The Best Storyteller In Texas Podcast

What if something incredible is still out there, just waiting to be discovered? Kent Hance opens this episode of Kent Hance: The Best Storyteller in Texas with a thought that sets the tone for everything that follows: "Something somewhere incredible is waiting to be known." It's a reminder to stay curious, keep looking, and never assume we've reached the end of what's possible. Kent points to technology and artificial intelligence as modern examples, then reaches back to one of the greatest miscalculations in American history. In 1901, experts believed America's available oil had essentially been discovered. Then came Spindletop in Beaumont, Texas, and everything changed. From big discoveries, Kent turns to friendship and remembers his longtime friend Steve Oden, a respected Texas attorney and judge who also happened to be a formidable campaign ally. The tribute leads naturally into some classic Kent Hance political storytelling, including the remarkable congressional career of write-in candidate Joe Skeen and the importance of simply showing up, meeting voters, shaking hands, and becoming part of a community. Then there are the political strategies nobody teaches in campaign school. Kent recalls a West Texas politician who won an election after getting his jaw wired shut following a barroom altercation. Once he could talk again, things apparently didn't go quite as well. It's the kind of story that could only lead to Kent's uniquely practical take on politics: sometimes talking less really can help. The episode moves quickly from politics to lawyers, government agencies, and the strange world of legal advertising, including attorneys who apparently believe being good at arm wrestling is proof they can take on an insurance company. Kent brings his own decades of legal experience to the conversation, explaining why dealing with powerful state and federal agencies requires patience, expertise and staying power. And then things get truly bizarre. There's a multimillion-dollar cocaine stash in Fiji that was mysteriously replaced with bags of flour, prompting suspicions that it might have been an inside job. Kent also reflects on the Bernie Madoff scandal and offers a simple observation about criminals who devote enormous effort to elaborate schemes: if they worked that hard at something legitimate, they might actually do pretty well. Other unforgettable moments include a Florida family argument that escalates spectacularly, a Texas man who drives his car through a closed grocery store because he needs to use the restroom, and thieves who steal trucks bearing the NVIDIA logo expecting valuable cargo, only to discover they've stolen loads of sand. And if that isn't enough, the TSA enters the conversation with a warning that probably shouldn't have to be issued: don't hide live animals inside your clothing. Yes, there are snakes. Yes, there are turtles. And yes, Kent has some thoughts about the decision-making involved. One of the funniest travel stories comes from Kent's friend and former Peace Corps official Don Boucher, whose bargain transportation included a cargo flight that was merely four days late and an old French aircraft where, after a propeller stopped turning, someone reportedly came looking for passengers who could read French. The episode also shifts into more serious territory with a dramatic aviation story before returning to discovery and curiosity with the tale of a centuries-old English settlement found beneath the North Sea and news about giant pandas in American zoos. Kent then tackles a challenge facing young college graduates: employers demanding experience from applicants who haven't yet had the opportunity to acquire it. Kent explains what he looks for when hiring young people and why intelligence, discipline, adaptability, and an understanding of artificial intelligence increasingly matter. He also offers a timely warning about relying blindly on AI-generated information, especially in the legal profession. The conversation gets personal when Kent talks about health and the importance of paying attention to what your body is telling you. He recounts discovering serious heart problems during a medical examination and undergoing six bypasses in 1996. Nearly three decades later, there's a lesson in that experience that Kent doesn't overcomplicate: listen to your body. Naturally, even a discussion about heart surgery produces a punch line. A friend once suggested six bypasses might have had something to do with Kent eating six donuts for breakfast. Kent disputes the allegation, insisting it was probably "only four or five." Before wrapping up, Kent explores sleep habits, why being called a "nerd" may suddenly be a compliment, the dangers of being a know-it-all, and why vacations almost always seem to cost more than expected. That includes Kent's wonderfully understated assessment of travelers surprised by hurricanes in the Caribbean during hurricane season: "Duh." Funny, thoughtful, unpredictable and filled with the detours that make his storytelling so entertaining, this episode captures Kent Hance at his best. Behind the outrageous headlines and laugh-out-loud memories is a bigger message about curiosity, perseverance, common sense and paying attention to what life is trying to tell you. Because just when you think everything has already been discovered, invented, explained or figured out, Kent's saying of the day is worth remembering: "Something somewhere incredible is waiting to be known." SUBSCRIBE • REVIEW • SHARE Subscribe to Kent Hance: The Best Storyteller in Texas, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who loves Texas stories, sharp observations, unexpected history, and the kind of humor only Kent Hance can deliver.

