Titans of Texas w/ Casey Claiborne

What makes Dairy Queen in Texas so different — and how do you build a multi-generational business that lasts?

In this episode of Titans of Texas, host Casey Claiborne sits down with Robert Mayfield, owner of Mayfield Dairy Queens, to share the story behind one of Texas’s most recognizable local brands.

Mayfield traces the origins of the business back to 1949, when his father opened one of the earliest Dairy Queen franchises in Texas after leaving the cattle business. What started as a single soft-serve stand in Cleburne grew into a multi-location operation — and eventually a family legacy spanning generations.

The conversation explores how Mayfield went from working in the stores as a kid to becoming a lawyer, and ultimately returning to take over and expand the family business. He explains why shifting from a single location to managing multiple stores required a completely different mindset — especially when it came to leadership, trust, and building a strong team.

A major focus of the episode is what makes Texas Dairy Queens unique. Unlike locations in other states, Texas franchisees banded together decades ago to create their own food offerings — including fan favorites like Hunger-Busters, steak finger baskets, and tacos — helping define a distinctly Texan identity for the brand.

The discussion also covers:

Mayfield also shares his perspective on policy and regulation, emphasizing that business owners must stay engaged in politics because it directly impacts their ability to operate and grow.

Beyond business, the episode highlights Mayfield’s commitment to philanthropy — including significant support for children’s hospitals — and his focus on building something that can be passed down to future generations.

The conversation closes with advice for aspiring entrepreneurs: understand what you want, develop leadership skills, and don’t be afraid to take unconventional paths — including trade careers or hands-on experience outside of traditional college routes.

00:00 — Intro + Robert Mayfield joins

Success isn’t just about making money — it’s about what you do with it.

On this episode of Titans of Texas, host Casey Claiborne sits down with Alan Graham, founder and CEO of Mobile Loaves & Fishes, to explore his journey from real estate entrepreneur to one of the most innovative leaders tackling homelessness in America today.

Graham shares how his early career in real estate brought financial success, but ultimately left him searching for deeper purpose. After a life-changing spiritual experience in the mid-1990s, he began asking a simple but transformative question: What does God want me to do? That question led to the creation of Mobile Loaves & Fishes — starting with a single food truck serving the homeless and evolving into a nationwide movement.

At the heart of the conversation is Community First! Village in Austin — a groundbreaking model that provides permanent housing, community, and dignity for the chronically homeless.

The discussion covers:

Graham also explains how Community First! Village operates as a permanent home — not a temporary solution — for individuals nearing the end of their lives, many of whom struggle with disabilities and long-term hardship.

The episode closes with a powerful reflection on purpose, generosity, and the idea that “success unshared is failure.” For Graham, true fulfillment comes not from wealth, but from building something that restores dignity and transforms lives.

00:00 — Intro + Alan Graham joins

In the debut episode of Titans of Texas, host Casey Claiborne sits down with Adam Loewy, one of Austin’s best-known personal injury attorneys, for a candid conversation about entrepreneurship, marketing, philanthropy, recovery, and building a business in Texas.

Loewy reflects on growing up in St. Louis, coming to Texas for law school, and realizing early in his career that he did not want to work for other lawyers. After a short stint in traditional legal jobs, he took the leap and launched his own firm in 2005 from his apartment in downtown Austin — without clients, without much money, and without a clear roadmap, but with the determination to build something on his own.

The conversation traces how he found his niche in personal injury law, why that work became meaningful to him, and how persistence eventually turned a risky solo venture into a successful firm. Loewy also explains how he approached early internet marketing, why he remains such a strong believer in billboard advertising, and how he developed a more straightforward, less gimmicky public style than many others in the industry.

The discussion also covers:

Loewy also shares broader thoughts on ambition, independence, and why he remains deeply bullish on Austin and Texas as places to build a life and a business.

00:00 — Casey Claiborne introduces Titans of Texas and Adam Loewy