Mitch Wonders

Mitch Wonders
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Personal Journals
  • Updated Weekly

Life's Tough. Be Tougher. Join Mitch, a cranky old Texan from Austin, as he wonders his way through life, family, retirement, travel, history, culture, and the everyday challenges of modern life. With equal parts common sense, curiosity, and tough love, Mitch brings listeners to the porch for honest conversations about what we've learned, what we've forgotten, and where we're headed next. No talking heads. No outrage. No nonsense. Just a guy who's lived a little and still wonders about the world. New episodes every week. mitchwonders.com

  1. 16h ago

    Wait...Was Jack the Ripper in Austin First? | Mitch Wonders, #220

    Before Jack the Ripper terrorized London in 1888, Austin, Texas, had a killer of its own: the Servant Girl Annihilator. In 1884 and 1885, a string of brutal murders shook the city. So here's the question: could the same man have left Austin and turned up in London? A while back, Mitch took a haunted tour of Austin with a couple of friends. It was creepy enough that he still remembers it, and good enough that he talked the tour guide, Ricky, into joining him on the podcast. Together they dig into Austin's darkest chapter and one of history's most famous unsolved mysteries. Originally released in 2023 as a Halloween bonus, this encore is just as unsettling the second time around. If you like what you hear, how about giving The Mitch Wonders Podcast five stars on Spotify and Apple Podcasts? It only takes a few seconds, and it really does help other people find the show. And if you're already listening every week, appreciate you hanging around the ol' ranch! Mitch Wonders is Texas porch talk about the stuff thatmakes you stop and wonder. Life, work, culture, whiskey, technology, getting older—and whatever else happens to wander onto the porch. Sometimes serious, sometimes not. Always curious. Find every episode, recent guests, YouTube clips, BBQ and whiskey reviews, Mitch Merch and more at https://mitchwonders.com/ . Got something to say? Good. Mitch wants to hear it. Send your thoughts, ideas or feedback here: https://tinyurl.com/kc2e4wu3 . And hey, thanks again for listening!

  2. Oct 12

    #219 Mitch Wonders: What If the BS About Getting Older Really Is BS?

    You're only as old as you feel. These are the golden years. You only get one shot. There's somebody out there for everyone who's “the one.” Life is short. We've heard this stuff forever. But is any of it actually true? This week, Mitch and his old buddy Pete take apart some of the advice we've been handed about getting older—and a few of the assumptions that come along with it. Because age isn't just a number. Sixty isn't the new forty. Retirement doesn't magically become “the golden years” just because the alarm clock goes away. And getting older certainly doesn't mean you're supposed to become less curious, less adventurous, or finished becoming something you haven't been before. They talk retirement and what happens when work stops providing structure, purpose and problems to solve. They get into second chances, reinvention, roads not taken, “the one,” and whether the dream you had at 25 is still required to be the dream you have at 60. And maybe that's the real question: Getting older changes things. But how much are we willing to let the number decide? Some of the old advice holds up. Some of it needs another look. And some of it may just be BS. If you like what you hear, how about giving The Mitch Wonders Podcast five stars on Spotify and Apple Podcasts? It only takes a few seconds, and it really does help other people find the show. And if you're already listening every week, thanks! We love havin' ya' along! Mitch Wonders is Texas porch talk about the stuff thatmakes you stop and wonder. Life, work, culture, whiskey, technology, getting older—and whatever else happens to wander onto the porch. Sometimes serious, sometimes not. Always curious. Find every episode, recent guests, YouTube clips, BBQ andwhiskey reviews, Mitch Merch and more at mitchwonders.com. Got something to say? Good. Mitch wants to hear it. Sendyour thoughts, ideas or feedback here: Talk to Mitch.

  3. Oct 5

    #218 Mitch Wonders: AI, Take the Grind, Leave the Rest.

