Titans of Texas w/ Casey Claiborne

North Texas real estate developer Terry Lantrip joins Casey Claiborne to share the unconventional path that took him from journalism and small-town publishing to real estate development and the creation of the Lake Dallas Tiny Home Village.

Lantrip explains how a job as a teenager at the Denton Record-Chronicle sparked his interest in journalism, why he purchased the Lake City Sun at just 23 years old, and how restoring an old downtown building helped launch his career in real estate.

The conversation explores Lantrip’s decades of investing in and redeveloping Lake Dallas, his passion for preserving historic properties, and how an encounter with tiny homes at a Dallas Earth Day event eventually inspired one of his most recognized projects.

Lantrip also discusses the affordability and lifestyle appeal of tiny-home living, the expansion of the village, lessons from decades of buying and developing real estate, and what comes next as he begins thinking about retirement.

00:00 — Why Tiny Homes?
00:25 — Introducing Terry Lantrip
02:12 — Growing Up in North Texas
03:14 — Getting Into Journalism at 16
05:14 — Buying a Newspaper at 23
07:58 — From Publishing to Real Estate
09:59 — Restoring Historic Lake Dallas
12:57 — Investing in a Small Texas Town
14:48 — The Tiny Home Village Story
17:09 — Discovering the Tiny Home Movement
18:43 — Getting the City on Board
20:38 — Why the Village Took Off
23:05 — Affordability & the Tiny Home Lifestyle
25:48 — What Does It Cost to Live There?
26:50 — Expanding the Village
28:14 — What's Next for Terry?
29:42 — Terry's Real Estate Advice
30:09 — The Double-Decker Bus Story
31:26 — Closing Thoughts

What happens when an aspiring children’s author decides to skip the traditional publishing route and build a publishing company herself?

On this episode of Titans of Texas, host Casey Claiborne sits down with Ashley Wall, children’s author and co-founder of Austin-based independent publisher Mama Bear Books.

Wall shares how ten years as a teacher and reading with her own children inspired her to begin writing books designed to spark kids’ imaginations and make reading fun. Rather than pursuing the traditional process of finding an agent and publisher, Wall and her husband launched Mama Bear Books, eventually expanding the company to publish other authors and distribute books across the country.

Wall discusses learning the business side of publishing, competing for attention in an increasingly crowded market, the importance of marketing and social media, and the lessons she has learned transitioning from educator to entrepreneur.

She also shares her vision for the future of Mama Bear Books, including animated content, school literacy programs and turning children’s stories into larger franchises.

00:00 — Introducing Ashley Wall
01:20 — Growing Up in Texas & Becoming a Teacher
04:12 — Ten Years in the Classroom
05:12 — The Idea to Write Children’s Books
07:10 — Turning an Idea Into a Business
08:08 — Why Skip Traditional Publishing?
09:22 — Building Mama Bear Books
11:37 — Publishing Her First Book
12:58 — Finding Inspiration Through Her Kids
13:52 — How Mama Bear Books Sells & Distributes Books
15:00 — From Educator to Entrepreneur
16:14 — Competing in Children’s Publishing
17:26 — Growing the Company & Other Authors
18:52 — Advice for New Entrepreneurs
20:54 — Lessons From Changing Careers
21:46 — The Future of Mama Bear Books
22:56 — Why Getting Kids to Read Matters
24:43 — Where to Find Ashley & Mama Bear Books

Bob Woody has spent decades helping shape the business and entertainment landscape of downtown Austin.

On this episode of Titans of Texas, host Casey Claiborne sits down with Woody, a longtime Austin entrepreneur, real estate investor, and hospitality business owner who has been involved with more than 20 establishments on Sixth Street and was once dubbed the “Mayor of East Sixth Street” by former Austin Mayor Gus Garcia.

Woody traces his story from growing up in Weatherford and moving to Austin as a kid to entering the restaurant business at just 12 years old. He explains how restaurants eventually led him into bars, entertainment venues, commercial real estate, and a growing portfolio of properties and businesses across Austin and Dallas.

