Hidden City

Derandon Davis is the owner of D for Dapper, a men’s boutique in Tyler Station where vintage, repurposed, and modern pieces meet heritage brands and personalized styling. In this episode, Derandon shares how growing up in Oak Cliff and learning the art of dressing from his father shaped his approach to fashion. We talk about the evolution of D for Dapper, why fit and confidence matter more than tr...

Stephen Callaghan didn’t just open House Rules to sell board games—he created a space where analog play meets neighborhood connection. In this episode, Stephen shares how his obsession with tabletop games turned into a business in the heart of Bishop Arts, how the pandemic fueled a tactile resurgence, and why selling Uno isn’t selling out. We talk about designing for discovery, demystifying “gamer...

Gabriel grew up in Elmwood and never really left Oak Cliff - today he’s helping shape its future as Assistant Vice President of Vendor Management at DART. In this episode, Gabriel shares how a summer internship turned into a 24-year career advocating for small, minority, and women-owned businesses within one of the nation’s largest transit agencies. We talk about the cultural challenges of buildin...

Amy Miller’s radio story begins in the Bay Area, winds through a Virginia station backed by Bruce Hornsby, and lands in Dallas, where she became a defining voice at KXT. In this episode, Amy shares what it takes to build a public radio brand rooted in community, the origin of the station’s beloved local music show, and how a late-night internet search led to her managing Abraham Alexander—all the...

Aaron Glover leads The Writer’s Garret, a 30-year-old literary arts organization rooted in Oak Cliff. In this episode, we talk about his path from musical theater and academia to executive director, and how the Writer’s Garret brings people together through the power of language. Aaron shares why empathy and connection are central to the organization’s mission, how programs like the Common Languag...

Filmmaker Merced Elizondo grew up in Oak Cliff, shaped by blue-collar grit, a Mexican-American household, and a love of storytelling—long before he realized filmmaking could be his path. In this episode, he shares early doubts, a pivotal college internship, and how his father’s temporary paralysis inspired his acclaimed short Manos de Oro. We talk about his punk rock approach to filmmaking, his lo...

AJ Ramler didn’t set out to be a developer—he just loved old buildings. In this episode, we sit down with the founder of Proxy Properties to talk about his journey from living in a basement quadplex to leading some of the most ambitious adaptive reuse projects in Oak Cliff. From the historic Struck House to the Oak Cliff Assembly and the Madison Hotel, AJ shares the hard-won lessons of preservatio...

Amy Cowan has helped shape the identity of Bishop Arts through more than just coffee, cocktails, and food. In this episode, we talk with the co-founder behind Oddfellows, Revelers Hall, Trades Deli, and more about how she found her way to Oak Cliff, what New Orleans taught her about hospitality, and how a neighborhood election night watch party and the first Oak Cliff Mardi Gras Parade helped spar...

Chris Corpus, Senior Director of Conservation and Community Impact at the Dallas Zoo, joins us to talk about what it really means to care for wildlife—both in faraway ecosystems and right here in Oak Cliff. From creek cleanups and community partnerships to wildlife rescue and international conservation work, Chris shares how his journey from journalism and filmmaking led him to a career centered o...

Jorge Samano, founder of Oak Cliff Bike Synergy, joins us to share his journey from growing up in Chihuahua, Mexico to pioneering mountain biking in northern Mexico, chasing dreams in London, and eventually finding a home in Oak Cliff. We talk about the heart he brings to his work, his belief that bikes are an extension of life itself, and how approachable service has helped him build a loyal comm...

Claudia Vega is a lifelong educator turned community builder, bookstore owner, and literary advocate. In this episode, she shares how growing up in Oak Cliff with educator parents instilled a love of books—and how that love became action. Claudia and her husband John co-founded Whose Books, a neighborhood bookstore committed to access, representation, and joy, and ARCO, a nonprofit that builds rea...

Vincent Holland is the co-founder of Oak Cliff Run Crew and the Say Less Project. In this episode, he shares how a need for connection after the pandemic sparked a Thursday night ritual that now draws hundreds to the bridge at Founders Park. We talk about building community from the ground up, staying rooted in consistency, and creating a space where everyone—from first-time walkers to seasoned ma...

