Saddle Up Podcast

Matt Palmquist
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Sports
  • Weekly

Our podcast will explore the many experiences and vast history of the University of Rio Grande Valley (U.T. Pan American) athletic programs! Join us for the countless memories the guests will share reflecting on their time at the University. We can't wait for you to join!

  1. Oct 23

    Jesus Avendano - Straw Hat Vaquero

    Jesus brings the kind of energy that helps turn games into experiences. In this episode, we talk about the traditions that have grown around UTRGV Athletics, the importance of creating a real game-day culture, and how passionate fans can help shape the identity of a young and growing athletic program. We also get into one idea we can definitely get behind: the Saddle Up Kick-Off Chant. Jesus is trying to help start a new tradition tied to Saddle Up, and G and Matt are all in. Whether it catches on in the stands, at tailgates, or across social media, the goal is simple: give Vaquero fans one more way to come together, get loud, and make UTRGV game days even more memorable. The conversation is fun, passionate, and centered on what college sports should feel like: community, identity, pride, and traditions that get passed from one group of fans to the next.If you love UTRGV, Vaquero Athletics, tailgating, game-day traditions, or just being part of the energy around the Valley, this one is for you. ------Follow G IG / @gghoops Follow Matt IG / @ptwist610

  2. Oct 16

    Mayor Omar Ochoa - City of Edinburg

    This week on The Saddle Up Podcast, we welcome City of Edinburg Mayor Omar Ochoa for a conversation about leadership, family, community, and the continued growth of one of the Rio Grande Valley’s most important cities.And somewhere along the way, Mayor Ochoa drops a pretty big hint: could The Saddle Up Podcast eventually receive an official City of Edinburg proclamation and its own day?We certainly were not going to let that one slide.Mayor Ochoa shares what it was like growing up as the son of former Edinburg Mayor Joe Ochoa, and how watching public service up close helped shape his own understanding of leadership and responsibility.The conversation also explores his professional journey as an attorney, CPA, community leader, husband, and public servant, along with the challenge of balancing those responsibilities while helping guide a growing city. Ochoa is currently licensed to practice law in Texas and works in private practice.We also talk about what makes Edinburg special.Mayor Ochoa highlights the city’s growing lineup of community events and initiatives designed to bring residents together, along with Running with the Mayor, an effort that combines fitness, accessibility, and direct interaction between city leadership and the people they serve.From community engagement and economic growth to family, public service, and the responsibility that comes with carrying a well-known Edinburg name, this episode gives viewers a more personal look at the man behind the title of Mayor.And yes, G and Matt are absolutely going to hold him to that proclamation conversation.------Follow G IG / @gghoops Follow Matt IG / @ptwist610 Welcome to **The Saddle Up Podcast**, the unscripted RGV show where real stories, sports, culture, community, and Vaquero pride all meet at the same table.Hosted by **G Garza and Matt Palmquist**, Saddle Up brings you conversations with former athletes, coaches, alumni, community leaders, entertainers, business owners, and difference-makers connected to **UTPA, UTB, UTRGV, and the Rio Grande Valley**. Every episode is built around honest conversation, good laughs, untold stories, and the people who continue to shape the Valley’s past, present, and future.Whether you are a UTPA alum, UTB alum, UTRGV supporter, Vaquero fan, RGV native, sports fan, or someone who loves authentic conversations, this episode is for you.

  3. Oct 9

    Ronnie Cavazos - The Structure Team & Building the RGV

    This week on The Saddle Up Podcast welcome Ronnie Cavazos, Mission, Texas native, former college football player, and owner of The Structure Team, for a conversation about football, business, family, and building a career from the ground up.Ronnie’s story starts in the Rio Grande Valley, but football gave him the opportunity to experience life far beyond South Texas. He played at the United States Air Force Academy before continuing his college football journey at Texas Tech, experiences that exposed him to the discipline, accountability, and competitive mindset required to perform at the Division I level.Those lessons eventually followed him into the construction industry.Today, Ronnie is the owner of The Structure Team, a South Texas construction company involved in residential building and development throughout the Rio Grande Valley. He also serves as President of the South Texas Builders Alliance, helping represent builders, contractors, suppliers, and other professionals who play an important role in the region’s continued growth.Construction has always been personal for Ronnie. His father was a carpenter and house framer in the Valley, giving Ronnie an early look at what it takes to turn plans on paper into something tangible. That foundation ultimately helped shape his own path as a builder and entrepreneur.In this episode, Ronnie talks about growing up in Mission, the experiences and lessons that came from college football, and the transition from athlete to business owner.We also get into what football teaches you about leadership and teamwork, the realities of entrepreneurship, the challenges facing builders in South Texas, and what it takes to continue growing a company while staying connected to the community that helped shape you.From the football field to construction sites across the Valley, Ronnie’s journey is a reminder that the habits built through sports can carry far beyond the final whistle.

