Podcasts about Sugarland

Why do babies cry? Have you ever considered that their cries might have something to teach us? Fr. Mike explains that a baby's cry is an act of faith—they cry because they trust someone will hear, someone will care, and someone will come. In the same way, when we cry out to God in our moments of pain or loneliness, that too is an act of faith. And like a loving Father, He sees us, He cares, and He comes. Tickets are on sale now for Fr. Mike Schmitz's Parables Tour at https://www.AscensionPress.com/FrMikeTour October 20 - Detroit, MI October 21 - Sugar Land, TX October 22 - Cedar Park, TX October 23 - Fort Worth, TX

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On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Joe Fairless interviews Dr. Adam Gower, Tim Mai, and Irwin Boris to explore how AI is transforming capital raising in commercial real estate. The panel shares their most effective AI tools and how they use them for investor outreach, appointment setting, and content creation. Tim explains how he automates prospecting via Facebook and LinkedIn, while Irwin details his lead generation workflows through LinkedIn scraping and email campaigns. Adam emphasizes building inbound investor interest through consistent LinkedIn content and engagement, powered by AI for scalability and authenticity. Adam Gower - Founder - Based in: Beverly Hills, California - Say hi to them at gowercrowd.com ⁠linkedin.com/in/gowercrowd Tim Mai - Fund Manager - Based in: Sugar Land, Texas - Say hi to them at linkedin.com/in/timmai HEROWealthFund.com  Irwin Boris - Senior Managing Director - Based in: New York City, New York - Say hi to them at https://www.linkedin.com/in/irwinboris/ Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at https://www.stamps.com/cre. Thanks to Stamps.com for sponsoring the show! Post your job for free at ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/BRE⁠. Terms and conditions apply. Join the Best Ever Community  The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It's free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.  Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at www.bestevercommunity.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Editor Rachel Gignac talks to Paul Singh, vice president of operations at Grab-N-Geaux, a convenience-store chain based in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Safi Modi, head of growth at Modisoft, a technology software provider based in Sugar Land, Texas.They talk about Grab-N-Geaux's integration of Modisoft services throughout its stores. The chain uses the tech inside the store, in the forecourt and for its restaurant.“At Your Convenience” brings industry experts and analysts together with CSP editors to discuss the latest in c-store news and trends. From mergers and acquisitions to foodservice and technology, the podcast delivers the story straight to listeners in short-format episodes, perfect for the morning commute or a quick break at the office.

Get a first listen of my new solo album "Detours" along with some stories behind the songs.Album is available on the High on Stress Bandcamp page this Friday, May 2nd.

Dana In The Morning Highlights 4/28Cy-Fair ISD brings back more than 2 dozen routes after an inital cutSugar Land is the #3 place to live in the US according a new surveyHave you found any treasures or something of crazy value at a yard or estate sale?

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Send us a textWhat's up everybody! Welcome back to the Tat2d Preacher Podcast. This is episode number 73 where we dive deep into an intriguing topic – the connection between ancient Nephilim gods and a newly erected 90-foot statue at a Hindu temple in Sugarland, Texas. I share my thoughts on the spiritual implications of honoring such statues, how they may serve as portals for demonic influence, and why this is a big deal. I also explore the origins and mythology surrounding the Hindu god Hanuman and connect the dots to biblical events like the Tower of Babel and Genesis 6. Join me for an in-depth discussion on how this impacts our spiritual warfare and what we can do as a community to counteract it. Let me know your thoughts and let's start a dialogue down below!00:00 Introduction to the Divine Hierarchy01:14 Welcome to the Tattoo Preacher Podcast01:50 The Controversial Hindu Statue03:42 Who is the Hindu God Hanuman?07:45 The Nephilim Connection09:14 The Tower of Babel and the Origin of Gods15:08 The Pre-Flood World and Nephilim21:28 The Spiritual Implications of the Statue27:31 Call to Spiritual Warfare33:10 Conclusion and Call to ActionMAKE THE SWITCH- https://the-tat2d-preacher.uniteandswitch.com/Let's Get Connected!bio.site/thetat2dpreacherhttps://www.instagram.com/thetat2dpre...https://www.tiktok.com/@tat2dpreacherpatreon.com/Tat2dPreacherjoel@thetat2dpreacher.com

Usama Dakdok is founder of the Straight Way of Grace Ministry. He's the speaker on the daily radio broadcast, Revealing the Truth About Islam. Born and raised in Egypt, Usama learned about Islam just as every other student does in a Muslim country. He also studied for a university degree in Egypt which included the study of Sharia, which is Islamic law. He first came to America in 1992.The infiltration of Islam continues in the U.S. This past February, Crosstalk warned listeners about the formation of "EPIC City" near Dallas, Texas (EPIC stands for East Plano Islamic Center). The city will eventually have exclusive Islamic grocery stores, schools, elderly assistance centers and more.Just a few weeks ago, the Houston Chronicle wrote about thousands of Muslims that gathered at the Sugarland, Texas, town square for what organizers said was the largest, open air Iftar celebration in the region. Then at the end of March, the White House sponsored an Iftar dinner. There's also a CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) linked event that hopes to place Muslim-Americans in federal jobs. These efforts prove how Islam is affecting America. Next on their agenda is an event set to take place on April 28th-29th. That's when the U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations is hosting the 10th annual National Muslim Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C. The event will bring in Muslim leaders, activists, as well as constituents from all across America. The goal is to directly engage with members of Congress as they promote the theme: Defending rights. Shaping policy.

Usama Dakdok is founder of the Straight Way of Grace Ministry. He's the speaker on the daily radio broadcast, Revealing the Truth About Islam. Born and raised in Egypt, Usama learned about Islam just as every other student does in a Muslim country. He also studied for a university degree in Egypt which included the study of Sharia, which is Islamic law. He first came to America in 1992.The infiltration of Islam continues in the U.S. This past February, Crosstalk warned listeners about the formation of "EPIC City" near Dallas, Texas (EPIC stands for East Plano Islamic Center). The city will eventually have exclusive Islamic grocery stores, schools, elderly assistance centers and more.Just a few weeks ago, the Houston Chronicle wrote about thousands of Muslims that gathered at the Sugarland, Texas, town square for what organizers said was the largest, open air Iftar celebration in the region. Then at the end of March, the White House sponsored an Iftar dinner. There's also a CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) linked event that hopes to place Muslim-Americans in federal jobs. These efforts prove how Islam is affecting America. Next on their agenda is an event set to take place on April 28th-29th. That's when the U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations is hosting the 10th annual National Muslim Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C. The event will bring in Muslim leaders, activists, as well as constituents from all across America. The goal is to directly engage with members of Congress as they promote the theme: Defending rights. Shaping policy.

Ian and Armond return with a look at Steven Spielberg's first (and wildly underappreciated) theatrical film, The Sugarland Express!Based on a true story, the movie follows Clovis and Lou Jean Poplin (William Atherton and Goldie Hawn), a couple of married Texas convicts whose young son has been taken away by the court. Their kidnapping of a highway patrolman named Maxwell Slide (Michael Sacks) sparks a state-wide police chase--and more wrecked cop cars than The Blues Brothers!In this spoilerific retrospective, the guys look at this unique bright spot in the careers of both Spielberg and Atherton (who would become known primarily for playing smarmy villains in classics like Ghostbusters and Die Hard), and how The Sugarland Express fits in with the storied history of the American "road picture"!Plus: Get a sneak peek of their next review!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Sugarland Express (1974) trailer.Bonus! For a preview of our next episode with Armond, read his January writeup on Day of the Locust in the National Review.Can't get enough Armond White? Check out our "Movies with Armond" Playlist!Order the book that inspired these regular movie chats: Armond's Make Spielberg Great Again.

In this episode Dinesh and Debbie discuss a wide range of topics, from Trump’s economic policies to runaway judges to a couple of grisly murders to Megyn Kelly’s soft feminism to the strange arrival of Mecca in the Texas city of Sugar Land.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pastors' Point of View Ep. 349 with Dr. Andy Woods “Prophecy Update”Topics covered: The RestrainerGog-MagogHow does the Islamization of Sugar Land, Texas play into the prophetic scenario?Thanks for listening. God bless. 

