Family Adventures, Cattle Auctions, and Catholic Entrepreneurship with Karl Graham

The Catholic Man Show

Leisure, Religion & Spirituality, Christianity

4.9 • 739 Ratings

🗓️ 17 June 2025

⏱️ 93 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Family Adventures, Cattle Auctions, and Catholic Entrepreneurship with Karl Graham

Introduction: David and Adam welcome listeners to the 9th anniversary episode of The Catholic Man Show, started in 2016 as a Catholic radio show before becoming a podcast.
Drink Announcement: Celebrating with Old Rip Van Winkle 10-Year Bourbon, a gift from friend Blake Burger for their 100th episode, sourced again for this milestone.

Main Discussion

Family Adventures at the Wanamaker Gun Show

Adam shares his family outing to the Wanenmacher Gun Show in Oklahoma, one of the largest in the U.S., with ~10,000-15,000 attendees.
First weekend home in weeks; decided to spend time with family despite cold, rainy weather.
Spent 3 hours exploring ~40% of the massive expo (quarter-mile long).
All kids (except 2-year-old John) got pocket knives; Anna (Adam’s daughter) showed hers off at Mass.
Only one Band-Aid needed (Anna’s finger), considered a "miracle" for 4 pocket knives.

Cattle Auction Experience

Adam recounts taking his 6-year-old son, Leo, to a cattle auction in Checotah, Oklahoma (hometown of Carrie Underwood).
First-time experience; fast-paced, intimidating environment with bids decided in 5-10 seconds.
Auctioneers provide rapid info (weight, heifer/steer, vaccination status) while cows move in and out.
David bought two heifers and accidentally bid on a bull, later corrected to a steer with help from friend Jimmy Ritchie.
Leo loved the action-packed atmosphere, unaware they’d bought cows until Adam explained.
Cows are alive, thriving, and haven’t escaped fences yet.

Farm Life and Pig Processing

David awaits delivery of half a pig (named Chocolate Chip) from friend Juan Posadas, processed by Brandon Sheerd.
Juan sold piglets from David’s heifer; funny story of Juan transporting pigs to a baptism at Christ the King in summer heat.
Excitement for natural bacon cured with salt, free of commercial feed chemicals that affect fat flavor.

Guest Introduction: Karl Graham

Karl, a longtime friend from the Diocese of Tulsa, joins to discuss his journey as a geologist, family man, and Catholic entrepreneur.
Background: Grew up in Tulsa, studied geology in Colorado, returned in 2010, moved to San Antonio (2014), Houston, and back to Tulsa (2017).
Married to Lindsey (nurse); father of six, including twins born in San Antonio.
Professional path: Oil and gas industry (10+ years), MBA from University of Chicago, transitioned to entrepreneurship.

Break 1: Pilgrimage Sponsor

Select International Tours: For 34 years, leading pilgrimages worldwide with top guides and hotels. Visit selectinternationaltours.com for details.

Second Segment: Karl’s Professional Journey

Geology Career: Started in oil and gas in Tulsa post-undergrad, worked for a global company with offices in Perth, Cairo, Houston, etc.
Moved to San Antonio for a “skunk works” project; loved the ordinariate parish (Our Lady of the Atonement).
Realized geology wasn’t enough; aimed to become a business executive.
MBA Experience: Attended University of Chicago while working full-time, traveling every other weekend.
Moved from San Antonio to Houston during school; had twins and fourth child; graduated with five kids after moving back to Tulsa.
Industry contracted during this time, closing offices he’d hoped to work in (e.g., Cairo, Perth).
Wake-Up Call: Realized corporate life diverged from family goals; noticed family members thrived as entrepreneurs in smaller communities.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Dude, this week, I went to the Wanamaker Gun Show with my whole family.
0:15.3	Took a, just, I haven't been home on a weekend in, I mean, you and I both haven't, for mostly, but I haven't been home on a weekend in, I mean, you and I both haven't, for mostly,
0:23.2	but I haven't been home on a weekend in maybe four or five weeks.
0:27.5	And so I just decided, Haley was like, I want to spend time together.
0:32.4	And I was like, you know what I did too?
0:34.4	I also want to go to the gun show.
0:36.2	It was raining and cold. It was raining and cold. We couldn't do anything outside. I also want to go to the gun show. It was raining and cold.
0:37.8	It was raining and cold. We couldn't do anything outside.
0:40.0	I just want to stay home and spend the day at the gun show.
0:43.7	Right. And so we did.
0:45.9	With me and 3,000, my best bud.
0:48.0	It's like 10,000.
0:50.0	10,000.
0:50.6	15,000.
0:51.2	Is it the biggest gun show in the country?
0:53.5	I don't know. I think it is because gun shows are kind of an Oklahoma thing.
0:57.0	It's big.
0:58.0	I mean, it's massive.
0:59.0	You know, so most states, what happens at this gun show is completely illegal.
1:04.0	Right, because there's private collections and they're...
1:07.0	It's just like, hey, let's all get together.
1:10.0	And if you have cash and I have a gun, let's just trade.
	...

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