Hidden City

In this special bonus episode, we're sharing the Dallas District 1 City Council candidate forum between incumbent Chad West and challenger Katrina Whatley. Hosted in partnership with Heritage Oak Cliff, Wax Space, and the Dallas Observer, this community forum dives into pressing local issues—from affordable housing and development to public safety, neighborhood preservation, and short-term rentals.

Whether you're still undecided or just looking to hear directly from the candidates, we hope this conversation helps inform your vote. Early voting begins April 22nd, and Election Day is May 3rd. Make your voice heard—vote!

Greg Brownderville is a poet, musician, professor of English at SMU, and editor of the Southwest Review. He joins us to talk about growing up in Pumpkin Bend, Arkansas, discovering community in Oak Cliff, and the deep influence of Southern folklore on his work. We dig into Firebones, his multimedia storytelling project, and Frontera Fest, a free literary and arts festival in Bishop Arts that blends voices from the U.S. and Latin America. Along the way, we talk ghosts, shade tree storytellers, and why literature should never be boring.

Chad West didn’t grow up in Dallas, but Oak Cliff is where he found his community—and where he’s been working ever since to serve it. In this episode, we talk with the District 1 City Council Member about his path from Southern Illinois farm kid to Oak Cliff homeowner, small business owner, and public servant. Chad shares how he ended up in city politics, what he’s learned about housing, zoning, and walkability, and why the real work of change starts at the neighborhood level.

This special episode takes us inside one of the most quietly significant homes in Oak Cliff—the Oswald Rooming House Museum. Filmed on-site in the very dining room where Lee Harvey Oswald once sat, we sit down with owner Patricia Puckett-Hall to hear the deeply personal and often surprising stories behind the walls of her family's century-old home. Patricia shares what it was like growing up in the rooming house, and her unique perspective on Oswald—not just as a boarder, but as a young man who played with her brothers and once tried to help her with homework. From alternative theories to untold memories, this episode offers an intimate look at the legacy of a space that remains steeped in both neighborhood history and national mystery.

A special thanks to our sponsors Oak Cliff Pilates and Oak Cliff Brewing for making this episode possible.

How do you turn a creative passion into a sustainable business? In this episode, we sit down with Stephen Salter of Salter Pottery to explore his journey from college student to full-time ceramicist and studio owner. Stephen shares how a chance introduction to pottery sparked an unexpected career, the lessons he learned through apprenticeships and mentorships, and the realities of building a business as a craftsman. From his early days selling too soon to finding his stride in the Oak Cliff creative community, we dive into the challenges of scaling handmade work, the balance between artistry and entrepreneurship, and how persistence (and a lot of clay) helped him carve out his place in the Dallas pottery scene.

From the kitchens of Portland and Austin to the heart of Oak Cliff, Chad Dolezal has always followed his gut—literally. A musician-turned-chef, Chad co-founded Cenzo’s Pizza & Deli, a neighborhood restaurant that has quickly become a local institution. In this episode, he shares his journey through the restaurant world, how his punk rock roots shaped his approach to hospitality, and why Cenzo’s is more than just a place to grab a slice. Plus, we get into the unexpected way a Mattress Firm employee helped put Cenzo's on the national pizza map.

A special thank you to Oak Cliff Pilates for making this episode possible.

Photographer and filmmaker Don Tortellini didn’t set out to document Oak Cliff—he just picked up a camera and let the neighborhood guide him. From capturing the heartbeat of community initiatives to having his work archived at UNT, Don shares his journey from picking up a Canon A1 on a whim to becoming a recognized visual storyteller in the city. We talk about his early creative experiments, his transition from photography to filmmaking, and the responsibility that comes with telling a community’s story the right way.

In this episode, we sit down with architect and urbanist Stephanie Behring, co-founder of ReStudio Architecture, to explore what makes Oak Cliff—and cities like it—truly work. From the balance of historic preservation and new development to the challenges of affordability and density, Stephanie shares her deep knowledge of how the built environment shapes our daily lives. We discuss the power of 15-minute cities, the role of adaptive reuse in maintaining affordability, and why neighborhood involvement is key to keeping communities thriving. Stephanie also offers a look at her work in East Oak Cliff, the evolving architectural landscape of Dallas, and how thoughtful design can create places that are both beautiful and functional.Tune in for a conversation about urbanism, walkability, and the future of Oak Cliff, with insights that go far beyond architecture.

Alex Bhore is a musician and producer, and the man behind Elmwood Recording, a studio tucked away in the Elmwood neighborhood of Oak Cliff. In this episode, Alex shares how he went from touring with This Will Destroy You to working alongside Grammy-winning producer John Congleton, eventually taking over the Elmwood Recording studio from John. We talk about some of Alex's past projects including composing for Halo Infinite and Meow Wolf, and he shares what makes Elmwood Recording a hidden gem for artists and how Oak Cliff continues to shape its sound.

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In this episode, we sit down with Matt Goodman, Online Editorial Director at D Magazine, to talk about the stories that shape Dallas. From the evolution of Oak Cliff and the power dynamics of the city to his in-depth investigative journalism—including his pivotal role in uncovering the chilling case of Dr. Death—we explore what it means to tell the stories that matter. Matt takes us behind the scenes of his reporting, from heart transplants to high-stakes legal battles, and reflects on the changing landscape of journalism in the digital age.

Full shownotes available on ⁠Patreon ⁠(Free to access)

Subscribe and leave a review on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, and ⁠YouTube⁠

Follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Twitter,⁠ and ⁠Facebook⁠

Have a guest or topic suggestion? Visit us at ⁠www.hiddencitypodcast.com⁠