Come and Take It
331 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 4 years ago - ★★★★★ - 144 ratingsCome and Take It is a talk show about Texas, by Texans. Three friends born and raised in Texas share their views on the state's history, culture, and just what it means to be Texan.
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Episodes
Great Texas Teachers: Hightower Kealing and Edward Blackshear
February 27, 2017 06:00 - 21 minutes - 21.6 MBEdward Blackshear and Hightower Kealing were two of Texas’ first African American collegiate administrators. They played key roles in the founding of the first of Texas’ Historically Black Colleges and Universities. They pioneered the way for educators across the state and left a lasting impression on Texas.
Houston Soul Part One: Peacock Records
February 20, 2017 06:00 - 16 minutes - 17.7 MBIn the 1960s, Houston was home of the largest and most successful African-American-owned record label in the country. It established Houston as one of the great homes for American soul music.
Bessie Coleman
February 13, 2017 06:00 - 10 minutes - 33.8 MBThere have been many great women in Texas history. Some were pioneers who scraped out an existence at the edge of the prairie like Jane Long. Others were reached the top of the male-dominated political world, like Ann Richards, Barbara Jordan, or Kay Bailey Hutchins. Today we’re going to take a look at the life of Bessie Coleman, a native of small town Texas who became the first African-American woman pilot in American history. (This was originally recorded for a history podcast collage.)
Anson Jones
February 06, 2017 06:00 - 30 minutes - 33.8 MBHe was an Eastern doctor who sought to restore his fortune in Texas, rising to become a respected statesman, and the last President of the Republic of Texas.
The Hoblitzelle Majestics
January 30, 2017 06:00 - 31 minutes - 35.2 MBThe early twentieth century was the era of vaudeville. Unique live acts took their performances all over the world performing in all varieties of theatres, but the best were grand palaces filled with lavish decoration and tributes to classical architectural styles. Many of these theaters survived vaudeville and found new life and elegant movie palaces. Texas, of course, had its share, including the Majestics, a string of venues operated by Karl Hoblitzelle and his Interstate Amusement Company.
Texas Rock? Two
January 23, 2017 06:00 - 45 minutes - 51.6 MBIn our last Texas Rock? episode, we talked about several artists and musicians who had huge hits or were seminal, groundbreaking performers, but who don’t really stand out as being associated with Texas. This week we’re going back to that well to look at some more artists we missed in our previous discussion. Remember that these performers are from Texas, but you don’t really think of them being from, or even maybe don’t even know that they are from, the Lone Star State.
Ma and Pa Ferguson: Part Two
January 16, 2017 06:00 - 14 minutes - 16 MBThis week we look at the unlikely return to power of Texas first political dynasty and the remarkable story of how Texas got its first woman governor.
Ma and Pa Ferguson: Part One
January 09, 2017 06:00 - 21 minutes - 23.4 MBThey were Texas’ first political dynasty. The country lawyer who became governor before being impeached and banned for life from politics, and his wife who he pushed into politics and became the first woman elected governor of any State.
Matagorda Lighthouse
January 02, 2017 06:00 - 14 minutes - 15.7 MBWe’ve talked in previous episodes about the now lost port of Indianola, once the second busiest port in all of Texas. It was near this port, on Matagorda Bay where the first lighthouse in Texas was built. Today we discuss this magnificent cast-iron historical icon of the Texas Gulf Coast.
Texas Trail Drivers: In Their Own Words Vol. 2
December 26, 2016 06:00 - 36 minutes - 41.8 MBIn 1924, George Saunders, the president of the Cattle Drivers Association, published a two-volume book compiling first hand stories from experienced trail drivers and their life on the plains. For those familiar with the podcast, the names and places referenced may sound quite familiar. So in a different kind of episode, we’re presenting more tales of Texas Trail Drivers in their own words.
Louis T. Wigfall
December 19, 2016 06:00 - 29 minutes - 32.6 MBHe was a fiery and passionate supporter of the rights of the states and the institution of slavery. He was also violent, bigoted, a drunkard, and a US Senator from Texas on the eve of the Civil War. This week we look at the life of a Texas fire-eater.
