With Hat and Cattle

TL; DR: Is vibe coding safe to use in a business? Host Dani Raschel Chou asks Dr. Yeshwant Muthusamy, a thirty-year AI veteran with seven U.S. patents, and his answer is yes, with one condition: somebody has to read the code before it ships. Then he tells the story of what happened when nobody did.Dr. Yeshwant Muthusamy is the owner and principal of Yeshvik Solutions in Allen, Texas, and a fractional Chief AI Officer. He trained his first artificial neural network in 1989, spent thirty years across Texas Instruments, Nokia, Samsung and Immersion Corporation, holds seven U.S. patents, chairs an AI governance working group, and was named a 2025 Dallas Innovates AI 75 honoree. He is also, as it turns out, a gourmet chocolatier.This episode is part of the With Hat and Cattle AI Literacy Series, and it starts where the hype does not. Dr. Muthusamy has watched artificial intelligence go out of fashion and come back, so he is unusually hard to impress. The refrain he rejects outright is "AI is coming for your jobs." The version he accepts is sharper: the person who learns to use these tools well will take your job if you do not.The center of the conversation is vibe coding, which is describing what you want in plain English and letting a large language model build the code. He is completely comfortable with the model doing the heavy lifting. He is not comfortable with shipping code nobody has read. He reviews every line his own firm produces, because the client receives something with his company name on it and he knows whose head is on the line if it is wrong.Then he tells the story of the Tea app: an application built so women could share information about people they had dated, which required every user to upload a selfie holding their driver's license. It was built fast, it was a great advertisement for vibe coding, and the founders never checked the security on the database. Within a week those photographs and driver's licenses were on the dark web. His reaction: "nobody in your start-up company took the time to read the code?" is the argument of the whole episode. Dani takes it a step further, asking what it means for a woman on that platform who was hiding from someone.From there they get practical. Dr. Muthusamy walks through the EU AI Act and why he leans closer to Europe's approach than to the American appetite for unfettered innovation, covering deepfake labeling, algorithmic bias in hiring, and why model audits are onerous and necessary anyway. Dani asks the question most listeners actually have: if she downloads her health data from her Garmin, is it safe to paste into a chatbot? His rule of thumb is simple enough to use tomorrow: keep any information that can be traced back to a specific person out of the model.The back half of the episode is his life, or how he earned the right to have the hat and cattle. The Nokia years inside standards bodies, which he describes as a heady mix of politics and technology, learned by shutting up for the first few meetings and watching the room...and which involved far less sightseeing in Nice and Seoul than anyone assumes. The move from corporate to his own practice in 2012. Teaching more than a hundred non-technical business professionals, including a tax advisor in his seventies, fifty years into his career, who is now writing a book with AI. Why so few companies that adopted AI agents have dared to put them into production. And the phrase the episode turns on: humans at the helm, not just in the loop.It closes on the two things he built that nobody would predict from the résumé: The Blissful Gourmet, a small-batch chocolate business he is deliberately not scaling yet, and his favorite of seven patents, which is about keeping students safe in school parking lots.The following are mentioned in this episode: Texas Instruments, Nokia, the Khronos Group and the OpenMAX working groups, Samsung, the EU AI Act, the Anthropic fair use ruling, OpenAI and Hugging Face, Descript, Seedance, the Texas Cottage Food Law, UT Dallas, and Paul Byrne, previous guest and author.Be sure you're subscribed so you don't miss out on future episodes and conversations that help you level up your sucess!Links:•     Yeshvik Solutions — AI consulting and training: https://www.yeshvik.com/•     The Blissful Gourmet — handcrafted chocolate: https://theblissfulgourmet.com/•     Stop Prompting, Start Delegating: No-Code Agentic AI for Business — Friday, August 28, 2026, in person at The Meeting Place. Register: https://t.ly/sjVA0 CHAPTERS0:00  Cold open: nobody read the code0:25  Welcome, Dr. Yeshwant Muthusamy, Yeshvik Solutions0:55  Thirty years in AI, and a working distrust of hype2:55  The hype that makes him roll his eyes3:05  "AI won't take your job — the person using it will"4:20  Training a neural network in 19895:15  What to expect from a large language model6:05  Be at the helm of everything you do with it6:40  Are AI agents still the thing to learn?7:00  Agents are cool. Do you have a governance framework?7:15  Seedance, Descript, and an hour of work in seven seconds9:15  So what is vibe coding, actually?10:00  Where he has serious problems with it10:10  Why he reads every line of code himself12:00  "ChatGPT's a little liar"12:10  Can you read the code it wrote?12:20  "You can't build strategy on hope"12:35  The Tea app: a selfie, a driver's license, and trust13:40  Shipped fast. Great advertisement for vibe coding.14:00  A week later, it was all on the dark web15:00  "Nobody in your startup took the time to read the code?"15:20  The Rainbow Bridge, and when it stops being abstract16:15  Is AI governance moving fast enough?16:40  The EU AI Act vs. the American wild west18:10  Deepfake labeling and what has to be disclosed19:00  Bias, audits, and why governance is onerous but needed20:15  "Does my Garmin data put me at risk?"20:35  The one rule: keep anything traceable out of the model22:10  Inside the Nokia standards years23:00  Khronos, OpenMAX, and who is really in the room25:00  "A heady mix of politics and technology"26:45  What IP actually stands for27:15  Seven patents meets generative AI28:00  Where the Anthropic fair use ruling landed29:05  Leaving corporate to start Yeshvik Solutions30:50  Teaching 100+ non-technical professionals34:00  The question everyone asks now: "what next?"34:35  Agentic AI, and why so few have shipped it35:40  Humans at the helm, not just in the loop37:00  When OpenAI's models escaped and reached Hugging Face38:15  The chocolatier: The Blissful Gourmet39:00  "Creating something from scratch — it's a high"39:30  The ceiling built into a cottage food business41:40  Why North Texas and not the Bay Area42:35  His favorite of the seven patents43:10  One office action, and Dani's trademark filing44:20  Safe parking for students, explained46:10  Thank you46:45  OutroThat'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. 