If You Denton Know the City of Denton Candidates, now you do.

Episode Description

Election time is here, and this one is huge. Denton voters are filling four council seats and the mayor position, with early voting ending April 28 and election day on May 2. To help the community make informed choices at the ballot box, every candidate was invited onto the show to answer two simple questions: What do you love most about Denton, and what is your vision for the city if elected?

This special episode brings together the candidates for Mayor, District 1, District 2, Place 5, and Place 6 in one place. Each conversation is short, focused, and designed to let the candidates speak for themselves. Use this episode as a tool to learn what each candidate values, where they want to take Denton, and how their priorities line up with yours. Then get out and vote.

Key Topics Covered

• What each candidate loves most about the city of Denton
• Each candidate's vision for Denton if elected
• The values and priorities shaping the 2026 city races
• Perspectives from candidates running for Mayor, District 1, District 2, Place 5, and Place 6
• Why local elections matter for Denton's future
• A reminder to participate in early voting and election day

Timestamps

02:22 Mayor
02:37 Chris Watts
15:02 Brian Beck
27:15 Angela Brewer

36:17 District 1
36:33 Michael Herron
42:57 Jordan Villarreal
50:47 Kris Cox

57:59 District 2
58:13 Nick Stevens
1:05:52 Robert J Archer III

1:11:47 Place 5
1:12:07 George Michael Ferrie
1:20:57 Erica Garland

1:28:35 Place 6
1:28:52 Jill Jester

Voting Information

• Early voting ends April 28
• Election day is May 2
• Seats on the ballot: Mayor, District 1, District 2, Place 5, Place 6
• For more information, visit https://www.votedenton.gov/election-day-information/current-and-upcoming-election-information/

If You Denton Know Peter Salisbury, now you do. 

From launching a tiny AM station in his living room to building KUZU 92.9 FM into a 24/7 community-powered radio station, Peter shares how passion, persistence, and local music shaped one of Denton’s most grassroots success stories.

In this episode, Peter talks about growing up in Texas, falling in love with Denton’s music scene, and the long road to securing an FM license. He explains how KUZU operates entirely with volunteers, how anyone in the community can host a show, and why local voices still matter in a world dominated by corporate media.

If you’ve ever wondered how community radio works, how KUZU got started, or how you could become part of Denton’s creative scene, this episode is for you.

00:00 — Meet Peter Salisbury & the Story of KUZU Radio

Peter shares his background in photography and how he found his creative home in Denton.

04:15 — Growing Up in Texas & Finding Denton

From Houston to Garland to UNT, Peter talks about why Denton became home.

08:40 — The Birth of KUZU: A Radio Station in a Living Room

How an empty bedroom and a small AM transmitter sparked the KUZU idea.

14:20 — From Backyard Radio to FM Licensing

The multi-year journey to securing a Low Power FM license.

20:45 — Building KUZU with Volunteers & Community Support

How friends, board members, and community members helped bring KUZU to life.

26:10 — How KUZU Programming Works

Anyone can apply to host a show and contribute to the station.

31:30 — The Volunteer Model & Funding the Station

Why KUZU runs entirely on volunteers and membership donations.

36:50 — Lessons Learned from Building a Radio Station

Peter reflects on fear, persistence, and learning as he went.

41:10 — KUZU’s Future & Vision for Growth

Plans for expanding programming and eventually owning a dedicated studio.

44:10 — Denton Favorites

Peter shares his favorite local spots to relax and recharge.

🎧 Episode Highlights

• How KUZU started as a tiny AM station in a spare bedroom
• What it takes to secure an FCC radio license
• Why community radio still matters today
• How KUZU operates entirely on volunteers
• How local musicians and creators benefit from the platform
• Why anyone in Denton can host their own radio show
• The story behind KUZU’s first broadcast
• Lessons learned from building something from scratch

📻 About KUZU Radio

KUZU 92.9 FM is Denton’s volunteer-powered community radio station. Broadcasting 24/7, KUZU features freeform programming, local voices, independent music, talk shows, interviews, and creative content from over 50 volunteer producers.

