Podcasts about East Dallas

Camille and Rich sit down with one of their all time favorite hometown voices, Ward Richmond, a musician, dad, real estate broker, podcast host, and proud East Dallas native. Ward grew up sneaking into Reverend Horton Heat and Tripping Daisy shows, eventually becoming a staple of the Dallas music scene with bands like Slick 57 and Boys Named Sue. Today, he brings raw honesty and Texas storytelling to his solo work including his upcoming third album Big Addict Energy produced by John Pedigo.In this conversation Ward opens up about addiction, recovery, and finding peace through music, yoga, meditation, and fatherhood. He talks about the inspiration behind his songs, the friends and collaborators who shaped his journey, and why his Dallas roots will always be at the center of his story.This episode is about more than music. It is about resilience, community, and the power of truth.Connect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

Elaine Heath is the abbess of Spring Forest, a new monastic community in Hillsborough, North Carolina. Spring Forest centers around communal prayer and meals, a vibrant farm, refugee support, and other ministries you can read about here. You can learn more about Elaine's work as an author and speaker on her website, or in articles like this one from the Center for Action and Contemplation.Many thanks to Elaine and her husband Randall for welcoming Ron and I and our audio producer, Colin, to the farm last June. Besides relishing the good company of our hosts, we enjoyed harvesting cabbage, feasting and praying with the Sunday evening group, walking through the woods, and petting some good-natured goats.Dr. Elaine HeathOn the farm.Someone had to help harvest the cabbage, so Ron and Colin and I pitched in.Elaine, husband Randall, and I in their lovely home.TRANSCRIPTElaine Heath If you are nurtured by traditional church—or let's say, conventional church—keep doing it, but also realize that for other people that's not nurturing. It feels dry and lifeless, and it's clear the Spirit is doing something new. So instead of insisting everybody stop doing the new thing, and everybody has to come and do the conventional thing, you can be conventional in your worship and bless and make space for others so that we have a plethora of experiments going on.Debra Rienstra Welcome to the Refugia Podcast. I'm your host, Professor Debra Rienstra. Refugia are habitats in nature where life endures in times of crisis. We're exploring the concept of refugia as a metaphor, discovering how people of faith can become people of refugia: nurturing life-giving spaces in the earth, in our human cultural systems, and in our spiritual communities, even in this time of severe disturbance. This season, we're paying special attention to churches and Christian communities who have figured out how to address the climate crisis together as an essential aspect of their discipleship.Today, I'm excited to introduce you to Dr. Elaine Heath. Elaine is founder and abbess of Spring Forest, a new monastic community centered on a 23-acre forest and farm property near Hillsboro, North Carolina. The farm supplies a CSA and supports food security for refugees and serves as the setting for outdoor programs for kids, cooking classes, potlucks, forest walks and more. But the Spring Forest community is a dispersed network of people who move in and out of the farm space in a variety of ways. They live on the farm for a time, they visit often to volunteer, or they simply join the community online for daily prayer. We got to visit the farm last spring, and I can tell you that Elaine's long experience with new monasticism, trauma-informed care, and contemplative practice make her an ideal curator of refugia space. The vibe on the farm is peaceful, orderly, and full of life. It's a place of holy experimentation in new ways to form Christian community and reconnect with the land. Let's get to it.Debra Rienstra Elaine, thank you for talking with me today. It's really great to be with you.Elaine Heath Yeah, I'm glad to be with you too.Debra Rienstra So you served in traditional parish ministry and in religious academia for many years, and then in 2018 you retired from that work to found Spring Forest. Why a farm and a new monastic community? What inspired and influenced this particular expression of faith?Elaine Heath I've always loved farms and forests. But actually, my dream to do this started about 25 years ago, and my husband and I bought a 23 acre property in North Central Ohio, right when I was right out of my PhD program and I got my first academic job at my alma mater, which is Ashland Theological Seminary. So I went there to direct the Doctor of Ministry program, and we bought this beautiful property. It had a little house that looked like the ranger station, and it had a stream and a big labyrinth cut in the field, and it had beautiful soil to grow, you know, for market gardening. And what we planned to do was gradually develop retreat ministries there. My husband was going to build some hermitages up in the woods, because I did a lot of spiritual direction with pastors who were burned out and traumatized, and we felt like that, you know, as I got older and phased out of academia, that would be something we could do together.So we were there for a couple years, and then I was recruited to go to Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. And we were very sad to leave our property behind, but we were clear that we were being called to Texas. So we bought a home in the city in a sort of mixed income, racially diverse neighborhood in Garland, and it was a big house with a nice yard, and soon after starting to teach evangelism—which, I kind of created my own path for how to teach evangelism, because I don't believe in selling Jesus or any of those kinds of colonizing things. So I was teaching about living a contemplative life and practicing social and environmental justice and being good news in the world, and being good neighbors to all our neighbors, and thinking of our neighbors as us and not them. And I had them reading Shane Claiborne and the people writing with the emerging church movement at the time, and pretty soon, I had students in my class coming to my office every week. It was a different student, but the same tears and the same kind of narrative: “Dr. Heath, I think I'm going to have to leave the church to answer my call. Tell me what I should do.” And it was because they were being called to do innovative, new monastic ministry, missional, new monastic kinds of things. But our denomination in particular didn't quite get it, even though early Methodism was very much like that.So I realized fairly quickly that this was God calling me through these students to focus my research and writing and my teaching in the area of emergence. Emergence theory, what's happening in the world. How do these currents of emergence intersect with what's happening politically and environmentally, and what's happening, you know, in the economy and with the church. So pretty soon, I don't know, it wasn't very long, I felt God was calling me to gather students and start some experiments outside, out in the city. And so I had a prayer partner, and we were praying for a house to come available, so that we could start a new monastic house. And she came to me one day and she said, “I saw the house coming. It'll be here soon.” And I said, “Okay.” I had no money for a house. You know, kind of a lowly professor, didn't make that much. And within two weeks, one of our neighbors came to me, who didn't really know me well at all, and said, “Hey, my mom has a rental property. It's been in our family for a long time, and we wondered if you might have some students that would like to live there. We won't even charge rent, just pay their utilities and not have drug parties or whatnot.” And I said, “No, that's unlikely,” you know. So I said, you know, I could throw the phone down and ran down to get in her car and go over to this house with her. And we were driving over, and she says, “You know, it's not the best neighborhood.” I said, “Perfect!” But we got there, and it was a really great little three bedroom house in a predominantly Latina neighborhood, and that was our first new monastic house. So I asked three of the students who'd been crying in my office, “Would you be willing to break your leases wherever you live and come and live here for a year?” And I can assign a spiritual director to work with you, and I can write a curriculum for an independent study on the theory and practice of new monasticism. And we can develop a Rule of Life based on our United Methodist membership vows. And they all immediately said yes, and so that's how we got started with our first house.Elaine Heath And then right around the same time, I started a missional house church that was quickly relocated into the neighborhood where most of the refugees are resettled in Dallas, because one of my students brought six Congolese men to our little house church worship, and that that was the beginning of realizing we were called to work with refugees.Debra Rienstra Oh, I see.Elaine Heath So that all got started around 2008. And by 2009, there was a student who came to Perkins who had been a commercial real estate banker on Wall Street. And he came to Perkins as a student. He was an older man. And we were going on my very first pilgrimage to Iona, Northumbria, and Lindisfarne, and Michael Hahn was with us too. He and I team-taught this class, so it was my first one. But it turned out that Larry Duggins, the student, had come to seminary because he really wanted to be equipped to help young adults who were feeling disillusioned with the church but wanted to be out in the world doing good work. And he started describing what he was called to, and I'm like, “Well, that's what I'm doing with these students.” So we joined forces and created a nonprofit called Missional Wisdom Foundation, and within three years, we had a network of eight new monastic communities across the metroplex. They were all anchored at local churches. Some of them were parsonages that weren't being used. And we wove into the expectations and sort of the lifestyle of those houses, urban agriculture.Debra Rienstra Oh, I was waiting for the farm to come back into it. Yeah, because I'm seeing these threads of experimentation and monasticism and place. We're sitting here today on your current farm land. So it's really interesting to hear all these threads being developed early on in an urban context.Elaine Heath Yes, it was quite something. These houses were all in different social contexts. There was one house, the Bonhoeffer house, that was in East Dallas, in a neighborhood that was not only mixed income and racially diverse, but also used to be where the mayor lived. And now there are people who are unhoused living there, and there are also people with nice houses living there. So it was a very interesting neighborhood. So that house, we learned quickly that you needed to take a year to get to know the neighborhood before you try to figure out how you're going to support whatever justice work needs to happen in the neighborhood. But that house got really close with the unhoused community and did a lot of good ministry with the guys and a few women. Then there was one for undocumented workers, the Romero House, and just different social contexts. But all of them had a backyard garden or, you know, some type of growing food kind of thing. And I used to take students to this farm that was an urban farm in DeSoto, which is just south of Dallas, where it was quite small, but these were former missionaries, the type that have crusades and show the Jesus film and everything in sort of poor countries. And then they had an awakening that happened, and they realized they were being