The Jeff Crilley Show

When I was growing up, pageants were mostly associated with beauty and appearance, but that stereotype is long gone. Today, pageants are about leadership, purpose, confidence, and the impact you make in your community. That’s why Rihana Crowl is in the studio with us today. She is the reigning Miss Collegiate Texas United USA, and she’s using her platform to stand for something much bigger than a title.

Any entrepreneur who tells you they became an overnight success isn’t telling the full story. Real success takes years of trial, error, and persistence — and many entrepreneurs have to fail a few times before they finally get it right. Today, we’re talking about resilience, perseverance, and what it truly takes to build a successful company with Anthony Raimo, an incredible entrepreneur and speaker, here in the studio.

I’ve been a storyteller my entire adult life — 25 years in television news, followed by building a PR firm and podcast network. So I’m always fascinated by people who are truly operating at the highest level of the game when it comes to communication and storytelling. And that perfectly describes my next guest. AshLeigh Curry is in the studio. She’s the founder of Pique Video, and she’s helping brands and businesses turn powerful stories into content that actually connects.

Coming up next on the show, I’m excited to welcome the incredible Carrie Fabris to the studio. She’s an author, speaker, and nationally recognized thought leader on leadership. We’re going to dive into her journey, the lessons she’s learned along the way, and what it really takes to lead with purpose and impact.

I can’t believe it’s been two years since Dylan Smith has been on this show, but I’m so excited to have him back because so much has happened in that time — including writing a bestselling book.The Words Are Backwards. You’re Not. explores a powerful message: dyslexia isn’t a weakness — it’s a superpower. Today, we’re talking about overcoming challenges, redefining success, and why the way you think might actually be your greatest advantage.

I think everyone would agree that America feels more divided than it has in a very long time. Families avoid talking politics at Thanksgiving dinner because one conversation can turn into an argument. Friendships are strained, relationships are filtered through political beliefs, and people are increasingly surrounding themselves only with those who think exactly like they do.My next guest says that may be one of the biggest threats facing our country today. Aaron Perlut is in the studio, and his new book, The Death of Compromise, takes a hard look at how we lost the ability to meet in the middle, why compromise has become viewed as weakness, and what it’s doing to our politics, relationships, and culture.

I’m so excited for this show because I love interviewing disruptors, and my next guest may be the king of them all. Mike Rhyner didn’t just change sports radio in Dallas — he helped redefine what sports radio sounds like across America today. His style, his vision, and his willingness to break the mold created a format and culture that generations of broadcasters have tried to emulate. He’s a true media pioneer, a legendary voice, and someone who completely changed the game.

My wife and I get invited to a lot of galas and major events, and I think most people walk into a beautiful ballroom, see the stunning flowers, the lighting, the entertainment, and the incredible atmosphere — but they never really stop to think about the strategy, creativity, and sheer amount of work it takes to transform a simple hotel ballroom into an unforgettable experience.My next guest knows exactly how to do that. LaKessia Hill is the CEO and founder of L’Mychele & Associates LLC, and she’s built a reputation for creating events that don’t just look amazing — they leave a lasting impression. From galas to large-scale productions, she understands how to turn a vision into an experience people will never forget.

There are many different areas of law, but I truly believe one of the most important — and honestly one of my favorites — is family law. Because when you really think about it, a family law attorney is part attorney, part therapist, and part crisis manager, helping people navigate some of the most emotional and life-changing moments they’ll ever face. Abby L. Ewing is in the studio. I met her nearly 17 years ago, and somehow she hasn’t aged a day!

This next episode is right up my alley because I’m a branding and marketing guy. I have a public relations firm and a podcast network, so I love meeting people who truly understand what it takes to build a powerful brand. Jeffri-Lynn Campbell is in the studio. She has an MBA, she’s the brand architect and founder of Blaze Experts, and she’s playing at the top of her game when it comes to branding.

We live in a society that’s wired, tired, and running on empty. Too many entrepreneurs say, “I’ll sleep when I die,” while putting themselves last in the name of success.That’s why I’m excited to welcome Monica Connolly to the studio. She’s a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and my friend — and she’s here to remind us why taking care of yourself isn’t optional, it’s essential.

For 25 years, I had the privilege of working in TV news alongside some truly brilliant journalists. But my next guest stands in a league of his own. Brett Shipp is in the studio. He’s a legendary journalist, an award-winning storyteller who’s earned just about every honor this industry has to offer. Beyond the accolades, he’s become one of the most respected voices in communications — and I’m proud to call him a friend.

When it comes to practicing medicine, my next guest says there’s no more rewarding field than fertility care — helping people build the families they’ve dreamed about. Joining us in studio is Dorette Noorhasan, a nationally recognized fertility specialist, bestselling author, and host of the wildly popular Modern Parenthood podcast. She’s become a leading voice in the conversation around modern fertility, parenthood, and reproductive health, helping patients navigate one of the most emotional and important journeys of their lives.

We all have that “one day” dream—write the novel, tell the story, finally do the thing. But for most of us… that day never comes.That’s exactly why Wendy Wildt is here.She’s a speaker, bestselling author of the Buckets series, and she’s helping people stop waiting and start doing. In this episode, Wendy breaks down how to take that idea off the shelf, get out of your own way, and actually bring your story to life.If you’ve been saying “one day”… this might be the moment it becomes today.

