Shows
Your Dark Companion PodcastThe Golden Retriever of Local News: Matt Howerton’s Wild Ride to WFAA | Matt HowertonWhat does it take to go from a small-town kid in Texas to one of the most recognizable faces on Dallas morning television?On this episode of Your Dark Companion, Mike Rhyner and the crew sit down with WFAA Daybreak anchor Matt Howerton for a conversation that’s equal parts hilarious, nostalgic, and surprisingly insightful.Matt shares the story of growing up in Ennis, Texas, where his love for performing, storytelling, and making people laugh started early—and how that eventually turned into a career in broadcast journalism.From grinding it out in Waco...
2026-03-251h 36
Your Dark Companion PodcastThe Business of Sports: From SMU’s Death Penalty to Pickleball’s Boom | George KillebrewWhat does the business side of sports really look like when you’re in the room where it happens?In this episode of Your Dark Companion, Mike Rhyner and the crew sit down with longtime sports executive George Killebrew, a key figure behind the scenes of some of the biggest moments in Dallas sports.Killebrew’s career spans decades — from working at SMU during the infamous “death penalty” era, to helping build the Dallas Mavericks into a top-tier NBA business alongside Mark Cuban, to serving as commissioner of Major League Rugby, and now helping lead the explos...
2026-03-211h 08
Your Dark Companion PodcastDavid Moore Has Seen It All… and He’s Finally Saying It | David MooreWhen it comes to the Dallas Cowboys, there’s what fans see… and then there’s what’s actually happening behind the scenes.On this episode of Your Dark Companion, Mike Rhyner and Grubes sit down with longtime Dallas Cowboys insider David Moore to cut through the noise and talk about the reality of America’s most talked-about franchise.From Jerry Jones’ leadership style to the constant pressure surrounding Dak Prescott, this conversation dives into the decisions, narratives, and expectations that continue to define the Cowboys.David shares insight from years covering the team — expla...
2026-03-181h 19
Your Dark Companion PodcastThe Mavs Fan With a Microphone: Inside the World of Dallas Mavericks PA Announcer | Sean HeathIf you’ve ever been to a Dallas Mavericks game at the American Airlines Center, you’ve heard his voice — even if you didn’t realize it.
On this episode of Your Dark Companion, Mike Rhyner, Shoopy, and Ashley sit down with Sean Heath, the longtime public address announcer for the Dallas Mavericks, to talk about the strange, unpredictable path that led him to one of the most unique jobs in sports.
Sean didn’t grow up dreaming of being an NBA PA announcer. In fact, the first sporting event he ever announced was a Dallas Mav...
2026-03-141h 06Your Dark Companion PodcastFort Worth’s Secret Weapon: The Keyboardist Behind Freddie King & Delbert McClinton | Lewis StephensIn Episode 201 of Your Dark Companion, legendary Dallas-Fort Worth broadcaster Mike Rhyner sits down with renowned Fort Worth keyboardist Lewis Stephens for a deep dive into the history of the North Texas music scene.
Stephens has spent decades playing alongside iconic musicians including Freddie King, Delbert McClinton, and legendary guitarist Bugs Henderson. Known for his mastery of the Hammond B3 organ and piano, Stephens shares the story of how classical training, blues instincts, and years on the road shaped his musical voice.
The conversation explores the distinct musical identity of Fort Worth, why it sounds...
2026-03-0753 minYour Dark Companion PodcastThe Men Who Told the Rangers Story | John Blake & Evan Grant | Ep 200Episode 200 of Your Dark Companion features a conversation about the Texas Rangers, baseball history, and the stories behind one of Major League Baseball’s most fascinating franchises.
Mike Rhyner is joined by longtime Dallas Morning News Rangers beat writer Evan Grant and former Rangers PR executive turned team historian John Blake.
Between them, they have spent decades around the organization and have witnessed nearly every era of Rangers baseball — from rebuilding years and clubhouse characters to playoff runs and franchise-defining moments.
They discuss:
How covering Major League Baseball has changed
Th...
2026-03-041h 20Your Dark Companion PodcastHope Springs Eternal… Until the Bullpen Warms Up | Mike BacsikEpisode 199 and we’re back to doing what Rangers fans do best: convincing ourselves everything is fine.