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Do networking events terrify you? And what do you actually say at a networking event when you don't know anyone? In this episode, host Dani Raschel Chou and Nicolle Ketcham walk through one start to finish what to bring, where your name tag goes, which question to open with instead of “What do you do?”, and how to leave a conversation without apologizing for it.Nicolle "Nicki" Ketcham, co-founder of Big Future Consulting, helps professional service firms look more polished and communicate their brand online. She is also Dani's best friend, a returning guest, and, by Dani's description, a top-tier connector. This episode came directly from listener response to Ely Delaney's conversation about networking as an introvert, so Dani and Nicki set the usual format aside and built a practical networking 101 out of their own wins and misfires.They start before you leave the house: what belongs on a business card, why you should print on stock you can write on, and why Nicki never goes anywhere without a pen. They cover the LinkedIn QR code workaround for the day your cards are still in the car, what to do when there's no cell service, and why scanning the guest list and finding the host in the first five minutes changes the whole evening.In the room, the advice gets specific. Your name tag goes on your right shoulder so the other person's eyes travel up your arm as you shake hands. Your drink goes in your left hand so your right one is dry. Approach the person standing alone — they will be relieved. And stop opening with “So, what do you do?” Nicki's alternatives include “What are you working on that you're excited about?” and her favorite, “Who would be a helpful person for you to meet?” Dani's, when the banter is already good, is “How did you fail this week?”The middle of the conversation is about listening: asking the follow-up question instead of pivoting to your own story, mirroring as a practiced technique, and Nicki's husband, who never tells anyone a thing about himself and still leaves every party as the most interesting man there. Dani shares a recent event where an introduction went badly enough that she went home, and what she would do differently. Nicki answers with Kacey Musgraves: "You are not everybody's cup of tea."They close on the exit and the follow-up. Three exit lines that don't require an apology, the 24–48 hour follow-up window, why an obviously AI-generated email undoes the entire evening, and Dani's “human first, AI forward” take on using it well anyway. Nicki's metric for a good event is deliberately small: three real conversations, one helpful introduction, or one person you genuinely want to follow up with.Items/topics specifically mentioned throughout the conversation: Ely Delaney's episode on networking as an introvert; the Rubin Brothers episode; The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann; Dallas Meetup; Chicks with Stix, a women's golf networking event at PGA Frisco; Big Bend; the AEC (architecture, engineering and construction? community in Dallas–Fort Worth; and the North Texas casting call for Frisco King that came out of one compliment at one event.Chapters0:00   Cold open: you're already networking0:15   Why we're doing a networking episode1:52   There's no wrong way to start2:26   Run clubs, Gen Z, and the pull toward community3:34   Introducing yourself when you're brand new4:11   Nobody remembers but you4:40   Pre-work: what belongs on your business card5:49   Carry a pen — and write on the card7:01   Forgot your cards? The LinkedIn QR trick7:55   No signal? The workaround8:33   Scan the guest list, arrive early, find the host10:02   Name tag on your right — and why11:51   Drink in your left hand12:21   Who to approach first13:34   Working the drink station14:05   Stop opening with “what do you do?”15:03   Better questions — including the best one15:40   “How did you fail this week?”16:37   Ask the follow-up, don't make it about you17:53   The best networkers are connectors18:43   Mirroring — and the party trick21:23   How to introduce two people21:54   When someone doesn't want to meet you23:48   Grace, and not being everybody's cup of tea26:17   The trip question that opened a door27:44   The elevator pitch: who do you help?28:20   Names: using them, and forgetting them30:32   Eye contact and what people notice31:23   Three exit lines that don't feel rude32:30   Follow up in 24–48 hours33:40   Why AI-generated follow-ups fail34:44   Three conversations, not thirty35:12   A compliment, Dallas Meetup, and a casting call37:57   When networking gives you “the ick”38:30   Be a go-giver39:15   Showing up bad at golf41:28   Phone a friend, and shoot your shot42:49   Thank you and close43:35   The takeaways, all in one place 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!

Episode note: This episode includes a brief reference to sexual assault (~18:00). A content note is included in the audio.What happens when two brothers from Portland, Oregon decide to build a vaudeville career in the 21st century with no roadmap, no safety net, and "well-meaning" people telling them it won't work?AJ and Colescott Rubin, known as The Rubin Brothers, are Berklee College of Music alumni, circus musicians, and vaudeville entertainers who juggle, unicycle, and perform acrobatics while playing trumpet and upright bass. They've appeared on American Idol, shared the stage with John Legend, played 24 shows in 19 days in Thailand with one gig booked, and recorded an album on pre-1926 acoustic equipment at one of only two such studios still operating in the world! In fact, Colescott's great-grandfather played with Louis Armstrong in New Orleans on that same technology, 100 years ago.In this episode, Dani Raschel Chou and co-host Nicolle Ketcham sit down with AJ (23) and Colescott (nearly 30) for one of the most honest conversations With Hat and Cattle has recorded. And through it all, they discuss how to build something real when there's no career ladder to climb, what it looks like when the path breaks down, and how joy can be a discipline rather than a destination.What you'll take away from this episode:On radical self-trust: AJ describes the practice of trusting yourself when the path has no map: "It's radical self-trust, and that is a lesson and is a practice as well."On the long way being the short way: Colescott shares a Wayne Shorter quote he's lived by since he was 14: "The long way is the short way." Every time they've doubted their direction, this has been the reset.On the hardest chapter: Colescott details the tendonitis that cost him 9–12 months of playing while on a Berklee scholarship, and how being forced to stop led him to tap dance, improv comedy, songwriting, and the front of the stage for the first time. "I had to be just Colescott rather than Colescott the bassist. And it turns out there was a lot more to me than I thought."On building a career with no set of directions or blueprints and deciding what's important: AJ shares the Quincy Jones rule they live by: Follow the goosebumps. When Quincy was asked how he chose projects when he had more offers than days in the year, his answer was simple: Trust your intuition.On being a fish out of water: "If you feel like you don't fit into your industry, that's not a weakness. That's your leverage. That's your opportunity to bring something that isn't there otherwise." —ColescottOn nurturing the partnership: They hold monthly communication improvement meetings, and they don't discuss the act. They're discussing the partnership itself. "Make sure you leave time to talk about the partnership, not just what you're doing." This one habit, they say, is what makes collaboration sustainable.The episode closes with a question Dani and Nicolle crafted for the arc of the show: 100 years from now, when another pair of siblings decides to revive a lost art form, what do you hope they're borrowing from the Rubin Brothers? Colescott's answer says it all. Have you been told that your path doesn't make sense? Or making you're taking the safe path and wondering if there's more? Give this a listen today.─── GUEST LINKS ───The Rubin Brothers on Instagram: @rubinbrothersPatreon: patreon.com/rubinbrothers ─── WITH HAT AND CATTLE ───Hosted by Dani Raschel ChouCo-hosted this episode by Nicolle KetchamThat'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!

