Episode 32: Lee Wells | Welcome Back - Season 2 Kickoff

In this episode of the Ranch and Table podcast, host Lee Wells welcomes listeners back for the start of Season 2. Lee discusses the hiatus since the last episode and introduces the new studio in Rockwall, highlighting its convenience for guests and improved scheduling flexibility. Sponsored by Wells Cattle Company Burgers & Pies, Lee promotes the restaurant's unique, high-quality burgers and handmade dishes.

The episode provides an update on Lee's activities during the hiatus, particularly his involvement in aiding ranchers affected by a massive fire in the Texas Panhandle. Lee explains how he coordinated relief efforts, documented the process, and ultimately created a documentary film about the disaster. The film has been screened locally and submitted to film festivals, with the hope of gaining further distribution.

Lee wraps up by discussing upcoming podcast plans, including a controversial business topic on discount practices, and promotes his book "Burger Brilliance." The episode concludes with a call for listener feedback and interaction.

Transcript

  Welcome everybody. Welcome back to another episode of the ranch and table podcast. Um, my name is Lee Wells. I'm your host and this begins our season two. So it's been a while since we have, uh, been on since I've been on air, but, uh, great to be back. Great to see you.  Talk to you and uh, glad that we're all together again Uh today's episode is brought to you by wells cattle company burgers and pies downtown rockwall Did you know that wells is the only ranch to table restaurant in our area?

And our burgers are exclusively made with wells ranch beef and our scratch kitchen makes five handmade sauces every day handmade hand cut fries handmade desserts Um, if you've not been to Wells yet, what in the world are you waiting for? I hope to see you,  uh, today. I want to welcome you back to, uh, the first episode of season two.

I want to introduce season two, introduce, uh, what we're going to be doing, but also where we've been, where I've been over the last few months. Um, it's been, it's been crazy. It's been a lot. And so, uh, if you're interested in what all has been going on, just hang on here. I'm going to. Get into all of that.

Um, first of all, we made some big changes. If you're watching this on video, I think you can see some of the changes as we have moved studios. Now the studio is in Rockwall and I believe it's going to be more convenient for. Uh, guest because most of our guests come out of this area. And then also it's, um, uh, opens up more opportunities on our schedule, my schedule and the family.

So I think it's going to be great. You can see we've made some changes. We'll continue to. Do some things I just had to get started and get going and uh, remove all excuses out of the way And just uh, just start it off. So here we are and thanks again for being here I um, I really appreciate everyone that listens everyone that watches It really does make a difference and a lot of work goes into this a lot of money A lot of effort goes into a podcast if you do it, right?

I certainly try to do it, right? So you see the new The new look, and I hope you like it. And, uh, you'll see some interesting guests in this season coming from all over here in this area, and I've already been talking to some of them. They're excited to be on air with us. So I'm looking forward to all that.

I'm going to keep that to myself right now until we get it a little bit closer, but man, we have had so much happen. I have been so busy. Since the last time I did an episode and I tell you to be honest, uh, things got so busy. I had to stop something. I had to quit doing something in my life. I was going crazy, uh, trying to keep up with everything.

And that's why we, we closed the podcast for a while, took a hiatus, and then. Uh, call that season one. And then now we're coming back with season two and doing it again. I fully intended to always come back and do this again. I love doing this. I love speaking with interesting people.  I like sharing, uh, some of the things that I've learned, hopefully helping some folks that.

Um, maybe haven't thought about some of the things in the way that, that I, I've come around to thinking or, or just whatever. Um, it's just been, it's been, it's been fun. I enjoy doing this, but it is a lot of work writing these podcast episodes, getting the schedules together, the post production, all of that's just, it's a lot.

And so I got so busy. With all of the work going into the panhandle, all of the efforts that we were doing there. If you're not familiar with what I'm talking about, uh, the largest fire that Texas has ever seen, uh, came across the Texas panhandle this, this spring and, uh, into February, into March.  And it took, uh, some say up to, uh, to 1.

