Texas Hill Country Insider

God, Family, Guns, And Fitness from the President of Schumann Granite | Episode 14

Ryan Rendon and Steven Butcher sit down with Ransom Rust of Schumann Granite in Fredericksburg for a conversation about business ownership, faith, family, fitness, competitive shooting, community service, and building a life rooted in the Texas Hill Country. Ransom shares how he went from accounting and corporate life to buying Schumann Granite, what it took to learn the stone fabrication business, and why faith has been the foundation through major life and business decisions. They also talk about growing up around ranching and rodeo, choosing the right countertop materials, supporting local youth, competitive shooting, fasting, fitness, and why Fredericksburg still feels like home. YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/p2IShMGGLlY Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Episode 14 00:29 How Ryan met Ransom 01:01 Opening prayer 01:35 Meet Ransom Rust 02:33 Schumann Granite table shoutout 03:11 Ransom’s Hill Country roots 03:34 Growing up in Del Rio and Dalhart 05:37 Ranch life and early hunting memories 07:55 Moving between Dalhart and Fredericksburg 09:34 Accounting, Texas Tech, and Texas State 10:20 Houston, corporate life, and moving back 11:37 Buying Schumann Granite 13:02 Faith and taking the leap into business 15:33 Receiving God’s blessings 16:02 Faith through business valleys 18:08 Childhood adversity and work ethic 20:29 Family, leadership, and role models 23:27 Lessons from working in custom homes 25:02 Trade school, college, and hands-on learning 27:22 A surprising chapter in New Orleans 29:27 What Schumann Granite does 30:25 Ransom’s role in the business 31:14 Working with his wife Ashley 34:00 Stone types and countertop confusion 35:16 Premium stone options 35:40 Taj Mahal, ivory Taj, and slab selection 37:03 Common countertop mistakes 39:07 What Ransom loves about the craft 40:20 Why the Hill Country is special 41:59 Fredericksburg community and tradition 44:02 Favorite local spots 46:35 Advice for newcomers to the Hill Country 48:44 Competitive shooting 50:13 Tactical games and shooting under stress 52:32 Fitness, training, and daily routine 54:40 Protein, fasting, and autophagy 58:13 Fasting and prayer 01:01:07 God, family, guns, and fitness 01:01:25 Hunting, mountains, and the outdoors 01:05:40 Youth athlete training 01:09:31 Supporting the Gillespie County Livestock Show 01:10:18 Community involvement and giving back 01:12:08 Casa Über Alles trades program 01:14:43 Advice for starting a business 01:16:18 Where to find Schumann Granite 01:17:09 Closing remarks Resources and links: Support us at : https://linktr.ee/texashillcountryinsider Ransom Rust Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ransomrust/ Schumann Granite Website: https://www.schumanngranitetx.com/ Steven Butcher Website: https://www.butcherbehrens.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/butcher_behren_signature_homes/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-butcher-8678841b5/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ButcherBehrens TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@butcherbehrensighomes YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ButcherBehrensSignatureHomes/shorts Phone: +1 210-636-5387 Ryan Rendon Website: https://www.ryanrendon.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryan_rendon_realtor Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RyanRendonRealtor YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ryanrendon-RealEstate Phone: +1 830-890-1943 Mentions Ransom Rust Ashley Rust Schumann Granite Fredericksburg Stonewall Del Rio Dalhart Texas Tech Texas State Houston Dripping Springs Life Family Saint Mary’s Gillespie County Livestock Show Casa Über Alles Hill Country Builders Association Warner Warehouse Hill & Vine Fredericksburg Herb Farm Halter Ranch Winery Texas Hill Country Competitive shooting Tactical Games Sporting clays Youth sports performance training Autophagy fasting Custom homes Stone countertops Quartz Quartzite Porcelain Taj Mahal Ivory Taj Follow Texas Hill Country Insider for more conversations on local business, real estate, growth, and life across the Texas Hill Country.