Can you actually recover from sex and love addiction, and build a life you’re proud of? Host Dani Raschel Chou says yes, and this week she tells her own story of living as a high functioning addict. After years of asking guests to be honest about the hardest parts of their lives, Dani hands the microphone to friend of the show Jeff Mercier and takes the guest seat herself.Dani Raschel Chou is the host and producer of With Hat and Cattle, a Dallas–Fort Worth podcast built on honest conversations with people who’ve put in the miles. In this episode, she shares that she is a recovering sex and love addict, and explains why that experience is the reason the show exists.In this conversation: growing up in Freer, Texas, and the 1,200-calorie dieting trap of the ’90s; the high school hallway moment when attention got wired to weight loss; three marriages and the pattern underneath them; the 2012 journal entry that read, “If I don’t change my ways, I’m going to end up dead in a hotel room”, whick finally acknowledged the problem; the therapist who gave the addiction its name; seven years of the real, unglamorous work; co-parenting done right; meeting Bryan; and the bad cup of coffee that proved the work works. Told without graphic detail and without a tidy bow.It’s for anyone who has been told they are “just a” something, anyone carrying a past they think disqualifies them, and anyone who needs to hear that where you have been is not the ceiling on where you can go.Resources: Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (S.L.A.A.) — free meetings worldwide, slaafws.org. National Alliance for Eating Disorders — free therapist-staffed helpline, Mon–Fri 9am–7pm ET, 1-866-662-1235, allianceforeatingdisorders.com. In crisis, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.Chapters00:00 — Cold open: the journal entry00:30 — A note from Dani before we begin01:20 — Jeff takes the host chair04:00 — Freer, Texas: grass and central air07:00 — Childhood wounds and numbing the void13:30 — Dieting in the ’90s: the 1,200-calorie trap15:00 — The hallway: when attention became a drug16:30 — Married at 1819:00 — Losing 100 pounds — and the first affair21:30 — The second marriage and the chat rooms23:30 — “Dead in a hotel room”: the journal entry, in context26:00 — Six years, a separation, and a move to Dallas29:00 — Getting the label: sex and love addiction30:30 — Where was my kid? Co-parenting done right32:00 — The third marriage: “I’m battle-tested”35:00 — Women, shame, and double standards38:00 — Trading one addiction for another39:00 — “No, we’re not doing this”40:30 — The relapse42:00 — Seven years with the right therapist43:00 — What I chose not to share44:00 — 2021: running vs. DoorDash45:00 — Breaking the pattern48:00 — Meeting Bryan48:45 — The knife tattoo: “It’s not your job, it’s mine”49:30 — The three-minute reset52:00 — Honest from the first date53:30 — Faith, grace, and a kinder God56:00 — We are not prisoners to our past57:00 — When you can’t make amends58:45 — The woman at the well59:30 — Next week: the Rubin BrothersGuest Host InformationConnect with motivational speaker and DTM Jeffery Mercier on LinkedIn and follow him on Instagram.Find his episodes on With Hat and Cattle and listen now!Building a Personal Brand on Buzzsprout and SpotifyFraming the Future on Buzzsprout and SpotifyThat'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 an 800-year-old samurai code have to do with your inbox? More than you’d think. In Part 2 of this conversation, marketing strategist Ely Delaney explains how the seven virtues of Bushido shaped both his business and his life, and why respect and kindness are practical skills, not soft ones.If you're finding us on Part 2, start with Part 1 for networking as an introvert, archery as meditation, and going deep on one skill.And please note: This episode includes a brief discussion of suicide. If you’re struggling, or worried about someone who is, call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or chat at 988lifeline.org.Ely Delaney is a Dallas–Fort Worth email-nurture marketing strategist, the founder of Meet Cool People, and the author of The Seven Virtues of Email Marketing. In Part 2 of his conversation with host Dani Raschel Chou on With Hat and Cattle, the discussion moves from how to connect with people to why it matters.Ely explains how he found Bushido (the code of the samurai) in 2020, and how its seven virtues, including honesty, integrity, respect, kindness, and loyalty, became the framework for his book and his daily life. He calls it “ancient intelligence, or the other AI,” and argues that Buddhism, Stoicism, and Bushido are all answering the same question: how do you think, speak, and act well? Along the way he shares the three questions he asks before sending any email, why Stoicism teaches you how to react while Bushido teaches you how to act, and how to give someone hard feedback without becoming the jerk in the story.Dani shares the Google review she left years ago and still hasn’t deleted, and the moment at a World Cup match when someone told her to pick a side, and what she did instead of reacting. The episode closes on purpose, belonging, and Ely’s next project.Mentioned to help you find us: Bushido and the seven virtues, Stoicism, Dale Carnegie, T. Harv Eker’s Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, and Ely’s Seven Fold Projects. This is the With Hat and Cattle Promise: Stories from people who walk the walk and leave you better off for listening.Chapters:0:00 Cold open: kindness & respect1:00 Bushido: the code of the samurai2:00 You don't have to like someone to respect them3:00 Ancient intelligence — "the other AI"4:00 The seven virtues of email marketing6:00 Why he finally wrote the book8:00 Halloween announcement to April launch10:00 The best feedback he's ever gotten12:00 Which virtue matters most13:00 Three questions before you hit send14:00 The samurai's prayer on his wall16:00 It was never really about email17:00 The Google review she still hasn't deleted18:00 Giving hard feedback without being a jerk20:00 Stoicism reacts, Bushido acts21:00 Trolls, hecklers, and disagreeing well26:00 The pause: Dani's World Cup jersey story29:00 Chaos energy and what stress costs you32:00 The kitchen table33:00 What's next: Seven Fold Projects36:00 On men, belonging, and purpose37:00 Thank you and closeAbout the GuestEly Delaney is the creator of the Follow Up Rockstar System, helping entrepreneurs build a 24/7 automated system and go from surviving to thriving in any economy.He’s a three-time Amazon bestseller, including his latest book, "The Follow Up Code: 7 Virtues for Building Trust Through Email" & his programs have over 1424 students globally. Connect with him on LinkedIn.Learn more about him online here.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!

Can introverts actually be great at networking? Marketing strategist Ely Delaney says yes and proves it. In Part 1 of this conversation, Ely joins Dani Raschel Chou to unpack how to build real business relationships without faking extroversion, why mastering one skill beats dabbling in ten, and how archery became his meditation.Ely Delaney is your Email Marketing Architect and is also known as "The People Whisperer. He's the creator of The Follow Up Rockstar System, teaching entrepreneurs how to go from surviving to thriving in any economy through the art and science of building strong relationships and following up for LIFE." He's an Amazon bestseller with his three books "Marketing Tidbits", "Networking Tidbits", and his latest book, "The Follow Up Code: 7 Virtues for Building Trust Through Email".With a passion for connecting people, his best-selling training course "Networking Like a Rockstar" has over 1,424 students registered globally.And in Part 1 of this two-part conversation on With Hat and Cattle, host Dani Raschel Chou and Ely dig into the quiet skills that actually build a business: showing up, connecting, and getting deeply good at one thing.Ely explains how an introvert can work a room by leading with "who can I help?" instead of "who can help me," why he'll spend hours at an event without stepping inside, and why a cold shoulder is never worth taking personally. He shares how archery became a form of meditation, and how becoming the #1 longbow archer in the Northwest mirrors the focus behind his work. Then he and Dani turn to mastery: Jim Rohn's rule to spend five years getting great at one thing, what ghostwriting really means (pulling out your stories, never inventing them), and why "know, like, and trust" only works when loyalty comes with it.Mentioned in this episode: Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People, Bob Burg's The Go-Giver, and marketing writers Bob Bly and Dan Kennedy. This is Part 1. Part 2 goes deep on the seven virtues Ely built his life and business around, and that's dropping next week.You can find Ely on LinkedIn and on his site. Listen to his podcast here: Meet Cool People.And you can also buy his book The Follow Up Code: Seven Virtues for Building Trust Through Email on Amazon today!With Hat and Cattle: Stories from people who walk the walk, and leave you better off for listening.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!