IANR 2514 040525 Line Up4-6pm INTERVIEWS (Guest Host Gautam Sinha in for Pramod Kulkarni)Here's the guest line-up for Sat, April 5, 2025 from 4 to 6pm CST on Indo American News Radio, a production of Indo American News (www.IndoAmerican-News.com). We are on 98.7 FM and you can also listen on the masalaradio app.By Monday, hear the recorded show on Podcast uploaded on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts, Radio Public and Breaker. We have 5 years of Podcasts and have had thousands of hits.TO SUPPORT THE SHOW, SELECT FOLLOW ON OUR FREE PODCAST CHANNEL AND YOU'LL BE NOTIFIED OF NEW UPDATES.4:20 pm The Tagore Society of Houston is kicking off its event schedule with a Tagore Talk series and the speaker on April 19 will be Sanjeev Sanyal, from the PM's Economic Advisory council, talking about Bharat as a Civilization. TSH's board members Surajit Dasgupta and ParthaChatterjee join us to describe what the program, which will be held at india house, will cover.4:50 pm For several years Jasmeeta Singh has organized and produced memorable Vaisakhi Mela stage shows, first for the Sikh National Center and later on her own.  A veteran of many community functions as well as her own fashion show production company Jaz Creationz, Jasmeeta is well known for her unique style of couture and choreography which she attributes toher skill as a kathak dancer. This year, once again, she will bring the Grand Vaisakhi Mela production have been to the stage on Saturday, April 19 at the Stafford Centre on Cash Road.5:20 pm With less than a month left for City of SugarLand elections on May 3, candidates are crisscrossing the county to meet voters. Today we're joined by a hopeful Mayoral candidate, William Ferguson, a SL resident for 18 years, who has served since 2020 as council member At-Large Position 1. He talks to us about his goals and ambitions as the Mayor.Also stay tuned in for newsroundup, views, sports and movie reviews.TO BE FEATURED ON THE SHOW, OR TO ADVERTISE, PLEASE CONTACT US AT 713-789-NEWS or6397 or at indoamericannews@yahoo.comPleasepick up the print edition of Indo American News which is available all across town at grocery stores. Also visit our website indoamerican-news.com which gets 90,000+ hits to track all current stories.And remember to visit our digital archives from over 17 years. Plus, our entire 44 years ofhard copy archives are available in the Fondren Library at Rice University.

IANR 2512 032225 Line Up4-6pm INTERVIEWS (Guest Host Chetan Dave in for Pramod)Here's the guest line-up for Sat, March 22, 2025 from 4 to 6pm CST on Indo American News Radio, a production of Indo American News (www.IndoAmerican-News.com). We are on 98.7 FM and you can also listen on the masalaradio app.By Monday, hear the recorded show on Podcast uploaded on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts, Radio Public and Breaker. We have 5 years of Podcasts and have had thousands of hits.TO SUPPORT THE SHOW, SELECT FOLLOW ON OUR FREE PODCAST CHANNEL AND YOU'LL BE NOTIFIED OF NEW UPDATES.4:20 pm Carl Blair is Texas Civil Rights Project's Senior Election Protection Attorney and has helped lead multiple statewide Election Protection campaigns since 2020. Two Senate bills are currently working their ways through the Texas Legislature: SB 16 which would require documentary proof of citizenship, and SB 76 which would end countywide polling. Carl joins us today to explain the ramifications of each.4:50 pm Not content with being highly educated individuals and experienced professionals in industry, Sonali Patel and Aarti Phansalkar turned their entrepreneurial zeal into educating young minds and opened up two Montessori schools in Richmond: The Foundations Montessori in Aliana and La Prima Montessori in Veranda. Both ladies are with us today to talk about what prompted them to move in this direction.5:20 pm Elections for Sugar Land council and mayoral seats are fast approaching on May 3rd and we are fortunate to have with us Bradley Tilton who's running for council seat for district 2. Bradley is an attorney and longtime resident of New Territory. He's with us in the studio today to talk about his motivation for seeking the position and goals for Sugar Land.Also stay tuned in for news roundup, views, sports and movie reviews.TO BE FEATURED ON THE SHOW, OR TO ADVERTISE, PLEASE CONTACT US AT 713-789-NEWS or 6397 or at indoamericannews@yahoo.comPlease pick up the print edition of Indo American News which is available all across town at grocery stores. Also visit our website indoamerican-news.com whichgets 90,000+ hits to track all current stories.And remember to visit our digital archives from over 17 years.  Plus, our entire 44 years ofhard copy archives are available in the Fondren Library at Rice University.

In this special episode of Analyst Talk with Jason Elder, Jason returns from the 2025 Carolina Crime Analysis Association (CCAA) Conference, where he served as keynote speaker. Jason shares his behind-the-scenes reflections on the experience, offers a summary of his keynote address, and introduces a unique “wrap-up rap” collaboration that closed out his presentation. But that's just the beginning — this episode also features conversations with a wide range of attendees, including analysts, students, supervisors, and board members. Hear firsthand what they learned, what inspired them, and why the CCAA conference is making waves across the Carolinas. From soft skills to technical takeaways, networking highlights to unforgettable moments (yes, including a perfectly timed cannonball pun), this episode captures the heart and soul of CCAA 2025. Stay tuned until the very end to hear what might be the first-ever crime analysis rap, created and performed by Michael Jackson of Sugarland, Texas. [Note:  Description created by ChatGPT.] Reactions from Amanda Bruner, Damien Willliams, Kassie Langdon, Kimberly Cummings, Xucati Griffin, Danny Martin, Daniel Miller, Spechel Mitchell, Andrew Reece, Michele Covington, and Cannon Fulmer Conference:  https://www.carolinascrimeanalysis.org/event-5951047 Transcript:  https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/s9m898uczzj7b4gk/CCAA2025reactions_transcript.pdf 

We are doing Twerk Request Live (TRL) but today we take your calls!!We did this on Patreon, but in this podcast episode we do even more requests and many more call-ins (Taylor Debut, Aly and AJ, Michael Jackson, Huey Lewis, Sugarland, State Champs, Sawyer Hill - and a hilarious slipknot moshpit story

Seth and Sean discuss Cam Smith's RBI Triple in yesterday's exhibition game vs Sugar Land and let the excitement take over! They're all in on Cam Smith making the Astros roster!

Rich and Jim talk with Sugarland's Travis McNabb for an epic conversation diving deep into the world of professional drumming, music scenes, and a life dedicated to rhythm.    Highlights include:   [0:05:00] Travis's Musical Origins: Growing up in a musical family and discovering drums [0:25:00] Drumming Philosophy: The importance of feel, groove, and professionalism [0:48:00] Career Lessons: Humility, relationships, and never burning bridges [1:00:00] Recording Insights: Working with artists like Megan Maroney and Christian Bucha [1:25:00] Sugar Land and Jennifer Nettles: Behind-the-scenes stories [1:40:00] Favorite Drummers: Discussion on Ringo Starr, John Bonham, and Zigaboo Modeliste [1:49:00] The Beatles Conversation: Influences and musical impact   Special moments include Travis's vintage drum collection, studio setup, and candid stories from decades in the music industry. A must-listen for drummers, musicians, and music lovers!   Travis McNabb (born November 18, 1969) is an American drummer and percussionist. McNabb is perhaps best known as a longtime member of the band Better Than Ezra, although he has performed session and touring work with many acts during his career. Prior to joining Better Than Ezra in January 1996, McNabb toured with acts such as Vigilantes of Love, Beggars, and seminal Oregon-based punk rock band The Wipers. Since mid-2007, he has been the full-time touring drummer with Grammy-award winning Country/Bluegrass act Sugarland.     Some Things That Came Up:    -8:00 The home studio -13:14 Dave Elitch and burying the beater  -15:00 Bonham! -16:00 Bass Drum Sizes -19:15 Big Fat Snare Drum's “The Shining” snare muffler -23:00 The oddity of A+F Drums  -25:30 Travis is NOT afraid to DRESS  -28:40 Travis' musical family  -37:30 The Alex Van Halen Tribute Show 2015 -35:50 The Better Than Ezra “China Lick” manifests  -43:40 The Police Duran Duran…the band mentality! -45:00 Megan Moroney -48:00 Read The Room! Two Ears/One Mouth! -49:00 Kenny Aronoff vs. Jim Keltner. TWO methods, BOTH work  -60:00 The Nashville Number System in ACTION!  -67:00 The credits thing… -76:00 David Bowie Tribute Show  -78:00 Wikipedia -83:00 Jennifer Nettles -85:00 The Cliques? -89:00 Travis McNabb Drum Clinics?  -94:15 The Fave 5 -112:00 The Ludwig Club Date Series  -114:00 Hard Rock Cafes!     Follow:  www.travismcnabb.com IG: @travnabb   The Rich Redmond Show is about all things music, motivation and success. Candid conversations with musicians, actors, comedians, authors and thought leaders about their lives and the stories that shaped them. Rich Redmond is the longtime drummer with Jason Aldean and many other veteran musicians and artists. Rich is also an actor, speaker, author, producer and educator. Rich has been heard on thousands of songs, over 30 of which have been #1 hits!   Follow Rich: @richredmond www.richredmond.com   Jim McCarthy is the quintessential Blue Collar Voice Guy. Honing his craft since 1996 with radio stations in Illinois, South Carolina, Connecticut, New York, Las Vegas and Nashville, Jim has voiced well over 10,000 pieces since and garnered an ear for audio production which he now uses for various podcasts, commercials and promos. Jim is also an accomplished video producer, content creator, writer and overall entrepreneur.   Follow Jim:   @jimmccarthy www.itsyourshow.co

Featuring Dr. Asha Wurdeman, Haley Mattiza, andDNVs Natalie Gosselin, and host Jeremy Gibson-Roark.

