Shows
Your Dark Companion PodcastTwas the Night Before Christmas and the OG’s are in the House | Mike, Grubes, Greggo, & ExpoIt’s the last live hang before the holidays, and Your Dark Companion does what it does best: wanders happily from topic to topic, trips over nostalgia, and somehow lands on donuts, Rubik’s Cubes, World Series box scores, and the existential sadness of aging rock stars.
Mike, Grego, Shoopy, and Kevin (Expo) settle in at Dudley’s for a loose, laugh-heavy, very OG holiday episode. Shoopy drops a major life update, Expo casually solves a Rubik’s Cube while talking football, and the crew takes a long scenic drive through Cowboys dysfunction, Rangers reality, NFL parity, ancient...
2025-12-241h 46Your Dark Companion PodcastSanta vs Zombies | Cliff McClellandMike Rhyner and Grubes welcome Cliff McClelland, the creator/producer/head mad scientist behind A Creature Was Stirring—a PG Christmas zombie-apocalypse movie for kids, filmed mostly in Garland (because of course it was). Cliff explains how COVID, teaching theater at Richardson High, and accidentally growing a “surprisingly legit Santa beard” led to one big question: What does Santa do when the world shuts down and kids can’t even visit the mall?
Answer: he gets on a ham radio, spreads hope, dodges zombies, and teams up with a polar bear named CeCe (no, you can’t call it Co...
2025-12-1837 minYour Dark Companion PodcastThe Days of Buddy Magazine | Kirby WarnockMike Rhyner and Grubes welcome Kirby Warnock—Texas music historian, documentary filmmaker, former Buddy Magazine guy, current West Texas ranch resident, and (because why not) candidate for Pecos County Judge, aka “the law west of the Pecos.”
From there, it turns into a love letter to the era when Dallas actually had a real music scene (yes, kids, before the algorithm), with deep dives into Kirby’s documentaries—especially Jimmy & Stevie Ray Vaughan: Brothers and Blues—plus stories about the Vaughn brothers being so talented it felt like watching someone play a guitar you don’t even recognize anym...
2025-12-171h 00Your Dark Companion PodcastWhen the Power Goes Out… Just Start Singing | Tim DeLaughterMike, Grubes, and the Live at Five crew welcome back the grooviest cat in Dallas music history: Tim DeLaughter of Tripping Daisy and The Polyphonic Spree. They get into what it really takes to move an army of robed weirdos around the world, why a 28-person band actually “moves like a small band,” and how a nightmare power outage at David Bowie’s Meltdown Festival somehow turned into the Spree’s big bang moment.
Tim walks us through the jump from blue-sparkle Ludwig drum kits to frontman duty, writing Tripping Daisy songs live on stage because they only had...
2025-12-1258 minYour Dark Companion PodcastRe-Lighting the Forest Theater | Elizabeth Watley & Nijeul XMike and Grubes welcome back Elizabeth Whatley and introduce Nigel X, the team breathing life back into South Dallas’ legendary Forest Theater. From a liquor store-turned-headquarters to an $80-million-plus renovation and a week-long grand opening in November 2026, this episode digs into what it really takes to save a historic Black arts institution—and why it matters for seven generations to come.
Elizabeth breaks down the wild capital stack (including fresh historic tax credits) and the fight to add that now-iconic rooftop, while Nigel talks about growing up in Port Arthur, finding his voice as an artist, and comi...
2025-12-0955 minYour Dark Companion PodcastWhen a Cop and a Journalist Walk Into a Bar… They Start a True Crime Podcast | Jake White & John HenryMike welcomes two new residents of the Sunset Lounge universe: Signal 51 Chronicles hosts Jake White and John Henry, a former Fort Worth narcotics sergeant and a twice-laid-off Star-Telegram journalist who somehow turned bar stories into a true crime podcast. They break down what “Signal 51” actually means, why Fort Worth PD radio codes make for good show titles, and how a cop and a writer went from hanging out at the Mule Pub to dissecting some of Texas’ wildest cases.
The crew dives into the true crime boom, from internet sleuths and white-collar scams to old-school Jacksboro Highway gangst...
2025-12-0453 minYour Dark Companion PodcastRiding to the Badlands with Teddy Roosevelt | Ed O'KeefeMike and Grubes kick off December with a lightning strike, a World Series flashback, and the age-old question: are we even gonna make it to (and through) Christmas? Then they welcome a very different kind of guest into the YDC mothership: Ed O’Keefe, CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation.
Ed takes the guys from Grand Forks to the Badlands, explaining why Teddy Roosevelt’s story is so insane it would get rejected as fiction: a sickly bookworm who becomes a cowboy, Rough Rider, president, and the original “media-savvy” politician. They dig into the brutal day his...
2025-12-0354 minYour Dark Companion PodcastA Pre Thanksgiving Feast | Evan Grant, Sarah Blaskovich & Chef EricYour Dark Companion, Mike Rhyner sits down with an all-star culinary and sports lineup: Texas Rangers insider Evan Grant, Dallas restaurant oracle Sarah Blaskovich, and Chef Eric from Dudley’s, who showed up armed with enough food to start a small cult — and possibly overthrow a Chili’s.
Things escalate quickly.
We’ve got Evan trying his first deviled egg EVER (history is made), Mike refusing every egg in existence (including the ones in the room), Sarah dropping restaurant knowledge like it’s classified intelligence, and Chef Eric casually explaining why cows are now eating olives as...
2025-11-261h 10Your Dark Companion PodcastBecause What This Show Needed Was… ExpoTonight on Your Dark Companion, Mike Rhyner and Shoopy welcome local legend, chaos coordinator, music scene archaeologist, and human wildcard Kevin Fox — better known as Expo.
This episode has everything:
Stories from a life lived at full volume, the kind of Dallas music history that never made the press releases, and maybe just a little therapy disguised as a conversation.
Mike tries to understand Expo.
Shoopy tries to wrangle Expo.