called to help people in orphanages learn how to grow their own food in a sustainable way and raise the living standard for the whole village. So they had this little farm, and I would take students there every semester to experience the conversion of thought that this couple had over what mission is, and to experience the beauty and joy of tilapia that provide food for the lettuce, that provide for the bees, you know. So this closed system. So that also affected my imagination about what I really wanted to do in the future.And so gradually, the years—we were there for 11 years, and we lived in community the whole time that we were there. By the time we came here for me to work at Duke, we had a very clear picture of what we wanted to do here. And so we looked for the property back when we had to sell that first farm, when we were so sad about selling it, I had an experience in prayer where I sensed God was saying to me, “Don't give up on this dream. It's sacred, and it will happen in the future on a better piece of property, at a better time in your life for this.” And so when it was time to move here, I said to Randall, “This is the time. Let's look for that property.” So that's how we landed here.Friendly, very contented dairy goats, hanging out in the afternoon.Debra Rienstra Yeah. When talking about your students, you mentioned yesterday that you like to “ruin them for fake church.” So what do you mean by fake church, and how exactly do you ruin them for it?Elaine Heath Well, you know, church is really the people and not the building. You all know that. It's the people and we're called to be a very different kind of people who are a healing community, that neighbor well, that give ourselves away, that regard our neighbors—human and non human—as part of us, whether they think they're part of us or not. We have this sort of posture in life. And when I think of how Jesus formed the church, Jesus had this little ragtag group of friends, and they traveled around and did stuff and talked about it, and they got mad at each other and had power struggles and drama and, you know, and then Jesus would process the drama with them. And he would do these outrageous things, you know, breaking sort of cultural taboo to demonstrate: this is what love really looks like. And so we don't get to do much of any of that, sitting in a pew on Sunday morning, facing forward while the people up in the front do things. And so many churches—maybe you've never experienced this, but I certainly have. The pastor's sort of the proxy disciple while people kind of watch and make judgments and decide whether or not they want to keep listening to those sermons.Debra Rienstra Oh yes.Elaine Heath So when you experience Christian life in a community where it's both natural, it's just the way you live in the world, and it's also liturgically rich, and the life is a contemplative life, and it's also a life of deep missional engagement with the world— that other version of church, it's like oatmeal with no flavoring in it. It makes you, I mean, it's about the life together. It's how we live in this world. It's not about sitting somewhere for an hour once a week and staring forward.Debra Rienstra Right. Yeah, so I would, you know, of course, I would describe what you're describing as refugia, being the people of refugia. You know? Not that I'm—we'll come back to traditional worship and traditional forms of faith and religion. But it seems like what you're doing is living into something you say on your website that we are in the midst of a new reformation in the church, and I certainly sense that too. I think the evidence is all around us, and the research bears out that we've reached this inflection point, and it's a painful inflection point that a lot of people think of as decline, because living through it feels confusing and bewildering and dark and full of loss. So what is your sense of when we are, in this point in history, in particular, for those of us who've been part of church communities, where are we finding ourselves? Why is it so confusing?Elaine Heath I really believe we're in a dark night of the soul as the church in the West and perhaps places in the East too. I know we've exported a capitalist version of church all over the world, sadly. But I believe we're in a dark night of the soul, you know, classically understood, where it's spirit-breathed. It's not that the devil is doing something to us. It's spirit-breathed to detach us from our sort of corporate ego that thinks we get to show up and boss the world around and act like we own the joint.Debra Rienstra We call that church of empire.Elaine Heath Yeah. And so I think that's what's happening. And when, you know, if you study the literature, if you work in spiritual direction, and you're looking at what happens with the dark night of the soul. That's a real dark night, not a clinical depression or something like that, but an actual dark night. You have to go through it. You can't bypass it. You can't work your way out of it. You can't talk your way out of it. And what happens is you find yourself increasingly hungry for simplicity, for a simple but clear experience of God, because it's like God's disappeared. There's a deep loneliness, even a sort of cold hell, to being in a dark night of the soul. And so there's a restlessness, there's a longing for actual experience of God. There's a feeling of futility. Things that used to work don't work anymore. So you know the threefold path? The purgation, illumination and union is one way that we've learned to think about what happens. The purgation part is— we're there.Debra Rienstra We're being purgated.Elaine Heath We're being purgated, yeah. And at the same time that we're having these flashes of intuitive knowing, this sort of illumination is coming. “Oh, let's pay attention to the saints and mystics who lived through things like this. What gave them life? What helped them to keep showing up and being faithful?” And we're having moments of union too, when we feel like, “Oh, discipleship means I make sure that the trees are cared for and not just people. Oh, all living things are interconnected. Quantum physics is teaching us a spiritual truth we should have known already.” So the three parts of that contemplative path are happening simultaneously. But I think what feels most forward to a lot of people is the purgation piece where you're like, “Oh, things are just dropping away. Numbers are dropping. Things that used to work don't work. What's going to happen now?” Sort of a sense of chaos, confusion. Tohu va bohu, yeah.Debra Rienstra Yeah, do you want me to explain what that is?Elaine Heath Yeah, chaos and confusion. From the beginning of time.Debra Rienstra It's the realm out of which creation is formed. So the idea that the spirit is drawing us into this dark night is actually really reassuring. We are where we're supposed to be. And even though it feels confusing and painful, there are these moments of wisdom—that's so reassuring. In fact, one of the things you write: the new reformation is all about the emergence. So this emergence is happening of a generous, hospitable, equitable form of Christianity that heals the wounds of the world. What is your vision about what the church needs to release and hold and create right now?Elaine Heath We need to release everything that even slightly has a hint of empire, that we have thought of as what it means to be the church, because that completely reverts what church is supposed to be about. So giving up empire, we need to take up the great kenotic hymn of Philippians two and actually live it.Debra Rienstra The self emptying hymn.Elaine Heath The self emptying. And it's not—I know that that can be problematic when we're thinking of women or, you know, groups that have been forced to empty themselves in an exploited way. But that's not really what that's all about. It's about showing up to God, paying attention, seeing what God's invitation is, then cooperating with that and just releasing the outcome. That's what that's about, and really finding out, what am I in this world for? What are we in this world for? And being about that and not about something else.Debra Rienstra Yeah, it's hard to release the ways that we have done things. Well, you have a congregation, you have a pastor, you have a sanctuary, you have programs, you want the kids to come, you need tithes, all of those systems. And actually, what you're doing here at Spring Forest—let's talk about that. What you're doing here at Spring Forest doesn't have any of that. Sunday services. There's no church building. You have barn buildings, you have farm buildings. No Sunday school, no adult ed, no choirs, organs, praise bands, any of that stuff, right? Do you think of Spring Forest as a new model for church? Perhaps one among many?Elaine Heath It's one among many. We're definitely shaped by traditional monasticism. We're shaped by early Methodism. We're influenced by the Catholic Worker Movement, and definitely Bonhoeffer's work and a number of others: the Clarence Jordan and Koinonia farms. And so we're influenced by all of those. We do have music sometimes at Forest Feast, if we have someone that can lead it, and, you know, do a good job. But the backbone of our worship life is morning and evening prayer. And that is so wonderful. You were here last night for Forest Feast, and we use the same structure we use for morning and evening prayer, and we have a group of about six people who are writing the liturgies for us, who have been writing for a year and a half now.Debra Rienstra Who are those people?Elaine Heath Well, there's Steve Taylor is our lay leader, and his wife, Cheryl, and then there's Donna Patterson, who's—none of them were here last night. They all had to go somewhere. But some of them are lay people. Some of them are clergy.Debra Rienstra And they don't live here?Elaine Heath No, they live— well, some of the people that write live far away, and they're in our digital community. But, yeah, Steve and Cheryl live in Lumberton, which is, you know, almost two hours away. But they're beautiful. I mean, if you go online and look at some of the last month, look at the prayers and see the—they're just truly beautiful, and they reflect our spirituality of our community.Debra Rienstra Yeah. So the community, it seems to me, you have had people living on the farm itself, but your community, like the Iona community, is both located here on this land, but also dispersed. And so you have that interaction, that conversation between this residential life. So let's try to describe for listeners: there's the farm. You live here with your husband. You have interns from Duke. You have a farm. What do you call Larry?Elaine Heath He's our farm coach.Debra Rienstra Coach, yes, I love that. They have the farm coach who has the farming knowledge that you all sort of follow. You have chefs. They don't live here either, but they come in. So you have a lot of people coming in and out on this farm. And you do regenerative farming. You have programs for kids, you have refugee support, and you can talk about that, trauma informed rest for spiritual leaders. And then a number of other things. The farm produces vegetables and those go to a CSA, and also a lot of it is donated. Why this particular assembly of activities? How does it all fit together? And what are the theological principles beneath each of these endeavors?Elaine Heath The overarching principle is that the Holy Spirit gives gifts to every believer and to every person, let's just be honest. And the job of the pastor, the pastor teacher, is to fan those gifts into flame, to help them have the support they need to use their gifts and that the ministries should be shaped by the gifts of the people, which means you can't use a cookie cutter. And we have numerically a small community, but