Are you post menopause wondering how to feel better and transform your body? Learn how today newest IFBB pro transformed her body to realize her goal for her 50th Birthday  As a registered nurse, licensed massage therapist, nutritional specialist and coach, learn today how she transformed her body from Ms. Texas, Ms. World to post-menopause 169 lbs to becoming an IFBB Pro. Yes, you can do it too. Reach for your dreams! Follow @fitmomkaren and @kinetix on your social media platforms Karen Walter's is an amazing lady, see where she started on her Instagram feed and where she maintains today as a pro body builder. For more information on how to build your team tune in for episode 2 with Karen. Meridian Health Institute is located in Sugar Land, Texas 281-265-6565 Today's podcast is hosted by Dr. Liza Leal, your IG @everydayhealthhacker Chief Medical Officer at Meridian Health Institute and Meridian Medical Dental Healthcare. Where we want you to expect a difference and be your medical and dental resource of healthcare.

Setting goals and maintaining the discipline to achieve them requires accountability. Let's celebrate grit, heart, determination and building the dream team to accomplish your dreams. Listen to Karen Walters, Ms. Texas, Ms. World, and newest title IFBB Pro. As a registered nurse, licensed massage therapist, nutritional specialist and coach, learn today how she transformed her body from Ms. Texas, Ms. World to post-menopause 169 lbs to becoming an IFBB Pro. Yes, you can do it too. Reach for your dreams! Follow @fitmomkaren and @kinetix on your social media platforms Karen Walter's is an amazing lady, see where she started on her Instagram feed and where she maintains today as a pro body builder. For more information on how to build your team tune in for episode 2 with Karen. Meridian Health Institute is located in Sugar Land, Texas 281-265-6565 Today's podcast is hosted by Dr. Liza Leal, your IG @everydayhealthhacker Chief Medical Officer at Meridian Health Institute and Meridian Medical Dental Healthcare. Where we want you to expect a difference and be your medical and dental resource of healthcare.

Dana In The Morning Highlights 2/19Sugar Land approved a plan to acquire the historic Imperial Sugar siteCorkscrew BBQ made YouTuber Josh Weissman's list of Best BBQ in TexasVisit Florida is sending SUNNY listeners on unforgettable vacations

Radio is a powerful example of why being different doesn't mean being wrong—and how society often struggles with that distinction. Based on a true story, the film follows the relationship between high school football coach Harold Jones (played by Ed Harris) and a young man with an intellectual disability, James Robert “Radio” Kennedy (played by Cuba Gooding Jr.). Initially an outcast in the community, Radio is taken under Coach Jones's wing, gradually becoming a beloved figure at the school. The film ultimately teaches that just because someone doesn't fit traditional expectations doesn't mean they're wrong or less than. True strength lies in compassion, and real leadership is about lifting others up rather than shutting them out. Radio encourages us to rethink our biases and embrace people for who they are, not just for how they compare to societal norms.   Takeaways: Education should be student focussed Everyone should have a chance to learn One person can change a community     About Meredith Watassek: Meredith Watassek joined Stantec as an Education Planner after more than 24 years in Education. The last nine years of her career as an educator, she served as Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) for the sixth largest school district in Texas. Meredith has guided dozens of Stantec clients through the engagement process on projects while simultaneously leading planning and specifications development for future academic spaces. Several of her most recent projects include School Master Planning for Alvin Community College, visioning and design of the Career and Technical Education Center for Lamar CISD, and School Master Planning and Specifications for Salteaux First Nations in Saskatchewan, Canada. Before joining Stantec, Meredith oversaw Stantec's design and execution of the James Reese Career and Technical Education Center for Fort Bend Independent School District in Sugar Land, TX, defining program and project scope for the new facility. With a rich background in CTE, Meredith can communicate with educators in a way that architects cannot; because she's been in their shoes, at the front of a classroom, managing both success factors and the student experience. She believes that learning environments shape a student's experience, even if just passively. It is inside schools that students develop beliefs about their ability to be successful. For this reason, Meredith maintains that designers, planners, architects, and contractors have a responsibility to provide the most nurturing environment possible for students.     Connect with Meredith Watassek: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/watassek-meredith-a561b23a/ Twitter: https://x.com/MWatassek   Connect with co-host, Carla Cummins: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carla-cummins-01449659/   Connect with host, Kevin Stoller: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinstoller/     Episode 219 of the Better Learning Podcast Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.     For more information on our partners: Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/ Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/ Second Class Foundation - https://secondclassfoundation.org/ EDmarket - https://www.edmarket.org/ Catapult @ Penn GSE - https://catapult.gse.upenn.edu/ Want to be a Guest Speaker? Request on our website

paypal.me/LibroTobias Brian James Freeman es un autor estadounidense cuya ficción se ha publicado en revistas y antologías, incluidas Borderlands 5, Corpse Blossoms y los cuatro volúmenes de la serie Shivers. Su primera novela, Black Fire, fue escrita bajo el seudónimo de James Kidman. Canciones: • “Motherland” de Sugarland • “Bye Mom” de Chris Janson Narración, edición y montaje: Asier Menéndez Marín Diseño logo Podcast: albacanodesigns (Alba Cano) Escucha el episodio completo en la app de iVoox, o descubre todo el catálogo de iVoox Originals

Federal officials were out in Greater Houston this weekend, as agents began arresting dozens of immigrants across Texas and making good on the Trump administration's pledge to crackdown. Host Raheel Ramzanali is breaking down the latest in local immigration news with Sam González Kelly, demographics reporter at the Houston Chronicle, from local Democrats' response to resources for undocumented Houstonians. Plus, is Sugar Land's suburban boom over? And the latest viral burger restaurant in Houston has a familiar, and controversial, name. Stories we talked about on today's show:  Galveston County Sheriff's office assists federal law enforcement in arrests of illegal aliens Some Houston immigrants fear Trump's mass deportation plans. Others react with indifference. Immigrants in Houston's courts will have one less resource after Trump's changes DOJ orders federally funded legal service providers to stop providing support at immigration courts Need immigration legal aid? These Houston organizations offer free and low-cost services DEA Houston assists in deportation efforts across Harris County Trump wants mass deportations. These Houston-area Republican sheriffs can help him do it. What Houston ISD parents should know about President Trump's immigration crackdown After decades of growth, Sugar Land and some of Houston's largest suburbs are losing residents Houston ranks second nationally for rent affordability, real estate study finds Texas Senate proposes extensive school voucher-like program with $1 billion price tag Trump Burger is opening in Houston. Here's where. Learn more about the sponsors of this January 28th episode here: Visit Amarillo Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston  Follow us on Instagram  @CityCastHouston Don't have social media? Then leave us a voicemail or text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts! Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know!  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let's Talk! Photo: Mayra Beltran/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textCaptain William J Costello was experiencing severe trauma. The person who should have understood-was his wife. Instead, she chose stardom by way of Cyanide. SOURCES: https://peabodyhistorical.org/2023/02/the-murder-trial-of-the-century/https://libguides.salemstate.edu/home/archives/blog/Jessie-Costello-The-Smiling-Widowhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/141811440/william-joseph-costellohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_trial_of_Jessie_Costello#Referenceshttps://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47380/in-flanders-fields

On the January 17 edition of the Music History Today podcast, there's Juice, Sugarland, Don Kirshner, Garth Brooks, Eartha Kitt, & Kid Rock For more music history, subscribe to my Spotify Channel or subscribe to the audio version of my music history podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts from ALL MUSIC HISTORY TODAY PODCAST NETWORK LINKS - https://allmylinks.com/musichistorytoday