We started our podcast division and I believe 2019, and I felt we were pretty early to the game, but I can't hold a candle to my next guest Brianna Jovahn, the CEO of What's Good Productions. 

I’m a big fan of people who rise to the top of their field—and that’s exactly what my next guest has done. Joining me in studio is Amanda L. McCall, attorney and counsel at McCall Law Group.

Every entrepreneur has blind spots their team and spouse won't point out. Alison Canavan, an international speaker and transformational coach, has made it her life's work to help people see those blind spots — and she earned that expertise the hard way. A former international model who represented Ireland in the Ford Supermodel of the World competition at 16, Alison spent decades in the spotlight while privately struggling with addiction, depression, and anxiety. Eleven years sober, she now speaks on stages worldwide about energy management, self-awareness, and the power of reconnecting with yourself in a disconnected world. In this conversation with Jeff Crilley, Alison shares the harrowing night that led to her sobriety, the career she lost after publicly sharing her recovery story in Ireland, and why she believes that moment of losing everything was actually the best thing that ever happened to her. She also talks about her daily journal, "Change Your Day: The 5-Minute Way," a neuroscience-backed practice that helps people build gratitude and intention in just five minutes a day. Learn more at alisoncanavan.com

Most people who pitch corporate sponsors get ignored—not because their event isn't worth sponsoring, but because they don't know how to speak the brand's language. Audra Broad has spent over thirty years on the other side of that conversation, and she knows exactly where pitches go wrong. Audra is the President of Broad 360 Marketing. She spent nine years at Walt Disney ABC Radio building a nontraditional revenue department, then went on to manage corporate sponsorships and media for nationally ranked DFW events including Taste Addison, Kaboomtown, and Oktoberfest. She packaged Kaboomtown into a $250,000 Anheuser Busch sponsorship deal and helped raise half a million dollars for Folds of Honor through a regionalized partnership with Albertsons. In this episode, Audra covers:— Why the word "package" kills your credibility with corporate buyers— How to run a proper needs analysis before you ever pitch a brand— The "liquid to lips" principle that drives beer and beverage sponsorships— Her plans to help nonprofits move beyond donor dependency through brand alignment Audra's upcoming two-day live virtual master class, Land Your Next Sponsor Intensive, is designed so attendees leave with real sponsorship opportunities in motion—not just notes. Sign up: https://broad360marketing.com/intensiveLeadHERship Global: http://leadhershipglobal.com

What happens when the business you built starts running you? Many founders hit a point where growth brings stress, team challenges, and the uncomfortable realization that everyone is watching how they lead. On this episode of The Jeff Crilley Show, Gayle Goodman Lynch, Business Life Coach and founder of CoEqual Network, shares how she helps entrepreneurs navigate that turning point. A 17+ year business owner, former corporate marketing executive, and host of the Choice Wisdom podcast, Gayle works with leaders who want to grow their companies without losing themselves in the process. In this conversation, you’ll hear:- How Gayle turned a job loss during the Great Recession into a thriving consulting career- Why businesses enter a “teenage stage” and what founders must change as they scale- How a leader’s stress and behavior quietly shape company culture- The mindset shift that helps entrepreneurs build a business that serves their life Gayle also shares lessons from running a company with her husband and why self-regulation and forgiveness play a larger role in business success than most people realize. Learn more about Gayle and CoEqual Network at: https://www.coequalnetwork.com

Most mortgage professionals talk about rates. Ross Wright talks about relationships — and then backs it up with over two decades of results. Wright runs nobodybeatsmyrates.com and works through Nexa Mortgage, which gives him access to over 300 different lending investors. That means when a big-box bank says no, he usually has another path forward. He's particularly passionate about serving veterans, who he calls one of the most underserved groups in the mortgage industry. In this conversation with Jeff Crilley, Wright explains:- His no-closing-cost refinance strategy and how he once refinanced a single client 11 times over several years- Why he believes now is actually the right time to buy, even with rates around 6%- The story of a veteran turned down by five banks who Wright was able to get into a home- How growing up on a 155-acre farm under the watch of a retired Army colonel shaped his approach to business- His radio show, the Mortgage and Cash Flow Show, and how it expanded his reach across Texas 🔗 https://nobodybeatsmyrates.com

We load up on coffee to get going and pour a drink to wind down—then do it all over again tomorrow. Ayako DeRuby thinks there's a better way. Ayako is the founder of The Alchemy Yoga, a wellness studio built around yoga, meditation, and sound healing. She's been practicing Vipassana meditation since 2014, sits for two hours a day in silence, has led sold-out retreats in Costa Rica for three consecutive years, and authored "Mind Alchemy," a guide to establishing a meditation practice. In this episode, she and Jeff Crilley talk about why we explode when we never give ourselves time to process, how sound healing with gongs and crystal bowls actually works on the brain, practical alternatives for people who can't sit still (like walking barefoot in the grass), and the deeply personal cancer journey that gave The Alchemy Yoga its name. Ayako also shares how she helped a high schooler with severe ADHD find focus through box breathing and sound bowls, and previews her upcoming second book, "The Deepening." 🔗 https://thealchemyyoga.com📖 Mind Alchemy on Amazon: https://a.co/d/069KMBb0