Mike Rhyner is joined by Rangers TV’s Mike Bacsik to talk spring training optimism, culture resets under Skip Schumacher, Evan Carter’s redemption arc, and whether the bullpen is “mysterious” or “a fire drill waiting to happen.”
We dive into deGrom and Eovaldi artistry, Jack Leiter’s leap, Kamar Rocker’s question marks, and why Rangers fans somehow survive every season without a defined closer. Again.
Also discussed:
• Why spring training is too long (unless you’re a star...
2026-02-261h 15Your Dark Companion PodcastChasing the Dream, Finding the Booth | Josh BogoradIn Episode 198 of Your Dark Companion, Mike Rhyner sits down with the television and radio voice of the Dallas Stars, Josh Bogorad, for a deep dive into the winding road that led him from Los Angeles to the NHL broadcast booth.
Josh shares how one childhood hockey game during the Gretzky era changed everything — sparking a dream that would take him through club hockey broadcasts, minor league bus trips, Alaska championships, and years of grinding before finally breaking into the NHL.
They unpack:
The reality of chasing a broadcasting dream
What it...
2026-02-251h 07Your Dark Companion PodcastBust the Budget | Brad ShamEpisode 196 of Your Dark Companion welcomes back one of the most recognizable voices in football — Brad Sham, the longtime radio play-by-play voice of the Dallas Cowboys.
Brad sits down with Mike Rhyner for a wide-ranging, candid conversation about:
Why defense always becomes king in December
The Cowboys’ “messy” season and what actually gives him optimism
The realities of salary cap maneuvering and why “busting the budget” might be necessary
The evolution of NFL draft preparation
Off-season decompression (including Wrigley Field pilgrimages and streaming marathons)
And unforgettabl...
2026-02-181h 05Your Dark Companion PodcastThe Life of the Wayward Keyboard Traveler | Chad StockslagerIn this episode of Your Dark Companion, Mike Rhyner welcomes Dallas music staple Chad Stockslager — better known as Mr. Chad — for a wide-ranging, funny, and deeply musical conversation about a life spent chasing the right notes.
Chad traces his journey from a childhood epiphany sparked by The Wizard of Oz to becoming one of the most in-demand keyboard players in North Texas. He shares stories from his early Terrell and Deep Ellum days, tribute projects like Buick Six, and playing legendary Dallas rooms including the newly revived Longhorn Ballroom.
Along the way, Chad reflects on the...
2026-02-1255 minYour Dark Companion PodcastWhen Preparation Becomes the Superpower | Dana LarsonIn this episode of Your Dark Companion, Mike Rhyner sits down with acclaimed broadcaster Dana Larson for a wide-ranging conversation about preparation, authenticity, and what it really means to tell sports stories well.
Dana reflects on her journey from growing up watching football with her family to building a respected career covering the Dallas Mavericks, Texas Rangers, and some of the most meaningful moments in Texas sports history. She shares behind-the-scenes stories from the Mavericks’ 2011 championship parade, the University of Texas national title with Vince Young, and her unforgettable interactions with legends like Dirk Nowitzki, Michael Young, an...
2026-02-101h 05Your Dark Companion PodcastRock & Roll Alternative | George GimarcSome radio careers are planned.
This one happened because someone needed a name on the spot — and said it confidently enough.
In this episode of Your Dark Companion, Mike Rhyner sits down with legendary radio architect George Gimarc for a deep, funny, and surprisingly emotional conversation about how alternative radio actually came to be — not as a movement, but as a series of accidents, instincts, and battles fought on the air.
George traces his path from Lake Highlands kid to WRR intern on the morning the fall of Saigon broke, to finding his voice at K...
2026-02-031h 05Your Dark Companion PodcastSnow-G | GreggoWhen the roads are iced over, the guests bail, and nobody’s going anywhere… you improvise.
In this episode of Your Dark Companion, Mike Rhyner, Grego, and Shoopy go full work-from-home mode as North Texas locks itself indoors under ice, school closures, and an “abundance of caution.” What was supposed to be a normal show turns into an OG weather emergency episode — and somehow still covers plenty of ground.
