Best Erik Thormaehlen Podcasts (2025)

1
#48.2 Kerry Barboza 1:14:43

4+ y ago1:14:43

1:14:43

Kerry Barboza grew up in San Antonio, Texas. After attending high school at Thomas Jefferson, Kerry was on his way to Oral Roberts in Tulsa, before checking out the coast of Virginia while working on his Master’s Degree and getting his feet wet in the news/sports reporting business. Kerry made it back to the San Antonio area in February of 2002, wh…

1
#48.1 Kerry Barboza 1:01:49

4+ y ago1:01:49

1:01:49

Kerry Barboza grew up in San Antonio, Texas. After attending high school at Thomas Jefferson, Kerry was on his way to Oral Roberts in Tulsa, before checking out the coast of Virginia while working on his Master’s Degree and getting his feet wet in the news/sports reporting business. Kerry made it back to the San Antonio area in February of 2002, wh…

1
#47 Dickie Faught 29:12

4+ y ago29:12

29:12

Dickie Faught grew up near Brownfield, Texas, and attended college at San Angelo State University. Coach Faught began his coaching career in Klondike, Texas. After a two year stint in Klondike, Coach Faught made a jump back towards home and went to Brownfield as an assistant coach for a few years before taking over the girls basketball program at a…

1
#46 Robbie Shivers 1:34:31

4+ y ago1:34:31

1:34:31

Coach Shivers grew up in Boerne, Texas. He graduated the Salutatorian of BHS in the Class of 1992. As a high school basketball player, Robbie helped the Boerne Greyhounds reach the 1990 State Championship game. He then went on to Stephen F. Austin University to play college basketball and continue his education, before transferring to Concordia Uni…

1
#45 Rip Sewell Tribute 40:00

4+ y ago40:00

40:00

In the 45th edition of the Tale Lights Podcast, I did something different. I sat down with a former player of Coach Rip Sewell to honor the deceased coach that made a major impact in the lives of kids out in Ozona, Texas, for many years. Blake Moody not only played football and ran track for Coach Sewell, but was also the son of the superintendent …

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#44 Rick Keith 2:21:40

5y ago2:21:40

2:21:40

Rick Keith grew up on the Texas Gulf Coast, when his family's livelihood sent them headed out east to Connecticut. In many ways it was a real blessing because in Connecticut, "Tex", as he was called, would find the sport of cross country. As a state qualifying cross country runner, and a member of the varsity hockey team, Rick had quite the adventu…

1
#43 Steve Taylor 1:27:02

5y ago1:27:02

1:27:02

Steve Taylor grew up the son of a Baptist preacher in Spur, Texas. He went on to play college football at San Angelo State University. After a couple of years as a graduate assistant, Coach Taylor decided it was time to go for the "big money" in the Texas Public School System! Coach Taylor headed for Muleshoe and joined Mike Wartes and Alan Corneli…

1
#42 Chan Priest 1:29:52

5y ago1:29:52

1:29:52

Chan Priest grew up in the small town of San Saba, Texas, where his father was the Head Football Coach of the Armadillos. We talk in depth about the history of "The Graveyard" (the football field in San Saba) and Coach Priest tells a great story about the time his father and older brother (who were strong influences on his life), were involved in a…

1
#41 Gary Proffitt 1:19:05

5y ago1:19:05

1:19:05

Gary Proffitt grew up in Ballinger, Texas. Coach Proffitt went to college at San Angelo State University, and then entered into his coaching career as an assistant coach of the Goldthwaite Eagles in 1980. Working under Coach Chan Priest, the Eagles won their first state football title in 1985. In 1986, Coach Proffitt took over the program and would…

1
#40 Lynn Graves 2:12:34

5y ago2:12:34

2:12:34

Lynn Graves grew up on a farm in Buncombe, Texas. He attended high school at Carthage High School and then went to college at Stephen F. Austin State University. Prior to being a head coach, Coach Graves spent time as an assistant at SFA, and in Jacksonville ISD. Coach Graves began his head coaching career as the Head Football Coach at SFA, where h…