Texas' 32nd Congressional District covers eight counties, stretches from Northwest Dallas County almost to the Louisiana state line, and includes everything from dense urban neighborhoods to small rural towns losing their hospitals and pharmacies. Councilman Dan Barrios wants to represent all of it. Barrios currently serves on the Richardson City Council, where he puts in 40-45 hours a week in what is essentially a volunteer role. He grew up in Brownsville, Texas — 1.2 miles from the Mexican border — and was the first person in his family to graduate from high school and college. He's called North Texas home for more than 25 years. In this conversation with Jeff Crilley, Barrios talks about:— Why he created "Breakfast with Barrios," cooking breakfast tacos in neighbors' front yards to bring people into the political process— The redistricting math behind the 32nd District and why he believes it's competitive— What he's hearing from voters across party lines about rising costs, disappearing rural services, and feeling disconnected from government— His personal story growing up on the border and how 1.2 miles shaped his understanding of opportunity in America Learn more:https://www.danbarriosforcongress.com 0:00 - Introduction1:19 - Dan Barrios Enters the Race1:38 - Background and Richardson's Diversity2:25 - Accomplishments on City Council3:21 - Core Platform and Vision4:09 - Understanding District 32 and Redistricting4:47 - Campaign Strategy and Voter Appeal6:49 - Family Roots and the American Dream8:06 - Economic Concerns and Access to Healthcare8:41 - Constituent Feedback and Call to Action11:16 - Concluding Remarks

DIFFA Dallas has been putting on one of the most spectacular charity fashion events in the country since the 1980s—and it started as a group of friends raising money for friends during the AIDS crisis.Jeff Crilley welcomes three key figures behind the upcoming House of DIFFA: Richard Rivas (Trustee, DIFFA Dallas), Grant Farmer (Trustee, DIFFA Dallas), and Robyn Chauvin (Creative Director & Producer, House of DIFFA). Together they're responsible for an annual runway spectacle that's part Broadway performance, part charity gala—featuring roughly 80 models, nearly 200 looks, a two-story stage, and only one rehearsal.In this episode:– How DIFFA started in New York in 1984 and grew into a national organization, with the Dallas chapter serving over 20 local aid service organizations– Where the money goes: non-earmarked funds covering counseling, medication, transportation, and other needs the government doesn't cover– What makes the show so different from a typical runway event—large-scale costumes, headpieces, performers, and models who create characters on what may be the longest runway in TexasHouse of DIFFA takes place May 9. Tickets, tables, and sponsorship information: diffadallas.org

Here’s your text with clean, readable line breaks and structure:A neurologist gave Sandra Yancey’s daughter a 1% chance to live after a routine doctor’s visit went catastrophically wrong.Standing over her intubated daughter in the ICU, Sandra leaned in and whispered: “You’ve been a one percenter your whole life. Here we go. Here we go again.”Months later, the same neurologist pulled down her mask and said six words no one expected: “You got a miracle.”In this powerful episode of The Jeff Crilley Show, Sandra Yancey — founder and CEO of eWomenNetwork — shares the full story:From launching a networking platform during the dot-com boom (when she was literally driving photos to Kinko’s on floppy disks), to the customer phone call from Atlanta that pivoted everything toward face-to-face connection, to the harrowing day in April that nearly took her daughter’s life.Sandra’s lens is always the same: take the data everyone else sees as a death sentence and find the signal inside it.🔑 KEY MOMENTS0:00 — Introduction 1:20 — Starting eWomenNetwork in a spare bedroom above the garage 2:30 — The dot-com pivot: “the first Facebook for women business owners” 5:00 — The Atlanta phone call that changed everything 6:00 — Building a global networking organization 8:20 — The spirit of abundance: “We lift as we climb” 9:50 — April 11: The call from the stage in Denver 10:44 — The kitchen phone call: Kym sobbing “Our baby, our baby” 12:30 — The first Godwink: last seat on the flight 14:20 — Walking into the ICU 16:24 — The 1% whisper at Briana’s bedside 19:28 — Briana’s recovery begins 21:30 — The neurologist says: “You got a miracle” 23:00 — How the experience changed Sandra’s outlook on life 24:20 — Briana’s full recovery and new baby 26:00 — eWomenNetwork’s upcoming Dallas event on June 11📌 CONNECT WITH SANDRA YANCEY & eWomenNetwork 🌐 Website: https://eWomenNetwork.comSandra’s SHIFT tour is June 11, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. at The Meridian in Fairview, TX. Save your seat: https://www.ewomennetwork.com/event/2026-women-s-success-summit-shift-the-ceo-advantage-06-11-2026-12117/register#SandraYancey #eWomenNetwork #TheJeffCrilleyShow #Entrepreneurship #WomenInBusiness #Miracle #OnePercenter #Networking #Resilience #Inspiration

