The Byrd Chronicles

Upholding your father's legacy is a mission any child can take pride in. Thankful for every lesson he got from his old man, Milton Magee now takes on the reins of his dad's company. He sits down with Jason Byrd to share the nuggets of wisdom his father Dewey left to him, which proves useful for his role as President and CEO of Poppa's Hook. He talks about the importance of not quitting, the right way to face bullies, and how to make your wife always happy. Milton also looks back on the most interesting anecdotes of his colorful life. He shares his experiences in the Navy service, his unique relationship with racecar driver Carroll Shelby, and one exciting road expedition that brought him across seven states in just 15 days.

In many ways, local politics impacts people much more than federal politics does. In recognition of that fact, Texas District 22 hopeful, Jacorion Randle has a list of things on his mind in his bid to move the state forward as he runs for election to the Texas House of Representatives. A firm Republican and staunch Trump supporter, Jacorion recognizes the president's legacy in the state, particularly in the oil and gas industry. Still in his twenties, he is generations younger than his opponent, the Democrat incumbent, Joe Deshotel. In this conversation with Jason Byrd, he enumerates the things Texas has to do in order to move forward – things that he vows to take on should he succeed in his candidacy.

The COVID-19 Pandemic has put a stop to our day-to-day lives. For those in the litigation business, this means a delay in various processes when handling a case. Talking further about the repercussions of this unprecedented global crisis, Jason Byrd sits down with Attorney Tonya Toups. Exclusively practicing in the area of Family Law, Tonya shares how she is dealing with divorce and custody issues during this time. She talks about how she guides clients through the court process and helps them manage their emotions for a rational business mindset. Tonya also enlightens us about the factors that drive the costs of these legal battles and gives her advice for lawyers when faced with general Family Law questions.

With elections just around the corner, it helps to know the important people who are going to be leading our community in the future. Jason Byrd offers up a platform for that in this insightful episode. He has over Joseph Trahan, who is running to be the next chair of the Jefferson County Democratic Party. In this position, Joseph would play an important role in leading the party, determining the direction in how they promote and impact the level of support for their candidates. With such a crucial role as the person who will man the party and the candidates that may carry the future of Jefferson County, it is crucial to get to know what Joseph offers to the table. Hear his goals, aspirations, and motivations. Learn about the things he is passionate about when it comes to moving the community and its people forward.

A senior pastor's wife, Ava Graves has been active in her church in Houston even before she was married. Ava is the democratic party chair at Jefferson County in Texas. On today's show, she joins Jason Byrd to talk about why she loves Beaumont City, her life and work as a senior pastor's wife, and becoming Jefferson County's democratic party chair. She also talks a little bit about being a community volunteer and shares how she got involved in politics.

On November 27, 2019, two massive explosions tore through TPC Group's chemical plant in Port Neches, Texas. Chemical and petroleum-based products blew up in smoke and have since affected many in the area, prompting a mandatory evacuation among those within a four-mile radius. Discussing this recent event, host Jason Byrd brings on two guests to share with us their experiences and insights about this TPC Explosion – local reporter Tiffany Murphy and local business owner Fred Vernon. They get down to the details of what happened, what has been happening before with TPC, and what will happen in the future. They talk greatly about the issues that have been surrounding chemical plants and how they have been affecting many lives and the environment. Get into this conversation to learn about the information that may have been missed—what role politics play, how the event's possible repercussions will be taken up by the law, what you can do when you are affected by similar situations, and more.

There are so many things you can learn from someone who has so much on his plate. Today, renaissance man and host of Tyler Knows Everything, Tyler Troutman, is on the show. As a state delegate, he has a lot of stories about passing some laws and pointing out opinions on having figureheads. Besides the political side of his life, he also talks about his life as a family guy, teaching his daughter how to drive, spending quality time with family, being a registered dietician and a health buff, and how he fell into sales and podcasting. Learn more from Tyler's interesting life as he shares his growing interest in the legal process and the future direction of his podcast.

Being a lawyer is a very interesting profession because it involves so many interesting cases. Janson Bailey talks about what drove him to be an attorney and shares his experiences in his profession. As he shares some stories of cases where he has learned some great lessons and applied it to his own practice, he also talks about the importance of achieving balance in life to refine yourself as a lawyer. Janson then turns the table to ask host Jason Byrd a couple of questions about his lawyering experiences. Sit back and know more about Janson's adventure as a young criminal defense lawyer.

The word lobbyist often has an unpleasant ring to it. However, when understood well enough, you will find that the world actually needs them. In this enlightening episode, host Jason Byrd talks with Jacob Smith, a lobbyist and a Principal of Longleaf Consulting, about the art of lobbying. Jacob sheds light on the importance of a lobbyist, most especially when it comes to educating legislators, staff, and people alike. He also touches on the future of internet, the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, what happened during the legislative session and more. Be in the know of what's happening in Congress as Jason and Jacob put in their thoughts on some of the current issues faced by the legislature, from bills to laws.

Not everything is about money and publicity. A little courage and a lifetime of integrity in the field of law set some men apart from the others. Daniel Horowitz, currently the President of the Houston Trial Lawyers Association, talks about practicing law and his path from being a law clerk to becoming a leading plaintiff trial lawyer in his pursuit of helping those who can't help themselves. He elaborates on the daily workings of some of his cases and the rewards of a job well done. Learn from his insight on some common mistakes others make when hiring a lawyer.