1
#39 Matt Wernecke 38:41

5y ago38:41

38:41

Matt Wernecke grew up in Wharton, Texas. No thanks to the help from a pair of double bogey's, Matt caught the eye of the Sam Houston State University Golf Coach, where he went on to play golf in college. After graduating, and finishing his collegiate career, Coach Wernecke began his career in education at Rice Consolidated. Following a semester sta…

1
#38 Callan Nokes 42:06

5y ago42:06

42:06

Callan Nokes is the Head Golf Coach and Assistant Athletic Director at Westlake High School, in Austin, Texas. Coach Nokes has coached the Chaps to 6 state titles in Golf, and 15 trips to the state tournament in 17 years! Tune in to learn a little bit about what it takes to be a successful golf coach, and professional educator, from one of the fine…

1
#37 Rose Helmke 38:54

5y ago38:54

38:54

Rose Helmke grew up in San Antonio. She attended Thomas Jefferson High School, and enjoyed taking pictures of fighter jets at Randolph Field. Rose spent many years as an elementary educator, not only in Texas, but also in New Mexico! Have you ever thought about being a double dipper? Rose explains a lot about teaching in New Mexico Public Schools, …

1
#36 Sam Harrell 1:15:40

5y ago1:15:40

1:15:40

Sam Harrell grew up in Seminole, and later moved to Brownwood, where he would play football for Coach Gordon Wood. Coach Harrell was the son of a coach, and had the privilege playing for, learning from, or coaching against, nearly every great football coach in Texas history! He graduated from ACU and then began a career in education in Plainview. H…

1
#34 Tale Lights Podclass Dos! 1:01:32

5y ago1:01:32

1:01:32

Get ready for another Podblast! That's right, COVID-19 may keep on kicking, but so does the Tale Lights Podclass! Enjoy this ad free version of the podcast, and satisfy the yearn to learn, woooooo!--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/erik-thormaehlen/support

1
#33 Rick Bachman 59:50

5y ago59:50

59:50

Rick Bachman grew up in San Angelo. After graduating high school, he joined the Navy and set sail. Upon returning to the San Angelo area he enrolled in college at Angelo State University. Coach B began his career down in Alice. After spending time in Alice, he decided to head back out west to Ozona, where he took a job in the oilfield. After many y…

1
#32 Scott Hippensteel 1:17:02

5y ago1:17:02

1:17:02

Scott Hippensteel grew up surrounded by farm life in the State of Indiana. Coach Hippensteel was recruited by the University of Texas for the sports of cross country and track & field.. He came to Texas and he began his career as a permanent sub at Lanier High School, prior to taking a job as a junior high coach at Leander Jr. High. In the fall of …

1
#31 Ben H. English 1:45:54

5y ago1:45:54

1:45:54

Ben English spent his early years in the schools of Terlingua, and graduated from Fort Stockton HS. After high school, Ben joined the United State Marines and headed for San Diego. Following his military service, Ben went to school at Angelo State and then began a career with the Texas DPS, as a State Trooper. Ben English is one incredible man, as …

1
#30 Billy Nabours 1:29:01

5y ago1:29:01

1:29:01

Coach Billy Nabours spent more than two decades at Comfort High School. He was one of the most recognizable coaches in the area, and loudly supported each and every one of his runners. He had kids participate at the state meet in just about every event imaginable, along with sending boys and girls teams to state in cross country throughout the year…

1
#29 Mike Barnett 1:28:55

5y ago1:28:55

1:28:55

Mike Barnett grew up in Luling, TX., and coached in Luling for 31 years. Coach Barnett coached his hometown cross country team to a UIL record, seven straight state chmapionships in cross country. Join me as we learn a lot more about a man that did incredible things for the children of Luling! https://talelightspodcast.com/podcast-interviews taleli…

1
#28 Jennifer Fox 55:17

5y ago55:17

55:17

Jennifer Fox grew up in the Houston area and went to Cypress Creek High School. Go Cougars! Coach Fox then went on to play softball at UTSA, where a small burgeoning university program, was able to crack the Top 25 (at the time the first time in history). Coach Fox went into public education and worked in Marble Falls and Spring Branch ISD, before …

