Southern Gentlemen

Chris Thomas & Winston Cruze
  • 4.5 (2)
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  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Southern Gentlemen is a podcast hosted by Chris Thomas and Winston Cruze. We're just two good ol' boys from the American South, making our way the only way we know how. In each episode of Southern Gentlemen, we chat about things we find interesting. From being better husbands and dads, to hunting, gear, cocktails, and more, we always come at it from a Southern perspective, and we always have a lot of fun. We're grateful y'all are here!

  1. 1D AGO

    Unexpected Company: Ray Casias - Part One

    Buy a Southern Gentlemen hat and support the show! Watch this episode on YouTube! Sometimes the best conversations are the ones you never see coming. In this third installment of our Unexpected Company series, Chris and Winston sit down with a complete stranger - no name, no background, no prep. Just a recommendation from our last guest, Allen Blaxton, and a willingness to see where the conversation leads. Enter Ray Casias. What unfolds is one of the most compelling stories we've had on the show. Ray shares how he found his way to the mic, his military service that took him all the way to the DMZ, and the path that led him into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. We hear how he met his wife, how that journey shaped his life, and how it ultimately led to the founding of Tennessee Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. But it doesn't stop there. For more than 15 years, Ray has worked closely with soldiers at Fort Campbell, helping train and prepare them for the realities of hand-to-hand combat. His perspective on discipline, readiness, and what it truly means to be prepared is something every man can learn from. There's so much depth in this conversation - so many stories, lessons, and moments - that we knew we couldn't fit it all into one episode. So consider this Part One. And trust us… you're gonna want to come back for Part Two. Have a question you'd like us to answer on the show? Maybe a topic you want us to discuss? Email holler@southerngentlemen.com or leave us a voicemail by calling (833) 623-3768, ext. 806. Connect with us online:  Instagram: https://instagram.com/southerngentlemenpodcast  Facebook: https://facebook.com/southerngentlemenpod  Patreon: https://patreon.com/southerngentlemen

    1h 11m

  2. APR 2

    Winston Goes West

    Buy a Southern Gentlemen hat and support the show! Watch this episode on YouTube! In this episode, Winston is fresh off turning 40 and heading out West for a bucket-list birthday trip to Montana with his six closest buddies - and let's just say, it delivered. He takes us inside the whole experience: the cabin life, early mornings with coffee and mountain views, tearing through the trails on 4-wheelers, and making the drive into Bozeman for some well-earned dinners. It's a mix of adventure, brotherhood, and the kind of time together that just hits different when you're out in God's creation with no distractions. But it doesn't stop there… Winston and the guys took things to another level by using Suno to create a custom song that perfectly captured the trip - inside jokes, memories, all of it. And naturally, that led to Chris and Winston firing up Suno themselves to create an unofficial (and wildly entertaining) Southern Gentlemen theme song right here on the show. It's a fun one - full of laughs, a little reflection, and proof that sometimes the best memories come from getting off the grid… and then turning them into a song. Have a question you'd like us to answer on the show? Maybe a topic you want us to discuss? Email holler@southerngentlemen.com or leave us a voicemail by calling (833) 623-3768, ext. 806. Connect with us online:  Instagram: https://instagram.com/southerngentlemenpodcast  Facebook: https://facebook.com/southerngentlemenpod  Patreon: https://patreon.com/southerngentlemen

    45 min

  3. MAR 26

    REACHER: Know When To Walk Away

    Buy a Southern Gentlemen hat and support the show! Watch this episode on YouTube! In this episode of Southern Gentlemen, Chris shares the bittersweet news of his daughter packing up and heading to Texas - what it's like as a dad watching your kid take that next big step, and why it hits a little harder than you expect. From there, the fellas check back in on their March Madness brackets… which, as you might imagine, are not exactly holding up. Confidence was high. Results? Not so much. Then things take a turn closer to home - literally. Chris and Winston unpack a wild local story involving actor Alan Ritchson and a physical altercation with a neighbor… in Winston's own neighborhood. Yeah, really. That leads to a deeper conversation about ego, pride, and how quickly things can escalate when men feel disrespected. The guys talk through the importance of keeping your cool, choosing restraint over reaction, and what it actually means to be strong in moments where things could go sideways. It's a mix of life, laughs, and a reminder that sometimes the strongest move you can make… is walking away. Have a question you'd like us to answer on the show? Maybe a topic you want us to discuss? Email holler@southerngentlemen.com or leave us a voicemail by calling (833) 623-3768, ext. 806. Connect with us online:  Instagram: https://instagram.com/southerngentlemenpodcast  Facebook: https://facebook.com/southerngentlemenpod  Patreon: https://patreon.com/southerngentlemen

    47 min

  4. MAR 19

    We're Sponsoring a Race Car?!?!