Expo… just tries.
Whether you know him, think you know him, or have only heard the stories, brace yourself — this one’s...
2025-11-201h 19Your Dark Companion PodcastThe Gospel of Billy Martin | Billy Martin Jr.On this episode of Your Dark Companion, Mike and Grubes attempt to start a normal show… so naturally the entire tech setup revolts, Billy Martin Jr. disappears into the Riverside void, and we end up with six and a half minutes of chaos, Titanic on recorder, and a heartfelt discussion on moldy elementary school instruments.
When Billy finally makes it back from the digital afterlife, we get an incredible sit-down with the son of one of the most infamous managers in baseball history, Billy Martin Sr. Billy Jr. walks us through how his dad helped keep the Ra...
2025-11-1855 minYour Dark Companion PodcastBacsik, Raymond & Rhyner Walk Into a Booth... | Dave Raymond & Mike BacsikTwo voices every DFW sports fan knows drop into the Lounge—broadcaster Dave Raymond, the man behind the Texas Rangers’ mic, and former pitcher turned talk radio lightning rod Mike Bacsik. In this episode, Mike Rhyner and Grubes go deep into baseball storytelling, broadcasting highs and lows, and the weird paths that lead from the mound to the booth. They swap tales of iconic calls, clubhouse chaos, and how humor and humanity keep the mic alive long after the game’s over.
It’s insider baseball at its best: the quirks, the grind, and the joy of talking...
2025-11-131h 35Your Dark Companion PodcastBig Man Bringing the Big Energy | Big Rob, Mavs ManiaacsMike Rhyner, Grubes, and Big Rob (the last Day-One OG) pull back the curtain on the Dallas Mavericks Maniacs—how a “beefy guys” audition turned into 24 seasons of pure arena joy, a thousand-game milestone, and a community machine logging hundreds of events a year. From lightning-strike cold opens and a nod to the Edmund Fitzgerald anniversary to boy-dazzled shirts, human-bicycle routines, player chants, and even Big Rob’s side quest as a Cowboys “Chow Boy,” this episode is a love letter to game-night hype done right—genuine, goofy, and crafted with real care.
Chapters
00:00:01 - Cold Open: Lig...
2025-11-1347 minYour Dark Companion PodcastWhat Happened in Vegas Didn't Stay There | Eric NadelMike finally went to Las Vegas. Yes, for the first time. At age 75 and change. And guess what? The man liked it.
So this episode is basically:
Vegas stories → The Sphere melting everyone’s brain → Jackson Browne healing childhood wounds → mobster restaurants → Flamingo time travel → Fremont fever → the one guy at the airport who had seen some things → and a full debrief on the show-stopping Eagles performance featuring our special guest, the legendary Eric Nadel.
It’s part travel diary, part music nerdery, part “Oh God please get this man away from me in the terminal.”
I...
2025-11-061h 03Your Dark Companion PodcastPunk at the Longhorn, Leather at the Kessler | Jeff LilesMike and Grubes welcome back the Kessler Theater’s own Jeff Liles—human jukebox of Dallas music lore and owner of the best black-leather-pants origin story this side of Valley View Mall. From a lightning-strike cold open at Dudley’s to the Sex Pistols turning the Longhorn Ballroom into glorious chaos, Jeff dishes on ShowCo lasers, counterfeit Zep tickets, Ramones vs. Pistols setcraft, and why Bronco Bowl should’ve been a Home Depot with a stage. We get a front-row seat to a very Dallas series of cameos: Stevie Ray Vaughan auditioning for a teen Mike, Nick Lowe playing post-sho...
2025-11-0456 minYour Dark Companion PodcastBig Addict Energy | Ward Richmond & John PedigoMike fires up Your Dark Companion with a literal lightning strike, then welcomes Dallas lifers Ward Richmond and John Pedigo to talk about Ward’s new album, Big Addict Energy—a brutally honest, oddly hilarious chronicle of high-functioning drinking, rehab math, and rebuilding a life that actually fits. We bounce from Lakewood and Deep Ellum war stories to the therapist who called her shot (“alcoholic”), the Truck Yard-as-office era, and why Ward now tours with… a pedal that plays his whole band (karaoke, but make it auteur). Pedigo breaks down the “producer as translator” approach—less sprinkle, more spine—while the guys tra...
2025-10-3058 minYour Dark Companion PodcastThe Chair You Never Want to Sit In: What Really Happens in a Polygraph | Rick & Ryan HoldenMike Rhyner sits down with Rick and Ryan Holden — a father-son polygraph team whose client list ranges from federal agencies to murder suspects to people just trying to clear their names — to pull the curtain back on the world most of us hope we never have to visit.
They walk Mike through how a real polygraph actually works (and why “lie detector” is the wrong term), why the machine itself isn’t magic but the examiner better be, and why anxiety doesn’t automatically make you look guilty. Rick talks about 50+ years in the chair, from Texas death row to...
2025-10-2459 minYour Dark Companion PodcastThe Sunset Lounge Soccer Club | Tyler KernMike Rhyner and gang unveil a new wing of the the Sunset Lounge: The Sunset Soccer Club with Tyler Kern—a show built to make the world’s game make sense before the 2026 World Cup steamrolls America like a well-timed counterattack. Rob Ervin tags in to talk fandom, promotion/relegation, and why Bundesliga is the most fun word to say out loud.
From Dallas hosting more Cup action than anyone, to how MLS grew up without face-planting, to why the U.S. men might finally be good on paper (our favorite American surface), this one’s a crash...
2025-10-211h 01Your Dark Companion PodcastThe New Era of Rangers Baseball | Skip Schumaker & WoodseyTexas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker joins Mike Rhyner and Woodsey (Ben & Woods Show, San Diego) for a lively, honest, and at times hilarious look into baseball, leadership, and life in the big leagues.
