I Do This Because

Dallas and beyond! In Episode 34 of I Do This Because, we are featuring Gary Kelly - CEO and Chairman of Southwest Airlines - headquartered here in Dallas! Gary and I discussed how he navigates with confidence the pressure of providing for over 50,000 employees in the midst of a pandemic, why he has remained at Southwest for 35 years, the checklist items he runs through each day, some of his favorite Southwest employee stories, ways he effectively convinces someone that he cares about them, and how he visualizes his role at Southwest in the future.

In Episode 33 of I Do This Because, I sat down with MJ Hegar - Democratic candidate in Texas for U.S. Senate, Purple Heart recipient, combat veteran, pilot, mom, and author. We discussed the common thread among her diverse roles over the years, how she has retained her energy throughout the campaign, one of the specific moments on the campaign trail that constantly reminds her why she wants to serve, what the MJ of today would tell the MJ of 2018 during her congressional run, whether she views an elected official as a trustee or delegate, her thought process for setting aside skeptics and critics, her realization about the individuals in charge of our country, and what she wants the State of Texas to say about her after election night. (link below!)

In Episode 32, Larry Wansley, the Director of Corporate Security for the Dallas Cowboys (and the former Dallas Cowboys’ Director of Counseling Services, former American Airlines head of security, former FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation undercover agent, and former head of security for Whitney Houston’s worldwide tour), discusses what about his personality has encouraged the Dallas Cowboys players to trust him, the importance of confidentiality in his role, the moments that still to this day bring out his adrenaline, what he looks for when he visits the Cowboys’ prospective draft picks, his tasks on game day, how he discusses racial injustice and the role of law enforcement today with the players in the current climate, whether any day has been more stressful for him than 9/11 given his role at American Airlines at that time, how he solved 3 murders in his sleep, his first conversations with Whitney Houston in his role as head of security, and the moments he has been particularly proud of his role within the Cowboys organization.

Today is North Texas Giving Day! I have the privilege of serving on the boards of The Human Impact (a nonprofit seeking to befriend the homeless in Dallas) and St. Mary of Carmel (a Catholic elementary school in West Dallas). The Human Impact team (led by the amazing Elisabeth Jordan) works directly with the homeless on a daily basis in an effort to build friendships, sit in prayer, locate jobs, provide food and clothes, identify housing, and more. The St. Mary of Carmel community (led by the amazing Elizabeth Aguilar) seeks to form saints and scholars in a safe and nurturing environment. Please consider making a donation to this nonprofit and this elementary school (or many of the other nonprofits and causes focused on inspiring and instilling hope in those around us) today. Thanks to ! .maryofcarmel

In Episode 31, I had the privilege of visiting with Dr. Trish Perl, Chief of Infectious Diseases at UT Southwestern Medical Center (ranked the #1 hospital in Dallas and one of the top hospitals and research centers in the nation and beyond). Dr. Perl, who has been instrumental in assisting Dallas in its response to COVID-19, describes her personal disposition while serving in the midst of the pandemic, how she navigates the political pressures associated with COVID-19, how she finds patience while working through data, the local and national moments during this pandemic when she was reminded why she does what she does, how she has remained optimistic, what she reads to stay up to speed, her interactions with mask-less individuals at the grocery store, some of the "aha!" moments she has experienced throughout her career, and what she would be doing today if medical school was not previously the selected route.

In Episode 30 of I Do This Because, Krys Boyd - award-winning host of KERA, PBS, and NPR’s radio show “Think” - discusses why she views her job as an adventure, the specific goals she sets forth for each interview, when she realized she had an innate ability as a journalist, her practical tips for next-level listening, what has allowed her to distinguish her show from others, why she avoids offering her own personal views, when she feels free to vent, when she learned she did not have the stage-fright gene, and how some of the nuns in her Catholic-school days positively impacted the way she views the world.

Our biggest fan!!

A man who could talk to anyone, expressed genuine interest in others, was a great listener, made even the simplest interactions interesting, had a fantastic sense of humor, and, most importantly, was a fellow domer! Rest In Peace, Mr. Philbin. Go Irish! ☘️

In Episode 29, Grant Moise, the President and Publisher of , discusses the challenges of running a paper and media company in the age of COVID-19 (and the importance of balancing reality and hope), how he knew from age 15 he wanted to run a media company, why he wants to know what is going to be on the editorial page each day, how he retains a pulse on North Texas, how he is able to avoid looking at e-mail between 7pm and 7am, the role of faith in his life as a journalist, and the similarities between his parenting and journalism. You will very much enjoy getting to know Grant!

In Episode 28 of "I Do This Because," I visited with the Honorable Eric Moyé, the presiding judge of the 14th Civil District Court in Dallas County. We discussed why he intentionally cultivates significant formality in his courtroom, how he handles criticism, his pet peeves, people's biggest misperception about him, how he currently combats racial discrimination, why he believes everything comes back to baseball, and why he wishes everyone could experience a jury trial - specifically the deliberation process.

