In this episode of With Hat and Cattle (previously Suite Mornings), Lea Genders gets real about her personal wellness journey, and how she turned her professional strengths into powerful tools for lasting change. From navigating her own challenges to coaching others and expanding into corporate wellness, Lea’s story shows you the importance of living with intentionality.

Key takeaways to get you leveling up your success today:

• SMART goals and why you should set them
• Tools that are available when you don't have access to a gym or trainer
• The importance of community, in wellness and business

Lea reminds us that intentionality isn’t about perfection; it’s about small, meaningful wins that add up over time. Whether you're an executive, entrepreneur, or someone working to level up in life, this episode is packed with insights to help you lead yourself well, on purpose.

Get Lea's dumbbell program for free here! 

Where can you find Lea:

Website: Lea Genders Fitness

LinkedIn: Lea Genders | LinkedIn

Instagram: @fortworth_trainer

That's the With Hat and Cattle promise: Bringing you stories from people who walk the walk and leave you better off for listening.

Connect with Dani Raschel Chou on Instagram @withhatandcattle or via email at [email protected]. 

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more conversations that leave you better off for listening: With Hat and Cattle I Hosted by Dani Raschel Chou - YouTube! 

Go to www.withhatandcattle.com to sign up for our mailing list so you don't miss weekly insights. Be sure to check out our affiliate links!

What does it take to build a lasting career in commercial real estate? Dallas commercial real estate veteran Tom Metcalfe knows. He has closed over $3 billion in deals across 46 years, including the Meyerson Symphony Center site.

In this episode of With Hat and Cattle (previously Suite Mornings), host Dani Raschel Chou sits down with Tom Metcalfe, President of Metcalfe Commercial Realty, to explore the foundations of his 30+ year journey through the dynamic world of real estate development in Dallas, Texas. He shares how relationships, not commissions, carried him through every crash since 1980, and why he says money is an illusion.

Tom came to Dallas in 1979 to manage apartments, got his license while bartending on Knox Street, and turned the investors at his bar into his first clients. In this episode, you'll learn about the S&L collapse and its 125% loans, the Borden Milk deal that made way for the Symphony Hall, a client relationship 37 years strong, mentors Herb Weitzman and Joe Bowers, the leap to founding his own firm in 2003, and the networking advice he’d give anyone starting out. Also, the night he waited on George Harrison.

Whether you're a seasoned investor, someone curious about the future of commercial real estate in Texas, or interested in how to craft a successful, lasting career, this conversation offers industry wisdom and a deep dive into the mindset of a long-term market leader.

Tune in and take notes. Your next move might just start here.

Tom can be found on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/metcalfecommercialrealty/

You can also learn more about him at https://www.metrealestate.net/

That's the With Hat and Cattle promise: Bringing you stories from people who walk the walk and leave you better off for listening.

Connect with Dani Raschel Chou on Instagram @withhatandcattle or via email at [email protected]. 

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more conversations that leave you better off for listening: With Hat and Cattle I Hosted by Dani Raschel Chou - YouTube! 

Go to www.withhatandcattle.com to sign up for our mailing list so you don't miss weekly insights. Be sure to check out our affiliate links!

If financial planning has ever felt overwhelming, this episode is your reset button.

In this conversation, Dani sits down with financial advisor Vivian Ong to break down the basics of building wealth with intention. No jargon, no judgment.

Vivian shares approachable insights on how to get your money working for you. We cover what it means to build a legacy, and how you don't need thousands and thousands of dollars to begin investing today, and how the best way to begin is to be honest with yourself.

This is an empowering, judgment-free conversation about money, values, and future planning. If you’ve been telling yourself you’ll figure it out “someday,” consider this your call to action.

You can find Vivian on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivianyong/.

In the episode, Vivian's gives the following sites as tools to learn more (but remember to do your research):

Investopedia: https://www.investopedia.com/

The Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/

Influencers: Your Rich BFF at https://www.yourrichbff.com/ and Kattie Gatti at https://www.morningbrew.com/contributor/moneywithkatie

That's the With Hat and Cattle promise: Bringing you stories from people who walk the walk and leave you better off for listening.

Connect with Dani Raschel Chou on Instagram @withhatandcattle or via email at [email protected]. 

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more conversations that leave you better off for listening: With Hat and Cattle I Hosted by Dani Raschel Chou - YouTube! 

