Podcasts about deep ellum

Inner Moonlight is the monthly poetry reading series at the Wild Detectives in Dallas. Curated by Dallas poet Logen Cure, the in-person show is the second Wednesday of every month in the Wild Detectives backyard. We love our podcast fans, so we release recordings of the live performances every month for y'all! On 5/14/25, we kicked off our 8th year with featured poet Robin Turner!Robin Turner's poems, prose poems, and flash fiction have appeared in numerous publications, among them Rattle, The Texas Observer, Rust & Moth, DMQ Review, One, and Bracken Magazine. Her work has been tucked inside little poetry houses in Pittsburgh, paired with photographs in a Deep Ellum art gallery, and transformed into tiny artist books for Lisa Huffaker's White Rock Zine Machine. Her chapbooks are Elegy with Clouds & (Kelsay Books) and bindweed & crow poison (Porkbelly Press). A longtime community teaching artist and sometime reader for Sugared Water, she lives near White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas.www.innermoonlightpoetry.com

Re-Enjoy this episode from January:In this episode of The Austin Young Show, I sit down with the Austin-based ska powerhouse Hans Gruber and the Die Hards. Recorded on the back patio of Three Links during the final stop of their tour, this conversation dives into the band's unconventional approach to music, wild tour stories, and what it takes to keep the ska and punk scene alive. We also chat about supporting local music, the current state of the Austin music scene, and their new split EP launch. Packed with energy, humor, and insight, this is a collaboration you won't forget.Follow The Austin Young Show: www.austinyoungshow.comMusic By:Hans Gruber and The Die HardsTrepanationI Put A Spell On YouLet's Drive EverywherePWRUPKing Kong*DISCLAIMER: I hereby declare that I do not own the rights to this music/song. All rights belong to the owner. No Copyright Infringement Intended. All bands have given permission to use their music.*Original Air Date: January 2, 2025

Enjoy this classic episode from April 2024: This episode, we're getting rowdy with the Dallas punks, Die Würst! Joining us are vocalist Sean, the fiery frontman with a voice that could shatter glass, his cousin Matt who lays down the thunderous basslines, and guitarist Jesse, the riff maestro who injects pure chaos into their sound.Die Würst have been making waves in the local scene, known for their electrifying live shows that morph from skate punk anthems to full-on hardcore mosh pits. We'll be talking about their upcoming EP, produced by a surprise guest – a member of the legendary Reliant K and Jesse tells us about his history in television production and the transition into the scene from California! Buckle up as we dissect the creative process and the influence this collaboration might have on their sound. I of course also have to ask the boys what their favorite sausage is as well!Follow Die Würst:FacebookInstagramFollow The Austin Young Show:www.austinyoungshow.comMusic By: Die Würst - Game Show, Got Wrong and Just Fine. *DISCLAIMER: I hereby declare that I do not own the rights to this music/song. All rights belong to the owner. No Copyright Infringement Intended. All bands have given permission to use their music.*

Plus, the Texas Department of Transportation is looking at ways to reconnect Deep Ellum and Downtown Dallas, and Dallas County updates software after problems in Richardson on the first day of early voting in the May 3 election.

Dallas City Council approved plans by a 10-4 vote to turn Pepper Square, a Far North Dallas shopping center, into a mixed-use development with more than 850 apartments. In other news, just a month before Canada Rinaldi was set to walk down the aisle with her soon-to-be husband, she was attacked and brutally beaten by a man she did not know in Deep Ellum; Federal officials depicted a startling account of racism and discrimination at a North Texas homeowners association: Racial slurs flooding neighborhood Facebook pages as white supremacist organizations passed out flyers; and it's opening day in major league baseball. The Texas Rangers get their 2025 campaign underway today with a four game series against the Boston Red Sox. Nathan Eovaldi will take the mound at Globe Life Field at 3:05. It's important the Rangers get to slugging right out of the gate. With a starting rotation down two starters and a bullpen that is likely to be running a shuttle of long relievers between Arlington and Triple-A Round Rock, the Rangers need the strength of their team to show up early. Especially at home.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Oklahoma Attorney General's office said Wednesday that Robert Preston Morris, the founder of Gateway Church, has been indicted on five counts of lewd or indecent acts to a child. In other news, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson testified Wednesday before a U.S. Senate committee saying government can best address high housing costs by getting out of the private sector's way; Frisco is slated to get an upscale name in the grocery market. Whole Foods Market, founded in Austin, is set to join the city in the northern part of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. That store is slated to be in “The Mix,” a multibillion-dollar development that covers more than 100 acres at the southeast corner of Lebanon Road and Dallas Parkway; and The Factory in Deep Ellum is reverting to its roots — at least in name. The live music venue on Canton Street will again be known as the Bomb Factory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Our guest this episode is Rob Garner. In addition to being a supremely talented bass player, Rob is also the Editor and Publisher of Buddy Magazine, The Original Texas Music Magazine. Rob also holds the esteemed designation of being a "Texas Tornado". We get into what print music journalism and physical media look like in today's digital age, as well as how important it is and what it means to the health of the local music scene. We also hear a harrowing tale of the total mayhem that occurred during a Rigor Mortis show at the old Theatre Gallery in Deep Ellum. www.buddymagazine.com (Thanks to Maureen Womack at Rabbit Hat Promotions for her help in setting this interview up.) . . Follow us on Instagram: @thestrangestgig @chrisjnorwood www.chrisjnorwood.com

For this season's first on-site interview, we're headed to Massachusetts! Travelling to Deep Ellum Bar in Waltham, Jimmy sat down with Max Toste, owner of Deep Ellum, and Jackie Cain, Boston food writer, to talk food and beer in Boston. Learn everything you wanted to know about cask ale, new twists on pozole, and where to look for the best bites in Beantown, all on Beer Sessions Radio!

Connect with Us Episode written by Elizabeth Atwood. Sources: Marisela Botello murder trial: Lisa Dykes guilty of murder, sentenced to life in prison | FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth Texas Woman Killed Woman She Saw in in Bed with Boyfriend Lisa Dykes found guilty of Marisela Botello-Valadez murder | wfaa.com Marisela Botello murder trial: Suspect Lisa Dykes' boyfriend describes stabbing | FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth Dallas woman found guilty in the murder of Seattle woman – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth Trial begins for woman accused of murder in the death of Marisela Botello – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth Wife pleads guilty to tampering in woman's murder Remains found in wooded area identified as Marisela Botello | wfaa.com Texas prosecutors drop murder charges against 2 of 3 people in fatal stabbing of Seattle woman Dallas jury takes less than an hour to issue Lisa Dykes life sentence for murder - CBS Texas Murder case dropped against Charles Beltran and Nina Marano Marisela Botello case: Couple charged with murder caught in Cambodia after fleeing | FOX 13 Seattle Texas Woman Sentenced For Fatally Stabbing Tourist She Found In Bed With Her Boyfriend | HuffPost Woman accused in Deep Ellum stabbing death testifies in her own defense - CBS Texas Texas woman who fled to Cambodia found guilty of murder in stabbing of Seattle woman | The Seattle Times Marissa Botello Valadez Murder Trial: Boyfriend Charles Beltran Takes the Stand | News Talk WBAP-AM Texas woman who fled to Cambodia ahead of trial found guilty of murder in stabbing of Seattle woman Marisela Botello Valadez Murder Trial: Jury Deliberations Underway | KLIF-AM Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get ready to witness pure, unadulterated chaos! In our third interview with DFW's reigning hardcore kings, Toxic Madness, the boys are back and louder than ever. We dive deep into their current studio sessions for their highly anticipated new album, slated for a June release. Expect exclusive insights into their new lineup, featuring the ferocious drumming of Eddie and the blistering guitar riffs of Noah.DJ unleashes his legendary impressions, while Aidan... well, let's just say he almost gets the show canceled (again!). If you're craving an hour of pure, unfiltered hardcore energy and good old-fashioned mayhem, this is the episode for you.Warning: Viewer discretion is advised.Music By: Toxic Madness - CHIP, Carne and Maniacs!Casual Relapse - Delusion Follow The Austin Young Show:www.austinyoungshow.com*DISCLAIMER: I hereby declare that I do not own the rights to this music/song. All rights belong to the owner. No Copyright Infringement Intended. All bands have given permission to use their music.*

This week on the podcast, I recorded out back at the legendary Three Links venue in Deep Ellum to sit down with StrateJacket, a high-energy pop-punk band hailing from the Bay Area. We discuss their journey, from recording with Green Day's engineer to sharing the stage with punk icons like The Offspring and Sum 41. Get ready for an exclusive look into the world of StrateJacket. (Fair warning: There might be some background noise – we recorded this at the venue!)Music By: StrateJacket - Be My Drug, Dream Catcher and Bad StartFurther North - Echos Follow The Austin Young Show:www.austinyoungshow.com*DISCLAIMER: I hereby declare that I do not own the rights to this music/song. All rights belong to the owner. No Copyright Infringement Intended. All bands have given permission to use their music.*

Liz Mooney is a stand-up comic from Dallas, TX. In addition to performing stand-up comedy she also produces the recurring stand-up comedy show Girls Night Out at Dallas Comedy Club in Deep Ellum. Comedy, swimming as a college athlete, anxiety, mental health, religion and her decision to get breast implants are just a few of the topics we discuss in this episode. Enjoy! Links for I'M A FAN OF: https://linktr.ee/Imafanof Links for Liz Mooney: Instagram