5 million acres, um, destroying everything in its path, homes, ranches, fences, cattle, the, everything it could burn up, it did, um, just as a reference, there's never been a fire that large. in California, um, it's, it's really a massive, massive deal. So we were busy coordinating, uh, me and a team of people, hay and feed, uh, taking donations of all kinds, even monetary donations, and then helping get that to the people in the panhandle that were needing it most.

Um, we ended up sending about a third of a million dollars worth of help. That was in fencing, in a half a million pounds of feed, um,  hay bales, just, just everything that they would need. We ended up trying to find it for them and get it to them. And so it turned into a full time job.  And, uh, as at the same time, I decided let's take a camera and let's record and try to capture some of this, which turned into a full time job.

documentary. And so, um, as we were working to get all of this aid and help to the ranchers, uh, we were also shooting interviews and gathering footage of what was going on. And then we had to come back and, you know, And put all that into edit and then create a film out of it. And so, uh, yeah, it just got to be a lot.

And so  we're back. And so I want to just go through and tell you a little bit about what's happened over the times we haven't been talking and, uh, kind of catch you up on where we are and then. Um, next episode, I'll, I'll give this little spoiler away. Next episode will be a business concept and, uh, it'd be great for businesses to, to glean from, I hope.

And it's a, it's an opinion of mine, uh, that I can back up with some fact. And so it'll be a, it'll be a spicy discussion, I'm sure. But, uh, this is what's been going on, uh, as we close season one, I was neck deep in our efforts to help the ranchers and the panhandle. And then the documentary began to  bloom into a full time job as well.

And it was overwhelming. So we finished filming  and went right into edits. And so I spent several weeks driving back and forth to Prosper, Texas, uh, to direct the film in the editing studio.  And then after it was done there, it went to a mastering studio. And that was located in London, England. And that six hour difference was  noticed.

It was, it was a lot. And so we, we got it done. The final edits, uh, finished up and then we began to premiere the video, the film. And so we went out to Pampa, Texas in August, August 24th. And was able to show this right in the heart of the fire zone The reason we did that is we invited all the folks that were involved In it and their families and their neighbors and anyone who wanted to come but really we were doing a first viewing a first showing to those that were Uh involved with it with us and let them see the the finished product  That we were able to produce with their help And so we wanted I was very important to me to show these people  what they were in and what they look like and what we Let them say and all those things And get their seal of approval before anybody else saw it and let me just tell you that was a humbling day That was an amazing day And I told them I promised them I would not take anything out of context.

I'm a rancher Uh, I understand what they're saying when they say things and I was not going to twist it Or make it into something. It wasn't and of course, I didn't do that and they all appreciated that, of course, uh, and were able to, to shake my hand off and, uh, just hug my neck. And it was a great day.

It was amazing.  Um, lots of, lots of good. We had a reception afterwards at a steakhouse out there and it was just a great time. So that was in August, about 400 people showed up. And there's pictures and video, um, out on the website. So the website for the documentary is we're here doc. com. So W E R E H E R E D O C dot com.

That's where you can find all the information about what's coming up, where it's going to be, where it's been, all of that stuff. So. We get back and into September,  we, we took the film back to the fire zone and my wife and I took it for a week into local theaters and we showed it every night of the week to a different city in a different area of the, of the fire zone out there in the Panhandle.

And I tell you again, humbling, amazing. The people out there are so kind. They are so. Uh, they're just amazing folks. They just really are. And, uh, I joke about it, but my hand was sore for about a week because those big ranchers would come out of there and they'd squeeze my hand so hard to not let a tear come out of their eye or not, not let their voice shake because they were so moved by the gravity of what they had lived through and what we were able to capture.

And so some of the greatest, uh, one of the greatest accolades I've ever received in my life, I think. is the approval of these, these ranchers that were grateful for what we had put the effort into and the story that we were able to tell, um, and, and with what they had been through themselves. And so I think a lot of times, uh, we don't get a true picture of what ranching looks like farming.

Uh, we get the, uh, Either the Hollywood version of it, which is very skewed, or we get the, you know, the, the, I guess you would call it the butcher, um,  butcher plant version of it that makes everybody want to be vegans or, uh, you just don't get a straight shot. You just don't get a straight look at what ranching is about, what, what they go through, how much it costs.