Amir Habib is a digital transformation and AI strategy executive with 25+ years of experience leading service delivery for some of the world's largest enterprise clients. In this conversation with host Dani Raschel Chou, Amir traces the entrepreneurial instincts that shaped his path: from a childhood dream of owning a chain of Buc-ee's, to selling phone cards and financial services, to a hard pivot into IT and, eventually, AI leadership.Amir and Dani get into why trust, not raw capability, is the real bottleneck for AI adoption: the truth-vs-trust gap in AI-assisted medical diagnosis, what actually happened when the U.S. government suspended access to Anthropic's Claude Fable 5 model, why AI implementations stall without leadership buy-in, and what AI means for executive assistants and other roles built on repeatable work. Amir also shares how he responds to AI phishing scams himself, and what it takes to stay grounded — in faith, family, and mentorship — while everything moves faster than ever.This is the With Hat and Cattle promise: stories from people who walk the walk, and leave you better off for listening.TIMESTAMPS0:00 — Cold open: Meet Amir Habib1:00 — Faith, family, and the entrepreneurial mindset2:00 — From a Buc-ee's dream to falling in love with IT4:00 — Family as your "why," and trusting your own pivots7:00 — How to ask for mentorship (and handle rejection)11:00 — Selling phone cards to selling yourself16:00 — How Amir got intentional about learning AI21:00 — What data centers actually do25:00 — The truth vs. trust gap in AI29:00 — Inside the Claude Fable 5 security story31:00 — Protecting yourself from AI scams and phishing34:00 — From "just an accountant" to trusted leader35:00 — Why morning self-talk builds self-trust36:00 — People over strategy: why AI needs buy-in to work38:00 — AI, executive assistants, and the future of work41:00 — Why critical thinking matters more, not less42:00 — AI slop, LinkedIn, and trusting human creators44:00 — Bad data in, bad AI out: building a successful AI journey45:00 — Staying true to your true northCONNECT WITH AMIR HABIBLinkedIn: Amir Habib | LinkedInAmir's appearance on Blackbelts and Boardrooms: S2.EP46 - Takes a Village of Leaders to Make a Leader w/ Amir Habib, Global Strategist at StefaniniABOUT WITH HAT AND CATTLEWith Hat and Cattle is a podcast built on one belief: the best lessons come from people who've actually lived them. Hosted by Dani Raschel Chou, this show features honest conversations with leaders, builders, and people who've learned through experience, not shortcuts.Stories from people who walk the walk, and leave you better off for listening. If this episode helped you, the most useful thing you can do is leave a rating and review wherever you're listening — it's how new listeners find the show.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!

Eric “Big Juicy” Love led the campaign for Joe Exotic's presidential pardon. Colin Weatherwax walked away from a CEO title to sell insurance in a small Texas town. His 9-year-old daughter Kennedy might be the wisest person in the room. This episode is about what's actually left once the title, the title, and the tragedy are gone. And it's about joy.On this episode of With Hat and Cattle, Dani Raschel Chou sits down with three guests at once: Eric “Big Juicy” Love, Colin Weatherwax, and Colin's daughter, Kennedy. Eric is a Fort Worth private investigator and philanthropist who led the 2020–21 campaign for a presidential pardon of “Tiger King” star Joe Exotic. Colin spent years working his way to CEO of a nonprofit before an unexpected job loss led him to insurance sales in Roanoke, Texas. Kennedy, age 9, was named Mayor of Arlington for a Day during White Cane Safety Day.Together they talk about the difference between joy and happiness, what actually survives once a title disappears, how to keep showing up for people without being asked, and what it means to grieve — a dog, a job, a friendship — out loud. Eric also previews forgiveness, his upcoming documentary on people who've forgiven the unforgivable.This episode follows the With Hat and Cattle motto: stories from people who walk the walk, and leave you better off for listening.Guest Bios:Eric “Big Juicy” Love — Fort Worth private investigator, philanthropist, and self-described “professional friend-maker.” Led Team Tiger's 2020–21 campaign for a presidential pardon of Joe Exotic (Newsweek: https://www.newsweek.com/who-eric-love-tiger-king-team-tiger-pardon-joe-exotic-leader-1650352). Currently producing Forgiveness, a documentary on people who've forgiven the unforgivable.Colin Weatherwax — Former nonprofit CEO, now an insurance agent focused on home, auto, and key-person coverage in Roanoke, Texas. Known for intentional, no-agenda networking and staying in touch with the people who matter.Kennedy Weatherwax — Colin's 9-year-old daughter, named Mayor of Arlington, Texas for a Day during White Cane Safety Day. Reads in braille, plays piano, and has better advice than most adults.Episode Outline + TimestampsJoy vs. happiness, and why they're not the same thing [13:00]Colin's path from CEO to insurance agent, and the wake-up call that changed his definition of success [7:00, 14:00]The real story behind the Joe Exotic pardon campaign, from the person who ran it [19:00]How to build a network from nothing once the title's gone [21:00, 23:00]Kennedy's rule for staying close to the people she loves [27:00, 29:00]Grief, in real time — a dog, a job, a friendship [31:00, 35:00, 39:00]Inside Eric's next project, Forgiveness [47:00]Resources & Sources Mentioned-        Newsweek — “Meet 'Pardon Joe Exotic' Campaigner Eric Love”: https://www.newsweek.com/who-eric-love-tiger-king-team-tiger-pardon-joe-exotic-leader-1650352-        TMZ — “Joe Exotic's Team Arrives to Deliver Pardon Request to President Trump”: https://www.tmz.com/2020/09/10/joe-exotic-tiger-team-eric-love-presidential-pardon-request-trump-dc/Subscribe to With Hat and Cattle so you don't miss next week's episode. We're breaking our usual every-other-week schedule for a conversation with Amir Habib on AI literacy.With Hat and Cattle is a podcast hosted by Dani Raschel Chou featuring honest conversations with people who've earned their lessons through experience. This episode features Eric “Big Juicy” Love, a Fort Worth, Texas private investigator who led the 2020–21 campaign for a presidential pardon of Joe Exotic; Colin Weatherwax, a former nonprofit CEO now working in insurance; and Colin's daughter Kennedy Weatherwax, age 9, named Mayor of Arlington, Texas for a Day. The show's motto: stories from people who walk the walk, and leave you better off for listening.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!