In this episode of The Austin Young Show, I sit down with the Austin-based ska powerhouse Hans Gruber and the Die Hards. Recorded on the back patio of Three Links during the final stop of their tour, this conversation dives into the band's unconventional approach to music, wild tour stories, and what it takes to keep the ska and punk scene alive. We also chat about supporting local music, the current state of the Austin music scene, and their new split EP launch. Packed with energy, humor, and insight, this is a collaboration you won't forget.Follow The Austin Young Show: www.austinyoungshow.comMusic By:Hans Gruber and The Die HardsTrepanationI Put A Spell On YouLet's Drive EverywherePWRUPKing Kong*DISCLAIMER: I hereby declare that I do not own the rights to this music/song. All rights belong to the owner. No Copyright Infringement Intended. All bands have given permission to use their music.*

I'm wrapping up 2024 with an end-of-year episode that's all about the music, the memories, and the mayhem. Join me as I count down my Top 10 Songs of 2024 and dive into the best moments of the year—from killer interviews with bands like We Are Scientists and Kill Lincoln to unforgettable shows and hosting the Armory stage for the Deep Ellum Block Party. This episode is packed with shout-outs to underrated local bands, a raw take on the state of the ska and punk scene in DFW, and a no-holds-barred vision for 2025. Tune in for music, reflection, and plenty of punk attitude to close out the year.Follow The Austin Young Show: www.austinyoungshow.comMusic By: Fat By The Gallon - To The ChopperSet The Tone - Break in The RainCayuga All-Stars - Mariachi MarijuanoDezi 5 - Dirty LaundryMarket Zero - InsufferableBOOF - NormaDie Würst - Game ShowSunny Disposition - InsaneToxic Madness - Psycho KillerEviction Notice - Over(thinking)*DISCLAIMER: I hereby declare that I do not own the rights to this music/song. All rights belong to the owner. No Copyright Infringement Intended. All bands have given permission to use their music.*

Andrew is a renowned concert photographer for the Dallas Observer, a talented guitarist who once rocked the stage at Woodstock '99 with Andy Dick's band, and an award-winning podcaster.In this episode, we go into Andrew's incredible journey. Discover his unique approach to concert photography, relive the wild days of Woodstock '99, and learn how he broke into the entertainment industry.Drews website: https://www.drewlio.comDallas Famous Podcast: SpotifyApple PodcastsFollow The Austin Young Show:austinyoungshow.comMusic By: Flip & The Combined Effort - This Could Of Been A EmailAndrew Sherman Vehicle - Sun DayMean Motor Scooter - Slacker Salim Nourallah - Unstoppable   *DISCLAIMER: I hereby declare that I do not own the rights to this music/song. All rights belong to the owner. No Copyright Infringement Intended. All bands have given permission to use their music.*

Texas history was made last night, when the star-studded Michelin ceremony in Houston crowned the state's best restaurants for the first time. Across the state, Michelin handed out 15 1-star awards. No restaurant in Texas received a 2- or a 3-star award. That's Michelin's highest honor, saved for the best of the best. In Dallas, just one Michelin star was given: a 1-star honor to Deep Ellum omakase restaurant Tatsu. Following that, East Dallas restaurant Rye received a special award for Exceptional Cocktails. Seven Bib Gourmands were handed out to Dallas-Fort Worth eateries with reasonably-priced menu items. And 20 restaurants in North Texas received a Recommended nod; In other news, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott was already busing migrants from the border to New York when he picked a new northern target in 2022 — Chicago, another destination chosen because it was run by Democrats; Southwest Airlines will offer buyouts to workers at 18 airports across the country as the Dallas-based carrier cuts back on flying planes due to “aircraft delivery delays” from Boeing; And Micah Parsons is coming under fire from national media analysts for his comments about head coach Mike McCarthy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special 45th episode, we sit down with the rhythmic force behind Spector 45, Anthony Delabano. As the driving force of the band, Anthony has shaped the sound of punk rock for decades. But his impact extends far beyond the stage.We'll delve into his journey from the punk rock scene to his groundbreaking mental health charity, Foundation 45. Anthony will also share his vision for Conscience Conduit, his latest non-profit venture aimed at promoting mental wellness and social justice.Join us for a candid conversation with a true punk rock pioneer.Music By: Spector 45 - I Love You, Teenage Plague and El RayNoogy - Grandmas House (I Love You)*DISCLAIMER: I hereby declare that I do not own the rights to this music/song. All rights belong to the owner. No Copyright Infringement Intended. All bands have given permission to use their music.*

Step right up, folks! This week's episode of The Austin Young Show is a carnival of culinary chaos and hilarious hijinks. Veronica and I took a deep dive into the gastronomic wonderland of the Texas State Fair, sampling everything from the savory to the downright bizarre. But be warned: my opinions on Fletcher's Corny Dogs might just ignite a fiery debate.Veronica's got a tale as wild as a rodeo bull: she recounts her epic encounter with the legendary Texas punk band, Scary Cherry and The Bang Bangs.And if you're a hockey fan, we've got you covered! I'll give you the latest scoop on the Dallas Stars season.To top it all off, we'll crank up the spooky tunes with the best local Halloween jams. Get ready to dance, laugh, and be terrified all at the same time!Music By:Moon Kill - Long Line To HellBlood Of His Rival - Man Is MonsterScary Cherry and The Bang Bangs - Don't Wanna Guillotine the Kasino Champ - Chop Ya HeadBOOF - NormaRose Garden Funeral Party - Blitzkrieg In Holland *DISCLAIMER: I hereby declare that I do not own the rights to this music/song. All rights belong to the owner. No Copyright Infringement Intended. All bands have given permission to use their music.*For booking and song submissions: www.austinyoungshow.com

In this entertaining episode of the Kick Your Boots Up podcast, we welcome Universal Music Group Nashville recording artist Louie TheSinger. From Fort Worth, TX, Louie shares his incredible journey from breakdancing to rapping, R&B, soul, and country music. Louie keeps it real about his first viral moment in 2018, the heartbreak that followed later, and how he's emerged stronger than ever. He also reveals his favorites in Fort Worth, life on tour, and the unforgettable places he's performed. Plus, get an inside look at his unique songwriting process and what fuels him as an artist and one of the brightest new voices in country music. Louie is ready to take country music by storm. Don't miss this episode packed with untold stories and inspiration.

"If you're not having a good time, what's the point?" SEO, social media presence, streaming numbers: these are all things in which musicians can become ensnared and with which musicians can become disenchanted if we let ourselves. In this episode, Emmeline sits down with Christían Thrailkill and Christian Nguyen of Dallas-based, optimistic rock band Low Key Colors to talk about how the band keeps joy alive as they increase engagement.Chris & Christian also discuss how the band formed, how it has evolved, and how they're planning a show on October 5th, 2024 at Three Links in Deep Ellum to honor their deceased bandmate, Nathan.To learn more about Low Key Colors, or to follow their musical journey, find them on YouTube or at their official website. For behind-the-scenes information and more about Journey of an Artist, visit the Journey of Series official webpage, or follow Emmeline on social media at @EmmelineMusic.

Join Austin Young with his longtime friend and award-winning filmmaker, Keefer Estebes. Keefer's 2007 indie flick, "Katrina's Unknown Victims," bagged the "Best Researched" award at the New York Independent International Film and Video Festival. Now, Keef's back with even more behind-the-scenes dirt on his career, a sneak peek into his latest doc, and his secret sauce for staying fit and healthy in the cutthroat world of filmmaking.What's on the Menu?Keefer Esteves Career: Discover how Keefer's journey in filmmaking began and learn about his work on shows like Street Outlaws.Documentary Insights: Get a sneak peek into Keefer's new documentary about surviving COVID-19 in the film industry.Industry Changes: Hear about the challenges and adaptations filmmakers faced during the pandemic.Wellness Tips: Learn about Keefer's health regimen, including cryotherapy and other wellness practices.Hurricane Katrina: Revisit the devastating Hurricane Katrina and Keefer's personal experience covering the aftermath.Don't miss this episode! It's packed with laughs, insights, and a whole lot of awesome music.Host:Austin Young Guest:Keefer EstevesTrailer for Never Forgotten - Hurricane Katrina's Unknown Victims, St. Bernard Parish, LouisianaMusic By:Ducado Vega - HellaDezi 5 - Pick Up Your PhoneThe Two Watts - Russian WarshipToxic Madness - I'm HardcoreFlip & The Combined Effort - This Could Of Been A Email *DISCLAIMER: I hereby declare that I do not own the rights to this music/song. All rights belong to the owner. No Copyright Infringement Intended. All bands have given permission to use their music.* 

Get ready for a wild ride on this week's episode of "The Austin Young Show"! Join your hosts, Austin and Veronica Young, as they dive into the juiciest topics in Texas.What's on the menu?CHUMLEYS REUNION?: Could the legendary punk band, The Chumleys, be making a comeback? We spill the beans on the latest rumors!PENIS SIZE: DOES IT MATTER? A controversial topic, but one that needs to be discussed. Austin and Veronica share their honest thoughts on this sensitive subject.WEIRDEST PORN EVER: Brace yourself for some NSFW confessions as our hosts reveal the strangest porn they've ever encountered.HALL PASS WITH THE OBAMAS: Is it true? Are Austin and Veronica really getting a hall pass with the former First Couple? Veronica sets the record straight.TEXAS LIVING: CAN LOCALS AFFORD IT? Texas is booming, but is it becoming too expensive for locals?We investigate.And of course, we're blasting the best Ska, Punk, and Alternative music to keep the party going!Don't miss this explosive episode of "The Austin Young Show"!Music By: Chumleys - C-H-U-M-L-E-Y-SSunny Disposition - InsaneDie Wurst - Just FineLate For Life - Widow's WalkAsshats - Surf Room 13 - 1975 *DISCLAIMER: I hereby declare that I do not own the rights to this music/song. All rights belong to the owner. No Copyright Infringement Intended. All bands have given permission to use their music.*   

It's a road show week as Matt and Dustin traverse the metroplex to see a couple of shows. First up was the Freaks on Parade tour which featured Ministry, Alice Cooper, and Rob Zombie at Dickies Arena. Then the next night was Till Lindermann at the The Factory in Deep Ellum. A lot of nonsense […] The post Show 593 – Al, Alice, Rob, & Till appeared first on The Jerry Jonestown Massacre.

