Welcome to the Back of the Bus | Craig Way & Erin Hartigan

Recorded live from the backroom at Dudley’s on Henderson, Mike Rhyner sits down with Texas sports legend Craig Way and dynamic broadcaster Erin Hartigan for a lively trip through the roads (and backroads) of sports media. From high-school press boxes to national broadcasts, tequila at weddings to the creation of “The Ticket,” this episode is a masterclass in how passion, timing, and a little chaos can build a career.
The trio swap stories about reinvention, mentorship, the “media meal” era, and the moments that shaped their love of the game — and each other’s respect. It’s part nostalgia, part industry insight, and part laugh-out-loud storytelling, all served up with deviled eggs and jalapeño poppers.
Chapters
00:00:01 – Lightning Strikes & Rangers Hype: Welcome to Dudley’s
00:02:36 – Introducing Craig Way: From North Texas to Voice of Texas Sports
00:04:30 – Erin Hartigan Joins the Table: Filling In and Owning Her Lane
00:06:27 – Tequila at the Wedding: How Erin Became the Bell of the Ball
00:08:37 – The Back of the Bus: Where “The Ticket” Template Took Shape
00:11:02 – Building High School Football Coverage Like SportsCenter
00:14:31 – Erin’s Omaha Beginnings and Recruiting Coverage Hustle
00:16:43 – Parenthood, Pivots, and Slowing Down in a Fast Game
00:19:25 – Pops & Boompa: Grandparent Names and Life Outside Broadcasting
00:22:28 – Media Meals & Bad Baseball: Arlington Stadium Memories
00:26:12 – Mentorship Moments: Sham, Mercer, and Learning the Craft
00:30:26 – Mike’s First Radio Gig & Craig’s High School TV Studio
00:33:34 – Writing, Versatility, and Erin’s “Squirrel Mom Brain”
00:38:12 – Reinvention: From Music Dreams to Microphones
00:42:16 – Dudley’s Snacks: Jalapeño Poppers & Elevated Sports Bar Food
00:45:42 – Cowboys & Change: Landry, Jerry, and the Saturday Night Massacre
00:50:55 – Generations Without a Super Bowl: Cowboys Then & Now
00:54:13 – Ticket Luck and the Rise of Dallas Sports Radio
00:59:13 – Why Preparation Still Wins: Lessons From the Desk
01:02:35 – Closing Thoughts: Mentors, Weirdness, and What’s Next for YDC
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