Hidden City

Amy Miller’s radio story begins in the Bay Area, winds through a Virginia station backed by Bruce Hornsby, and lands in Dallas, where she became a defining voice at KXT. In this episode, Amy shares what it takes to build a public radio brand rooted in community, the origin of the station’s beloved local music show, and how a late-night internet search led to her managing Abraham Alexander—all the way to the Oscars. We get into what makes a song radio-worthy, how Dallas music surprised her, and why staying grounded in community still matters most.

Aaron Glover leads The Writer’s Garret, a 30-year-old literary arts organization rooted in Oak Cliff. In this episode, we talk about his path from musical theater and academia to executive director, and how the Writer’s Garret brings people together through the power of language. Aaron shares why empathy and connection are central to the organization’s mission, how programs like the Common Language Project and Poetry in Place foster belonging, and why Oak Cliff has quietly become one of the most vibrant literary hubs in Texas. We also explore the evolving role of the Trinity River in Dallas’s future—and the deep community that grows when people gather to write, listen, and share.

Filmmaker Merced Elizondo grew up in Oak Cliff, shaped by blue-collar grit, a Mexican-American household, and a love of storytelling—long before he realized filmmaking could be his path. In this episode, he shares early doubts, a pivotal college internship, and how his father’s temporary paralysis inspired his acclaimed short Manos de Oro. We talk about his punk rock approach to filmmaking, his love for old cinema, and the emotional weight behind his Oscar-eligible short The Mourning Of. Plus, Merced previews his upcoming feature, The Thing About Elephants, and explains why he’s committed to making movies—and building a creative community—right here in Oak Cliff.

AJ Ramler didn’t set out to be a developer—he just loved old buildings. In this episode, we sit down with the founder of Proxy Properties to talk about his journey from living in a basement quadplex to leading some of the most ambitious adaptive reuse projects in Oak Cliff. From the historic Struck House to the Oak Cliff Assembly and the Madison Hotel, AJ shares the hard-won lessons of preservation, neighborhood involvement, and balancing community needs with the realities of development. We explore what it means to design for people first, why old buildings resonate, and how investing locally can reshape an entire block.

Amy Cowan has helped shape the identity of Bishop Arts through more than just coffee, cocktails, and food. In this episode, we talk with the co-founder behind Oddfellows, Revelers Hall, Trades Deli, and more about how she found her way to Oak Cliff, what New Orleans taught her about hospitality, and how a neighborhood election night watch party and the first Oak Cliff Mardi Gras Parade helped spark a movement. With an eye toward quality, long-time staff, and smart vertical integration, Amy shares how she continues to build community-driven businesses that reflect the heart of the neighborhood.

Chris Corpus, Senior Director of Conservation and Community Impact at the Dallas Zoo, joins us to talk about what it really means to care for wildlife—both in faraway ecosystems and right here in Oak Cliff. From creek cleanups and community partnerships to wildlife rescue and international conservation work, Chris shares how his journey from journalism and filmmaking led him to a career centered on people, place, and protecting what’s wild. Along the way, we dig into urban nature, global species recovery, and why empathy and education are at the heart of it all.

Jorge Samano, founder of Oak Cliff Bike Synergy, joins us to share his journey from growing up in Chihuahua, Mexico to pioneering mountain biking in northern Mexico, chasing dreams in London, and eventually finding a home in Oak Cliff. We talk about the heart he brings to his work, his belief that bikes are an extension of life itself, and how approachable service has helped him build a loyal community. Jorge reflects on the early days of mountain biking culture, the power of bikes to change lives, and the challenges and hopes for cycling in a car-centric city. Along the way, we explore how small acts of service can shape a neighborhood — and why creating space for cyclists matters more than ever.

Claudia Vega is a lifelong educator turned community builder, bookstore owner, and literary advocate. In this episode, she shares how growing up in Oak Cliff with educator parents instilled a love of books—and how that love became action. Claudia and her husband John co-founded Whose Books, a neighborhood bookstore committed to access, representation, and joy, and ARCO, a nonprofit that builds reading culture through book gifting, programming, and removing barriers to reading. We talk about the obstacles she faced launching a bookstore in a “book desert,” the community’s response, and why cultivating a culture of reading is about equity, not just literacy. Along the way, Claudia reflects on browsing as a lost art, the power of story time, and what it really takes to start something from scratch in the place you call home.

Vincent Holland is the co-founder of Oak Cliff Run Crew and the Say Less Project. In this episode, he shares how a need for connection after the pandemic sparked a Thursday night ritual that now draws hundreds to the bridge at Founders Park. We talk about building community from the ground up, staying rooted in consistency, and creating a space where everyone—from first-time walkers to seasoned marathoners—feels like they belong. Vincent also opens up about his personal journey with grief, the loss of his father, and how that led to the Say Less Project, a powerful mental health awareness run from Dallas to Austin. Through it all, Vincent reflects on what it means to run with purpose and lead with authenticity.

Emma Ruby is a staff writer for the Dallas Observer and former editor of the Oak Cliff Advocate, where she quickly became a voice for the neighborhood she now calls home. In this episode, Emma shares how a snarky middle school article about Miley Cyrus kicked off her journalism journey, what it was like to jump headfirst into covering Oak Cliff, and how telling stories about her neighbors helped her fall back in love with reporting.

We talk about journalism as a public service, the rise of nonprofit newsrooms, and the balancing act of writing for both the archives and the algorithm. Along the way, we dig into her coverage of the Belmont Hotel, navigating conspiracy brain, and why there's joy in hyperlocal journalism—even when you're writing about Southwest Airlines' baggage policy.