Texas schools won't receive A-F accountability grades after a judge granted a new order temporarily blocking them on Wednesday. A coalition of school districts sued over the system alleging that the grades are invalid because they're based on flawed STAAR tests. A trial on the case is set for February; In other news, a bitter public battle between the bishop of the Fort Worth Catholic diocese and a group of secluded Arlington nuns is again escalating. Calling the nuns “scandalous,” Bishop Michael Olson warned members of his diocese that supporting the nuns — either by participating in communion or providing financial assistance — would amount to “scandalous disobedience and disunity.”; the man suspected in the attack of a woman in downtown Dallas last week is in jail and facing an aggravated assault charge, police said Wednesday. A video obtained by The Dallas Morning News shows a man walking up behind the woman and striking her with an object Thursday afternoon in the 1300 block of Elm Street, near North Field Street. Dallas police later released images of the man and sought the public's help to identify him. 36 year old Antonio Banks was booked into the Dallas County jail on Monday afternoon on an unrelated charge, according to online jail records. His bail was set at $150,000 for the assault charge and he also faces a criminal trespass charge; and restaurants in Dallas' Deep Ellum neighborhood near downtown, specifically those on Commerce Street, say they have been affected by the ongoing public works being done by the city of Dallas and Oncor. The work being done on Commerce Street has left restaurants without direct access to their facilities and left customers with the notion that the businesses are closed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Austin Young Show dives deep into the world of Sunny Disposition with their frontwoman, Sunny Marcell. The band's latest self-titled EP is a fresh, energetic blast of indie rock, and it's available for a cool $5 on Bandcamp.Marcell opens up about the band's dynamic, sharing her unfiltered thoughts on her bandmates and the creative process.Freshly married, she also drops a track from her husband's band, The Five Hands, giving us a glimpse into her musical world outside of Sunny Disposition.But it's not all sunshine and rainbows. Marcell offers some real talk on the challenges of navigating the local music scene.From booking gigs to building a fanbase, she shares her hard-earned wisdom for those trying to make it in the underground.Get ready for a raw, honest conversation with one of the most exciting voices in the Texas music scene. Music By: Sunny Disposition - Insane, Rooftops and Help MeThe Five Hands - The Wrench  *DISCLAIMER: I hereby declare that I do not own the rights to this music/song. All rights belong to the owner. No Copyright Infringement Intended. All bands have given permission to use their music.*

Increased accessibility to overdose-reversing medicine is an immediate need in the community; Police are investigating reports that someone took “potentially improper” photographs of people on the University of North Texas campus and posted them online. UNT police announced in a news release last week that they learned about the photos on September 1 and have “taken a few reports from persons identified” in some of the photographs; Attorney General Ken Paxton this week withdrew a legal opinion issued by his office in 2016 saying nonprofits have the right to ban firearms from property leased from the government. The move comes after he sued Dallas, its interim city manager and the State Fair of Texas on Aug. 29 to block the nonprofit's new ban on firearms at the city-owned fairgrounds. The fair starts in two weeks; and the Dallas Cowboys have some issues to address. Hoping to build on a strong Week 1 victory, the Cowboys returned to AT&T Stadium to face New Orleans yesterday but the Saints rolled to a 44-19 victory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join us on The Austin Young Show for an exclusive interview with Drew Skibitsky, frontman of the rising ska punk band Kill Lincoln. In this episode, we delve into their latest album "No Normal" and discuss the powerful documentary "This Is New Tone."Drew shares insights into their DIY ethos, the importance of fostering a culture of acceptance and friendship within the music scene, and his journey as the band's official hype man. We also explore his favorite spots in Deep Ellum, the challenges and rewards of touring, and his optimistic outlook on Kill Lincoln's future.Don't miss this in-depth conversation with one of the most exciting voices in ska punk today.Music By:Kill Lincoln - I'm Fine (I Lied), Last Ditch Denial and All Worries  *DISCLAIMER: I hereby declare that I do not own the rights to this music/song. All rights belong to the owner. No Copyright Infringement Intended. All bands have given permission to use their music.*

On this episode I focus heavily on the music. This is the perfect episode for chilling by the pool or on your long road trip drive. PICK IT UP DALLAS!Host: Austin Young (www.austinyoungshow.com)Music By:Fat By The Gallon - GI Joe Was Full of Sh&$ ManLoyal Sally - Out WestThe Infamists - Spectral MistressSpector 45 - Teenage Plague Mykal Rose, Subatomic Sound System and Hollie Cook - Put Down The GunMarket Zero - Mama TriedToxic Madness - SkinWalker Nonstarter - Do Your Best (You Did Your Worst)Morocco - CompostKill Lincoln - I'm Fine (I Lied)patSKAts - Viva Las Vegas(monkeysphere) - Stardust Melody Sound System 7 - Do The DogBOOF - NormaNOOGY - Fort WorthlessThe Broke$ - Expansion SlotFlip & The Combined Effort - The Polar Bear Song  *DISCLAIMER: I hereby declare that I do not own the rights to this music/song. All rights belong to the owner. No Copyright Infringement Intended. All bands have given permission to use their music.*