The station exists to amplify local culture, support independent artists, and give everyday community members a voice on the air.

Learn more or apply to host a show:

🌐 kuzu.fm

• Cartwright’s Ranch House — A go-to spot for breakfast and coffee
• Jupiter House — Favorite order: smoked salmon bagel with a mocha
• Norman Roscoe — A favorite stop on the Square

• Big ideas often start small, sometimes in spare bedrooms.
• Community-driven projects can thrive without corporate backing.
• Fear of failure is often the biggest obstacle to starting something meaningful.
• Local media still plays a powerful role in shaping culture.
• Denton’s creative community continues to fuel innovation and collaboration.

If You Denton Know Jason Reimer, now you do.

On this episode of If You Denton Know, we sit down with musician, filmmaker, and creative director Jason Reimer to talk about one of the most anticipated projects in Denton… the revival of the historic Fine Arts Theatre.

Jason has spent years shaping unique cinematic and live experiences through his work at the Texas Theatre in Dallas, as well as through film, music, and multimedia production. Now, he’s bringing that same vision to Denton in a way that’s deeply rooted in the culture and creativity of the community.

Brad and Jason dive into what it’s been like working together behind the scenes on this project, why this theatre matters so much to Denton, and what people can expect when the doors finally open.

From independent films and live performances to 70MM, 35MM, and DCP projection, the Fine Arts Theatre is set to become a one-of-a-kind destination for cinephiles, creatives, and anyone who loves the arts.

This isn’t just a movie theatre… it’s a cultural hub in the making.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• Jason’s journey from music to filmmaking to theatre ownership
• The story behind the Texas Theatre and how it was brought back to life
• How those lessons are shaping the Fine Arts Theatre in Denton
• What makes this theatre different from anything else in the area
• The vision for programming: films, concerts, events, and more
• Why 70MM film projection is such a big deal
• How the theatre will serve Denton’s creative community
• What the renovation process has looked like behind the scenes
• When the community can expect the theatre to open

Why This Matters for Denton

The Fine Arts Theatre has been a missing piece of Denton’s cultural landscape for years. Its revival represents more than just reopening a building, it’s about creating a space where film, music, and community come together.

With Jason’s experience and vision, paired with a deep commitment to making it feel authentic to Denton, this project has the potential to become one of the most meaningful creative hubs in the city.

About Jason Reimer

Jason Reimer is a musician, filmmaker, and producer whose work spans music, film, and live performance. He has composed film scores, directed music videos, and worked with major brands like Coca-Cola and Jack Daniel’s.

He is co-founder of the Oak Cliff Film Festival and a partner in Aviation Cinemas, serving as Creative Director of the historic Texas Theatre in Dallas. His work continues to push the boundaries of how film and live experiences intersect.

Connect & Stay Updated

Follow along for updates on the Fine Arts Theatre opening, upcoming programming, and special events as Denton prepares to welcome this iconic space back to life.

@fineartsdenton

Texas Fine Arts Theatre

If You Denton Know Dr. Carine Feyten, now you do.

Chancellor and President of Texas Woman’s University, Carine M. Feyten, PhD joins Brad in The Den for a wide-ranging conversation on TWU’s 125-year legacy, her journey from Belgium to Denton, and what it looks like to lead a “campus with a heart.” They dive into TWU’s woman-focused mission, whole-person development, major campus growth, the new Health Sciences Center, and why athletics has become a powerful front door to the university.