Power Never Stands Still: Kent Hance on Wild Criminals, College Football's $47 Million Problem & the Nicknames You Never Forget Episode Description Is your power increasing or decreasing, and do you even realize which direction it's going? Kent Hance opens this episode of Kent Hance: The Best Storyteller in Texas with a deceptively simple saying that applies to politics, business, leadership, and life: "Power is always decreasing or increasing. It never stays the same." His advice is just as direct: pay attention, keep moving, and never assume your position is secure. From there, Kent launches into another collection of stories that prove truth can be far stranger, and much funnier, than fiction. First up is a Florida man attempting the world's slowest getaway while towing a mobile home with no tires. When police came after him, he tried to outrun them. As Kent observes, if your getaway vehicle is dragging a mobile home across the pavement, escaping the police probably isn't in the cards. It may be time, as he suggests, for a category beyond "stupid criminals": "Very stupid criminals." Then there's the Powerball winner who collected more than $167 million and subsequently found himself repeatedly on the wrong side of the law. It is a fascinating reminder that suddenly acquiring a fortune doesn't necessarily change your judgment along with your bank account. One of the episode's most memorable moments comes from England, where a couple was sent home from the hospital after being told their baby wasn't ready to arrive. The baby apparently had other plans and was born in a KFC parking lot. That naturally led to one irresistible nickname suggestion: "Colonel Sanders." Dad liked it. Mom was considerably less enthusiastic. That sends Kent down memory lane with some of the unforgettable nicknames he encountered growing up, including Fastball Walker, One Arm Jimmy, Snake, Bullet, and Cobb. He also recalls the legendary football nickname Night Train Lane and the headline that helped Lane embrace it: "Night Train derails Choo Choo." It's vintage Kent, a seemingly simple conversation about nicknames that turns into a trip through small-town Texas culture and football history. The conversation then tackles one of the biggest transformations in college sports: NIL money and the transfer system. Kent discusses the enormous sums being spent to assemble college football rosters, the relationship between spending and rankings, and why he believes the current system cannot continue indefinitely without new rules. He also tells a hilarious Texas Tech story about a basketball player named Sam who wanted absolutely nothing to do with class. A coach personally got Sam out of bed, dressed, and delivered to class, only to discover moments later that Sam had already made it back to bed And the strange stories keep coming. A frustrated shopper allegedly decides a gun is the best way to deal with a long checkout line, only to make the investigative work considerably easier by leaving her wallet behind. There's also an international airport story involving a truly bizarre discovery inside a passenger's luggage, leaving authorities with one obvious question: Where did it come from But amid the outrageous stories and one-liners, Kent offers some genuinely useful wisdom about friendship and reconnecting with people from your past. If too much time has passed, he says, don't let embarrassment keep you from reaching out. Sometimes the best approach is to skip excessive apologies, reconnect, and move forward. There's even time for one of the great household battles of our era: broken technology. Kent recounts the battle over the malfunctioning blinds in his den, which suddenly became an extremely high-priority repair when football season approached. Priorities, after all, are priorities. The episode closes where it began, with Kent's reminder about power, momentum, and the danger of standing still: "You're either increasing it or decreasing it. It never stays the same." From college football and small-town nicknames to bizarre criminals, friendship, politics, bad driving, and the arrival of "Colonel Sanders," this episode has all the ingredients that make Kent Hance: The Best Storyteller in Texas so much fun: great stories, sharp observations, Texas humor, and wisdom hiding in the punchlines. Subscribe to Kent Hance: The Best Storyteller in Texas, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who appreciates unforgettable stories, common-sense wisdom, and a laugh they didn't see coming.