incredibly high capacity of people. So we have these gifts that they have, and then the ministries are emerging out of those gifts. And it might seem like, why do you have refugee support? And you know, just name anything else we're doing. How does this fit together? The organizing principle—okay, so you have the foundation. These are gifts given by the Spirit. Our ministries are emerging from our gifts. And the organizing sort of a cohesive piece is our rule of life that ties everything together. And so our rule of life is prayer, work, table, neighbor and rest. And that rule of life came about after we lived here for a year, when we first started Spring Forest with—there was another pastor that co-founded it with me, Francis Kinyua, who's from Kenya, and he was my student in Dallas, and did all those other things with me. So we invited him to come. We had to work with three different bishops to kind of make it work. But it worked, you know. Anyway, we just waited for a year to see. We had lots of work to do with getting the farm ready to go and Francis and I went to Church World Service right away to say, “Hey, we have a lot of experience supporting refugees, and we would like to do that here as well.” So we got started with that, but we waited a year and then just articulated, what are the practices that we do that are keeping us grounded here and keeping us right side up. And it was those things, so we named it.Debra Rienstra Okay, you were just doing it, and then you named those things.Elaine Heath Instead of creating sort of an aspirational rule and tried to live into it, we named what was actually working, what was actually grounding us and felt life giving.Debra Rienstra Hi, it's me, Debra. If you are enjoying this podcast episode, go ahead and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform. If you have a minute, leave a review. Good reviews help more listeners discover this podcast. To keep up with all the Refugia news, I invite you to subscribe to the Refugia newsletter on Substack. This is my fortnightly newsletter for people of faith who care about the climate crisis and want to go deeper. Every two weeks, I feature climate news, deeper dives, refugia sightings and much more. Join our community at refugianewsletter.substack.com. For even more goodies, including transcripts and show notes for this podcast, check out my website at debrarienstra.com. D-E-B-R-A-R-I-E-N-S-T-R-A dot com. Thanks so much for listening. We're glad you're part of this community. And now back to the interview.Debra Rienstra You do partner a lot with, you know, “regular church folk.” It's that sort of in-and-out permeable membrane. How do you think about the relationship of what you're doing here, with Spring Forest, with the work of sort of standard congregations, is there like a mutuality? How do you think about that?Elaine Heath It's just like traditional monasticism. You've got a community that have this rule of life they follow. People who are not living in the community can become Oblates to the rule of life and have a special relationship. And usually those people go to church somewhere else. Part of our ethic here is we want to resist competition between churches, so we don't meet on Sundays to do things like programmatically. We usually just rest on Sundays and watch a movie and eat popcorn, you know.Debra Rienstra That's a spiritual practice.Elaine Heath But also, so there's that sort of historic piece, and people from churches come here for retreats. Lead teams come for retreats. People come—pastors, we have a lot of pastors who come here for a retreat. But also we are a mission community, so we're very active with supporting refugees. We're very active with the food programs that we have, and that gives people from a church—lots of churches don't have things like that going on. They don't have the resources for it, or they haven't figured it out. But that way, we can partner with churches and people can come here and they can actually get their hands in the soil, and they can teach somebody to read, and they can see little children learning where food comes from. They can help the chef with her kitchen things, you know. So it's a wonderful way to provide spiritual formation and missional formation to congregations that don't have those resources. And we can do these things together.Debra Rienstra Yeah. And that's that's premised on this being a place, an embodied place, a refugia space that people can come to. Yeah. I think that's a wonderful model. Do you yourself ever feel a sense of loss for “the old ways?” And I'm just thinking of this because at the beginning of your book, God Unbound, which is about Galatians, you write about how Paul challenges the Galatians to let go of their tight grip on the past, and you write about how you, reading that, felt yourself like a little bit of a traditionalist, you know, sort of defending, “But what about the past? What about the old ways?” Which you have loved too, right? So, how would you counsel people who have loved traditional church despite everything, and really do feel this sense of loss and wonder anxiously about what's next?Elaine Heath Yeah, I feel empathy. You know, something was going on in the Middle East at the time. I can't remember exactly the situation. There's always something going on, but it had to do with people's culture being wiped out and being told that what they believed didn't count and wasn't right and everything. And I was feeling such grief for them, and then all of a sudden, you know, I'm in Galatians, and think, “Well, that's how those people felt.” And even myself, there are things in my own daily practice that are—they're precious to me. My way of praying in the morning, the facing into the forest, you know, and things like that, that are rituals for me. And thinking, you know, if somebody told me “that doesn't matter,” how hard that would be. So I think in the spiritual journey, we come to the place, if we keep maturing, where we realize, in Merton's words, that so often we think it's the finger pointing to the moon, we think the finger is the moon. And it's that way about rituals and all sorts of things that we do, and we get to a place where we realize that intellectually and even spiritually, in an emotional way. But you can't force people to get to that point. This is something that happens as we grow and mature as life goes by. So what I have said to many people is, “If you are nurtured by traditional church, or, let's say, conventional church,”—because which traditional church are we talking about? One, right here, middle class, white, are we talking about Brazil? —”So if that nurtures you, keep doing it. But also realize that for other people, that's not nurturing. It feels dry and lifeless, and it's clear the Spirit is doing something new.” So instead of insisting everybody stop doing the new thing, and everybody has to come and do the conventional thing, you can be conventional in your worship and bless and make space for others so that we have a plethora of experiments going on. Because we're in a time of great emergence, as Phyllis Tickle wrote, and we need lots of experiments.Debra Rienstra Yeah. I appreciated what you wrote about trial and error. It's a time of trial and error, and it's okay to try things and have them not work. And that fits the refugia model too, really, really well. I mean, refugia don't always work. They just sometimes fail. Let's talk about a couple of key metaphors that I've noticed in your writings and in the website for Spring Forest too. One is that metaphor of the mycelial network, so the underground fungus that connects the creatures, the beings, the plants, the trees of the forest. I think is a wonderful metaphor too, for the way that faith and climate people, people who are worried about the climate crisis, and also people of faith—it's a great metaphor for how they're finding each other and connecting and building this sort of cultural and spiritual soil where the seeds of the future can grow. How is that metaphor meaningful for you here at Spring Forest?Elaine Heath Well, it means a lot in terms of the first of all, the diversity of expressions of ministry that are even here on the property, but also, especially in our dispersed community, through following the rule of life together, which—we are a practice-based community, rather than a dogma-based community. So as people are practicing those practices where they live and work and play, then they are forming community in a very specific, contextual way where they are. I think of Steve and Cheryl again, the friends I mentioned earlier. He's our lay leader. They live in a, I think a working class neighborhood in Lumberton, which is the land of the Lumbee here in North Carolina. And they have developed a wonderful, just neighborhood ministry there with—and they've been able, through potluck dinners and front yard barbecues and remembering people's birthdays and things like this, they've developed this friendship network in the neighborhood with people that are on complete opposite sides, politically, racially, and this is in the South, where you've got all sorts of issues. And they've taken the sort of ethic of Spring Forest here, but it's caused a mushroom to bloom there that looks really different from here. They don't have a farm, they don't have a forest, they've got this neighborhood. But the neighboring, the praying, the tabling, resting, all of those things are part of how they live there. And so it's fruiting there. And it's the same in other places in the world where we have people that live there.Debra Rienstra It's a good example, too, of how eating together is sacramental, both here and in these other networks that are connected to you. The Garden of Eden and the vision of the New Earth in Revelation are both important to you, that that whole long scriptural arc begin in a garden, end in a garden city, and then the Tree of Life is also your symbol, your logo. So how would you situate our work today as people of faith in that long arc of history, from the garden to the Garden City, and how does the Tree of Life fit into that for you?Elaine Heath There's a way in which the whole story is happening simultaneously. Does that make sense?Debra Rienstra Yeah.Elaine Heath It's all happening beyond time, sort of simultaneously. So sometimes we're living in the garden and we've been deceived, and now we have to figure out what to do, and sometimes we're rebuilding the wall, and sometimes we're on our way to Bethlehem, and sometimes we're in the garden of the new creation. And we can see it, and we're living that truth even while there's still the wall being built. There's a simultaneity to it all. But for me, I think especially of the theology of Julian of Norwich. That's why we have her icon here. There's this vision of love making all things new, that God, Christ, the risen Christ, says in Revelation 21:5, “Behold, I make all things new.” All things, not just a handful of people who get the right doctrine, not just—no, all things: horses and amoeba and all things are being made new in mysterious ways that we can't completely know.Debra Rienstra And that's Colossians one and Romans eight as well.Elaine Heath It's this thread that comes through scripture, and we get to participate in that, even while we don't see all the things completely made new, we get to be part of that. And to me, that's what it means to follow Christ. That's what it means to be a disciple. And to be the love of God enfleshed in this world is to keep participating in the making of all things new. This is why healing has such a central role in my theological vision and my practice, is it's making all things new.Debra Rienstra Healing land, healing people, healing communities.Elaine Heath Yeah, yeah. Healing theology. Theology has been so damaged by