Paul Byrne rage-quit a corporate job, built a tech company from scratch with an Italian degree, and wrote Adapt or Die: The Real AI Playbook -- a framework for people who didn't go to MIT but still need to understand what AI is actually doing.In this episode, Paul breaks down how AI really works, why most people are using it wrong, and what you should actually be doing about it (no technical background required)------------------------------------------------------------WHAT WE COVER• 00:00  Introduction -- Paul Byrne and the book Adapt or Die: The Real AI Playbook• 01:30  How AI named the book (and why it was Paul's least favorite title)• 04:00  Deported from Austria: the story behind Paul's years running companies across Europe• 14:00  The rage quit -- Paul walks off a conference call and emails his boss 'I'm out'• 16:30  Would he do it again? What the burn-the-boats moment actually cost him• 19:00  Birth of Razoyo: from data entry to e-commerce technology company• 21:00  1951 and the first AI system -- why the history of AI matters for where it's going• 23:30  Is AI just another dot-com bubble? Paul's honest answer• 25:30  Why young people are resisting AI -- and what they're missing• 28:30  What are AI tokens? A plain-English explanation and the 'caveman prompt' trick• 30:30  The future of college degrees, certifications, and what humans should learn instead• 33:30  What AI can't do: Type 1 vs. Type 2 thinking, explained via Yann LeCun (former head of AI at Meta)• 36:00  How AI is actually improving: synthetic data, recursive learning, and why there's a ceiling• 41:00  The hidden problem with AI-written code -- and why the 10% you don't catch is expensive• 42:00  AI meeting tools and the bias against quiet people: why quantifying contribution misses the point• 45:00  Why Paul wrote the book: the anxiety entrepreneurs have about AI-driven business strategy• 47:00  Practical advice for beginners: how to build AI literacy starting today• 49:30  Agentic AI -- what it is, why it's the next big wave, and Paul's recommended tools• 52:00  What happens when you give an AI agent access to your ad budget (a cautionary tale)• 57:00  The difference between type 1 and type 2 AI memory -- and why your agents forget things• 58:00  Paul's closing thought: four granddaughters, the value of human life, and what's actually coming------------------------------------------------------------ABOUT PAUL BYRNEPaul Byrne is the founder and CEO of Razoyo, a Dallas-based e-commerce technology company. He holds an MBA from SDA Bocconi (Milan) and a degree in Italian from Brigham Young University -- proof, as he puts it, that there is no 'useless' degree. He is the author of Adapt or Die: The Real AI Playbook, a practical guide to understanding artificial intelligence written for business leaders and entrepreneurs who did not go to MIT.Connect with Paul on LinkedIn.Find Razoyo on LinkedIn and on the web.GET THE BOOKAdapt or Die: The Real AI Playbook by Paul Byrne -- https://www.amazon.com/Adapt-Die-Playbook-Founders-Successfully-ebook/dp/B0GHPBGM7CFOLLOW WITH HAT AND CATTLE, stories from people who walk the walk and leave you better off for listening.Subscribe today!Hosted by Dani Raschel Chou------------------------------------------------------------#AIliteracy #AdaptOrDie #ChatGPT #AIforBeginners #AgenticAI #WithHatAndCattle #PaulByrne #ArtificialIntelligence #Entrepreneur #CareerPivot #LLM #FutureOfWork #AItools #TokensExplained #HowAIWorksThat'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 business development and relationship building look like when you've been doing it for 35 years in Dallas, Texas? Guest Mike Nurre knows. He's built a career, a community, and a reputation on one principle: give first, and keep giving.In this episode of With Hat and Cattle, host Dani Raschel Chou sits down with Mike Nurre: business broker, financial advisor, and Dallas community organizer, for a grounded conversation about business development, personal growth, and what it means to build legacy. Mike shares how he grew a career from cold calls to running his own firm, why knowing when to exit a business is its own skill, and how face-to-face relationships still drive everything. If you're working on your personal development, building a network, or figuring out the next move in your career, take the time to invest in yourself and watch this conversation.Who this episode is for: Entrepreneurs, business owners, and professionals in Dallas, Texas and beyond who are serious about personal development, business development, and building a meaningful career without shortcuts.In this episode:[00:00] Introduction — financial advisor, business broker, and the "mayor of Casa View"[00:01] "Everybody wants a village, but nobody wants to be a villager"[00:03] What Mike wants you to know about him first[00:03] Life's break points: why 40 and 60 change everything[00:05] Career beginnings — Dun & Bradstreet and learning to sell[00:06] Xerox, oil & gas, real estate, and landing in business brokering[00:07] Forming his own firm in 2007[00:07] "Business is a contact sport" — networking, giving first, and staying present[00:09] Not afraid to make the ask: the DMA story[00:11] Work-life balance vs. seasons of life[00:12] Life in thirds: learning, earning, returning[00:13] How Mike became the "mayor of Casa View" — building community from scratch[00:15] Community advocacy in East Dallas: the wins, the losses, finding the middle ground[00:17] The Magdalene House — the one that got away[00:20] "Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered" — on knowing when to exit a business[00:22] Preparation before opportunity — the Jim Rohn thread[00:23] The Picasso napkin story[00:25] Give, give, give — sometimes 10:1 before anything comes back[00:27] Soft skills we're losing — handshakes, name tags, and the power of face-to-face[00:29] AI, critical thinking, and the case for a liberal arts degree[00:32] Going back for an MBA at 35 — and why it mattered[00:35] Investing in yourself as a lifelong practice[00:38] The three mentors who shaped Mike's career[00:42] What kept him going when entrepreneurship got hard[00:43] Mike Nurre the music fan — The Rolling Stones, The Monkees, and live music memoriesThat'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 Part 2 of this unscripted live coaching session, Enneagram and Purpose Factor coach Darin K. Newbold takes host Dani Raschel Chou and her best friend Nicki Ketcham deeper than either of them planned to go. They unpack their Purpose Factor assessments, identify the patterns holding them back, and walk through a real-time framework for managing emotional triggers at work and at home, all in the name of personal development and personal growth.This isn't a polished interview. It's the real thing, with all the awkward pauses, the breakthroughs, and the moments where someone has to stop and say, "Oof, that's for my journal."In this episode, we explore:The four pillars of the Purpose Factor: Natural Advantage, Acquired Skills, Pull Passion, and Origin StrengthNicki's Builder Advantage...and the printer story that will resonate with every Type 3 listenerDani's Truth Teller Advantage...and the uncomfortable question Darin asks about why she isn't being heardA four-step framework for managing triggers in real time: recognize, pause, reframe, releaseWhy "frustration" is a cop-out word, and what's actually underneath itEnneagram stances explained: feeling dominant vs. feeling repressed, and how they shape your relationshipsA practical communication hack for Type 4 and Type 3 typesIf you've ever felt like people only take you seriously when you raise your voice, or you're the one quietly getting everything done while quietly resenting it, this conversation is for you.About our guests:Darin K. Newbold is the founder of Bold Solutions and creator of the Bold GPS framework, a guided purpose system combining the Enneagram with the Purpose Factor assessment to help leaders and teams find clarity and direction. He's a certified Enneagram coach and licensed Purpose Factor facilitator.Nicki Ketcham is Dani's best friend, a Type 3 Achiever, a Builder by Purpose Factor, and the woman who keeps Dani's emotions (and projects) on track.Special offer for listeners: Darin is offering $50 off his Bold GPS Starter Map — normally $297, available to With Hat and Cattle listeners for $247. Mention the show when you book a discovery call with him on LinkedIn.Mentioned in this episode:The Purpose Factor by Brian and Gabrielle BoschéThe Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne StabilePart 1 of this conversation (listen first for full context on the Enneagram)🎧 Make sure you've listened to Part 1 before jumping into this one.📲 Follow the show, leave a review, and share this episode with the friend you thought of while listening.Connect with us:Darin K. Newbold on LinkedIn and at Your Bold SolutionsNicolle Ketcham on LinkedIn and at Big Future ConsultingWith Hat and Cattle brings you stories that leave you better off for listening.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 a live executive coaching session actually look like? In Part 1 of this two-part episode, host Dani sits down with Enneagram coach Darin K. Newbold and best friend Nicki Ketcham for an unedited walkthrough of the BoldGPS framework: Darin's Bold Guided Purpose System that combines the Enneagram with the Purpose Factor Assessment.Following Darin's first appearance on With Hat and Cattle, Dani and Nicki took both assessments and invited Darin to coach them on the mic. The result is a candid conversation about self-awareness, blind spots, and the patterns that quietly shape our personal and professional relationships.In this episode, you'll hear:A live Enneagram typing session, with Dani as a Type 4 with a 3 wing, and Nicki as a self-preservation Type 3 with a 4 wingHow the Enneagram's wings, stress paths, and growth paths actually work in real lifeWhy the heart-center triad (Types 2, 3, and 4) processes grief and shame differently, and what that means for high performersA real friction point between Dani and Nicki, broken down in real time using the frameworkWhy no Enneagram number is "better" than another, and how each one contributes something the world needsChildhood wounds, core fears, and the unconscious messages that shape who we become at workA preview of the Purpose Factor Assessment (the lighthouse half of BoldGPS) coming in Part 2Whether you're new to the Enneagram or you've been studying it for years, this episode demonstrates how personal development tools translate into practical decisions about leadership, relationships, and self-trust.Part 2 drops next week with the Purpose Factor reveal for both Dani and Nicki.Connect with Darin Newbold (BoldGPS) (Be sure to tell him you heard about him on With Hat and Cattle to get your community discount!): You Bold SolutionsConnect with Nicki Ketcham: Big Future ConsultingColor analysis by Bianca: B. Well Styled | DFW Color AnalysisSubscribe to the With Hat and Cattle podcast wherever you get your podcasts, and join the community at the kitchen table for stories from people who walk the walk and leave you better off for listening.Keywords: Enneagram Type 3, Enneagram Type 4, emotional intelligenceWant to be notified when Claude responds?NotifyThat'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!