The guys start with frozen streets, nostalgic school-closing memories, and the modern miracle of calling off classes days in advance. From there, the conversation slides naturally into sport...
2026-01-281h 00Your Dark Companion PodcastFrom a Gas Station to the Big Leagues | Matt HicksSome careers are carefully mapped out. Others start because you needed gas.
In this episode of Your Dark Companion, Mike Rhyner and Grubes sit down with Matt Hicks, the longtime radio voice of the Texas Rangers, to trace a broadcasting journey that took more than two decades, dozens of towns, and one perfectly timed phone call to finally reach the major leagues.
Hicks walks through his path from a childhood spent reenacting games on a cassette recorder, to college radio at Maryland, to grinding it out for 23½ years in the minor leagues — often for little pay...
2026-01-221h 12Your Dark Companion PodcastFrom the Control Room to the Ballroom | Tony SmithFor years, Tony Smith was exactly where you wanted him — behind the glass, keeping the lights on, the sound clean, and occasionally dropping a perfectly timed Dancing with the Stars reference that somehow became radio gold.
In this episode of Your Dark Companion, Mike Rhyner and Grubes welcome longtime Ticket engineer Tony “the Engineer” Smith for a candid, funny, and surprisingly emotional conversation about radio life, finding your voice in the margins, and knowing when it’s time to walk away.
Tony traces his path from promotions to engineering, explains how an unexpected obsession with Dancing...
2026-01-201h 00Your Dark Companion Podcast20 Years of the DIFF | James FaustWatching one movie a night sounds relaxing.
Watching eleven a day sounds like a cry for help.
This episode of Your Dark Companion finds Mike Rhyner and Grubes welcoming back James Faust, Artistic Director of the Dallas International Film Festival, as DIFF gears up for its 20th anniversary. From the brutal realities of screening thousands of submissions to the delicate art of choosing films that won’t make audiences flee the theater, James pulls back the curtain on how film festivals actually work.
Along the way, the conversation veers (as it should) into popcorn ri...
2026-01-161h 14Your Dark Companion PodcastThe Cars: No Steering Wheel, All Sound | Bill JanovitzThey’re called The Cars, but there’s no engine, no steering wheel, and no gas involved — just songs that still take people places.
In this episode of Your Dark Companion, Mike Rhyner and Grubes welcome author and musician Bill Janovitz to talk about his book Let the Stories Be Told, a deeply researched, clear-eyed look at one of the most influential — and quietly complicated — bands of the late ’70s and ’80s.
Janovitz walks through The Cars’ rise from the Boston club scene to global dominance, how their futuristic sound blended new wave and pop rock without eve...
2026-01-1348 minYour Dark Companion PodcastFrom Radio to Roots: The Dirt Doctor | Howard GarrettMike Rhyner welcomes a new voice into the Sunset Lounge universe — and it’s one that knows more about dirt than just about anyone alive.
Howard Garrett, better known as the Dirt Doctor, joins the show to talk about his transition from decades of terrestrial radio into the podcast world, and the unlikely path that led him there. What starts as a conversation about gardening quickly turns into a deeper discussion about health, industry resistance, bad science, and why doing things the “normal” way doesn’t always mean doing them the right way.
Howard explains how his en...
2026-01-1023 minYour Dark Companion PodcastDak Was Great, Everything Else Was On Fire | Joesph HoytThe Cowboys’ season is officially over, the Super Bowl will once again proceed without them, and somebody has to explain how we got here. So Mike Rhyner, Grubes, and Joseph Hoyt of the Dallas Morning News sit down to do exactly that — calmly, rationally, and with just the right amount of disbelief.
This episode breaks down a Cowboys season that somehow featured one of Dak Prescott’s best years and one of the worst defenses the franchise has ever fielded. Joe Hoyt walks us through the Matt Eberflus experience, the communication breakdowns, the Trayvon Diggs divorce, and why co...
2026-01-0743 minYour Dark Companion PodcastFrom Steely Dan to Star Wars: Jeff “Skunk” Baxter and the Art of Thinking Differently | Skunk BaxterRecorded in March of 2025 at the EarthX Conference, this episode of Your Dark Companion features one of the most singular minds Mike Rhyner has ever sat across from.