Domestic oil production has skyrocketed, yet the United States hasn't built a major new refinery since the early 1970s—until now.John Calce, CEO and founder of America First Refining, joins Jeff Crilley to discuss his twelve-year mission to build a state-of-the-art refinery in Brownsville, Texas, designed specifically for American shale oil.In this episode, we cover:- Why the U.S. currently sends crude oil to Asia only to buy it back as gasoline.- The "pizza oven" analogy for why old refineries can't easily process new shale oil.- How this $4 billion project will create 500 direct jobs and bolster national security.- The arduous seven-year permitting process with the TCEQ and the Governor’s office.Learn more about the project at https://americafirstrefining.com/

Everyone says AI will replace your workers, but the reality is more nuanced. Matt Rosen, Founder & CEO of Allata, points out that when Starbucks tried to automate everything, they actually ended up hiring more baristas because customers still craved human interaction.The real risk today isn't that AI takes your job—it's that you ignore AI and lose your competitive edge to someone who didn't. In this episode of The Jeff Crilley Show, Matt rejoins the studio to discuss how he transitioned Allata from custom dev to an AI-first consultancy. He shares:✅ How they used AI toolsets to cut employee review times from 10 hours to 30 minutes.✅ Why "structuring your data" is the non-negotiable first step for enterprise AI.✅ Lessons from the "Dot Com" era vs. the current AI gold rush.Don't miss this deep dive into bringing real ROI to the enterprise through intelligent automation.Visit Allata: allata.com#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #DigitalTransformation #Leadership #EnterpriseTech #Automation

Most of us start the day telling ourselves some version of "this is going to be hard" — and according to Dr. Lucette Beall, that one sentence is enough to keep your brain filtering out every solution available to you. Dr. Lucette is a veterinarian turned best-selling author, speaker, and mindset coach. After surviving cancer as a single parent with no safety net, and then nearly going bankrupt while trying to rescue her brother from a state mental hospital, she rebuilt her life — going from several hundred thousand dollars in debt to running a million-dollar business in roughly two years. That experience became the foundation of her Brain Reset Method. In this episode, she and Jeff talk about:— The BRAIN acronym and what each letter means in practice (Build responsibility, Reframe without toxic positivity, Awareness, Integrity/Intuition, Neuro Aligned Navigation)— How the reticular activating system decides what you can and can't see based on what you're telling yourself— Why "shoulding on yourself" raises cortisol and shuts down your cerebral cortex— A client story about journaling challenges into existence — and the real-time moment she realized she could rewrite the script— The cheerleader story: how kids as young as 12 have already internalized self-punishment as a learning tool Free resource: yourbrainresetblueprint.com

Most businesses have a name. Very few have a brand. Linda Ayoade has built her career closing that gap. Linda is the Founder and CEO of LOI Agency and The Posh Savant, two companies that help entrepreneurs and growing businesses develop brand strategies modeled on Fortune 500 approaches. She's also the creator of the Wow Conference—Walk on Water—an annual event that combines business education, motivational content, and production-level entertainment. In this episode, Linda walks through how LOI Agency took a client from napkin-stage idea to a sold-out women's event in six months. She explains why The Posh Savant exists as a more affordable on-ramp for entrepreneurs who aren't ready for full agency services. Jeff puts her on the spot with a hypothetical donut shop and zero online presence, and Linda breaks down exactly where to start. The conversation also covers the Wow Conference's new traveling format and why Linda believes brand strategy without life balance is only half the equation. 🔗 loiagency.com🔗 poshsavant.com🔗 livethewowlife.com

The 1901 Spindletop gusher didn't just change Texas — it made the automobile affordable and reshaped the modern world. Julie DeWees Sparks spent forty years in the oil and gas business, starting at Getty Oil Company, and she's channeled all of that experience into her book Under Texas Skies. Julie sits down with Jeff Crilley to talk about the wildcatters who drilled dozens of dry holes before striking it rich, the ranching families whose land sat atop massive oil fields, and the legendary names — Sid Richardson, the Hunts, Monty Moncrief, Glen McCarthy — who built fortunes and then gave back through universities, hospitals, and museums. The episode covers:— How the 1980s oil bust shaped Julie's early career and what it taught her about the industry's cycles— The Haywood brothers: four vaudeville musicians, one of whom read about Spindletop in a San Francisco newspaper and immediately wired his brother to meet him in Beaumont— The real-life Fort Worth oil man behind the John Hamm character on Landman— Why so many of Texas's biggest oil discoveries happened on cattle ranches, and why those ranching stories rival the wildcat tales 📖 Learn more about the book: https://www.texas1836.org/about-the-book

Could a handwriting sample tell you more about a job candidate than three rounds of interviews? Anagha Deshmukh thinks so — and she's built a practice around proving it. Anagha is a leadership expert, culture architect, and certified handwriting analyst with 23 years of experience as an electrical engineer leading global teams in corporate America. She now works with small business owners and C-suite executives to accelerate hiring decisions and unlock team performance using handwriting analysis. In this episode, she and Jeff Crilley talk through:— How handwriting reveals over 150 personality traits and what that means for hiring the right salespeople— The three types of thinkers (tennis player, scale, ducks in a row) and why boards get stuck when they don't recognize them— Her work coaching Jack Canfield on his signature — and how changing your handwriting can actually rewire limiting personality traits— What she found when analyzing the handwriting of 56 Oscar nominees (53 shared one surprising trait)— Her podcast Boardroom Breakthroughs and why she believes culture, not AI, will separate winning companies over the next few years 🔗 https://anaghadeshmukh.com

