Christian Wallace is a staff writer from West Texas. Before joining Texas Monthly as a fact-checker, in March 2016, Wallace worked as a roughneck, a ditch digger, an electrician, a record store clerk, and a radio DJ. He earned BAs in history and English from Texas State University in San Marcos and holds a master’s degree in writing from the University of Galway in Ireland.
In 2020, Wallace wrote and hosted the documentary podcast series Boomtown, about the Permian Basin’s historic oil boom and the bust that followed. The series has more than 4.8 million downloads. Wallace has been nominated for three National Magazine Awards. His September 2019 cover story on honky-tonks was a finalist in leisure interests; his 2020 collaboration with others on “All 144 Willie Nelson Albums, Ranked” was a finalist in digital storytelling; and his July 2021 cover story on Bass Reeves was a finalist in feature writing. His work has been optioned for several film and television projects, including the forthcoming Paramount series Land Man.
Wallace lives in San Marcos with his wife, Lauren Meckel, and their pup, Wyatt.
Five decades ago, Myrtis Dightman broke the color barrier in professional rodeo and became one of the best bull riders who ever lived. But his imprint on the sport was only just beginning.
His almost superhuman exploits made him one of the West's most feared lawmen. Today, the legendary deputy U.S. marshal is widely believed to be the real Lone Ranger. But his true legacy is even greater.
Long before quizzes littered the internet, TM’s Anne Dingus delighted readers with a hundred-question series that doubled as a “CliffsNotes of Texas history.”
For fifteen years, my 2005 GMC Sierra has, through good times and bad weather, taken me to every corner of Texas. It might be time to say goodbye, but it won’t be easy.
His almost superhuman exploits made him one of the West's most feared lawmen. Today, the legendary deputy U.S. marshal is widely believed to be the real Lone Ranger. But his true legacy is even greater.
Christian Wallace talks to some familiar faces from the Boomtown series in an attempt to understand what happened on April 20, 2020—when oil prices went negative for the first time in history.
Record-breaking oil production in the Permian Basin has brought the boom to the Big Bend’s doorstep for the first time. Is it too late to save this pristine landscape?
No oil and gas baron since John D. Rockefeller has made more of an impact on society than George P. Mitchell. But this son of poor Greek immigrants who died a billionaire wanted to leave a legacy beyond oil and gas.
The uneasy alliance between ranchers and the oil industry goes all the way back to the early wildcatting days in West Texas. But today, that relationship is more fraught than ever.
During booms, the Permian Basin sees a rise in prostitution charges. But misperceptions and stereotypes about sex work have led to policies that may actually harm the women involved.
We explore a different kind of boom in the Permian Basin. Meet the women working at a lingerie coffee shop, a “breastaurant,” and two area strip clubs.
The Santa Rita oil well, named after the patron saint of impossible dreams, launched the first Permian Basin boom and has been fueling the dreams of West Texas wildcatters ever since.
Five decades ago, Myrtis Dightman broke the color barrier in professional rodeo and became one of the best bull riders who ever lived. But his imprint on the sport was only just beginning.