Building A Smarter Retirement Strategy | Episode 13

Ryan Rendon and Steven Butcher sit down with Greg Schorp of Texas Retirement Headquarters for a conversation about retirement planning, tax strategy, fiduciary responsibility, family, football, and building financial freedom with the future in mind. Greg shares his journey from growing up in a military family to playing football at Texas A&M, spending time with the Dallas Cowboys, Jaguars, and Seahawks, and eventually moving into financial services. They talk through what people often misunderstand about retirement, why tax planning matters, how Roth and other tax-free strategies can help, what fiduciary responsibility really means, and how Hill Country families can better prepare for retirement. YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/-OcxNBX0bfs Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Episode 13 00:28 Meet Greg Schorp 00:44 Opening prayer 01:06 Greg’s background and retirement focus 02:17 Family, kids, and grandkids 03:16 What successful retirement means 04:23 Growing up in a military family 05:35 Stone Cold Steve Austin family connection 06:20 Air Force roots and San Antonio 06:38 Texas A&M football 07:09 Playing professionally 07:31 Growing up around the country 09:07 Military life and broader perspective 10:20 Playing for Texas A&M 12:53 Adjusting to college football 14:25 NIL, transfer portal, and college football today 22:12 Why young athletes need financial guidance 23:20 Pro football, the Cowboys, and the Super Bowl 26:07 Time with the Jaguars and Seahawks 27:03 The business side of professional football 29:16 Life after football 32:28 Moving into financial services 33:32 How his father’s passing changed his priorities 36:05 Working directly with retirement clients 37:11 Fiduciary duty versus suitability 39:50 Common retirement planning mistakes 42:23 Advice for younger people building retirement 44:30 Tax-free retirement income strategies 45:14 Taxes on inherited retirement accounts 47:05 Planning for small business owners and real estate 49:14 1031 exchanges and real estate strategies 54:15 Retiring in the Texas Hill Country 55:49 What people should know before moving here 56:57 Retirement workshops 59:15 Life outside the office 01:01:51 Why the Hill Country feels like home 01:02:58 What to do if retirement planning has not started 01:03:47 Wealth, freedom, and closing thoughts 01:05:15 Where to find Greg Schorp 01:05:36 Closing remarks Resources and links: Support us at : https://linktr.ee/texashillcountryinsider Greg Schorp Texas Retirement Headquarters: https://www.txretirehq.com/ Phone: 2107252664 Steven Butcher Website: https://www.butcherbehrens.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/butcher_behren_signature_homes/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-butcher-8678841b5/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ButcherBehrens TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@butcherbehrensighomes YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ButcherBehrensSignatureHomes/shorts Phone: +1 210-636-5387 Ryan Rendon Website: https://www.ryanrendon.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryan_rendon_realtor Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RyanRendonRealtor YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ryanrendon-RealEstate Phone: +1 830-890-1943 Mentions Greg Schorp Texas Retirement Headquarters San Antonio New Braunfels Texas Hill Country Texas A&M Churchill High School Dallas Cowboys Jacksonville Jaguars Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl 30 Stone Cold Steve Austin Notre Dame College Station Pearsall Yoakum Biloxi Fort Worth California Nebraska Pacific Life Raymond James Merrill Lynch Smith Barney Roth IRA 401K 1031 exchange Delaware statutory trust Cantor Fitzgerald Texas retirement workshops Follow Texas Hill Country Insider for more conversations on local business, real estate, growth, and life across the Texas Hill Country.

