Another Fine Mess
Another Fine Mess is not just another politics and news podcast. Hosts Roger Gray and Mike Vance were afternoon drive talk radio partners back at the start of the century. They amused Houston audiences with not only political talk but entertainment, books, sports and humor. Lots of humor. That's because, while Roger has a half century of traveling the world doing news, Mike was a professional stand-up comedian and fronted an original country music band for two decades. They went their separate ways for a bit, but could not abide the idea of today's mess of a world going unchallenged. They're doing just that each week in Another Fine Mess! You can expect to hear a little of that entertainment, sports and history talk, too. Learn something, and do it with a smile.
Mike Vance is the author of fifteen non-fiction books on Texas history, sports, and comedy, and four historical fiction novels. Mike also writes and hosts the irreverent history podcast Prick the Balloon. He has written, produced and directed eight feature length Texas history documentaries and over 150 short educational Texas history films. Before his writing career, Vance spent 20 years as a professional stand-up comedian and musician before working on-air in radio and television. Mike has taught Texas history at Rice University’s Glasscock School of Continuing Studies for more than a decade.
Roger Gray has toiled at the journalism trade since 1970 and his first radio news job at KTRH in Houston. Over those woefully misspent years, he has worked in radio, TV and written for magazines. He was twice elected President of the Texas Automobile Writers Association and was elected to the Texas Radio Hall of Fame. He covered the first Persian Gulf War, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the reunification of Germany, Oslo Accords in Israel and peace talks in Ireland. He interviewed writers, actors, politicians and every President from Ford to George W, and none of them remember him.
Now, he is part of the Texas Outlaw Writers, and if this doesn't pan out, the outlaw part will still work as he will indeed resort to robbing banks.
Episodes
Jun 16, 2026
Jun 16, 2026
44 min
Do we have a peace deal even if the terms are not disclosed and each side is giving a different story? Roger and Mike will wait until the tree falls in forest to find out. Meanwhile, there is some heartwarming news related to the World Cup and the same old BS from the White House over election ballots. And Mike's history fact is all about cussing parrots.
Jun 11, 2026
Jun 11, 2026
42 min
First off, don't expect rhyming titles moving forward, but the guys talk Big Bend wall, Middle East blunders, total lack of foresight and much more. The history fact has to do with reading the little bumps on your noggin.
Jun 3, 2026
Jun 3, 2026
44 min
The guys give you the lowdown on the shutdown of science by the administration, and Mike says both sides can pat themselves on the back for the lowest murder rate in 100 years. Meanwhile, there is no morality in site on Pennsylvania Avenue. But there were plenty of mobility-impaired bullfrogs in New Orleans in the 1930s.
May 31, 2026
May 31, 2026
44 min
The gents warily compliment some lower court rulings, dive into the mosh pit at the maga co-opting of our Declaration's 250th birthday, and explore the whack-a-mole that is this administration's corruption. Mike's weird history fact looks at the world's shortest war ever.
May 21, 2026
May 21, 2026
47 min
The guys are not exactly dumbfounded at the dumbness coming from the dumbass in the White House. They love the movie Hud, but not the hijinks at HUD. And Mike's weird history fact takes you bowling with Tricky Dick.
May 14, 2026
May 14, 2026
44 min
Roger wanted to talk about how a once mainstream Republican Senator who would work across the aisle has hit rock maga bottom. There's also The War, the usual White House corruption, and Mike exposes (hehe) the truth behind a Muppets legend.
May 10, 2026
May 10, 2026
41 min
Mike is supremely cheesed over the Supreme Court ruling for racism and against the Voting Rights Act, and he recounts the history of voting discrimination. Roger has more talk about The War plus a ballroom update you need to know. And there's a Weird History Fact about dentures. In other words, lots to chew on... yes, we did.