The Thicket

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#4 - Chad Leonard - The Thicket

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 16:00:00 -0500

From Tennis Courts to Bird Dogs: The Chad Leonard Story | Hill Country Gundogs

What do a burnt-out tennis pro, a Georgia quail plantation, a near-death experience, and an English Cocker Spaniel named Blaze have in common? They're all part of one of the most compelling journeys in the gun dog world.

In this episode, we sit down with Chad Leonard — Texas Hill Country ranch manager turned professional gun dog trainer and co-founder of Hill Country Gundogs — for a raw, honest, and deeply inspiring conversation about dogs, faith, family, and finding your purpose.

Chad shares how a single hunt on Winfield Plantation in Albany, Georgia changed the trajectory of his life, what it felt like to stare down death alone on a ranch with no cell service, and why leaving a dream ranch job to bet on himself was the scariest and best decision he ever made.

In this episode:

● Chad's first hunt and the moment he fell in love with English Cocker Spaniels
● Life on the road — from Ohio to Georgia to New Mexico to the Texas Hill Country
● A near-fatal accident and the faith that carried him through it
● Why he walked away from the perfect ranch job to build Hill Country Gundogs
● Field trials vs. hunting dogs — what actually matters
● His friendship with Texas music legend Robert Earl Keen
● What's next for Hill Country Gundogs

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#3 - Mark Sierra - The Thicket

Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 -0500

US Army veteran, Iraq combat tour, tattoo artist, restaurant owner, and co-founder of The Purple Heart Project — Chef Mark Sierra (Compadres Hill Country Cocina) sits down for a wide-ranging conversation about the road from the Rio Grande Valley to a combat zone to a Boerne kitchen that's been named the best Mexican spot in town two years running. Mark opens up about the parts of military service nobody trains you for, what cooking actually means to him, building a Tex-Mex backyard-barbecue concept that doesn't apologize for being different, and the work he and his wife Dahlia do honoring Purple Heart recipients and Gold Star families.

What we cover:

From the Valley to the Army: growing up in La Joya, what "Mexican food" meant when it was just food, and walking into the Odessa mall recruiter asking to "blow some shit up"
Iraq: a 15-month deployment, the 65 brothers his brigade lost, and the part of basic training that doesn't prepare you for what comes after
Ink in a combat zone: how Mark started tattooing fellow soldiers downrange and ended up featured in National Tattoo Magazine
Cooking as therapy: why making tortillas keeps him grounded, connected to his grandmother, and at peace when "shit hits the fan"
Building Compadres Hill Country Cocina: dethroning the established Mexican spots in Boerne, the smoked Tex-Mex backyard-style identity, and the pricing conversations every owner faces
The Purple Heart Project: founding it with his wife Dahlia in 2020, honoring 100+ recipients, and what the annual gala looks like — standup mode, Andy Griggs's "If Heaven," and a room going up and down all night
The unseen weight: anxiety, breakdowns at the pit, and the morning NBC's Today Show called minutes after he hit bottom
Advice for anyone thinking about the restaurant industry: thick skin, love the work, and why if it turns into work, you're done

Guest:

Chef Mark Sierra — US Army veteran, owner of Compadres Hill Country Cocina in Boerne, TX, tattoo artist, and co-founder of The Purple Heart Project with his wife Dahlia

Why this matters:

The Hill Country has more veteran-owned businesses than most people realize, and the stories behind them are rarely told all the way through. Mark's is one of resilience, service that didn't end with the uniform, and a kitchen built around the food he grew up on. If you've eaten at Compadres — or you're thinking about supporting a Purple Heart Project event — this is the conversation that gives every plate and every gala more weight.

If you enjoy this episode:

Share it with a neighbor or a veteran in your life
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Visit Compadres Hill Country Cocina in Boerne, TX
Learn more about The Purple Heart Project at https://purpleheartpro.org

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#2 - J.C. Taylor - The Thicket

Tue, 12 May 2026 23:00:00 -0500

Lifelong Kendall County resident J.C. Taylor (VP of Strategy, Texas Star Nut and Food Company) lays out pragmatic, local-first solutions for water, mobility, and emergency services while protecting property rights and the Hill Country character. We cover why Kendall County’s steady 3.5% annual growth since 1990 demands action, not slogans—and how to corral growth near existing corridors, partner with the state before it decides for us, and fund the right fire/EMS coverage as neighborhoods expand. J.C. also shares his family business journey scaling a national food brand and opens up about sobriety, faith, and service—and why he’s running for County Commissioner (Precinct 2).

What we cover:

● Water, for real: reservoirs, a possible county water utility district, rainwater harvesting tax abatements, and long-horizon desalination tradeoffs
● Mobility > gridlock: practical connectors, Hwy 46/I‑10 pressure relief, and planning that concentrates development instead of sprawling it everywhere
● Emergency services: when volunteer fire works, when it doesn’t, and options for county-run staffing vs. ESDs in hot spots (Bergheim, Comfort, Tapatio)
● Growth math: Kendall County’s ~3.5% compounded growth since 1990—why “do nothing” isn’t neutral, and how free-market principles and personal responsibility still guide good policy
● Property rights and conservation: using tools like easements strategically (and where they fall short if we ignore supply and infrastructure)
● Personal: J.C.’s path through recovery (since 2017), family loss, and a deepening faith that fuels public service

Guest:

J.C. Taylor — Kendall County resident, business leader, and candidate for County Commissioner (Pct. 2)

Why this matters:

Local politics shapes daily life—roads, water, safety, and how your community grows. If you live in Kendall County or the Texas Hill Country, this conversation helps translate passion into practical action.

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#1 - Reid Thomas - The Thicket

Fri, 08 May 2026 15:00:00 -0500

What does it take to build a top show-horse program — and a life — around two heartbeats? In this candid conversation, horseman and coach Reid Thomas (Reid Thomas Performance Horses) shares how he went from teaching lessons at 14 to leading a world‑class English/Western/ranch all‑around program. He breaks down the “underground” world of judged horse shows, how he pairs riders with the right horses, why welfare and ethics come first, and what it really costs (time, money, emotion) to chase buckles and world titles.

You’ll hear:

The philosophy: precision over time, two heartbeats, and “preserve and protect”
Matching riders to horses (and when to sell, buy, or pivot)
Coaching youth vs. adult amateurs and the mental game required
The grind: 20‑day shows, 3–4 hours of sleep, five arenas at once
Vet care and rehab tech (shockwave, laser, spa) for equine athletes
Building a team that scales quality, not chaos
Life with exotics and conservation with partner Eric
Practical advice for new riders on getting a rock‑solid foundation

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