If You Denton Know... Now You Know!

If You Denton Know David J. Anzaldua Pierce and Marcus Watson , now you do. David J. Anzaldúa Pierce and Marcus Watson are the co-founders of Denton's Day of the Dead Festival, the event that helped turn Denton into the Halloween capital of Texas. What began in 2011 as a block party on Industrial Street has grown into a month of programming that brings visitors from across the country and bey...

If You Denton Know Terin Andrus, Becca Hobby, and Samantha Sims , now you do. Episode Description North Texas Giving Day brings three guests into the studio at once. Terin Andrus is the vice president of Meg Matters, a Krum-based nonprofit funding mental health resources in schools. Becca Hobby is the community engagement director at Veterans Point, a Denton County organization that supports veter...

If You Denton Know Glenn Carlton , now you do. Glenn Carlton has been part of the North Texas Fair and Rodeo since 1985, first as a volunteer on the rodeo committee and, since 2005, as executive director. He grew up in Eugene, Oregon with deep family roots in southeastern Oklahoma, rode bulls, and landed in Denton through a beer sales territory that introduced him to the fairgrounds. Nearly four d...

If You Denton Know Nate Hamilton , now you do. Nate Hamilton is the founder and owner of 144 Print House and Race Studio in Denton, Texas. A former Formula Drift professional driver, he competed at the sport's highest level through 2017 before shifting his focus to design, screen printing, and embroidery. His shop serves motorsports brands, YouTubers, and local Denton businesses alike.  Key T...

If You Denton Know John Williams, Desmond Moore, and Patrick Blancas, now you do. For more than a decade, John Williams, Desmond Moore, and Patrick Blancas have quietly shaped where Denton goes to unwind. What started as a single house bar just off the square grew into a family of four sister spots known today as EastOak DanGeline's: Oak Street Drafthouse, East Side, Miss Angeline's, and...

If You Denton Know Andrew and Isaac Lewis, now you do. Andrew and Isaac Lewis are twin brothers, born and raised in Denton, who turned a childhood hobby into a career producing and directing feature films. Through their company Denton Film, their work has reached screens across the country, all while they choose to build their careers and raise their families right here in Denton. In this conversa...

If You Denton Know Pat Smith, now you do. Pat Smith is the founder and CEO of Serve Denton, a nonprofit hub that houses 25 partner organizations under one roof and was built entirely without government funding. A Denton native, retired Air Force colonel, and son of two of Denton's most beloved small business owners, Pat brings decades of leadership experience to a mission rooted in his hometo...

If You Denton Know Tommy Mainord, now you do. Coach Tommy Mainord returns to the University of North Texas in a brand new role, stepping off the football field and into one of the most talked about positions in college athletics. After more than a decade in Denton and a career that took him from Tarleton State to Texas Tech, Kentucky, and back to UNT, Tommy now serves as Senior Associate Athletic...

If You Denton Know the City of Denton Candidates, now you do . Episode Description Election time is here, and this one is huge. Denton voters are filling four council seats and the mayor position, with early voting ending April 28 and election day on May 2. To help the community make informed choices at the ballot box, every candidate was invited onto the show to answer two simple questions: What...

If You Denton Know Peter Salisbury , now you do.  From launching a tiny AM station in his living room to building KUZU 92.9 FM into a 24/7 community-powered radio station, Peter shares how passion, persistence, and local music shaped one of Denton’s most grassroots success stories. In this episode, Peter talks about growing up in Texas, falling in love with Denton’s music scene, and the long road...

If You Denton Know Jason Reimer, now you do. On this episode of If You Denton Know , we sit down with musician, filmmaker, and creative director Jason Reimer to talk about one of the most anticipated projects in Denton… the revival of the historic Fine Arts Theatre . Jason has spent years shaping unique cinematic and live experiences through his work at the Texas Theatre in Dallas, as well as thro...

If You Denton Know Dr. Carine Feyten,  now you do. Chancellor and President of Texas Woman’s University , Carine M. Feyten, PhD joins Brad in The Den for a wide-ranging conversation on TWU’s 125-year legacy, her journey from Belgium to Denton, and what it looks like to lead a “campus with a heart.” They dive into TWU’s woman-focused mission, whole-person development, major campus growth, the new H...

