Guitarist and TKO Artist Management veteran Mark Sissel hops on the Wandering Gypsy RV Life Podcast to swap road stories that span decades—36 years riding the LeDoux brand and 27 years at TKO. We dive into the real-deal moments behind the music: the 2021 San Antonio ice storm that inspired “Cards in San Antone,” Chris LeDoux’s headset-mic freedom and on-stage pranks, dodging flying Copenhagen cans, hauling a bucking machine into the Houston Astrodome, and keeping traditions alive at the Silverton during the NFR. Mark also pulls back the curtain on his work with Toby Keith, and we tip our hats to the incomparable Mac McAnally.

Stan shares a very… ahem… memorable RV black-tank mishap, and together we connect the dots between tour life and life on the road in a coach—where you make it work, keep moving, and meet good people everywhere. Plus, a nod to our licensed theme, “Brother Highway” by Ned LeDoux.

Audio note: This conversation was recorded over Zoom, and a cranky mic gave us some raspy, muffled moments. Thanks for rolling with a little extra road noise—this one’s worth the ride.

💻 Visit wanderinggypsyrvlife.com for more stories, photos, and videos from the road.

🛠️ Check out TechnoRV gear through my affiliate link: https://technorv.com?Click=12127 — they’ll help you adventure more and worry less.

🔥 Join the Campfire Circle on Patreon for behind-the-scenes extras and bonus content: Patreon.com/WanderingGypsyRVLife

🤠 And be sure to listen to my good friend Doug Simcox on the Beyond the Chutes podcast for incredible rodeo stories and cowboy history.

📘 Don’t miss my book series, Rolling Smooth: Real Lessons From the Road, available now at wanderinggypsyrvlife.com/rollingsmooth—your guide to keeping your rig road-ready and your adventures rolling.

Recorded on location inside Doug Simcox’s custom Super C (the Beyond the Chutes Bus) at the 11th Annual Mountain Cove Cowboy & Cowgirl Reunion at beautiful Mountain Cove Farms Resort in Chickamauga, Georgia. This special round-table features Doug Simcox of Beyond the Chutes and his co-host/partner Sam Swearingen—retired saddle bronc rider, longtime stock contractor, and rodeo producer—swapping real roadside stories and hard-won lessons about keeping rigs (and horses) safe on the highway.

What you’ll hear

• Sam’s rodeo road life: from broncs to stock contracting—and the nightmarish run that chewed through 11 tires before he ever reached the arena.
• Why TPMS matters (RV & equine trailers): heat, pressure, and the early warnings that save tires, bearings, fenders, wiring—and sometimes your day.
• Bearing failures & fire risk: how rising temps show up on sensors before you lose a hub (and how that protects expensive horses and gear).
• Cold snaps & PSI drops: Stan’s real-world pre-trip where falling morning temps triggered low-pressure alerts on all ten tires.
• Walk-arounds that work: quick routines, saved time, and the “data beats guesswork” mindset for safer travel.
• Black tank bloopers: comic relief with clogged gates, mislabeled flush ports, and why “education beats excavation.”
• Expandable setups: configuring multiple trailers, adding sensors later, and pairing layouts for duals, fifth wheels, and living quarters horse trailers.

Guests

• Doug Simcox — Host of the Beyond the Chutes podcast; owner of a Super C, a long-haul tower, and storyteller.
• Sam Swearingen — Co-host/partner on Beyond the Chutes; former PRCA/IPRA saddle bronc rider, stock contractor & rodeo producer.

Gear & Resources Mentioned

• Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) for RVs & horse trailersShop TechnoRV (affiliate): https://technorv.com?Click=12127
• Wandering Gypsy RV Life: stories, photos, videos, and bloghttps://wanderinggypsyrvlife.com
• Patreon — Campfire Circle (video extras & behind-the-scenes):https://patreon.com/WanderingGypsyRVLife
• Beyond the Chutes Podcast: rodeo history, legends & cowboy storytelling

Disclosure: Some links are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you—it helps keep the coffee hot and the wheels turning.

If today’s chat helped you adventure more and worry less, follow/subscribe, drop a review, and share this episode with a friend who tows—especially anyone hauling horses.

Music Credit

Theme: “Brother Highway” by Ned LeDoux — officially licensed for the Wandering Gypsy RV Life.

#RVLife #SuperC #HorseTrailer #EquineTravel #TPMS #RodeoLife #CowboyChristmas #BeyondTheChutes #MountainCoveFarms #RoadSafety #FullTimeRV #FifthWheel #TireSafety #BearingFailure #PreTripInspection #WanderingGypsyRVLife

Hey there, fellow Wanderers—welcome back to the Wandering Gypsy RV Life Podcast, where the road is long, the coffee’s hot, and the stories are always real.

In this episode, I take you along for a couple of weeks of adventure on the road:

🚐 Leaving Kick Back Ranch in Ramer, Alabama

🛑 A rough overnight at Jones RV Park in Norcross, Georgia

🎣 Fishing with Mike and Rowdy in Cherokee with River’s Edge Outfitters

🎰 A lucky night at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino

🌶 Entering Management’s Secret Chili in the KOA Cook-Off (and taking 2nd place!)

💻 A work/play stop in Chattanooga to edit my Ned LeDoux interview & build Patreon

🤠 Landing at the 11th Annual Mountain Cove Cowboy & Cowgirl Reunion for storytelling, laughter, and cowboy camaraderie

I also share the heart behind my new book, Rolling Smooth: How to Enjoy the RV Life Without Losing Your Cool. When I started RVing in 2020, I was as green as spring grass—I didn’t know the difference between a water pump and a generator, or how to prevent 30-amp power from tripping a breaker. This book is my way of giving others a starting point —a roadmap to the basics, with encouragement to stay calm when things don’t go as planned.

🔗 Links & Resources:

👉 Join the Wandering Gypsy Campfire Circle on Patreon for bonus content & video extras: patreon.com/WanderingGypsyRVLife

👉 Shop RV gear I use through my affiliate partner TechnoRV: TechnoRV.com

👉 Check out Doug Simcox’s podcast Beyond the Chutes – a deep dive into rodeo history & cowboy storytelling: beyondthechutes.show

👉 Follow my adventures:

• 🌐 Blog: wanderinggypsyrvlife.com
• 📷 Instagram: instagram.com/wanderinggypsyrvlife
• 👍 Facebook: facebook.com/wanderinggypsyrvlife
• 🎥 YouTube: youtube.com/@wanderinggypsyrvlife
• 🎙 Podcast: Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, & everywhere you listen.

#RVLife #FullTimeRV #WanderingGypsyRVLife #RollingSmooth #RVLiving #TravelPodcast #RVerStories #CampfireStories #RodeoLife #BeyondTheChutes #WesternLifestyle #TechnoRV #RVCommunity #VanLife #CowboyCulture #PatreonCommunity #RoadTripUSA