Skip talks about his path from player to manager, lessons learned under Tony La Russa, and what it takes to build a real clubhouse culture. The guys dig into the Rangers’ rollercoaster season, the difference between coaching and managing, and what Skip’s bringing to Arlington.
It’s part baseball masterclass, part barroom storytelling—classic Your Dark Companion energy.
⏱️ Chapters
00:00...
2025-10-1651 minYour Dark Companion PodcastIs this the Most Frustrating Rangers Season? | Evan GrantOn Your Dark Companion, Mike Rhyner and Grubes sit down with Dallas Morning News veteran Evan Grant (29 seasons on the Rangers beat) to unpack a maddening 2025 campaign: elite starting pitching, an offense that never synced, and a clubhouse that couldn’t find its rhythm. Evan explains why this felt like the most underperforming Rangers team in memory, what changed going from Donnie Ecker to Brett Boone on hitting, and how a late-season infusion of “Little Rascals” energy briefly jolted the club.
They also dig into Jack Leiter’s leap, where Kumar Rocker stands, the Seager–Semien dynamic, the looming pa...
2025-10-141h 11Your Dark Companion PodcastVacation Bible School Wins a Ring… and Dallas Loses Its Mind | Kevin GrayMike Rhyner, Grubes, and DLLS’s own Kevin Gray power-wash the offseason angst off Mavericks fans and get you ready for tip-off. Yes, the Luka-to-LA asteroid actually hit. Yes, everyone doom-scrolled. And yes, there’s still basketball to play — with Cooper Flagg flying around like a caffeinated free safety, Anthony Davis trying to carry while the eyeball heals and the scale side-eyes him, and a defense-first identity that might just make Dallas obnoxious to score on again.
Kevin dishes on where fans’ heads are post-catastrophe, what “movement and spacing” looks like without Luka-ball, why the frontcourt depth is quietly n...
2025-10-1154 minYour Dark Companion PodcastThe Trade - Turning Mavericks Meltdown into Theater Magic | Matt Lyle & Max HartmanMike Rhyner pulls up a barstool with Matt Lyle (playwright/agent of chaos) and Max Hartman (actor/true believer) to unpack The Trade—a sharp, satirical stage play where Luka “gets shipped” to the Lakers… strictly in parody land. It’s a Greek tragedy with punchlines, puppets (yes, a giant one), and the kind of Dallas sports heartbreak that only theater can make weirdly healing.
In between a studio lightning strike (because of course), a Rangers victory lap, and Shoopy’s drive-by quips, the gang digs into how you spin sports calamity into catharsis, why comedy is the only way...
2025-10-0841 minYour Dark Companion PodcastTicket Luck and Radio Magic | Bruce Gilbert, The Little Ticket Program DirectorMike sits down with the guy who helped steer the ship when The Ticket went from scrappy longshot to Dallas sports juggernaut: former program director Bruce Gilbert.
In true Your Dark Companion style, this isn’t a dry industry interview—it’s two radio lifers swapping war stories about wild ownership changes, home-brewed sports talk, and the kind of chemistry you can’t script. They laugh about bad ideas, celebrate good ones, and unpack why The Ticket still matters in a world where every phone is a radio.
This is part origin story, part master class, a...
2025-10-0258 minYour Dark Companion PodcastFree Drinks and Business Cards | Josh David JordanIndie films, preacher’s kids, Elvis motels, and Troy Aikman commercials — this episode has it all. Mike Rhyner sits down with Dallas filmmaker Josh David Jordan, the mind behind This World Won’t Break and the upcoming El Tonto Porcristo.
Josh talks about growing up as the son of an evangelical preacher and how those fire-and-brimstone Sundays shaped the stories he tells today. From scribbling notes in moleskins to chasing the perfect song for a scene, his process is messy, passionate, and a little bit like “building the airplane on the way down.”
Along the way, we ge...
2025-09-3058 min
DALLAS FAMOUSS5 Ep 3 Mike RhynerThis Week on the Dallas Famous podcast, we have Mike Rhyner, aka "The Old Grey Wolf." A Dallas legend in sports radio, Mike’s influence helped define the voice of Dallas sports for decades. From his roots in Oak Cliff to pioneering the legendary Ticket, his journey is packed with stories of passion, perseverance, and a deep love for Dallas. Join us for a candid conversation about his incredible career, the evolution of Dallas sports, and the legacy he's built in this city he calls home.Your Dark Companion PodcastThanks to th...
2025-09-2940 minYour Dark Companion PodcastGhost Etiquette 101: Boundaries, Sage, and Saying “Hey, Fred” | Haunted AFSpooky season pulls up in a purple hearse as Mike Reiner welcomes Julie Fisk and Rebecca Black—the hilarious radio vets behind the hit pod Haunted AF. We talk real-world hauntings, fake ghost vids (we see that fishing wire), Dallas-Fort Worth’s creepiest spots, and why renovations are basically a Ouija board for the dead. Somewhere in there we accidentally name the spirit in Mike’s house Fred and immediately start provoking him. Sorry, Mike.
You’ll get tips for finding legit scares around DFW (from Hangman’s House of Horrors to the Kalita Humphreys Theater), a crash cour...
2025-09-281h 03Your Dark Companion PodcastWelcome to the Back of the Bus | Craig Way & Erin HartiganRecorded live from the backroom at Dudley’s on Henderson, Mike Rhyner sits down with Texas sports legend Craig Way and dynamic broadcaster Erin Hartigan for a lively trip through the roads (and backroads) of sports media. From high-school press boxes to national broadcasts, tequila at weddings to the creation of “The Ticket,” this episode is a masterclass in how passion, timing, and a little chaos can build a career.
The trio swap stories about reinvention, mentorship, the “media meal” era, and the moments that shaped their love of the game — and each other’s respect. It’s part nostalgia...
2025-09-261h 03Your Dark Companion PodcastWhat is Life without the Mavs? | Mark CubanMike Rhyner and Grubes welcome Mavericks legend and Shark Tank titan Mark Cuban to Your Dark Companion for a candid conversation that swings from the heartbreak of Luka’s exit to the grind of fixing America’s broken healthcare system.