Young whippersnapper Steven Spielberg continues his run of dusty, road-centric films with 1974's THE SUGARLAND EXPRESS, and we're along for the (surprisingly chill) ride. Writer Esther Zuckerman joins us to discuss the cinematic persona of Goldie Hawn, William Atherton's strange period of leading-man roles, the harmonica stylings of Belgian jazz legend Toots Thielemans, and Spielberg's brief but fruitful collaboration with cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond. Note - we recorded this episode a few months in advance. We no longer endorse the whole Hawk Tuah thing. Buy Esther's Book The Box Office Game is Sponsored by Regal Cinemas: Sign up for Regal Unlimited today and get 10% off your 3 month subscription when using code BLANKCHECK Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won't want to miss out on. Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes. Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook!  Buy some real nerdy merch Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy New Year! We'd love to see you in 2025 and we have 3 upcoming concerts to share with you. San Francisco Performances Pivot Festival (San Francisco, CA) Wednesday, January 29, 2025 Herbst Theatre Carla Kihlstedt and Del Sol Quartet will perform Kihlstedt's 26 Little Deaths, inspired by Edward Gorey's macabre alphabet book, The Gashlycrumb Tinies. Moving between art song, pop song, and cabaret, this hour-long song cycle captures the pathos, humor, and wit of Gorey's iconic images. Kendrick Scott at SF Jazz (San Francisco, CA) Saturday, February 1, 2025 Miner Auditorium  Del Sol is honored to be a part of the West Coast premiere of Kendrick Scott's multimedia project Unearthed. Combining poetry, visuals, string quartet, and a jazz ensemble, this moving work memorializes the Sugar Land 95 – the 95 unidentified Black prisoners and forced laborers found buried in the Texas town of Sugar Land in 2018. Chamber Music America National Conference (Houston, TX) Friday, February 14, 2025 Duncan Recital Hall, The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University We are excited to announce Del Sol Quartet as one of Chamber Music America's inaugural Ensembles in Residence! The Quartet will be presenting a program (TBA) as part of CMA's Friday Festival event. Learn more about these and other upcoming events at delsolquartet.com/calendar.    

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. These presentations were given on December 22, 2024 at Sugar Land Bible Church in Sugar Land, Texas. [2 hours 10 minutes]

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. These presentations were given on December 22, 2024 at Sugar Land Bible Church in Sugar Land, Texas. [2 hours 10 minutes]

Send us a textC4 Leaders – the ONLY nonprofit to utilize the pizza making process to create space for our companions to be seen, heard, and loved.   We also write children's books, host this podcast, and use the most amazing handmade, hand-tossed, sourdough pizza to bring out the best in each other.   Please check out PIZZADAYS.ORG to support our important work. Season 4 Episode #17 Katherine Klimitas is coming from Metairie, LA (inform, inspire, & transform)You can find via her website https://kakartnola.comAbout our guest: Artist, Story Teller, Public Speaker, Entrepreneur, Dog Lover, Hard Worker, Jeweler, and someone still yet defined.   When Katherine was five, her mother gave her, her first watercolor set and Katherine's love for art was born.  Fast forward a few years and Katherine was graduating from Loyola University New Orleans with a BA in graphic design and shortly thereafter began her art and design business. Katherine has published two books and has her work exhibited in many public entities, including the West Baton Rouge Museum of Art. Katherine was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, better known as Brittle Bone Disease. Katherine is 2 feet, 7 inches tall and by age 10, she had broken 500+ bones. Growing up with brittle bone disease, Katherine's life was always a little different from her able-bodied friends. Katherine was blessed to be born into a family of veterinarians and there was no way her parents were going to let her disease dictate her happiness. Her parents made her want to make something of herself, and she was going to be happy doing it—end of story.Currently, Katherine puts most of her energy into expanding her reach and capabilities as a watercolor artist and motivating others to contribute to their communities.  Katherine, thanks for sharing your many gifts with people all over the world, for continuing to push yourself to be your best, and for being our guest on Life's Essential Ingredients.   Welcome to the show!TOTD – “Some believe in destiny and some believe in fate, but I believe that happiness is something we create.”  Sugarland song – Something MoreBuild a habit - to create intention - to live your purpose! In this episode:What was life like growing up?What are your life's essential ingredients?Why is GIVING BACK so important to you?The importance of family…Find Your SomethingLiving in Pain… what are some of your pain management tipsPerspective being 2'7”, lying down to work…I know you love MUSIC… dad inspired you (he passed) and love how it brings people together just like your art…Dogs…you have five…WatercolorsGraphic DesignPet PortraitsJewelryLegacy 

On the podcast today Eric is joined by Monica Danna to go through some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene. The pair discuss Chef Shawn Gawle's announcement of his first solo project called Camaraderie which is set to open in the Heights in 2025, Austin based concept Honest Mary's setting it's opening in Houston window to fall 2025, and restaurants affected by I-45's expansion Kim Son on Jefferson. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Leo's River Oaks and Mandola's Deli are featured. Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Houston Chef with Michelin-Star Cred Opening New Heights Restaurant Houston Steakhouse Reboots as a More Affordable Neighborhood Restaurant New York-Style Pizzeria Slices into Sugar Land with Lots of Craft Beer Top Chef's Tom Colicchio Questions the Michelin Guide's Mission in America

Why is the preservation of forgotten cemeteries crucial amidst rapid urban development? As a commercial realtor with a passion for Texas history, Karen Craig sheds light on the challenges of protecting hidden burial grounds. Houston's expansion has led to the rediscovery of sites like the Sugar Land 95, raising awareness of neglected graves. Karen emphasizes that it is the responsibility of landowners and realtors to maintain these historical treasures. Key Takeaways The importance of identifying, preserving, and maintaining historical cemeteries, especially as urban development encroaches upon them. This involves both legal and cultural responsibilities to ensure these historical sites are respected and maintained for future generations. Realtors and landowners in Texas have specific legal responsibilities to identify, report, and preserve gravesites found on properties. These responsibilities include ensuring proper documentation and maintenance of cemetery sites as well as providing access for visitors. The clash between traditional burial practices and modern technological solutions raises concerns about losing cultural and historical connections. Younger generations might view innovations like sending ashes to space or high-tech burial solutions as "cool," but these practices may lack the personal touch valued in traditional methods. Historical sites often have rich narratives and sometimes even supernatural lore, which needs to be acknowledged, respected, and preserved. This includes recognizing the significance of unmarked or forgotten cemeteries and incorporating historical awareness into urban development.  Variations in cultural practices related to burial customs reflect the broader societal values and geographical constraints. For instance, densely populated areas may adopt practices like cremation or vertical cemeteries, whereas regions with abundant land, like Texas, might resist such changes, preferring more personal and traditional approaches. Timestamped Overview 00:00 Final Curtain: Museum talk with realtor Karen. 04:41 Texas harbors numerous neglected, historically-rich cemeteries. 07:21 Realtors use aerial footage to spot foliage. 10:12 Honored to care for a cemetery's legacy. 13:02 Preserving Olive Wood cemetery despite development challenges. 15:39 Grateful for rules protecting sacred burial land. 18:47 Vertical structure elevates urns for display. 22:38 Civil War reenactments preserve historical understanding. 26:08 First encounter with unseen energy and police's notice. 28:29 Civil War feels recent, especially in NYC. 31:40 Share episode, review, and stay positive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wondered how to protect your luxury boat from the harsh elements or what makes a bourbon collection truly exceptional? Join us on the In Wheel Time Car Talk Show as we welcome John Gray from Gulf Coast Auto Shield. John shares some thrilling updates about the company's expansion into a new location in Sugar Land and their innovative leap into the marine segment with state-of-the-art paint protection films. We dive into the nitty-gritty of maintaining luxury boats and the unquestionable advantages of these protective technologies. Meanwhile, Jeff Dziekan and Mike Marrs inject the episode with their insights on luxury car brands, culminating in an exciting review of the Infiniti QX80.Switching gears, we raise a glass to the art of customer interaction and the pleasure of a well-stocked whiskey collection. The conversation flows as we showcase personal favorites like Blanton's from Japan and Pike Creek whiskey, while also sharing a laugh over the more budget-friendly options like Red Rooster whiskey. But that's not all – we also embark on a journey through automotive history, from Mercedes-Benz's incredible speed feats to Jaguar's quirky use of emu feathers, wrapping up with a spotlight on the 2025 Infiniti QX80 Sensory all-wheel drive. Whether you're a car enthusiast, a whiskey lover, or just in for some good stories, there's something in this episode for everyone.Be sure to subscribe for more In Wheel Time Car Talk!The Lupe' Tortilla RestaurantsLupe Tortilla in Katy, Texas Gulf Coast Auto ShieldPaint protection, tint, and more!ProAm Auto AccessoriesProAm Auto Accessories: "THE" place to go to find exclusive and hard to find parts and accessories!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.---- ----- Want more In Wheel Time Car Talk any time? In Wheel Time Car Talk is now available on iHeartRadio! Just go to iheartradio.com/InWheelTimeCarTalk where ever you are.----- -----Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast provider for the next episode of In Wheel Time Car Talk and check out our live broadcast every Saturday, 10a - 12noonCT simulcasting on iHeartRadio, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Twitch and InWheelTime.com.In Wheel Time Car Talk podcast can be heard on you mobile device from providers such as:Apple Podcasts, Pandora Podcast, Amazon Music Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio podcast, TuneIn + Alexa, Podcast Addict, Castro, Castbox and more on your mobile device.Follow InWheelTime.com for the latest updates!Twitter: https://twitter.com/InWheelTimeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/inwheeltime/https://www.iheart.com/live/in-wheel-time-car-talk-9327/https://www.youtube.com/inwheeltimehttps://www.Facebook.com/InWheelTimeFor more information about In Wheel Time Car Talk, email us at info@inwheeltime.comTags: In Wheel Time, automotive car talk show, car talk, Live car talk show, In Wheel Time Car Talk

