Riding the Wave

Welcome to the next generation of Riding The Wave.   Steve Ridell has taken the reins as the host as Dennis is off to run for elective office.  This episode turns the tables on Dennis for a change as he is one of the guests Steve interviews.  Gwenn Burud, also running for office in 2022 is a guest as well on Steve's inaugural episode as the host of the show.  Enjoy!

Welcome to Riding The Wave with Dennis & Steve.  Steve and I discuss the unsettling rise in COVID 19 cases with the Delta Variant> We also discuss some of the more ridiculous notions coming out of Governor Abbott's mouth regarding how he is dealing with this virus.   Also, I turn the show over to Steve as I am now officially on hiatus as I prepare for my campaign for state representative.  Join the conversation!

Riding The Wave is Back!  We hope you all had a great 4th of July holiday!   Join us for the conversation as Steve and I interview Judge Carter Thompson, head of the Criminal District Court for District 5 in Dallas Texas.  Judge Thompson hears felony criminal trials and has been on the bench since 2006. We discuss his career and how he runs for office as a judge.  Thanks for listening!

Steve and I talk with Dr. Allison Campolo, President of Tarrant Together, a voter activation group focused on registering new voters in Tarrant County.  Allison has decided to run for the Chair of the Tarrant County Democratic Party and we talk to her about the campaign, the job, and her vision for Tarrant County's Democratic Party.  Join us!

Welcome to episode 9!  Steve and I chat with Diana Saleh, Candidate for Arlington City Council District 3.  Diana is in a runoff election this June and we discuss her campaign, her vision for the City of Arlington, and what she would like to have accomplished if elected.  Join us for the conversation!

Steve and I sit down and chat with Councilman Dan Cogan, who represents the great city of Bedford Texas.  Dan discusses his recent reelection victory, the roles & responsibilities of someone who serves on a city council, and the abysmal turnout of this last election.  Please join us for the conversation!

It's the opening day of the 2021 Baseball Season.  So, foregoing the usual political talk on this show, I thought we'd take a different path today.   The episode today is an encore of a 2017 episode from the Two Old Guys Drinking Beer podcast where my friend Bill Holmes, who passed away last year, and I discuss our all-time Baseball All-Stars.  I hope you enjoy the show.

So, the governor of our great state of Texas, Mr. Greg Abbott decides he's had enough of these pesky mask mandates and business closures.  So, with only 13% of the state vaccinated and COVID variants present he has made the decision to open everything up.   Steve and I discuss the absurdity of the decision and ask the basic question.  What The Hell?   Tune in, and I hope you enjoy the episode.

Welcome to Riding The Wave with Dennis & Steve. We chat with Jana Lynne Sanchez, Democratic Candidate for Congress for the 6th District here in Texas.  Jana joins us to discuss the reasons she is running again. She ran in 2018, came close to flipping the district, and her campaign caught the attention of the National Democratic Party.  So much so, she was featured in the documentary "Surge".  You can see the trailer and find out how to watch the movie here:  https://www.surgethemovie.com.   Join us for the conversation!

Our old friend Dr. John Biggan stops by the RTW studios for a chat with Steve and I.  John is running for a seat on the Hurst City Council and we discuss his motivations for running, what he thinks the city of Hurst needs to do to improve the lives of its citizens, and we talk about some of the issues facings folks in the mid-cities area of Dallas - Fort Worth.  Please give the episode a listen!   Thanks very much.

Welcome to Riding The Wave with Dennis & Steve.  Steve and I sit down with Tara Wilson, candidate for the City Council of Fort Worth for District 4.  Tara's one of our front-line heroes, who as an emergency room nurse sees first hand the impacts of COVID on our community.  Her passion for activism has launched her race for City Council so she can work to make Fort Worth a more equitable place for all of its citizens.  You can find out more about this emerging leader by visiting her website at: www.votetarawilson.com.   Enjoy the show!

