In Episode 34, Gary Kelly, the CEO and Chairman of Southwest Airlines, discusses 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, 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.

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 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.

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, 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.

In Episode 29, Grant Moise, the President and Publisher of The Dallas Morning News, 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.

In Episode 28 of "I Do This Because," the Honorable Eric Moyé, the presiding judge of the 14th Civil District Court in Dallas County, discusses 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."

In Episode 26, Special Agent in Charge (“SAC”) Matthew DeSarno, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Dallas Field Office, 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, Byron Sanders, the CEO and President of Big Thought, 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 today), how certain adverse childhood experiences continue to influence him, and why he has a very broad lens when identifying someone’s “X Factor.”