In Episode 27, Rick Carlisle, Head Coach of the Dallas Mavericks, discusses how he approaches his job like he has a 1-day contract, how he plans to use his platform to combat racial injustice, whether his demeanor is the same on and off the court, his approach to the media and fame, and why he doesn't like the word "stress."

Sunday night chats! I love our kiddos so much... but there’s nothing like that moment of silence on Sunday night when everyone is in bed and we can discuss our ideas, our thoughts, and why we do we what we do!

In Episode 26 of I Do This Because, I visited with Special Agent in Charge (“SAC”) Matthew DeSarno, the special agent in charge of the FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office. In our conversation, SAC DeSarno discusses his current mindset for evaluating the FBI’s role at this time in our country, what he currently fears, his leadership style, how he avoids an echo chamber, and how his daughters keep him humble from the moment he walks in the door.

In Episode 25, I had the privilege of visiting with Byron Sanders, the CEO and President of Big Thought here in Dallas. Byron explains how his personal mission statement provides the framework for each decision he makes, why he invests in relationships with people who disagree with him on critical issues (and how he hopes those investments pay dividends at this particular moment), how certain adverse childhood experiences continue to influence him, and why he has a very broad lens when identifying someone’s “X Factor.” You will not regret any minute spent with Byron!

Hours - maybe even minutes - before the news broke in Minneapolis surrounding the tragic, senseless death of George Floyd, I had the privilege of interviewing Dallas Police Department Chief Reneé Hall for our "I Do This Because" series here in Dallas. After reading more about Mr. Floyd and watching the heartbreaking video, I initially believed today was not the appropriate time to share this interview. The emotions are raw for many. We are processing yet another despicable incident of racism, violence, and pure injustice that involves law enforcement.

But when I went back and listened to the interview with Chief Hall, I realized her voice, her story, her perspective, and her philosophy are more important now than they ever have been. Although we did not specifically discuss Mr. Floyd, Chief Hall spoke about bringing truth and honesty to the profession. She talked about serving communities who often cannot protect themselves. She talked about the importance of a police force that mirrors our community, about the role of implicit bias, and specific incidents where she personally explained to arrestees that she did not mean to, and would not, disrespect them. Above all, she highlighted the absolute necessity that police officers uphold the dignity of every person with whom they interact.

The ability to highlight public servants like Chief Hall--especially in the midst of pain, violence, and conflict--is precisely the reason we wanted to start this interview series. I hope and pray her perspectives provide the balm, guidance, and hope that our community and our country desperately need right now.

In Episode 23, Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, star of ABC’s Shark Tank, and well-known entrepreneur, discusses why and how he continues to compete, what keeps him up at night, why he was interested in running for President, fatherhood, and what he wants to remember when he is 90. I am confident you will enjoy our conversation!

In Episode 22, Dallas Independent School District (DISD) Superintendent Michael Hinojosa describes his abundance mentality even in the midst of COVID-19, what it takes to be successful as a superintendent, how he has insured the delivery of over a million meals every two weeks, and what he does each Wednesday to ensure he has the pulse of the district. The link is in our bio!

In Episode 21, Mabrie Jackson, Director of Public Affairs for Central Market and HEB, discusses what about her role brings her the most joy, the pulse and spirit of grocery store workers, how her team innovated to meet consumer demand during COVID-19 (like by having beer trucks deliver eggs!), and why she thinks both three days and two weeks ahead.

In Episode 20, Erica Yaeger, the Chief External Affairs Officer for the North Texas Food Bank, provides a behind-the-scenes look at the North Texas Food Bank's response to COVID-19, explains why she spends hours on the production floor, and talks about the importance of showing emotion and vulnerability in this moment.

In Episode 19, Dr. Michael Sorrell, named by Fortune as one of the top 50 leaders in the world and the President of Paul Quinn College, talks about how discomfort unlocks gifts, why he turned down the opportunity to run for Governor, how the loss of his hair helped him conquer all insecurities, what he does to unburden his mind, and how past criticism from a high school basketball coach continues to shape him today.

In Episode 18, Dallas City Councilman Jaime Resendez discusses why the COVID-19 crisis has exposed many of the issues he hoped to tackle when running for office, why he often goes to sleep at 4 am, how he conquered fear serving in Iraq, and why he thinks it’s important to remember that nobody is promised a tomorrow. .resendez

In Episode 17, Jessica Trudeau, the Executive Director of the Momentous Institute, discusses how she and her team care for the social and emotional health of over 5,000 children during this pandemic, the best ways to build trust, how she has taken on the role of a spiritual scientist, and why we should use this moment to look within and evolve. .s.trudeau

Former Mayor of Dallas and Pizza Hut CEO Mike Rawlings discusses why it is important for leaders to have faith in the public during this pandemic, why running for mayor was the virtuous thing to do, whether he can see himself running for president, and the leadership model he uses to evaluate anyone considered for a key position.