Ross Dunagan On Building Flyin Diesel | Episode 12

Ryan Rendon and Steven Butcher sit down with Ross Dunagan of Flyin Diesel in Kerrville for a conversation about diesel trucks, entrepreneurship, work ethic, small-town reputation, and building a business that people trust. Ross shares how working around road construction and tinkering with trucks turned into a full-time diesel shop, what it took to grow Flyin Diesel, and why customer education, diagnostics, systems, reviews, and team culture matter so much. They also talk about technical school, diesel emissions, marketing, Google reviews, moving into a new facility, and why Kerrville is still home. YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/l79hHGBC1TI Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Episode 12 00:27 Ryan’s first connection with Ross 00:59 Opening prayer 02:11 Meet Ross Dunagan 03:21 Ross, Flyin Diesel, and family 04:26 Growing up in Kerrville 05:14 College, trucks, and early diesel work 08:07 Starting Flyin Diesel 09:04 Building a business in Kerrville 11:21 Why Ross stayed in the Hill Country 12:07 Raising a family in a small town 14:05 Working road construction with his dad 16:05 Learning what kind of business he wanted 17:16 Road construction lessons and getting paid 19:09 Early business struggles 20:25 Learning from the right people 23:19 Mindset, fitness, and entrepreneurship 24:51 Investing in yourself 26:18 Technical school versus real-world experience 28:41 Apprenticeships and training young technicians 30:49 Building the Flyin Diesel team 31:21 Old-school marketing versus social media 34:14 Staying focused on a diesel niche 36:32 Early truck builds with friends 39:02 What comes through the shop 41:11 Why Flyin Diesel avoids stereo work 41:30 New truck technology and lane assist 42:35 ADAS sensors and lifted trucks 44:53 Diagnostics and the doctor analogy 47:40 Owning mistakes and fixing problems 49:31 Preventative maintenance and customer education 51:46 Diesel maintenance costs 52:05 Fuel filter upgrades and fire prevention 53:38 Dodge, Cummins, and transmission issues 57:13 Diesel emissions and DEF 01:03:05 Building a reputation through Google reviews 01:06:56 Responding to bad reviews 01:07:16 Customer service and inspections 01:10:10 Branding and Flyin Diesel stickers 01:11:17 Moving into a new facility 01:13:20 Creating a better shop for the team 01:14:31 Doubling shop capacity 01:15:13 Commercial inspections and build-out challenges 01:19:27 Kerrville support and community trust 01:20:40 Community support after the race event 01:21:58 Kerrville, floods, and showing up 01:23:37 The future of Flyin Diesel 01:25:27 Working on the business, not just in it 01:26:46 Advice for people starting out 01:29:28 Final thoughts from Ross 01:30:14 Closing remarks Resources and links: Support us at : https://linktr.ee/texashillcountryinsider Ross Dunagan Flyin Diesel: https://flyindiesel.com/ Steven Butcher Website: https://www.butcherbehrens.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/butcher_behren_signature_homes/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-butcher-8678841b5/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ButcherBehrens TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@butcherbehrensighomes YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ButcherBehrensSignatureHomes/shorts Phone: +1 210-636-5387 Ryan Rendon Website: https://www.ryanrendon.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryan_rendon_realtor Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RyanRendonRealtor YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ryanrendon-RealEstate Phone: +1 830-890-1943 Mentions Ross Dunagan Flyin Diesel Kerrville Austin Tivy High School Tarleton State Stephenville Texas Hill Country Ford Power Stroke Cummins Dodge DEF DPF EPA Fleece Performance Napa Home Depot McCoy’s Dutch Bros Kerrville flood recovery Google reviews Diesel diagnostics Truck accessories Small-town business Follow Texas Hill Country Insider for more conversations on local business, real estate, growth, and life across the Texas Hill Country.

Matthew Mabery On Building With Integrity | Episode 11

Ryan Rendon and Steven Butcher sit down with Matthew Mabery of Mabery Contracting for a conversation about custom home building, hard work, mentorship, integrity, and building a reputation that lasts in the Texas Hill Country. Matthew shares his story of becoming independent at a young age, starting his own contracting business, learning through framing, hotels, commercial projects, and eventually building custom homes in Boot Ranch. They also talk about client relationships, choosing the right projects, building strong teams, mentoring younger people, giving back, handling stress, and why honesty and trust matter in every part of the construction process. YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/mmMCzmaMb6k Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Episode 11 00:37 Meet Matthew Mabery 01:48 Building in the Hill Country 02:24 Opening prayer 03:27 Why Matthew came on the podcast 05:37 Life at 16 and early independence 08:20 Starting with odd jobs and framing 09:07 Lady Bird Golf Course, hotels, and early opportunities 11:37 Learning through commercial construction 15:33 Breaking into Boot Ranch 16:26 The Texas Monthly model home 17:56 Building a team and stepping back 20:25 Mentorship and early guidance 23:06 Honesty, integrity, and doing the right thing 24:29 Steven’s early years in custom home building 26:44 Letting go of control 28:08 Growth, maturity, and long-term success 29:12 Choosing the right clients 31:05 Experiencing the client side of construction 32:03 Short-term rentals and reinvesting 33:55 Walking away from the wrong fit 36:32 Trusting your gut in business 38:12 Building spec homes with vision 40:50 Spec homes as a reflection of the builder 42:10 Success, motivation, and timing 44:09 Mentoring young builders 45:25 Learning through legal struggles 47:38 Matthew’s first home with his wife 50:38 Family struggles and becoming a father 53:37 Teaching young people to work hard 55:38 Giving back to the community 57:41 The joy of generosity 01:01:26 Building 67 homes in Boot Ranch 01:03:19 Earning trust in a small community 01:05:12 Living where you build 01:06:21 Relationships over the build 01:07:46 Protecting client relationships 01:11:06 The reality of being your own contractor 01:12:31 Why custom home builders earn their fee 01:16:12 Hiring the right people 01:18:40 Building loyalty through opportunity 01:21:27 Benefits, bonuses, and taking care of the team 01:24:36 Helping young people find their path 01:29:19 Why college can still matter 01:31:31 Advice for young people starting out 01:33:57 Trust, respect, and choosing the right owner 01:35:08 Final thoughts from Matthew 01:37:25 Closing prayer 01:37:48 Closing remarks Resources and links: Support us at : https://linktr.ee/texashillcountryinsider Matthew Mabery Mabery Contracting: https://www.maberycontracting.com/ Steven Butcher Website: https://www.butcherbehrens.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/butcher_behren_signature_homes/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-butcher-8678841b5/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ButcherBehrens TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@butcherbehrensighomes YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ButcherBehrensSignatureHomes/shorts Phone: +1 210-636-5387 Ryan Rendon Website: https://www.ryanrendon.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryan_rendon_realtor Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RyanRendonRealtor YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ryanrendon-RealEstate Phone: +1 830-890-1943 Mentions Fredericksburg Boot Ranch Lady Bird Golf Course Holiday Inn Express Comfort Inn Hampton Inn Boerne San Antonio Cross Mountain Texas Monthly Fredericksburg High School Saint Mary’s Shriner Port Aransas Cinnamon Shore Colorado Dave Ramsey TCU Marble Falls Horseshoe Bay Arrowhead Bank Follow Texas Hill Country Insider for more conversations on local business, real estate, growth, and life across the Texas Hill Country.