Cuban opens up about selling the Mavericks, the fine print that surprised him, and the not-so-subtle joys of yelling at refs without any actual power. He talks about Luka Doncic, Dirk’s legacy, and how chemistry in an NBA locker room can be just as fragile as a startup pitch on Shark Tank. From his Cost Plus Drugs...
2025-09-231h 02Your Dark Companion PodcastI’m Not Opposed to Tricked-Up Lemonade | Sarah BlaskovichMike Rhyner welcomes back Sarah Blaskovich from the Dallas Morning News for a rollicking ride through Dallas’ culinary scene — and this one’s got everything: Cardi B baby talk, fried deviled egg sliders, and Grego’s strong anti-egg stance. Sarah serves up a full preview of the State Fair of Texas food lineup (yes, she’s taste-tested all 15 finalists — twice), gives her hot takes on Dallas’ newest upscale restaurants (Avra, Momini, Punk Noir), and drops the breaking news that White Castle is finally coming to Texas.
Along the way, we get a tour of sports snacks — RoughRiders cinnamon nuts, W...
2025-09-191h 01Your Dark Companion PodcastSlumming it in the Garage with YDC | Owen NewkirkMike Rhyner sits down with hockey guy extraordinaire Owen Newkirk to talk about the art of sports broadcasting, the grind of daily shows, and why chemistry can make or break a radio station — or a hockey team.
They cover everything from Mason Marchment’s departure to Glenn Gulutzan’s second go-round with the Stars, the delicate salary cap math of NHL rosters, and why Brandon Aubrey might secretly be the best athlete in DFW. Oh, and somewhere in there, we find time for fart drops, Luka trade therapy, and how standing on the Cowboys’ star at Jerry World wi...
2025-09-171h 01Your Dark Companion PodcastBig Tex’s Glow-Up: Hank Hill No More | Mitchell GlieberMike Rhyner sits down with State Fair of Texas president Mitchell Glieber to peel back the funnel cake and show you the machinery that powers Dallas’ favorite 24-day carnival. From the Red River Rivalry chaos to Big Tex’s post-2012 glow-up (yes, the fire suppression and the…posterior), this one’s equal parts fried, factual, and flat-out fun. Mike needles, Mitchell dishes, and together they map the year-round grind behind the fair’s food, music, safety ops, and community impact—plus a heartfelt nod to Mitchell’s dad, legendary broadcaster Frank Glieber. Come for the corny dogs, stay for the civic mast...
2025-09-1146 minYour Dark Companion PodcastFrom Bonnie & Clyde to JFK: Reel Meets Real in Texas | Kelly Kitchens & Farris RookstoolThis week, Mike Rhyner and Rob Ervin settle into the shadows with a pair of guests who know exactly how Hollywood spins a Texas yarn. Kelly Kitchens, the mastermind behind the It Came from Texas Film Festival, takes us behind the curtain on curating films like Bernie and The Great Debaters, where fact and fiction duke it out in the Lone Star State.
Then comes Farris Rookstool III — retired FBI analyst, JFK authority, and genealogical surprise package (yep, there’s a Bonnie and Clyde connection). From ferrying assassination files across the country in a U-Haul to surviving an a...
2025-09-101h 06Your Dark Companion PodcastK Pop Guitarslayer: Faith and Feedback | Justin "Guitarslayer" LyonsMike Rhyner and co-host Rob Ervin sit down with guitarist Justin Lyons—and from here on out, he’s simply Guitarslayer. From a Toys “R” Us starter axe to 80,000-seat domes, he walks us through church pews, K-Pop stadiums, MGK mayhem, and a Mavericks playoff anthem that rattled the rafters. There’s faith, tone-chasing, Nile Rodgers worship, and some honest talk about keeping your head right when the business gets loud.
It’s Oak Cliff grit with world-tour mileage—equal parts groove, gratitude, and guitar nerd joy. Pull up a chair, tune to “funky,” and let Guitarslayer explain why rhythm...
2025-09-0558 minYour Dark Companion PodcastI'm going to be mean to Jerry for a second | Jeff Cavanaugh“Four Wins and a Pool to Pay Off” — Jeff Cavanaugh Joins YDC for Cowboys Therapy
The season starts tomorrow, panic starts now. Mike Rhyner and Shoopy drag noted Cowboys whisperer Jeff Cavanaugh into the Mothership to talk through… everything. From the Micah trade spiral and Jerry’s “trust me, I’ve got a plan” era, to why the left tackle might give you acid reflux and how Trayvon Diggs pulled a Week-1 magic trick, this is Cowboys talk with jokes, receipts, and the occasional threat to trade for Jameis just for vibes.
Come for the football nerdery (zone vs. gap, ha...
2025-09-041h 01Your Dark Companion PodcastWhere do they go for Homecoming? | Brian Estridge & Mac EngelMike Rhyner is in the nurturing bio-sphere of the mothership with two heavy-hitters of the Fort Worth sports scene: Brian Estridge, the unmistakable voice of TCU football and basketball, and Mac Engel, the columnist who has made a career out of poking sacred cows at the Star-Telegram.
This episode isn’t your standard “rah-rah college football” pep rally. Nope, this is three guys who have seen everything pulling no punches about the state of sports today. From TCU’s rise (and how Josh Hoover is suddenly everyone’s new crush), to the absolute Wild West that is NIL and th...
2025-09-0459 minYour Dark Companion PodcastI'm Gonna take you to the Stars & Then Jerry did | Joseph HoytWhat happens when you put Mike Rhyner, Shoopy, and a sportswriter with too many deadlines in the same room? You get equal parts wisdom, sarcasm, and a peek behind the curtain at how the sausage of sports journalism actually gets made.
