DFW Grit - The Podcast

On this episode of DFW Grit, from growing up in the foster care system to becoming a fashion entrepreneur and motivational speaker, Rondregus "Mr. U" Underwood, joins Dr. James Taylor to share his journey of discovering his identity, embracing his purpose, and turning personal challenges into opportunities to inspire others. He discusses the importance of mentorship, authentic leadership...

In this episode of DFW Grit, Dr. James Taylor shares how an unexpected opportunity became something much bigger than he ever planned. Through the growth of Mid-City Dads, he reflects on overcoming perfectionism, learning from mistakes, and shifting his motivation from spite to purpose. This episode is a reminder that meaningful things don't always start with a perfect plan, but they grow when...

On this episode of DFW Grit, Cass Cooper, the “Chaos Whisperer,” joins Dr. James Taylor to share how she helps people turn chaos into clarity by setting healthier boundaries, embracing imperfect action, and designing lives that actually work for them. She also explores how technology and AI can support personal and professional growth, while emphasizing the importance of community, curiosity, and...

In this episode of DFW Grit, Dr. James Taylor shares a personal experience with his children that reveals how easily past experiences and emotions can shape the way we interpret everyday conversations. Through moments of vulnerability, unexpected reassurance, and self-reflection, he explores the importance of separating facts from assumptions, recognizing emotional triggers, and understanding that...

In this episode of DFW Grit, Dr. Taylor sits down with author, entrepreneur, and creative Marcus Lee Stephenson to talk about his journey from proving others wrong to learning to believe in himself. Marcus shares how family, fatherhood, personal loss, and difficult experiences shaped his approach to writing, reinvention, and creating a legacy for the generations that follow. DFW Grit - The Podcast...

In this episode of DFW Grit, Dr. Taylor explores the difference between what we willingly give, what we begrudgingly give, and what gets taken from us. He reflects on how the systems, schedules, and expectations we create can eventually start draining us, and why those moments of feeling tapped out are not necessarily failure, but valuable data telling us it may be time to adjust. Each solo episod...

In this back-to-school episode of DFW Grit, Frankie and Calvin return to the podcast to look back at their younger selves and share how they’ve grown in reading, writing, math, friendships, and life. With plenty of laughs along the way, they talk about heading into fourth and second grade, the importance of practicing and trying again, and leave listeners with one simple message: never stop learni...

In this episode of DFW Grit, Dr. James Taylor explores how big trips, gifts, and grand gestures can sometimes become a substitute for showing up in the small, everyday moments that matter most. He challenges listeners to examine the intention behind their giving and focus on consistent acts of love, gratitude, and presence because the big gesture cannot erase hundreds of small absences Each solo e...

🔥 The episodes that hit hardest. The conversations that sparked the most discussion. The lessons that listeners keep coming back to. This summer, we're reopening the DFW Grit vault and bringing back some of our most impactful episodes on leadership, resilience, business, fatherhood, and personal growth. Whether you're hearing them for the first time or giving them another listen, these ar...

In this episode of DFW Grit, Dr. Taylor explores how creating simple rules can eliminate overthinking, reduce decision fatigue, and free up valuable time and mental energy. From simplifying everyday choices to avoiding new distractions, he explains why sometimes you don’t need more discipline, you just need fewer decisions. Each solo episode features a field manual. Practical tools to turn each ep...

🔥 The episodes that hit hardest. The conversations that sparked the most discussion. The lessons that listeners keep coming back to. This summer, we're reopening the DFW Grit vault and bringing back some of our most impactful episodes on leadership, resilience, business, fatherhood, and personal growth. Whether you're hearing them for the first time or giving them another listen, these ar...

In this episode of DFW Grit, Dr. Taylor shares why he created Mid-City Dads after realizing that large online communities don't always translate into real support. This episode explores the difference between membership and belonging, why presence matters more than online engagement, and how showing up consistently creates the trust and friendships every father needs. Each solo episode feature...