And to be honest how little the government helps how little any of these programs really work Uh, so it was a very eye opening experience even for them to be able to see it on the screen And uh and put together like we did so we took it through and and showed it for uh, five consecutive nights In the fire zone and it was amazing.

It was so much so much fun to do that. So moving to do that  And then when we got back, um, in, in October, we showed it in Greenville, which is where I grew up. So we brought it back to this area in the Dallas area and, uh, showed it to friends and neighbors and those who had been involved and donated and, and all kinds of folks came out about 400 again. 

Came out and saw it there and I was surprised my state rep Jill Dutton showed up and ask if she could say something at the end. And I said, of course, um, well, she surprised me with a flag flown over the Capitol and a resolution in my honor. And I told her. I said, if I'd have known you were doing all that, I might not have given you this microphone, but it was, uh, it was an honor and it was a lot, but it was an honor to, uh, to be recognized and honored.

And, and, um, you know, I don't, I don't know if I like all that kind of stuff, but, uh, it was appreciated for sure. And so that was a, that was a great night. And just to share.  With, uh, friends and family and local folks out here that I've grown to love. And to see their response as well was, was an amazing thing.

So,  uh, that, that took us through the showings and then we had to stop showing it because we submitted to 16 film festivals around the country.  Let me explain what that's about. So, you, you build a film, you put all the money into it, time, edits, all of that.  Well, then what? It's kind of like a book. You know, you write a book, you sell it to your friends and family, and then it sits in the closet somewhere if you don't do something else with it.

So a film can be the same way just because you make it doesn't mean it goes anywhere. So the path that we've taken is we've submitted to film festivals and a lot of them we've picked to be the more conservative film festivals. And so, We're hoping to be picked up by a few of them shown at their festival and then perhaps distribution could come from that.

Uh,  it's my understanding that streaming services and various distribution companies attend these festivals, watch the films, And then try to make a deal, uh, for distribution there or thereafter. So we'll see what happens with that. I don't know if, uh, that route will work for us as a documentary or not.

We're very conservative and the film industry is not. I'll just say it. The film industry is a perverted place for the most part. Uh, they have an agenda  and their agenda does not align with uh the heart of ranchers and the heart of Uh, God fearing people that are, uh, neighbors and helping neighbors and, um,  you know, Sunday school is mentioned and God is mentioned and, uh, loving each other's mentioned.

And so I don't know, I don't know if we'll be picked up by, um,  festivals or not, but we're trying. We're just going to put it out there and see what happens. And uh, and if, if it's meant to be, I guess it will be. So. That's about all all that we know at this point is that we're submitted And uh, and those will be happening the first part of next year.

So first quarter of 25 is when we'll be Uh, getting more information on that. Now, again, go to the website. The website, um, will keep you updated on what's going on there and when it's going to be out for others to view and all of that. So, um, it's been a great year. It's been an amazing year. Uh, wow. It's been a lot.

Uh, but to wrap this part up, I'll just tell you that I've been invited to Texas A& M College Station. And there are several schools within the university that are going to participate. in uh, the viewing, the showing of this film and then a panel discussion that will follow that I've been invited to sit in on and discuss some of these things that we, we helped with and some of the things that we saw.

And then just the other day, I got an invitation. It, well, I was invite, I was asked if we would be willing to show the film in Austin.  And this is to our state legislature, uh, the House and the Senate of the state of Texas. And so, uh, there's even talk about renting the big IMAX there in Austin and having them there to view it.

So, uh, what they told me, one of the senators told me that there's a lot of ag related bills that are going to be coming to, to the Capitol, to the process.  They feel like this film would set a good educational  baseline for their decisions. And I love that because, like I told them,  a lot of our legislature is made up of lawyers and people.

Um, uh, various people, uh, professionals, um, various kinds, but not necessarily people who know anything about ranching or know anything about, um, agriculture. So that to be asked that our film could be used as education to give a honest look at what ranching is about is pretty cool. That's pretty cool stuff.

