With Hat and Cattle

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 ever...

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...

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 year...

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 ta...

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-po...

What if the most effective leaders aren’t the loudest in the room, but the most committed to learning? In this episode of Suite Mornings, Dani 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 exe...

In this episode of Suite Mornings, we sit down with Sarah Vander Neut, founder of Vanderjacket, to talk 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 tha...

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 competition Earning the elite title of Distinguished To...

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 o...

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 neighborhoo...

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. In this episode of Suite Mornings, Dani sits down with USA Triathlon Level 3 Certified Coac...

Executive Swagger. Presence. Purpose. In this episode of Suite Mornings, we sit down with Renard Henry, IT leader, co-host of the Black Belts & Boardrooms podcast, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, to explore 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-...

In this episode of 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 questio...

In this episode of 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: SM...

What does it take to build a lasting career in commercial real estate? In this episode of Suite Mornings, host Dani 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. From high-stakes land assemblage deals to navigating shifting trends in urban developme...

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 an...

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 shif...

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 candid...

What does it really take to build a business when your body is fighting against you? In this powerful episode of Suite Mornings , 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...

In this episode of Suite Mornings , we’re joined by Nicki Ketcham, 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&ap...

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 reb...

In this very first episode of Suite Mornings , 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...