John Esparza’s family has been in the transportation industry since calculating horsepower simply meant counting the number of horses in front of your cart. 

 A sixth-generation Texan, John went into public service before returning to his roots in trucking as President & CEO of the Texas Trucking Association (TXTA). 

 As the owner of a firm who specializes in trucking litigation, it brings me comfort to know John is at the helm advocating for so many of my clients. 

 We discuss the recent spotlight that has been shone on the trucking industry during the pandemic & the true meaning of what it is to be ‘essential’.

A good chunk of our conversation is also spent looking at two unlikely topics in an older, male dominated industry:

The rise & great successes of women in trucking & the need for young leadership in an aging industry. 

John is passionate about what he does, and it’s that passion I find inspiring. I hope you do to. 

Enjoy the show!

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[ Legal Grounds is written, recorded & produced by Dust Devil Press ]
[ Our theme was composed by Dayna Vodovoz ]

***
You can contact us at: [email protected] 

Judge Bert Richardson hated law school. 

I know because we hated it together.

His life of public service began before we even graduated, interning at the DA’s office our last year at St. Mary’s.

Since then he has gone on to serve as an Assistant District Attorney & Assistant U.S. Attorney. He was then appointed be a Judge on the 379th District Court before being elected to the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals in 2014

Bert & I discuss what being raised in a life of service looks like, along with a smattering of law school antics...

But the meat of the conversation revolves around Bert’s decades of experience in criminal law & the cases he tried.

From the moral implications of arguing a death penalty case, to the absolute necessity to pursue Actual Innocence, the thoughtfulness of Bert’s views is something I’ve always admired.

Enjoy the show.



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[ Legal Grounds is written, recorded & produced by Dust Devil Press ]
[ Our theme was composed by Dayna Vodovoz ]

***
You can contact us at: [email protected] 

If his name sounds familiar, you most likely know Bishop Mark Seitz from the headlines about the El Paso Bishop who personal escorted asylum seekers across the border or knelt in solidarity with BlackLivesMatter activists.

So that he also happened to lead the small congregation of St. Joseph’s Parish in Waxahachie, TX where my wife & I raised our family is either divine providence or sheer luck. 

Probably a healthy does of both. 

If there’s one thing I can promise you, it’s that you won’t leave this conversation ‘resolved’.

And that’s a good thing. 

Some listeners may wonder why bring in so much political fodder into a conversation with a religious figure. 

My answer would be – why continue to ignore it?

From tackling the phrasing of, “All lives matter”, to examining why we have two parties who claim the dignity of human life, if only in certain stages, there is nothing here for the faint of heart. 

But at the core of this conversation is one simple emotion that is hard to escape – Love. 

The ambiguity may frustrate some listeners, but I think it’s important to remember that not all questions have answers. Even when you’re talking to a representative of the Almighty… 

Enjoy the show.




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[ Legal Grounds is written, recorded & produced by Dust Devil Press ]
[ Our theme was composed by Dayna Vodovoz ]

***
You can contact us at: [email protected] 

Some of the best legal minds I have ever worked with don’t have a J.D. 

Paralegals are the unsung heroes of the legal profession & too often, they are thought of by the general-public as serving a purely secretarial role. 

That’s why I was thrilled to be able to sit down with Barbara Elias of Beyond Paralegals to discuss the pivotal role played by paralegals behind the scenes.

Barbara & I discuss her early life in the legal community, the importance of lifting up those around us, & why a ‘team’ mentality is vital to success at every level. 

Any attorney worth their salt knows that a good paralegal can make their professional lives exponentially easier, which is why I think this conversation is crucial for others to hear. 

Enjoy the show! 

SHOWNOTES:

• You can learn more about Beyond Paralegals on their Website
• Find Beyond Paralegals on LinkedIn
• See the story of Lisa Lang here
• You can contact Beyond Paralegals directly

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[ Legal Grounds is written, recorded & produced by Dust Devil Press ]
[ Our theme was composed by Dayna Vodovoz ]

***
You can contact us at: [email protected] 

After 4 years in the ROTC, I thought I’d pretty much run the gambit on being dressed down in front of my colleagues. 