    Buy a Southern Gentlemen hat and support the show! Watch this episode on YouTube! In this episode of Southern Gentlemen, we kick things off by doing something we are wildly unqualified for - filling out Winston's March Madness bracket. No stats, no strategy… just vibes, gut feelings, and a whole lot of confident guessing. We also take a minute to celebrate a milestone - Winston just turned 40. What better way to mark the occasion than confidently picking teams you know absolutely nothing about? Then we shift gears (literally) and talk about something we do know a little more about - Chris' business, Yonder Custom Hats, officially sponsoring the #23 Chevrolet driven by Kade Brown in the upcoming zMAX CARS Tour race at the Nashville Fairgrounds on April 11. Oh - and did we mention Dale Jr. will be in the field too? We break down how this opportunity came together, why it means so much to be part of a race like this, and how we're bringing the Southern Gentlemen brand along for the ride - with a custom hat featured right on the car's paint scheme. From busted brackets to 40th birthday reflections to race day dreams… this one's a fun mix of nonsense and a pretty cool milestone. 🏁 Have a question you'd like us to answer on the show? Maybe a topic you want us to discuss? Email holler@southerngentlemen.com or leave us a voicemail by calling (833) 623-3768, ext. 806. Connect with us online:  Instagram: https://instagram.com/southerngentlemenpodcast  Facebook: https://facebook.com/southerngentlemenpod  Patreon: https://patreon.com/southerngentlemen

    43 min

  5. MAR 12

    Our First Hate Mail!

    Buy a Southern Gentlemen hat and support the show! Watch this episode on YouTube! Chris and Winston kick things off by reading the first official piece of hate mail the show has received - apparently we've finally made it. From there, the fellas have a little fun with the idea that a couple of guys sitting behind microphones in Tennessee are now being held to the same fact-checking standards as network media. The conversation rolls into the always-entertaining USA vs. Canada hockey rivalry, where the passion runs high and the jokes come easy. But underneath the laughs, the episode turns toward a bigger idea: how easy it is these days to get pulled into outrage, arguments, and culture wars that are designed to grab our attention and keep us angry. Chris and Winston talk about the importance of recognizing those traps, refusing to take the bait, and choosing instead to focus on the things that actually matter - family, community, faith, and living well. A little hockey, a little humor, and a reminder that not everything deserves your attention. Have a question you'd like us to answer on the show? Maybe a topic you want us to discuss? Email holler@southerngentlemen.com or leave us a voicemail by calling (833) 623-3768, ext. 806. Connect with us online:  Instagram: https://instagram.com/southerngentlemenpodcast  Facebook: https://facebook.com/southerngentlemenpod  Patreon: https://patreon.com/southerngentlemen

    43 min

  6. MAR 5

    This Doesn't Belong On Burgers??!? with Trey Echols "The Fedneck"

    Buy a Southern Gentlemen hat and support the show! Watch this episode on YouTube! This week on Southern Gentlemen, Chris and Winston sit down with Trey Echols - known affectionately across the internet as The Fedneck - to talk about life, loyalty, and the one food that might unite America: the cheeseburger. Trey built a following by doing something simple and doing it well - celebrating thick, no-nonsense burgers and unapologetically standing by one very specific opinion: tomatoes have no business on a burger. (To be clear, he doesn't hate tomatoes… he just believes they're in the wrong job description.) The guys dive into how Trey got started, where The Fedneck nickname came from, growing up in Alabama, Gen X nostalgia, old-school country music, and why simple things done right still matter. Along the way, they debate smashburgers vs. thick patties, discuss the structural sabotage of overly wet toppings, and explore what food says about identity, memory, and knowing exactly who you are. It's funny. It's nostalgic. It's unapologetically Southern. And by the end, you might rethink what belongs on your next burger. Grab a seat at the table - and maybe hold the tomato. 🍔 Have a question you'd like us to answer on the show? Maybe a topic you want us to discuss? Email holler@southerngentlemen.com or leave us a voicemail by calling (833) 623-3768, ext. 806. Connect with us online:  Instagram: https://instagram.com/southerngentlemenpodcast  Facebook: https://facebook.com/southerngentlemenpod  Patreon: https://patreon.com/southerngentlemen