In this episode of Building Texas Business, I sit down with serial entrepreneur Steve Reynolds for his perspectives on innovation in corporate travel tech. As CSO of Embers Inc., Steve shares his journey developing TripBam, an early pioneer utilizing algorithms and robotics to optimize hotel rates. He explains TripBam's strategic transformation from consumer to enterprise software, strengthening the company and positioning it for seamless integration under Embers. Steve offers valuable lessons on championing passion within high-performing teams. The importance of actively engaging customers and development staff to creativity solve problems is emphasized. We discuss the challenges of maintaining innovation at scale versus smaller startups. Steve's experiences navigating acquisitions and a turbulent industry offer cautionary advice. A theme emerges—embracing flexibility positions leaders to overcome challenges and achieve lasting impact. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS In this episode, I spoke with Steve Reynolds, Chief Strategy Officer at Emburse Inc., about his journey in corporate travel technology and entrepreneurship. Steve discussed the origins and evolution of TripBam, a platform he founded that uses algorithms and robotics for hotel rate monitoring, which eventually pivoted from a consumer-focused to a B2B model. Steve shared insights on navigating the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the strategic decisions that helped TripBam emerge stronger, including cost optimizations and product enhancements. We explored the importance of fostering a passionate and innovative team, highlighting the value of listening to customers and involving development teams directly in problem-solving. Steve explained the critical difference between passionate programmers and those who are merely formally trained, and how assembling a team that shares the company's vision and offering equity can drive success. The episode delved into strategies for managing company growth and financial stability, such as quick decision-making in right-sizing staff and optimizing operational costs through cloud environments. We discussed the benefits of subscription-based pricing models over transaction-based ones, particularly during economic downturns, and how this approach helped maintain cash flow during the pandemic. Steve reflected on the evolution of workplace environments and leadership styles, noting the shift from rigid, traditional settings to more flexible, results-oriented cultures. We talked about the challenges of maintaining innovation in large companies, contrasting startup environments with big company mindsets, and the importance of hiring the right people for each setting. Finally, Steve shared his thoughts on the future of the travel industry and the innovative approaches that have set new standards in modern practices. LINKSShow Notes Previous Episodes About BoyarMiller About Emburse GUESTS Steve ReynoldsAbout Steve TRANSCRIPT (AI transcript provided as supporting material and may contain errors) Chris: In this episode you will meet Steve Reynolds, chief Strategy Officer for Emburse Inc. Steve has built his career in corporate travel technology and in starting various companies over the four-decade career. Steve looks for opportunities to be disruptive. Steve, thanks for coming on the podcast. It's a pleasure to meet you and appreciate you taking the time. Steve: You bet Chris Glad to be here. Chris: So you know there's a lot that I'd love to get into with you. I know that you know currently you're with a company called M-Burst Travel, but that you started a company before that called TripBam. Tell us a little bit about, I guess, those companies and what they do. What is the business they're known for? Steve: Okay, and just to back up a little bit further, I guess what you could call a serial entrepreneur. Tripbam was my third or fourth venture kind of lost count, but I've been in the corporate travel tech space for 40 some odd years. And TripBam when we started 10 years ago, we recognized that hotel rates change a lot more often than people actually realize. If you were to create some robotics that went out and grabbed the rate at a particular hotel for a certain date in the future, you'd see that rate changes just about every hour and what we found is if you just keep watching it, eventually it's going to drop, especially as you get closer to check-in. So we created some algorithms, robotics, whatever you want to call it that said okay, I've got a rate of $2.99 at the Grand Hyatt in New York. I'm arriving on the first and departing on the third. I want you to just let me know when it drops and if it does, I want you to rebook it for me If everything is the same room, same bed, same cancel policy, blah, blah, blah. So that's what we did. We originally invented it for the consumer market. We put out a website and we got mentions in the Wall Street Journal and USA Today and so on. But sort of my corporate travel buddies called up and said, hey, Steve, we really need you to apply this to corporate travel. And they started writing some pretty significant checks. We followed the money, we pivoted and went all B2B at that point. And so the company grew 40% year over year for the first six years, cashflow positive within just a couple of months. I mean it was great. It was great. And then COVID came along and kind of took our knees out from under us for a bit. Chris: COVID kind of wiped out the fundamental business model for at least a little bit. Steve: At least for a little bit. But fortunately a lot of our customers were paying us subscription fees rather than transaction fees, so we were to stay afloat. We got through COVID and we actually came out on the backside of COVID in a much stronger position, both financially and you name it, because we were able to do a lot of just cost improvements, right-sizing the organization. We kind of got a little bit ahead of our skis, I think, in some areas and created some new products, just all kinds of things, pushed everything out to the cloud and such that dramatically reduced our costs and just were firing all cylinders. Chris: And then we worked out a deal with Emburse in July last year to buy the company. Okay, how does I guess what TripBand does fit within the Emburse excuse me, overall, maybe suite of products or company strategy. Steve: Yeah. So Emburse provides travel and expense to the largest of companies, to the smallest of companies, and what I mean by that? Everybody. When you go, you have kind of a booking tool to start with. Most folks are familiar with Concur. We have our own. The reservation gets created. It then needs to be watched, monitored, audited, improved upon. That's kind of where we fit in. So before the money is spent we actually see if we can actually do better than what the traveler did on their own. Travelers are not going to check the hotel rate every day. They're not going to check their airfare every hour. They're not potentially going to book the preferred property within a particular city. We fix all that before the money's actually spent. We then push all that to mobile. So you've got a companion app in your pocket where the traveler gets a ton of destination content specific to that company. So I'm going to New York, I'm staying at headquarters, what hotel should I stay in? I need to go take a client to dinner, what restaurants do you recommend? All kinds of other stuff, including safety and security perspective and so on. Then the data is all captured and fed into an expense report so that your expense report if the traveler is compliant. It's kind of pre-created and pre-approved, so the traveler in a lot of cases doesn't have to do anything and if they're compliant all the way throughout, they could actually kind of be paid as soon as their plane hits the ground. Then it all feeds into reporting and analytics so that we can improve your travel program, identify additional savings opportunities, find some fraud issues, detect all kinds of other stuff that might be a problem. We also offer a card product if you don't have one, and that's kind of the travel plus expense ecosystem that we provide. Chris: That's fascinating. I obviously wasn't aware that something like that existed, but I can see how large companies with a lot of employees traveling could see the benefit and realize a lot of savings from those services. Steve: Yeah, when you combine travel with expense, some kind of magic happens in that we have enough data and insight to be able to start pre-filling out that expense report. Otherwise, all we're counting on is card transactions and receipts, and that's really not going to do the trick. But if we can get that card information augmented with the receipt scanning and everything else that we do now, we can really do a nice job of pre-filling out that expense report. So really all you have to do is add mileage, hit, click and you're submitted. Chris: So you mentioned that you've been in this industry for 40 plus years. I'm curious how did you first get started in the corporate travel tech space 40 years ago? Steve: It was just by happenstance, I guess you could say. I was originally started as a programmer for Texas Instruments, got accepted into their executive program, which meant I could go off and get an MBA and then come back to TI, but quickly realized that the consulting firms were paying a lot more. So I ended up with Ernst Winnie, at the time with Ernst Young and my first assignment was with a travel agency in Houston, Texas, called LifeGo Travel, which doesn't exist anymore. The owner of that company hired us to come in and build some technology. It really put him on the map and he got tired of paying the bills and seeing the hourly checks that we were charging. And so he approached and said, hey, you know, do you want to come work for us? And I'm like, well, that never thought about working for a travel agency. That doesn't sound all that exciting. But he said look what if we created a company, We'll spin it off and we'll give you some equity. And I'm like, okay, now you're talking. So we left, we started up a company called Competitive Technologies and all of it was bought by American Express Travel two years later. Chris: Oh, wow. So unquestionably you had a little bit of an entrepreneurial spirit going way back then to see an opportunity. Put you in it. Steve: And a lot of it is just kind of, I guess, my personal. I don't do well at big companies. I really struggle because I get so frustrated at just the lack of progress or the lack of innovation or the speed at which things happen, so I tend to sort of find an excuse to hit the exit button, usually within a year or two. Chris: Right. So you said something in that response that I want to talk to you about, and that's innovation. I think that's there's such a common theme, I think, with entrepreneurs about. You know, and innovation can mean so many things. What do you think that you've done, as you've built several companies, as you mentioned, to create or foster and nurture a spirit and environment of innovation? Steve: You know a lot of it is just becoming a really good listener to the buyer, to whoever the customer is. And then when they say things, there are certain kernels that are aspects of what they say that you just go oh, wait a minute, okay, can we go back to that? That sounds important. You know this level of frustration. Why does that frustrate you? And if you have engineering and development in the room when those things are said, oftentimes some real magic starts to happen and we just the creativity, the innovation just comes out naturally as wow, we can solve that problem. That's not that hard, you know, let's go do that. So that's on the B2B side. That's kind of the formula, that conversation. Something falls out as far as a new feature, product, something like that, that we can start working on the B2C side. Chris: Go ahead. Well, it sounds like there's a function there of asking the right questions and really listening. Steve: Well, and just most big companies or companies they try to protect the dev engineering. They're like oh, we're not going to let you talk to customers. You guys sit over here in the back room and we'll come to you with sort of a priority or roadmap of what we think is needed. And I feel like that's just the wrong way to do it. You've got to get the dev and the engineers and the programmers in the room to hear the story, otherwise you get this telephone tag of what actually gets built isn't quite what the customer wants or was even asking for. And for most companies that's really hard. I don't know why, but they just. It's like we can't allow that to happen, but that's just not the way I operate. Chris: Well, I mean, it makes sense that people you're asking to solve the problem probably need to hear what the problem is firsthand, right? Steve: Exactly. And then it's oftentimes the dev guys are like they're coming up with much more creative solutions. If you just hand them a requirement sheet or spec sheet, they're like, oh okay, this is going to take a month. But when they're involved with the client and they actually hear what the true problem is, oftentimes they're like, oh, I can knock this out overnight, I'll have a solution to you by tomorrow. It's just a night and day sort of sense of urgency or sort of the emotion around creating the solution. They're bought in. At that point, when they hear it directly from the client, they can be the hero. Chris: Well, when you think about kind of that and getting the right developers and the right kind of team together, what have you found to be successful as far as what to look for in building the right team and then keeping the team together? Steve: Yeah. So fortunately for me I mean through all of these different companies that I've started I've been able to kind of get the band back together multiple times. A because I, you know, I'm a big believer in sharing the equity. You know, let's get everybody, if not equity, at least options, so that when there is an exit, everybody benefits, and they've all seen that so far today, knock on wood, I haven't had an unsuccessful exit where we've had to, you know, turn out the lights or whatever. My shareholders have all made money, you know, typically around 5x to 10x on their investment, which has been great. So it's easy to get the bad back together. But what I also have found out is there are certain programmers that are passionate about programming and others that are just taught programming, and there's a night and day difference on the result. If they're passionate about it, the results come out quick. I get creative solutions that nobody would think of. They're usually extremely low cost and it's just so much better than if I have someone that's college taught. I'm doing this because it's a paycheck and I took this degree because that's what somebody told me to and I was good enough to get a B in college on all my programming courses, but at the end of the day, if their heart's not in it and they're spending their time, you know, just on the side weekends and nights learning new stuff, they're not going to be very good. So give me one or two of those that are passionate and I'll put them against 10 to 20 of those that are school taught and will kick their ass every time. Chris: So yeah, well again, I think that transcends all industries and disciplines, the key being passion. Right, I think you, as the leader, are the one that has to start with the passion and then find people that share that passion to get to where you're talking about, where there's that flow within the organization. Steve: Yeah, I think development's a little bit different. I mean, you're not going to find anybody super excited about accounting or I don't know the other aspects of it, but with development there's guys that just get so into it. You know they're programming on the side. They get into hackathons, they want to prove that you know they're smarter than the guy next to them and just constantly looking for the next challenge and just coming up with those creative solutions. I don't know of any other discipline that really has that level of it, but there might be. I mean, I could be wrong. Chris: So, just going back and maybe not the first venture where you and the travel agency in Houston started, but maybe I'm just curious to know as you began some of these startups, maybe sharing some of the lessons learned through some of the challenges you found in starting that venture, whether it be raising capital as an example, or any other challenges that may come about, but I think that capital raise can be one in the startup that some entrepreneurs find daunting and maybe can't solve and never get anything off the ground. Steve: Yeah Well, I think, first off, just wait as long as possible to raise capital. You know most of them kind of build an MVP which just kind of barely works and then go out and try to raise money on it. And whenever you go down that path you just end up way undervaluing what you have. And I know people get in certain situations where they just need to have a check, you know, or it's you know, lights out. But if you can wait until you actually have a client actually generating revenue, actually having positive cash flow, whatever, and then you can show someone, look, we just need to add fuel to the fire here. This is not about keeping the lights on, this is about generating growth You're going to have a dramatically better outcome. The other thing I found out is when you take the big check too early, you start making really stupid decisions. You start hiring attorneys that are expensive, you hire a CFO before you need it, you have a head of HR, all kinds of stuff and overhead that's just not necessary and over time it makes you less and less nimble because you're so worried about payroll, you know, and less focused on just delivering a product that has a you know, a bunch of value. Keep your day job, keep working nights and weekends, wait as long as possible. I mean, I always said, look, cash is like oxygen. If you run out you're going to die. So hang on to it with both hands first. I mean beg, borrow and steal from friends and family and whatever to just get stuff. If you need a contract, go out on the web and search for a capolar plate contract. It'll be good enough to get you started. Or find someone that's a buddy, that's a lawyer, that's willing to do some pro bono work in return, maybe for a little bit of equity stuff like that. Just hang on to that cash as much as you can, for as long as you can. Chris: Well, I think there's a lot there that someone can learn from. Obviously, speaking as a chairman of a law firm, I can't endorse legal Zoom for the startup, but I understand your point. We talk to clients a lot about especially know, especially in the startup phase. Maybe you know helping them get going, but you know and being smart about how they spend their money. But make it an investment in getting at least a sound structure and they may not need right the full-blown set of legal documents, but I can promise you I've seen people start on legal Zoom and wish they hadn't, you know, a couple of years later when things were getting a little tight. But I understand your point there. But conserving cash is important to get off the ground. Steve: Yeah, I mean you don't need to come right out of the gate being in an Inc. You know and incorporated in Delaware and pay all the fees, whatever to make that happen. I mean, just start out as a low-cost LLC and then, when you're ready to sort of raise capital and become a real company, you know you use part of that capital to convert at that time. Chris: So you had mentioned earlier, you know just, I guess, going back to kind of trip BAM COVID having, at least initially, a pretty profound impact but then turning it into a positive, and I'm kind of want to take you back to that time and you maybe dig in a little bit deeper. I think it's a beautiful lesson of something where you know a lot of people just throwing up their hands because travel stopped, et cetera, which decimates your business specifically to you. But then you said we actually learned from that and became a better, stronger company because of it. And you've mentioned right-sizing, the organization stuff. But could you share a little more detail and some stories from that our listeners can learn from if and when their business faces something similar? Steve: Yeah, I think, first off, being fairly quick. You know you can always hire people back, you know. But if you keep them on the payroll and you start burning up cash just way too fast or you're starting to trend towards in the red, you just got to pull the trigger. Nobody wants to, nobody likes to do it, but it's really nobody's fault. It's just something as an executive or CEO you have to do, or a founder. So that's one. Second is, as companies grow, you kind of make stupid mistakes along the way. You get kind of inefficient. You don't anticipate the level of growth that might have been reality. So going back and saying, all right, take a step back, let's catch our breath. You know, what should we have done to kind of handle the scale better? And so, for example, just moving everything to a cloud environment, you know, putting it out to bid, switching from one cloud provider to another, whatever it is, you know you can just generate or reduce your costs dramatically. You know, rather quickly, if you just focus the time on it. Everybody gets so white hot, focused on growth and the next client and the revenue they forget to look at the rear view mirror about. You know there was a lot of costs we could have taken out, you know, which could generate even more cash going forward. Advert: Hello friends. This is Chris Hanslick, your Building Texas business host. Did you know that Boyer Miller, the producer of this podcast, is a business law firm that works with entrepreneurs, corporations, and business leaders. Our team of attorneys serve as strategic partners to businesses by providing legal guidance to organizations of all sizes. Get to know the firm at BoyerMiller. com and thanks for listening