On episode 427 of What's Eric Eating, host Eric Sandler was joined by Brad Moore of 'Big Star Bar' and 'Grand Prize' fame, and Lindsay Rae Burleson of 'Two Headed Dog' to have them judge, and declare a winner from the 'Ultimate Bar Draft' from the day before. His two guests also gave their own picks as to which categories, and bars were wrongly left undrafted. Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Houston steakhouse reboots as a more affordable neighborhood restaurant Houston chef with Michelin-star cred opening new Heights restaurant New York-style pizzeria slices into Sugar Land with lots of craft beer More than 20 Houston restaurants serving Thanksgiving Day feasts Michelin Guide Removes Shuttered Houston Vietnamese Restaurant

On a special episode of What's Eric Eating, host Eric Sandler is joined by 6 industry experts for an Ultimate Bar Draft, picking from topics... Best neighborhood bar, like a dive or casual bar Best cocktail bar Favorite martini, and favorite margarita Best bar food And a wildcard pick that can be anything, from any bar! His guests are Lawton Driscoll, Sean Fitzmaurice, Lainey Collum, Mary Clarkson, Chelsea Thomas, and Bobby Heugel.  Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Houston steakhouse reboots as a more affordable neighborhood restaurant Houston chef with Michelin-star cred opening new Heights restaurant New York-style pizzeria slices into Sugar Land with lots of craft beer More than 20 Houston restaurants serving Thanksgiving Day feasts Michelin Guide Removes Shuttered Houston Vietnamese Restaurant

It's Founder Friday! I am so thrilled to feature people who have become friends through getting to know them at coffee vents over the years. They have launched their own coffee house and made something as unique as they are themselves.  Nicolas and Krystal Tanaka are siblings and the proud owners of Kohiko Coffee House, located in Sugar Land, Texas. They've combined their unique backgrounds and extensive experience in the coffee and food & beverage industries to create a space that brings quality coffee and Japanese hospitality to the Houston community. Nic, the visionary behind Kohiko, shared his passion and vision for the coffee house after his first trip to Japan. He had already begun his journey as a barista in a specialty coffee shop in Sugar Land. He approached Krystal with the idea during her time pursuing her MBA, which led to them working together on an entrepreneurial project in her final semester. This is where they saw that their passions and strengths complemented each other. As Peruvian and Japanese Americans, they felt particularly connected to bringing something unique and special to Sugar Land. They honed in on the idea of bringing quality coffee with Japanese hospitality to Houston. After Nic became a two-time Coffee Fest World Latte Art Champion and Krystal graduated from her program, they chose to pursue this endeavor together. Their family has always inspired and motivated their journey. Their grandfather, Roy Tanaka, an entrepreneur who instilled Japanese values and compassion, played a key role in shaping their vision. Their youngest brother, Kenji, continues to inspire them as he makes a name for himself in the coffee world. They are grateful for their community who helped motivate and encourage them to turn their dream into a reality! Today we are exploring their story in 2 parts.  First we talk with them on their first day being open.  Next we catch up with Nic and Krystal after five months of operation.  These conversations presented back-to-back give us deep insight into the values, vision, plans, and life of the business from conception to full open and growing.  I love the whole Tanka family and after you listen to today's episode I think you will too! Enjoy! We discuss:  The journey to deciding to open a shop The Challenges of Being Your Own General Contractor Embracing Japanese Hospitality and Quality The Importance of Transparency and Openness in Service Building a Positive Work Environment through Communication Exceeding Expectations on the First Day Navigating Personal and Professional Life The Impact of Viral Success Adapting to Demand and Building a Team Why transparency and openness are key aspects of service Scaling Operations: The Ice Dilemma Strategic Growth: Balancing Innovation and Stability Resilience in Entrepreneurship: Staying Grounded Links:  www.kohikocoffeehouse.com Instagram: @kohikocoffeehouse   Related and Recommended Episodes:  396 : Founder Friday: Before + After Edition! w/ Jonathan Pascual of the Newly Opened Opo Coffee.   Founder Friday! w/ Adam Obrátil of Industra Coffee, Brno, Czech Republic' 150 : Founder Friday w/ Kyle Wells of Torpedo Coffee, Denver, CO : Before & After Episode 489: Tips for Creating a Resilient Cafe 240 : What to do before your Build your Bar  

Garrett Greene recaps the incredible 2024 season for the Space Cowboys.

The Sugar Land Space Cowboys, recently crowned as the Triple-A champions, are one of the first brands to be unveiled after the reorganization of Minor League Baseball. Guests this week include: Tyler Stamm, General Manager, Sugar Land Space Cowboys Jay Hollenbeck, Marshall Space Flight Center Jennifer Ross-Nazzal, Historian, Johnson Space Center Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimon.net, Insta @studio_simon Find the Baseball By Design podcast online: Instagram @baseballbydesign linktr.ee/BaseballByDesign Baseball By Design is a member of the Curved Brim Media Network.

Hawk makes his own music before the news, the guys talk about how great Jean-Claude Van Damme was, Marney Gellner talks Sugarland and the Wolves game she is calling tonight on TV

Hawk makes his own music before the news, the guys talk about how great Jean-Claude Van Damme was, Marney Gellner talks Sugarland and the Wolves game she is calling tonight on TV

In this week's episode of Off Topic, Eric kicks things off by celebrating the arrival of November — which means the end of endless political ads! He also takes you behind the scenes of the first (and only) country concert he attended this year featuring Little Big Town and Sugarland. From Sugarland's surprising and nostalgic opener, “Won't You Be My Neighbor?” to the unforgettable energy of the night, Eric shares all the highlights. And, of course, he wraps up with Country Music Weekly and a special track that's sure to pull on your heartstrings.