    46 min

  7. FEB 26

    Gold Medals & F-Bombs

    Buy a Southern Gentlemen hat and support the show! In this episode of Southern Gentlemen, Chris and Winston kick things off with a brand-new NASCAR conspiracy theory that may or may not involve shadowy decisions, suspicious finishes, and a healthy dose of overthinking. Are we asking questions? Yes. Are we qualified to answer them? Absolutely not. Then Chris drops a bombshell: he's started using a new supplement... and let's just say it includes sheep testicles. (You read that correctly.) The fellas discuss masculinity, testosterone, modern wellness trends, and whether this is peak health optimization or just peak midlife crisis. From there, they dive headfirst into the glorious chaos that was the Winter Olympics. Chris confesses his full-blown obsession with curling, Canada finds itself accused of cheating (in curling, of all things), and the USA brings home gold in both men's and women's hockey. There's talk of national pride, Justin Trudeau's infamous tweet, Barstool's lightning-fast response to Team USA's win, and the social media firestorm sparked by Jimmy's Famous Seafood after clapping back at a Huffington Post article. It's sports. It's drama. It's testosterone (apparently sheep-based). It's the Olympics through the lens of two Southern guys who care way too much about curling strategy. As always - laughs, hot takes, and just enough common sense to keep us out of real trouble. Cheers, y'all. Have a question you'd like us to answer on the show? Maybe a topic you want us to discuss? Email holler@southerngentlemen.com or leave us a voicemail by calling (833) 623-3768, ext. 806. Connect with us online:  Instagram: https://instagram.com/southerngentlemenpodcast  Facebook: https://facebook.com/southerngentlemenpod  Patreon: https://patreon.com/southerngentlemen

    54 min

  8. FEB 19

    Mardi Gras: From Beads to Ashes

    Buy a Southern Gentlemen hat and support the show! Watch this episode on YouTube! When most of us hear "Mardi Gras," we think beads, Bourbon Street, and stories that probably shouldn't be repeated in polite company. But is that really what Mardi Gras is? In this episode, Chris and Winston admit they don't know much about it — and decide to find out. We dig into the history of Mardi Gras, the meaning of Fat Tuesday, and how it connects to Lent, Ash Wednesday, and the 40-day season leading up to Easter. We explore how a medieval European Catholic tradition made its way to the American South, why Mobile, Alabama technically did it first, and how New Orleans turned it into a cultural phenomenon. Along the way, we talk king cakes (and the plastic baby inside them), krewes, the symbolism of purple, green, and gold, and whether Mardi Gras is just chaos… or actually a deeply structured spiritual rhythm of feast before fast. If you've ever wondered what Mardi Gras really means — beyond the highlight reel — this episode is your beginner's guide. Beads to ashes. Feast to fast. Let's learn something. Have a question you'd like us to answer on the show? Maybe a topic you want us to discuss? Email holler@southerngentlemen.com or leave us a voicemail by calling (833) 623-3768, ext. 806. Connect with us online:  Instagram: https://instagram.com/southerngentlemenpodcast  Facebook: https://facebook.com/southerngentlemenpod  Patreon: https://patreon.com/southerngentlemen

    43 min
See All (73)

Ratings & Reviews

4.5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Southern Gentlemen is a podcast hosted by Chris Thomas and Winston Cruze. We're just two good ol' boys from the American South, making our way the only way we know how. In each episode of Southern Gentlemen, we chat about things we find interesting. From being better husbands and dads, to hunting, gear, cocktails, and more, we always come at it from a Southern perspective, and we always have a lot of fun. We're grateful y'all are here!

Information

  • Creator
    Chris Thomas & Winston Cruze
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    73
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Show Website
    Southern Gentlemen

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