What happens when you refuse to make a decision and try to keep riding in two directions at once? Kent Hance opens this episode of Kent Hance: The Best Storyteller in Texas with a saying that is blunt, hilarious, and surprisingly profound: "You can't ride two horses with one ass." His point is simple. Eventually, you have to choose. And if you wait too long, "time will make a decision for you, and it won't be to your advantage." That lesson about choices runs through an episode packed with unforgettable stories, outrageous excuses, Texas memories, and the kind of hard-earned wisdom that only Kent can deliver. Kent begins on a personal note, remembering his longtime friend and political partner Larry Myers, a Muleshoe native, former staffer for Senator Lloyd Bentsen, and devoted church deacon. That remembrance leads to a classic West Texas story involving high school football, the tiny town of Happy, Texas, and a student whose attempt at a "more creative" rivalry sign earned him three days away from school. Then Kent reaches back into his own political past with the story of a voter who confronted him during a congressional campaign about putting a horse inside his high school. Kent's response? The story was inaccurate. "It was a pony. It wasn't a horse." Somehow, that clarification helped win over the voter. From there, the stories only get stranger. There's the truck driver who blamed a wreck on an attempt to apply deodorant behind the wheel, prompting the inevitable question of whether he at least "passed the smell test." Kent and Sandy also discuss the far more serious story of a massive fentanyl seizure and a police dog that required Narcan after exposure during the investigation. Kent recalls one of his own cases as a young lawyer, involving an 18-year-old who got caught helping unload marijuana from an airplane. When the young man initially refused to cooperate because the pilot was his friend, Kent explained what a long prison sentence could look like. Suddenly, as Kent remembers it, the pilot was "not real close." It is a hilarious example of how quickly priorities can change when consequences become real. The episode travels from narcotics investigations to a frightening bear attack in Montana, a fencing dispute that spiraled wildly out of control, and the story of an extremely wealthy West Texan who would argue over practically every bill he received. That tale eventually leads to a church donation, a horrified young pastor, and an unforgettable lesson about knowing when to stop arguing and simply cash the check. And just when you think the stories cannot get any more unusual, meet the three-year-old who earned a Guinness World Record after visiting all 12 Disney theme parks around the world. The conversation also turns toward the everyday issues that hit families closest to home, including interest rates, housing affordability, car payments, and why homeowners with extremely low mortgage rates may have little incentive to move. Kent also talks about his famously short sleep schedule and why he has made the major lifestyle adjustment of increasing his nightly sleep from roughly four hours to five. Funny, candid, unpredictable, and occasionally poignant, this episode is vintage Kent Hance. Beneath the wild stories is a surprisingly powerful message about decisions and consequences. Whether it's politics, friendship, money, crime, business, or simply deciding what direction your life should take, sooner or later you have to choose. As Kent puts it: "You gotta pick a horse." Subscribe to Kent Hance: The Best Storyteller in Texas, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who loves Texas-sized stories, quick wit, and wisdom you won't hear anywhere else.

