Sheriff Chris Ayala On Serving Gillespie County | Episode 16

Sheriff Chris Ayala On Serving Gillespie County | Episode 16

Ryan Rendon sits down with Christopher “Chris” Ayala, Gillespie County Sheriff, for a conversation about law enforcement, leadership, faith, mental health, youth, public safety, and what it means to serve the Texas Hill Country community. Sheriff Ayala shares how he got into law enforcement, the accident that changed his life, his years teaching local students, and what led him to run for sheriff. They also talk about mental health response, drug prevention, youth outreach, emergency preparedness, the July 2025 Hill Country floods, and why Gillespie County works best when the community and law enforcement stay connected. YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/wVoOGP3dC9Q Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Episode 16 00:26 Meet Sheriff Chris Ayala 00:51 Opening prayer 01:27 Sheriff Ayala’s background 02:59 Growing up in Jourdanton 04:03 Early law enforcement career 04:50 Coming to Fredericksburg 05:28 The accident that changed his life 07:27 Recovery and second chances 10:26 Advice for young officers 14:08 Fitness and readiness in law enforcement 17:56 Teaching law enforcement at the high school 20:07 Connecting officers with local youth 22:15 Running for Gillespie County Sheriff 24:38 Going old school with community leadership 27:20 Why Gillespie County chose him 29:03 First day as sheriff 30:20 Sheriff’s office versus police department 31:56 Tourism, ranch land, and public safety 34:37 Fatal accidents and officer mental health 36:12 Mental health response in Gillespie County 38:46 Spiritual warfare, family, and support 41:30 Youth drug concerns 42:10 Drug prevention and narcotics enforcement 46:23 Facility dog and mental health support 48:03 Why one conversation can prevent tragedy 50:50 July 2025 Hill Country flood response 56:05 Emergency preparedness lessons 01:00:15 Emergency alerts and evacuation 01:04:24 Safety advice for newcomers 01:07:26 What success looks like as sheriff 01:12:18 How to reach the sheriff’s office 01:15:01 Advice for future law enforcement officers 01:18:25 Closing thoughts Resources and links: Support us at : https://linktr.ee/texashillcountryinsider Christopher “Chris” Ayala Gillespie County Sheriff: https://www.gillespiecounty.gov/1206/County-Sheriff Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cgayala17/ 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 Christopher “Chris” Ayala Gillespie County Sheriff’s Office Gillespie County Fredericksburg Jourdanton Floresville Pleasanton Wilson County Kendall County Kerr County Harper Stonewall Fredericksburg Police Department Fredericksburg ISD Texas Hill Country Service Dogs Inc Banjo Mental health officer Narcotics division July 2025 Hill Country floods Camp Mystic Kerrville Jourdanton High School Georgetown High School Law enforcement program Ride along program Gillespie County proud Follow Texas Hill Country Insider for more conversations on local business, real estate, growth, and life across the Texas Hill Country.

From Bullied Kid To Professional Boxer | Episode 15

Ryan Rendon and Steven Butcher sit down with Javier Vargas of Diamond Boxing Club in Kerrville for a conversation about boxing, faith, discipline, confidence, and using the fight game as a platform to point people toward Jesus. Javier shares how being bullied as a kid led him into boxing, how the sport changed his life, and how Diamond Boxing Club became more than a gym. They talk about moving from South Texas to Kerrville, opening a protein shop, transitioning into boxing full time, building a community, training fighters, serving young people, and finding peace through faith. YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/vIdPZ9rz8BI Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Episode 15 00:38 Opening prayer 01:19 Meet Javier Vargas 02:20 Javier’s pets and life in Kerrville 03:40 Moving from South Texas to Kerrville 05:09 First visit to the Empty Cross 07:02 Starting the protein shop 08:35 Running the shop through Covid 10:44 Permit issues and a major pivot 11:05 Finding boxing again in Kerrville 12:13 Sparring at Powerhouse 13:19 Taking over the boxing gym 15:11 From supplements to boxing full time 16:07 Transitioning into Diamond Boxing Club 19:31 Why the Hill Country felt different 20:36 The Empty Cross and divine signs 21:51 Kerrville community and the flood response 24:52 How boxing started after being bullied 28:09 First coach and early weight loss 30:15 Winning his first Golden Gloves fight 30:57 What the first fight felt like 33:58 Learning control in the ring 35:41 Professional record and first losses 38:18 Fighting in Las Vegas 40:04 Eye injury and orbital fractures 44:36 Current training and upcoming fights 46:20 Training clients at the gym 49:03 Faith inside Diamond Boxing Club 51:21 Boxing as a platform for Jesus 53:19 Handling a draw with faith 55:04 Who comes to the gym 56:24 Why women should learn self-defense 58:23 Running a boxing gym in Kerrville 01:00:06 What boxing really teaches 01:01:57 Footwork, focus, and patience 01:04:15 The future of Diamond Boxing Club 01:06:01 Building family in Kerrville 01:06:22 Finding church community at Gateway 01:12:03 Message for someone in a dark place 01:18:16 Where to find Diamond Boxing Club 01:19:11 Upcoming fights and closing thoughts Resources and links: Support us at : https://linktr.ee/texashillcountryinsider Javier Vargas Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thereal_javii?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Diamond Boxing Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diamondboxingclub_kerrville?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DiamondBoxingClubKerr/ 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 Javier Vargas Diamond Boxing Club Kerrville South Texas McAllen Ingram The Empty Cross Gateway Fellowship Cross Kingdom San Antonio Las Vegas Golden Gloves Professional boxing Self-defense Faith Brotherhood Youth training Women’s self-defense Diamond Boxing Club Kerrville Follow Texas Hill Country Insider for more conversations on local business, real estate, growth, and life across the Texas Hill Country.

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.