In this episode of Building Texas Business, I discuss John Marvin's transformative leadership journey as CEO and President of Texas State Optical (TSO). Founded in 1936 by the Rogers brothers, TSO evolved into a franchise operation spearheaded by John starting in the 1990s. Hear John's compelling account of reviving the brand, establishing the franchise association, and guiding the innovative physician-owned business model that has empowered young optometrists for decades. With the evolving eyewear landscape, our conversation analyzes consumer behavior shifts and their implications for strategic competition amid growing online retailers. We also explore the importance of supporting TSO's physician member network through mentorship and partnerships, especially given industry consolidation challenges. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS John D Marvin shares the history of Texas State Optical (TSO), founded by the Rogers brothers in 1936, and its growth into a franchise operation. We discuss how John Marvin revitalized TSO in the 1990s and his journey to becoming the president of the company in 2001. The episode explores the challenges and strategies involved in competing with online retailers in the eyewear industry, emphasizing the importance of convenience and well-stocked dispensaries. John describes the shift in optometry ownership trends, with fewer young optometrists interested in private practice, paralleling broader healthcare industry trends. We examine the strategic importance of building a physician member network to support optometrists and the criteria for network inclusion. The episode delves into leadership principles inspired by John C. Maxwell, highlighting the role of influence, trust, and accountability in effective leadership. John reflects on the transformative impact of setbacks, such as being fired, and how these experiences shape one's leadership journey. We explore the importance of forming strategic vendor partnerships and the role of mutual accountability in maintaining long-lasting business relationships. John emphasizes the need to adapt to industry shifts, including the rise of artificial intelligence, while fostering an innovative mindset among optometrists. The episode concludes with a discussion on the significance of understanding and meeting customer needs through effective consumer research, as a universal business strategy. LINKSShow Notes Previous Episodes About BoyarMiller About Texas State Optical GUESTS John D MarvinAbout John TRANSCRIPT (AI transcript provided as supporting material and may contain errors) Chris: In this episode you will meet John Marvin, ceo and President of Texas State Optical. John shares his views on how the fundamentals of leadership boil down to influencing and how having mutual accountability in your business relationships create win situations. John, I want to thank you for taking the time to join me today. It's really been a pleasure to get to know you before we got started here. John: Well, Chris, I appreciate the opportunity to sit down. I always love talking about business. Chris: Well, that's good, that's what we're going to do. So you're the CEO and president of Texas State Optical, or most people know it as TSO. That's right. Tell us a little more detail about what is the company, what does it do and what is it really known for in the market. John: Okay Well, texas State Optical was founded in 1936 by four brothers the Rogers brothers, in Beaumont, texas, and anybody who's been to Beaumont or familiar with Beaumont knows of the impact those four brothers had on that community and then in turn throughout Texas. Two of the brothers were optometrists and they opened pretty traditional optometry practice. And if you'll think about what else was going on in 1936 in Beaumont, it was the oil boom that was just blowing up, and so the one that originally came to Texas from Chicago all four of them were from Chicago called back home and said boys, you need to move down here. We got a big opportunity and they did, and consequently, over the next several years they built a large retail optical chain they called Texas State Optical, and one time in the early 60s it had reached over 300 locations. And one time in the early 60s it had reached over 300 locations and those were in New Mexico, oklahoma, arkansas, louisiana and Texas, and so that went on until, due to some legal issues with the state optometric group, who decided that they didn't want someone in the state running 300 locations, they passed some legislation that limited optometrists to only three locations and so they could subsequently, after a long legal battle had to sell off most of their property, but they kept the core of the business of the optical lab. They kept that and kind of a condition of buying. The practice was that you obligated yourself to continue to purchase items from them. But then in the late 60s the Rogers, having gone through this process of dissolving their ownership in it, decided to turn their attention towards real estate development and at one point they owned 25% of Caesars Palace in Vegas. They just got involved in other things and then consequently in the early 70s they sold the company to a large pharmaceutical company, gd Searle, who then subsequently sold the company in the early 80s to Pearl Vision. Most people are familiar with Pearl Vision, most people are familiar with ProVision and ran that until the late 80s when they sold it to a group of kind of investors who wanted to own it. They didn't really know how to run it than investors. So in I got involved in 1993 doing consumer research for the corporate office. My background at the time I had a company marketing management group and based here in Houston and it was a small marketing management and consumer research group and was doing work in other areas. But picked them up as a client and began to do a lot of consumer study for them and learned about the business. At that time it was somewhat distressed because of the leadership that had taken over from the Pearl Vision taken over from Pearl, and so there was a lot of unrest among the franchisees because at that time TSO was a franchise operation and so I helped them form a franchise association and then kind of on a part-time arrangement took on an executive director position within that while maintaining my consumer study and research stuff. And so that happened until the late nineties, when everyone was planning for the great millennium you know, the 2000 and Y2, right, right. And so we gathered everybody in my conference room over here and how, booty building, and down here in the galleria and they started you know, flip chart sheets, what do we want to accomplish? And blah, blah, blah, and and that the result of that was really, guys, you're not going to get any of this done unless you own it. And so we began to have some discussions about them buying the company, the, the franchisor, and that took about a year to negotiate, and during that process I was asked to come on as the new president and since and then we closed in June of 2001, and since that time I've been the acting and operational by president and CEO of the company, and one of the reasons that it appealed to me was it was the ultimate fixer-upper, because the company had really was kind of loosely held together but had an iconic brand, and so we started opening new locations with Young Optometrist and we're a brand license company. So we knew that the only way we could pick up a new customer, if you would be, if a young OD wanted to open their own practice and then we could help them do that. People that were established at the time and successful weren't interested in converting to a retail trade name, so we did. We opened up about 80 new locations and helped a lot of young ODs live a dream and had put together a whole turnkey system commercial realty contractors the whole nine yards. Chris: That's a fascinating history, you know, to kind of just see it grow so big in the beginning, get broken down and then almost come back together. Yeah with, I guess in 2001 you said, with these individual practice owners or franchisees becoming owners. John: That's, you know, kind of unique, especially for doctors yeah, it was a different approach to it, one of the reasons we can set it as a now. We never incorporated it as a cooperative, we incorporated it as for-profit. We simply chose to run it as a cooperative, which, by its nature of co-op, isn't intended to make money, right? So we could keep the services and the value of what we offer members very high because we priced it at a break-even point, and so it was very appealing to a lot of young ODs who needed that help without any experience knowing what to do. And, of course, we then had a retail trade name that had market appeal. So a lot of them benefited greatly by, as opposed, to, opening up under their own name and unknown in a community. Chris: Yeah, it gives it instant credibility with the brand name right. That's right. What are some of the things I guess that you know since that time in 2001, that you do and your team around you, to kind of help preserve that brand value, to make it marketable and enticing to these doctors. John: Well, part of it is the importance. An optometry practice as a small business has a very defined marketplace of about three radium miles Okay, so one. That's part of that is because there are so many options and the profession is a licensed profession and so there's a little bit of perception by consumers that it's a commodity. In other words, anybody who's got a license will be able to give you a good exam. Consumers at one time back in the 60s and 70s, thought mostly of wherever they got their exams. That's where they purchased their eyewear. Chris: Out of convenience, right Out of convenience. John: That's right. And in the 80s you had a much more proliferation of retail optical chains like LensCrafters and EyeMasters at the time and Pearl Vision, which were creating an awareness among consumers that you know what, I can get my exam in one location and I can buy my eyewear in another location, and so that added to that sense of commodity. And so what we've done is focus on a three mile marketplace. So instead of running one advertising campaign in Houston, we run 50 around each of our locations, and those are largely driven through community involvement, pay-per-click, you know, today pay-per-click In the beginning though, a lot of it was just getting to know your school nurse, getting to know the coaches in the league ball game, and so from a marketing strategy it was always hyper-local standpoint. And so if you go into some neighborhoods, everyone knows the TSO. If you go into an neighborhood where we have no location, maybe not so much, and that was done probably more just from a practical standpoint of cost than it was anything else, because you know Houston and Dallas. Where we're at in San Antonio, they're very expensive media markets and so if you've only got, you know, 20 locations in the DFW market to go in and try to buy television, advertising or something more traditional is prohibited, and so it makes a lot more sense because that's where people live and work. People ask me sometimes how do you go about picking your locations, your real estate stuff? And I said we tend to let Kroger and HEB do that for us. So, wherever they're at, we want to be close because that's a neighborhood. Chris: That's right. You figured they thought there were enough households to support a grocery store. So I like that, you know, uh, you know. There's a lesson there, though, for a business owner, an entrepreneur, in that you don't necessarily have to do all your own organic research if you don't know, aware what's going on, you can, you know, let someone else do some of that and just make sure that their end users look like yours, and that's right. John: They do a tremendous job, both of those companies, at understanding the market before they ever buy land or pour concrete. I'd hate to insult them by not taking advantage of all that good work they do. Chris: They're genius right, they're genius, that's right. You just mentioned, you said 30 different or 50 different marketing campaigns in Houston alone. I mean, how do you go about figuring out you know the right message for the right place? That must take a lot of work. John: Well, not so much I mean because the message in Sugar Land is the same as the message in the Woodlands. I mean people. While we, as as in our profession, try to complicate this, it's pretty simple from a consumer standpoint. They're looking for a place where they can get their eyes checked and buy a pair of glasses. But probably two-thirds of all of our revenue today come from a third-party payer. So that changes kind of the basic consumer behavior dynamic. But by putting out a message that really is focused on that group of people in terms of maximizing the value of those coverage benefits, that becomes real consistent and then it's a matter of just being louder than anybody else. Chris: Sure, while we're on the subject of that consumer and consumer behavior, what are some of the things that you have done over the last 10, 15 years to either combat the online competition, as you mentioned, because people get their eyes examined and they either go online or do something. How are you managing that and what are some of the strategies you found to be successful? John: Well, first of all, consumers are driven, and I think this may be generally true, but certainly our consumers are driven with the priority on convenience, and one of the reasons the online marketing purchase of eyewear is so appealing is its convenience, and oftentimes it's not a price issue as much as it is a convenience issue and assortment and selection. So one of the things that we focus on is to make sure that our retail dispensary that's what we call the retail store aspect of a practice is well inventoried with product and assortment price points, and then the ultimate differentiation is customer service and knowledgeable people, and so if you have selection pricing and knowledgeable people, it's a home run and you don't have to worry about it, because if you can make it convenient for them, then they're not tempted to go online. And because there's a lot of I don't know if you've ever bought a pair of shoes online, but all you need to do is have one bad experience with that and have to turn around, send them back and so forth and so on that people would really prefer to get it locally, where I got my, where they received their exam, and it's kind of hours to lose. So we try to make sure we don't give them a reason to leave. Chris: Yeah Well, it's an interesting analogy with the shoes, because I can relate to that and see that people like to try on shoes but also glasses right. John: What are these going to look? Chris: like, and if you're at a store with a good selection, it's all right there as opposed to ordering one or two online and knowing you're going to be returning something. 