AI can write the message, but it can’t carry your reputation. In an era where everyone is starting to sound polished, automated, and put-together, what actually separates the leaders people trust from the ones they don’t?In this episode of With Hat and Cattle, host Dani sits down (again) with Amir Khawaja, engineering executive and co-host of the Black Belts and Boardrooms podcast, for a candid conversation about authenticity, leadership in the age of AI, and how to stay human when the tools around you are getting smarter every day. After his first appearance had listeners texting Dani about how much it hit, Amir is back to go deeper: on trust, credibility, the Dunning-Kruger effect, AI hallucinations, and why “leave people better than you found them” is still the leadership standard that holds up. Whether you’re a leader trying to use AI without losing your voice, a young professional wondering how to build a career when entry-level tasks are being automated, or a creative worried about what authenticity even means anymore — this conversation gives you something rare: a thoughtful, grounded, real-talk framework for showing up as a human in a machine-driven world.What you’ll learn:•        Why AI can polish your words but can’t protect your reputation•        How to give AI “pre-flight constraints” so it stops flattering you and starts telling you the truth•        The difference between a chatbot and an AI agent explained without the jargon•        Why the Dunning-Kruger effect is about to get magnified by AI — and how to protect your credibility•        What every young professional should be doing right now to build a career that AI can’t replace•        The leadership philosophy that still wins: “leave people better than you found them”•        Why a liberal arts mindset and critical thinking are now competitive advantages•        Slop vs. scratch kitchen: how to feed your mind in a content-saturated worldQuotes from the episode:“AI can write the message, but it can’t carry your reputation.”“We all have a PhD in our pockets now.”“If you feed your mind slop every day, what happens to your ability to appreciate the more nuanced things in life?”“Titles are what other people give you. Can somebody honestly say I was useful to them? That would make my day.”About Amir Khawaja: Amir is a seasoned engineering executive with nearly three decades in technology, product, and transformation leadership. He is the co-host of Black Belts and Boardrooms, a podcast at the intersection of leadership, mindset, and real-world performance, and the author of the AI Brain Trust methodology shared on LinkedIn.If this episode hits something for you, send it to one person who’s navigating this AI moment with you, then follow With Hat and Cattle on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube so you don’t miss the next one. We’re sharing stories from people who walk the walk and leave you better off for listening.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 follow a passion so relentlessly that the world eventually has no choice but to make room for you?In this episode of With Hat and Cattle, Dani sits down with Jim Futrell: amusement park historian, 11-time author, and the man the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions trusts to capture the soul of an entire industry. And here's the twist: Jim never had a degree in history. He had something rarer, an unshakeable curiosity and the courage to say yes every single time an opportunity showed up.From checking out the same three library books on repeat as a kid in Chicago, to interviewing industry legends at global conventions, Jim's story is a masterclass in turning a "hobby run amok" into a legacy. He breaks down how his career in market research and his lifelong love of amusement parks weren't competing priorities. Oh, no. They were two lanes running parallel toward the same destination.What you'll walk away with:Why saying yes first and figuring out the logistics second is often the right moveHow showing up at industry events can completely redirect the trajectory of your lifeThe mindset shift that separates people chasing passion from people living itWhy "balance" is a myth, and what seasons of sacrifice actually look like in practiceA reminder that the greatest careers are sometimes built without a single class on the subjectWhether you're an entrepreneur, an executive, a career-changer, or just someone who's ever been told their interest is "too niche," Jim's story will leave you better than it found you.You can find Jim on LinkedIn: Jim Futrell - CERP, ICAE | LinkedIn.And his new book dropped April 14, 2026, and is now available on Amazon: Knoebels Amusement Resort (Images of America): Futrell, Jim, Knoebel, Dick: 9781467163132: Amazon.com: Books.New episodes drop biweekly (for now). Subscribe, share, and come join the With Hat and Cattle community.#WithHatAndCattle #FollowYourPassion  #PersonalDevelopment #AmusementParks #HistoryNerd #CareerAdvice #PurposeDrivenWork #GrowthMindset #LifeLessonsThat'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!

Most AI conversations live inside a bubble, from LinkedIn feeds flooded with hype, tech conferences full of engineers, and billionaires deciding the future for the rest of us. This episode of With Hat and Cattle breaks that open. Host Dani Raschel Chou brings together three voices you rarely hear in the same room: a historian, a chaplain, and an AI strategist, and she asked them the question everyone is dancing around: What does artificial intelligence actually mean for us as human beings?In this conversation, Dr. Dallas Cothrum, Chaplain John Betz, and AI leader Tori Begg go deep on job displacement, spiritual identity, environmental ethics, systemic bias, and why the people building AI may not be the right people making its moral decisions.Because from the Luddite riots of 1811 to ChatGPT, history keeps rhyming, but the tempo is accelerating. And this time, the machines aren't just replacing muscle. They're imitating personhood.Key Takeaways from This EpisodeThe real spiritual risk isn't that machines will think. It's that we'll forget what thinking means. AI is eliminating the entry-level rung...and not everyone is ready. Five billionaires probably shouldn't be your source of truth. The environmental debate around AI is more complicated than the headlines suggest. Who's helped? Who's harmed? Whose voice isn't at the table? Why This Episode MattersThe AI conversation is too often siloed. We have tech people talking to tech people, and policy people talking to policy people. What this episode does is rare: It holds the economic, spiritual, historical, and ethical dimensions of AI transformation in the same space, at the same time.Whether you're a parent worried about your kid's future, a professional trying to stay relevant, a person of faith wrestling with what any of this means, or simply someone who wants to understand what is actually happening right now — this conversation's for you.Fair warning: This episode asks more questions than it answers. But that's kind of the point.Stay curious. Stay grounded. And maybe start learning AI before it learns without you.Links and ResourcesYou can find Dr. Dallas Cothrum online via LinkedIn, his Dallas Morning News contributing columnist page, or on the podcast Working Title with Zach Sams.Chaplain John Betz is on LinkedIn, and he's co-host of the podcast the Chaplain's Compass, available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Tori Begg is on LinkedIn, and, if you're in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, you can increase your AI literacy by attending one of Mind and Machine DFW's events.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 sweeping shop floors to running your own company? In this replay of our very first episode, host Dani sits down with Jeremy Lennox, President of Harvey's Collision Centers, for an honest conversation about building a career the right way: with patience, hard work, and a willingness to listen.Jeremy shares the pivotal moments that shaped him as a leader, including working his way up through his father's collision repair business, relocating to Atlanta to reshape 18 locations, and eventually striking out on his own. He opens up about sobriety, work-life balance, and why listening — truly listening — is the skill he wishes he had developed sooner.Whether you're climbing the corporate ladder, building your own business, or just trying to lead better at every level, this conversation is for you.In this episode:Why Jeremy's dad refused to let him skip his educationThe Atlanta move that changed everything — professionally and personallyThe leadership gap Jeremy sees in executives across every industryHow he manages stress, protects his family time, and stays groundedWhat legacy really means when you're building something to lastResources mentioned:The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. StanleyHow to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale CarnegieHarvey's Collision CentersWith Hat and Cattle is a podcast for the people walking the walk and talking the talk — leaders, entrepreneurs, and executives sharing the real stories behind their success.Subscribe so you never miss a conversation.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!