There's a massive shortage of electricians and registered nurses in America right now — and one Marine veteran is working to fill the gap from both sides.Jared DeRuby is the CEO of Talent Corps and Medical-Talent, two staffing companies he built from scratch after getting fired from a corporate job where he'd been the top sales producer for eight or nine years straight. A fourth-generation electrician and U.S. Marine, Jared now places thousands of skilled tradespeople on data center projects and utility-scale solar builds, while his healthcare arm handles thirteen-week travel nurse contracts and same-day-pay PRN shifts for hospitals nationwide.In this episode, Jared talks with Jeff Crilley about:— How growing up without a father figure and getting kicked out of school led him to the Marine Corps, and how that shaped his discipline and drive— Why Gen Z is skipping college for apprenticeship programs, and what that workforce shift looks like on the ground at major electrical contractors— The staggering demand for electricians in data center construction — one client alone needs 1,300 to 1,500 more within the next year— What travel nurses actually earn now versus the $6,000-a-week COVID peak, and how the nursing shortage keeps getting worse— His experience being in the air on September 11th, getting stranded, and still making it back for deployment— Why implementing EOS (Entrepreneur Operating System) changed everything for his companies' growthLearn more:talentcore.commedical-talent.com

A prospect fed three roofing bids into Claude, and by 9 AM the AI had already picked the winner. That single story frames the whole conversation Jeff Crilley has with Steven Paul Matsumoto, president of Stigmare—a marketing strategist and serial entrepreneur who doesn't just theorize about growing businesses but has the receipts. Steven spent years as a senior leader for fixed operations at Lithia Motors before launching Stigmare, which offers fractional CMO services, AI search optimization, and digital PR for small and mid-size companies. He also took Juno's Liquor from $8,000 in monthly sales to over $1 million in annual revenue across three locations, then exited with a 3x return. In this episode:– Why 25–34% of searches are moving to AI chat platforms and what that means for businesses still paying for traditional SEO– The roofing bid story: how Claude generated technical questions that decided a five-figure contract before the contractors could respond– How third-party media coverage (press releases in Yahoo Finance, USA Today, Fox Business) acts as a trust signal that AI models reward– The referral trap: why relying solely on word-of-mouth creates a roller-coaster revenue cycle– Steven's nomination for Entrepreneur Magazine's Entrepreneur of Impact award, supporting Gen Youth and Toys for Tots https://stigmar.com

Jessica Spawn wrote her first children's book during one of the hardest seasons of her life — a divorce that left her feeling like an orphan kitten. That book became The Christmas Kitten, and it kicked off a series that now includes Vacation Kitten, a water safety title that cook children's picked up this year with 9,000 copies in circulation. Jessica is the host of Gal on the Prowl, a podcast and platform built around female empowerment with the mantra "rise, rebuild, and roar." She's also four and a half years sober and a passionate advocate for the CAVA bar community as a social alternative for people who don't drink. In this episode, Jeff and Jessica talk about:- How Vacation Kitten teaches kids three water safety essentials: swim lessons, life vests, and water watchers- The emotional origin of The Christmas Kitten and how writing it became part of her healing- Her sobriety journey and why the CAVA community filled a gap she didn't know how to fill- An upcoming documentary called bula exploring the kratom controversy in Texas- The on-mic proposal from her fiancé Ty, who asked "will you meow me?" — a phrase he pulled from her first episode Learn more: galontheprowl.comSupport the run for elise foundation: swimforelise.com

Ever notice how companies love to promote their best workers but almost never teach them how to actually lead? That gap is exactly what Glenna Hecht has spent her career closing.Glenna is a leadership strategist, author, and speaker who came up through training, human resources, and theater (yes, theater). On this episode of The Jeff Crilley Show, she explains why leading people today is harder than it's ever been, and why the old "my way or the highway" approach flat out doesn't work anymore.One moment that really lands: Glenna talks about how we put people in charge and then wonder why things go sideways. "We promote people that are great workers, but we don't often give them a way to be great leaders." She breaks down the art of having difficult conversations while still treating people with compassion, and why that skill set isn't optional anymore.If you manage anyone, or want to someday, this one's worth your time.Listen to the full conversation 👇

What happens when a leader's revenue is climbing but their best people keep walking out the door? Aaron Antillon found out on his 40th birthday, staring into a mirror and realizing that the quiet quitting, high turnover, and stressed-out teams in his church and two businesses all traced back to one source: him. Aaron is a DISC master trainer, personality strategy expert, and keynote speaker whose upcoming book Blind Spots lays out a framework for identifying the leadership weaknesses most people can't—or won't—see in themselves. He's coached everyone from corporate teams to former Dallas Cowboy Greg Ellis, and he runs Legacy Training Network, where he works with small and mid-sized companies struggling with communication breakdowns and disengaged employees. In this conversation with Jeff Crilley, Aaron walks through:- The moment he offered to double a top performer's salary and was told "no thank you"—and what that rejection forced him to confront- How the DISC personality model helps leaders spot their blind spots and turn them into clear vision- The $26,000-per-employee annual cost of miscommunication, and the question he asked a CFO that stopped the room cold- His Amplify Your Voice Speakers Academy, a three-day Orlando workshop where speakers build professional reels, one sheets, and story reels from scratch Take Aaron's free leadership blind spots quiz and learn more: https://legacytrainingnetwork.com