The conversation also explores the transformation of Sixth Street, the development of the Austin Convention Center, the impact of the pandemic on downtown businesses, and why Woody remains optimistic about downtown Austin’s future.

Woody closes with lessons from decades of entrepreneurship—including how to recognize opportunities, build businesses with people you trust, reinvest your success, and demonstrate the “fire in the belly” necessary to convince others to believe in your vision.

00:00 — Meet Bob Woody, the “Mayor of East Sixth Street”

For nearly three decades, Hoover’s Cooking has been part of the fabric of East Austin. Now, its founder is reflecting on the journey that built the restaurant and looking ahead to what comes next.

On this episode of Titans of Texas, host Casey Claiborne sits down with Hoover Alexander, owner of Hoover’s Cooking, to trace his story from growing up in East Austin and learning about food from his family to getting his start as a dishwasher and eventually building one of Austin’s best-known home-cooking restaurants.

Hoover shares how his family’s farming and ranching roots influenced his approach to food, the lessons he learned working his way through the restaurant business, and how he and his partner opened Hoover’s in 1998 on little more than credit cards, used equipment, and determination.

The conversation covers:

Hoover also explains why he calls this new phase “rewiring, not retiring,” with plans to keep the Hoover’s brand alive through catering, sauces, honey, storytelling, cooking demonstrations, and a potential cookbook combining recipes with the stories of his life.

00:00 — Introduction & Meet Hoover Alexander

What does it take to build a successful music career without a major record label?

On this episode of Titans of Texas, host Casey Claiborne sits down with Kate Angel, an Austin-based rock musician, songwriter, and entrepreneur, to discuss the business behind being an independent artist. From building a recognizable brand and growing a loyal fan community to booking tours, managing social media, and producing original music, Kate shares what it takes to succeed in today's music industry.

Drawing inspiration from Austin's legendary live music scene and artists like Evanescence and Halestorm, Kate explains how she developed her signature sound while balancing the creative and entrepreneurial demands of running her own music career. She also discusses her upcoming music releases, plans for Halo Fest, and why connecting directly with fans has become one of the most important parts of being an independent musician.

The episode covers:

Kate also reflects on the importance of mentorship, music education, charitable initiatives like Rock Out Hunger, and why entrepreneurship has become just as essential as musical talent in today's industry.

00:00 — Meet Kate Angel

How does surviving cancer change the course of a life—and inspire a mission to help others survive?

On this episode of Titans of Texas with Casey Claiborne, Casey sits down with Kristen Doyle, CEO of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), to discuss her remarkable journey from attorney to cancer survivor to leading one of the nation's largest state-funded cancer research organizations.

Doyle shares the deeply personal story of her leukemia diagnosis at age 32, her life-saving bone marrow transplant, and how that experience ultimately led her to leave a successful legal career and dedicate herself to advancing cancer prevention, research, and treatment across Texas.

The conversation covers:

Doyle also explains how CPRIT helps bridge the "valley of death" between scientific discovery and patient care by funding early-stage research, clinical trials, and Texas-based biotechnology companies. She discusses why accountability, peer review, and transparency have been central to the organization's success.

Throughout the conversation, she reflects on the progress made in cancer treatment over the past two decades, her vision for CPRIT's future, and why she hopes to help take the "luck" out of surviving cancer.

00:00 — Intro & Meet Kristen Doyle

What does it take to build one of Texas' premier strategic communications firms?

On this episode of Titans of Texas with Casey Claiborne, Casey sits down with Katherine McLane, Founder and CEO of The Mach 1 Group, to discuss her remarkable journey from growing up in Germany and East Texas to serving at the highest levels of government before launching one of the state's leading strategic communications firms.

McLane reflects on her career working with President George W. Bush, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the U.S. Department of Education, and the Livestrong Foundation, sharing the experiences that shaped her leadership philosophy and ultimately inspired her to become an entrepreneur.

The conversation covers:

McLane also offers an inside look at the world of crisis communications, explaining how preparation, trust, and clear messaging can help organizations navigate their most challenging moments.