  4. Oct 1

    Chef Mark Sierra

    This week on The Saddle Up Podcast, G Garza and Matt Palmquist welcome Chef Mark Sierra, Army veteran, restaurateur, and founder of the Purple Heart Project of Texas, for a conversation about food, service, sacrifice, and building something bigger than yourself.Chef Mark is the owner of Compadres Hill Country Cocina in Boerne, Texas, a restaurant rooted in family recipes, Texas hospitality, and deep respect for those who have served. His path into the kitchen began when he was just 10 years old, learning to cook from his grandmother after she lost her sight. Years later, that foundation helped shape a career in the culinary world and eventually led him to open Compadres.But Chef Mark’s impact stretches far beyond the restaurant.In 2020, Mark and his wife, Dalia, started what would become the Purple Heart Project with a simple idea: provide a steak dinner to honor local Purple Heart recipients and Gold Star families. That gesture of appreciation grew into an annual gala and a nonprofit dedicated to recognizing combat-wounded veterans, supporting their families, funding scholarships, organizing community service efforts, and ensuring their sacrifices are never forgotten.Chef Mark has also helped spearhead efforts to recognize Boerne as a Purple Heart City and played a role in establishing a Purple Heart monument at Veterans Plaza, creating a permanent tribute to those wounded or killed in combat.In this episode, we talk about his military service, the journey from veteran to chef and business owner, the origins of Compadres, and why supporting veterans and Gold Star families has become such an important part of his life.We also explore the meaning of service after the uniform comes off, the responsibility of keeping the stories of America’s heroes alive, and how food, community, and gratitude can bring people together in powerful ways.Chef Mark’s story is a reminder that service does not end when military service does. Sometimes, it simply takes on a new form.

  5. Sep 24

    Dynamic Duo

    This week it's just G & Matt for the show. We talk about Eddie Lee Marburger signing his pro contract, UTRGV sports, good food, and Matt becoming a semi-celebrity. Tune in and enjoy!------Follow G IG / @gghoops Follow Matt IG / @ptwist610 Welcome to **The Saddle Up Podcast**, the unscripted RGV show where real stories, sports, culture, community, and Vaquero pride all meet at the same table.Hosted by **G Garza and Matt Palmquist**, Saddle Up brings you conversations with former athletes, coaches, alumni, community leaders, entertainers, business owners, and difference-makers connected to **UTPA, UTB, UTRGV, and the Rio Grande Valley**. Every episode is built around honest conversation, good laughs, untold stories, and the people who continue to shape the Valley’s past, present, and future.Whether you are a UTPA alum, UTB alum, UTRGV supporter, Vaquero fan, RGV native, sports fan, or someone who loves authentic conversations, this episode is for you.Subscribe to **The Saddle Up Podcast** for more conversations with the people who represent the Rio Grande Valley with pride.**Find Saddle Up Podcast on:**YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and Apple Podcasts.

  6. Sep 18

    Marsha Terry

    This week on The Saddle Up Podcast, G Garza and Matt Palmquist welcome Marsha Terry, a nurse, philanthropist, wife, mother, community advocate, and co-founder of Village in the Valley, for a conversation about service, family, purpose, and what it really means to build a stronger community.Marsha has spent more than 30 years as a Registered Nurse and earned a Master of Science in Nursing with a focus on Leadership and Management. Her career has been built around caring for people, but that commitment to service extends far beyond healthcare. She is also a coach, speaker, author, entrepreneur, and longtime advocate for helping others discover their voice and purpose.That passion helped lead to the creation of Village in the Valley, also known as ViVa. Founded in 2019, ViVa was built around the idea that “it takes a village to raise a child,” with a mission to elevate and unite the Black community while connecting cultures throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The organization focuses on three central pillars: culture, community, and commerce.Through ViVa, Marsha and her fellow founders have helped create community programs, cultural events, scholarship opportunities, educational initiatives, and service projects across the Valley. By 2025, the organization reported more than 120 members, thousands of dollars awarded in scholarships, and hundreds of Thanksgiving meals distributed to seniors across the RGV.In this episode, Marsha talks about balancing the many roles she carries, from healthcare professional and entrepreneur to wife, mother, and community leader. We discuss the importance of representation, mentorship, philanthropy, and why creating meaningful connections between people can have an impact far beyond any single event or organization.At the center of the conversation is a simple idea: real communities are built when people are willing to show up for one another.