patriarchy and philosophy and all sorts of things, you know, and racism.Debra Rienstra Colonization. Yeah, so that embodiment is important even theologically, because we're not aiming for some abstract doctrinal perfection. We're not aiming to become disembodied creatures. We're aiming for this embodied redemption. And so working on the farm, healing, you know, getting muddy, walking through forests, harvesting veg, and you're able to invite people into that embodiment. Little kids doing yoga, I think that's wonderful. You know, just finding this kind of rest in their own little bodies. Eating—one of the most embodied and kinship-with-creation things we do, right? Taking it inside ourselves. And that, I think, is condensed in ritual. So I know that you have been playfully experimenting with rituals. I was able to be a part of the Forest Feast last night with my husband Ron and our friend Colin. And it was this beautifully curated event where we shared table together and then went through this prayer sequence that you described, and it was beautifully participative. I noticed you do a blessing of the animals too on the farm. So good thing these are blessed chickens and blessed dairy goats, blessed dogs and cats. What other sort of liturgical shenanigans have you tried to help people live into this embodied faith practice?Elaine Heath We do so many things. It's so much fun. It's never boring. It's never boring. We have a ritual in the fall, in late November, where we tuck the farm in and put it to bed for the winter, and we have the children come, we get some compost. You know, we've cleared out the beds, and they're gonna rest now. And so the children put some compost in. And we have a liturgy that we use. We light candles, and we thank Mother Earth for the food, we thank God for the opportunities. And so this is one of the things that we do ritualistically. We also have a spring ritual. It's very Hebrew-Bible like, right? With these seasons and the crops and the things with the liturgical seasons, we also have done a bunch of things. My favorite one so far was for epiphany, and this was two years ago. And so I had the interns from Duke Divinity School do the bulk of the planning. I just gave them a little bit of guidance about the four-fold order of worship and just some things like that. So we had a journey through the forest. It started here. We went on the forest trail. Of course, it was dark outside, and they had gone ahead and set up fairy lights at certain places where we're going to stop. And one of the interns' fiance was a musician, so he had his guitar, and he had one of those things where you can play the harmonica and play the guitar at the same time, but he was our troubadour, and all of us were the Magi. So there's this troop of Magi, and we would stop at each station along the way, and there were prompt questions that we would take five minutes, and people could respond to these questions. There would be a scripture reading, and we respond to the question, we go to the next station. And it was so amazing. People shared from their lives in a very deep way. It surprised me how quickly they went deep. Well, it was dark, and there were these twinkle lights, and there was the troubadour. Then we finally got up to the Christ child, and we went into the goat barn. And honestly, I get chills every time I even remember this. But the students had set up in the goat barn—and the goats were in the barn. Okay, they were behind a little chain link thing so they didn't step on the icons and everything. But they had set up an altar at the base of the feeding trough with a big icon of Mary with the Christ Child, candles, and some other things there. There were different icons and some fairy lights. And we went in there, and we all crowded in and began to sing. We sang “This Little Light of Mine,” we sang some Christmas carols, and finished the story. And then we came back to the house and had some snacks and talked about what kind of wisdom was given to us since we were Magi. We were going to be people seeking wisdom and seeking—it was the most beautiful thing. And we've done lots of things like that. We see the land here is a primary text to learn from and to listen to and to observe, not as a metaphor, but as, it's actually a conversation partner. So we do things like that.Debra Rienstra That playfulness is so exciting to me, this sense of using our tradition, using our scriptures, using the skills that we've honed as people of faith over generations, singing together, praying together, but experimenting with those things in new contexts and new ways, in new forms of embodiment that are just faithful and yet playful. And so, as you say, people go deep because they're sort of jarred out of their habitual ways, and that can be such a great formational moment and bonding moment too, and it's very memorable. We remember that in ways—you know, you had such joy on your face as you're describing that. What would you say as you look back over the last, well, let's see, it's been almost eight years? Seven, eight years here at this location. What would you say has given you the most anguish and what has given you the most joy?Elaine Heath Oh, anguish. Which story should I tell?Debra Rienstra Yeah, I don't want to make it sound like it's all been beautiful and romantic and perfect.Elaine Heath Whenever you have community, you have drama. Well, you know, at your typical church, you're gonna have drama sometimes. But what we've found a few times, and it's pretty predictable. This happens in traditional monasteries too, which is why they have novitiate periods that are sometimes quite lengthy and sort of staggered, like you put your toe in the water. People of very high capacity who are deeply grounded spiritually and have a real vision for the gospel, are attracted to community life like this. People who are really hurt, who've had a lot of brokenness, especially from religious institutions or abusive situations, trauma that that is unresolved, that has a lot of unhealed wounds, are also attracted to places like this, often with a sort of utopian hope, because of, you know, life's deficits.Debra Rienstra And they feel that this is a place of healing, and they're right about that.Elaine Heath They're right about it. And so what actually happens is sometimes with the person, the second category of person, will come and join in and just be so full of gladness, because, “Oh, these, these are real people, like they're really doing things in the world. This is what I've longed for.” But then, as relationships form, and we're doing life together, and we all bump up against each other at times, the unhealed wounds fester. And the way I see it is, God's bringing them to a place where, if they'll just do their inner work now, now that it's clear what's the next step—if they'll take the next step, whether it's get some therapy, stay on your meds, get some support for your addiction recovery, whatever the things are—if you'll take the next step, then this is a very supportive community that can help you. It's a village that can be around you and you will heal here in the context of this village. But sometimes people are not willing or not able, or it's not time in their own sense of what they can do, and so then they'll leave. Sometimes when people leave, this happens in traditional churches, for whatever reason, this is a common sort of psychological reaction, they'll create some sort of chaotic drama to be the excuse for leaving, rather than have to face the fact that it was time for me to take the next step, and I was too scared. Because that takes a lot of self awareness, you know, to come to realizations about things like that. So I know from talking to people, from, you know, friends that are in traditional monasteries and convents that this is a common thing that happens there. So it happens here sometimes, and it's never easy. It's always painful and always challenging, you know, but with God's help, we get through it. And so that's the anguish, when those kinds of things happen. We've had a time or two where, over the last 20 years, really, where a person would come in, usually a young adult who's very idealistic, and they're like, “This isn't a new monastic community. You're not forcing people to pray three times a day!” You know, whatever the thing is that they have in their head that is supposed to be, because we're pretty gracious, you know.Debra Rienstra You don't get up at three in the morning.Elaine Heath Yeah, that's not us. We can't do that because, especially if you've got families with children and, you know, you've got to get up and go to work in the morning. So sometimes there will be somebody that figures they know more than everybody else in the room, and they want to take over and run the joint. You know, that's not going to happen. So then that sometimes creates some anguish. What about the joy? The joy is—and there's so much to give me joy. I really, really love seeing people come alive, like I really love seeing people who have, especially people who have been harmed by religion, because of their identity or because of anything, and they find deep spiritual friendship. They find how to connect, in Buechner's words, their deep passion with the world's great need, and start a new thing. And it gives them so much joy. And it's actually helping people. It's helping the world. And just sort of fanning that flame, that gives me a lot of joy. I have so much joy being in touch with the land and the animals. I just really experience them directly mediating God to me. I feel the divine life in them, and I feel, I guess I get a lot of dopamine hits when I'm out there harvesting and when I'm, you know, brushing the goats and talking to the chickens and whatnot.Debra Rienstra They are blessed chickens!Elaine Heath They are blessed chickens.Debra Rienstra What advice would you give to church people who, even though they love their church and their community, recognize that something needs to change, but they don't know where to start? What advice would you give?Elaine Heath To start in their own home, if at all possible, start in their own neighborhood. Start having neighbors over for dinner. Do not tell them we're going to have a Bible study now, because that's—it's not to have a Bible study. It's to form friendships with our neighbors. Start neighboring well. Figure out who lives on my street. Who lives across the street? Invite them for dinner. Have neighborhood potlucks. We did this in Texas, right after we moved there, I think they're still going. We'd have 50 people in our house sometimes. But just invite the neighbors for dinner. Have a potluck. Get to know them. Remember their birthdays, go to their kids' graduation. When you find out their mother died, go to the funeral. It's so simple. It's just such basic neighboring. That's where to start. It's not a church program. It's not making you stop going to church somewhere, to go to church over here. What you're actually doing is living church in your own neighborhood. Start doing that.Debra Rienstra Elaine, it's been such a pleasure to be here on the farm with you and to talk with you, get to know you a little bit. Thank you for what you do, and thank you for spending some time with me today.Elaine Heath It's been a joy. Thank you for the interview.Debra Rienstra Thanks for joining us for show notes and full transcripts, please visit debrarienstra.com and click on the Refugia Podcast tab. This season of the Refugia Podcast is produced with generous funding from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. Colin Hoogerwerf is our awesome audio producer. Thanks to Ron Rienstra for content consultation as well as technical and travel support. Till next time, be well. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit refugianewsletter.substack.com