In Episode 15, R. Gerald Turner, President of Southern Methodist University, shares how he has navigated COVID-19’s impact on campus through innovation, the way he transforms stress into motivation, three things he thinks about the moment he wakes up, and how serving as President of SMU has become a way of life.

Jack Baum, CEO of Tabletop Media and owner of Woodlands American Grill, talks about remaining optimistic in the face of COVID-19, some creative opportunities he has developed for his employees, how he stays one step ahead of the curve, and what he would say to a stadium full of restaurant owners.

In Episode 13, Fr. Josh Whitfield, the pastor at St. Rita Catholic Community, talks about life as a married priest with 4 kids, the moment he first realized COVID-19 would have a direct impact on his parish, how it’s possible to find good in the face of evil, what it has been like saying mass alone during this pandemic, and why we don’t need an explanation for everything. .joshuaj.whitfield

In Episode 12, Grant interviews Pete Delkus, sixteen-time Emmy Award winning weathercaster, who chats about why weather is a universal conversation topic, his awareness that his forecasting has a direct impact on peoples’ lives, why he continues to tease his viewers by using the word “moist,” and how his career as a minor-league baseball player impacts his perspective on life to this day.

Episode 11 features City Council Member Jennifer Staubach Gates, who chats with Grant about what it means to serve in the “first level of government,” how her strict upbringing taught her she was no different from anyone else, and the way the City Council manages to set aside its differences in times of tragedy or duress for the City.

In Episode 10, Grant sits down with Sean Lowe, star of ABC’s The Bachelor and social-media influencer, to talk about his decision to open up his life to the world, his initial skepticism towards reality TV, the grounding impact of his faith, how he conquers his insecurities, and his future ambitions.

In Episode 9, former Dallas mayor Laura Miller sits down with Grant to talk about why the gratification of serving others is more enticing to her than retirement, her reflective look back at her life as mayor, and her work on the Ladder Project, which empowers local faith communities to be safety nets for the homeless.

Dallas District Attorney John Creuzot joins grant in Episode 8 to discuss his jump from the bench to the role as lead prosecutor in Dallas County, what people do not understand about his job, how he keeps his staff motivated in the midst of challenging circumstances, his commitment to data-driven solutions, and his perspective on local media coverage of his decisions and the District Attorney’s Office.

Jan Langbein, the CEO of Genesis Women’s Shelter, joins Grant in Episode 7 to discuss why the primary qualification to work at Genesis is to have a “fire in your belly” to end violence against women, why she encourages self-care amongst her clinicians, and her life motto to “find the good and praise it.”

Grant chats with real-estate legend Harlan Crow in Episode 6 about his conviction that wealth does not make you different from anyone else, how his conversation with David Rockefeller as a 20 year old impacted his view of the world, why he loves building things, how creating opportunities for his employees is one of the most important works of his life, and how our work never ends.

Dallas and Beyond: In light of the challenges posed by COVID-19, we posted all recorded episodes of I Do This Because. The seven newly-released interviews now available on iTunes and Spotify include Harlan Crow, Jan Langbein, John Creuzot, Laura Miller, Sean Lowe, Jennifer Staubach Gates, and Pete Delkus. While we are all navigating very challenging and stressful times, I am hoping the conversations with these inspiring individuals provide you at least a small dose of optimism and leadership. Meanwhile, we are working hard to bring you new, uplifting content that is relevant to the current crisis - including grocery store and restaurant owners, elected officials, and healthcare personnel innovating, working to keep their teams motivated, and keeping us safe. If you have someone you think we should highlight, please let us know! We are praying for your health and safety during this challenging time. Together, we are .

“Part of my job is to share my life. That’s the reason Kidd hired me.” Critically-acclaimed radio personality Kellie Rasberry joins Grant for Episode 5 of , available for listening now.

Episode 5 features Kellie Rasberry, award-winning co-host of the Kidd Kraddick Morning Show, who describes why she works so hard to provide meaningful but uplifting content, what makes her fearless, and what impresses her in people she meets.

Ever wondered why Dean Fearing focuses on his Dallas restaurant rather than opening one in NYC or LA? To find out the answer and more, listen to Episode 4 featuring internationally renowned chef and cookbook author Dean Fearing.

Did you know that from an early age, Ron Kirk’s nickname was Mr. Happy? In Episode 3 of “I Do This Because,” Ambassador Kirk discusses what gives him so much joy.

In Episode 2 of “I Do This Because,” Chief Judge Barbara Lynn talks about ways to avoid an echo chamber, the importance of humor, and how she handles the hardest parts of her job.

In Episode 1 of “I Do This Because,” legendary sportscaster Dale Hansen joins Grant to talk about how his early experiences shaped his perspective on faith and politics, and how he’ll never forget where he’s from.