Nothing is more inspiring than a transformational story. One that involves not only physical but an overall transformation in health, personal, and business is Adam Schaeuble's Million Pound Mission journey. Self-professed PHD, “Previously Heavy Dude,” Adam has turned his life around from weighing 327 pounds to losing 100-pounds in five years. Extending that feat to others, Adam has since become a transformation coach, podcaster, and author who helps others live healthily and make an impact. In this valuable episode, Adam shares everything he has been through while giving some great insights about taking risks and getting the results you have always dreamed of.

Consumer protection is designed to ensure the rights of consumers. It also entails that there should be fair trade, competition, and accurate information in the marketplace. Texas Watch is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that insurance companies and other corporations are accountable to their customers. Executive Director Ware Wendell leads all phases of Texas Watch. He shares how the organization has been fighting for families and consumers by providing a platform to preserve and strengthen their constitutional rights and protections.

Never let religion or race hinder you from doing what you love most. Retired lawyer Henry Blum talks about living in a world that is so complex in religion and race. Henry shares a bit about his family background being Jewish, having immigrant parents, and raising up daughters who are already married and professionals. He dives into the Jewish religion and what makes someone a Jew, and shares some of their wedding traditions. He also talks about his journey as a lawyer, how he graduated from an Ivy League school and clerked for a federal judge. Henry has been diagnosed with MS and teaches a great lesson about perseverance and never letting your disabilities hamper your growth and success.

We all have lived different lives in the past apart from our current day jobs. For Cody “The Wolverine” Williams, that is being a mixed martial artist behind being a licensed insurance agent and broker. Cody shares his wealth of knowledge about the fighting world – going over MMA and UFC to jiu-jitsu and boxing. Leveraging both his passion for fighting and being an insurance agent, Cody talks about the time he used his last fight back in 2016 to put a logo of the brokerage he worked for and create a name for himself. He goes deeper into his life being an agent and gives his thoughts about the relationship between sales and the business. Proving that our personal and professional lives can go hand-in-hand, Cody reveals his routine and diet, and how his hard work ethic pushes him to be better in the insurance world.

If politics is a negotiation, then everyone has a say. Economic Resiliency Planner of South East Texas Regional Planning Commission, Jes Prince, walks us through her involvement in local elections and advocacies. Discover the critical issue she is focused on and the reason why she encourages everyone to exercise their right to vote. A licensed realtor and community enthusiast, she shares the non-profit organization she's involved in and the task force that deals with human trafficking.

Deeds Not Words is a non-profit organization that seeks to empower and activate the voices of young women in public and political discourse. Wendy Davis, the founding leader of Deeds Not Words, a former senator, and a gubernatorial candidate, talks about the mission of the organization and why they are creating change-makers that are very much involved at the local and state policy-making level. It is Wendy's passion to help women to move forward by gaining the confidence and skills to use their voice. She shares her intention of running for Congress to represent the people of Texas and the people of America who are relying on Congress to do a good job and be a voice for them.

Jefferson Fisher is a Beaumont, Texas lawyer who has thrown his hat into politics and is running for City Council. He is a bright and interesting young man with a vision for his local community. Jefferson extends that to us as he shares his personal and family life, as well as what life has been like being on a campaign. Tired of the way things are at the city council, Jefferson steps in and proposes for change, taking us deeper into his motivations to run. He lays down his plans for Beaumont and talks about the most significant issues and problems that the community is facing and how he would address that.

Scott Carson, an old-time friend, entrepreneur, and host of The Note Closers Show podcast, joins us for some fun stories and insights from the note business. Laying it down simple, Scott explains what nonperforming notes are and how you should be on the right side of the payment stream. While some of us find it hard to get started with making deals, Scott assures us that with the right people to talk to and equip you with information, you can close good deals. He also talks about his journey of becoming a note investor while leaving inspiring wisdom about striving to continue to learn and not be the smartest person in the room as well as helping others with their journey as well.

Listening to the voices of the next generation, my son, Bryce Byrd, joins to offer a wealth of knowledge about reptiles and animals. Bryce is a curious and bright eleven-year-old and a budding herpetologist. He talks about his reptile-keeping hobby and herpetology while giving recommendations on finding the right reptile to take care of for the first time. As global warming becomes even more felt here on earth, Bryce shares the importance of animal conservation and helping endangered species from becoming extinct. He talks about the measures we can do like captive breeding programs, telling us how we must save these animals from dying out.

All Randon Clark has ever known is the church. Growing up, living, and working for the church, Randon has found it to be an extension of the family. Eventually becoming pastor, his relationship with God has grown even deeper. Randon candidly shares about being a Pastor for so long and coming to face with the union of ministry and business. Reflecting on the wisdom from the Old Testament in today's modern society, Randon shares his thoughts about the attack on religion, how access to information and the dawn of social media affect Christianity, and where it stands in politics.

Some of us become too consumed with our work that we forget to take care of ourselves. On top of that, we do not have the time to be with the people we love anymore. A living proof that we can achieve that work-life balance is Amy Collins. Aside from being a lawyer and a mother of three kids, Amy is also a fitness trainer and a fashion model. She shares how she manages to do it all, showing how it is possible and ultimately a great way to make the most of our lives here on earth. Going beyond appearance, Amy talks about the importance of being healthy from the inside out.

Doing commercial litigation for big firms, corporations, and banks pay off well, and everything seems great. But when it comes down to it, they don't really appreciate what you do. Brad Parker wanted something more out of the law, and so he left the bigger firms and started representing people, the mom and pops and the regular people that got screwed over. Brad is a plaintiff's lawyer, which in layman's terms means a lawyer who represents individuals who have been harmed physically or financially. He explains what it entails to be a plaintiff's lawyer, how he gets compensated, and the implications of choosing cases to take on carefully.