East Texas UNFILTERED!
Welcome to EAST TEXAS UNFILTERED w/ J. Chad Parker, a podcast hosted by native East Texan and prominent attorney J. Chad Parker. This unique East Texas platform features candid interviews with entertainers, local celebrities, and inspiring figures from all walks of life, sharing stories of business, philanthropy, and community impact. From spotlighting unsung heroes to showcasing those shaping the region’s vibrant culture, UNFILTERED offers an authentic view of East Texas. Join Chad for unfiltered conversations that entertain and inspire. Subscribe now for new episodes!
East Texas UNFILTERED!
EAST TEXAS UNFILTERED w/J. Chad Parker Featuring J.B. Smith
In this episode, J. Chad Parker sits down with legendary former Smith County Sheriff J.B. Smith. J.B.’s life story spans poverty in rural Arkansas, the dangers of naval service, and 36 unforgettable years as one of the most visible public figures in East Texas. J.B. takes us through his childhood marked by deep poverty, an abusive home, and the early instinct that he needed to escape. He talks about enlisting in the Navy at 17, serving on an aircraft carrier during Vietnam, and discovering structure and purpose for the first time. It’s a rare and candid look at the resilience that shaped him long before anyone in Texas knew his name.
J.B. shares how he arrived in Tyler by chance, joined the police department, and eventually won the sheriff’s race as the first Republican candidate since Reconstruction—running a grassroots campaign that redefined local politics. He opens up about the turbulence of the Smith County Justice era, false accusations, political enemies, and the intense pressure that came with being targeted by the Tyler Morning Telegraph and others. He talks about the investigations he endured, the lessons he learned, and how Judge William Wayne Justice reinstated him after a malicious prosecution.
The conversation also explores the lighter, unexpected chapters of J.B.’s life: his speaking career, his humor, his years doing forensic hypnosis, auctioneering, and the countless stories from decades in law enforcement—from undercover raids to nightclub inspections to the changing culture of policing over generations. As he reflects on legacy, family, faith, and the portrait now hanging in the sheriff’s office, J.B. offers a rare, unfiltered account of a life lived in public, a career built on instinct and grit, and a perspective shaped by hardship, humility, and an undiminished love for people. It’s an honest, wide-ranging conversation with one of Smith County’s most enduring figures. Subscribe and turn on notifications for more conversations like this.