Some leadership lessons don’t come from textbooks. They come from moments that stick with you for years, sometimes decades.In this episode of With Hat and Cattle, we pulled a previous conversation from the archives that deserves a repeat listen. Heath Hilliard shares the stories that shaped how he leads today. From showing up to a major sales meeting dressed completely wrong, to reconnecting years later with the mentors who challenged him the most, Heath reflects on the hard-earned lessons that changed how he thinks about leadership, business, and personal growth.Those experiences eventually led him to launch EQHR and become a facilitator of the ZeroRisk hiring system, which helps companies avoid costly hiring mistakes and place the right people in the right roles.In this conversation we talk about the following: • Why culture fit matters more than raw performance • The role emotional intelligence plays in leadership • How great mentors shape the leaders we becomeRemember, leadership isn’t built overnight. It’s built through stories, mistakes, and the people who challenge us to grow.Thanks for joining us on With Hat and Cattle, where we bring you stories from people who walk the walk and leave you better off for listening. People like Heath, who you can connect with on LinkedIn.And learn more about EQHR Consultants here.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 the patterns shaping your leadership, relationships, and life decisions started long before you realized it?In this episode of With Hat and Cattle, Dani sits down with executive leadership coach and Certified Enneagram Coach Darin K. Newbold to explore how the Enneagram can help you understand your core motivations, fears, blind spots, and purpose.This is not surface-level personality talk. This is about the real work.Darin breaks down:What the Enneagram actually is (and what it’s not)How childhood coping strategies become adult leadership patternsWhy understanding your Enneagram type improves communication and relationshipsHow stress and growth paths show up in real lifeHow the Enneagram integrates with purpose discovery through his Bold GPS frameworkDani shares her experience as an Enneagram 4 and how self-awareness transformed the way she navigates shame, creativity, and relationships. Darin unpacks life as an Enneagram 7 and what it means to chase joy without running from discomfort.If you’re interested in any of the following, this episode has your name written all over it and gives you language for the story you've been living:Personal developmentExecutive coaching insightsLeadership growthSelf-awareness toolsRelationship dynamicsFinding your purposeBe sure to connect with Darin K. Newbold on LinkedIn, and learn more about Your Bold Solutions here.Start your Enneagram journey with these books Dani and Darin discussed: The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne StabileThe Purpose Factor by Brian Bosche and Gabrielle BoschePersonality Types: Using the Enneagram for Self-Discovery by Don Richard Riso and Russ HudsonThe Path Between Us: An Enneagram Journey to Healthy Relationships by Suzanne StabileIf this episode resonates, share it with someone who’s walking their own growth journey. Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and join us as we continue sharing stories from people who walk the walk, and leave you better off for listening.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 bull riding have to do with executive leadership? More than you think.In the very first episode under the With Hat and Cattle rebrand, Dani sits down with Brandon Denmon, former COO, endurance athlete, and newly appointed Vistage Chair, to talk about courage, community, and what it really takes to be a leader at the highest level.Before he was coaching CEOs, Brandon was riding 2,000-pound bulls at 13 years old. That early exposure to risk, resilience, and responsibility shaped the way he approaches business, leadership development, and high-performance teams today. Now the founder of Peak Executive Solutions and a Vistage Chair serving middle-market CEOs, Brandon helps leaders grow their companies with less stress, more clarity, and stronger community.In this episode, we cover allllll of the following:• Why CEOs and high performers still need coaches• How executive peer groups like Vistage reduce leadership isolation• The power of vulnerability in business leadership• Building high-performance teams rooted in trust• The “Five Dysfunctions of a Team” in real-world application• Why leaders with ranching or blue-collar backgrounds often excel• Margin vs. burnout (and how to engineer culture intentionally)• Entrepreneurship after corporate life• The Go-Giver mindset in business networking• How endurance sports shape mental resilience and business growthSee, With Hat and Cattle is about leaders who are walking the walk they're talking.📚 Books on Brandon's shelf:– The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni– The Go-Giver by Bob Burg– The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz– The 10X Mentor by Grant Cardone– The Triathlete’s Training Bible by Joe FrielBe sure you're subscribed for more conversations with people who walk the walk, from Texas boardrooms to endurance finish lines.And you can find Brandon here on LinkedIn.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 the most effective leaders aren’t the loudest in the room, but the most committed to learning?In this episode, host Dani Raschel Chou sits down with Amir Khawaja, Senior Director, technology leader, and co-host of Black Belts and Boardrooms, to explore what it really means to lead with presence, discipline, and care. Amir shares how being a perpetual student has shaped his approach to executive decision-making, team development, and personal growth.From earning his black belt in Taekwondo after 40 to leading teams of hundreds, Amir reframes leadership as a daily practice. Together, they unpack why grace, accountability, and perspective matter more than ego in the boardroom. In this episode, you’ll learn:Why leadership is not a title but a responsibilityHow discipline and practice translate from martial arts to the boardroomThe role of journaling, reflection, and active listening in executive presenceHow confidence grows from courage and continuous learningWhat it means to truly leave people better than you found themListen now and discover why perpetual students win, not just in leadership and business, but in life, too.And you can learn more about the Black Belts & Boardrooms podcast on LinkedIn, and listen on YouTube or wherever else you get your podcasts.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, Sarah Vander Neut, founder of Vanderjacket, talks about what it's like to start before you feel ready, and to create using only what’s available to you.Sarah shares how her fashion and running brand began with deadstock fabric not as a mission-driven statement, but out of necessity. She opens up about the early fear of using materials that couldn’t be reproduced, the pressure of making irreversible decisions, and how those moments forced her to trust her instincts and learn fast.Throughout the conversation, Sarah reflects on failure as a teacher, the steep learning curve of entrepreneurship, and the importance of listening to the people around you, because often, the best ideas don’t come from doing it alone. As she puts it, “I started from ‘I didn’t know’ to ‘now I know,’” a quote that left our host speechless because this is a mindset that truly captures the heart of growth through experience.This episode is for founders, creatives, and professionals who are waiting for the right time. Sarah’s story is a reminder that clarity can come from action, and that confidence really does come from learning. Sarah also teaches us that resilience is built by surrounding yourself with people who can pull you through the hard seasons.In this episode, we cover:Starting a business with limited resourcesLearning from mistakes and early failuresMaking decisions when there’s no do-overWhy listening to others can accelerate growthBuilding confidence through experience, not perfectionThe power of surrounding yourself with the right peopleAre you learning as you go? Good. You're in the right place. And if you've been waiting, take this as a sign: Start.Sarah can be found on Instagram here, and you can check out what's in stock on Vanderjacket.com.Sarah's currently reading Good is the New Cool Guide to Meaningful Marketing: Guide to Meaningful Marketing by Afdhel Aziz and Bobby Jones, and a theological book written by Katherine Parr, King Henry VIII's sixth wife.