1
#27 The Tale Lights Podclass! 1:09:04

5y ago1:09:04

1:09:04

Join me for an ad free version of the Tale Lights Podcast that transforms into the Tale Lights Podclass! My kids are yearning for the learning and I've got the fire to keep on burning baby, woooooo! Quarantine? Coronavirus? Any of that stopping you? It might have stopped the STAAR Test, but as my students know, the value and importance of learning …

1
#26 Greg Dick 1:04:10

5y ago1:04:10

1:04:10

Mr. Dick has led the Friendswood Mighty Mustang Marching Band to ten consecutive UIL State Marching Band Contests, with seven appearances in the finals, and three runner-up finishes! The list of awards and successes for bands led by Mr. Dick are far too numerous to place in this small box, but this is certainly going to be an incredible interview w…

1
#25 Michael O'Rourke 43:14

5y ago43:14

43:14

If you've listened to the first two episodes of the Tale Lights Podcast, you know exactly what Coach Tommy Bludau and Coach Mike Williamson had to say about the importance of junior high football in terms of their successes. I have maintained a great relationship with "Coach O" over the years. He brought a level of passion and excitement to school …

1
#24 Richard Herbst 1:29:46

5y ago1:29:46

1:29:46

Richard Herbst was born and raised in Boerne, Texas. In his basketball coaching career, he amassed a record of 699-336 After a brief stint in Texas Public Education, Coach Herbst went on to coach men's and women's basketball at the collegiate level. Coach Herbst was an assistant at Colorado State University, the head men's coach at Schreiner Colleg…

1
#23 Brent Kornegay 40:55

5+ y ago40:55

40:55

Join me as we hop in the truck of current George West ISD Athletic Director and Head Football Coach, Brent Kornegay. We will be talking Devine, Llano, Orange Grove, Yoakum, and George West. What it's like coaching in your hometown. We talk about college at Texas Lutheran University, the importance of coaching junior high first, and some of the most…

1
#22 Floyd Ciruti 49:13

5+ y ago49:13

49:13

Floyd Ciruti grew up in Baytown, Texas. He went to college at Sam Houston State University, where he was an All-American Center Fielder. After his playing days were behind him, he continued his passion for the game of baseball by becoming the head baseball coach of the Wharton Tigers. Leading the Tigers to the State Tournament, more than 500 wins, …

1
#21 Walt Wendtland 35:14

5+ y ago35:14

35:14

Walt Wendtland grew up in Rosenberg, Texas, and went on to play baseball for Wharton County Junior College and Mississippi State, prior to taking a position as a teacher and coach in Bay City, Texas. Coach Wendtland went on to an administrative career that involved stops at Lamar Consolidated and Yoakum, prior to returning to Bay City and finishing…

1
#20 Chuck Foster 1:09:37

5+ y ago1:09:37

1:09:37

In this episode I sit down with Boerne - Samuel V. Champion Head Baseball Coach, Chuck Foster. We start off in Pampa and head out to Odessa during his childhood, before moving on to the Houston suburb of Deer Park, San Jacinto College, Clemson University, and then a return home to coach all kinds of sports back at Deer Park. In 2002, Chuck Foster w…

1
#19 Dub Farris 57:29

5+ y ago57:29

57:29

We reach back to humble beginnings in Carlsbad, New Mexico, to a career as the Head Football Coach at Odessa High, San Antonio Marshall, and Dickinson, all the way to becoming an athletic administrator with Round Rock and NISD, we cover it all! The name of Coach Dub Farris is easily recognizable because of the thousands of people that fill Farris S…

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Tale Lights #18 Alan Rich 47:51

6y ago47:51

47:51

Alan Rich was elected to the Boerne ISD Board of Trustees in 2006. Prior to that, he grew up in San Antonio, and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School. Alan then went on to Abilene Christian, before returning to the area and become an elected member of the Boerne ISD School Board. Alan is the last remaining board member that I served with, an…