In this episode of Your Dark Companion, Joseph Hoyt joins the crew to talk about life as a sportswriter in the Twitter age—where breaking news moves faster than a Micah Parsons blitz and one bad lede can get you roasted before halftime. Rhyner and Shoopy pry into everything: the chaos of press boxes, the weird pr...
2025-09-021h 03Your Dark Companion PodcastMicah Bombshell: The Cowboys Trade Parsons to Green BayWell, nobody saw THAT coming. In this unplanned emergency edition of The OG, Mike, Norm Hitzges, and Greggo drop everything (including their fantasy draft) to break down the Cowboys’ jaw-dropping trade of Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers.
Yep—Dallas just shipped off its generational pass-rushing freak for Kenny Clark and a pair of first-round picks, while Green Bay signed Parsons to a record-shattering $188 million contract. Highest-paid non-QB in NFL history. Let that sink in.
Norm calls it a cap move, Greggo calls it a generational mistake, and Mike calls it a classic “Rob Peter...
2025-08-2915 minYour Dark Companion PodcastThe Gallow | Randy GallowayFew names carry as much weight in Dallas-Fort Worth sports media as Randy Galloway. With a career spanning more than 50 years across the Dallas Morning News, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, ESPN Radio, and WBAP, Galloway’s voice defined an era of fearless sports commentary.
In this episode of Your Dark Companion, host Mike Rhyner sits down with the legendary columnist and broadcaster to revisit the stories that shaped modern sports journalism. From his early days covering high school games to becoming one of the most recognized personalities in Texas media, Galloway reflects on the grind, the glory, an...
2025-08-271h 13Your Dark Companion PodcastFriday Night Lights are Texas Sized | Greg TepperWhat makes Texas high school football unlike anything else in the country? In this episode of Your Dark Companion, Mike Rhyner sits down with Greg Tepper, Editor-in-Chief of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football—the man at the center of the sport’s most beloved publication.
From covering more than 1,500 high school teams across the state to chronicling the stories that fuel Friday night lights, Tepper opens the playbook on what it takes to keep this legendary magazine alive. He shares how he went from a young journalist to becoming the voice of Texas football, balancing the tradition of Dav...
2025-08-2158 minYour Dark Companion PodcastNeverland, Music & Thumbnails | Bart StevensStep inside the control room with Bart Stevens, the recording engineer who worked alongside music legends like Michael Jackson, Fleetwood Mac, Boz Scaggs, Toto, Mick Jagger, and Joe Satriani. In this episode of Your Dark Companion, host Mike Rhyner uncovers the untold stories of LA’s legendary studios—where Bart went from a kid fresh out of Texas to helping shape the sound of some of the biggest records in history.
From five years at Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch to unforgettable sessions with Stevie Nicks, Slash, and Jeff Porcaro, Bart shares an insider’s view of the gold...
2025-08-201h 10Your Dark Companion PodcastDVD Size Hail and 400mph Winds | Jesse HawilaWhen the weather gets weird, the movies get weirder, and the music gets loud—Mike Rhyner is the guy you want steering the conversation. This time, he’s joined by Sunset Lounge transplant Rob Ervin, who swaps his regular hangout for the Dark Companion studio, and the one and only four-time returning champion Jesse Hawila, DFW’s favorite meteorologist with a knack for dropping truth bombs about the skies above and the hype below.
From comparing this summer to the legendary “magical summer of 2007” to calling out fear-mongering weather reports, Jesse brings the forecast you should be hearing—mi...
2025-08-1457 minYour Dark Companion PodcastHall of Famers Making Time for Us | Ralph StrangisIn this episode of Your Dark Companion, Mike Rhyner sits down with Ralph Strangis—legendary broadcaster, Hall of Famer, and the voice who taught Texas what icing was (and no, not the kind on a cake). From shepherding the Minnesota North Stars into their Dallas rebirth to cementing himself as a fixture in hockey history, Ralph’s journey is equal parts grit, wit, and pure love for the game.
The two old friends swap stories about chaotic press boxes, unconventional bosses, and the unique insanity of professional sports relocations. Ralph opens up about the pride (and surprise) of b...
2025-08-131h 11Your Dark Companion PodcastQ vs Zew | Bo RobertsWhat do you get when you mix a radio legend, a Russian hash-smoking adventure, a Triumph stage-crashing moment, and a career that spans five decades in Dallas radio? You get Bo Roberts—loud, proud, and on the mic with Mike Rhyner for this unforgettable ride through rock and radio history.
Bo Roberts, longtime co-host of the iconic Q102 KTXQ-FM (aka Q102 the Classic Rock Station), now graces the airwaves at Lone Star 92.5 KZPS-FM—but his journey didn’t start in Dallas. From classical music roots in Corsicana to backstage antics with rock royalty, Bo has seen it all. A...
2025-08-0751 minYour Dark Companion PodcastThe Origins of a Saint | Jimmy "The Saint" ChristopherIn this special edition of Your Dark Companion, Mike Rhyner welcomes the unmistakable voice and soul of the airwaves—Jimmy Christopher, a.k.a. The Saint—for a ride through 50+ years of broadcasting brilliance.
From the early days spinning records at The Zoo in Dallas to sparring mics with the boys at The Ticket, Jimmy’s been everywhere—and he’s got the stories to prove it. You’ll hear about his childhood obsession with Hank Aaron, his first trip to a big league game in 1957 (spoiler: it changed his life), and his music-soaked, mic-wielding journey from Minnesota to...
2025-08-061h 08Your Dark Companion PodcastTalkin' About the Weather | Steve HelmsThis week, country roads lead us straight to Texas music royalty.
Mike Rhyner welcomes singer, songwriter, and all-around honky-tonk hero Steve Helms to Your Dark Companion—and let’s just say, this one’s got a little twang and a whole lot of heart. From Cleburne to center stage, Steve has spent more than four decades writing, performing, and winning over fans with his blend of grit, melody, and good ol’ Texas charm.
You’ve heard his anthem "Nowhere But Texas" blaring at every Texas Rangers home game for the last 18 seasons—but now you’ll hear the st...