Go to www.withhatandcattle.com to sign up for our mailing list so you don't miss weekly insights. Be sure to check out our affiliate links!

In this episode, we sit down with Jeffery Mercier, Vice President of Project Management at a local Fort Worth construction company, as he takes his first bold steps into motivational speaking and entrepreneurship.

Jeffery shares what inspired him to build on his successful career in construction to a new calling: Using his voice to uplift, empower, and encourage others. We explore the mindset shifts required to step into the unknown, so tune in to hear:

-How to start your journey as an emerging leader
-What organization Jeffery credits for his success
-The importance of just starting

This episode kicks off a two-part check-in series, because we’re reconnecting with Jeffery in six months to see how far he’s come.

You can follow Jeffery on Instagram at @oratorofdivinity and on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jefferymercierbh/.

That's the With Hat and Cattle promise: Bringing you stories from people who walk the walk and leave you better off for listening.

Connect with Dani Raschel Chou on Instagram @withhatandcattle or via email at [email protected]. 

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more conversations that leave you better off for listening: With Hat and Cattle I Hosted by Dani Raschel Chou - YouTube! 

Go to www.withhatandcattle.com to sign up for our mailing list so you don't miss weekly insights. Be sure to check out our affiliate links!

What if your next hire could make—or break—your business?

In this episode, I sit down with Heath Hilliard, founder of EQHR and expert in the ZeroRisk Hiring System. Heath shares how emotional intelligence isn't just a buzzword—it's the secret weapon behind smarter interviews, stronger teams, and fewer costly hiring mistakes.

We cover how to interview in a way that reveals the real candidate, and what founders and future execs need to know before making their next hire.

Whether you’re building your first team or leveling up your leadership, this conversation will shift how you think about hiring—for good.

That's the With Hat and Cattle promise: Bringing you stories from people who walk the walk and leave you better off for listening.

Connect with Dani Raschel Chou on Instagram @withhatandcattle or via email at [email protected]. 

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more conversations that leave you better off for listening: With Hat and Cattle I Hosted by Dani Raschel Chou - YouTube! 

Go to www.withhatandcattle.com to sign up for our mailing list so you don't miss weekly insights. Be sure to check out our affiliate links!

What does it take to go from becoming unhoused at a young age to becoming the CEO of a thriving engineering firm? In this powerful episode of Suite Mornings, we sit down with Samantha Renz, majority owner of Evolving Texas and founder of the nonprofit SoulTea.

Samantha opens up about her journey through adversity, the mindset shifts that helped her rise, and what it means to lead with purpose in a male-dominated industry. From her early days in city government to eventually owning the boardroom, Samantha shares the habits, hard truths, and heart that got her there.

If you’re someone chasing leadership, purpose, or simply a better version of yourself, Samantha’s story will leave you inspired—and equipped.

Tune in to hear:

• How she built her career despite incredible odds
• What it really takes to own a business
• The daily mindset practices that keep her grounded
• Why SoulTea is a passion project rooted in personal mission

This episode is a blueprint for building a life you weren’t handed—but chose to create anyway.

Find Sam Online

You can learn more about SoulTea here: Soul Tea – Engineered with Love

And find more information about the SoulTea Foundation here: Soul Tea Foundation – A Second Chance Nonprofit

More information about Evolving Texas and Core Forensics Labs is available at the following links:

• Evolving Texas Home
• Forensic Roof Testing & Structural Consulting | Core Forensics

Connect with Dani Chou on Instagram @suitemornings. And find us on YouTube: Suite Mornings with Dani Chou - YouTube! Be sure you like and subscribe.

Go to www.suitemornings.com to sign up for our mailing list so you won't miss an episode.

What does it really take to build a business when your body is fighting against you? In this powerful episode of With Hat and Cattle, we sit down with Juan Valles, entrepreneur and owner of VBI LLC, who shares how he redefined success while managing Lupus—a chronic illness that changed everything. 

From rebuilding his health and business to growing a successful second company, Juan’s story offers real, actionable insights for anyone navigating the highs and lows of entrepreneurship.

Whether you're launching a business, pivoting your career, or simply looking for motivation to keep going, Juan’s journey will remind you that resilience is a skill—and success can be built one intentional step at a time.

You can find Valles Brothers Industries here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/valles-brothers-industries-llc/posts/?feedView=all  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093667547194

Website: https://vallesbrothersindustries.com/

And you can follow Juan here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vbillc/In

That's the With Hat and Cattle promise: Bringing you stories from people who walk the walk and leave you better off for listening.