to the show. So we pulled the trigger pretty quick. We right-sized the staff. We had a pretty good and, fortunately for us, this is the other. We kind of lucked into this. Our customers, for whatever reason, decided they wanted to pay a subscription fee rather than maybe a percentage of the savings or a transaction fee, to where what they were going to spend would fluctuate month over month. By paying a subscription fee, they could budget it and they were going to get a better return on investment. So we did most of our deals that way and thank God we did, because when COVID and everything went into toilet in April of 2020, we still had cash coming in the door. So we were actually stayed cashflow positive because we kind of right-sized the staff fairly quickly. And then, coming out of COVID, as the revenue started to ramp back up and our sales started to continue, we were just on a much better platform that would scale after it because it was just all right-sized and efficient and whatever, and at the same time we added new products. So we had a two-year kind of all right, just keep the lights on, market will come back around. We added an air reshopping solution. We added a bunch of analytics to audit contracts and to benchmark performance, so that we had a whole bunch more to sell coming out of COVID than going in, and so that caused another year of kind of explosive growth as a result. Chris: That's great. So, yeah, obviously part of that is give some deep thought to how you price what your product right. So that subscription-based versus transaction for you sounds like a very. Maybe it didn't seem as meaningful at the time you made it, but it turned out to be. Steve: You know that's a tough one If the ROI of your product is pretty clear, like reshopping. If you've got a rate of $2.99, I drop it to $ to $250. I've got $49 per night in savings If you pay me a couple of bucks. Okay, here's the ROI. And we could run some pilots and all kinds of stuff to prove that out. So that makes it really simple and we try to hit look, I need a ROI that when they take it to their boss the guy that's doing the budgets, you know, won't cause all kinds of frustration and concern. So four to one is usually the minimum. A lot of our customers, the larger ones, are getting eight to one, 10 to one, you know. So you could say like you've probably underpriced it. But that's okay, you know we'll claw back some of that. You know, over time when it's a product that's the ROI is a bit fuzzier. You just got to somehow convince the client that this is the potential savings. They're going to guesstimate and then from there work backwards to a price which kind of gets you back to that four to one ROI. So if I think I'm going to save you five bucks a transaction, I'm probably going to charge you a dollar to $1.50 is what I'm going to aim for. Again, to get to that four to one kind of savings estimate for Relagate. Again to get to that four to one kind of savings estimate. Chris: So part of that goes, I think, in building that customer base, really focusing on strong relationships. Talk a little bit about that and what you've done, because it sounds like over the course of the various businesses, you've done a good job of creating some very good partnerships and alliances. What are some of the things you think that have helped you foster that and keep those for so many years? Steve: I think one is you know you got to under promise and over deliver. So if they're going to sign up, you know, don't make them look bad or stupid to their boss. The other one is identifying the influencers in the market. So I'm sure every industry has some individuals that are kind of on the bleeding edge, willing to try new things. And if they do and it works, they've got the microphone or the megaphone to tell a whole bunch of others. So fortunately for me, I've been able to identify who those influencers are. I've got a reputation for just delivering as promised. So when they sign up they have confidence and then they tell their peers and a lot of our sales in the large enterprise market are peer-to-peer networking. It's not from email campaigns or other stuff that we do. Chris: The kind of part of that, the old adage of just do what you say you committed to do when you said you committed to do it right. Steve: It's just delivering as promised. Don't sell me a can of goods and all this great wonderful thing. And then when the reality is just not there, you know, don't make them look stupid. You know that's the key one. I mean, these are after 40 years they become. We have some pretty tight relationships with these folks and I want them to keep their job and we want them all promoted and moving on to the next big role, because when that happens they just take us with them and we just keep getting bigger and bigger. Chris: So you mentioned that about kind of keeping this, your words, the band back together. You've been able to do that, hiring some of the right people and incentivizing the right way. Any insights into. You know what people could think about when they're looking at their team one, trying to, I guess, evaluate whether they have the right people and then finding the right ways to incentivize them to kind of keep that core group together. Steve: To me it's if they feel like they're a part of a team and they understand the value they're providing to the customer and they see that customer's appreciation. You know they're in the conversation with the client, you know, and that's easy to do at a small company, because who else are they going to talk to? Right, you got to bring the dev and engineering. But when you start layering and bifurcating and have people you know in engineering back there in the back room, kind of stuff that don't talk to clients, that's when it gets a lot harder. But when you get them into the conversation and that sense of this is my company, this is my reputation. I'm a part of something here, you know, that's growing and doing well and whatever. It's not that hard, it's really not that difficult at all. It's just everybody wants to be appreciated and feel like they're, you know, part of a team. So that's the formula, right, I mean I could throw money at them. But I ask my employees I mean I am not the guy that's writing big checks to hire people right? I'm like look, we're going to pay a reasonable salary. You know this is not, you're not going to be broke, but you know we're in it for the long term game, and so we want to keep the cash in the company so that we don't have to go do another capital raise which is going to dilute all of us, and so your equity just keeps getting smaller, you know, over time, and the guys that actually make the money, or the investors this needs to be a collaborative team effort so they get that. Chris: I think that transparent communications is key right. So they again they understand their role on the team, they understand what the goal of the organization is and how they can help further that. Steve: You know it's always been kind of fire slow, fire quick as well. You know the people, everybody makes hiring mistakes. It happens all the time. And you know when you hire someone within like a couple of days you're like this is not feeling right. You know, don't let it just sit, don't let it be two years later when you actually kind of work them out. You have to kind of pull the trigger fairly quick because it messes up the whole culture of the company. Oftentimes, especially at a small company, it can create some real problems. Chris: Yeah, I mean that may be the most sage advice and, I think, maybe the most consistent that I hear from entrepreneurs and business owners. It's been my own experience too, that that kind of fire, you know, don't be slow to fire when you know you made a mistake and it's the hardest, maybe one of the hardest ones to do because you're dealing with people. I spoke to someone yesterday and they were like hired, someone had some uncertainty and literally what I learned was to trust my gut because on day one that they started in a conversation went oh my God, this is a huge mistake. Tried to play it out, tried to make it work and guess what? It didn't. Steve: Yeah, the thing is I don't believe resumes anymore and I don't believe LinkedIn pages at all, especially when it comes to higher dev and engineering. It's just anybody can put whatever language they want and say they've got a ton of experience. You've got to figure out a way to validate Most of our hires. There's kind of referrals and peer-to-peer sort of networking. If I find someone, I can usually find someone they know, especially in the Dallas market where we are, that's worked with them at a prior company. That sort of thing and do some back-channel checking is what really pays off for us. And we know the rock stars. We know the rock stars. We know the rock stars, but they're not that hard to kind of pick out. It's the ones that are kind of questionable. That you know. You just got to do your homework and don't count on the resume. Chris: That's a really good point. It's a hard thing to do, though, and it may be easier in programmers. But, to you know, I totally agree with resumes, and profiles can be, you know, massaged, but it's sifting through and kind of through the smoke to really get to what's behind the curtain. Steve: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I mean. And Zoom calls, I mean people hire on Zoom calls or whatever. Like dude, you got to get them in the office face to face, go to lunch, have a couple of face to face interactions before you actually bring this person on board. You know, make them pass a coding test or something. You know something tangible. Don't just look, they're very nice people. You know they all have a. You know look great on a phone call or Zoom call, whatever, but that doesn't cut it. Chris: Yeah, I mean no substitute for personal interaction and seeing how people show up. Right. Steve: Yeah, the other thing is, since we're, you know, on a startup mode where everybody's looking at kind of the potential for equity, I'm like, look, if you're as great as you are, why don't you come on board for a month on a contract basis? Let's see how it works out, you know, and we'll go from there All right, and you really get a feel for someone and how well they're going to. We try it, we like to try it, before we buy. Let's put it that way. That's one way to do it. Chris: just talk about you know specific kind of leadership styles and and how you would describe your leadership style, and maybe how you would describe it today versus maybe 20 years ago as you you were emerging as a leader, and how you think it's changed oh, my god, it's night and day. Steve: so first company way back when. Maybe it comes as a surprise or not, but it was a coat and tie environment. Okay, guys, we've got to put on the ties and whatever. That was just so stupid. Checking office hours and all that crap and tracking vacation time just seems so silly. Now, if you can get the job done, I don't care what you wear, I don't care what you look like, I don't care what you wear, I don't care what you look like, I don't care where you do the work, I don't care if you have to take vacation on a pretty regular basis for whatever reason. I don't care if you're going off and disappearing to watch your kid play soccer, I do not care anymore. Just here's the job. Here's kind of an expectation. You know, as long as I understand, you're trying hard to get it done as quick as possible. We are good. You know, it's kind of a thing. So all that other stuff was just noise. That was just stupid, anyway it's. I mean back when I started in this, I mean programming and development and all that and the whole tech world was fairly new, so nobody knew what they were doing or how to manage these folks and it evolved over time, but fairly quickly. I mean, by company two, ties were gone. By company three, office was gone. I mean I've been virtual for 25 years. Unfortunately, we had offices but we just I think they were a waste of money but we did it for optics more than anything. Chris: Yeah, so it sounds like more kind of a traditional and somewhat of a command and control, starting out to now a little more, much more flexible and providing autonomy as long as people deliver on the expectations that they're communicated with. Steve: Which comes down to you just hire the right people, right, if you can get kind of get that sense for what the kind of folks that are going to do well. So, for example, if I see, if you can get kind of get that sense for what are the kind of folks that are going to do well. So, for example, if I see that you've got you spent 20 years at a really big company, you are not going to do well at a startup. I could guarantee you You're used to other people doing work for you. You know you're just kind of the sit back in your office and sort of you know, tell folks what to do. That ain't going to happen. You need to get your hands dirty. You might have to write code. You got to do PowerPoints, you got to do Word docs all that stuff yourself. Big company folks just tend to lose that ability, let's say, or it's beneath them and that's not going to work. Chris: Yeah, I mean it's almost. Yeah, that's not in my role. Mentality versus everything is in everyone's role. Mentality, right, it's almost. Yeah, that's not in my role. Mentality versus everything is in everyone's role. Mentality right, it's about getting a job done, no matter what it takes. Steve: And I think that drives me crazy at a big company because, you know, unfortunately for others, I tend to poke my nose into others' lanes and I get told a lot Steve, stay in your lane. Nothing bugs me more, you know, than to hear that. But that's the big company way. Chris: So you've gone through a few companies and you're now, I guess, inside of a larger company. Now Are you finding it easy to kind of have that mentality of flexible leadership and innovative environment? Steve: In the new company? Yes, I would have to say no, it's kind of as I expected. You know, with other acquisitions you start. You know, this kind of here's how it happens. However, embers, I believe, is trying hard to carve out a role where I can exist, let's put it that way. So my title right now is Chief Strategy Officer, and it's a bit nebulous, kind of by design. I can sort of make it what I want and as a result of being chief strategy officer, I can get outside of my lane and people can question it. I'm like everybody needs strategy. That's my title, I'm going to get in your lane, kind of stuff you know. So I tend to kind of bounce around to lots of different projects, objectives so on. I kind of help make sure that it's cohesive, you know, across this travel and expense story, you know. But at the same time I don't have a lot of direct reports, which is great. That usually doesn't go too well either. So so far, so good. Chris: Fingers crossed, that's great, yeah, we we kind of covered kind of the challenges of COVID If you think back prior to that, any other challenges along the way with the first two or three companies, everybody, yeah, yeah, I think people some of those are the best lessons we learned or some of the challenges we go through. I'm just curious to know any kind of lessons from a challenge that you could share with the listeners that might help them when they face something similar. Steve: Oh my God. I mean everybody's made mistakes and if they got lucky along the way and if they don't admit that they're lying, I mean some of the bigger ones. 9-11, we had a solution that was processing about 80% of all corporate travel reservations made in the US. 9-11 hit and we went to zero within about 24 hours, so that was kind of a gut check. Fortunately, travel bounced back fairly quickly, but it made us take a step back and realize how nimble we were If something like that were going to happen again. So that's one, and you know, and there's all the kind of day-to-day stuff. I mean there's fraud, there's employee HR issues that happen. You know there's. I'm not going to get into details on that, but you know you just kind of all right, let's deal with this. You know, don't just look the other way and take care of it. I think the latest I mean the big one right now is just, you know, the whole third party hacking and getting into your network and holding you hostage, stuff like that. You know that's made everybody just super anxious and nervous and to the point where companies are kind of shutting down their network so much that individuals can't do the job. You know, which is causing concern and it's what else are you going to do? I mean, if some employee can click on a link and bring down your network, do? Chris: you just turn off email. You're right, it's creating such a challenge. Everybody, all companies, are being attacked every day from all kinds of angles, and it just takes one and but you also? You can't operate out of fear and you can't let it stop you from doing your business. Steve: Well, they say there's two kinds of companies out there. There's those that have been hacked and those that don't know they've been hacked. So just kind of keep that in mind and I think it's fairly true. I think, you know, it's just almost too easy to get into someone's network and poke around and kind of see what's going on these days. Chris: It's so scary, but I thought you were going to say those who have been hacked and those that will be hacked, but I guess already have you, just don't know it. Well, see, I really loved hearing your story. It's a fascinating industry, and one that you don't really hear much about, but you definitely. It sounds like for 40 years you've been crushing it at it, so congratulations to that. Well, thanks for that. Steve: But also the one thing people don't know about corporate travel is that it sits on a backbone of legacy technology that's probably 40 years old. That has not changed. The GDSs are antiquated, the travel agency systems are antiquated. It's not that hard to come up with something innovative and new in this environment. So I just got lucky to where I got into it and I'm like this thing is so bad. I mean anything you do is going to be innovative. And so we just started coming up with new stuff solving clients' problems and it just kept evolving from there. Like this thing is so bad. I mean anything you do is going to be innovative. And so we just started coming up with new stuff solving clients' problems, and it just kept evolving from there. Chris: Yeah, that's really. You know so many entrepreneurs I've talked to. It's what you just said solving the customer or client's problem. Because what I said earlier, it goes back to asking the questions and listening and then trying to solve that problem. Steve: So many great ideas that come from that across so many industries. Yeah, and just to set up a little process to where you talk with your customers on a regular basis or a group of clients or people you trust and it just happens naturally, it's really not that difficult. Chris: Well, let's turn to a little bit on the lighter side before we wrap this up. I always like to ask people like yourself what was your first job? Steve: oh, my first job, let's see. Uh, I worked at a pet store at junior high. Well, actually first job was mowing yards, right? So everybody every kid did that just to get my allowance money. Then I worked at a pet store in junior high for a short period but fairly quickly realized waiting tables made a lot more money. So I told a guy I was 18, when actually I was 16, and they never really checked. They hired me as a waiter. I was actually kind of a part-time bartender, so I was serving liquor in Houston the strawberry patch I'll probably get them in trouble back when I was 16 years old and just made a ton of money as a, you know, a high schooler. So that was kind of the first. And then, you know, got into computers and writing code at a very early age. I was part of a program at Shell where they gave us mainframe time to go in and kind of play around and then went off to Baylor for computer science and then went to TI and then went to A&M for grad school. Very good, very good. Chris: So okay. So, being a native Texan, do you prefer Tex-Mex or barbecue? Steve: That is not a fair question, because both are pretty dang awesome, but, being in Texas, I think we've got some of the best barbecue on the planet. So Pecan Lodge here in Dallas is, I think, kind of the best, and there's a lot of Tex-Mex, though that's really good as well, yeah, I agree on all points. Chris: I haven't heard of Pecan Lodge before, so I'll have to check that one out. Steve: Yeah, it's in Deep Ellum, so next time you fly in, go in out of Love Field, and it's not too far, it's a 10-minute drive from there. Chris: Deal Noted. And then last thing is you know you've made early in the career, probably never did this and maybe have done since. But if you could take a 30 day sabbatical, where would you go and what would you do? Steve: I actually got a 30 day sabbatical. So a guy hired me or not hired me, but when he brought me on board to run a company he said hey, you know, I threw in there. Just, I read it in a magazine that it was the hot thing for techies to ask for, so I threw it in there and they accepted it. I guess they thought I'd never make it to my five-year anniversary. Anyway, I did and I took the kids and family, went all the way throughout through Europe. So we went to Italy, paris, france, austria, switzerland, whatever you know, just really unplugged for that 30 days. Actually it was a 90 day sabbatical. That's what I took. Wow, so I got a little bit more time. Yeah, it was great, it was great. So if that were to happen today, I'd probably look to do something similar, but nowadays if I want to take 90 days, I probably could just got to ask for it. Chris: Very good, very good. Well, steve, thanks again for taking the time to come on and love hearing your story and all the innovation you brought to the travel industry. Steve: All right. Well, thanks for having me, chris, I really enjoyed it. Good conversation. Chris: Thanks, well, we'll talk soon. Steve: Okay, you bet. Special Guest: Steve Reynolds.