2025-07-3158 minYour Dark Companion PodcastRev Entertainment: Transforming Globe Life Field Beyond Baseball Games | Sean Decker President🎧 Episode Description:
Baseball? Sure. But only using Globe Life Field for Rangers games? That’s rookie thinking.
In this episode of Your Dark Companion, Mike Rhyner kicks back with Sean Decker, the brains behind Rev Entertainment and the man turning Globe Life Field into Arlington’s hottest all-purpose playground.
From monster concerts and high school graduations to private events and pro-level sports—Sean spills the (ballpark-priced) beans on how Rev is cooking up events year-round, far beyond the 81 home games. Whether it's converting Choctaw Stadium into a multi-sport mecca or dreaming up how to outdo the...
2025-07-2845 minYour Dark Companion PodcastJust Wondering... About Sports | Norm Hitzges🎙️ Sports Radio Royalty: Mike Rhyner & Norm Hitzges Talk Cowboys, Rangers & the Good Old Days | Your Dark Companion
What happens when two sports radio legends sit down to trade war stories, roast player contracts, and dissect Texas sports like only they can? You get this episode.
Mike Rhyner welcomes longtime friend and broadcasting titan Norm Hitzges to Your Dark Companion for a walk down memory lane—and a few sharp turns through the chaos of 2023 sports headlines. From Dak Prescott’s dollar signs to Josh Jung's comeback, the boys cover it all with the kind of chemistry...
2025-07-241h 05Your Dark Companion PodcastGivingmas | Mike KeatingMike Keating, founder of Givingmas, an organization dedicated to changing lives one family at a time, joins the Shoopies to dicuss all the awesome things they do for the community!
2025-06-1143 minYour Dark Companion PodcastHappy Birthday Eric | Eric Nadel Birthday BashEric Nadel's birthday benefit unfolds at the historic Longhorn Ballroom, featuring Shiny Ribs and the Secret Sisters. Mike Rhyner, Grubes, Rob, and Alex from the Clubhouse podcast explore the venue's rich history and current events supporting the Grant Halliburton Foundation. Eric discusses his passion for music, mental health advocacy, and auction items up for grabs. Edwin Cabanas shares future plans for the Longhorn, including an upcoming amphitheater. Guests like John Blake and Brad Sham enrich the conversation with anecdotes, blending sports history and Nadel's influence in mental health awareness.
Chapters -
00:00:01 - Eric Nadal's Birthday Benefit a...
2025-05-291h 36Your Dark Companion PodcastDallas, the ONLY place I want to live! | Mike Rawlings: Former MayorFormer Dallas mayor Mike Rawlings takes a seat in the Sunset Lounge to discuss sports and mayoring!
2025-05-281h 06Your Dark Companion PodcastJeopardy Contestant Zone | Jack McGuireTexas resident and Jeopardy! contestant Jack McGuire enters the Wolf Den to discuss his time on Mike's favorite game show!
2025-05-1954 minYour Dark Companion PodcastThe BullMoose of the MiLB | Kevin Mench & Chuck Greenberg⚾️ Kick off your Thursday the right way—with baseball, beers, and big league vibes!
Mike and former MLB slugger Kevin Mench are posted up at the Bull Moose Saloon at Riders Field, talking all things baseball before the game.
Wanna see what they’re up to after the show? Head over to our socials and catch the duo in action as they watch the future stars of the MLB take the field!
#RoughRiders #BaseballTalk #FutureStars #BullMooseVibes #KevinMench #MiLBFun #ThursdayNightBaseball
2025-04-1834 minYour Dark Companion PodcastThat's Coach Ballsac you Hear on the Ranger Bradcast | Mike BacsikFormer Ticket and Fan radio personality, now big-time Texas Rangers TV color man Mike Bacsik strolls out of the bullpen and into the Sunset Lounge!
2025-03-241h 15Your Dark Companion PodcastFriday Night Lights in Dallas with Walker Texas Ranger | Brad LelandNoted actor Brad Leland, best known as Buddy Garrity from Friday Night Lights, joins YDC to discuss his Texas roots, longtime Rhyner fandom, and much more!
Be on the lookout for:
Accidental Texan - Hulu
LaRoy, Texas - Amazon Prime
Casey Makes a Mixtape by Loud Pictures
Daisy - female bull rider - coming soon
2025-01-151h 06Your Dark Companion PodcastYuletide Tales and Ticket Treasures: A Dark Companion Christmas | Expo & GreggoGreggo and Expo join Mike Rhyner and Shoopy for a holly jolly reunion! They unwrap gifts, share laughs, relive the glory days, and sprinkle in a few inside jokes to make your season bright. Tune in for a merry stroll down memory lane with Your Dark Companion this Christmas Day!
2024-12-241h 57Your Dark Companion Podcast40 Years of Emerald city | Deno Taglioli & Adam PalmaDeno Taglioli, founder of beloved band Emerald City, and Adam Palma, guitarist of Emerald City (and a bandmate of Mike's before that!) tell us all about their musical journeys!
2024-12-131h 02Your Dark Companion PodcastSmoky Rose and it's Cold | Greggo, Grubes, Mike & ShippyWe are back at the Smoky Rose with The Old Grey Wolf, Grubes, Greggo, and the rest of the gang. Come see us or tune in as things go off the rails per usual but this time burbon (for everyone but The Hammer) is involved!
2024-12-091h 58Your Dark Companion PodcastBONUS AUDIO 4: Kenny Withrow, Hallways, and GoutNew Bohemians guitarist Kenny Withrow has a preshow discussion with the YDC crew about Mike's retirement hallway and engineer Ivan had a bout with Gout!
2024-11-2900 minYour Dark Companion PodcastDoocy Does the Dew | Mike DoocyIt's time for Doocy's Doozies on YDC! Mike Doocy of FOX 4 grabs a seat at the bar and talks all things sports and toupees!