Jeff “Skunk” Baxter is best known as a legendary guitarist for Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers—but that’s only the beginning. Over the course of an expansive, thoughtful conversation, Baxter walks through a life that connects jazz chords, rock tours, missile defense systems, classified Pentagon briefings, and the physics of sound.
From growing up in Mexico City and learning guitar at age nine, to shaping the soun...
2025-12-3053 minYour 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...
2025-12-1838 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 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 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 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...
2025-10-1155 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 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 minYour 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 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...
2025-08-1458 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 PodcastMr. Ranger | Tom GreiveMr. Ranger, Tom Grieve, joins the Shoopies at Globe Life Field to talk his incredible life and career!!
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
2025-07-221h 12Your Dark Companion PodcastA League of Legends | Eric Nadel, Chuck Cooperstein, Brad Sham, & Josh BogoradLegendary local voices join YDC for a special BROADCASTER'S ROUNDTABLE as we talk to Chuck Cooperstein, Eric Nadel, and Brad Sham & Josh Bogorad
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
2025-07-172h 22Your Dark Companion PodcastThe New Age of the Influencer | Jeff KDallas Stars and Cowboys PA man, music radio legend, and all around fun guy Jeff K makes his third appearance on little YDC!
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
2025-07-171h 11Your Dark Companion PodcastThe Glory of Susquehanna | Scott StrongScott Strong, former program director of the Bone and lifelong music maven, takes us back in the van to relive fun stories from his eventful career!
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
2025-07-171h 13Your Dark Companion PodcastThey Will RUN OVER YOU! | Doyle KingHE'S DOYLE KING. The golden-throated, lake loving, laugh machine Doyle King brings us tales of his journey throughout the DFW media landscape!
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
2025-07-171h 03Your Dark Companion PodcastThe Newberg Report | Jamey NewbergJamey Newberg, the man behind the famed Newberg Report newsletter, dishes on all things Rangers inside the Wolf Den!
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
2025-07-171h 07Your Dark Companion PodcastThree Former Easter Bunnies | Jim CochraneJim Cochrane, Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer of the Texas Rangers meets the Shoopies at Globe Life Field to give us the lowdown on his time with the team and how he wound on SportsCenter!
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
2025-07-1748 minYour Dark Companion PodcastThe Woman of the Cowboys Sidelines | Kristi ScalesDallas Cowboys sideline reporter Kristi Scales breaks into the Sunset Lounge with urgent and horrifying news...or maybe just an awesome discussion about her legendary career and the team she's been covering for nearly 30 years!
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
2025-07-171h 05Your Dark Companion PodcastSunset Lounge Crossover at the CBD House of Healing | Victor & ShippyWe are LIVE from the CBD House of Healing!!!! Shippy and Victor Villalba join the Shoopies for a night of sports talk, fun, and...maybe a Slushie or two??
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
2025-06-232h 01Your 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!
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
2025-06-1143 minYour Dark Companion PodcastNews Media Kinda Sucks Now a Days | Dale HansenThe 800 pound gorilla himself, Dale Hansen, strolls into the Sunset Lounge to give his opinions on anything and everything!!!! Buckle up buttercup!
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
2025-06-091h 14Your Dark Companion PodcastTalkin' Sports at a Baseball Field | Rush OlsonRhynes, Grubes and special guest Rush Olson get your head right for Texas Rangers Night at the Frisco RoughRiders game with a lively discussion about baseball and other stuff as we see fit!
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
2025-06-071h 02Your Dark Companion PodcastGoalies Win Games, Kingsville Bres & Waterbeds | Marty TurcoYour favorite former Dallas Stars goaltender and co-founder of the Kingsville Brewery, Marty Turco, skates beyond the trapezoid and into the Sunset Lounge!
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
2025-06-051h 02Your 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 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
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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!
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
2024-12-241h 57Your 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!
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
2024-10-133h 24Your 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.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
2024-06-221h 02
What's The Fuzz?!Interview With Strypz - Gothic Style, Religion, & Media MasteryResources, Social Media & Donation LinksFollow Strypz Berry Unusual YoutubeFacebook (Photography)MixcloudFacebook (DJ)Join Rhyner’s Telegram ChannelGuest Application FormBIPOC FURRY EVENTSWife’s Music: YOUTUBE & FACEBOOKThe traumatic experience ( Trigger warning )On March 22nd 2021 I interviewed Strypz, aka Berry Unusual, a darkly inclined individual with his paws all over the set from the lights, the cameras, and the action! He (sometimes she) is a mixture of Christian, goth, black, furry, and more that may have you scratch your head and give him anot...