Howard Garrett, better known as “The Dirt Doctor,” is back with Camille and Rich for one of our favorite conversations ever. Our audience loves him, and so do we. Born in Pittsburg, Texas, and based right here in Dallas, Howard has spent decades leading the organic movement as a radio host, author, arborist, and health activist. He challenges chemical-based approaches to landscaping and promotes natural organic programs that save water, restore soil, and protect our health.In this episode, Howard shares practical tips for everyday living, powerful insights on why the organic way works better in every way, and stories from his lifelong journey in the field. Whether you are a gardener, a homeowner, or just curious about healthier living, this conversation will leave you inspired to think differently about the world around you.Connect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

In this episode of What In East Dallas Is Going On?!, Camille and Rich sit down with Tony from Jimmy's Food Store. What starts as a conversation about a beloved neighborhood market quickly turns into something much bigger. Tony shares the rich history of Jimmy's, the challenges his family has overcome, and the deep connection this store has with the East Dallas community. Jimmy's isn't just a place to buy Italian specialties, it's a symbol of resilience, heritage, and what it means to belong.Connect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

In this episode of What In East Dallas Is Going On?!, Camille and Rich sit down with Emily Stewart, Senior Director of Philanthropy at Nexus Family Recovery Center. Emily brings over fifteen years of experience in the nonprofit world, where she has built lasting relationships and led successful fundraising efforts to support vital community programs.She shares her journey, her passion for connecting people to purpose, and the impact Nexus is making by helping individuals and families find recovery and lead fulfilling lives. From innovative fundraising to strengthening community bonds, Emily's story is a reminder of how philanthropy fuels change right here in East Dallas.Connect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

Architecture shapes more than the homes we live in. It influences culture, community, and even the way we see ourselves. In this episode of What In East Dallas Is Going On?!, Rich and Camille sit down with architects Justin Lial and Bentley Tibbs to talk about the power of design and the upcoming AIA Dallas Tour of Homes 2025.From the way a space is laid out to how it reflects the character of East Dallas, architecture has the ability to connect people and leave a lasting mark on a community. This is more than just bricks and blueprints—it is about the stories our homes tell.For more on the AIA Dallas Tour of Homes, visit AIADALLAS.com.Connect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

In this episode of What In East Dallas Is Going On?! Camille and Rich welcome Willis, a scholarship recipient from the Exchange Club of East Dallas who is now thriving as a business analyst for a local home builder. Willis shares his powerful story of perseverance, growing up with parents who never made it past middle school, and how community support opened doors for his future. Joining him is Brian Bessner, longtime Exchange Club member and cofounder of Woodrow Fest, who talks about the incredible work the club is doing for local students and families. This is more than a story about scholarships. It is about what happens when a community comes together to lift up the next generation.FIND OUT MORE! https://www.exchangeclubofeastdallas.orgConnect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

David Foster serves as the leader of The Pastor's Common, a Millennial & GenZ network for Texas Baptists. He is a member of Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church in East Dallas and has a B.A. in Christian Ministry from Wayland Baptist University.

In this episode of What In East Dallas Is Going On?! Camille and Rich sit down with Erica Pepper and Andrea Lamarsaude to talk about the East Dallas Arts District and why art matters so much to our community. From the way art reflects culture to how it shapes our neighborhoods and brings people together, this conversation dives deep into the role creativity plays in East Dallas. Whether you are a lifelong supporter of the arts or just starting to explore, you will come away with a greater appreciation for the talent and vision that make our community unique.Connect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

The Cowboys traded Parsons to the Green Bay Packers for two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark, two people familiar with the deal told The Dallas Morning News. In other news, both protesters and job seekers alike came out in droves for a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement hiring event in Arlington this week, as the agency looks to fill thousands of open positions using new funding from the Trump administration. Nearly 2,000 people preregistered for an ICE hiring event at Esports Stadium Arlington, part of a nationwide recruiting effort with big incentives; Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton expressed concern Thursday that Plano ISD “is allowing antisemitic behavior to take place,” asking in a letter to the superintendent for documentation about the district's investigations and disciplinary actions related to pro-Palestinian protests, anti-Israel rhetoric and antisemitism; and The All-American Rejects wound back the clock to the 2000s on Wednesday night, playing several of their old hits at a skate park in South Dallas. The band will sign copies of a limited tour-only vinyl edition of Sandbox at Good Records in East Dallas at 1 p.m. today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here's Tuesday's show, featuring the return of Jeff "Skin" Wade with a full review of how much Austin has changed since the last time he went.  Plus, the inside details of KT's weird SNL Fantasy draft.  Also, a tree fell on a lady in East Dallas, and we break down episode 6 of the Cowboys documentary on Netflix. 

"Could your tree be plotting against you?"In this wildly entertaining episode of The Ben and Skin Show, hosts Ben Rogers, Jeff “Skin” Wade, Kevin “KT” Turner, and Krystina Ray tackle one of the most unexpected—and oddly terrifying—stories to hit East Dallas: a massive tree randomly collapsing onto a woman's SUV in broad daylight. The crew dives into the bizarre details with their signature blend of humor, curiosity, and chaos.