Melvina Hayes was four years old when she first appeared on television, and she never looked back. Three decades of performance and two-plus decades of writing later, she runs The Mpower Mint—a creative storytelling business with two distinct arms: a service engine producing marketing collateral for brands and corporations, and an IP division where she writes, directs, and produces her own work. Her current flagship project is DFW Hype, a micro-drama series set in Dallas following three women navigating power, loyalty, and ambition. She produced the pilot over the past year with cinematographer Timothy Alexander White and is now heading into production on ten vertical episodes. In this conversation with Jeff Crilley, Melvina talks about: - Her creative philosophy of asking clients "how do you want people to feel?" and why that question shapes everything she writes- The story behind a stoic animation CEO who finally cracked a smile and told her "we really feel heard"- Her role as project manager and host at the Denton Black Film Festival, now in its twelfth year with 60-70 events over three to four days- Building an ensemble cast like a family rather than running a turnkey production, and why she spends significant time rehearsing with her actors- The Audacity of Belief, her upcoming vision-casting event launching in Houston to connect actors, directors, producers, and investors Learn more: shempowerslit.comFollow DFW Hype on Instagram: @dfwhype_tv

What happens when you check the organ donor box on your driver’s license? More than most people realize. One decision can help save up to eight lives and impact many more through tissue donation.That’s why this conversation matters.On this episode, we welcome Kelli James, Director of Marketing and Communications for Southwest Transplant Alliance. She joins us to share how organ donation works, why awareness is so important, and how a simple choice can create a lasting legacy.

Most people get promoted because they're great at their job—not because anyone taught them how to lead. Amayea Maat has spent years coaching leaders inside Fortune 100 companies and entrepreneurial startups alike, and she's tired of the sanitized leadership advice that fills most bookshelves.Amayea is the Owner and Chief Inspiration Officer of Growth Peaks and author of the just-released Leadership: The S Bomb That They Don't Tell You. She joins Jeff Crilley to talk about what actually goes wrong when new leaders take the reins without training, why the old "my way or the highway" approach fails across every generation, and how situational leadership—understanding your people's language instead of your own—changes everything.They also get into imposter syndrome (especially for Gen Z leaders managing people twice their age), a real coaching case where Amayea helped an IT entrepreneur unstick his business and sell it successfully, and why even brilliant founders have to admit what they're bad at and let go. Plus, Jerry Jones gets some unsolicited leadership advice.Learn more at growthpeaks.net

Six years after the pandemic shut the world down, the mental health crisis it triggered hasn't gone away—it's just quieter. Dr. Christopher S. Taylor, founder and CEO of Taylor Counseling Group and an existential psychotherapist with a doctorate in counseling, joins Jeff Crilley to talk about what he's seeing in his practice and why he believes we're still in a "loneliness pandemic."Dr. Taylor shares how his practice nearly folded during lockdown before telehealth saved it, and how Taylor Counseling Group has since expanded to over 55 therapists and 10 locations across Texas. He explains his values-based therapy approach—the idea that small daily choices that conflict with your core values quietly compound until you're asking "who am I?"—and tells the story of a client named Brooke whose total transformation after divorce left him unable to recognize her when she walked back into his office years later.The conversation gets into the quarter-life crisis hitting people in their twenties, the pressure on 12-year-olds to plan careers decades out, and the link between Instagram's 2009 smartphone launch and the first meaningful tracking of preteen suicide. Dr. Taylor also previews his upcoming book, "You Are Here," built around real client stories of self-discovery.https://taylorcounselinggroup.com

Doctors spend an average of seven to ten minutes per patient—not because they want to, but because documentation demands and misaligned technology force their hand. Roxana Valeton has seen this problem from every angle. She immigrated from Cuba at 21, worked front desk and ultrasound tech roles, and launched her first healthcare company at 25. Now, with over twenty years of operations experience, she's built MedTells, a real-time orchestrator platform that sits on top of existing EHR systems and other tools to unify data and align it with actual clinical workflows.In this conversation with Jeff Crilley, Roxana explains why the healthcare system isn't broken because of bad technology—it's broken because the technology doesn't match how people actually work. She walks through how MedTells pulls live data across platforms so providers get consistent numbers and can act on them immediately. She also talks about her foundation offering free online certifications for women and children, focused on human trafficking, mental health, and youth development.Right now MedTells is focused on federally qualified health centers (FQHCs)—clinics that treat patients regardless of ability to pay, a sixty-year-old program Roxana says not enough people know about.Learn more: medtells.com

