I Do This Because

In Episode 34, Gary Kelly, the CEO and Chairman of Southwest Airlines, discusses how he navigates with confidence the pressure of providing for over 50,000 employees in the midst of a pandemic, why he has remained at Southwest for 35 years, the checklist items he runs through each day, some of his favorite Southwest employee stories, ways he effectively convinces someone that he cares about them, and how he visualizes his role at Southwest in the future.

In Episode 33, I sat down with MJ Hegar - Democratic candidate in Texas for U.S. Senate, Purple Heart recipient, combat veteran, pilot, mom, and author. We discussed the common thread among her diverse roles over the years, how she has retained her energy throughout the campaign, one of the specific moments on the campaign trail that constantly reminds her why she wants to serve, what the MJ of today would tell the MJ of 2018 during her congressional run, whether she views an elected official as a trustee or delegate, her thought process for setting aside skeptics and critics, her realization about the individuals in charge of our country, and what she wants the State of Texas to say about her after election night.

In Episode 32, Larry Wansley, the Director of Corporate Security for the Dallas Cowboys (and the former Dallas Cowboys’ Director of Counseling Services, former American Airlines head of security, former FBI undercover agent, and former head of security for Whitney Houston’s worldwide tour), discusses what about his personality has encouraged the Dallas Cowboys players to trust him, the importance of confidentiality in his role, the moments that still to this day bring out his adrenaline, what he looks for when he visits the Cowboys’ prospective draft picks, his tasks on game day, how he discusses racial injustice and the role of law enforcement today with the players in the current climate, whether any day has been more stressful for him than 9/11 given his role at American Airlines at that time, how he solved 3 murders in his sleep, his first conversations with Whitney Houston in his role as head of security, and the moments he has been particularly proud of his role within the Cowboys organization.

In Episode 31, I had the privilege of visiting with Dr. Trish Perl, Chief of Infectious Diseases at UT Southwestern Medical Center (ranked the #1 hospital in Dallas and one of the top hospitals and research centers in the nation and beyond). Dr. Perl, who has been instrumental in assisting Dallas in its response to COVID-19, describes her personal disposition while serving in the midst of the pandemic, how she navigates the political pressures associated with COVID-19, how she finds patience while working through data, the local and national moments during this pandemic when she was reminded why she does what she does, how she has remained optimistic, what she reads to stay up to speed, her interactions with mask-less individuals at the grocery store, some of the "aha!" moments she has experienced throughout her career, and what she would be doing today if medical school was not previously the selected route.

In Episode 30, Krys Boyd—award-winning host of KERA, PBS, and NPR’s radio show “Think”—discusses why she views her job as an adventure, the specific goals she sets forth for each interview, when she realized she had an innate ability as a journalist, her practical tips for next-level listening, what has allowed her to distinguish her show from others, why she avoids offering her own personal views, when she feels free to vent, when she learned she did not have the stage-fright gene, and how some of the nuns in her Catholic-school days positively impacted the way she views the world.

In Episode 29, Grant Moise, the President and Publisher of The Dallas Morning News, discusses the challenges of running a paper and media company in the age of COVID-19 (and the importance of balancing reality and hope), how he knew from age 15 he wanted to run a media company, why he wants to know what is going to be on the editorial page each day, how he retains a pulse on North Texas, how he is able to avoid looking at e-mail between 7pm and 7am, the role of faith in his life as a journalist, and the similarities between his parenting and journalism.

In Episode 28 of "I Do This Because," the Honorable Eric Moyé, the presiding judge of the 14th Civil District Court in Dallas County, discusses why he intentionally cultivates significant formality in his courtroom, how he handles criticism, his pet peeves, people's biggest misperception about him, how he currently combats racial discrimination, why he believes everything comes back to baseball, and why he wishes everyone could experience a jury trial - specifically the deliberation process.