2021-06-221h 16
What's The Fuzz?!Interview With Mandi - Education, History, & Passing KnowledgeResources, Social Media & Donation LinksFollow Mandi Join Rhyner’s Telegram ChannelGuest Application FormBIPOC FURRY EVENTSOn March 21st 2021 I sat down with Mandi the jumping spider! A black woman who's a soon to be archeologist and history nerd. This energetic, and kind hearted arachnid shares from her wealth of knowledge whether it be about the furry fandom, black culture, or historical events. Though 2021 has been a struggle for all of us, it's important to reflect on how far you've come as well. Mandi's optimism shines through despite shedding lig...
2021-06-161h 13
What's The Fuzz?!Interview With Gram - Fursuit Fanatics, Community, & Creative DriveResources, Social Media & Donation LinksFollow Gram Commission GramFurench Toast FursuitsJoin Rhyner’s Telegram ChannelGuest Application FormBIPOC FURRY EVENTSOn March 20th '21 I interviewed Gram a black, non-binary fursuit crafter and artist living their best life! As the co-owner of Furench Toast Fursuits, she's had quite the history with making fursuits and interacting with all kinds of people. It was surprising to learn that her family was supportive of their craft from the start. Not something you hear everyday to say the least. While Gra...
2021-05-121h 22
What's The Fuzz?!Interview With Kiri - Kindness, Academia, & Health ConditionsResources, Social Media & Donation LinksFollow KiriFollow Kiri's Writing AccountKiri's Ko-FiJoin Rhyner’s Telegram ChannelGuest Application FormBIPOC FURRY EVENTSStephanie InterviewThe missing person Marquez Duncan was found April 8th, '21.On March 14th '21, I sat down with Kiri the black academic who's determination drives her to be the best she can be. Her journey through the fandom really shows the magic of it all. How found family, and misfits can make you feel at home and get through tough ti...
2021-05-041h 28
What's The Fuzz?!Interview With Fujimaru - Gundams, The Navy, & Black LegacyResources, Social Media & Donation LinksFollow Fujimaru Fujimaru's Twitch Channel Join Rhyner’s Telegram ChannelGuest Application FormBIPOC FURRY EVENTSMentioned VideoOn March 13th (14th?) I sat down with Fujimaru a part of husky royalty largely revered for being unapologetically black on and off his streams. This "princess of huskies" digs deep into his soul to discuss topics that dig at all of us. The furries that made him feel unwelcome, the atrocities of war, and of course his deep love for gundams and anime. There's a lot...
2021-04-261h 28
What's The Fuzz?!Interview With Hanzo - Outcasts, Imperialism, & Fresh BeatsResources, Social Media & Donation LinksFollow HanzoHanzo's YouTubeJoin Rhyner’s Telegram ChannelGuest Application FormBIPOC FURRY EVENTSOn March 12th, '21 I interviewed Hanzo a half Japanese, half Irish drifter busy making beats in his studio. When he's not rapping, singing, making videos, or dancing with his crew Clawz N' Concrete Crew. He dishes his grievances towards the furry fandom and why he prefers to call himself a 'beastman' instead of a furry in this interview.Hanzo doesn't pull punches when talking about "furry role models" and th...
2021-04-201h 03
What's The Fuzz?!Interview With Rocky - Poverty, Toxic Independence, & Personal PrivilegesResources, Social Media & Donation LinksFollow RockyThe Conscious LeeHelp TexasHelp Daunte WrightJoin Rhyner’s Telegram ChannelGuest Application FormBIPOC FURRY EVENTSOn February 21st, '21 I sat down with Rocky, a black individual with a lot to say about America and the way it upholds its systems of oppression. While I wasn't sure what to expect from this usually upbeat dancer things quickly turned into a lengthy conversation about how poverty keeps us poor, and how things got to where they are now. It's honestly gut...
2021-04-131h 00