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 BoyerMillercom, and thanks for listening to the show. That's right, yes, well, that's it. So let's shift now kind of to this physician member network. What do you look for, if anything, as far as qualifying people to come into the brand, and then how do you help, kind of manage and support once they're in the network, if you will, to make sure that you're doing all you can to help them be successful? John: It's an interesting change we're seeing right now, especially in the last five to 10 years, and that is, the number of young optometrists who have an interest in owning their own practice is going away. Chris: It's really an interesting thing. John: One. It's very similar to what's going on in healthcare in general. You know, I was just talking to some people last week and I said you know when was the last time I asked them? I said do you have children? Yes, do you have a pediatrician? Yes, is that pediatrician private practice? Chris: No. John: It's owned by some big organization like Texas Children's, and what you're seeing in healthcare delivery at the provider level is a consolidation of these organizations and the disappearing of private practice, and we're seeing that now in optometry. And another big dynamic is 85% of all optometry graduates today are female, and in the 80s that number was just the opposite. It was very unusual in the 80s and early 90s to see women in optometry school. I mean they certainly didn't represent the majority. And so with that comes different priorities of practice. You know you don't have the hard-charging young guy who wants to go into small-town Texas and really build up a big practice or even a metro area. You have people that are much more interested in part-time, that I want to be able to step aside, raise my family, then maybe come back later, and so there's a whole different culture among the providers now coming in. So our organization as a business model relies on young optometrists wanting to own their own practice, and if that category is declining we've got to come up with some other plan here to maintain Sure. So one the opportunities we have are less. The vetting process is largely a discussion with very successful people. Our board of directors consists of nine doctors and three outside directors, but the nine doctors are all very successful. And so a young person does approach me and we talk, I want them to speak to one of our successful guys, and then their job is to kind of assess and come back to me and say, John, I don't know if she's ready, I don't know if he can do this, or I think this is a home run, let's go. And with their input and my discussion I've been doing it now long enough that I kind of get a feel for it Then we'll say let's go. And really it's a matter of they own everything. It's a matter of us guiding them through the process and then supporting them with just the knowledge they don't have about building a practice afterwards, and then lots of follow-up and hand-holding. Chris: And it's done. I think you said just as, basically a license agreement where they're licensing the name and brand and they get some support as a result of that as well. John: I mean contractually, I'm not obligated to support anything. Contractually I'm not obligated to support anything. All I'm obligated to do is to keep the value of the brand consistent with what they're paying for it. But I realized that if they're not successful, my brand value suffers. So we do all that we can to support them and help them be successful. Chris: So let's talk a little bit about your internal team. I mean, you've got a team I think you said 12, that's kind of help support you, that support these members. What have you found to be successful as you've gone through maybe trials and tribulations of hiring the right people, making sure you've got the right people in the right seat to kind of support the business and the brand? John: You know, that's a great question, because I, up until about 2015, I took a whole different approach to personnel than I did 2015 and on, and it was like I learned something, and that is I put together a group of really knowledgeable people in terms of their expertise in certain areas, but the quality that I had not paid attention to prior to that was they also had to be connectors. They had to be the kind of people that could say hey, chris, I know somebody you ought to talk to. And so because when a non-doctor walks into a doctor's office, even with the responsibility of helping, they carry a different level of credibility with that doctor than if a doctor told them something. If we go in and say, hey, listen, you need to be open Saturdays, because there's a lot of business on Saturdays, I don't want to do it. But if a doctor tells them, oh man, you got to be open Saturday, they'll listen to it. But if a doctor tells them, oh man, you've got to be open Saturday, they'll listen to it. And so our guys who are in the field, they do tactical training and support for staff, but when a doctor is facing an issue that they know the answer to, they in turn, seek out other leadership in the doctor community to say would you mind giving so-and-so a call Because I think you could help them get through whatever issue they're dealing with. And so that quality and frankly it's, you know it requires someone who doesn't have much of an ego. Sure, because you know I say this all the time like my old friend Ronald Reagan used to say, there's no limit to what you can accomplish if you don't care who gets the credit. Chris: Yeah. John: And so we take that approach, and ours isn't about trying to get a bunch of credit. Ours is about trying to lift up this organization and get these guys successful, and if we're simply a facilitator in information to how to do that, we don't have to be the initial provider of that information. Even if we know it, it comes much better from a colleague, and so that's one of the things that we put a lot of emphasis on is helping the network, help each other. Chris: So you know you were very quick to say 2015. Have you seen a dramatic improvement in the performance of the overall business since making that change and kind of focusing on the connector quality as being an additional important quality in the people you bring on? John: Very much so, because what Texas State Optical was in the beginning was a doctor-owned organization and doctors working with other doctors to help them grow a network and large business. We're trying to replicate that from the standpoint of, especially as the business, the structure we use I mentioned earlier as a cooperative. It requires doctor leadership to be active and engaged in running their own company, their owners of the company, and so, while I have certainly an important role in that, the more doctors that engage in the leadership of the organization, the better it is overall. And since we took that intentional effort in 2015, a couple of things too. We had a kind of an evolution of membership. I mean, we had a lot of our older doctors retire and sell practices, and then we had a whole influx of young doctors, and so we ended up in 2015 with an organization that was significantly different demographically, both age and gender. That was significantly different demographically, both age and gender. But we thought they need mentorship among the leadership in the organization, and so we worked at creating that for them, and it impacts not just clinical I mean, there's also that aspect of it they're learning clinically from friends but operationally, and so it made a big difference Very good. Chris: I know that you have supply agreements with certain labs and other things. Let's talk about some of the things that you found to be successful in maintaining, I guess, forming those kind of key strategic relationships for the business, and maybe some of the things you do to make sure that you foster and keep them strong of the things you do to make sure that you foster and keep them strong. John: Well, in the vendor-doctor community there is a kind of an assumption made by both sides, and one is the doctor assumes that the vendor's got more money than they know how to spend or what they've got all this money to spend, and the vendor assumes the doctor's not going to follow through on all the promises they make. So that's kind of where we start at the table, and so I think it's important and what we've worked at bringing to our relationships is mutual accountability, and we have found our vendor partners to be extremely invested in our success, but at the same time they've got a business to run as well, and so our success with them and that dynamic of that exchange or relationship cannot be at the vendor's expense. It's gotta be the classic cliche win type of thing, but you only get win if you have mutual accountability. And so in every agreement we have, here's what the vendor commits to and here's what the doctor community commits to. And then we have business reviews where we sit down and say here's where we're dropping the ball or here's where you're dropping the ball, and we hold that accountability does a long goes a long way to not only making the relationship productive but also building trust and longevity into those partnerships, because if you're making money with a partner, you don't want it to stop, right, you know? And that goes both ways If you're a doctor making money with a partner, you don't want it to stop, and if money with a partner, you don't want it to stop, and if you're a partner, you don't want to stop. So I found that type of mutual accountability and the willingness to be held accountable is critical to those relationships Very good. Chris: So you know. Talk a little bit about leadership. You've been running this organization for a long time now. How would you describe your leadership style and how do you think that's evolved over time? John: well, I would. I don't know if I've ever been asked to describe it, but I would say it's Maxwellian. Okay, and that means John C Maxwell, who is an author, has written a number of books on leadership and, in my opinion, probably is the most the best leadership author. I'm biased, of course, but I think he is. Forbes Magazine said that a few years ago, but basically his definition of leadership is influence. Nothing more, nothing less. It's just influence. And an example of that is if you walk into a room of people, you're naturally going to notice someone who's exercising influence on others, and it isn't an authoritarian way, it's in a trust and credibility way. And so if you're influencing, you're leading. If you're not, it doesn no matter what title you have. So an example is my when I explained how we use doctors to help influence other doctors. So that's a level of influence that doesn't come because I require somebody to do something. It it occurs because you're able to influence others to to make a difference. So I would. I'm a big believer in that. I'll plug his book. There are 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. It's a classic, and so that's like a Bible. It's my business Bible in terms of leadership