    AI is coming for our jobs. But maybe the better questionis: which jobs are we actually willing to give it? Artificial intelligence is already changing the way peoplework. Depending on who you ask, everything from customer service and data entry to writing and software development could be next. Then somebody gave AI legs. Yep. Robot dogs. They're already being put to work in dangerous places, roughterrain and industrial environments. They're useful. They're impressive.They're also creepy as hell—and apparently, they've got some of their handlers worried, too. This is what has Mitch wondering. From the back porch in Texas, Mitch wonders what happens when AI moves beyond the computer screen and further into the real world. Because in the real world, AI may not be able to wrap its noggin around running fence lines, roping cattle, or walking hot fields in the summer sun for minimum wage. Some jobs are purely miserable and repetitive, and AI canhave 'em. But work—even lousy work—sometimes gives us somethingbesides a paycheck. So if AI can take the grind, fine. What do we want it to leave behind? Episode 218 of The Mitch Wonders Podcast: AI, Take the Grind. Leave the Rest. Mitch Wonders is Texas porch talk about the stuff that makes you stop and wonder. Life, work, culture, whiskey, technology, getting older—and whatever else happens to wander onto the porch. Sometimes serious, sometimes not. Always curious. Find every episode, recent guests, YouTube clips, BBQ and whiskey reviews, Mitch Merch and more at mitchwonders.com. Got something to say? Good. Mitch wants to hear it. Send your thoughts, ideas or feedback here: Talk to Mitch.

  4. Sep 28

    #217 Mitch Wonders: It's Just A Thing, Until It Isn't.

    We all own things. But somewhere along the way, some of those things become something more. We talk to our cars. We encourage machines. We thank technology. We get attached to things that remind us of home — and develop long-running grudges against printers, garage doors, and anything else that decides to betray us at exactly the wrong moment. (Don't bring up snowblowers!) This week, Mitch is joined by longtime friends Brian and John for a completely unserious look at the very real relationships we develop with things that aren't alive. Because when it works, it’s just a thing. When it doesn’t? It gets personal. Mitch Wonders is where Texas porch talk meets life’s big questions. Each episode, Mitch — a cranky but curious Texan — takes a plainspoken look at today’s world with humor, humility, and a shot of wisdom you can actually swallow. Catch up on all episodes, see recent guests, YouTube clips, BBQ and whiskey reviews, subscribe, and visit the Mitch Merch Store at the Mitch Wonders newly updated and streamlined website:  ⁠https://mitchwonders.com/⁠. Got feedback? Hit Mitch up at ⁠https://tinyurl.com/kc2e4wu3⁠ and...thank you!

  5. Sep 21

    #216 Mitch Wonders: When the Smoke Clears, Ella Will Still Be Here

    In Episode 216, fan favorite Angie from Virginia returns to Mitch Wonders to talk about Ella Langley, the massive success of Choosin’ Texas, and why America seems to rediscover country music every few decades. We go back to the Urban Cowboy explosion of 1980,when cowboy hats, boots and country music suddenly seemed to be everywhere, and discuss whether we're watching a new version of the same phenomenon today. From Doja Cat having no idea who Ella Langley was, to Yellowstone and Lainey Wilson, to some borderline embarrassing stories from our own country-music past, Angie and I wonder why country keeps finding new audiences — and why some of those newcomers eventually stay. Because Ella Langley was here before the headlines and the hype. Country music was here before Urban Cowboy made it cool. And when the smoke clears, our bet is they'll both still be here. Mitch Wonders is where Texas porch talk meets life’s big questions. Each episode, Mitch — a cranky but curious Texan — takes a plainspoken look at today’s world with humor, humility, and a shot of wisdom you can actually swallow. Catch up on all episodes, see recent guests, YouTube clips, BBQ and whiskey reviews, subscribe, and visit the Mitch Merch Store at the Mitch Wonders newly updated and streamlined website:  ⁠https://mitchwonders.com/⁠ Got feedback? Hit Mitch up at ⁠https://tinyurl.com/kc2e4wu3⁠ and...thank you!

  6. Sep 14

    #215 Mitch Wonders: Do Texans Need to Pick a Side?