July 17th, 2024 Back again at the Factory in Deep Ellum coming August 29th, and we need your help P1's! Email P1@TheTicket.com to get your name thrown in for a nomination to represent your favorite show. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X Listen to past episodes on The Ticket's Website And follow The Ticket Top 10 on Apple, Spotify or Amazon MusicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode, I go out in Deep Ellum, Texas with post-punk/goth icons Rosegarden Funeral Party and we talk about Bukowski with lead singer Leah Lane and drummer Dean Adams.Follow Leah and the band here: https://www.instagram.com/rosegardenfuneralparty/?hl=enIf you're in Dallas on the weekend of the 6th of July, 2024, come to Obituary Fest, which Leah has organized. Details here:https://www.prekindle.com/event/59171-obituary-goth-fest-dallas

The Malty Boyz™ pull up to the Carl's Jr. parking lot to show off their hot import NA beers. This episode features NA Corona, NA Tsingtao, Estrella Galicia, and Hitachino NA Yuzu Ginger which will have you granny shifting not double clutching like you should. In the Beer News, Lagunitas closes their Chicago brewing facility and Deep Ellum becomes the latest piece of Monster Energy's alcohol portfolio to go under. Anchor Brewing finds a second life under the umbrella of the Chobani Yogurt founder. Rumblings of Suntory purchasing Boston Beer Co. have been floating around but neither company will confirm nor deny it has happened.  To get involved with the  "Life" International Barleywine Collab, click the link for info about the recipe, BSG discount, and links to help raise awareness of colon cancer.  If you'd like to make a direct donation to help support Alex, head over to his GoFundMe.  For more info about colon cancer and to help support the fight against it check out the Colon Cancer Foundation.  Head to our Patreon for weekly exclusive content. Get the Malt Couture Officially Licensed T-shirt. Follow DontDrinkBeer on Instagram and Twitter.