Father Ian On Catholic Faith And Community | Episode 10

Ryan Rendon and Steven Butcher sit down with Father Ian from Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Fredericksburg for a conversation about faith, prayer, Catholic tradition, calling, community, and what it means to follow Jesus in everyday life. Father Ian shares his journey into the Catholic faith, his path to the priesthood, what seminary formation looked like, and why daily prayer is essential for spiritual strength. They also talk about confession, saints, Catholic misconceptions, Fredericksburg’s faith community, Saint Mary’s School, and why anyone who has been thinking about walking through the church doors should not be afraid. YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/mXecGiivmRQ Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Episode 10 00:24 Meet Father Ian 01:07 Opening prayer 02:11 Father Ian’s snapshot 03:19 Growing up and becoming Catholic 04:32 Seminary, ordination, and early ministry 06:16 Hearing the call through prayer 08:10 Making prayer part of daily life 09:31 Following Jesus in business and life 10:48 Catholicism and Christian common ground 14:19 Seminary formation and education 17:23 Growing as a man and a professional 19:18 Coming to Fredericksburg 21:16 Serving Saint Mary’s and Our Lady of Guadalupe 23:51 Prayer, anxiety, and sitting still 25:45 Starting the day with Jesus 27:47 Hustle culture, goals, and faith 32:51 Redemption and God’s mercy 33:46 Confession and the mercy of Jesus 34:38 Saints, martyrs, and holy examples 40:08 Saint Carlo Acutis 41:40 Miracles and Catholic tradition 43:15 Veneration versus worship 46:10 Why Catholics go to confession 49:18 Catholic misconceptions 53:04 Converts and renewed interest in the Church 56:10 Christianity, Jesus, and church communities 57:01 Tradition, worship, and authenticity 01:00:10 Fredericksburg’s faith community 01:03:06 Celibacy and the priesthood 01:05:58 Saint Mary’s School and education freedom accounts 01:08:11 Be not afraid 01:09:20 Closing thoughts Resources and links: Support us at : https://linktr.ee/texashillcountryinsider Father Ian Saint Mary’s Catholic Church Fredericksburg, Texas Our Lady of Guadalupe Fredericksburg, Texas Steven Butcher Website: https://www.butcherbehrens.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/butcher_behren_signature_homes/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-butcher-8678841b5/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ButcherBehrens TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@butcherbehrensighomes YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ButcherBehrensSignatureHomes/shorts Phone: +1 210-636-5387 Ryan Rendon Website: https://www.ryanrendon.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryan_rendon_realtor Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RyanRendonRealtor YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ryanrendon-RealEstate Phone: +1 830-890-1943 Mentions Father Ian Saint Mary’s Catholic Church Saint Mary’s Parish and School Our Lady of Guadalupe Fredericksburg Archdiocese of San Antonio Archbishop Gustavo Assumption Seminary Texas State Our Lady of Wisdom Saint Monica’s Saint Andrew in Pleasanton Saint Carlo Acutis Blessed Stanley Rother Saint Augustine Saint Francis of Assisi Saint Joseph Saint Peter Saint Paul Maximilian Kolbe Saint Edith Stein Saint Januarius Gillespie County Ministerial Association Texas education freedom accounts Acts Retreat Catholic Church Confession Eucharist Nicene Creed Second Vatican Council Follow Texas Hill Country Insider for more conversations on local business, real estate, growth, and life across the Texas Hill Country.