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 powerful follow-up episode, host Dani Raschel Chou reconnects with Jeffery Mercier, who returns with major updates since his first appearance. Jeffery, a construction consultant, bodybuilder, and motivational speaker, has made huge strides in just six months. What's he been up to? Oh, you know:Competing in his first bodybuilding competitionEarning the elite title of Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM), andStepping into a new leadership role in the construction industry.We dive into what it takes to stay consistent and keep moving forward, even when the spotlight isn’t on you yet.In this episode, Jeffery shares:How Toastmasters continues to help him master storytelling and public speakingThe discipline and mindset needed for bodybuilding and professional growthWhat it means to build a life that aligns with your callingTips for stepping into your next chapterThis episode is packed with motivation and practical takeaways for anyone on a personal or professional growth journey, so give the conversation a listen now!You can find Jeffery on LinkedIn, and on Instagram. He's also on YouTube.The books he's been reading include:The Way of the Superior Man by David Deida The Science of Scaling by Dr. Benjamin Hardy and Blake EricksonRich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. KiyosakiStart With Why by Simon SinekJeffery reminds us all: Your voice, and your actions, are your power.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 week’s episode, host Dani Raschel Chou sits down with Dr. Dallas Cothrum—CEO, former referee, and Dallas Morning News op/ed columnist—to explore what authentic leadership really looks like when pressure, people, and public opinion collide.Raised inside a growing family business, Dallas learned early on what it means to nurture something bigger than yourself. Those experiences shaped not only his work ethic, but his belief that leaders must genuinely know and invest in their people if they want to build anything that lasts.We dive into:• Authenticity in leadership • The lessons learned from growing up in a family-run business • How refereeing prepared him for emotionally charged land-use projects and public scrutiny• Understanding people’s emotions, especially when his columns or projects hit sensitive community issues• Why a leader must know their people, and why employees thrive when they know each other• Dallas’s commitment to an employee-first mindset, and how it shapes culture from the inside outWhether you are an emerging leader, a seasoned executive, or someone navigating complex conversations at work, this episode offers grounded wisdom on leading with integrity, humanity, and courage.If you’re ready to learn from one of DFW’s most respected voices in land use and leadership, this conversation is a must-listen.Read Dallas's columns here. Be advised a subscription to DMN is required.Connect with Dallas on LinkedIn.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!

Dallas tattoo artist and studio owner/entrepreneur Sharon Flatte's story is as bold and beautiful as the art she creates, and if you've ever dreamed of turning passion into purpose, this episode is for you.Sharon opens up about building a business in an industry that hasn’t always made space for women. From the early challenges of running a tattoo studio in a changing Dallas neighborhood to establishing herself as a respected artist and mentor, Sharon’s journey is one of resilience, creativity, and deep partnership.She shares how love became the foundation of her business, what it takes to stay grounded while creating art that lives forever, and how she’s leaving her mark, literally and figuratively, on her community.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!

Lucky number 13, published on October 13th, and it's a first--our first virtual interview!From knocking on the doors of diabetes and high cholesterol, to competing at the IRONMAN World Championships, Coach Hector Torres embodies what it means to turn your life around, one disciplined choice at a time.Host Dani Raschel Chou sits down with USA Triathlon Level 3 Certified Coach Hector Torres, founder of TriPeak Athlete and host of the podcast Coffee Time with Coach Torres. Hector shares his journey from receiving a wake-up call at 18 to becoming one of the top endurance coaches in the sport, guiding athletes at all levels to reach their full potential.Hector opens up about the mental side of triathlon (how athletes often enter endurance sports to heal from trauma), and reveals his own battles with fear and self-doubt. He dives deep into the power of finding your why, facing the fear of the unknown, and leading by example, both on and off the course.Whether you’re an experienced triathlete, a weekend warrior, or someone chasing growth, this conversation will leave you motivated to face your own Ironman, whatever that looks like in life.Tune in for:The story behind Hector’s transformation from 263 pounds to elite triathleteInsights into training the mind as much as the bodyCoaching wisdom from years with TriPeak Athlete and Special OlympicsThe mindset behind endurance, resilience, and conquering fearHow to uncover your personal “why” to keep moving forwardSo, as always, go grab your coffee, and join us as we go from your seat to, this week, the coach's seat.Coach Torres references his motivation go-to video Goliath, which you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPzidEs2U3c&feature=youtu.be. And you can find Coach Hector Torres in the following ways:Website: Welcome - Tri Peak AthleteLinkedIn: Hector L Torres | LinkedInInstagram: @tripeakathleteThat'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!

Executive Swagger. Presence. Purpose.Renard Henry, IT leader, co-host of the Black Belts & Boardrooms podcast, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, explores what it really takes to own the room, from presence and polish to connection and confidence.We talk about what Renard calls "executive swagger," or that unique blend of self-awareness and professionalism that helps you be "a lion in a room full of lions." Whether you're climbing the corporate ladder, building a business, or figuring out how to lead with impact, this conversation is a must-watch.Topics We Cover:✔️ How to build executive presence✔️ The importance of connection✔️ The power of asking for mentorship✔️ How your fitness goals prepare you for the boardroomSo listen today, and be sure to subscribe for more behind-the-scenes access to the rooms where growth happens. 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 of With Hat and Cattle (previously Suite Mornings), we sit down with Dennis Howard, Vistage Chair and self-described professional question asker. With a career dedicated to empowering executives, Dennis brings a fresh perspective on leadership, imposter syndrome, and the power of betting on yourself.Dennis shares what it’s really like to coach CEOs, how great leaders overcome doubt, and the most important question he finds himself asking, again and again, at the Vistage table. Whether you’re leading a company or stepping into your own next chapter, this conversation will challenge how you think about your circle, your mindset, and your mission.He also gives us some insights into his upcoming book 1% Leader: And the 11 Elite Skills the 99% Never Master (dropping next year with accompanying assessment!) and the books that should be in your library:📚 Good to Great by Jim Collins 📚 Leadership and Self-Deception by The Arbinger Institute 📚 What Got You Here Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith 📚 10X Is Easier Than 2X by Benjamin Hardy & Dan SullivanIf you’re looking to grow with intention, and/or lead with clarity, you won’t want to miss this one.You can find Dennis on LinkedIn at Dennis Howard, PCC | LinkedIn, or on his site Intrepid CEO – Peer Group & Individual Executive Coaching.You can also get access to the second chapter of his book here: Intrepid CEO.And remember: Subscribe, share, and tune in to level up your leadership journey now.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 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 themTools that are available when you don't have access to a gym or trainerThe importance of community, in wellness and businessLea 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 FitnessLinkedIn: Lea Genders | LinkedInInstagram: @fortworth_trainerThat'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/moneywithkatieThat'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 startingThis 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 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=100093667547194Website: https://vallesbrothersindustries.com/And you can follow Juan here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vbillc/InThat'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 crisisHow addiction shaped—and sharpened—Paul’s entrepreneurial journeyThe mindset shifts that turned recovery into a superpowerBuilding a second act with purpose, grit, and graceListen 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!