Podcast Description:Rich and Camille sit down with the incredible Kate Weiser for a conversation that is equal parts funny, surprising, and delicious. Kate shares amazing behind-the-scenes stories about her journey from a family kitchen in Kansas to becoming one of the most celebrated chocolatiers in America. She reveals how she came up with the name Kate Weiser Chocolate (you might be surprised), drops a little breaking news, and even treats us to some of the best chocolate we've ever tasted. From being named one of the Top 10 Chocolatiers in North America to landing on Oprah's Favorite Things list, Kate continues to push the boundaries of creativity and artistry in chocolate. This episode is full of laughs, inspiration, and a sweet reminder of how passion can turn into a legacy.Connect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

The Chamber Chicks talk with It's A Good Sign,  owned by East Dallas residents and entrepreneurs, Greg and Gayle Lynch, who have lived in the Lochwood neighborhood for more than 22 years. https://itsagoodsign.comConnect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

This week Camille and Rich welcome East Dallas resident Julian Sol Jordan, a 24-year-old filmmaker, cinematographer, editor, and musician whose work blends documentary and narrative styles with a deeply personal touch. His most recent project, REAL LIFE, an experimental documentary created entirely on his own, is filled with scenes and moments from East Dallas, grounding the film in the neighborhood where he lives. The project was highlighted by IndieWire as part of the Future of Filmmaking initiative, recognizing Julian as one of the fresh voices reshaping independent cinema. Beyond film, Julian is also part of the indie music duo Sunrise Academy, whose songs have gained a viral following online. In this conversation, Julian shares how East Dallas inspires his work, what it means to tell stories that are honest and alive, and how film, photography, and music give him a way to capture both memory and the present moment.Connect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

Unlock the secrets of transformative design with visionary architect Edward Maestri, who shares how his Italian stonemason roots and a life-changing study abroad experience in Italy fueled his passion for architecture. Edward's journey is not just about creating beautiful spaces; it's about crafting unique prototypes that reflect each client's personality. You'll gain insights into his holistic approach, which marries classical techniques with modern innovation, creating designs that are both timeless and fresh.Edward opens up about the dynamic blend of historical influences and contemporary trends, like the resurgence of brass, that define Maestri Studio's distinctive style. Discover the importance of infusing personal elements into design to create spaces that exude warmth and authenticity. As Edward shares stories from his diverse projects, including an architectural development in East Dallas, listeners will learn how he achieves balance between historic charm and modern sophistication while fostering meaningful client collaboration.Venturing into the realm of sustainability, Edward discusses the growing demand for environmentally conscious design, especially in light of climate change's impact. Learn how Maestri Studio is expanding into Southern California with new custom lighting and furniture collections that embody resilience and sustainability. Aspiring designers, take note: Edward offers valuable advice on trusting your instincts, breaking away from the conventional path, and embracing the artistic power of AI to enhance creativity and connection with clients.

He was born in a refugee camp after World War II, raised in Texas, and did not start running until he was 32. Now in his seventies, he is a national cycling champion, author, and neighborhood legend known simply as Z.In this episode, Camille and Rich sit down with Zoltan Zsohar, East Dallas resident and author of Surviving Through Faith, to hear the incredible true story of how his family escaped Communist Hungary and started over in America with nothing but their faith to guide them.From the trauma of war to the thrill of victory, Z has lived a life most of us could not imagine. And he is still riding strong.You will laugh. You will be moved. And you will walk away inspired.Connect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

“Do you really have to stretch for walking… or is walking itself a stretch?”That's the kind of philosophical fitness debate you'll only hear on this wildly entertaining episode of The Ben and Skin Show, where the crew dives into everything from Olympic-level speed walking to East Dallas burger wars — and yes, Skin's squeaky ankles make a guest appearance.Join Ben Rogers, Jeff “Skin” Wade, Kevin “KT” Turner, and Krystina Ray as they navigate the hilarity of aging joints, low-impact workouts, and the ultimate showdown between two smash burger joints that might just change your lunch plans forever.

What happens when the kids leave the house? For Sharon Kirkpatrick, it was the start of something new. In this episode, we sit down with the founder of The Empty Nest Social (TENS)... a community built for parents navigating life after the kids have moved on.But this isn't just a social group. From supporting local nonprofits to giving college-bound seniors a head start with their College Dorm Start-Up Kits, TENS is about connection, compassion and giving back.Join Camille and Rich as we talk about the heart behind TENS, the impact they're making in East Dallas and how life's next chapter might be your best one yet.Connect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

Real estate is not about contracts or commissions. It is about people. It is about your dreams your needs and finding the right fit for your next chapter. Since 2003 he has been helping clients buy and sell with one simple focus on putting their needs first.With a heart for East Dallas and Uptown and a track record of referrals to prove it he brings both skill and a personal touch to every deal. Whether you are buying selling or just exploring your options he believes in keeping your best interest at the center of it all.On this episode with the Chamber Chicks, they are talking with a true pro who knows that when it comes to real estate, it is all about relationships.John AngellConnect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

For our 100th episode, we're going back to our favorite subject. History. Camille and Rich sit down with Sally Rodriguez from the Dallas Park and Recreation Department to talk about the fascinating story behind White Rock Lake and the parks of Dallas. From its early days to how it became the heart of East Dallas, this episode is packed with stories you've probably never heard. A huge thanks to Sally for joining us and to everyone who's been part of this journey. Here's to 100 more.Connect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

Ward Sakeik said Thursday ‘the humanity that I was taught in middle school, elementary, high school and college growing up is not the humanity that I've seen' but also said she does not blame the country that has been her home for more than a decade. In other news, a man has been arrested for a shooting that happened on a Trinity Railway Express train headed to the Fort Worth Central Station on Thursday morning. All TRE trains returned to normal schedule Thursday afternoon; a Texas hemp company cashes in on Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's viral THC snack moment; and at Goodfriend Package in East Dallas, nothing is off limits when it comes to pushing the boundaries of the breakfast sandwich. This anything-goes approach has yielded arguably one of the best breakfast sandwiches Dallas called 'The Snakebite.' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join us on a transformative message as we delve into a powerful message delivered at the Holy Spirit Conference in Los Angeles with Reverend David Larlee. In this episode, we explore the profound invitation to offer God something truly unique amidst our earthly challenges—a gift that we cannot give in heaven. Discover how choosing to worship and trust God during times of hardship brings you closer to His heart.Experience the dynamic storytelling of a church leader from East Dallas as he recounts his unexpected path from skepticism to a deep, personal encounter with the Holy Spirit. This engaging narrative is filled with humor, candid insights, and a stirring call to embrace the fullness of God's presence in our lives.Journey through biblical passages like Ezekiel 47 and Acts 2, as we uncover the vision of a river that flows outward, bringing life and healing to all it touches. Learn how the Holy Spirit seeks to dwell within us, transforming us into conduits of His love and power.Whether you're ankle deep or ready to be carried by the river's current, this episode challenges listeners to step out in faith, surrender, and experience the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. With practical insights and a heartwarming personal story, this message offers encouragement for those seeking more of God's presence in their lives.Tune in to explore how embracing the Holy Spirit's flow can lead you to deeper understanding, unity, and purpose. Whether you are new to this journey or seasoned in your faith, this episode invites you to dive into the depths of the Spirit and witness the life-changing impact it holds.