Then I had the honor of studying Tort Law under Professor Vincent R. Johnson at St. Mary’s…

The discussion – or rather, first-year law-vomit – Prof. Johnson entertained led me down the path to practicing the kind of civil litigation I do today. 

Our conversation begins with a reflection on the life of the Justice Ginsberg. 

As a Supreme Court Fellow (1988-89) serving Chief Justice William Rehnquist, Johnson has been fortunate enough to rub shoulders with those overseeing the highest court in the land. 

I promise the hiking story alone is worth the listen. 

Prof. Johnson & I also discuss the changing landscape of the American Legal Education system & the impact that online education has on fully engaging in the Socratic dialogues so vital to legal training. 

The prolific author of seven books & countless legal articles, my conversation with Prof. John was both nostalgic & prescient.

I hope you enjoy the conversation.          

SHOWNOTES:

• Find Prof. Johnson's full bio HERE
• Find Prof. Johnson on LinkedIn
• RECENT ARTICLES
  • The Fiduciary Obligations of Public Officials
  • The Ancient Magna Carta & the Modern Rule of Law
  • The End of the Golden Age of American Legal Education 
    • (in Chinese - you'll need to use your browser's translator)

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[ Legal Grounds is written, recorded & produced by Dust Devil Press ]
[ Our theme was composed by Dayna Vodovoz ]

***
You can contact us at: [email protected] 

My guest this week brought to mind one of my favorite lines Shakespeare:

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts.”

For Ed Perdue, those parts heave included Marine Corps Officer, Attorney, Father, Husband, Business Owner, and most recently, Author. 

His latest work, “The Little Green Book—A Leadership Manual for Professionals”, takes the skills learned during his military service & translates them to the applicable lessons for the civilian workplace. 

Named one of The Best Lawyers in America© for Commercial Litigation for 3 years running, Ed & I discuss some of the biggest ‘labels’ we often apply when talking about leadership. Things like courage, tact, & dependability.

A straightforward, no-frills conversation, my hope is that you’ll walk away with a couple more tools for your leadership toolbox. 

Enjoy the conversation.

SHOWNOTES:

• Order a copy of "The Little Green Book" HERE
• You can visit the Perdue Law Group website HERE
• Find Ed on LinkedIn HERE
• For Ed's contact info, click HERE

________________________
[ Legal Grounds is written, recorded & produced by Dust Devil Press ]
[ Our theme was composed by Dayna Vodovoz ]

***
You can contact us at: [email protected] 

The most exciting thing I remember about 8th Grade are the nights my mom & dad left me at home long enough for me to eat 3 ‘Hungry Man’ T.V. Dinners… 

 But for Maj. Cal Walters, that transition to high school served as a springboard to a life of impact. 

From missing the first semester of his freshman year, to becoming captain of the football team & class president, his journey to West Point & beyond is one that needs emulating. 

As the Chief of Military Justice for the 82nd Airborne, he oversees an office of several dozen individuals responsible for some of the most meritorious & honest justice our nation provides. 

After leading a platoon & serving as an XO in Iraq, Cal attended Campbell Law School – because apparently Ranger School wasn’t harsh enough. 

My greatest take away from this conversation was the necessity of listening as it applies to leadership. 

And as a fellow Trial Attorney, it was nice to know that fumbling the ball isn’t just something that happens in the civilian world. 

Enjoy the conversation. 

SHOWNOTES:

• Check out Cal's Podcast - Intentional Living & Leadership
• Find Call on LinkedIn
• Visit Cal's Website
• Read the intro-blog-post about LISTENING

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[ Legal Grounds is written, recorded & produced by Dust Devil Press ]
[ Our theme was composed by Dayna Vodovoz ]

***
You can contact us at: [email protected] 

Anyone who had listened to the show knows I’m a fan of colloquial – sometimes cliché – phrasing. 

