Heart Of The Hustle

He forgot his memory card on his very first paid shoot. He had to run home, come back, take the pictures — and the client still loved them. That's the kind of story that tells you everything about Waqar Gill. In this milestone Episode 50 of Heart of the Hustle, I sat down with Waqar Gill, founder of Gill Studios, and I loved every single minute of this conversation. Waqar immigrated to the United...

Have you ever felt stuck, even though everyone around you can clearly see your potential? In this episode of Heart Of The Hustle, I sit down with leadership strategist, speaker, and coach Benita Sharpe for a powerful conversation about career growth, leadership development, confidence, coaching, and the importance of having people around you who help you see what you can't see for yourself. Benita...

What if the reason your marketing isn't connecting has nothing to do with your photos—and everything to do with your story? In this episode of Heart Of The Hustle, I sit down with my friend Paula Ward, founder of Paula Ward Photography and Story First By Paula, for a conversation about storytelling, branding, photography, and why clarity has to come before marketing. Paula spent nearly 27 years in...

What’s the real difference between cosmetic dentistry and restorative dentistry… and why does your bite matter more than you think? In this episode of Heart Of The Hustle, I sat down with Dr. Kelli from Dallas Laser Dentistry for a conversation that honestly changed the way I think about dental health, confidence, and even everyday comfort. We talked about everything from dental implants and Invis...

Struggling with your child’s grades, test anxiety, or confidence in school? In this episode of Heart Of The Hustle, I sat down with Sandy Tutwiler of Tutor Doctor to break down how personalized tutoring and SAT/ACT prep can transform a student’s success. From navigating changing education trends to understanding why students fall behind (even high achievers), Sandy shares real strategies that help...

How can a smile transformation impact your confidence and business success? In this episode of Heart Of The Hustle, Dr. Mary Swift shares how cosmetic dentistry doesn’t just change smiles—it changes lives, careers, and how you show up in the world. If you’ve ever hidden your smile, avoided photos, or felt less confident in front of clients or customers, this conversation will hit home. With over 2...

Skincare for athletes is different—and honestly, most routines just don’t work. In this episode of Heart of the Hustle, I sat down with Dallas Miller, founder of Clear Champion, to talk about why athletes struggle with breakouts and what actually works when life is busy, sweaty, and nonstop. We talked about everything from acne caused by sports gear to why most teens won’t stick to complicated rou...

Most business owners think growth comes from doing more… more marketing, more offers, more hustle. But what I’ve seen—again and again—is that real growth doesn’t come from doing more. It comes from doing the right things better. And in this conversation with Dr. Kalpesh Patel (Dr. Kap), that became incredibly clear. He didn’t scale Active Dental to five locations by chasing numbers. He did it by m...

What if the jewelry sitting in your family jewelry box could be transformed into something completely new—while still honoring the story behind it? In this episode of Heart Of The Hustle, I sat down with Jordan Capo Graves, founder of Capo & Co. Jewelry and a private custom jeweler who specializes in designing one-of-a-kind pieces and reimagining family heirlooms. Jordan shares her journey fro...

Okay y’all—this is Part Two of my conversation with Nelson A. Locke, and it’s where the story gets really interesting. In Part One, we covered the Texas Supreme Court case and what it changed. In this episode, we zoom out: Nelson breaks down the domino effect happening across the country and why Florida’s January 15, 2026 rule amendments are a major signal that other states are rethinking how lega...

In this episode of Heart Of The Hustle, I sit down with someone I’ve known for years — Lyndol Woodruff — and this conversation is one that surprised even me. I’ve watched Lyndol grow Woodruff Windows into one of the most trusted window replacement companies in Collin County. But what you’ll hear in this episode isn’t just about replacing windows or scaling a home improvement business. It’s about e...

I sat down with Joe Miller expecting to talk about wiring, generators, and building a service business—and what I got was one of the most powerful stories I’ve heard on Heart of the Hustle. Joe left addiction behind in Louisiana, packed everything into a ‘95 Acura, and started over in North Texas. Today, he runs Glow Joe Electric, serving homeowners across Collin and Denton Counties with honesty,...