  It's getting a little dusty on this week's Casually Lit as the crew mourns the closing of Deep Ellum Brewing. But fear not, there's still plenty to unpack! We'll be dissecting Eminem's new track, "Houdini," to see if Slim Shady can still escape the competition. Then, we'll dive into the monster-catching craze with Gonster and drink it up. We'll also celebrate MrBeast's epic win as the most subscribed channel on YouTube. And to top it all off, the crew gets creative, brainstorming their dream Funko Pop figures. So grab your favorite beverage (because Deep Ellum's on hold) and get ready for some laughs, brews, and seriously lit discussions!

Plus, four people were injured in a shooting in Deep Ellum early Sunday morning, and the person suspected of killing someone in Bedford is still on the run.

The Dallas Mavericks lost 107-89 to the Boston Celtics in game one of the NBA Finals; a 44-year old man was shot and killed outside his home in East Oak Cliff on April 1st; five Alamo Drafthouses have closed; and Texas native and former Detroit Lion Brandon Pettigrew was arrested Sunday after breaking a store window in Deep Ellum. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Following a flood of news last week, the Brewbound team recaps the latest major headlines, starting with the billionaire founder of Chobani acquiring Anchor Brewing. Justin, Jess and Zoe share whether they foresaw this scenario playing out.   Following the Anchor talk, they dig into the rumors of a potential acquisition of Boston Beer by Suntory.    The news wraps with a conversation on Monster Brewing's shutdown of the Deep Ellum brewery and taproom in Texas.    The show also features a 3-pack of interviews with: Monday Night Brewing co-founder and CEO Jeff Heck on operating multi-state taprooms; Dan Imdieke and Jason Pratt, the new owners of Cicerone, on their future plans for the certification program; And Rob Day on the importance of marketing, especially in a maturing craft beer market. 

Bailey and the Bad Habits are a Red Dirt Country/ Southern Rock band from Waxahachie, TX. Formed in 2020 with influences that span all genres and decades, they have found a sound that borders on the edge of country, blues and rock.  The music is written by frontman, Derek Bailey who uses his life experience to write authentic songs about  Love and War. Lead Guitarist,  Brett Barr, brings  a bluesy rock tone to the band that ties the sound together with emotional,  improvised guitar. The beat comes from energetic drummer, Matt Brodeur, who is sure to make each performance lively. The heartbeat of the band is a thumping bassline played by Andrew Whitely. All aspects together deliver a sound and feeling that will fill venues of all sizes.   Bailey and the Bad Habits have a very wide range of influence, including Whiskey Myers,  Cross Canadian Ragweed, Blackberry Smoke, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Hank Williams Jr. Pat Green, John Anderson and many, many more. Cover songs will often include some of those listed. Follow Bailey and the Bad Habits:https://baileyandthebadhabits.comFollow The Austin Young Show:https://austinyoungshow.comMusic By:Bailey and the Bad Habits - Haunted, Lessons Learned and Stepping Stone.Ottoman Turks - 35 to Life *DISCLAIMER: I hereby declare that I do not own the rights to this music/song. All rights belong to the owner. No Copyright Infringement Intended. All bands have given permission to use their music.*

Buckle up, Austin Young fans! This episode takes a deep dive with Jason Dyer, the mastermind behind Deep Video Live.We'll explore the incredible evolution of video streaming, from clunky beginnings to the high-definition, interactive experiences we have today. But it's not all tech talk. Jason and Austin will also dish on the dream many of us have:turning that passion into profit. They'll break down strategies for leaving the 9-to-5 behind and building a live streaming career. And hey, we can't ignore the burning question everyone's asking: how on earth did Shawn Kay the Showman snag such a stunning spouse? Tune in for some insider info, a healthy dose of laughs, and maybe even a glimpse into the mysterious world of Deep Video Live! (We can't promise anything on the Shawn Kay front, though!)Follow Deep Video Live:deepvideo.liveFollow The Austin Young Show:austinyoungshow.comMusic By: Boof -  NormaToxic Madness - Psycho Killer Fishska - Banned In JakartaMorocco - Heaven Is A MythShawn Kay The Showman - Getaway *DISCLAIMER: I hereby declare that I do not own the rights to this music/song. All rights belong to the owner. No Copyright Infringement Intended. All bands have given permission to use their music.* 

Gabriel Deshaune Parker, co-frontman of Artemis Funk and founder of the viral pop culture cover group Unlockable Characters, joins us on the show! We chat about jazz, classical composers, and even the troubled past of Richard Wagner. Gabriel offers insights into his musical journey, explaining how his experience in a post-punk band prepared him for the life of gigging and striving in the industry. He delivers honest, thoughtful answers and even shares advice he'd give his younger self.In true Punkadoodle fashion, Ruth keeps things lively with some playful harassment throughout the episode.If you're a music lover, regardless of genre, and want to discover your new favorite artist, then this episode is a must-listen!Follow Gabriel Deshaune Parker:InstagramUnlockable CharactersARTEMIS FUNK Follow The Austin Young Show:www.austinyoungshow.com Music By: ARTEMIS FUNK - Hold It Down & FeelingsThe Effinays - Donut ShopSteve Gnash - Las Colinas, PT 1

Zach Shor, CEO, Goodsurf joins David Johnson on this episode of CEO Spotlight. 