How does a 14-year-old yearbook editor end up running one of North Texas's most respected arts PR firms for over three decades? Kelly J. Kitchens has the answer—and it involves Paul Rubens, Judy Garland, and an upcoming AI film festival. Kelly is the CEO (Chief Enthusiasm Officer) of Kelly Kitchens PR, a publicity firm she founded in 1995 after serving as entertainment editor for The Met, a popular North Texas arts and entertainment weekly. She's been recognized as a "master publicist" by both the Fort Worth Business Press and The Dallas Morning News, and journalists regularly refer clients her way—a rare endorsement in the PR world. In this episode, Kelly and Jeff talk about:– Her journalism roots and how editing The Met's calendar connected her to every arts organization in the region– Surviving 9/11's devastating impact on entertainment PR and rebuilding her client base– Her work across major Texas film festivals, from Dallas International to Lone Star to her own creation, It Came From Texas, which showcases exclusively Texas-made films– The TCM Classic Film Festival community she's helped build over 16 years– An upcoming AI film festival she's planning with Dallas Video Fest founder Bart Weiss, and why she thinks the film world needs to engage with AI rather than dismiss it Learn more: kellykitchenspr.com

Roughly 28,000 children are in the Texas foster care system right now. When a child is removed from their home—often in an emergency—they may arrive at a shelter or foster placement with nothing but the clothes on their back, or sometimes less. Kelly and Richard Archibald founded Qavah The Storehouse to change that moment. Their nonprofit assembles "first night bags": brand-new backpacks stocked with pajamas, an outfit for the next day, toiletries, and a handwritten note of encouragement. They deliver them to CPS offices and the Children's Advocacy Center so caseworkers can hand a bag to a child on the worst night of their life. Richard speaks from firsthand experience. As a boy, he and his brothers were taken to a shelter after his mother's arrest—given only a thin gown, nothing else. That memory fuels everything the organization does. Kelly, a small business owner who also serves on the Child Welfare Board, walks through exactly what goes into each bag and explains the standard they hold themselves to: "if our children were going to spend the night with somebody." The episode also covers Qavah's reunification parties for families coming back together, their donations of Halloween costumes to homeless student-parents at DISD, and the couple's popular podcast featuring foster care alumni and survivors telling their own stories. Their next goal is a brick-and-mortar location where kids can walk in and pick out clothes and supplies for themselves. https://www.qavahpodcast.com/qavahstorehouse

Doctors told Catherine Ogie she had a 15% chance of survival. Blood clots in her heart and lungs, three blocked arteries, stomach paralysis—her body was shutting down. She refused surgery and bet everything on faith, lifestyle changes, and becoming her own fiercest health advocate. Catherine Ogie is the author of the bestselling book Unshakable and a U.S. Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. On this episode, she walks Jeff Crilley through the full timeline of her health crisis, starting from the October 2022 emergency room visit where she learned she'd already had a heart attack without knowing it. What this episode covers:– The cascade of diagnoses: heart failure, blood clots, esophageal thinning, and stomach paralysis– How switching to UT Southwestern and Dr. Araj may have saved her life when he flagged her medications as harmful– The role of forgiveness, grounding, Nigerian food cravings, and worship in her recovery– Getting fired from her job of 16 years—and getting it back 30 minutes later– Why she wrote Unshakable and what she wants readers to take from it Connect with Catherine Ogie: https://www.facebook.com/people/Catherine-Ogie/100009199241811/

Janet Bernstein quit her corporate job on August 19 and had a bestselling book out by October 10. That kind of urgency doesn't come from ambition—it comes from someone who finally stopped ignoring what was wrong. Janet is a keynote speaker, ten-time author, and Chief Glow Strategist who helps accomplished women stop shrinking and start leading out loud. On this episode, she sits down with Jeff Crilley to talk about the childhood experiences that turned her into a people pleaser (17 schools will do that), the corporate burnout she refused to call burnout until a single weekend of reading changed everything, and why she wrote Let Her Glow to document the messy, honest process of finding herself again. Topics covered:– Growing up with a mother who had severe mental illness and how constant moves shaped her identity– The signs of burnout she kept ignoring—driving to work in silence, losing interest in things she loved– How 46 women became first-time published authors through Janet's collaborative book projects– Her practical burnout recovery steps: unplug, ask hard questions, and stop living someone else's version of your life– A sneak peek at book number eleven, Rebellious Leadership, based on her LinkedIn newsletter Learn more at letherglow.com

The Dallas International Film Festival is turning 20, and Jeff Crilley brings three of the people running it into the studio to talk about what's in store this year — and where Dallas filmmaking is headed. James Faust, the festival's Artistic Director, has been involved since the beginning. He recounts the early days of partnering with AFI and rattles off a guest list that includes Robert De Niro, Charlize Theron, Jeremy Renner (who showed up with The Hurt Locker before anyone knew it was an Oscar film), and Adrian Brody. Dallas Film Commissioner Katie Schuck explains how Texas's newly funded incentive program and the Taylor Sheridan effect have turned DFW into the state's top production hub. Creative Director Austin Flores breaks down this year's industry conference, featuring keynotes from Warner Brothers co-chair Michael DeLuca and Sing Sing director Greg Kwedar, plus 11 panels on producing, funding, documentary filmmaking, and more. The group also gets into the AI question head-on — where it might help with color correction or sound sweetening, and where it crosses a line into replacing real people on set. James shares a specific example of a Swedish film that used AI to clone actors' voices for an English dub, and why that felt like a step too far. This year's festival screens 100+ films from around the world at Cinematopolis and the Texas Theater, with the conference hosted at the Virgin Hotels Dallas. Opening night features The Last Shot with Jaime Pressly, Baron Davis, and Dallas native Johnny Simmons. diffdallas.org