So we'll see. And again, if that happens, um, I'm sure I'll mention it on Facebook or somewhere. Uh, that's a pretty cool thing to happen. So, uh, they're working on getting all of that sponsored and through and And uh, see if they can agree on that. I don't know if government's able to agree on much anymore, but hopefully,  and, uh, I just tell you this, when I took those cameras with us on that trip out there, the first time to the panhandle, I had no idea that all of this was going to come of it.

I had no idea that, that this was going to happen. I couldn't, and, um, it's just been an honor and it's been something that, uh, kind of unforeseen, but. But also, uh, just, it's just been amazing. It's been an amazing journey. And so I hope that if you're listening to this podcast, you're, you're viewing this podcast and you haven't seen the film, uh, go out, watch the trailer.

Um, it's at we're here doc. com. Watch the trailer, watch some of the clips that we have out there, and then, uh, stay tuned. I hope you get are able to see it. I hope you would want to. It's, um, it's an honest look at what those guys have, Have been through this year and what something like this an event like this what it cost How big of a deal it is it's it's uh,  i've seen it so many times now  i'm sick of it But it's uh, it's a very interesting thing.

I heard a guy on uh on the internet earlier today. He said he said  Talking about songwriting. He said He said, the best thing to do is never, never participate in how a song is written. He said, to enjoy a song, you need to just listen to the finished song. He said, because it'll ruin you if you go through the writing process.

I think that's also true for documentaries. If you have to go through the process of all the footage and all of the editing and, and all the times I've seen it, it's countless numbers of times now. Um, it sure takes a lot of the fun out, but for those that are seeing it for the first time. Um, it's, it's a pretty cool deal,  but anyway, uh, that's what we've been doing.

Uh, that's what I've been doing. Um, instead of doing podcast every week, but I'm back on track. I'm looking forward to this season. I'm looking forward to next week's episode, and I'm planning on talking about a very controversial business topic. Uh, we're going to come right out of the gate next week with something that's Probably stir some people's thinking  Some things that people do all the time without thinking about it and it's detrimental to your business uh, it can really hurt you and not help you as much as you think  and  I hope people aren't upset  when they hear this but  I think i've got a good A good backing for what I'm going to tell you about and it's one of the most silly practices in our business And i'll just i'll just tell you what it is.

So maybe you'll be interested in listening to the next episode Um, it's it's the it's the practice of discounts  and if you've read my book burger brilliance Uh, you know, I call it discount games In there there's a chapter called discount games. I am not a fan You Of discounting. I'm not a fan of 50 percent off buy one get one free 10 percent off.

I I don't think well, I won't say anymore I'll wait till next week to get into that subject with you. But um, anyway, I've I've  just wanted to get back in the groove. I just wanted to get you all Up to date back to square one if you will With where I've been, what we're doing, uh, season two kicking off.

And, um, if you don't have my book yet, uh, you can get it at lee wells, official. com, Amazon target Barnes and noble. com, uh, walmart. com. Um, I'm missing some places, but, uh, or you could just come to the restaurant and get one and I'll. I'll sign it for you or whatever you want. And I'll, I'll do what you want there, but we sell them there in the restaurant as well, Wells Cattle Company. 

And so, uh, Hey, thank you for joining me today. I, this is a little bit different, but I had to do something to jump back in and, and test the new studio out. And so, uh, getting back into the groove, getting back into it. And, uh, so this week is sponsored by Wells Cattle Company. My, my restaurant is paying for this.

And if you haven't been to Wells yet, you got to come by and see us. Uh, we've won best burger for six years in a row.  There's a reason for that. We have the most premium ground beef in the world, and I think you'll love it. And so come see us, uh,  wellscattleco. com. You can check it out online and get your visit planned, get your burger picked out, uh, get your sides and your dessert picked out before you ever get there.

And so thank you so much. As always, I welcome feedback. If you can talk to me about the show, um, email me. You know, message me on Facebook, whatever is convenient for you. Um, I love to hear feedback. I love to hear suggestions and ideas. If you have any, um, let me know what you want to hear and let me know what you want to talk about.