Texas Trail Drivers: In Their Own Words Vol. 1
December 12, 2016 06:00 - 27 minutes - 30.3 MBIn 1924, George Saunders, the president of the Cattle Drivers Association, published a two-volume book compiling first hand stories from experienced trail drivers and their life on the plains. For those familiar with the podcast, the names and places referenced may sound quite familiar. So in a different kind of episode, we’re presenting three tales of Texas Trail Drivers in their own words.
Phi Slama Jama
December 05, 2016 06:00 - 24 minutes - 27.7 MBThey were the 'Tallest Fraternity in Texas'. For three years in the 1980s, the University of Houston popularized collegiate basketball in the Lone Star State, and revolutionized the sport nationwide. Today we look back at Phi Slama Jama.
H. Ross Perot
November 28, 2016 06:00 - 33 minutes - 37.7 MBThough he's best known for his impressive 3rd party run for president in the 1990s, he was also a successful businessman both before and after. He's a man who refused to accept the status quo and tried his best to put a dent in the universe.
El Vomito Negro: Yellow Fever Outbreak of 1867
November 21, 2016 06:00 - 19 minutes - 21.4 MBWe’ve talked about Texas’ industrial, ecological, and man-made disasters before, but today we’re discussing the worst epidemic outbreak in the history of the Lone Star State, the Yellow Fever Outbreak of 1867.
Panther Hall
November 14, 2016 06:00 - 22 minutes - 24.5 MBFor fifteen years, a former bowling hall was the greatest music venue in the Lone Star State. From Bob Wills to Johnny Cash to Tina Turner to Willie Nelson, some of the biggest music names in the world walked the famed stage of Fort Worth’s Panther Hall.
The Red Headed Stranger
November 07, 2016 06:00 - 55 minutes - 62.5 MBToday we examine Red Headed Stranger, Willie Nelson’s critically regarded concept album following the tale of a fugitive on the run, which shot him into superstardom.
Texas Ghost Towns
October 31, 2016 05:00 - 20 minutes - 22.8 MBThis Halloween we step back into the realm of mystery, as we explore the strange and spooky world of Texas Ghost Towns.
CATI Watches: The Town that Dreaded Sundown
October 24, 2016 05:00 - 22 minutes - 35.8 MBWhat you are about to hear is a true horror story of Texas History. No names have been changed to protect the innocent, because this is a history podcast. If you have a history of heart trouble, you’ll still probably be fine because this is a podcast. And of course, Happy Halloween! So, let’s talk about the 1976 Slasher feature, The Town That Dreaded Sundown, which highlights the true story of the Moonlight Murders of Texarkana!
U.S.S. Houston
October 17, 2016 05:00 - 23 minutes - 26.7 MBDuring the dark days after Pearl Harbor, as the Japanese advanced unchecked through the Pacific, the cruiser USS Houston fought bravely against that unstoppable tide. Though her fate was sealed, she fought to the very end, sinking with her guns still firing, and the sacrifice of her crew inspired the nation. This week we talk about the USS Houston, the Galloping Ghost of the Java Coast.
Texas City Dike
October 10, 2016 05:00 - 13 minutes - 22.1 MBWhile its economic roots lie in the petrochemical industry, Texas City is home to one of the precious jewels of the Texas Gulf Coast. It serves as the hub of tourism in the city, drawing boaters, fishermen, and beachgoers to its man-made shores.
New London School Explosion
October 03, 2016 05:00 - 21 minutes - 33.6 MBOn a beautiful spring day in East Texas, tragedy came to the oil town of New London. This week we talk about the worst school disaster in American history.
Sunny Ozuna and the Sunliners
September 26, 2016 05:00 - 13 minutes - 14.8 MBTexas Musician Sonny Ozuna was a son of San Antonio and an important piece of the emerging Tejano movement. However in the 1950s and 1960s he was at the top of the charts with his national hit 'Talk To Me'. This week we talk about another Tejano legend, Sonny Ozuna and the Sunliners.
Stephen F. Austin—Part Two
September 19, 2016 05:00 - 20 minutes - 32.6 MBStephen F. Austin battled adversity and hardship to make his father’s dream of an Anglo-American colony in Texas a reality. The Old 300 who made up this colony would be the seeds from which eventual revolution, nationhood and statehood would grow. Unlike many of the heroes of Texas, though, Austin was a proponent of peace and loyal to the Mexican nation, until he was given no choice but to support revolution.
