Tanner Vaughan and Friends

Tanner Vaughan
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Daily

Tanner Vaughan & Friends is a front porch for the soul—where real conversations meet real people. Each episode, Tanner sits down with Texas-based leaders, creatives, and changemakers to dive into stories of resilience, purpose, and the winding paths that shape us. It’s about life’s highs, lows, and everything in between—told with heart, humor, and a whole lot of wisdom.

  1. Jun 29

    TVAF 47 Zack Ezer

    You ever been introduced to “a friend of a friend”, and had it go well?  I’ve been introduced to dozens and dozens of people with the promise that “you two will hit it off”. only to realize soon after meeting the person that I have literally nothing in common with them. Those are awkward, and I’ve started giving disclaimers before these intros that I’m not always the easiest guy to get along with. I do have a handful of examples of a cold intro going very well, many of which I’ve done podcasts with in the past. Today’s guest is Zack Ezer, and he is one of those examples. Zack is a Texan, a family man, a man of faith and of strong convictions. I expect this won’t be the last time we visit. I hope you’ll enjoy this first conversation with Zack Ezer.

  2. Jun 12

    TVAF 46 Aaron Owens

    I’m going to read a list of words to preview today’s guest, and I want you to take note of how you feel about the subject matter. Ready?Cannabis. Marijuana. Weed. THC. CBD. Hemp. What do these words make you think? Have you ever stopped to evaluate why you feel the way you do about this controversial plant? Or asked yourself why a plant should be controversial in the first place? I’ll forewarn you, if you have kids in the car, or if you have strong anti-cannabis feelings that area firmly held, this isnt your podcast episode. That said, if you live in the state of Texas and want to know more about what’s going on with our political leadership surrounding this burgeoning industry, this is a conversation you will enjoy. Today’s guest is Aaron Owens, the founder/CEO and farmer/owner of Tejas Hemp and their flagship product, Tejas Tonic. Aaron was described to me by a mutual friend as “equal parts hippie, farmer, rancher, CPG specialist, engineer and scientist”, which instantly made me interested to know him. I know several people involved in this industry, but none that know the subject matter better or who have more experience in all things farming, ranching, or gardening plants for medicinal (and yes, recreational) purposes. Aaron is a wealth of knowledge, and whatever the future holds for the cannabis industry in our home state of Texas, you can bet Aaron will be a leader in this space for the foreseeable future. You’ll understand why when you listen to this conversation. This is Aaron Owens.

  3. May 19

    TVAF 45 Todd Garrett

    Todd Garrett has a big heart and an abundance of humility. When I asked him to do a podcast with me, he couldn't believe there was anything special enough about him that we’d be able to put together a decent conversation. I think his comment was something along the lines of “get ready for your least interesting episode ever.”Todd is a retired commercial pilot who spent over 40 years in the cockpit with United Airlines. He also serves his home church as an elder and occasionally will sit in as an instructor for younger pilots looking to improve at their craft.I know Todd as the leader of Skiiln’ with the Galilean, a summer camp on Lake Marble Falls and Lake Athens that provides a total of 6 days of water fun for foster kids and families of children with special needs. SWTG is currently in its 27th year of service and has served over 12000 campers in its history: last year's camp served more than 600 kids with more than 180 volunteers, all the while NEVER soliciting donations, having an office, or having any full-time staff. Also, they’ve never charged a penny for campers to attend.Special Indeed. This is Todd Garrett.

  4. Apr 24

    TVAF 44 Jesse Griffiths

    “There’s a word I hear a lot that I would purposefully avoid using to describe a person: legend.In my estimation, a legend is at the very pinnacle of their particular discipline, and they have been on that pinnacle for a long, long time. They’re normally also near the pinnacle of several other disciplines (often times not related to their core), and constantly trying to get better at the things they’ve chosen to pursue.That said, I do know a handful of people for whom that word applies, including today’s guest, Jesse Griffiths. Jesse has fully established his Texas Legend bona fides as a master of our state’s flora and fauna delivered from field to table at his restaurant, Dai Due (If you live in Texas and have never been to Dai Due, you’re likely missing out on THE finest meal our state has to offer.) In addition to his Chef credentials, Jesse is also a prolific writer, a media personality, and has been a podcast guest on noteworthy shows like the Meat Eater Podcast and the Joe Rogan Experience.Jesse has all the knowledge and expertise you’d expect from a Michelin Star and James Beard Award winner, but all the humility and humanity you’d HOPE to find in a Texan. He speaks very clearly about the things he knows, and is honest about the things he doesnt, and he overlays both with a very unique sense of humor that made this conversation go by faster than I expected it to. I was only able to touch about half of the things I wanted to talk to Jesse about, so we’ll try for a Part 2 sometime in the future. This is my conversation with Jesse Griffiths.”