Steve and I chat with Deborah Peoples, currently the Chair of the Tarrant County Democratic Party, about her candidacy for the Mayor of Forth Worth.  Deborah is joined by her campaign manager, Kathleen Hicks, and we discuss a variety of topics concerning leadership, the pandemic, the role of the mayor, and why Deborah is so committed to improving the circumstances for all of the citizens of Fort Worth.  Please join us, I know you'll enjoy hearing from her.

Welcome to Season 3 of Riding The Wave. Steve and I have a very special episode for you as we invited a group of people a lot smarter than us to discuss the events that transpired at the Capitol on January 6th, what should be done about it and how our politics will change going forward.  Our many thanks to Allison Campolo, Gwenn Burud, Jana Lynne Sanchez, and Vance Keyes for joining us for the conversation.  

Welcome to Riding the Wave!   Steve and I are back after too much Thanksgiving fare with a recap of the election, the ongoing craziness of Donald Trump, Rudy Guliani and Sydney Powell.  We get you up to speed on the current COVID situation and we discuss an important item regarding food insecurity in this country at this time of year.   Our show is highly supportive of Feeding America, and you can go to their website at www.feedingamerica.org and contribute.  Your gifts will put food in the mouths of your fellow Americans who desperately need it.  Please join us in supporting ending hunger in our country.   Thanks for listening!

Welcome to Riding The Wave!  Steve and I present our pre-election show and get into some of the expectations we have for Tuesday's big election.   Oh, and by the way, we've been honored with a request by the Tarrant County Democratic Party to host the "Watch Tarrant Turn Blue Election Night Watch Party" beginning at 6:00pm Central Time on election day.   To join us, please visit the FaceBook page of the Tarrant County Democratic Party, click on the Events tab, select the "Watch Tarrant Turn Blue" event, and then click on the "Live Video" link to join.  We'll be joined by Dr. Allison Campolo, President of Tarrant Together, a grass roots organization active in registering and getting voters to the polls.   Throughout the evening, we'll be providing election results, analysis and commentary as we Watch Tarrant Turn Blue!   Please join us.

Welcome to episode 21 of Riding The Wave!  Steve and I interview Dr. John Biggan, friend of the show and cognitive neuro-scientist.  We discuss the state of the country with Covid and the inexplicable disregard for scientific expertise that seems to be mounting.   Steve and I discuss the recent Supreme Court Decisions as well.  So, please give us a listen!  Thanks and we hope you enjoy the show.

Welcome to Episode 21.  For this episode Dennis interviews Ellen Sweets, journalist and author and very good friend of the unforgettable Molly Ivins.  Ellen and I talk about her life as a journalist, her friendship with Molly and several of their stories around food.   Ellen wrote a book called "Stirring it up with Molly Ivins, a memoir with recipes".   The book is terrific, Ellen is a wonderful writer and the stories in the book are hilarious with the bonus of some really good recipes.  Hope you enjoy it.

Welcome to episode 20 of Riding the Wave. For this show, Steve and I sit down with Kendall Scudder, political consultant and co-host of the hit podcast "Pod Bless Texas".  The group discusses campaigning and being a candidate in the age of Covid.   Kendall's perspective as a former candidate, campaign strategist and political consultant bring some keen insight into the political situation we find ourselves in today.  We had a great time and I think you'll enjoy the show!

Welcome to Episode 19 of Riding The Wave!  Steve and I discuss the current COVID situation, Mr. Bill Barr's continued interference with the Justice System, John Bolton's pending book and the current runoff races here in Texas. For the interview, we talk with Todd Allen, who is an educator who teaches AP Government and Politics at Irving High School.  We discuss the plans for opening school this fall in the midst of the pandemic and some of the plans, concerns and issues that decision brings forward.  Enjoy!

Welcome to a very special episode of Riding The Wave.   I am pleased to announce a new addition to the show with Steve Riddell joining me as a co-host.  You may remember Steve who was the inaugural guest when Riding The Wave was first released. Steve brings a wealth of expertise and good humor to the program and I'm happy to have him in the co-pilot's chair.  We are interviewing Vance Keyes for our program today.  Dr. Keyes, is a 20+year veteran of the Fort Worth Police Department currently holding the rank of Captain and a leader in the FWPD SWAT organization.  Vance discusses the recent issues surrounding the killing of George Floyd and we discuss what can be done to make policing better and to restore the trust and credibility of law enforcement with the communities they serve. You won't want to miss this.  Thanks and Welcome Steve!