Throughout the conversation, she shares lessons learned from launching her own business, growing a nationally recognized team, and balancing expansion while maintaining the boutique culture that has defined The Mach 1 Group's success.

The episode concludes with advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, thoughts on careers in public affairs and communications, and why Texas continues to be one of the best places in America to start and grow a business.

00:00 — Intro + Meet Katherine McLane

How do you build a successful career across business, politics, education, and entrepreneurship?

On this episode of Titans of Texas with Casey Claiborne, Casey sits down with Dr. Dan Huberty, CEO of MoakCasey, former Chairman of the Texas House Public Education Committee, entrepreneur, investor, and longtime business leader, for a conversation about leadership, risk-taking, public service, and building successful organizations.

Huberty shares the story of growing up in Ohio, working construction through college, breaking into the parking industry, and eventually building a decades-long career in commercial real estate, parking operations, and business management before entering Texas politics.

The conversation covers:

• Growing up in Ohio and early career lessons

Huberty also reflects on the challenges of balancing a successful private-sector career with service in the Texas Legislature, where he spent twelve years representing House District 127 and ultimately chaired one of the most influential committees in state government.

The discussion explores the dramatic impact COVID had on downtown real estate, parking operations, and investment markets, along with the lessons Huberty learned navigating one of the most difficult business environments of his career.

Throughout the episode, Huberty emphasizes the importance of relationships, calculated risk-taking, adaptability, and long-term planning. Whether discussing commercial real estate, public education, or entrepreneurship, he argues that success often comes from saying "yes" to opportunities and being willing to move outside your comfort zone.

The episode concludes with practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, thoughts on the future of downtown business districts, and reflections on building a career that spans both the public and private sectors.

00:00 — Intro + Meet Dan Huberty

How does an Austin institution survive for nearly 50 years while the city around it changes dramatically?

In this episode of Titans of Texas with Casey Claiborne, Casey sits down with Mason Ayer, CEO of Kerbey Lane Cafe, to discuss the history of one of Austin’s most iconic restaurant brands, the challenges of leading a family business, and what it takes to stay relevant in a rapidly changing city.

Ayer shares the remarkable story of how his parents launched the original Kerbey Lane Cafe in 1980, how he initially pursued a legal career before returning to the family business, and the lessons he learned transforming the company during a period of significant growth.

The conversation covers:

• The origins of Kerbey Lane Cafe and Austin in the early 1980s

Ayer also reflects on the realities of restaurant ownership, the importance of creating a welcoming culture for both employees and customers, and why community engagement remains central to Kerbey Lane’s mission.

Throughout the discussion, he emphasizes that long-term success requires constant adaptation while remaining true to the values that made the business successful in the first place.

The episode closes with advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, lessons from law school, and thoughts on the future of Kerbey Lane Cafe and Austin’s local business community.

00:00 — Intro + Meet Mason Ayer

How do you go from living in your car with your young son to building multiple billion-dollar companies?

On this episode of Titans of Texas, host Casey Claiborne sits down with legendary entrepreneur and philanthropist John Paul DeJoria, co-founder of John Paul Mitchell Systems and Patrón Spirits Co.

DeJoria shares the incredible true story behind one of America’s most inspiring entrepreneurial journeys — from growing up poor in Los Angeles, to selling encyclopedias door-to-door, to launching a global haircare empire with just $700.

The conversation dives deep into the mindset, resilience, and philosophy that helped DeJoria overcome homelessness, rejection, financial collapse, and repeated setbacks on the road to becoming one of Texas’ most successful business leaders.

Major topics include:

DeJoria also discusses his upcoming book, Success Unshared Is Failure, which combines his personal story with practical business advice and lessons on leadership, resilience, positivity, and generosity.

Throughout the episode, DeJoria emphasizes the importance of kindness, persistence, and looking forward instead of dwelling on failure.

His message is simple: success means very little unless you use it to help others.

00:00 — Intro + John Paul DeJoria joins