Key Topics Covered

• TWU’s 125-year history and the university’s mission today
• Belgium upbringing, bilingual roots, and what brought her to the U.S.
• Language as “windows on the world” and why it shapes leadership
• “Campus with a heart” and whole-person development (mind, money, health, purpose)
• New Health Sciences Center and interprofessional education model
• Aviation program launch and finding unmet needs
• TWU athletics growth, national rankings, and academic excellence
• Building visibility, partnerships with Denton, and lessons from leadership
• Advice to young women on leadership, courage, and failing fast
• Denton favorites and places she loves

Timestamps

• 00:00 Intro: Belgium to Denton, institution-builder, and TWU’s defining chapter
• 02:17 TWU at 125 years and why the mission still matters
• 04:44 What it means to be a university system and the women-focused distinction
• 07:15 Growing up bilingual in Belgium and switching languages in school
• 09:11 Why she came to the U.S. and choosing to stay
• 12:33 “Languages are windows on the world”
• 19:07 First impressions of Denton and what sealed TWU for her
• 20:04 “Campus with a heart” and why it took off
• 21:45 Whole-person development, wellbeing, and why TWU “walks the talk”
• 26:14 The new Health Sciences Center, interprofessional education, and rural clinics
• 30:27 Aviation program, women in pilots, and building programs fast
• 35:33 Athletics, campus spirit, and why sports are the front door
• 39:05 Big decisions, identity, and focusing on TWU’s “gift to the table”
• 41:16 Missteps, listening, and building relationships with the city
• 48:07 Advice: leadership without titles, bravery over perfection
• 51:55 Where to follow her and learn more about TWU

Memorable Moments and Takeaways

• A women-focused environment changes who steps up. With fewer men on campus, women lead more naturally and consistently, building confidence and voice.
• Education is bigger than academics. TWU’s wellbeing focus is designed to help graduates thrive in health, finances, relationships, and purpose.
• The Health Sciences Center is about teamwork. Interprofessional education mirrors real patient care and strengthens outcomes, especially for rural communities.
• Find the niche, fill the gap. Aviation and women’s wrestling are examples of identifying needs others have not addressed.
• Leadership is built, not granted. Titles do not make leaders. Curiosity, courage, and contribution do.

Guest Bio

Dr. Carine Feyten is the Chancellor and President of Texas Woman’s University. A native of Belgium and fluent in five languages, she is a published scholar and higher education leader who has guided TWU through major growth, new programs, and an expanded statewide footprint while strengthening the university’s distinctive woman-focused mission and culture of care.

Follow Dr. Feyten on social media! @twupres

If You Denton Know Joshua Butler, now you do.

Joshua Butler, founder of Thin Line Fest, joins Brad to talk about what it takes to build a lasting creative institution in Denton. They unpack Joshua’s path from Houston to UNT, the early days of Texas Filmmakers, and why Thin Line has stayed rooted in documentary storytelling for nearly two decades. Joshua also previews what’s coming March 18–22, including films, music, photography exhibits, and new late night dance parties, plus the behind the scenes challenges of funding, venues, and competing for premieres in a crowded festival landscape.

Key Takeaways

• How Texas Filmmakers started as a student organization and became a lasting nonprofit
• Why Thin Line focuses on documentaries, and what “truth” really means in film
• What makes Thin Line Fest unique: downtown, walkable, volunteer driven, and free
• A preview of Thin Line Fest March 18–22 (film, music, photo, and new additions)
• The real logistics: venues, budgets, staffing, premieres, and competing with bigger markets
• Joshua’s career path from local media to major event production, then the pivot during COVID
• Denton community culture, darts, favorite hangs, and a documentary recommendation

Learn more about Thin Line Fest: March 18–22 in downtown Denton. Film, music, photography, and late night events, all walkable and volunteer driven. Find the full schedule and details at Thin Line Fest online. https://www.thinline.us/

If You Denton Know David Pierce, now you do.

In this episode, we sit down with David Pierce, composer, educator, and the creative force behind Denton’s Day of the Dead Festival. David shares his journey from growing up in South Texas to becoming one of the key figures shaping Denton’s music and cultural scene. We talk about creativity, community, risk-taking, and how one Halloween show evolved into one of Denton’s most beloved annual traditions.