2024-11-221h 02Your Dark Companion PodcastThe Exponential Intern | ”Expo” - The Doctor of DropsHere for a nostalgia bender with a side of chaos? Mike welcomes his former exponential intern—now mild-mannered bookkeeper and certified drop doctor—Expo (aka Kevin Fox). In between lightning strikes, monkey breakouts, and Cowboys eye-rolls, they roast the “Tom Laundry” typo, unravel the Great Curtain Conspiracy at AT&T Stadium, pour one out for the Edmund Fitzgerald (29 times? please don’t), and dig through the infamous Ticket “graveyard” of nameplates. We get the untold Brett Hull prank, a dominatrix-says-what?! studio dump, Rush regret, and the gentle art of being “not fired, but also… don’t come back tomorrow.” It’s witty, wheel-off...
2024-11-121h 25Your Dark Companion PodcastBTS AUDIO FUN #1 - Mike Hates EmojisMike Rhyner and YDC crew discuss the "ass" whip that is emojis during a production meeting!
2024-11-0400 minYour Dark Companion PodcastSunset Lounge goes to Smoky Rose | Mike, Greggo, & The Sunset LoungeMeet our new friends in the Sunset Lounge as they join Mike Rhyner and Grubes at the Smoky Rose to eat burnt ends, laugh their burnt end off, and enjoy some great conversation that is all over the map! You genuinely will love this crazy group as much as we do!
2024-10-133h 24Your Dark Companion PodcastSmoky Rose Remote | Jody DeanWe talk about WFAA's 75 years of Greatness with the one and only Jody Dean. As well as his amazing crazy journey through the world of media much different and vast than most. Baseball is talked about with Mike's Sister Pattie too. And we can't help but razz Mike once again about The Beatles.
2024-09-191h 54Your Dark Companion PodcastOak Cliff Round Table | Patty Davidson & Gregory HastyWe welcome in Mike's Sister, Pattie & Gregory Hasty!
2024-09-181h 16Your Dark Companion PodcastThe Higher Authority | Chuck CoopersteinThe Voice of the Mavs is in the Sunset Lounge talking sports, the day 1 Ticket stories, and Mavs with Mike and the Gang.
2024-09-111h 28Your Dark Companion PodcastWTF Direct TV w/ The Hammer | Greg WilliamsMike and the Hammer are in the Sunset Lounge, but The Hammer is COMING IN HOT. News of Direct TV making mom and dad ESPN fight and no longer bringing the masses all the things they want like Pete and Jesse Hawila on channel 8 has the guys up in arms. OGW is questioning all things in his life with having to possibly go to streaming and Greggo might climb on his roof to throw the satellite in the coming days.
Big things happening here today. Plus you're gonna laugh your ass off!
2024-09-051h 22Your Dark Companion PodcastRadio Nerd Club | Pugs MoranIt's a meeting of the Radio Nerd Club in the Sunset Lounge. Where Mike feels he should be King, Pugs isn't sure a Hall of Famer can be in it.
We talk all things radio, the direction of radio and even find out some Ticket info we didn't know before as Pugs and Mike remanence on the Glory Days of DFW Sports Talk.
Disclaimers
1) We know the audio isn't the best on this episode! This is the backup audio we had to use due to a corruption on our recording card. T...
2024-09-011h 17Your Dark Companion PodcastLong Driving | Mike DobbynMike Dobbyn is an American professional long-drive golfer who holds the world record for the farthest drive in history: a recorded drive at 551 yards. In regular professional golf, the hardest hitters average just over 300 yards. Mike started competing in Long Drive in 2004, and he had a good breakout year winning once and finishing high enough in other LDA Tour events to earn him the Rookie of the Year Award. His RE/MAX World Championship title came in 2007, and over the 2011 and 2012 LDA seasons he won two more Tour titles.
He's in the sunset Lounge to...
2024-08-1042 min2024-08-092h 07Your Dark Companion PodcastHaving a Rad time with Rhads | John RhadiganRhads is in the Sunset Lounge with Mike, Grubes, and the Gang!
2024-08-0258 minYour Dark Companion PodcastASG Extended Cut | GreggoThe episode was 43 minutes... Now you can listen to over 2 hours of Greggo and Mike at the All-Star Game. The Mics are hot the music is loud, but you will get a kick out of these two reminiscing on the good ole days, giving you diamond talk, and talking about life today.
Disclaimer: we cleaned this audio the best we could. with the surrounding atmosphere there is a lot of background noise that we have no control over. We hope you'll enjoy none the less.
2024-07-282h 14Your Dark Companion PodcastLive From El Vecino | Mike, Grubes & moreWe are here live in the makeshift Sunset Lounge Brining you all the laughs and good times with Your Dark Companion.
2024-07-272h 06Your Dark Companion PodcastThe Last FOR the Day | Mike & The GangNo Elephants or Hippos were hurt in the marking of this episode Nightriders.....
2024-07-121h 21Your Dark Companion PodcastNot the Byron but still...34 HHH takes the cake... Mike's Hardline stories backed by evidential proof right here. 😂
2024-07-0200 minYour Dark Companion PodcastAsk Mike Anything | Mike & The GangWe had a slight change in the day as a scheduling mishap left us without a co-host. So we made y'all the ones co hosting with Mike for the opportunity to "Ask Mike Anything" aka AMA!
2024-06-2258 minYour Dark Companion PodcastMike’s Surprise | Jordan RhynerHappy Father's Day. And as we prepare to give love to the Father Figures of our lives we planned a little surprise for the Old Grey Wolf, by bringing his favorite squid into the Sunset Lounge. Jordan, surprises her dad and bring us an episode where we pull the curtain back on their relationship.
2024-06-221h 02Your Dark Companion PodcastMike Rhyner on Jody Dean’s PodcastThe Dallas-Fort Worth Radio legend sits down for an hour-long talk about just about everything - from his love of the Great Old Game, to the thrill of working with incredible talent, to a Radio-insiders' view of what happened at The Freak.