Stephen F. Austin—Part One
September 12, 2016 05:00 - 17 minutes - 29.7 MBKnown as the Father of Texas, Stephen F. Austin was the first to officially bring Anglo colonists to Texas. He was fulfilling the dream of his father, Moses, who hadn't been able to complete the work himself. Together these men braved hardship and adversity to set the stage for the great drama of Texas’ birth.
Lawrence Sullivan 'Sul' Ross
September 05, 2016 05:00 - 35 minutes - 46.9 MBHe was a Texas Ranger, a Confederate general, governor, and the president of Texas A and M. This week we look at the amazing life of Lawrence Sullivan 'Sul' Ross.
McLaurin Massacre
August 29, 2016 05:00 - 15 minutes - 19.5 MBBy the 1880s, native Americans in the Frio Canyon in the Texas hill country had been almost completely wiped out. The once prosperous Comanche, Kiowa, Tonkawa, and Lipan Apache that had called the area home for thousands of years had been forced onto reservations far from their ancestral lands or massacred, driven off the land desired by Anglo settlers. Most of the area residents were convinced that the Indian Wars were over, and the frontier was safe to inhabit without fear of attack. But on...
Master Sergeant Jose Mendoza Lopez
August 22, 2016 05:00 - 19 minutes - 25.1 MBToday we celebrate another Texan Medal of Honor recipiant whose story of valor sounds like something out of a comic book. (Take that, Mr. Hitler!) But the reality is much more interesting.
World Tour of Texas
August 15, 2016 05:00 - 28 minutes - 38.6 MBThere's no denying that Texas is a vast place. From the Piney Woods of East Texas to the deserts of El Paso, from the beaches of the Gulf Coast to the plains of the Panhandle, Texas is a state that is bigger than England and France, combined. But few realize it's so big you can go all over the world and never leave the Lone Star State. Within its pleasantly-shaped border you can find world capitals, ancient cities and even entire nations.
Charles Whitman and the Tower
August 08, 2016 05:00 - 38 minutes - 42.9 MBFifty years ago, an ex-Marine and former student of the University of Texas climbed into the university’s clock tower with an arsenal of weapons and opened fire onto students walking through the campus. It was the first modern mass shooting, and was one of the defining tragedies in the history of Austin and Texas.
The Von Erichs Part Two
August 01, 2016 05:00 - 26 minutes - 29.6 MBThey were the heroes of Texas wrasslin’, the legends of Dallas’ world famous Sportatorium, and the idols of millions. For a few years their star shined brighter than any in the Lone Star State before heartbreaking tragedy destroyed their empire. This week we look at part two of the triumph and tragedy of Texas’ greatest wrestling dynasty.
The Von Erichs Part One
July 25, 2016 05:00 - 29 minutes - 33.3 MBThey were the heroes of Texas wrasslin’, the legends of Dallas’ world famous Sportatorium, and the idols of millions. For a few years their star shined brighter than any in the Lone Star State before heartbreaking tragedy destroyed their empire. This week we look at the triumph and tragedy of Texas’ greatest wrestling dynasty.
Texas Sesquicentennial
July 18, 2016 05:00 - 37 minutes - 41.9 MBIn 1986, Texas celebrated its 150th anniversary of independence from Mexico. Originally conceived as a deeply-funded, centrally-planned series of well-organized events, economic conditions turned it into a hodge-podge of nearly ten thousand events, large and small, scattered throughout the state. It was a year-long “Texas-sized birthday party” known as the Texas Sesquicentennial
Little Joe y La Familia
July 11, 2016 05:00 - 16 minutes - 18.3 MBDuring a more than fifty-year performing and recording history, this Texan has become one of the top Tejano artists with a unique style, imbuing his sound with norteño, country, blues, and rock-and-roll. Established in 1959 by José María de León Hernández, today we are talking about Little Joe y La Familia.
Roy Orbison
July 04, 2016 05:00 - 26 minutes - 29.1 MBHe was known as 'The Big O', a shy boy from the west Texas oilfields who became one of most successful and admired pop stars of the 1950s and 60s. His distinctive look and haunting voice made him an icon and led to an unlikely career revival in 1988 cut short by his untimely death.