I'm very excited to present Episode 17 of Riding The Wave.  I sit down with Kathy Braatz, an old friend and current candidate for Tarrant County Commissioner for Precinct 3.  Kathy's an bright, energetic leader who will make a great member of the Commissioner's Court.  Please give this a listen and if you are able donate to Kathy's campaign at www.KathyBraatz.com.  Thanks!

Hey folks, I'm pleased to announce a new podcast in the Riding The Wave family.  It's called Speaking Up!  The show will be focused on working people, labor organizations and the issues and concerns that everyday Americans are facing.  I am happy to introduce my co-host Jason Compton, who will team up with me to discuss issues like healthcare and income inequality with activists, political figures, and working people who are committed to giving the 99% of the country a better life.   Thanks, and I hope you enjoy the new series.

One of the pleasures of producing this podcast is the interesting people I get to meet and talk to.  For this episode, I'm pleased to introduce Vance Keyes, Democratic candidate for Tarrant County Sheriff.  Vance is a highly accomplished public servant, veteran, and one of the brightest and most passionate people regarding helping others I've had the pleasure to meet.   He's a Marine, holds a PhD  as well as Masters Degrees in Criminal Justice, Public Administration and Applied Criminology.  He's a 20 year veteran of the Fort Worth Police department where he holds the rank of Captain.  I know you'll enjoy getting to know this interesting man.

Welcome to Season 2 of Riding The Wave!   I'm very pleased to present my interview with Richard Fleming, candidate for US Congress, Texas District 24.  TX 24 serves the North Texas area that includes large parts of The DFW Metroplex.  Richard is a long time Carrollton resident, a former 3 term member of the Carrollton - Farmers Branch School Board, a small business owner, and a mentor to many young folks in the area.  Richard and I discuss his background, what is motivating his run for Congress and what he hopes to accomplish once he gets to Washington.  You can find out more about Richard by visiting his website at :https://fleming4congress.com/ Check him out and I hope you enjoy the episode.

Jan McDowell stopped by and chatted with me about her experiences running for Congress.  Now on her 3rd attempt to become the next member of Congress representing District 24 here in Texas, Jan and I discuss her background, how she decided to get into politics, and some of the lessons she has learned as she her campaign for the 2020 election heats up.  I hope you enjoy the conversation!  Thanks.

I'm very pleased to present this interview with Dr. Lydia Bean, candidate for House District 93 here in the great state of Texas.  She's got a wonderful resume and set of life experiences that will serve her well as a state legislator.  Born in Canada, Lydia's journey to the mid-cities area of Dallas Fort Worth is a compelling and very interesting story. I really enjoyed our conversation and I know you'll find her story very interesting.  Enjoy!

For this episode, I had the distinct pleasure to interview Jeromey Sims.  Jeromey is a candidate for State Representative for House District 91 in Texas.  HD91 Serves Haltom City, Watauga, North Richland Hills, and part of Fort Worth.  Jeromey discusses his background, his entry into politics in the campaign in 2018, and what he plans to do for 2020.  Please join me in listening to this bright and passionate young man. Enjoy!

For this episode I had the pleasure of talking with Tim Brandenburg, an attorney who is vying for the Judgeship in the 96th District Court of Texas. The 96th District serves Tarrant County and deals with Civil Matters of Law.  Tim and I discuss his background growing up in Oklahoma, a stint in the IT business as a programmer, and why he decided to become an attorney. Tim's passion for "Justice for All" is driving his objective to be the next judge in the 96th District.  I hope you enjoy the episode.

Wow!  I'm so excited to have Allison Campolo and Gwenn Burud from Tarrant Together as my guests for this episode.  They are two of my favorite people and I've had the pleasure of working with them on their campaigns during the 2018 election cycle.  You're going to be impressed with their passion, their smarts, and their commitment to getting voters registered and engaged.   I had a terrific time with them and I hope you enjoy the episode.   Thanks for listening!