style. Chris: I was going to use that word because others and it's fair to plug books, because sometimes I ask people what's a book you would recommend. We hear a lot of good to great from people Sure, jim Collins. But what I love what you said if you're influencing, you're leading, because I say a lot of times a true leader leads without a title. John: Right, you're actually doing things without the title to demonstrate leadership, which is what you're talking about Exactly, and if you do have the title and can influence, it's a home run. It's a home run, yeah. Chris: So you've learned that through lots of trials and tribulations. I think we all learn through mistakes or setbacks Anything you could share with the listeners about a decision made that didn't go the way you thought but you learned from it and that learning kind of catapulted you made you better because of it. Setback, failure whatever word you want to describe Anything you could you care to share in that realm. John: Sure the. So I came to Houston. I was born and raised in Western Kansas and I was in Wichita born and raised in western Kansas, and I was in Wichita, kansas, in 1989, excuse me, in the late 80s, 84, 89 era and I was working for a large ophthalmology practice up there as a marketing administrator and in that role I attended a lot of national meetings in ophthalmology and during that meeting I met an owner of a large Houston ophthalmology and during that meeting I met an owner of a large Houston ophthalmology group who ended up offering me a job and I came to Texas. Due to some marketing challenges we were facing at that practice, I was introduced to Texas State Optical while I was at that practice and then left after about four years, left that practice and went to a consumer research firm here in Stafford and quickly turned around and went to Texas State Optical to see if they would like to buy some insurance I'm not insurance, buy some research and they did so. I ended up doing this large project for them but also ended up doing a ton of work for HLMP. During the time they were prepared to try to go to battle with Enron and this was like early nineties, right, and so everything was going well. And then I get fired from the research thing. Now I moved my family down from Kansas. I've been in the state about five and a half years and I get fired. I've been in the state about five and a half years and I get fired. And that was a big you know. Anytime you've been fired, that kind of devastates you Right, it shakes you up. Chris: Yeah, it does. John: But had that not happened, I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing Right, and so I have learned, and what pulled me through that is faith, Faith in God and faith in myself is faith, faith in God and faith in myself, and I felt like I can do, kind of what. There was a part of it, chris, that was liberating, because that was like, instead of thinking now what am I going to do, I was thinking now what am I going to do. I mean, it was a whole different frame of attitude and that subsequently ended up leading to the position I have today, through working with franchisees at Texas State Optical and so forth. Chris: That's a great story. Thank you for sharing. You bet A lot of people don't want to talk about, especially if they've been fired for something. But to your point on that, these other opportunities would have never presented themselves right, because you likely stayed in the comfort of the job and seeing where that takes you. You know there's so much that can come. John: Actually, I'd gone to that research firm. The owner of it had brought me there with the promise implied I mean not implied, but it wasn't in writing but the idea was that I would take over that firm at some point and it turned out that didn't work out Well you know a lot of what you, I think, describe. Chris: The undertone to that is the mindset you had in the wake of that setback. You know you didn't let it take you down. You're like like you said what am I going to go? Do I got all these opportunities and go? Explore and figure it out. John: So I had about 30 days before the next house payment came, so that you were acting quick, got to be decisive man. Chris: You can't be stewing on decisions forever, for sure, well, that and so you know that leadership, you know is forged and helped you get to where you are today. You know, when you, when you think about applying that mindset and that leadership kind of style, how does it help you kind of navigate the ups and downs of the economic cycles that we've experienced over the last 20 plus years? John: Well, you know, first of all is to understand which of these cycles are cyclical. That's a little redundant, but I mean, what is it we're going through that's cyclical. That you can. You know, business loves a stable and predictable environment. Right Now, the reality is it's ups and downs. But if it's ups and downs within a certain range of up and down, it's stable right, and you can prepare for it Certain tolerances right, yeah certain tolerances. What we've seen, not only in the economy and that's a whole different issue but what we've seen in the profession itself and the consolidation of private practice by private equity that's come into the marketplace, is we're seeing disruption like we haven't seen before. And I was talking to one of our board members doctor board members about it and we were just, you know, he was pointing out all of the things that are kind of out without from under excuse me, out of our control, and as we were talking about it, I had this thought and I told him. I said it's a great time to be alive and that because we're the ones that get to go through this, and in many ways I believe that our profession is going through a transformation that will take probably a 20 year period of time. But 40 years from now, optometry, I don't think, will look anything like it does today, and it's always bumpy to be in the middle of that turbulent transformation. The 80s were very steady, the 90s were pretty steady. It was in starting about 2010, 2000, that things started rapidly changing and then the acceleration with just technology and everything else is just gone, and then you've got now the whole world of artificial intelligence coming into play and it's. I consider it exciting, invigorating, challenging, but I mean what's? The alternative is to be bored right. Chris: Well, if you don't adopt and if you're not using it, you die use it you die, that's right. So I mean, you know, kind of it's a great segue to what are some of the things you do to kind of foster that maybe innovative mindset of how you're going to embrace the technological changes and use them in the business model to further the brand and the business. John: So I there's very little I can do without the support of the doctor, owner, community right. And sometimes there's a lot of indecision, because when you're not sure what to do, you're scared of doing the wrong thing. Chris: Sure, Well, it seems like you got a lot of opinions that out there too, right? John: You got a lot of them, and so what I have to do is to influence them through other people and through information, to get them to a point of being open enough to consider ideas that they might consider kind of sacrilege in some case. For instance, what is real common in most optometry practices today is what's called an autorefractor. It's a machine that people go through and it gives you a prescription, and the prescription is used by the doctor to zero in on where your visual acuity is right. Well, when that first came out, optometrists thought that was the end of the profession. Here's a machine that'll do what I'm doing. Optometrists thought that was the end of the profession. Here's a machine that'll do what I'm doing. And so there's a fear oftentimes of innovation. Right, that you have to assure people that there's a way to use this to our benefit, and that's what we're going through with artificial intelligence right now. One group is scared to death. It's going to replace them. The other group is glad they're old enough, they're probably not going to have to go through with it. And then you're looking for those people who say, hey, how can we utilize this to really to our benefit? Yeah, and once people feel that's safe enough to kind of try. Then the people realize that the fear is misplaced. Chris: So true, right, but it takes education, information and influence, as you said, to get people to get there so that they can adopt it One of the things that I teach my team to say. John: I mean to believe, and I say it all the time is we believe in everybody's right to make a bad decision. So if someone listens to us and they choose not to do what we're recommending and we know it's a good decision what we're recommending and they choose not to, it's their right. You know, I mean everybody's right to waste their own money. So that kind of patience is necessary with a group like ours. In many ways it's like working with a volunteer organization. Chris: Yeah, well, lots of challenges there, I'm sure. Well, john, this has been a great conversation. I really appreciate you sharing everything I want to ask you, I guess, going back to your days, you know, I guess growing up in Kansas what was your first job? John: A drugstore Rexall drugstore and I grew up in a town of 2000 people and my dad was the family physician of the community and so of course in a town like that in western Kansas the doctor and the pharmacist are close relationship. And so I got my first job at a drugstore, working a soda fountain, delivering prescriptions, restocking things. Like that had a blast and that really I learned a lot in that, not just like everybody learns a lot from their first job, but understanding. I was intrigued by Rexall. I don't know how familiar you are with Rexall, but Rexall was a national organization that gave private ownership of drugstores the purchasing power of a large corporate chain, and so my employer was the pharmacist. He owned the drug store and he stood up in the stand in the dais every day counting pills and chatting with people. So that was my first job. Chris: Very good. Well, you've been in Texas now since what the late? John: 80s. Chris: So do you prefer Tex-Mex or barbecue Barbecue? Okay. John: Barbecue Very good. My waistline prefers barbecue. Chris: And last thing if you could take a 30-day sabbatical, where would you go and what would you do? I don't know, Probably nuts. John: I just I've got to be engaged and I mean I don't have to be. I'm not select. I love business and I love the challenge it has. So I'm not I don't. You said earlier in our discussion about you were describing about the law firm. When I was doing consumer research, I did some healthcare work 12 Oaks Hospital was a client and so but I would tell people, is I specialize in a process, not an industry, because the process is the same and I would say that's what I really love about business, because when you boil it down to what I do and what you do and others that run businesses, it's the same process. It's understanding your customer and then directing how your services or products benefit that customer and communicating and the whole marketing scheme of promotion, price, product and place applies to every industry. And so I'd probably do something if I had 30 days. Like I said, I'd go nuts. Chris: Well, but I think what you just said there in the end is you have great insight and learning for business owners and entrepreneurs out there. You're trying to find their way. It's it is figure out what the consumer that you're catering to really wants and then deliver that as efficient as best you can that's why you know my, when I first got into consumer research, I thought this is like cheating. John: I mean you're actually going out and saying what do you want? They tell you, and then you give it to them. I mean it's like, it's amazing. Chris: Yeah, right, so well, this has been great, John. Thanks again for taking the time. You bet I really appreciate your invitation. Special Guest: John D Marvin.

Sarah Elizabeth Mintz received her BFA from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where she completed her thesis film Transit, starring Dakota Johnson. After graduating she mentored with filmmakers Cary Fukunaga on True Detective, Joachim Trier on Louder Than Bombs, and worked with Alejandro Inarritu on The Revenant.Sarah was a Sundance Fellow in the 2017 Writer's Intensive and 2018 Sundance Strategic Financing Intensive with her project Good Girl Jane. She completed a short film of the same name starring Rachelle Vinberg (Skate Kitchen, HBO's Betty) and Travis Tope (American Vandal), with cinematography by Jake Saner (Ghosts of Sugar Land).The short premiered at the Raindance Film Festival in London. Good Girl Jane recently wrapped principal photography in Los Angeles starring Rain Spencer, Patrick Gibson and Andie MacDowell. Good Girl Jane is inspired by events in Sarah's own life.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

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