If You Denton Know Joshua Butler, now you do. Joshua Butler , founder of Thin Line Fest , joins Brad to talk about what it takes to build a lasting creative institution in Denton. They unpack Joshua’s path from Houston to UNT, the early days of Texas Filmmakers, and why Thin Line has stayed rooted in documentary storytelling for nearly two decades. Joshua also previews what’s coming March 18–22, i...

If You Denton Know David Pierce,  now you do. In this episode, we sit down with David Pierce , composer, educator, and the creative force behind Denton’s Day of the Dead Festival . David shares his journey from growing up in South Texas to becoming one of the key figures shaping Denton’s music and cultural scene. We talk about creativity, community, risk-taking, and how one Halloween show evolved...

If You Denton Know Morgan Kennedy, now you do. Every building tells a story, and Architect Morgan Kennedy helps shape how those stories get built. Morgan shares how she went from growing up in Plano to studying architecture at Oklahoma State, earning a traveling fellowship, and practicing in places like Seattle, Oklahoma City, and beyond. We talk about what architects really do, why adaptive reuse...

If You Denton Know Seth Morgan, now you do. In this episode, Brad sits down with Seth Morgan , founder of Denton County Brewing Company , to talk about purpose, perseverance, community, and what it really took to open Denton’s first downtown brewery. From a 25 year career in financial services to global missionary work and nonprofit leadership, Seth’s story is about far more than beer. Episode Ove...

If You Denton Know Hank Dickenson , now you do. In this episode, Brad sits down with one of the most recognizable voices and relationship builders in town. Hank Dickenson spent more than two decades inside UNT Athletics as a deputy athletic director and broadcaster, then pivoted into his role as Director of Membership for the Denton Chamber of Commerce, all while serving on some of the most impact...

If You Denton Know Gerard Hudspeth , now you do. Mayor Hudspeth has been serving this city long before he ever wore the mayor’s pin. In this episode, Brad sits down with Denton’s head honcho to talk about growing up here, leading through crisis, loving small business, and what comes next as Gerard runs for Denton County Commissioner. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Growing up a Denton kid, tak...

If You Denton Know Gary Weiland,  now you do. After a freak knee injury at a Thanksgiving turkey bowl in 2018, Denton firefighter Gary Weiland woke up to the news that his leg would be amputated. In this episode, Gary shares how that moment turned his world upside down and how choosing to “Adapt and Overcome” led him back to full duty firefighting, onto the American Ninja Warrior course, into Team...

If You Denton Know Ryan Polly , now you do. Ryan Polly has been chasing stories that make people laugh, scream, and feel something real. A writer, director, and co-founder of Weekend Video , Ryan’s work spans from creative ad campaigns for Nintendo, Pizza Hut, and ESPN to his debut feature film MONITOR. In this episode, Ryan shares how a kid from Denton found his voice in filmmaking, built a creat...

If You Denton Know Gary Henderson , now you do. Gary Henderson is the President and CEO of United Way of Denton County , but he did not start in the nonprofit world. In this episode, Gary shares how he went from a successful career in finance at Price Waterhouse and Bank of America to a life focused on helping Denton County families, what United Way actually does locally, who in our community need...

If You Denton Know Landmark , now you do.  I sat down with Kim Cole and Andrew Pieper from Hillwood to discuss Landmark , a 3,200-acre master-planned community on Denton’s southwest side that blends preserved nature, new neighborhoods, and a commercial district anchored by H-E-B. 

If You Denton Know Dr. Shaun Treat,  now you do. The former UNT professor, Denton historian, and founder of Lil’ D-Tours and Denton Haunts shares courthouse legends, Fine Arts Theatre ghost stories, and the surprising history of Denton’s trolley with a case for bringing it back. We talk walkable streets, first-Friday art walks, favorite local spots like Chestnut Tree, and how to book custom haunte...

If You Denton Know Eric Pulido , now you do. Frontman of Midlake , creator of E.B. The Younger , and co-founder of Norman Roscoe , Eric’s story is pure Denton gold. He shares how a college side-gig turned into touring the world, the evolution of Midlake’s sound, and what it’s like to step into the front-man role. We also dive into his creative ventures—Paschall Bar, Norman Roscoe, and his deep roo...

If You Denton Know Kevin Roden, now you do. Kevin traces his path from jazz drums and philosophy to civic leadership and ed-tech growth, including ReadyRosie’s acquisition and his current work at Teaching Strategies. We talk Fry Street roots, practicing democracy at the neighborhood level, and why his corner office view of the square never gets old.  Check out the awesome things Kevin is working o...