Episode Highlights

• Growing up in Corpus Christi and being immersed in Mexican and Tex-Mex culture
• Discovering music early, from piano to trombone, and finding jazz as a teenager
• Coming to Denton in 1994 to attend University of North Texas and falling in love with the city
• Teaching band and building an award-winning jazz program in Southlake Carroll ISD
• Making the leap from teaching to full-time composing and arranging
• Creating Cirque du Horror and why it became a turning point creatively
• How a grassroots block party grew into Denton’s Day of the Dead Festival
• The origins of the coffin races and why they put the festival on the map
• What goes into running a 30,000 to 40,000 person community festival
• Partnering with local businesses, artists, and breweries to keep the festival truly Denton
• Giving back through donations to Serve Denton, Cumberland Youth and Family Services, and other local charities

Behind the Festival

David walks through the behind-the-scenes reality of planning a major outdoor festival. From grant writing and fundraising to weather risks and year-round preparation, he shares why the emotional investment is worth it when he sees the joy the festival brings to the community. What started as a $5,500 event has grown into a six-figure production that continues to give back more each year.

Upcoming Event

Cirque du Horror Presents: A Moonlit Monster Ball

• Saturday, February 21, 2026
• 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
• Patterson Appleton Arts Center
• A gothic Valentine’s season fundraiser benefiting Denton’s Day of the Dead Festival
• Featuring haunting cocktails, a chef-curated dinner, a raffle, dancing, and a special performance by Cirque du Horror’s Orchestra of the Undead
• Suggested attire: elegant, spooky, monstrous Halloween gala vibes

🎟️ Tickets and info available at: DentonDayOfTheDeadFestival.com

If You Denton Know Morgan Kennedy, now you do.

Every building tells a story, and Architect Morgan Kennedy helps shape how those stories get built. Morgan shares how she went from growing up in Plano to studying architecture at Oklahoma State, earning a traveling fellowship, and practicing in places like Seattle, Oklahoma City, and beyond. We talk about what architects really do, why adaptive reuse matters, how codes and city review shape projects in Denton, and what changes could make downtown even more walkable and connected. Plus, Morgan shares her favorite Denton spots and what she’s most excited about in 2026.

Short Summary

Award-winning Architect Morgan Kennedy talks Denton’s design future, adaptive reuse, and what architects actually do.

Key Topics Covered

• Morgan’s upbringing in Plano and early interest in design
• Architecture school, the Caudill traveling fellowship, and what it taught her
• Working in Seattle and Oklahoma City and how those places shaped her thinking
• Why she chose Denton and why she prioritizes local projects
• What a comprehensive design architect does beyond “drawing buildings”
• O-A-C: owner, architect, contractor and why it matters early
• How AI fits into architecture and where it helps
• Denton’s walkability, downtown growth, and what she would improve
• Mixed-use, “third places,” and why downtown needs more options (including grocery)
• Projects and concepts she’s excited about heading into 2026

Morgan M. Kennedy, AIA, NCARB
Founding Principal Architect and Director of Design, MKOA Studio

• mkoastudio.com

If You Denton Know Seth Morgan, now you do.

In this episode, Brad sits down with Seth Morgan, founder of Denton County Brewing Company, to talk about purpose, perseverance, community, and what it really took to open Denton’s first downtown brewery. From a 25 year career in financial services to global missionary work and nonprofit leadership, Seth’s story is about far more than beer.

Episode Overview

Seth shares how a life changing year as an exchange student in England shaped his view of beer as a community builder, not just a beverage. That idea stayed with him through decades in the corporate world, eventually becoming the foundation for Denton County Brewing Company.

The conversation explores the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, including navigating changing Texas brewery laws, surviving 84 inspections, being scammed by a faulty brew equipment supplier, and pushing through the uncertainty of the pandemic.