I first met Pam Luther in the campaign season of 2018.  She was campaigning to become the Judge of the Dallas County Criminal Court of Appeals Number 2.   She was successful in her run and in January of 2019, she took her place on the bench.  Pam sits down with me to discuss her background and her experiences during the campaign and what it is like to be a judge.  I'm sure you'll find her as fascinating as I did, and I know you'll enjoy hearing from this intelligent and compassionate jurist.  She's also quite the Renaissance Woman as well, with talents for screen writing and photography.  Enjoy!  

Welcome to a special episode of Riding the Wave.  Special Counsel Robert Mueller made a rare appearance on Wednesday to describe his report, say adieu to public service and tell Congress to do their bloody job.  Here's my take on the matter.  Enjoy!

A terrific thing about doing this podcast is that I get to interview interesting people. I had a fantastic time during my session with Deborah Peoples, who is a candidate for Mayor of Fort Worth.  Deborah's a well known force of nature in Democratic Politics in the North Texas area and has helped turn Tarrant County from a safe Republican stronghold to highly competitive area that saw Democrats win big in the 2018 mid-terms.   I sat down with Deborah to talk about her life, her entry into politics, and her vision for the City of Fort Worth and its citizens as she competes for the job of mayor.  I hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I did recording it.

Congressional candidate John Biggan stopped by the studio to talk about the upcoming 2020 election. We discussed John's background, which is vast and varied (hint: he's a really talented guy), how he got into politics, and why we wants to go to Washington D.C. and represent the good citizens of Congressional District 24, right here in the heart of the DFW Metroplex.   I hope you enjoy the show.

Heather and Mike stopped by the studio and we had a great conversation about their organization:  Indivisible Grapevine Area (IGA). Indivisible is a grass roots organization focused on education and activation of voters in local, state and national elections.  Bright, passionate and committed, both Heather and Mike are working hard to support progressive ideas here in the Lone Star State.  Give them a listen, get involved and let's all be Indivisible.

I met Todd Allen when he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Congress, District 24.  He was a strong candidate with a positive message of lifting up people and working on bringing attention to many  issues with respect to income inequality, inadequate healthcare and treating our immigrant Dreamers with respect and dignity.  Todd stopped by and we had a great talk about his race, what he is doing now and his view of what is to come both for himself and the Democratic Party. Enjoy.

My take on the conclusion of the Mueller investigation and what comes next.  Hint:  we're in for a long ride.

Mark Bauer stopped by the studio and we sat down and talked about his experiences as one of the leading advocates for democracy and Democratic candidates here in the mid-cities area of the DFW Metroplex.  Mark, was a founding member of the Northeast Tarrant County Democratic club which focused on raising awareness, helping candidates and providing information for voters interested in getting involved in politics.   We also have a new segment for this episode. It's called The Kids are All Right.  I hope you enjoy the show.

Hi everyone!  I had the distinct pleasure of sitting down and chatting with Heather Buen.  Heather is an expert in how political campaigns plan and deploy the teams and advocates working on behalf of candidates. She's a Precinct Coordinator of House District 92 here in the Mid-Cities area of the DFW Metroplex.  She's been active in Democratic politics all of her life, and she brings her insights and her experience to you on this podcast. If you've ever wanted to understand how political campaigning works at the ground level, you can't do better than listening to this intelligent and energetic woman.  I hope you enjoy the show.

Welcome to the first full episode of Riding The Wave.  I sit down with my friend Steve Riddell and talk about his experiences as a candidate for State Representative during the 2018 campaign.  Steve gives us his origin story, why he decided to get into politics, his experience during his race in 2018, and what his plans are for the future.  I am honored to have him as my first guest and I hope you'll enjoy the show.

Hi folks and welcome to Riding The Wave.  The show is about continuing the Blue Wave movement into the 2020 elections.  Our show is an interview show, with Dennis speaking with Democratic candidates for local, state-wide and national elections as well as campaign workers, political consultants and issues groups all focused on supporting progressive values.  The show is highly partisan, and will concentrate on supporting the positive message that saw a massive swing in the elections of 2018.   Please enjoy.