  7. Sep 11

    Abraham Garcia

    This week on The Saddle Up Podcast, G Garza and Matt Palmquist welcome Abraham Garcia, former UTPA Men’s Baseball player, for a conversation that goes far beyond the diamond.Abraham takes us back to his freshman season and one of the moments that has stayed with him ever since, hitting a home run against the University of Texas in Austin. For a young college baseball player stepping onto one of the biggest stages in the state, it was the kind of moment athletes dream about and a memory that still carries weight years later.But this episode is about much more than baseball.Abraham opens up about losing his father at a young age and how that loss helped shape the direction of his life. He discusses the important role his older brother, Bert Garcia, played in stepping up, providing guidance, and helping mold Abraham into the man he is today.The conversation explores brotherhood, family, resilience, and the people who step into our lives when we need them most. Abraham reflects on how the lessons he learned through adversity carried over into baseball, adulthood, and the way he approaches life today.We also revisit his time at UTPA, the teammates and experiences that made those years special, and what it meant to represent the Broncs while competing at the Division I level.It is an episode about a memorable home run, but more importantly, it is a story about family, perseverance, gratitude, and becoming the person others helped you believe you could be.------Follow G IG / @gghoops Follow Matt IG / @ptwist610 Welcome to **The Saddle Up Podcast**, the unscripted RGV show where real stories, sports, culture, community, and Vaquero pride all meet at the same table.Hosted by **G Garza and Matt Palmquist**, Saddle Up brings you conversations with former athletes, coaches, alumni, community leaders, entertainers, business owners, and difference-makers connected to **UTPA, UTB, UTRGV, and the Rio Grande Valley**. Every episode is built around honest conversation, good laughs, untold stories, and the people who continue to shape the Valley’s past, present, and future.Whether you are a UTPA alum, UTB alum, UTRGV supporter, Vaquero fan, RGV native, sports fan, or someone who loves authentic conversations, this episode is for you.Subscribe to **The Saddle Up Podcast** for more conversations with the people who represent the Rio Grande Valley with pride.**Find Saddle Up Podcast on:**YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and Apple Podcasts.

  8. Sep 4

    Victoria Cantu - Miss Mississippi & Miss Rio Grande Valley

    This week on The Saddle Up Podcast, G Garza and Matt Palmquist welcome Victoria Cantu, one of the Rio Grande Valley’s rising media personalities and a familiar face both on television and on the pageant stage. Victoria recently joined ValleyCentral, CBS 4 and NBC 23, as a weekend news anchor, bringing her career back home to the Rio Grande Valley. An Edinburg native and UTRGV graduate, she has built experience across news, weather, traffic, and live television while continuing to expand her education in meteorology. At the same time, Victoria has built an equally impressive path in pageantry. After earning the title of Miss Rio Grande Valley USA 2026, she was selected as Miss Mississippi USA 2026, giving her the opportunity to represent Mississippi on the Miss USA stage. In this episode, Victoria talks about balancing two highly competitive worlds, broadcast journalism and pageantry, while staying connected to the community that helped shape her. We get into the pressure of working in live television, the discipline required to compete at the highest level of pageantry, and what it means to represent the Rio Grande Valley while pursuing opportunities that extend far beyond South Texas. Victoria also shares the personal side of the journey, including confidence, preparation, handling public scrutiny, building a career in media, and learning how to stay grounded while more doors continue to open. It is a conversation about ambition, hometown pride, and what can happen when someone is willing to bet on themselves. Welcome to The Saddle Up Podcast, the unscripted RGV show where real stories, sports, culture, community, and Vaquero pride meet at the same table. Hosted by G Garza and Matt Palmquist, Saddle Up features conversations with former athletes, coaches, alumni, journalists, community leaders, entertainers, business owners, and difference-makers connected to UTPA, UTB, UTRGV, and the Rio Grande Valley. Subscribe to The Saddle Up Podcast for more honest conversations with the people helping shape the Valley’s past, present, and future. Find The Saddle Up Podcast on:YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and Apple Podcasts.

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5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Our podcast will explore the many experiences and vast history of the University of Rio Grande Valley (U.T. Pan American) athletic programs! Join us for the countless memories the guests will share reflecting on their time at the University. We can't wait for you to join!

Information

  • Creator
    Matt Palmquist
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    161
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Matt Palmquist
  • Show Website
    Saddle Up Podcast

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