The Catholic Foundation was born in 1955 when a Dallas bishop did something almost unheard of — he gave up control of the money. Matt Kramer, who has led the Foundation as President and CEO since 2013, joins Jeff Crilley to explain how that decision shaped a lay-led community foundation that now manages nearly $370 million in assets. Kramer walks through the Foundation's record-setting 2024: $52.25 million in contributions and $32 million granted to 900 organizations across the U.S. He shares specific examples of where the money goes — from building a soccer field for kids playing on broken glass in one of Dallas's poorest neighborhoods to security grants for churches and schools. The episode includes a full scholarship speech from a Cristo Rey Dallas junior who won the Foundation's annual essay competition, delivering a personal reflection on Catholic education and hope to an audience of 1,100 people. Kramer also makes a point that surprises many: you don't have to be Catholic to work with the Foundation. It operates as a community foundation focused on relationships over transactions, helping donors with both current giving and legacy planning. catholicfoundation.com

What if the word "blessed" in the Beatitudes was never meant to sound religious—and actually just means "happy"? That single mistranslation, Pastor Mike Hayes and Dr. Jeffrey Garner argue, has shaped centuries of Christian teaching in ways that moved people further from joy rather than closer to it. Pastor Mike Hayes founded Covenant Church in Dallas and has led it for 50 years. Dr. Jeffrey Garner is a scholar of spiritual formation who started as Hayes's ghostwriter before being "unghosted" as full co-author. Together they wrote Real Happy: Jesus' Surprising Path to Genuine Joy. In this conversation they cover how the book was born on the Mount of Beatitudes in Israel, why "poor in spirit" doesn't endorse poverty but invites emptiness God can fill, the poppy-versus-lily translation and its connection to Jesus's attack on worry, why happiness is an inside job that can't be purchased or pursued, and how serving others breaks the self-focus cycle that feeds depression. Hayes also references Harvard's 80-year study on happiness—and explains what it leaves unanswered. imrealhappy.com

Every entrepreneur has a CPA—but how many actually hear from theirs more than once a year? Jessica Chompff and Charlene Carpenter, the sister team behind CC Group Advisors in Dallas-Fort Worth, decided that once-a-year tax prep wasn't good enough. They built their entire firm around monthly client meetings and working exclusively with business owners.Jessica holds CPA, MST, and CTP credentials and handles deep tax research and strategy vetting. Charlene is the relationship builder and decision maker who got her start at a tax office after having her first daughter. Together they've earned the nickname "the CPA Sisters."In this episode, they talk about:– How they caught missed tax opportunities for a C Corp client that had been getting IRS notices for years– Why their proactive monthly model replaces the reactive once-a-year approach most firms use– Their involvement with ProVisors, the professional referral network built on Know, Like, Trust, Refer– What makes them work so well together—and the specific strengths each sister bringsLearn more at ccgroupadvisors.com

Most entrepreneurs keep their faith life and their business life in separate boxes. Jenevy Sims thinks that's exactly backwards—and she wrote a book about it. Jenevy is the author of Proverbs and Profits, a serial entrepreneur who runs The Evolve Firm (a visual communications company), and the Vice President of Business Professionals of San Antonio, the city's largest networking group. She also sits on the boards of Fashion for Life and Children's Rehabilitation Institute Teleton (CRIT). In this conversation, Jenevy explains why she believes entrepreneurship is "spiritual warfare with a business plan" and walks through her framework distinguishing purpose, calling, and assignment. She gets candid about the pandemic-era betrayal by a business partner who left, stole half her clients, and told them she quit to be a mom—the painful chapter she calls "The Wound That Woke the Assignment." She also talks about how Business Professionals of San Antonio has given every dollar raised directly to local nonprofits since 2017, and shares a blunt call to action for anyone hiding behind excuses instead of stepping into their next season. Learn more: https://www.jenevysims.com/

Women own and operate businesses at record rates, yet they receive less than 2% of all available VC funding. Linda Fisk has spent a decade trying to change that math.Linda is the founder and CEO of LeadHership Global, a community of over 10,000 women leaders spanning Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, Nairobi, New York, Dallas, Vancouver, and beyond. She's a two-time TEDx speaker, six-time TV producer, international bestselling author, and a returning guest — her first appearance on the show was five years ago.In this conversation, Linda and Jeff talk about the persistent funding gap for women-owned businesses, why blind funding systems dramatically improve outcomes for female entrepreneurs, and how LeadHership Global builds 12-month strategic plans around each member's individual definition of success. Linda also introduces an integration with CurvUp, an AI-powered platform that bundles coaching, investor access, and fractional support into one ecosystem — think LinkedIn meets Upwork meets a VC pitch room.https://leadhershipglobal.comhttps://curvup.io