Advertise on podcast: Dave Ward & Friends

Last week you heard what happens when two legendary, local Houston broadcasters get together with a combined on-air experience of almost 100 years. In this episode, Dave continues reminiscing with the former “Good Morning Houston” host, Don Nelson. All Houston households at one point likely woke up with Don Nelson weekdays on channel 13’s “Good Morning Houston” (with Jan Glenn and Lisa Trapani) and went to bed with Dave on “Eyewitness News at 10pm.” Hear more about their storied careers and newsroom shenanigans.

In this episode, Dave is joined by former “Good Morning Houston” host, Don Nelson. It’s hard to believe that Dave started as evening anchor in 1968, but it’s also hard to believe Don Nelson was right behind him at ABC-13, starting in 1975. We’ll hear how Don ended up in Houston, on the morning show, and how he was the the driving force of morning TV in Houston.

For all you sports history buffs, on this episode of Dave Ward & Friends Season 2, Dave talks with Calvin Murphy and Bill Worrell about their long history with the Houston Rockets and broadcasting Houston sports. The Rockets and the Houston City Council recently honored Bill Worrell with “Bill Worrell Day,” on Jan. 7, 2022. The three of them discuss their favorite moments announcing and playing basketball. Hear how they see the NBA has evolved, changed, and developed over the years — for better and worse!

In this episode, Dave is joined by Patrick Henry, owner of Patrick Henry Creative Promotions. Dave and Patrick share their mutual love for trains and Patrick’s private rail cars. They reminisce about how they met and some of their favorite memories riding throughout the country — not to mention some of the craziness that can happen when traveling by train!

In honor of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, this week’s episode features bestselling author and English historian, Charles Spencer. Don’t miss this special episode discussing his latest bestseller, “The White Ship” - a true tale more fascinating than any fiction.

This episode stands alone as Dave’s final visit and tribute to his friend, Mickey Gilley. This is not an interview, it’s a conversation between two friends remembering good times, life, and mortality in their final visit together. Rest In Peace, Mickey - we love you always. Mickey Gilley, 1936-2022

This week on "Dave Ward and Friends" we pay special tribute to our beloved Mickey Gilley. In our final visit, we discuss Mickey's long career as a country music singer and start with Conway Twitty, then his world famous honkey tonk “Gilley’s” and its role in "Urban Cowboy”, the movie that put Houston and country music on the world stage.

We had so much fun with last week’s favorite, Shara Fryer, she’s back for Pt II. On this week’s episode of Dave Ward and Friends, Dave and Shara reminisce about the small towns they came from and how they ended up as co-anchors of the number #1 newscast in America! Shara compares her studio life now as a popular radio personality to her time with Dave as a journalist.

It’s the broadcast reunion Houston has been waiting for almost two decades! This week’s episode has Dave reunited with his long-time co-anchor, Shara Fryer. Shara shares about how she ended up in Houston next to Dave on the News for 30 years. They discuss the history of the channel, fellow newscast members, including Marvin Zindler, and major events they covered in and around Houston.

This week on Dave Ward and Friends, Dave sits down with Neil and Pierce Bush to discuss their political and business ventures. Pierce catches us up on his recent political campaign and how to handle a tough, but unsuccessful race, while Neil shares the transitions he has had to make to work in a post COVID environment. Dave asks these influential Bushes their thoughts on the current political environment and even past presidential elections.

Gene Kranz, who was portrayed by Ed Harris in the Oscar-winning movie Apollo 13, — also! earned a SAG and Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role— sits down with Dave on Dave Ward & Friends. They talk about how the US Space Program launched both their careers, from the start of the Mercury rockets, to the famed Apollo 13 and beyond for Gene. Dave talks about covering all the launches, starting in radio from the very beginning of the rocket programs to the discontinuation of the Space Shuttle in 2011. (Dave Ward is the only journalist in the world to have covered all NASA space launches)

Dave catches up with retired NFL coach Wade Phillips, a Super Bowl winner and record holder for leading the most teams as Head Coach in NFL history. Together they reminisce about their time with the Houston Oilers, when Wade’s legendary father Bum Phillips was the head coach and Dave was on the broadcast team, and the current state of Houston football. You’ll never guess what is revealed about the relationship with historic rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and other behind the scenes stories of those iconic Luv Ya Blue Days.