Connect with Dani Raschel Chou on Instagram @withhatandcattle or via email at [email protected]. 

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more conversations that leave you better off for listening: With Hat and Cattle I Hosted by Dani Raschel Chou - YouTube! 

Go to www.withhatandcattle.com to sign up for our mailing list so you don't miss weekly insights. Be sure to check out our affiliate links!

We’re joined by Nicki Ketcham, Co-Founder of Big Future Consulting, a marketing firm dedicated to helping small businesses grow with purpose-driven strategies. Nicki shares her insights on how to shift from being busy to being productive by focusing on what truly matters: your clients. And when you do this, you're not only leveling up your business, but you're also leveling up yourself.

Nicki also breaks down how to create marketing strategies that tell a compelling story and put your client’s customers at the heart of it all.

Bonus: Nicki gives us a mini masterclass in networking! Ever thought of holding your drink in your left hand so your right hand is free (and dry!) for shaking with? Now you do!

Whether you're just starting your career or are already a seasoned business owner, this conversation will give you tips to up your marketing game and create meaningful connections with your audience. Tune in for valuable insights that will help you turn your marketing efforts into a strategy that truly works.

Follow Big Future Consulting on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/big-future-consulting and on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/bigfutureconsulting.

And be sure to like and subscribe to With Hat and Cattle to keep up with future episodes.

That's the With Hat and Cattle promise: Bringing you stories from people who walk the walk and leave you better off for listening.

Connect with Dani Raschel Chou on Instagram @withhatandcattle or via email at [email protected]. 

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more conversations that leave you better off for listening: With Hat and Cattle I Hosted by Dani Raschel Chou - YouTube! 

Go to www.withhatandcattle.com to sign up for our mailing list so you don't miss weekly insights. Be sure to check out our affiliate links!

What happens when you're running a successful business on the outside—but barely holding it together on the inside? In this raw and redemptive conversation, Paul Dallas Roberts shares what it was like to sell a company while battling alcoholism, and how recovery didn’t just save his life—it reshaped his definition of success. 

Now the founder of a thriving new venture, Paul opens up about rebuilding from the ground up, leading with vulnerability, and what it truly means to come back stronger.

This episode is for the builder who's quietly struggling, the leader questioning their worth, and anyone who believes it's too late to start again. Spoiler: it’s not.

Topics include:

• Navigating leadership through personal crisis
• How addiction shaped—and sharpened—Paul’s entrepreneurial journey
• The mindset shifts that turned recovery into a superpower
• Building a second act with purpose, grit, and grace

Listen in and get ready to rethink what growth really looks like. Be sure to pick up Paul's book, now on Amazon: https://a.co/d/8WBncxj. And check out his site at www.icantquit.life.

That's the With Hat and Cattle promise: Bringing you stories from people who walk the walk and leave you better off for listening.

Connect with Dani Raschel Chou on Instagram @withhatandcattle or via email at [email protected]. 

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more conversations that leave you better off for listening: With Hat and Cattle I Hosted by Dani Raschel Chou - YouTube! 

Go to www.withhatandcattle.com to sign up for our mailing list so you don't miss weekly insights. Be sure to check out our affiliate links!

In this very first episode of what was previously Suite Mornings but is now With Hat and Cattle, Jeremy Lennox, visionary leader of Harvey's Collision Centers, takes us through his journey of building a successful business in a competitive industry and the personal growth that fueled his leadership.

From overcoming challenges to motivating his team, Jeremy shares actionable advice for anyone looking to elevate their own leadership skills. We dive into what it takes to transition into leadership and the importance of your interests (like fitness and music) in the face of responsibility.

Whether you’re just starting your career or you’re already on the path to leadership, this conversation will help you level up and reach your goals. Tune in for insights that will inspire you to take charge and embrace growth!

That's the With Hat and Cattle promise: Bringing you stories from people who walk the walk and leave you better off for listening.

Connect with Dani Raschel Chou on Instagram @withhatandcattle or via email at [email protected]. 

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more conversations that leave you better off for listening: With Hat and Cattle I Hosted by Dani Raschel Chou - YouTube! 

Go to www.withhatandcattle.com to sign up for our mailing list so you don't miss weekly insights. Be sure to check out our affiliate links!