🔥 The episodes that hit hardest. The conversations that sparked the most discussion. The lessons that listeners keep coming back to. This summer, we're reopening the DFW Grit vault and bringing back some of our most impactful episodes on leadership, resilience, business, fatherhood, and personal growth. Whether you're hearing them for the first time or giving them another listen, these ar...

In this episode of DFW Grit, Dr. James Taylor explores the difference between building a mission out of purpose versus building one out of pain. Through a personal story of betrayal, he shares why true growth comes from serving the people you're called to help, not from proving someone else wrong, and how letting go of quiet revenge creates space for lasting success. Each solo episode features...

🔥 The episodes that hit hardest. The conversations that sparked the most discussion. The lessons that listeners keep coming back to. This summer, we're reopening the DFW Grit vault and bringing back some of our most impactful episodes on leadership, resilience, business, fatherhood, and personal growth. Whether you're hearing them for the first time or giving them another listen, these ar...

In this episode of DFW Grit , Dr. Taylor challenges listeners to stop measuring success by "doing their best" and start asking what the situation actually requires. Through personal stories of leadership, fitness, and business growth, Dr. James Taylor shares a framework for recalibrating your goals, raising your standards, and making the adjustments needed to finish the year stronger tha...

🔥 The episodes that hit hardest. The conversations that sparked the most discussion. The lessons that listeners keep coming back to. This summer, we're reopening the DFW Grit vault and bringing back some of our most impactful episodes on leadership, resilience, business, fatherhood, and personal growth. Whether you're hearing them for the first time or giving them another listen, these ar...

In this episode of DFW Grit, Dr. Taylor shares a powerful lesson learned after breaking a long-standing workout routine: success isn’t measured by how long a streak lasts, but by how quickly you return when it’s broken. Through personal stories about burnout, leadership, and self-discipline, he challenges listeners to stop chasing perfection and start celebrating the comebacks that build lasting r...

In this episode of DFW Grit, Dr. Taylor sits down with John & Jack Humphreys, the owners of From Across The Pond to talk about entrepreneurship, military service, and building a purpose-driven business. From Navy stories and career pivots to creating one of the Metroplex’s top gluten-free restaurants, the conversation highlights servant leadership, resilience, and the impact a simple meal can...

In this episode of DFW Grit, Dr. Taylor explores how many men operate with a limited emotional vocabulary, living only in “happy, mad, or sad” and how that lack of emotional precision impacts leadership, parenting, relationships, and decision-making. Through personal stories and insights gained from using AI tools like Claude, he breaks down why naming emotions accurately is a skill that can be tr...

In this episode of DFW Grit, Dr. Taylor sits down with John & Jack Humphreys, the owners of From Across The Pond to talk about entrepreneurship, military service, and building a purpose-driven business. From Navy stories and career pivots to creating one of the Metroplex’s top gluten-free restaurants, the conversation highlights servant leadership, resilience, and the impact a simple meal can...

In this episode of DFW Grit, Dr. Taylor opens up about what it feels like to become “peopled out” and how emotional overload can quietly build throughout the week. Using personal stories from work, parenting, and everyday interactions, he breaks down how nervous system fatigue affects behavior and shares practical strategies for recognizing the warning signs before frustration turns into burnout....

In this episode of DFW Grit , Dr. Taylor sits down with Joshua Motte, founder of Motte’s Kitchen, to share how a side hustle cooking for coworkers turned into a growing catering and hospitality business. Joshua talks about his roots in family cooking, taking a leap after college, and building his brand through word of mouth and consistency. His story highlights betting on your passion, staying per...

In this episode of DFW Grit, Dr. Taylor breaks down a simple truth: we already know what works, we just don’t consistently do it. He emphasizes that real progress comes from executing basic habits like working out, cooking at home, and being intentional with your time, rather than chasing new “hacks” or motivation. The focus is on discipline, consistency, and respecting the simple routines that ac...

In this episode of DFW Grit , Dr. Taylor sits down with Elda Rata, who shares her powerful journey from Albania to the U.S., rebuilding her life as a single mom while balancing a legal career and helping grow a successful restaurant business. Her story highlights resilience, hard work, and the importance of community, as she continues to pursue new opportunities including a run for local office, t...