National 4-H Week continues on the Big Frank Show, and this time I'm visiting with Mariah Delk, a member of Laguna 4-H in Nueces County and a sophomore at King High School. Mariah shows swine and rabbits, which means she knows a thing or two about early mornings, patience, and what a pig can do to a perfectly good plan. But the animals are only part of the story. We talk about what 4-H has taught her about social skills and networking, and how standing up in front of a room full of people gets a whole lot easier the more you do it. Mariah also tells me about her presentation at the state level in College Station, what that experience was like, and what she took away from it. And if you're a parent wondering whether 4-H is right for your kid, stick around. Mariah has some straight talk for you, straight from a young person who's living it.

It's National 4-H Week, and I've got two young folks who remind me why I'm proud to call Texas home. And proud to have kids in the 4-H program!

Heidi Liska is the Live Oak County 4-H Council President. Kate Harmon is a Texas Livestock Youth Ambassador. Both of them got their start the way a lot of us did, with a project, a lot of early mornings, and a county full of people who showed up to cheer them on.

We talk about what 4-H has taught them, what it takes to raise and show an animal, and what it means to lead your fellow 4-H'ers at a time when kids their age have a thousand other things pulling at them.

We also get into the Live Oak County community that backs them, and why this organization still matters to the future of agriculture in Texas. If you've ever bought a livestock project at the county show, dropped a few dollars in the jar, or just been proud of a kid for being a member, this one's for you.

And if you know a young person who could use a place to learn, lead, and get a little dirt under their fingernails, you'll want to hear what these two have to say.

Find out more at https://texas4-h.tamu.edu/about/about/

This episode of The Big Frank Show, I am joined by David Irizarry, CEO of Corpus Christi Medical Center and this year's chairman of the American Heart Association Coastal Bend Heart Walk, joins me for a conversation that matters to every family in South Texas.

We talk about why the Heart Walk means so much to our community, why Hands-Only CPR can be the difference between life and death, and how easy it is to get involved this year. Here's the reality: 9 out of 10 people who suffer cardiac arrest outside the hospital don't survive. But immediate CPR can triple someone's chance of making it. Through the Coastal Bend Heart Walk, the American Heart Association is working to make sure someone in every home is ready to act in a cardiac emergency.

Every walker, every dollar donated, means more lifesaving moments for all of us, including you and your loved ones.

The Coastal Bend Heart Walk is Saturday, October 3, 2026 at Whataburger Field. Register today at CoastalBendHeartWalk.org and learn Hands-Only CPR in just 90 seconds.

🎙️ NEW EPISODE: Big Frank sits down with Barbara Canales of the Ready or Not Foundation to talk "Best Dressed: A Western Hollywood Evening" happening on Sept 19 at the Ortiz Center. Legendary designer MANUEL, the "Rhinestone Rembrandt," brings his iconic state-jacket collection to Corpus Christi, honoring Dr. Will Parsons and raising funds for pediatric brain cancer research. Fashion. Art. American icons. A cure worth fighting for. 🎗️

I sat down with Barbara Canales of the Ready or Not Foundation to talk about something truly special coming to Corpus Christi. On September 19, the Solomon P. Ortiz International Center will host "Best Dressed: A Western Hollywood Evening," an immersive fashion art exhibition starring legendary designer MANUEL, the man they call the "Rhinestone Rembrandt." MANUEL will be here in person with his incredible collection of state jackets, wearable art pieces that tell the story of America through fashion.

The evening also honors Dr. Will Parsons, Director of Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Center, whose work in pediatric brain tumor research and precision medicine is changing outcomes for kids fighting cancer. Since September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, this event carries extra weight. Brain and nervous system cancers remain the leading cause of childhood cancer death in the U.S., and every dollar raised goes toward finding better, more precise, less toxic treatments.

Barbara and I dig into why this cause matters so much to the Ready or Not Foundation and how the community can be part of it. Fashion, art, American icons, and a cure worth fighting for. Tickets and sponsorship info at readyornotfoundation.org.

This epidode of the show show, I'm talking with Brian Devaney and Grace Gonzales from The Miracle League of Corpus Christi to talk about their "Toughest Mile" Fundraiser! Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 10th at Salinas Park. This is a fun (and yes, grueling) obstacle-style event featuring burpee broad jumps, high knees, bear crawls, lunges and a run to the finish. It'll test you, but it's all for a great cause. Every dollar raised supports the Miracle League's special needs programs for children and adults right here in our community. Brian and Grace joined me to share all the details and tell us why this event means so much to the families it serves. Give it a listen! For more info or to sign up, call 361-452-3536 or head to miracleleagueofcorpuschristi.org/toughest-mile.

COASTAL BEND BLOOD CENTER — NEED FOR LIFE BLOOD DRIVE
Here’s something big to put on your radar.The Coastal Bend Blood Center provides blood products to medical facilities across 10 counties in South Texas, and every donation matters.One blood donation can help save up to three lives.That is huge.

And coming up this Saturday, August 29th, it’s the annual Need for Life Blood Drive at Cavender’s Boot City. And yes, they are going all-in with the game-day giveaways.Donate blood and you’ll have a shot at prizes like football tickets, concert tickets, gift cards, a Pit Boss gas vertical smoker, a $300 H-E-B gift card, a 55-inch flat screen TV, an RTIC 52-quart hard cooler, a $100 Valero fuel card, SeaWorld San Antonio tickets, a Corpus Christi Hooks ticket package, and more. Every donor will also receive the new Pennant Donor Shirt and a Blue Bell Ice Cream voucher.