Key Topics Discussed

• Growing up in Texas and finding home in Denton
• Studying abroad in England and discovering pub culture as a community space
• A 28 year career in financial services and brewing on the side
• Visiting hundreds of breweries across the country while traveling for work
• The moment Seth’s wife challenged him to stop talking and start building
• How a 2015 Texas law change opened the door for downtown breweries
• Renovating the McKinney Street building and surviving 84 inspections
• Being scammed on brewing equipment and working with the FBI
• Leading with a “burn the ships” mindset through early setbacks
• Navigating COVID with a people first philosophy
• Pivoting into distribution, canning, and new revenue streams
• Denton stepping up during crises including COVID and the ice storm
• Founding Orant Charities and two decades of humanitarian work
• Why Malawi became the focus of their nonprofit mission
• Building sustainable systems around water, food, medicine, education, and microfinance
• Brewing philosophy and why simple beers are the hardest to get right

About the Guest

Seth Morgan is the founder of Denton County Brewing Company and former Chair of the Denton Chamber of Commerce. He is also the co founder of Orant Charities, a nonprofit focused on long term poverty alleviation through clean water, healthcare, education, and economic development in Africa and beyond.

Closing Thought

This episode is a masterclass in resilience, leadership, and keeping people at the center of everything you build. Whether you are an entrepreneur, community leader, or someone searching for purpose, Seth’s story offers powerful lessons on choosing integrity and perseverance when the path forward is unclear.

If You Denton Know Hank Dickenson, now you do.

In this episode, Brad sits down with one of the most recognizable voices and relationship builders in town. Hank Dickenson spent more than two decades inside UNT Athletics as a deputy athletic director and broadcaster, then pivoted into his role as Director of Membership for the Denton Chamber of Commerce, all while serving on some of the most impactful nonprofit boards in the community.

You will hear Hank talk about:

• Growing up in Overland Park, Kansas, why his dad always told him to “get to Texas,” and how KU and campus radio pulled him into the world of sports.
• Falling in love with radio play by play, what makes good broadcasting, and the difference between calling a game on radio versus TV.
• Lessons learned from working alongside legends like George Dunham and Dave Barnett, and why preparation is the secret ingredient listeners never see.
• His long run inside UNT Athletics, working on the “external side” of the house with corporate partners, fundraising, and supporting multiple sports.
• How Mean Green Sports Properties and the Apogee (now DATCU) Stadium naming rights deal came together, and why that stadium became a true community gathering place.
• Honest thoughts on how college athletics has changed with NIL, private equity, and the growing resource gap between schools, plus where he sees UNT football and basketball heading from here.
• Why he chose to retire from athletic administration, keep broadcasting and teaching, and move into a full time role with the Denton Chamber of Commerce.
• What makes Denton a “scratch your back” town, how the Chamber really works for local businesses, and simple advice for anyone who wants to get better connected.
• The work of Serve Denton, the Salvation Army, and other local nonprofits, and how board service can be both deeply meaningful and a powerful way to meet great people.

You will also hear Hank shout out some of his favorite Denton spots to eat, drink coffee, and catch up with friends, plus a few stories from the road that only a longtime broadcaster can tell.

If you enjoy this episode, share it with a Mean Green fan, a Chamber member, or someone who wants to plug into the Denton community.

If You Denton Know Gerard Hudspeth, now you do.

Mayor Hudspeth has been serving this city long before he ever wore the mayor’s pin. In this episode, Brad sits down with Denton’s head honcho to talk about growing up here, leading through crisis, loving small business, and what comes next as Gerard runs for Denton County Commissioner.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Growing up a Denton kid, taking the “scenic route” through NCTC and UNT, and why he never really left
• How a nudge from others led him from Planning and Zoning to City Council to the mayor’s seat
• What it was like to become mayor in 2020 during a pandemic, protests, and a historic winter storm
• How faith, community, and strong city staff helped him lead through chaos
• His core priorities as mayor: keeping families safe, responsible growth, protecting quality of life, and supporting small business
• Why Landmark and the west side growth matter for Denton’s future, from entry level homes to executive housing
• His full time role with Freeit Data Solutions and what it takes to balance a sales career with a “volunteer job” as mayor
• Being Denton’s first Black mayor, lessons on respect, and how his family’s story fits into Denton’s history
• Why good people should still run for local office, even when it looks messy from the outside
• His next chapter, running for Denton County Commissioner, and how city experience can help shape the whole county

Connect with Mayor Gerard Hudspeth:

• Website: gerardfordenton.com
• Social: Facebook @Gerard For Denton and Instagram @hudspethgerard