    Do Texans really need to pick a side? Do any of us need to? Lisa Singer, founder and editor-in-chief of Independent Times News, joins Mitch to explore the growing influence of independent voters—and what happens when the issue in front of us matters more than the party. From close elections to the enormous growth of AI data centers in Texas, some of today's biggest questions don't fit neatly into a Republican or Democratic box. Can independent voters help bridge that divide and bring people together around the issues that matter? Politics? Sort of. Texas? Absolutely. This is Episode 215 of The Mitch Wonders Podcast: Do Texans Need to Pick a Side? Mitch Wonders is where Texas porch talk meets life’s bigquestions. Each episode, Mitch — a cranky but curious Texan — takes a plainspoken look at today’s world with humor, humility, and a shot of wisdom you can actually swallow. Catch up on all episodes, see recent guests, YouTubeclips, BBQ and whiskey reviews, subscribe, and visit the Mitch Merch Store at the Mitch Wonders newly updated and streamlined website:  ⁠https://mitchwonders.com/⁠ Got feedback? Hit Mitch up at ⁠https://tinyurl.com/kc2e4wu3⁠ and...thank you!

  7. Sep 7

    #214 - Choosing America: A Life Built on the American Dream

    At 25, Simone Vitale left Sicily for a job opportunity in America. Twenty-six years later, he has spent more than half his life here, built a career and family, and become an American citizen. In this episode, Simone shares what America looked like from Italy, what surprised him when he arrived, and why he believes the American Dream is still alive—but is often misunderstood. Opportunity, he says, isn't a gift. America gives you the freedom to pursue the life you want; what happens next is up to you. We also talk about the American influence he experienced growing up in Sicily, the differences he found in American working culture, the day he and his wife became U.S. citizens, and a bit of Italian wisdom worth remembering: Tutto passa. Everything passes. After 26 years, knowing everything he knows now, would Simone choose America again? His answer: “Of course.” And Mitch gets it. Mitch Wonders is where Texas porch talk meets life’s bigquestions. Each episode, Mitch — a cranky but curious Texan — takes a plainspoken look at today’s world with humor, humility, and a shot of wisdom you can actually swallow. Catch up on all episodes, see recent guests, YouTubeclips, BBQ and whiskey reviews, subscribe, and visit the Mitch Merch Store at the Mitch Wonders newly updated and streamlined website:  ⁠https://mitchwonders.com/⁠ Got feedback? Hit Mitch up at ⁠https://tinyurl.com/kc2e4wu3⁠ and...thank you!

  8. Aug 31

    #213 Mitch Wonders: The Smart Home vs The Simple Life

    Technology makes life easier. That's the pitch. Until, maybe, it starts making a few too many decisions for us. Mitch's good pal from Australia , Gavin, returns to Mitch Wonders for a conversation about smart homes, AI assistants, convenience creep, and the little habits we've adopted without ever really deciding to. We're not rejecting technology—we love plenty of it. The question is where each of us draws the line. (And you don't want to miss Gavin's borderline epic electric bike analogy!) What do we really need? What do we simply enjoy? And when does useful become unnecessary? Welcome to The Smart Home vs. The Simple Life. Welcome, to Mitch Wonders. Mitch Wonders is where Texas porch talk meets life’s big questions. Each episode, Mitch—a cranky but curious Texan—takes a plainspoken look at today’s world with humor, humility, and a shot of wisdom you can actually swallow. Catch up on every episode, meet recent guests, watch YouTube clips, check out BBQ and whiskey reviews, visit the Mitch Merch Store, and more at the newly updated Mitch Wonders website: https://mitchwonders.com/ Got feedback, an idea, or something you just need to tell Mitch? Reach out here: https://tinyurl.com/kc2e4wu3 And as always...thank you for listening.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Life's Tough. Be Tougher. Join Mitch, a cranky old Texan from Austin, as he wonders his way through life, family, retirement, travel, history, culture, and the everyday challenges of modern life. With equal parts common sense, curiosity, and tough love, Mitch brings listeners to the porch for honest conversations about what we've learned, what we've forgotten, and where we're headed next. No talking heads. No outrage. No nonsense. Just a guy who's lived a little and still wonders about the world. New episodes every week. mitchwonders.com

Information

  • Creator
    Mitch Wonders
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    218
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Mitch Wonders
  • Show Website
    Mitch Wonders