What happens when a seasoned attorney with 11 years of experience gets told his education isn’t good enough? Nelson Locke didn’t back down—he fought back. In this explosive third installment on Heart of the Hustle, Sherry Sutton sits down again with Nelson to unpack his groundbreaking legal battle against the Texas Board of Law Examiners—and how his win is now reshaping how bar admission works acr...

Do you feel like you need to have everything perfect before you start marketing your business? I get it. I’ve been there—spending weeks obsessing over the perfect website font while avoiding the actual work of showing up consistently. In this special episode of Heart of the Hustle, I got into the hot seat with guest host Lori Lane-Dixon for a heartfelt conversation about visibility, vulnerability,...

In this episode of Heart of the Hustle, I’m sitting down with Dr. Priscilla O.—better known as Dr. O—a board-certified family physician who opened her own practice in Little Elm, Texas. We talk about why she stepped away from large healthcare systems to build something more personal, how she’s helping patients take control of their health through regular checkups, accessible care, and real convers...

What happens when you climb the corporate ladder, hit your goals early, and still feel like something’s missing? In this powerful episode of Heart of the Hustle, I sit down with my very own hairstylist and dear friend Kelsey Capo, whose path from retail management to salon owner is nothing short of extraordinary. We talk about hustle, heartbreak, and the healing power of stepping into your true ca...

This episode stayed with me long after we stopped recording. I sat down with Kerri Steele, the founder of Little Hearts of Hope, and what unfolded was one of the most powerful, honest, and emotionally moving conversations we’ve had on Heart of the Hustle. Kerri built a nonprofit from a place of unimaginable pain—and turned it into a mission that now supports children across the country who are nav...

You’ve been told to “just post” on LinkedIn — but what if the real power lies in how you connect, not just what you share? In this episode of Heart of the Hustle, we’re pulling back the curtain on how to use LinkedIn and Sales Navigator to build smarter pipelines, nurture real relationships, and finally see ROI from your outreach. I sat down with Tamika Brunetti, a dynamic LinkedIn strategist and...

What if your business is unknowingly overpaying for HR and payroll services — to the tune of six figures a year? In this episode of Heart of the Hustle, I sit down with Rory Money, founder of Magnet HR Group, who pulls back the curtain on the bloated fees, hidden costs, and compliance risks lurking in traditional PEO (Professional Employer Organization) models. With 25+ years of experience in HR,...

What if the education that made you extraordinary was the very thing holding you back? When Nelson Locke first came to the Heart of the Hustle studio, he was fighting an uphill battle — trying to gain bar admission in Texas with a law degree from an online, non-ABA-accredited school. Most people told him it was impossible. Now he’s back, and this time? He won. Big. In this episode, Nelson shares h...

How Fantasy Sports Became a Billion-Dollar Business (And Why Startups Are Finally Paying Attention) | Scott Hoyt Description: I’ve known Scott Hoyt for over 30 years. He was actually my first marketing boss—and now, he’s building something extraordinary in the fantasy sports world. In this episode of Heart of the Hustle, I sit down with Scott to talk about how fantasy football has evolved from fax...

What does it look like when business growth is rooted in service first? In this episode of Heart of the Hustle, I sit down with Mark Neace, a business leader who has built his life and career around the principles of servant leadership—and now helps companies harness the power of video marketing to connect more authentically. We explore: Why servant leadership creates stronger teams and loyal cust...

What happens when an engineer decides to follow her heart into medicine—while raising a family—and then chooses to practice healthcare on her own terms? In this episode of Heart of the Hustle, I sit down with Dr. Oni, a Dallas-based physician who walked a nontraditional path into medicine and is now revolutionizing patient care through Direct Primary Care (DPC). We dive into: How Dr. Oni transitio...

In this episode of Heart of the Hustle, I sit down with Leia, founder of Leia’s Kids, to share one of the most powerful stories we’ve featured yet. Leia is a two-time childhood cancer survivor whose journey didn’t stop with her own fight—she turned her pain into purpose by creating a nationwide nonprofit that now walks alongside families facing pediatric cancer. Through Leia’s Kids, families recei...

What happens when a child is removed from their home due to abuse or neglect? Who stands beside them when they need an advocate most? In this powerful episode of Heart of the Hustle, I sat down with Natasha Bywater, a passionate leader at CASA of Collin County—a nonprofit that trains volunteers to become Court Appointed Special Advocates for children navigating the foster care system. These advoca...