{"podcast":{"title":"Southern Gentlemen","slug":"southern-gentlemen-7080402","podcast_index_feed_id":7080402,"rss_url":"https://feeds.libsyn.com/553897/rss","website_url":"https://southerngentlemen.com","image_url":"https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/6/b/f/b/6bfb64b2df9834ead959afa2a1bf1c87/IMG_6720.jpg","author":"Chris Thomas & Winston Cruze","episode_count":85,"summary":"Southern Gentlemen is a podcast hosted by Chris Thomas and Winston Cruze. We're just two good ol' boys from the American South, making our way the only way we know how. In each episode of Southern Gentlemen, we chat about things we find interesting. From being better husbands and dads, to hunting, gear, cocktails, and more, we always come at it from a Southern perspective, and we always have a lot of fun. We're grateful y'all are here!","last_synced_at":"2026-07-24T04:20:24.072728+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/southern-gentlemen-7080402"},"episode":{"title":"Unexpected Company: Ray Casias - Part One","slug":"unexpected-company-ray-casias-part-one","published_at":"2026-04-09T11:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/southern-gentlemen-7080402/unexpected-company-ray-casias-part-one","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/southern-gentlemen-7080402","url":"https://5f373330-821f-4c71-83e4-b0dd566e2a82.libsyn.com/unexpected-company-ray-casias-part-one","audio_url":"https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/secure/5f373330-821f-4c71-83e4-b0dd566e2a82/Ray_Casias_PART_ONE.mp3?dest-id=4782852","summary":"Buy a Southern Gentlemen hat and support the show! Watch this episode on YouTube! Sometimes the best conversations are the ones you never see coming. In this third installment of our Unexpected Company series, Chris and Winston sit down with a complete stranger - no name, no background, no prep. Just a recommendation from our last guest, Allen Blaxton, and a willingness to see where the conversation leads. Enter Ray Casias. What unfolds is one of the most compelling stories we've had on the show. Ray shares how he found his way to the mic, his military service that took him all the way to the DMZ, and the path that led him into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. We hear how he met his wife, how that journey shaped his life, and how it ultimately led to the founding of Tennessee Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. But it doesn't stop there. For more than 15 years, Ray has worked closely with soldiers at Fort Campbell, helping train and prepare them for the realities of hand-to-hand combat. His perspective on discipline, readiness, and what it truly means to be prepared is something every man can learn from. There's so much depth in this conversation - so many stories, lessons, and moments - that we knew we couldn't fit it all into one episode. So consider this Part One. And trust us… you're gonna want to come back for Part Two. Have a question you'd like us to answer on the show? Maybe a topic you want us to discuss? Email holler@southerngentlemen.com or leave us a voicemail by calling (833) 623-3768, ext. 806. Connect with us online: Instagram: https://instagram.com/southerngentlemenpodcast Facebook: https://facebook.com/southerngentlemenpod Patreon: https://patreon.com/southerngentlemen","meta_description":"Buy a Southern Gentlemen hat and support the show! Watch this episode on YouTube! Sometimes the best conversations are the ones you never see coming. In t…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":4269,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/southern-gentlemen-7080402/episodes/unexpected-company-ray-casias-part-one/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/southern-gentlemen-7080402/unexpected-company-ray-casias-part-one.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}