  5. Apr 17

    TVAF 43 Matt Alvarez

    I have a real love for podcast media. I don’t mean “love” in the sense of preference. I, like most people, can get sucked into a YouTube Shorts rabbit hole and burn up a ton of time senselessly flicking my thumb. But I don’t love YouTube Shorts. . . they love me, I guess. There’s something about an engaging conversation between two people who are genuinely interested in each other that I think is deeply captivating, and you know it when you experience it. Time passes by quickly. Massive amounts of energy is consumed, yet the energy seems to multiply in a way that you leave an engaging conversation with more than you went in with. I love what can be learned about a person by sitting with them, without restrictions or rules or guardrails, where both people are allowed to be wrong and work through complicated topics together in good faith. I love podcasts in the way some people love reading. Imagine what you can get to know about a person by reading what they took the time to put on paper, or in learning the way they think out loud!My guest today is Matt Alvarez, and in some ways Matt and I are nothing alike. Where I have been an avid consumer of podcast media since 2014, Matt had never really listened to a full podcast leading up to the fall of 2020. In September of that year the world changed for Matt (and for many people associated with podcast media), and in 2 and a half weeks he suddenly became the man that everyone who wanted a podcast studio would look to as the “subject matter expert”. You’ll hear a little about that project in this conversation, though I thought we did a good job of avoiding the topic. In other ways Matt and I cut from the same cloth, and that’s where this conversation was primarily focused. It’s odd to some to say you’re “proud of” someone in your same position in life, but I’m truly proud of Matt and how he’s developing as a man, as a father, and as a CEO. Whatever this podcast becomes will be due in large part to Matt and his team’s involvement from the first episode. I hope you’ll enjoy the visit. This is Matt Alvarez.

  6. Apr 17

    TVAF 42 Lee Nusbaum

    Every now and then I’ll cross paths with a random stranger, and after a brief encounter with them, I leave feeling compelled to get to know them better. There’s no rhyme or reason to it. The people I’ve experienced this with don’t really seem to have much in common, but I can tell you literally dozens of stories of happenstance encounters with strangers that have led to purposeful follow up visits, and many of those follow up visits that have led to friendships. I bet it happens to me 2-3 times per year. Maybe I’m weird.While I can’t tell you what it is that compels me, the draw is there, and it’s noticeable when it happens.I’ve learned to lean into these little nudges, and I’ve had the real blessing of getting to know some very special people as a result of this seemingly random interpersonal magnetism. This is even the story of how I know many of my previous podcast guests, from Zuzana Kajuch, Josh Alley, Jess Haynie, Joshua Bingaman, and others.That’s also the story of how I met today’s guest, Lee Nusbaum. What started as a random purchase on Facebook marketplace has become an unlikely friendship (though he may not claim me as such). Lee is a fine example of what I would call a “real man”; someone who committed himself to serving his family, his community, and his creator over a long lifetime, a man who is proud of his accomplishments while also being willing to own his mistakes, and who is strong in his convictions while being open to changing his mind.I hope you’ll enjoy this visit as much as I did. This is Lee Nusbaum.

  7. Apr 17

    TVAF 41 Dain Whitworth

    I’m a bit of an old soul, and like many of my elders, I’m a creature of habit. If I find a pattern that works for me, I’ll repeat it over and over again until it ceases to work, sometimes for years on end, over and over. I’ve found this saves me lots of time and little decision-making.I like to take the long way into town because it’s a prettier drive. I pray every morning before my feet hit the floor, and I make the same coffee in the same pot. I read in the same corner of my couch, under the same lamp. Early every Saturday morning, as early as I can tolerate getting out of bed, I have coffee with my old man on his back porch.Every Wednesday, I have breakfast with the same group of older men, sitting in the same chair, at the same table, in the same old café in Bastrop. All my friends outside of the breakfast group know it as my “old man breakfast,” but the friends in the group know it simply as breakfast.If you’ve followed any of these episodes, you’ve been introduced to some of my elders, starting with my very first episode with my grandpa, RV. Episode one, who’s still going strong in his ninety-fifth year, I might add.Jim Whither, Joe Myers, and Jim Berkner are all in the breakfast group, and my goal is to get everyone in the group to join me in the studio at some point this year. If you’re watching and haven’t been on the show yet, consider yourself warned.Today’s guest is another long-time member, Dain Whitworth. I’d classify Dain as the quiet one of the group, but when you get him one-on-one, he has plenty of great stories and wisdom to offer. And if you can coax a laugh out of him, it feeds an old soul.I hope you’ll enjoy this visit as much as I did.This is my friend, Dain Whitworth.

  8. Apr 17

    TVAF 40 Becky McManus

    Becky is a friend from Colorado who lives with her husband in Mississippi

See All (47)

About

Tanner Vaughan & Friends is a front porch for the soul—where real conversations meet real people. Each episode, Tanner sits down with Texas-based leaders, creatives, and changemakers to dive into stories of resilience, purpose, and the winding paths that shape us. It’s about life’s highs, lows, and everything in between—told with heart, humor, and a whole lot of wisdom.

Information

  • Creator
    Tanner Vaughan
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    47
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Tanner Vaughan
  • Show Website
    Tanner Vaughan and Friends