In Episode 27, Rick Carlisle, Head Coach of the Dallas Mavericks, discusses how he approaches his job like he has a 1-day contract, how he plans to use his platform to combat racial injustice, whether his demeanor is the same on and off the court, his approach to the media and fame, and why he doesn’t like the word “stress.”

In Episode 26, Special Agent in Charge (“SAC”) Matthew DeSarno, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Dallas Field Office, discusses his current mindset for evaluating the FBI’s role at this time in our country, what he currently fears, his leadership style, how he avoids an echo chamber, and how his daughters keep him humble from the moment he walks in the door.

In Episode 25, Byron Sanders, the CEO and President of Big Thought, explains how his personal mission statement provides the framework for each decision he makes, why he invests in relationships with people who disagree with him on critical issues (and how he hopes those investments pay dividends today), how certain adverse childhood experiences continue to influence him, and why he has a very broad lens when identifying someone’s “X Factor.”

In Episode 24, Chief Reneé Hall, the Chief of the Dallas Police Department, speaks about bringing truth and honesty to the profession, serving communities who often cannot protect themselves, the importance of a police force that mirrors our community, how she navigates fear, who she turns to for advice, and her mother’s role in her decision to come to Dallas.

In Episode 23, Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, star of ABC’s Shark Tank, and well-known entrepreneur, discusses why and how he continues to compete, what keeps him up at night, why he was interested in running for President, fatherhood, and what he wants to remember when he is 90.

In Episode 22, Dallas Independent School District (DISD) Superintendent Michael Hinojosa describes his abundance mentality even in the midst of COVID-19, what it takes to be successful as a superintendent, how he has insured the delivery of over a million meals every two weeks, and what he does each Wednesday to ensure he has the pulse of the district.

In Episode 21, Mabrie Jackson, Director of Public Affairs for Central Market and HEB, discusses what about her role brings her the most joy, the pulse and spirit of grocery store workers, how her team innovated to meet consumer demand during COVID-19 (like by having beer trucks deliver eggs!), and why she thinks both three days and two weeks ahead.

In Episode 20, Erica Yaeger, the Chief External Affairs Officer for the North Texas Food Bank, provides a behind-the-scenes look at the North Texas Food Bank's response to COVID-19, explains why she spends hours on the production floor, and talks about the importance of showing emotion and vulnerability in this moment.

In Episode 19, Dr. Michael Sorrell, named by Fortune as one of the top 50 leaders in the world and the President of Paul Quinn College, talks about how discomfort unlocks gifts, why he turned down the opportunity to run for Governor, how the loss of his hair helped him conquer all insecurities, what he does to unburden his mind, and how past criticism from a high school basketball coach continues to shape him today.

In Episode 18, Dallas City Councilman Jaime Resendez discusses why the COVID-19 crisis has exposed many of the issues he hoped to tackle when running for office, why he often goes to sleep at 4 am, how he conquered fear serving in Iraq, and why he thinks it’s important to remember that nobody is promised a tomorrow.

In Episode 17, Jessica Trudeau, the Executive Director of the Momentous Institute, discusses how she and her team care for the social and emotional health of over 5,000 children during this pandemic, the best ways to build trust, how she has taken on the role of a spiritual scientist, and why we should use this moment to look within and evolve.

Former Mayor of Dallas and Pizza Hut CEO Mike Rawlings discusses why it is important for leaders to have faith in the public during this pandemic, why running for mayor was the virtuous thing to do, whether he can see himself running for president, and the leadership model he uses to evaluate anyone considered for a key position.

In Episode 15, R. Gerald Turner, President of Southern Methodist University, shares how he has navigated COVID-19’s impact on campus through innovation, the way he transforms stress into motivation, three things he thinks about the moment he wakes up, and how serving as President of SMU has become a way of life.

Jack Baum, CEO of Tabletop Media and owner of Woodlands American Grill, talks about remaining optimistic in the face of COVID-19, some creative opportunities he has developed for his employees, how he stays one step ahead of the curve, and what he would say to a stadium full of restaurant owners.

