Deconstructing Dallas

As Season 6 draws to a close, and they guys prepare to celebrate a podcasting milestone, Mark Lamster joins the show.

Mark Lamster is the architecture critic for The Dallas Morning News and Loeb Fellow of the Harvard Graduate School of Design. His 2018 biography, The Man in the Glass House, about the late architect Philip Johnson, whose memorial to President Kennedy is located in downtown Dallas, was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award for Biography.

He is the author of several books and has been a contributing editor to Architectural Review, Design Observer, and ID and writes often for Architect, Architectural Record, and Metropolis, among other design titles. His work has appeared frequently in national publications and magazines, including the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and the Wall Street Journal. Lamster is a native of New York City and holds degrees from Johns Hopkins (BA), and Tufts (MA).


World Series talk ensues, as Shawn and Ryan don't know what we now know. (no spoilers).

@marklamster

www.marklamster.com/

Bishop Arts Theatre Center (BATC) is kicking off their 30th Anniversary season with the world premiere performance of Franky D. Gonzalez’s new play, The Tragedy of Othello. This entertaining and thought-provoking production is a 120-minute show which will begin October 19th and run for three consecutive weekends through November 5th, 2023.

Franky Gonzalez stops by to talk about how his adaptation will retain the original plot but employ a modern aesthetic and language and set in Dallas in current times. The play centers on Imani Othello who encounters racism, sexism and ageism after being named the first Black woman head coach of a football team. The incredible Denise Lee will breathe life into the indomitable spirit of Othello.

Franky D. Gonzalez is a Latino playwright based in Dallas and L.A. His work has appeared with The Lark, Sundance Institute, the Ojai Playwrights Conference, NNPN, LTC Carnaval, Latinx Playwrights Circle, Urbanite Theatre, Great Plains Theatre Conference, Goodman Theatre, The New Harmony Project, The Workshop Theater, LAByrinth Theater Company, Ars Nova, and Dallas Theater Center among others. He is the Bishop Arts Theatre Center Playwright-in-Residence.

Also, hear a rather robust conversation between the guys about spiders and frogs and skunks. (oh my!)

The Tragedy of Othello begins October 19 – November 5, 2023, for three consecutive weekends at the Bishop Arts Theatre Center at 215 S Tyler Street, Dallas, TX 75208. Tickets for The Tragedy of Othello can be purchased online at www.bishopartstheatre.org or by calling the box office at 214.948.0716 Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Chef Samir Dhurandhar, Founding Chef at Nick & Sam's and author of the book Raising the Steaks is this weeks's guest. Chef Samir talks about the inspiration he drew from eating his mom's cooking and what it was like meeting Julia Child. Chef Samir also gave details on his time at Sfuzzi and explains why Nick & Sam's has been at the top of the game for so long.

The guys also talk Cowboys/49ers (boy that didn't age well) and discuss a new way to address their work address.

Where People Can Find Samir:

IG Handle - @sam4chef
IG Handle - @NickandSams
Facebook - Nick & Sam’s Steakhouse

Nick & Sam's

Raising The Steaks

Vice President and City Leader of the All Stars Project (ASP) of Dallas, Antoine Joyce joins the show, continuing what has been a stellar 6th Season. Antoine has led the creation of cutting-edge youth and community development programs throughout Dallas and nationally. He is also a dynamic and passionate bridge-builder who has introduced Afterschool Development to a diverse array of public and private partners, fostering innovative partnerships and collaborations through ASP’s Afterschool Development Initiatives.

Ten years ago, Antoine and his colleagues brought All Stars Project and their focus on development through performance to Dallas. Shawn and Ryan talk to Antoine about the progress made by ASP in the last decade as well as look forward to the future.

Of course the guys talk SMU and TAMU football, Dallas Wings basketball and....wait for it....Texas Rangers playoff baseball. What a time to be alive!

Also, check out the ASP website and some recent media appearances by Antoine.

All Stars Project Dallas
https://allstars.org/members/antoine-joyce/

Antoine Joyce on Fox 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEDSk3Z9LGc

Avoid the hidden dangers of the ‘summer slide’ in Dallas
https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2023/06/17/avoid-the-hidden-dangers-of-the-summer-slide-in-dallas/

Dallas ISD Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Elizalde shares great news about student achievement in the district as Ryan and Shawn come back from summer break.

Shawn and Ryan catch up with Rebecca Acuna, the Director of Government Affairs for PepsiCo. Rebecca shares some inspiring stories from growing up in South Texas, and talks about all her work in politics, including leading the charge for President Biden's 2020 campaign in Texas. Rebecca also discusses her passion for helping children and families as incoming board chair of ChildCare Group. You won't want to miss Rebecca's captivating words, nor Ryan and Shawn's always witty banter.

Shawn and Ryan chat with Texas State Director of Trust for Public Land, Robert Kent. Robert announces big developments for a great space in Shawn's neighborhood (Big Cedar Wilderness) while giving an update on the progress of Five Mile Creek. And Ryan asks Robert directly: Are you a chocolatier?

https://www.tpl.org/

This week, Shawn and Ryan talk about the newly branded Shops at Red Bird with local developer Terrence Maiden of Russell Glen. Terrence highlights the opportunities and challenges of working in under invested communities and discusses how the rebirth of Red Bird is coming along. Terrence also informs Deconstructing Dallas about his work with the Maiden Foundation, started with his brother Tim.

During the conversation, Shawn referred to an article he wrote about Red Bird 14 years prior to the recording.

Saving Old Red Bird Mall by Shawn Williams - May 20, 2009

Ryan and Shawn also talk about Mayor Eric Johnson's Greening Initiative and the work Trust for Public Land is doing to support the vision.

Joli Angel Robinson, CEO of Housing Forward, walks Shawn and Ryan through a fascinating career that lead her to leave the private sector to become a public servant. Joli talks about her work at the Dallas Police Department as well as her personal connection to affordable housing, homelessness, and housing instability. Shawn and Ryan also discuss the shootings in Allen and their desire to be part of a solution to mass shootings in Texas.

Even though Joli is on a Twitter sabbatical, she can be found via @JoliARobin.

Also visit housing forward at https://housingforwardntx.org.

We're back for Season 6 after an abreviated Season 5. Katrice Hardy, Executive Editor of the Dallas Morning News is kicking off 2023. Katrice was most recently Executive Editor of the Indianapolis Star, which won a Pulitzer Prize for national reporting.

Katrice shares her vision for The News and talks about her beloved LSU Tigers and their recent National Championship in Women's Basketball.