This week on What In East Dallas Is Going On?! Rich and Camille sit down with Lauren O'Connor, President of Amplified Minds. It's a nonprofit rooted right here in Dallas that provides free mental health services for adults.What started in the wake of loss in the local music scene has grown into a powerful community resource. Lauren shares her story, the mission behind Amplified Minds, and how they're helping creatives and underserved individuals find healing through support groups, art therapy, and open conversation.It's honest. It's personal. And it's what our community needs more of.Tune in and hear how one organization is changing lives by showing up for people when it matters most.Connect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

In this episode of What In East Dallas Is Going On?!, Rich and Camille sit down with Joe Groves, the owner of Ellen's, one of the most talked-about spots in East Dallas. Known for its classic Southern comfort food and welcoming vibe, Ellen's recently opened its doors in Casa Linda Plaza, and the neighborhood is already better for it.But Joe is more than just a restaurant owner. He is a storyteller, a straight shooter, and someone who knows a thing or two about building something that matters. In this episode, we talk about the journey behind Ellen's, why brunch means more than just pancakes and eggs, and yes, who exactly is Ellen.Joe shares stories that had us laughing, thinking, and appreciating the roots behind every bite. We dive into the importance of community, hospitality, and staying true to who you are, even in the chaos of the restaurant world. Whether you're already a regular or have not made your way over yet, this episode will make you want to pull up a chair, order a plate of biscuits and gravy, and stay a while.Ellen's – Casa Linda Plaza1211 N Buckner BlvdDallas, TX 75218Open every day from 7 AM to 3 PMConnect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

“If a burger is chef-designed perfection… should you dare to customize it?”In this flavorful and laugh-packed episode of The Ben and Skin Show, the crew dives into a Father's Day feast full of unexpected moments, burger philosophy, and a surprise musical connection that'll leave you grinning. Join Ben Rogers, Jeff “Skin” Wade, Kevin “KT” Turner, and Krystina Ray as they serve up sizzling stories from their weekend—including a burger joint that's quickly becoming legendary in DFW.Skin recounts his Father's Day trip to East Dallas' Burger Schmurger, where the burgers are smash-style, the vibes are strong, and the waiters are burger purists. When Skin's dad orders the “Pasadena” without tomatoes, the crew debates: is it sacrilege to tweak a chef-curated burger?In a wild twist, Skin discovers that one of the dads at Burger Schmurger is a musical collaborator with the elusive Light Farms Giant—a local legend with a serious case of writer's block. Could this be the spark that reignites the LFG?

In this episode of What In East Dallas Is Going On?! we step into the elegant world of ballet with Nicolina Lawson, the Executive and Artistic Director of Ballet North Texas and founder of the North Texas Conservatory. Nicolina has dedicated her life to preserving the tradition of classical ballet while pushing its boundaries through innovation, education, and deep community involvement.She shares the rich history of ballet and how her own professional journey spanning performances across Europe, the United States, and stages both classical and contemporary inspired her to create something truly special here in Dallas. Since founding Ballet North Texas in 2017, she has not only built a thriving professional company but also created a pipeline of young talent through her conservatory. Her goal is to make ballet accessible, relevant, and meaningful to everyone in North Texas.Nicolina dives into her early training in styles like Vaganova and Balanchine, her time performing lead roles in some of ballet's most beloved works, and what it is like choreographing pieces that both honor the past and reimagine the future. She also opens up about her outreach work with underserved communities and how Ballet North Texas is building inclusive programs for all ages and abilities.This episode is more than just an interview. It is a celebration of art, education, perseverance, and the power of bringing beauty to a community.If you have ever wondered what goes into building a ballet company from the ground up or if you simply love hearing from people who are passionate about what they do, this one is for you.Contact Info for Ballet North Texas:Phone: (214) 871 5000Email: boxoffice@ticketdfw.comAddress:TicketDFW700 North Pearl Suite N1800Dallas Texas 75201Learn more at www.balletnorthtexas.orgHosted by Rich and CamilleOnly on What In East Dallas Is Going On?! the podcast celebrating the people, places, and passions that make East Dallas shine.Connect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

Camille and Rich take a field trip to one of the crown jewels of East Dallas, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. Joining them is Sabina Carr, the Arboretum's new President and CEO, who stepped into the role just over a year ago and already has big plans in motion.Sabina shares her journey from SMU to leading botanical institutions across the country, including her historic leadership in San Antonio and Atlanta. Now back home in Dallas, she's focused on honoring the legacy of the Arboretum while shaping its future through community engagement, sustainability, and innovation.From seasonal festivals to future plans for education and access, this episode is full of growth... literally and figuratively. You'll never look at the Arboretum the same way again.Connect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

Camille and Rich hit the road to Fortunate Son in Downtown Garland and sit down with Amy Rosenthal to talk all things Willie Nelson and the 50th anniversary of Red Headed Stranger: the career-defining album recorded right there in Garland back in 1975.The City of Garland is throwing a full weekend celebration on May 16 and 17, 2025, featuring:

This week with The Chamber Chicks, they are talking with Ryan Holloway of Holloway Benefit Concepts, a veteran-owned independent insurance agency based in Dallas. Ryan breaks down what sets independent agencies apart, how his team creates smart benefit solutions for businesses, and why putting people first will always matter more than pushing policies.If you're a business owner in East Dallas or just want to understand your coverage options better, this episode is for you.https://hollowaybenefitconcepts.com Connect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

You know "The Catch".  If not look it up! But do you know where the "glove" is?In this episode of What in East Dallas is Going On?! we uncover a story that stretches from the 1954 World Series to the heart of East Dallas. It involves Willie Mays, a grandfather and a local East Dallas resident. Craig Liddle, golf pro at Lakewood Country Club, shares a family connection to one of baseball's most iconic moments. And it all centers around the glove that helped make Willie Mays a legend.Baseball. History. Family legacy. And a twist you never saw coming. Connect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

April 17, 2019, was a bad day for 26-year-old Prisma Reyes. She started the morning getting into a dispute with a coworker. Then she fought with her boyfriend. Shortly after that, Prisma is involved in a road rage incidence.In the early evening, she is seen hastily parking her jeep, partly blocking an intersection, and running into the Olympus Apartment Building in East Dallas.Prisma Reyes is never seen again.Where is Prisma?****************Follow us on:Facebook:  www.facebook.com/wherearetheypodcastInstagram: @thewherearetheypodcastEmail me: Canwefindthem@gmail.comJoin our online detective group at Patreon:  www.patreon.com/wherearetheypodcast

In this flavorful episode, Camille and Rich are on location at ONE90 Smoked Meats, a true East Dallas original that's taken backyard passion to a whole new level. Founder Kyle St. Clair shares how a love for low-and-slow cooking turned into a full-blown craft barbecue operation that's now shipping premium smoked meats nationwide. From brisket to duck sandwiches that left Guy Fieri speechless, we get into the grit, growth, and good eats behind one of the neighborhood's most talked-about smokehouses.https://one90smokedmeats.com/ Connect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

This episode is not about pools, kinda, but it's really about a love story that started in Drivers Ed at Lake Highlands High School and turned into a lifelong partnership. Rich and Camille sit down with David and Michelle Reed, the husband and wife duo behind Summerhill Pools. Their story is rooted in East Dallas, built on grit, commitment, and a connection that goes way beyond business. David, also known as “Skipper,” back in the day...  and Michelle open up about what it means to grow something real, together. From teenage sparks to running one of the most respected businesses in town, this is a true East Dallas original.Check them out! www.summerhillpools.comConnect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

Hey friends! Want to hear something funny? I used to HATE billboards, but then I met Staci Schofield from Lamar Advertising, and she totally changed my mind about those giant signs we see while driving.In this super fun chat, Staci shares some really cool secrets about billboards that might surprise you. Like how they're basically giant pop-ups from before the internet was even invented, and they're actually way cheaper to use than most people think!But the best part about Staci isn't just her billboard knowledge - she's also East Dallas's biggest fan. When she's not helping businesses get noticed with billboards, she's running around the neighborhood making friends and helping local shops grow. Just don't blame us if you start paying more attention to billboards after watching this - your neck might get a workout from all that looking up!---Want to explore billboard advertising for your business? Reach out to Staci directly at sschofield@lamar.com

In this episode Rich and Camille sit down with David Figueroa one of the brothers behind Melinda's Hot SauceYou've seen their bottles in stores across the country but what you might not know is that this national brand is now based right here in East DallasEven cooler some of the family behind the brand actually live in the neighborhoodDavid shares how he and his brother Greg went from making sauces in their kitchen to building one of the most flavorful hot sauce brands in the worldThey talk about fresh ingredients the journey of scaling a passion and why flavor always comes firstIf you love a good local connection a little spice and a whole lot of flavor this one's for youConnect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

In this episode with the East Dallas Chamber Business Spotlight, The Chamber Chicks sit down with Ms. Maetzi: Founder & Directress or Cosmos Montessori School, a gem nestled right here on Ferguson Road. From farm-to-table meals prepared by an international chef to immersive Spanish instruction and hands-on learning with gardens and chickens, Cosmos is redefining early childhood education in East Dallas.Rooted in the century-old Montessori pedagogy, Cosmos focuses on nurturing the whole child—academically, emotionally, and socially. We explore how they create a truly enriched environment through bilingual after-school programs, practical life experiences, and a curriculum designed to foster independence, critical thinking, and joy in learning.If you've ever wondered what makes a Montessori education unique, or why Cosmos is capturing the attention of families across East Dallas, this is the episode for you.Learn more at cosmosmontessoridallas.com or visit them at 8250 Ferguson RdConnect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