In Episode 13, Fr. Josh Whitfield, the pastor at St. Rita Catholic Community, talks about life as a married priest with 4 kids, the moment he first realized COVID-19 would have a direct impact on his parish, how it’s possible to find good in the face of evil, what it has been like saying mass alone during this pandemic, and why we don’t need an explanation for everything.

In Episode 12, Grant interviews Pete Delkus, sixteen-time Emmy Award-winning weathercaster, who chats about why weather is a universal conversation topic, his awareness that his forecasting has a direct impact on peoples’ lives, why he continues to tease his viewers by using the word “moist,” and how his career as a minor-league baseball player impacts his perspective on life to this day.

Episode 11 features City Council Member Jennifer Staubach Gates, who chats with Grant about what it means to serve in the “first level of government,” how her strict upbringing taught her she was no different from anyone else, and the way the City Council manages to set aside its differences in times of tragedy or duress for the City.

In Episode 10, Grant sits down with Sean Lowe, star of ABC’s The Bachelor and social-media influencer, to talk about his decision to open up his life to the world, his initial skepticism towards reality TV, the grounding impact of his faith, how he conquers his insecurities, and his future ambitions.

In Episode 9, former Dallas mayor Laura Miller sits down with Grant to talk about why the gratification of serving others is more enticing to her than retirement, her reflective look back at her life as mayor, and her work on the Ladder Project, which empowers local faith communities to be safety nets for the homeless.

Dallas District Attorney John Creuzot joins grant in Episode 8 to discuss his jump from the bench to the role as lead prosecutor in Dallas County, what people do not understand about his job, how he keeps his staff motivated in the midst of challenging circumstances, his commitment to data-driven solutions, and his perspective on local media coverage of his decisions and the District Attorney’s Office.

Jan Langbein, the CEO of Genesis Women’s Shelter, joins Grant in Episode 7 to discuss why the primary qualification to work at Genesis is to have a “fire in your belly” to end violence against women, why she encourages self-care amongst her clinicians, and her life motto to “find the good and praise it.”

Grant chats with real-estate legend Harlan Crow in Episode 6 about his conviction that wealth does not make you different from anyone else, how his conversation with David Rockefeller as a 20-year-old impacted his view of the world, why he loves building things, how creating opportunities for his employees is one of the most important works of his life, and how our work never ends.

Episode 5 features Kellie Rasberry, award-winning radio personality and co-host of the Kidd Kraddick Morning Show, who describes why she works so hard to provide meaningful but uplifting content, what makes her fearless, and what impresses her in people she meets.

Internationally renowned chef and best-selling cookbook author Dean Fearing—famous for his Bold Flavors, No Borders Southwestern cuisine—joins Grant to discuss how he can still smell his grandmother’s Eastern Kentucky cooking to this day, the connection between his early interest in psychology and his success as a restaurateur, the reason he does not plan to open a second restaurant like other celebrity chefs, how he can make a listener's mouth water at the drop of a hat, and much more, in Episode 4 of I Do This Because.

Ron Kirk—beloved former mayor of Dallas and United States Trade Representative —sits down with Grant in Episode 3 to share the tense and impactful moments that shaped his service in President Obama’s cabinet, his morning routine, his round of golf with Tiger Woods and President Obama, and his belief that a joyful and optimistic attitude can help you discover the hilarity in everyday life.

In Episode 2 of I Do This Because, Grant and his wife Cynthia sit down with Judge Barbara Lynn, Chief Judge of the Northern District of Texas and renowned trial lawyer, to talk about the aspects of her job that are the most difficult, how she uses occasional humor to break the tension in court, when she will consider retirement, and how she survives on such little sleep.

In Episode 1 of I Do This Because, Grant interviews legendary sportscaster and TV personality Dale Hansen, who reveals why he started to comment on hot-button cultural issues, how losing his best friend in the Vietnam War colored his perspective on faith and politics, and the way his roots have kept him grounded in the midst of success.