Houston Astros Part One
June 27, 2016 05:00 - 41 minutes - 46.1 MBThe Houston Astros are not an old franchise. They don’t have the 100-plus year history of the Boston Red Sox or the Chicago Cubs, and they don’t get the worldwide recognition of the New York Yankees. But to Houston and the surrounding area, the Astros are more than just a baseball team. They’re part of the fabric of this oil town that became an international hub of commerce, culture, and Texan pride.
Archive War
June 20, 2016 05:00 - 20 minutes - 22.9 MBWe’ve had a Pig War and a Chicken War, and today we bring you yet another ridiculous “war” that helped define the history of Texas, and it's all about a bunch of paper.
John Himes Livergood
June 13, 2016 05:00 - 19 minutes - 21.7 MBPioneer, Texas Ranger, Lawyer, Soldier, Chief Justice of Lavaca County, and Indian Fighter . Today we’re talking about John Himes Livergood, early Texan and survivor of the Mier expedition.
Texas Rock?
June 06, 2016 05:00 - 46 minutes - 51.9 MBFrom the earliest days of popular music to the top of today’s charts, the Lone Star State has a justifiably rich tradition in music. There are songs about Texas, and artists that are quintessentially Texan, but there are also many great and popular artists that people don’t immediately associate with the state and its heritage.
Chicken War
May 30, 2016 05:00 - 14 minutes - 16.2 MBIn the early 1700s, a European conflict between Spain and France reached the contested borders of their North American empires in a most unusual and ridiculous way. This week we look at the role of Spanish Texas in The Chicken War.
Texas Books
May 23, 2016 05:00 - 28 minutes - 31.3 MBThere have been hundreds of books about Texas and its history, and we haven’t come close to reading all of them. But we have read some, and today we’re going to have a round table discussion about our favorite Texas history books.
Billy Gibbons (and ZZ Top)
May 16, 2016 05:00 - 26 minutes - 29.5 MBGuitar master, bearded wizard, and bonafide car nut. Today we’re talking about the legendary Texan guitarist and front man for ZZ Top.
Pig War of 1841
May 09, 2016 05:00 - 25 minutes - 28.4 MBA snooty French diplomat, a surly Texas innkeeper, and pack of rampaging pigs. A dangerous combination that nearly cost Texas its independence.
Bonnie and Clyde
May 02, 2016 05:00 - 23 minutes - 20 MBThey were the most notorious outlaws of the Great Depression, known both for their violent crime spree as well as their scandalous public image. Their names have gone on to be forever linked to the image of young criminals in love.
WASPs of Avenger Field
April 25, 2016 05:00 - 21 minutes - 24.1 MBFrom 1942 to 1944, Texas was home to one of the most remarkable programs in the history of the Second World War. Hundreds of young women from all walks of life were trained in airfields in Houston and West Texas to become the first women to fly military aircraft in American history, as the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs).
Babe Didrikson Zaharias
April 18, 2016 05:00 - 21 minutes - 25.1 MBShe was called the greatest woman athlete, excelling at every sport she tried from track to golf. From the 1930s until the 1950s, she set records, broke barriers, and became one of the famous women in America.
Pappy O'Daniel
April 11, 2016 05:00 - 19 minutes - 21.3 MBHe was a business executive and radio star who managed to parlay his fame into the Texas Governor’s Mansion and the U.S. Senate. He also became the only person who defeated LBJ in an election. This week we look at the life and career of W. Lee Pappy O’Daniel.
Lance Armstrong
April 04, 2016 05:00 - 27 minutes - 30.8 MBOnce a sports sensation who put competitive cycling on the map of American culture, Lance Armstrong would eventually be known as the man who perpetrated one of the biggest doping scandals in athletic history. For better or worse, it was a sad end to the story of Texas' greatest cyclist.
HemisFair '68
March 28, 2016 05:00 - 24 minutes - 26.9 MBIn 1968, the city of San Antonio enacted a remarkable program to transform their historic city into a modern tourist destination by hosting a fabulous World’s Fair. Today we talk about the history of HemisFair '68.
Sam Houston's Children
March 21, 2016 05:00 - 25 minutes - 27.9 MBThis March marks the 223 anniversary of the birth of the greatest figure in Texas history, Sam Houston. Last year we did an extensive three part series on his life, but this year we’ll take a look at the remarkable lives of his eight children.