1
Tale Lights #17 Devlyn Lovell 1:51:36

6y ago1:51:36

1:51:36

Coach Devlyn Lovell has coached teams at the Antonian College Preparatory High School to 15 state championships. We will be talking all about the TAPPS world and in the middle of two runs at Antonian, we'll talk about Coach Lovell's transition to the college world, before coming back to the high school level. Track and Field fans will want to liste…

1
Tale Lights #16 Dr. Robert Zayas 42:53

6y ago42:53

42:53

Coach Zayas coached me twenty years ago in the eighth grade, when I was a snot-nosed little punk in the jr. high at Boerne Middle School! Believe me, I was not easy to deal with! Fast-forward two decades later and this man is in charge of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (or what we call the "UIL" here in Texas). Coach spe…

1
Tale Lights #15 Steve Van Meter 1:29:44

6y ago1:29:44

1:29:44

Coach Steve Van Meter spent the majority of his career as the Head Football Coach of the Friendswood Mustangs, a program that has only known four different head football coaches in it's entire 60+ year existence. "Coach Van" not only coached the mustangs for twenty years, but he also played on the 1973 Friendswood team that won the state championsh…

1
Tale Lights #14 Russell Hawkins 1:16:00

6y ago1:16:00

1:16:00

One of the few reporters I've ever liked! Russell Hawkins has photographed some of the best athletes and biggest events in Texas sports. We'll be talking about his time in the USMC, officiating football games out in El Paso, covering the Sun Bowl, and so much more! Mr. Hawkins is a quiet and very humble man, and I can't wait for this sit-down inter…

1
Tale Lights #13 Stan Leech 1:20:51

6y ago1:20:51

1:20:51

Stan Leech is very unique in the State of Texas. Most ADs are head football coaches, but when Stan Leech got the chance to assume the Athletic Director position in Boerne, he orchestrated an era of unmatched athletic success in the small community by hiring quality coaches, supporting all programs, and loving kids, which ultimately led to levels of…

1
Tale Lights #12 Bill Sultenfuss 45:53

6y ago45:53

45:53

Lt. Col. Bill Sultenfuss is a retired United States Marine and retired public educator. When I moved to Boerne in 1996, living on Park Place created great opportunities to make friends such as, Chris Lowry, Brad Henson, and Matt Beaman, which led to a highly rational fear of the scary old guy who usually screamed at us, "Get out of my yard!", while…

1
Tale Lights #11 Dave Fulkerson 1:24:26

6y ago1:24:26

1:24:26

Dave Fulkerson was the cross country coach at Boerne High School and Boerne - Samuel V. Champion High School, where he led teams to six state championships and the 2009 Nike Cross National Championship. Tune in to hear about his upbringing in Oregon, a state title in Hawaii, and much much more! https://talelightspodcast.com/podcast-interviews talel…

1
Tale Lights #10.2 Bob Ledbetter 57:49

6y ago57:49

57:49

His Texas Sports Hall of Fame Biography says it all! http://www.tshof.org/about/thsfhof/details/index.html?staff_id=846 Three state titles, three perfect seasons, the 1991 tie in the semifinals, and everything else one might imagine. This will be a podcast you can't possibly afford to miss. https://talelightspodcast.com/podcast-interviews talelight…

1
Tale Lights #10.1 Bob Ledbetter 47:24

6y ago47:24

47:24

His Texas Sports Hall of Fame Biography says it all! http://www.tshof.org/about/thsfhof/details/index.html?staff_id=846 Three state titles, three perfect seasons, the 1991 tie in the semifinals, and everything else one might imagine. This will be a podcast you can't possibly afford to miss. https://talelightspodcast.com/podcast-interviews talelight…

1
Tale Lights #9.2 Paul Talbert 1:13:43

6y ago1:13:43

1:13:43

Coach Paul Talbert was the Head Football Coach in Palestine Westwood, Tuloso-Midway, Wall, Comfort, Malakoff, and Gorman. Coach Talbert led the Comfort Bobcats to 80 wins in 8 years, multiple appearances in the quarterfinals and semifinals, and an athletic program that was experiencing a great deal of success. All this success in a place that had p…

