"City council was never meant to be entertainment. We need people there who just want to put their head down and get the work done." On this episode of The Corpus Christi Originals Podcast, host Jesús Hernandez sits down with District 2 city council candidate Laura Flores Commons.

Laura is a lifelong Corpus Christi native and a dedicated community volunteer. In this episode, she discusses what it means to run for public office for the first time after 30 years of local civic service. She shares her perspective on District 2's unique boundary footprint (stretching from shoreline neighborhoods to TAMU-CC) and addresses the city's most critical issues, including long-term water diversification, public safety staffing shortages, and animal care initiatives.

Laura also shares the deeply personal story of why she gives back to the Coastal Bend. Following the loss of her husband, the incredible compassion shown by the Corpus Christi community inspired her to step up her civic commitment. Tune in to hear her vision for a collaborative, drama-free city council focused on the real work.

Connect with Laura:
Website: laurafordistrict2.com
Email: LauraForDistrict2@gmail.com

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Subscribe for weekly episode drops every Wednesday!
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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on the Corpus Christi Originals Podcast are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast, its sponsors, the recording studio, or any affiliated entities.

• (00:00:00) - District 2 on the Corpus Christi Originals Podcast
• (00:00:58) - Living in District 2
• (00:02:01) - On the City Council's Ethics Commission
• (00:04:33) - Water shortage discussion in Corpus Christi
• (00:08:23) - Community Policing and CCPD
• (00:10:19) - Commonwealth First Responds on Police Training
• (00:13:04) - City Council Member on Stray Animals
• (00:16:41) - Animals in the City
• (00:18:35) - Democrat for Corpus Christi City Council
• (00:22:18) - City Council candidate on a more collaborative council
• (00:25:16) - "Don't Even Go and VOTE!"
• (00:28:16) - Countdown to the City Council election
• (00:32:15) - Local perspectives on Parks and Recreation
• (00:34:30) - Local perspectives on tourism in Corpus Christi
• (00:38:31) - CORP CHRISTI resident on issues facing the city
• (00:40:37) - A trade union meeting in the city
• (00:43:17) - Democrat candidate for District 2

"I'll see you when I'm looking at you!" On this episode of The Corpus Christi Originals Podcast, we are coming to you live from The Artisan at 218 N. Chaparral. Host Jesús Hilario Hernandez sits down with born-and-raised local comic and storyteller Wendell Williams (aka Mr. Wendell) for an incredibly candid, laid-back conversation.

Wendell drops decades of "old school knowledge," sharing his lived experiences growing up in the historic Hillcrest neighborhood from the 1960s onward. He pulls no punches discussing the environmental impact of local refineries, the city's ongoing water crisis, and navigating the era of Jim Crow and integration.

Beyond local history, Wendell shares the powerful story of surviving a life-altering car accident in 2015, which ultimately led him to the comedy stage in 2017. He breaks down his unique "storyteller" approach to stand-up, his famous positive-spin acronyms, and why he chooses to leave the bitterness behind and stay on cruise control.

Connect with Wendell:
Facebook: Wendell Williams
Instagram: @WendellWilliams13

Support the Show:
Subscribe for weekly episode drops every Wednesday!
Visit our network hub for more community storytelling.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on the Corpus Christi Originals Podcast are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast, its sponsors, the recording studio, or any affiliated entities.

• (00:00:00) - Wendell Williams on Hillcrest!
• (00:03:32) - Hillcrest Residents: You need to move out
• (00:08:02) - Proposal to Tax the North Padre Island Community
• (00:12:04) - County resident on the tax issue
• (00:15:44) - Mary Gaynor on the Mayor's Comments
• (00:18:14) - Tony Romo on Comedians
• (00:22:05) - Comedian on Female Comedians
• (00:23:40) - Wendell Brooks on Clean Comedy
• (00:26:59) - Entertainer: I'm That N Word With the Heart
• (00:29:45) - Open Mic: Being Old Can't Help You
• (00:33:02) - James Madison on Social Media
• (00:36:57) - Wendell on His Comments on Death Row
• (00:41:02) - window willsiams 13

In Episode 124 of the Corpus Christi Originals podcast, host Jesús sits down with high school classmate and local business owner John Hanzalik, who is running for Corpus Christi City Council – District 5.

John strips away the political theater to discuss the pressing issues facing our community. He breaks down the realities of the Inner Harbor desalination project, clarifies how industry partners actively fund their own water infrastructure, and outlines his vision for managing the massive residential growth on the Southside. Beyond the politics, John shares his journey through Leadership Corpus Christi, his background as an industrial entrepreneur, and why true servant leadership means making hard, transparent decisions.

Connect with John Hanzalik's Campaign:
Facebook: John Hanzalik for District 5
Email: John4district5@gmail.com
Phone (Text Preferred): 361-446-1579

Thanks to Premier Hearing Solutions Of South Texas for making this content possible!

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Like, comment, and subscribe to keep authentic community stories alive! Head over to CorpusChristiOriginals.com for more local culture, merch, and episodes.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on the Corpus Christi Originals Podcast are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast, its sponsors, the recording studio, or any affiliated entities.

• (00:00:00) - Meet John Hanslick
• (00:00:48) - Paulette Guardo on the Impeachment Case
• (00:03:04) - Residents speak out about water
• (00:05:24) - "Raising water prices?"
• (00:07:22) - Sept. 1st Desalinization vote in Corpus Christi
• (00:09:57) - Cussing in the Civil Debate
• (00:10:37) - Democrat for Corpus Christi City Council, District 5
• (00:12:48) - Jesse Campos on Paid Political Commentators
• (00:14:30) - Heb Supermarket
• (00:16:25) - John Smith on His Run for City Council
• (00:18:22) - Baltimore City Council candidate on infrastructure
• (00:20:09) - Tom Leyman on Leadership Corpus Christi
• (00:23:54) - Local politics in Austin
• (00:26:34) - If you win the seat for District 5, what is the very
• (00:29:22) - Local comment on the city's plan to own a diesel plant
• (00:31:39) - Will privatization keep water rates in check?
• (00:32:00) - John Hanslick on Local Government
• (00:34:47) - PODCAST: John on Podcasts
• (00:37:21) - Open Mics in Denver
• (00:39:08) - Are There Any Famous Comedians From Corpus Christi?
• (00:41:58) - "That Was A Hell of a Skit!"
• (00:42:07) - TikTok on Richard Caballero's Comments
• (00:45:03) - On Political Issues on My Podcast
• (00:47:46) - Tick Tock and Facebook: How to Get Views on Your
• (00:50:49) - Dave Ramsey on Canceling Subscriptions
• (00:53:09) - A Budget for Old People
• (00:54:37) - Dave Ramsey on His Dave Ramsey Money
• (00:57:33) - Married Dave Ramsey Guy: Share Everything With My Wife
• (01:00:09) - Married Millionaire on Being Debt Free
• (01:02:10) - How Long Has Your Debt Been Paid Off?
• (01:05:23) - Local residents talk about the city's water crisis
• (01:06:42) - Dave Ramsey On His Financial Freedom Podcast
• (01:09:09) - John Hanick for City Council