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 Follow Your Dark Companion on Patreon for every episode: patreon.com/YourDarkCompanion IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourdarkcompanion/ X: https://x.com/YDC_Dfw TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yourdarkcompanion FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559876685445 The Old Grey Wolf: X: https://x.com/TheOldGreyWolf IG: https://www.instagram.com/theoldgreywolf16/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mikerhyner579 To reach out email us at: [email protected] Thanks to our monthly supporters Matthew Kamper W hammons B Smith Robert Stoolfire Thaddeus D. Matula Rachel W Scott Lewis cody SIMS John Gilbert Robert Saunders Kiffer Sidney Long Pattie Rhyner Davidson David Ashlea Bullington James Corona Gordy John C Caffey Joe Lindsey Cam Jillian Wright David Moore Becca Moore Mike Rhyner Your Dark Companion ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★