The Old Grey Wolf is calling this the best interview he has ever done!
Radio, Dallas-Fort Worth, Broadcasting, KZEW, WBAP, KTCK, The Ticket, 97.1 The Freak, The Freak, KEGL
2024-05-1000 min
Conversations.buzzMIKE RHYNER, Radio MasterDallas radio listeners were recently shocked by the news that MIKE RHYNER, also known as The Old Grey Wolf, had been fired by iHeartRadio and that the talk station known as The Freak would flip back to rock and roll as it had been just 16 months earlier. Rhyner is a radio legend in Texas. Over his 26 years at The Ticket in Dallas, he created the most unique and popular sports talk format in America. To date, the station has won four Marconi Awards as the Best Sports Station in America. Rhyner was inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of...
2024-04-3032 min
The Speakeasy120123 430 Wireless Mike RhynerIt’s Friday at 4:30, which can only mean one thing…Wireless Mike Rhyner time!!
2023-12-0218 minThe Speakeasy111723 430 Wireless Mike RhynerIt’s Friday. We’re on remote. Let’s enjoy some Wireless Mike Rhyner!
2023-11-1817 minThe Speakeasy111023 430 Wireless Mike RhynerIt’s Friday. We’re on remote. That can only mean one thing…Wireless Mike Rhyner!!!
2023-11-1119 minThe Speakeasy110323 430 Wireless Mike RhynerIt’s Friday and we’re on remote, which means it’s time for Wireless Mike Rhyner. Including…an appearance from Mike Rhyner’s SISTER!!!!!!!!!!!!
2023-11-0416 min
The Reverend and the ReprobateThe Allosaurus, Marginalization, and the I'm Back Guy: Mike Rhyner Gets His Freak OnThe Reverend and the Reprobate sit down with Legendary reporter and Texas Radio Hall of Famer, Mike Rhyner! He's back! Rhynes tells the @RevRepPodcast what it was like to marginalized at the very station he started against all odds. How and why the Allosaurus could beat up the T-Rex. The Rev and Rep get Rhyner to read Monty Python excerpts and Amazon Reviews, find out what his daughter thinks about the freak, regale him with stories of how "What's on Mike's Mind" sent them literally on life changing adventures, whether George Lucas got hush money to fund his fi...
2023-01-121h 36
D Magazine's EarBurner143: Mike Rhyner gets his Freak onIn 1994, The Ticket launched in Dallas with a lineup largely assembled by Mike Rhyner, thereby creating a radio format—guy sports talk—that would be copied around the country. Mike ended his 40-year radio career with a retirement in January 2020. Except not quite. The Old Grey Wolf is returning to the airwaves on 97.1, which has been rebranded The Freak. We talk about who convinced him to come out of retirement, how to fix the Cowboys, what made him move out of downtown Dallas after living there for a decade, and why you're never too old to wing it.
2022-10-0344 min
Rangers TodayEpisode #49 Mike Rhyner (The Old Grey Wolf)The guys are joined by Mike Rhyner the former co-host of the Hardline on "The Ticket" sports radio station which he helped start. Rhyner named Globe Life Park, 'The Temple" & considered himself, "The Keeper Of The Great Game". The guys also talked about the impressive week by the big league club and went 'Down In The Bus Leagues". Fun episode --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/txrangerspod/support
2022-08-271h 06
DLLS Texas Rangers PodcastEpisode #49 Mike Rhyner (The Old Grey Wolf)The guys are joined by Mike Rhyner the former co-host of the Hardline on "The Ticket" sports radio station which he helped start. Rhyner named Globe Life Park, 'The Temple" & considered himself, "The Keeper Of The Great Game".
The guys also talked about the impressive week by the big league club and went 'Down In The Bus Leagues". Fun episode
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/txrangerspod/support To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy ...
2022-08-271h 04
Harp's CourtMike Rhyner – The FreakTwo legends on one show: Dallas Mavericks legend Derek Harper and Dallas radio legend Mike Rhyner together for this podcast. They talk about what Harper's presence meant for the fledgeling franchise in Dallas.
2022-07-1947 min
Harp's Court with Derek HarperMike RhynerTwo legends on one show: Dallas Mavericks legend Derek Harper and Dallas radio legend Mike Rhyner together for this podcast. They talk about what Harper's presence meant for the fledgeling franchise in Dallas.
2022-07-1847 min
ATO: BRIDGING THE DIVIDEEpisode 37 Texas Radio Hall of Famer Mike Rhyner “The Old Grey Wolf”EPISODE 37
The Assist the Officer Foundation is honored to sit down with the Texas Radio Hall of Famer Mike Rhyner as he shares his many stories on the history of Dallas, Texas that span seven decades of change, tragedy, and reform.
Born in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas in 1950 Mike observed so many changes from the Civil Rights Movement, the Kennedy assassination, the birth of the Dallas Cowboys, to the creation of the national radio juggernaut known as The Ticket.
He is known as the Godfather of the Little Ticket, the four t...
2022-06-121h 46
Mike Taylor LiveMike RhynerTaylor and Puma interview sports radio legend, Mike Rhyner a.k.a The Old Grey Wolf.
This episode is brought to you by https://www.jmpoolspa.com
#Thunderdome #LoveYouHard #miketaylorlive
2022-03-101h 05
About Them Cowboys: a show about the Dallas Cowboys3rd Annual Cowboys 'Airing of Grievances' featuring Mike RhynerIt's time to Air our Grievances Frank Costanza style as we hit the end of the 2021 Dallas Cowboys season. Ticket legend himself, Mike Rhyner returns to About Them Cowboys to get one final word in on how this Dallas Cowboys season ended and what needs to improve, from coaching, to the QB, and everything in between with Jon Machota, KT Turner, Saad Yousuf, and producer Kent bringing some audio from earlier in the season that might not look great in hindsight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2022-01-201h 02