Emma Ruby is a staff writer for the Dallas Observer and former editor of the Oak Cliff Advocate, where she quickly became a voice for the neighborhood she now calls home. In this episode, Emma shares how a snarky middle school article about Miley Cyrus kicked off her journalism journey, what it was like to jump headfirst into covering Oak Cliff, and how telling stories about her neighbors helped h...

In this special bonus episode, we're sharing the Dallas District 1 City Council candidate forum between incumbent Chad West and challenger Katrina Whatley. Hosted in partnership with Heritage Oak Cliff, Wax Space, and the Dallas Observer , this community forum dives into pressing local issues—from affordable housing and development to public safety, neighborhood preservation, and short-term re...

Greg Brownderville is a poet, musician, professor of English at SMU, and editor of the Southwest Review . He joins us to talk about growing up in Pumpkin Bend, Arkansas, discovering community in Oak Cliff, and the deep influence of Southern folklore on his work. We dig into Firebones, his multimedia storytelling project, and Frontera Fest, a free literary and arts festival in Bishop Arts that blen...

Chad West didn’t grow up in Dallas, but Oak Cliff is where he found his community—and where he’s been working ever since to serve it. In this episode, we talk with the District 1 City Council Member about his path from Southern Illinois farm kid to Oak Cliff homeowner, small business owner, and public servant. Chad shares how he ended up in city politics, what he’s learned about housing, zoning, a...

This special episode takes us inside one of the most quietly significant homes in Oak Cliff—the Oswald Rooming House Museum. Filmed on-site in the very dining room where Lee Harvey Oswald once sat, we sit down with owner Patricia Puckett-Hall to hear the deeply personal and often surprising stories behind the walls of her family's century-old home. Patricia shares what it was like growing up i...

How do you turn a creative passion into a sustainable business? In this episode, we sit down with Stephen Salter of Salter Pottery to explore his journey from college student to full-time ceramicist and studio owner. Stephen shares how a chance introduction to pottery sparked an unexpected career, the lessons he learned through apprenticeships and mentorships, and the realities of building a busin...

From the kitchens of Portland and Austin to the heart of Oak Cliff, Chad Dolezal has always followed his gut—literally. A musician-turned-chef, Chad co-founded Cenzo’s Pizza & Deli, a neighborhood restaurant that has quickly become a local institution. In this episode, he shares his journey through the restaurant world, how his punk rock roots shaped his approach to hospitality, and why Cenzo’...

Photographer and filmmaker Don Tortellini didn’t set out to document Oak Cliff—he just picked up a camera and let the neighborhood guide him. From capturing the heartbeat of community initiatives to having his work archived at UNT, Don shares his journey from picking up a Canon A1 on a whim to becoming a recognized visual storyteller in the city. We talk about his early creative experiments, his t...

In this episode, we sit down with architect and urbanist Stephanie Behring, co-founder of ReStudio Architecture, to explore what makes Oak Cliff—and cities like it—truly work. From the balance of historic preservation and new development to the challenges of affordability and density, Stephanie shares her deep knowledge of how the built environment shapes our daily lives. We discuss the power of 1...

Alex Bhore is a musician and producer, and the man behind Elmwood Recording, a studio tucked away in the Elmwood neighborhood of Oak Cliff. In this episode, Alex shares how he went from touring with This Will Destroy You to working alongside Grammy-winning producer John Congleton, eventually taking over the Elmwood Recording studio from John. We talk about some of Alex's past projects includin...

In this episode, we sit down with Matt Goodman, Online Editorial Director at D Magazine, to talk about the stories that shape Dallas. From the evolution of Oak Cliff and the power dynamics of the city to his in-depth investigative journalism—including his pivotal role in uncovering the chilling case of Dr. Death—we explore what it means to tell the stories that matter. Matt takes us behind the sce...

Oak Cliff historian and author Gayla Brooks joins us to unpack the rich, layered history of this legendary Dallas neighborhood. From the post-war boom and tight-knit high school rivalries to the unforgettable legacy of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Gayla shares firsthand stories that connect Oak Cliff’s past to the present. She also sheds light on lesser-known local figures, the impact of JFK’s assassinatio...

Paul Torres, owner of Sobremesa Studios, joins us today to talk through his creative evolution. Born in Monterrey, Mexico, and raised in Plano, Texas, Paul reflects on how his experiences shaped his unique approach to branding. Discover how the Oak Cliff community became a catalyst for his work, why sobremesa moments inspire his storytelling, and how he helps small businesses tell authentic storie...