On this episode of What In East Dallas Is Going On?!, Camille and Rich sit down with Kam Kordi to talk about Fork and Femme—a statewide movement happening on April 23 that encourages everyone to eat, drink, and spend money with woman-owned food and drink businesses.Founded by Her Texas, Fork and Femme goes beyond a single day of support. It's about visibility, connection, and opportunity for the women shaping our local food scene. From restaurants to coffee shops, bakeries to breweries, we're shining a light on East Dallas businesses and the women behind them.This is your chance to make a simple choice that has a real impact. Mark your calendar, support woman-owned, and be part of something bigger.Connect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

In our very first “Under the Hood” episode—a new monthly series where we go behind the scenes of East Dallas' most beloved restaurants—Camille and Rich sit down with Wende Stevenson and Aaron Goss, the powerhouse duo behind MoMo Italian Kitchen in Lake Highlands.This isn't just another Italian spot. MoMo is built on the legendary recipes of Fernanda Gosetti—known as the Julia Child of Northern Italy—and brought to Dallas by her son, Antonio Gattini, back in the 1980s.Wende actually got her start working for Antonio decades ago. Now, alongside Aaron, she's carrying on the tradition with love, pasta, and a whole lot of neighborhood pride. From working in iconic Dallas restaurants to owning one of the city's true culinary gems, this episode is all about legacy, passion, and the power of a good plate of pasta.Welcome to the table.Connect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

Jake, Stone, and Jorge are back with another entertaining episode packed with laughs and intriguing discussions! This week, we dive into a detailed review of Monster Hard Seltzer's latest flavor, "Beast," exploring its taste, alcohol content, and how it stacks up against other hard seltzers on the market. We also share our creative side by imagining what our rap names would be and what we would call our debut albumsFurthermore, we delve into the topic of Aunt Jemima's syrup and the boys give us an exciting sneak peek into Jorges upcoming Big Burrito Challenge, where he aims to tackle an enormous burrito, and we can't wait to hear about his strategy for this culinary featWe want to take a second to recognize a Key member to the East Dallas community who needs our help right now. On Monday, March 17, Chris was working at his store, Good Records and fell. Due to underlying, existing medical issues, this fall was much worse than expected. At present, he is in the ICU and looking at a very modified life going forward. It looks like it is very possible that Chris could have permanent paralysis. There will certainly be extensive rehab, home modification, and ongoing home care needed in the future. We are almost to our goal amount of $150k, but every dollar helps. We know that many can't afford to help monetarily, so hopes and prayers are welcomed as well. We thank you for your help to this amazing family.GoFundMe Link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/join-us-to-support-the-penn-family?attribution_id=sl:21e8e18e-f82e-4a47-8355-c98254d2b594&lang=en_US&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_content=amp13_t1-amp14_t1&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link

In this segment with The Chamber Chicks, they're diving into a conversation with the good folks at Summerhill Pools, right here in East Dallas. From custom designs to what makes a pool project run smooth (or not!), they talk all things pools, patios, and creating backyard spaces that bring people together. Whether you're dreaming of a summer refresh or just want to hear from a local business that's been serving our community for decades, this one's worth a listen!Connect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

Step up to the plate! ⚾ Founder of the Mudbugs Jo Pearce joins Camille and Rich to talk about the Mudbugs, East Dallas' very own sandlot baseball team. With baseball being Rich's favorite sport, you know he's fired up for this one! From the heart of the community to the fun and nostalgia of the game, this episode dives into what makes the Mudbugs special. Whether you're a die-hard baseball fan or just love a good local sports story, this one's for you! Play ball!

Spring is around the corner, and you know what that means, mosquito season is upon us! In this episode with The Chamber Chicks, they sit down with Rebecca Rider, owner of Mosquito Shield of East Dallas, to talk all things mosquitoes. From how and why she started her business to the science behind mosquito control, we cover what you need to know to keep your home and outdoor spaces bite-free. Don't let these pesky insects ruin your spring—tune in and get ahead of the swarm!Contact them! https://moshield.com/east-dallas/ Connect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

In this episode of What In East Dallas Is Going On?!, we sit down with Wilson Schoellko to talk about the incredible work of The Exchange Club of East Dallas and their upcoming Annual Gala Celebration—an evening with Cowboys Hall of Famer Drew Pearson benefiting over 7,000 public school children in East Dallas.We dive into the programs that make a difference, from Coats for Kids and Books for Kids to scholarships, mentorships, and vision screenings that help students succeed. Plus, Rich is now officially part of the club!Tune in to hear how The Exchange Club is changing lives, why their work matters, and how you can get involved. Don't miss this inspiring conversation about service, community, and making an impact right here in East Dallas.Connect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

In this episode, we ride along with Cari Weinberg from I See Dallas, the city's most unique tour company, known for its vintage school bus, longhorn-adorned Cadillac limo, and one-of-a-kind experiences. From ghost tours to Christmas lights and thrift store adventures, Cari and her team take visitors beyond the usual tourist spots and into the heart of what makes Dallas special. Camille and Richard just experienced their legendary Thrift Store Tour firsthand—now it's your turn to hear all about it! Buckle up for a fun and insightful conversation about the stories, history, and quirky side of Dallas that only locals know.Connect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

Short-term rentals have been a hot topic in Dallas, sparking debates among homeowners, city officials, and rental operators. In this episode of What In East Dallas Is Going On?!, we sit down with Lisa Sievers, a short-term rental owner and board member of the Dallas Short-Term Rental Alliance (DSTRA). Lisa shares her insights on the ongoing controversy, the impact of STRs on neighborhoods, and what the future may hold for short-term rentals in Dallas. Whether you're for them, against them, or just curious, this conversation dives into both sides of the debate. Tune in!Connect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

What does it take to become a Master Sommelier? In this episode of What In East Dallas Is Going On?!, we sit down with James Tidwell, one of the few Master Sommeliers in the country—and he happens to live right here in East Dallas.With fewer than 300 Master Sommeliers worldwide, earning this prestigious title requires years of dedication, deep expertise, and an extraordinary ability to understand and communicate the complexities of wine. James shares his journey into the world of wine, what makes a great sommelier, and how wine is more than just a beverage—it's an experience, a craft, and a story waiting to be told.Whether you're a seasoned collector, an aspiring wine enthusiast, or someone who simply enjoys a good glass, this episode is packed with fascinating insights into the art and science of wine. Join us as we explore the nuances of taste, terroir, and what truly makes wine special.Connect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

Texas students largely aren't making enough progress recovering from the learning disruptions touched off by the pandemic, new test results show. In other news, President Donald Trump's administration's crackdown on immigration, which began last week, has led to a daily spike in the number of arrests of undocumented people in the country; as a bird flu-induced egg shortage sweeps the country, North Texas restaurateurs are having to make adjustments to their menus to keep up with price increases and lack of availability. Matt Tobin, owner of Goodfriend Package and Goodfriend Beer Garden in East Dallas said, ‘we've seen a 20 to 25% increase in egg prices from November until now. They're probably up 17 to 18% just in the last month.' And the Dallas Cowboys' confirmed that newly minted head coach Brian Schottenheimer will also serve as the team's offensive play caller. The duty might've kept him in the building. Cowboys chief operating officer Stephen Jones said after Schottenheimer's introductory news conference Monday at The Star that former head coach Mike McCarthy would have continued to call plays had the team retained him as head coach. Schottenheimer — who served as offensive coordinator for two seasons under McCarthy — wouldn't have hung around for a third year of that arrangement.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"I Killed Him"; I Survived a Campus Christian Cult; The Milkman of East Dallas; Dream Phone Ouija Dupe; Who IS My Doppelganger?; and Hamburglar's Confession Click here to submit your odd but true stories. Click here to sign up for our Patreon and receive hundreds of hours of bonus content. Click here to leave a review and tell us what you think of the show. Please consider supporting the companies that support us! - For a limited time, use my code CREEPY to get a free gift with your Journey Pack! Head to tryfum.com - Get an additional 15% off an annual membership at masterclass.com/creepy