The Original Maverick
Summary
Lexicon Valley hosts Mike Volo and Bob Garfield explore the etymology of "maverick," tracing it to Samuel Maverick, a Texas politician who accepted unbranded cattle as debt payment. They debunk myths about his motives, revealing he simply neglected the herd while focusing on land speculation. The episode details how unbranded strays became known as "Mavericks" before the term evolved to mean an independent nonconformist.
Topics discussed
LinkedIn Hiring Pro advertisement
Introduction and the definition of a maverick
Maury Maverick and the origin of gobbledygook
Samuel Maverick's life and Texas Revolution
Quince clothing advertisement
The myth of unbranded cattle and William Safire
John McCain's political maverick persona
The true story from Mary Maverick's memoir
Jack's letter and the spread of the term
Evolution of the word maverick's meaning
James Garner and the TV show Maverick
Moral of the story and Top Gun references
Listen ad-free on Castria