Visit our website at wtxpodcast.com (https://www.wtxpodcast.com) for companion articles, show notes, and photos for each episode.
Contact the host via email (mailto:%20lubbockist@gmail.com) or Twitter (https://x.com/Lubbockist) for questions, comments, or show ideas.
Music by Gentry Ford and the Homeless Lobos (https://t.co/QTHCYm53Qc).
Sponsor: Code Ninjas (https://www.codeninjas.com/), creating a world where kids write the code. Secure your child's free video game building session today.
Credits:
Writer: Jody L. Slaughter
Producer: Jody L. Slaughter
Editor: Jody L. Slaughter
Engineer: Jody L. Slaughter
15 Jun 2024
#1 - Judge Roy Bean: The West's Most Notorious Judge
In this premiere episode of WTX, host Jody Slaughter delves into the wild life of Judge Roy Bean, the self-proclaimed "Law West of the Pecos."
Step into the blistering heat of the 1890s in the remote town of Langtry, Texas. Here, amidst the dust and desert, Judge Bean held court in the Jersey Lilly Saloon with a pet bear by his side and a fearless grip on frontier justice.
Follow Bean's journey from a dirt-poor youth in Kentucky to his rise as a saloon-owning, gun-slinging judge who imposed fines on corpses and ruled with an iron fist. Discover the turbulent events that forged his legend—from deadly duels and tamale jailbreaks to his controversial rulings that left townsfolk in awe and disbelief.
This isn’t your typical history lesson. It’s a no-holds-barred look at the man who became a law unto himself in the wildest corner of Texas.
Visit our website at wtxpodcast.com (https://www.wtxpodcast.com) for companion articles, show notes, and photos for each episode.
Contact the host via email (mailto:%20lubbockist@gmail.com) or Twitter (https://x.com/Lubbockist) for questions, comments, or show ideas.
Music by Gentry Ford and the Homeless Lobos (https://t.co/QTHCYm53Qc).
Sponsor: Code Ninjas (https://www.codeninjas.com/), creating a world where kids write the code. Secure your child's free video game building session today.
Credits:
Writer: Jody L. Slaughter
Producer: Jody L. Slaughter
Editor: Jody L. Slaughter
Engineer: Jody L. Slaughter
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
947
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
36 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
26 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 27 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
8
Social presence
0
YouTube
66
Engagement
51
Host of WTX - A History of West Texas?
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