What do a stolen fire truck, a turkey hunter shooting the wrong target, college applications gone off the rails, and life-changing lessons about happiness all have in common? In this unforgettable episode of Kent Hance: The Best Storyteller in Texas, Kent delivers a masterclass in humor, common sense, and the consequences of bad decisions. The episode begins with a hilarious hunting story involving a turkey call that worked a little too well, leading to one hunter accidentally shooting a friend out of a tree. From there, Kent and Sandy explore a collection of bizarre and often unbelievable tales featuring drunk drivers, a Florida woman whose encounter with two parked cars quickly escalated into multiple criminal charges, and a New Hampshire man who somehow managed to turn his house fire into an arrest for stealing a fire truck. Throughout the conversation, a recurring theme emerges: poor choices often lead to much bigger problems. As Kent famously reminds listeners: "Alcohol and send do not mix." The discussion dives into everything from late-night emails people wish they had never sent to memorable courtroom stories from Kent's years as an attorney. One standout moment involves a witness who was asked how far he could see at night and replied: "How far is it to the moon?" The answer brought laughter to the courtroom and instantly destroyed the credibility of the opposing attorney. Listeners will also enjoy Kent's observations on rising car insurance costs, the explosion of television lawyer advertising, and the challenges facing families with teenage drivers. Along the way, he shares stories of quirky college applications, including one applicant who mailed a shoe with the note: "Now that I have one foot in the door…" The episode takes a fascinating turn into education, artificial intelligence, and academic integrity. Kent discusses students caught using AI, creative attempts to game the system, and the importance of genuine effort over shortcuts. One of the most powerful segments focuses on happiness and personal growth. Kent shares practical advice for living a better life, including looking for humor in everyday situations, letting go of anger, listening more carefully to others, and maintaining what he calls an "attitude of gratitude." His timeless advice is simple: "Bury the dead and move on." The conversation also explores current politics, voter behavior, campaign strategy, and the issues that resonate most strongly with Texas voters. Kent provides candid insights drawn from decades of experience in public service and political campaigns while reflecting on how elections are won and lost. The episode concludes with a heartfelt remembrance of September 11 and the remarkable story of a young Texan who escaped the World Trade Center by remembering advice his father had given him years earlier: when danger strikes, run until it is gone. Filled with laughter, wisdom, courtroom humor, political insight, and unforgettable Texas storytelling, this episode showcases why Kent Hance remains one of the most entertaining and insightful voices in Texas. Subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with friends and family who love great stories, life lessons, and the unique perspective that only Kent Hance can deliver.

Episode Description: What can a 20-cent Houston hotel room, Buddy Holly's tragic death, Bigfoot sightings, UFO conventions, and modern politics possibly have in common? On this entertaining and wide-ranging episode of Kent Hance: The Best Storyteller in Texas, the answer is simple: a great story. Kent kicks things off with a fascinating Texas historical tale about Houston's infamous Gulf Hotel fire of 1943 and the unforgettable saying of the day: "Bring Your Own Bug Spray." The story paints a vivid picture of a bargain hotel where rooms rented for mere pennies, but at a devastating cost. The conversation then turns to Texas music legend Buddy Holly, with Kent sharing where he was when he first heard the shocking news of Holly's fatal plane crash. Along the way, he reveals the connection between Buddy Holly and the Beatles, and wonders what might have been if the West Texas rock pioneer had lived longer. Listeners will also enjoy hilarious memories from Kent's school days, including a classmate who jumped out a second-story window, not once but twice, for a five-dollar bet. It is classic Kent Hance storytelling at its best, blending humor, history, and life lessons in a way only he can. The episode dives into the start of football season, the changing landscape of college athletics, NIL money, veteran players with unprecedented eligibility, and the impact of court rulings on the future of the NCAA. From there, the conversation takes some unexpected turns with stories about bizarre criminals, unusual court cases, naked food delivery drivers, stolen truckloads of beer, Bigfoot sightings, and Kent's memorable experience speaking at a UFO convention on behalf of John McCain. Politics remains a major theme as Kent shares insights on election turnout, campaign strategy, media relations, mail-in ballots, and why rural voters often have an outsized impact on elections. He also reflects on lessons learned from decades in public office, including one of the episode's best lines: "You've got to have a thick skin and a quick sense of humor." Other memorable moments include: Kent recalling a voter who shouted at his opponent, "It'd have to be old friends, you haven't been down here in twenty years!" The wisdom that politicians must "bury the dead and move on" when an issue has run its course. A hilarious story about receiving calls urging him to support legislation that actually carried his own name. Whether discussing Texas history, national politics, football, famous musicians, campaign trails, or the strange side of human behavior, Kent proves once again why he's known as The Best Storyteller in Texas. Subscribe now, leave a review, and share this episode with friends and family who appreciate great stories, sharp wit, and uniquely Texas perspectives.