If you want new music that's heavy on the international SKA then this is the episode for you. It's a great episode to sit back and eat some "Tamales". Veronica also discusses her new show and we play a questionable clip from it.  Follow The Veronica Young Show:https://linktr.ee/TheVeronicaYoungShow Follow The Austin Young Show:austinyoungshow.comMusic By: Lighthouse- The Bóxers BrainNo Problem - The OveritsInsufferable - Market ZeroTheme Song - SkappositoryBorstale Breakout - The BracersImpressions - Richard Haskins20,000 Octaves Under the C - Chilled Monkey Brains *DISCLAIMER: I hereby declare that I do not own the rights to this music/song. All rights belong to the owner. No Copyright Infringement Intended. All bands have given permission to use their music.*

This episode, we're getting rowdy with the Dallas punks, Die Würst! Joining us are vocalist Sean, the fiery frontman with a voice that could shatter glass, his cousin Matt who lays down the thunderous basslines, and guitarist Jesse, the riff maestro who injects pure chaos into their sound.Die Würst have been making waves in the local scene, known for their electrifying live shows that morph from skate punk anthems to full-on hardcore mosh pits. We'll be talking about their upcoming EP, produced by a surprise guest – a member of the legendary Reliant K and Jesse tells us about his history in television production and the transition into the scene from California! Buckle up as we dissect the creative process and the influence this collaboration might have on their sound. I of course also have to ask the boys what their favorite sausage is as well!Follow Die Würst:FacebookInstagramFollow The Austin Young Show:www.austinyoungshow.comMusic By: Die Würst - Game Show, Got Wrong and Just Fine. *DISCLAIMER: I hereby declare that I do not own the rights to this music/song. All rights belong to the owner. No Copyright Infringement Intended. All bands have given permission to use their music.* 

Ken Bethea, lead guitarist for the rock band (don't call them a country band) Old 97's, is our esteemed guest this episode. We get into the early days of the Deep Ellum scene as well as the early days of the so-called "alt-country" scene. We also discuss the veracity behind the long held rumor of the Old 97's vs. Whiskeytown beef. And finally we hear the true story of when Ken and the guys finally first got to play the historic Red Rocks venue, BUT as a three piece and without Rhett Miller their lead singer, who decided to try and fly in day of show. Did he make the gig?! You'll have to tune in to find out! "American Primitive" by Old 97's is OUT NOW!  www.old97s.com

Are we getting rid of the Reunion Tower?! We discuss why this could be a possibility and if it's a good idea before we discuss the big ANTA event with Kyrie in Deep Ellum lastnight, which leads Ben to apologize for a huge mistake he made yesterday.

Like a phoenix from the ashes, the legendary Beer Bar, Deep Ellum in Waltham, MA, has been reborn! Just outside of Boston, Jimmy is at Deep Ellum beer bar to chat about the new location and the myth behind the legendary neighborhood establishment.Here to chat with Jimmy are Max Toste, one of the owners of Deep Ellum, and Matt Steinberg, co-founder and head brewer at Exhibit ‘A' Brewing. The best lagers from Germany, the best cask from England, the best local craft beers. Name it, and they serve it at Deep Ellum. All of this, yet they remain down to Earth as a reliable neighborhood bar. Dive deep into this legendary Boston Beer Bar with Jimmy and Co. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Beer Sessions Radio by becoming a member!Beer Sessions Radio is Powered by Simplecast.

Will the ancient prophecy be fulfilled!? What incredible secrets could be hidden in Deep Ellum!? Only Amethyst Michelle can unlock the power. What is up Listeners!? We are jumping in with an adventurous episode featuring the incredible Amethyst Michelle as they talk about their brand new singles Shut the Hell Up and Where Have the Angles Gone. If you could please go and follow them on ALLLLL the social media, stream their music and roll up to the next show at Caves in Arlington on March 1st that would be EXCELLENT. Do you want to be on the Local Obscene!? Go and follow us on instagram @localobscene (send a DM) or shoot me an email at localobscene@gmail.com. Thank you so much for listening. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/localobscene/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/localobscene/support

Marisela was a 23-year old girl visiting Dallas from Seattle. In October 2020, Marisela meets Charles Beltran on the streets of Deep Ellum. What Marisela didn't know is that Charles was living with two women at this time. Charles takes Marisela back to his home, where she is murdered, her body dumped, and found 5 months later in Wilmer, TX. Lisa Dykes will be charged with Botella's murder. Maggie Prosser of the Dallas Morning News joins us in this episode. She will share what she witnessed in the courtroom, and key testimony in the case.  Thank you txwine.com for sharing these fabulous Sangiovese's with us!www.texaswineandtruecrime.com

SlapperCast Episode 259: "Dock Curious" PART ONE: Patrick and Chad continue our conversations about Elvis, Phil Lynott and Thin LIzzy. We imagine what might have been if Philo and Elvis had collaborated, and also talk about Lizzy guitarist Brian Robertson ("Robbo"), who was only 17 years old when Phil Lynott hired him as the first replacement for Eric Bell. PART TWO: Recorded in the van with Turbo on our way home from our gig at the Wounded Ostrich in Deep Ellum, Dallas. We had a GREAT time at the show, and thus the energy levels in this segment are high. We talk about our experience at the gig, and Turbo also brings us up to speed on his recent visit to Costa Mesa for a special SJC Custom Drums event. Also we do a few "shine-a-lights" on songs we've been digging on recently, which had been missing from the last few episodes. 00:00:00 — Intro 00:00:57 — Elvis's comic book influences 00:01:46 — More on Elvis 00:10:43 — What if Phil Lynott and Elvis collaborated? 00:16:10 — Mötley Crüe using backing tracks live 00:19:56 — Brian Robertson (Thin Lizzy guitarist) 00:22:06 — Our love of Thin Lizzy 00:25:54 — Patrick's Shine-a-light 00:26:38 — Wounded Ostrich gig recap 00:33:17 — Turbo's SJC Event recap 00:44:09 — Upcoming shows 00:44:52 — Shine-a-lights Show dates Blaggards.com (https://blaggards.com/shows/) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pg/blaggards/events/) Bandsintown (https://www.bandsintown.com/a/3808) Follow us on social media YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/blaggards) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/blaggards/) Twitter (https://twitter.com/blaggards) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/blaggards/) Become a Patron Join Blaggards on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/blaggards) for bonus podcast content, live tracks, rough mixes, and other exclusives. Rate us Rate and review SlapperCast on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slappercast-a-weekly-talk-show-with-blaggards/id1452061331) Questions? If you have questions for a future Q&A episode, * leave a comment on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/blaggards), or * tweet them to us (https://twitter.com/blaggards) with the hashtag #slappercast. Special Guest: Kevin Newton.

Su historia es corta pero intensa, la de una ciudad en perpetuo crecimiento y reinvención. Lejos queda el cliché del petróleo y los cowboys; superada está la imagen que mostraba la teleserie del mismo nombre; curado, el trauma colectivo desencadenado por el asesinato de John F. Kennedy en 1963. Y mientras todo fluye, algo permanece inmutable en el alma de Dallas: su pasión por las artes. Bien lo sabe Janet Kafka, cónsul honoraria de España para todo el norte de Texas. Acostumbrada a recibir visitas, esta antigua alumna de la Complutense nos enseña los rincones más especiales de su ciudad natal. Desde Founder's Plaza caminamos hasta el memorial dedicado a JFK, a una manzana del lugar donde Lee Harvey Oswald acabó con la vida del presidente un 22 de noviembre. En el inmueble desde el que efectuó los disparos abre sus puertas el Sixth Floor Museum, institución que recuerda el magnicidio; la visitamos en compañía de Óscar Vela, de la oficina de turismo de Dallas. Paseamos por el Downtown y nos detenemos en el enorme distrito de las artes, repleto de museos, teatros y auditorios firmados por reconocidos arquitectos como Renzo Piano, I. M. Pei, Norman Foster o Rem Koolhaas. En el veterano Dallas Museum of Art nos atiende su director, Agustín Arteaga. Además contamos con la directora de turismo de Visit Dallas, Liliana Rivera, que nos acompaña hasta Deep Ellum, barrio muy animado y musical en cuya Blues Alley nos espera el muralista urbano Hatziel Flores. Después de echar un vistazo al también bohemio Bishop Arts District ponemos rumbo hacia la Universidad Metodista del Sur, que atesora una de las mejores colecciones de arte español de Estados Unidos en el Meadows Museum. Su directora, Amanda Dotseth, y su responsable de comunicación para España y Latinoamérica, Julián Hernández, nos invitan a recorrer esta peculiar pinacoteca inspirada en El Prado de Madrid. Terminamos viaje en la vecina Fort Worth, donde Estela Martínez, de su departamento de turismo, nos muestra las particularidades de una ciudad que –ésta sí– conserva un auténtico espíritu vaquero, compatible con el amor por el arte que destila su Kimbell Art Museum. Escuchar audio