Free Range

Free Range Productions

Swapping stories, usually in Texas, with host Wes Ferguson

Episodes

  1. 09/17/2025

    How to get crabs

    On the Gulf Coast, all you need to catch your dinner is some chicken parts, string and just a little patience. This is an episode of TM Out Loud, a weekly podcast from Texas Monthly. It features Wes's story "Where Crabbing Is A Game of Chicken" from the August issue of the magazine.

  2. 08/06/2025

    Rebuilding Atlantis in the West Texas Desert

    Mike Guzman got famous inviting anybody and everybody to move to West Texas and live on his 20 acres — for free. What's Mike's end goal? What do the locals think?? I have so many questions.

  3. 07/28/2025

    Why Bradley Beesley noodles for catfish

    Documentary filmmaker Bradley Beesley has spent the last quarter century noodling for catfish. How does he do it ... and why? You can watch Bradley's doc "Okie Noodling" on Amazon Prime.

  4. 07/22/2025

    Naomi Shihab Nye remembers Paulette Jiles

    One morning in 1991, Paulette Jiles showed up unannounced at Naomi Shihab Nye's doorstep. It was the beginning of a long and (perhaps) unlikely friendship for two of Texas' most celebrated writers. Discussed in this episode: Naomi's recent Texas Monthly essay "Remembering My Friend Paulette Jiles" and that time Jiles inexplicably panned The Which Way Tree in a review for The New York Times. Jiles, the author of ⁠News of the World⁠ and ⁠Enemy Women⁠, died on July 8.

  5. 07/15/2025

    Stephen Harrigan and the mystery of faith

    Stephen Harrigan has been called the Willie Nelson of Texas literature. He's also one of my longtime favorite writers. In his new book, Sorrowful Mysteries, Steve revisits his childhood in Abilene and Corpus Christi, where he was both comforted and haunted by the rituals and beliefs of the Catholic Church (especially a series of prophecies known as the Three Secrets of Fátima). This is a conversation about the way that your religious background shapes you for life, even if your beliefs change. Regardless of your own faith, I think you'll find something deeply relatable in Steve's story.

  6. 07/10/2025

    James Wade's journey

    We're talking East Texas roots, what it's like to live through panic attacks, and the long road to peace, love and purpose with acclaimed novelist James Wade. James' excellent new book, ⁠Narrow the Road⁠⁠, just got a starred review from Publisher's Weekly. He also has a beautiful new essay called ⁠The Gospel of Change⁠ for Texas Highways.

  7. 07/09/2025

    After the flood ... How to help without hurting

    How can the rest of us help Central Texas flood victims? So glad you asked! Michelle Meyer, the director of the Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center at Texas A&M, has answers.

  • 7 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

3.7
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Swapping stories, usually in Texas, with host Wes Ferguson

Information

  • Creator
    Free Range Productions
  • Years Active
    2025
  • Episodes
    7
  • Copyright
    © Free Range Productions
  • Show Website
    Free Range