So yes, you could win some really cool prizes.But the biggest reason to go is simple: your donation could help save someone right here in South Texas. The Need for Life Blood Drive is Saturday, August 29th at Cavender’s Boot City. Find more at CoastalBendBloodCenter.org.

Monday, July 27, 2026 - Available on iHeartRadio It's National Chicken Finger Day, which is just a reminder that some of us never emotionally moved past the kids' menu. But today's show is also tackling some serious South Texas issues alongside the fun and ridiculous—because that's what Monday in the Coastal Bend looks like.

Water Alert: The Nueces River is rising, and officials in Live Oak County are going door-to-door in low-lying neighborhoods near Three Rivers and George West, encouraging folks to prepare. The river could potentially go above 40 feet this week, with emergency crews staged across the county. But here's the silver lining: all this water is great news for our watershed. Choke Canyon is already up thanks to the Frio, and Lake Corpus Christi should see a big increase. We officially passed 20% combined capacity for the first time since December 2024. Stage 3 water restrictions are still in effect, but the water situation is improving.

Mosquito Prevention: After all the rain, mosquitoes are coming. The Health District is giving away free mosquito-prevention kits this week at senior centers—mosquito dunks, insect repellent, and emergency prep materials. Today at Broadmoor and Ethel Eyerly, tomorrow at Garden and Northwest Senior Centers. One per household, first come, first served, walk-up only.

Lottery Madness: Powerball is $633 million tonight, Mega Millions jumps to $800 million tomorrow. Nearly one-and-a-half billion dollars up for grabs this week. And apparently some mathematician claims he's cracked the lottery secret—conveniently available in his new book. Because nothing says "I won" like needing book sales.

House of Rock Celebrates: Downtown Corpus Christi institution House of Rock is celebrating its 21st anniversary tomorrow at 5 p.m. Two decades of supporting original music, local artists, and unforgettable live shows. Congratulations to owner Casey Lain and the team.

Good News: Abigail Seymour walked 485 miles across Spain in her twenties, then at 47 enrolled in law school while raising two kids. Failed the bar twice. Her therapist told her, "Everything you want is on the other side of comfort." She tried again, passed on the third attempt, and at 59 now runs Camino Law, a bilingual women's law firm with seven employees. Named one of North Carolina's 50 Most Influential Women. It's never too late to start over.

Weird Food Trends: Cheez-It and Coors Light created beer cheese crackers with the malty hoppy flavor of Coors but no alcohol. It sounds terrible and amazing at the same time. Welcome to a world where food companies keep asking, "What if we made normal food taste like beer?"

Miracle Treat Day: This Thursday at participating DQ restaurants in Texas, one dollar or more from every Blizzard sold benefits Children's Miracle Network and Driscoll Children's Hospital. New Blizzard flavors include Biscoff Cookie, Mexican-Style Hot Chocolate with ABUELITA, and Strawberry Mango Mochi. I'll be at the Odem DQ—grab a Blizzard and help the kids.

Shark Week Comedy: Discovery's Shark Week is teaching people to "read" shark body language through fins, posture, and movement. My shark body language chart has one entry: Shark nearby = leave. I don't need to know if he's curious or playful. If I see a shark, I'm becoming a speedboat.

BigFrankShow2GO: Where rising rivers meet lottery dreams, good news stories, and shark body language tutorials you don't need—available on iHeartRadio.

Water, weather, community recognition, back-to-school prep, and some surprisingly good news about your morning coffee—it's all on the agenda today. We're tracking the rising Frio River near Tilden as folks keep close watch on water levels. Rockport is getting some well-deserved recognition that has the whole community buzzing. Robstown is hosting a back-to-school event to help families prepare for the upcoming year. And apparently, America is officially in a "bean era"—we're talking about the food trend taking over the country. But here's something that'll make your morning better: new research shows coffee is actually good for you. No guilt required. This Saturday, STEM Day by the Bay is happening, giving kids a chance to explore science, technology, engineering, and math in a fun way at the bay. Plus, Corpus Christi Parks and Recreation is hiring for after-school jobs—if you're looking for summer or school-year work, this could be your shot.

Today is a special one. It's my birthday, and it's also my 30th anniversary on Corpus Christi radio. Three decades. Since July 20, 1996, I've been cracking the mic here in the Coastal Bend, and I can honestly say this community has given me more than I could ever imagine. From morning shows to community events to covering the stories that matter to South Texas, it's been an incredible 30 years. Thank you to everyone who's listened, called in, supported the shows, and made this job a privilege.

But today's show is about more than just celebrating. We're covering real stuff that matters.
The Frio River near my hometown of Tilden is rising, and folks are keeping a close eye on water levels.

We're monitoring tropical development in the Northeastern Gulf—hurricane season is here and we need to stay prepared.

And we're asking the critical question: will we finally see water releases from our lakes once they reach certain thresholds? Because in South Texas, water is everything.

On the lighter side, HEB is bringing their legendary BBQ to Corpus Christi, there's exciting talk of a Farah Fawcett statue honoring the iconic actress with deep South Texas roots, and we want to hear from you. Share your shark stories! We've got the Talkback microphone open, and your encounters—whether terrifying or just plain interesting—are exactly what we want to hear today.

Thirty years. Plus it's my birthday. Watching rising rivers, tropical weather and your shark stories. That's Monday in the Coastal Bend.