That being said, when I tell you that my latest guest has been to hell & back, I’m not sure if that string of words even does his experience full justice. 

John Gronski, MG (Ret.) is the CEO of Leader Grove.

But before founding his own leadership-consulting business, John had a different title. 

37th Commanding General of the 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, where from 2005-06 he was stationed in Ramadi, Iraq – known at the time as ‘The Deadliest Place on Earth’.

On top of serving on active duty for over 40 years in the U.S. Army & PA National Guard, John is the author the book, “The Ride of Our Lives: Lessons on Life, Leadership, & Love”.

 Among the many things discussed in this podcast, there are three that stood out to me: 

• The importance of learning how to pivot in a given situation 
• The need for more intermediate goals
• The blessing of a shared experience for creating community

 John’s service – to his country, to his community, to his family – is the reason I consider him a true American Hero.

A term I don’t use lightly. 

Slide up a seat & enjoy the conversation.

SHOWNOTES:

• Link to John's organization, Leader Grove
• Link to John's Personal Website
• Find John on LinkedIn
• Pick up a copy of John's book, The Ride of Our Lives: Conversations on Life, Leadership & Love

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[ Legal Grounds is written, recorded & produced by Dust Devil Press ]
[ Our theme was composed by Dayna Vodovoz ]

***
You can contact us at: [email protected] 

Sometimes you meet someone new & the conversation fires on all cylinders; it’s a rare experience, but I can honestly say that’s what it was like to talk to Greg Washington. 

Greg is the founder of the Iron Sharpens Iron Project & host of the podcast, Guards Down, both of which center around helping veterans unpack & heal from PTSD & Complex Grief.

A high-school football prodigy, Greg was recruited to West Point & went on to serve in Iraq & Afghanistan. 

After leaving the service, he lead what – from the outside – a productive, stable life. 

He got his MBA… 

He consulted for major corporations… 

He started his own tax & accounting business…

He was earning a six-figure income…

But beneath it all, he was still suffering from his own trauma & loss. 

This conversation is about pulling out of the nose-dives & the people who help guide us out of them. 

It’s about the power of patience & the knowledge that it’s not IF you fail, but WHEN. 

Enjoy.

SHOWNOTES:

• Listen to Greg's podcast, Guards Down
• You can find Greg on LinkedIn
• Follow Guards Down on Twitter 
• Connect with Greg on Facebook

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[ Legal Grounds is written, recorded & produced by Dust Devil Press ]
[ Our theme was composed by Dayna Vodovoz ]

***
You can contact us at: [email protected] 

In 2018, I was attending the annual DRI (Defense Research Institute) conference when I first heard Joe Fried speak... 

Joe was an unusual speaker for the conference. 
In a room full of Defense Lawyers, here was one of the Nation’s top Plaintiffs’ Attorneys essentially pulling back the curtain… 

But the longer I listened, the more I realized that Joe wasn’t there to lecture, nor was he there to be an assistant for voyeurism. 

In fact, there was no ‘curtain’ at all.

Instead, Joe was sincerely trying to show other practicing lawyers that there was a method behind what can SEEM like madness. 

Joe has recovered nearly a billion dollars for his clients, and he’s done it with integrity. Give this episode 5 minutes & you’ll understand when I say that Joe doesn’t look at the Law as a “tool” to be used for Justice. 

For Joe the Law is the foundation of Justice – the tools are merely a product of the inevitable. 

Just like my conversation with Amy Witherite, the chance to connect across the “vs.” is one I truly value.

As always, enjoy the show.

SHOWNOTES

• For more info on Fried Goldberg, LLC - Visit Their Website
• You can reach Joe by Email
• Video-Bio of Joe
• For more info on D.R.I - Visit Their Website

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[ Legal Grounds is written, recorded & produced by Dust Devil Press ]
[ Our theme was composed by Dayna Vodovoz ]

***
You can contact us at: [email protected]