1
Tale Lights #9.1 Paul Talbert 59:44

6y ago59:44

59:44

Coach Paul Talbert was the Head Football Coach in Palestine Westwood, Tuloso-Midway, Wall, Comfort, Malakoff, and Gorman. Coach Talbert led the Comfort Bobcats to 80 wins in 8 years, multiple appearances in the quarterfinals and semifinals, and an athletic program that was experiencing a great deal of success. All this success in a place that had p…

1
Tale Lights #8.3 Danny Threadgill 1:32:54

6y ago1:32:54

1:32:54

Danny Threadgill is a retired educator that served as Athletic Director, Head Football Coach, Head Track Coach, and numerous other positions. Hear all about his upbringing in Houston, TX., where his brother raised the cougar mascot for the University of Houston, his move to Omaha, return to Texas, time at Tarleton State, and career that went throug…

1
Tale Lights #8.2 Danny Threadgill 1:55:00

6y ago1:55:00

1:55:00

Danny Threadgill is a retired educator that served as Athletic Director, Head Football Coach, Head Track Coach, and numerous other positions. Hear all about his upbringing in Houston, TX., where his brother raised the cougar mascot for the University of Houston, his move to Omaha, return to Texas, time at Tarleton State, and career that went throug…

1
Tale Lights #8.1 Danny Threadgill 1:30:18

6y ago1:30:18

1:30:18

Danny Threadgill is a retired educator that served as Athletic Director, Head Football Coach, Head Track Coach, and numerous other positions. Hear all about his upbringing in Houston, TX., where his brother raised the cougar mascot for the University of Houston, his move to Omaha, return to Texas, time at Tarleton State, and career that went throug…

1
Tale Lights #7 Paul Darden 1:12:24

6y ago1:12:24

1:12:24

Paul Darden has coached the Sundown HS Cross Country Teams for nearly two decades. Most people have bought a dozen roses, a dozen eggs, or a 12 pack of soda... but how many can say they they’ve won a dozen state championships in the sport they coach? Paul can! With six state titles on the boys side, and six on the girls side, Paul Darden’s story is…

1
Tale Lights #4.2 Larry Taylor 1:41:40

6y ago1:41:40

1:41:40

Saddle up! As we take a ride with retired superintendent, Larry Taylor! Episode 4.2 is now available. Read more about Larry Taylor and other upcoming guests at: www.talelightspodcast.com/podcast-interviews This is part two of a multi-part interview. We’re a couple of talkers, so who knows how many “parts” there will be! We go deep into the jungles …

1
Tale Lights #6 - Mike Chaney 1:26:59

6y ago1:26:59

1:26:59

Coach Chaney was a Head Football Coach at Whiteface, Era, Bowie, and Alvord, Coach Chaney then went to work for John Fellows at Iraan, before later being a coordinator on a state runner-up football team at Iraan, alongside Head Coach Mark Kirchoff. We discuss the season that included tragedy and triumph in Iraan, TX., the abundance of tumbleweeds o…

1
Tale Lights #3 - Ron Mills 1:51:40

6y ago1:51:40

1:51:40

Ron Mills retired from education in 1993 in the land of Blue Bell Ice Cream, Brenham, TX. Coach Mills enjoyed a career that started in Groom, went on to Panhandle, over to Canyon, and then down to the gulf coast where he became the Head Football Coach of the Bay City Blackcats. Coach Mills led the the Blackcats to the 1979 State Championship game a…

1
Tale Lights #5 - Cagen Chaney and the CDL 32:41

6y ago32:41

32:41

Do you have coaches on your staff that need to get a CDL? Do they not even know where to begin? Join Cagen Chaney and I as we walk through the process of getting the CDL in this day and age. Coach Chaney has been teaching and coaching for two years and we promise to have some helpful and enjoyable stories about the process of obtaining a CDL, for t…

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