Intersections

Ray Washburne—entrepreneur, real estate mogul, restauranteur, and former head of OPIC—joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of Dallas, the economics of restaurants, and how he bought Highland Park Village in the middle of a financial crisis. From starting a newspaper as a kid to expanding global fuel distribution, Ray shares hard-won insights on spotting trends, trusting ins...

Mayor Mattie Parker joins the show to talk about Fort Worth as one of the fastest-growing cities in the country—and how she’s leading it with both strategy and soul. From working behind the scenes in Texas politics to becoming one of the youngest mayors of a top-10 U.S. city, Mattie shares her journey, the challenges of balancing motherhood with leadership, and what it really takes to keep a city...

Bob Doll, longtime investment manager and current CEO/CIO at Crossmark Global Investments, joins the show for a deep dive into markets, faith, and leadership. With a career spanning Merrill Lynch, BlackRock, Nuveen, and now a faith-based investing firm, Bob shares how he integrates values into portfolio management. He unpacks his quantitative approach to stock picking, reflects on getting “cancele...

Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt sits down with Tom and Kyle for a wide-ranging conversation about family legacy, sports business strategy, and leadership driven by faith. From his grandfather H.L. Hunt’s oil empire to his father Lamar Hunt’s formation of the AFC and eventually the Super Bowl , Clark shares how visionary thinking runs in the family. He dives deep into building the Chiefs’ moder...

Tom and Kyle sit down with dynamic couple Nirav and Megha Tolia to dive into what it's like to partner in life and leadership. Nirav, serial entrepreneur and CEO of Nextdoor, and Megha, former President and COO of Shondaland, share their personal and professional journeys—from small-town Texas and LA roots to global business impact. The two talk about family values, cultural identity, raising...

In this episode, Kyle and Tom dive deep into the generational divide over capitalism, the changing nature of work, and what younger Americans misunderstand about economic systems. From rising distrust in corporate America to the evolution of the creator economy, they unpack how shifts in education, wages, and political narratives are shaping economic opinions today. They also discuss the rise of s...

Kyle and Tom sit down for a one-on-one to unpack the generational shifts in how we view education, engage in public discourse, and access information. From their first concerts (The Beatles vs. late 90s pop) to debates about cancel culture and campus free speech, they explore how younger generations are being shaped by digital consumption, ideological echo chambers, and a declining interest in his...

Jody Thornton, Executive Chairman of Capital Markets, Americas at JLL, joins the show to unpack his decades-long journey in commercial real estate—from starting out as an accountant to helping lead the growth and IPO of HFF, and its eventual merger with JLL. Jody shares invaluable lessons on work ethic, client-first culture, mentorship, the evolution of capital markets, and why faith and relations...

Pete McCanna, CEO of Baylor Scott & White Health, joins Tom and Kyle for a wide-ranging, deeply personal conversation about transforming healthcare. From starting out in finance to leading one of the nation’s largest health systems, Pete walks us through his career, the system’s biggest flaws, and how Baylor is flipping the script—focusing on customer-centric care, embracing AI, and challengin...

Rob Walters is a lawyer’s lawyer—an antitrust expert, constitutional scholar, and courtroom veteran with a long record of public and private sector impact. In this episode, Rob shares insights from landmark cases (like AT&T-Time Warner and LIV Golf), breaks down today’s antitrust landscape, and explains the legal tension between the executive and judicial branches. With experience ranging from...

In this episode, we sit down with Clay Cooley—a Dallas-born entrepreneur and automotive powerhouse who went from sacking groceries to owning 22 car dealerships and employing thousands. Known for his “Shop Me First, Shop Me Last, Either Way Come See Clay” slogan, Clay unpacks his journey of hustle, hard knocks, reinvention, and relentless growth. We talk entrepreneurship, failure, family business,...

Cynt Marshall, the first Black Female CEO in the NBA and former AT&T executive, shares her incredible journey from growing up in public housing to leading major organizations with a philosophy grounded in joy, integrity, and people-first leadership. She opens up about her early lessons, personal losses, and how she transformed a workplace in crisis into a national model of inclusion and cultur...

Fred Perpall is not just the CEO of The Beck Group and the President of the USGA—he’s a powerhouse of purpose, grit, and vision. From humble beginnings in The Bahamas to becoming a national leader in architecture and golf, Fred shares the pivotal moments that shaped his career, his leadership philosophy, and why golf is more than just a game. This episode explores how he built a meaningful life by...

Ken Hersh, energy entrepreneur and current CEO of the George W. Bush Presidential Center, shares his unconventional journey from liberal arts major to pioneering a whole new industry in energy private equity. From early business failures and bold pivots to investing with Richard Rainwater and creating Natural Gas Partners, Ken breaks down the highs, lows, and lessons learned. He also dives into pu...

In this conversation, we take a deep dive into R. Gerald Turner’s remarkable 30-year run as president of Southern Methodist University. We cover everything from faith and small-town values to high-stakes athletics and billion-dollar fundraising campaigns. Turner reflects on leadership decisions, including firing a popular football coach at Ole Miss, building SMU’s academic and athletic infrastruct...

Commissioner John Wiley Price, often dubbed “Our Man Downtown,” sits down with Tom and Kyle for a wide-ranging conversation on his four decades of service in Dallas County. As the longest-serving commissioner in Texas—and possibly the nation—Price offers a unique, unfiltered perspective on the intersection of policy, race, faith, and leadership. The episode digs deep into the structural issues tha...

Rob Kaplan, former President of the Dallas Federal Reserve, takes us through his remarkable journey across three major arenas: finance, academia, and public service. From his days on the Goldman Sachs management committee to shaping U.S. monetary policy, Kaplan shares powerful lessons on leadership, economic foresight, mentoring future leaders, and the strategic risks facing the U.S. economy today...

Kyle and Tom take a step back to tell the story of their friendship and what sparked the Intersections podcast. What began as bi-weekly breakfasts evolved into a deep friendship spanning generations, perspectives, and life experiences. From entrepreneurship to public service, from personal struggles to professional milestones, they share the story behind the mic—and why this podcast aims to humani...

Admiral Pat Walsh, the only person to serve as both a Blue Angel and a four-star admiral, joins the show to share wisdom forged in the skies, at sea, and through global crises. From commanding the Pacific Fleet during the 2011 Japan earthquake and Fukushima disaster to leading major educational reform today, Pat’s story is one of humility, service, and mission-driven leadership. Whether flying fig...

Chris Young, President of Baseball Operations for the Texas Rangers, shares a wide-ranging and heartfelt conversation about leadership, resilience, and the state of the game. A Dallas native who went from Highland Park to Princeton, from player to exec, Chris opens up about navigating setbacks, building a winning culture, and the 2023 World Series run. He also reflects on his faith, family, and wh...

Chief Brown is the former Police Chief of Dallas and the former Police Superintendent of Chicago. His career spans 30+ years with a commitment to viewing his work through the lens of truth and grace. Chief Brown grew up in Dallas and was the first police chief to utilize an explosive armed robot  to eliminate a suspect during the deadly July 7th, 2016 attack that killed 5 DPD officers. Chief Brown...

We’re Kyle and Tom—two guys from two very different generations, sitting down to talk about the issues shaping our country. From business to politics to sports, Intersections is all about getting a multi-generational perspective on what matters most. We've got a great lineup of recognizable guests from Chief David Brown to Chris Young (President of the Texas Rangers) —leaders with real stories...