The Front Porch - Stories of Grit and Growth

LimeLily founder and CEO Twila Kaye (also known as Twila Hieselman) joins us to break down how she navigated a major business strategy pivot — from running a corporate gifting company to reshaping its direction for long-term growth. We dig into the signals that told her it was time to pivot, how she rallied her team around a new vision, the mistakes she avoided (and the ones she didn't), and what...

This week on The Front Porch Podcast, Dennis and Jay are back after a month off with a conversation about coachability, standards, and what it really means to be elite. Everybody wants the result. Not everybody wants the standard. From sports to business to leadership and entrepreneurship, elite performers do not run from hard coaching. They want clarity, correction, accountability, and the truth....

Mission-driven leadership looks a little different when you're building something for others — not yourself. Lydia Tate of Waco Public Radio joins us to talk about her journey in nonprofit leadership, what community broadcasting actually looks like from the inside, and how servant leadership principles guide the decisions she makes every day. If you've ever wanted to lead with more purpose and les...

In this episode of  The Front Porch , Dennis and Jay dive into why organizational change is one of the hardest challenges leaders face. From fear of the unknown to communication breakdowns, shifting expectations, and the natural resistance people have when routines are disrupted, they unpack the human side of change. With real-world leadership insight and honest conversation, they explore how...

In this episode of  The Front Porch , we sit down with  Kendall Lawson of Rogue Media  for a real conversation about the next generation, work ethic, and why there’s still plenty of reason for hope. As someone working in media and around young professionals, Kendall brings a firsthand perspective on perseverance, discipline, character, and what still sets people apart today.  We talk about the hab...

Running a successful business takes vision, grit, and hard work—but ask any entrepreneur what the hardest part of leadership really is, and most will give the same answer: people. In this episode of The Front Porch, we dive into the real challenges of managing employees, building a team, and creating a culture that actually works. From hiring the right people to dealing with difficult employees, s...

In this guest free episode, Dennis and Jay have a powerful raw conversation about what small business ownership really feels like. From NFL sidelines and professional golf to building an insurance agency from scratch, they unpack the pressure, loneliness, invisible grind, and patience required to survive entrepreneurship. No hype - just honest lessons about building something sustainable when ther...

What happens when success in business isn’t enough anymore? In this episode of  The Front Porch , Dennis Polian and Jay Davis sit down with, Executive Director of the Greater Waco Sports Commission,  Mike Vogelaar,  to talk about what it really means to lead through service—and why Mike made the bold decision to pivot from the for-profit world into non-profit work. Mike shares the lessons he learn...

In this episode of  The Front Porch , hosts  Dennis Polian  and  Jay Davis  dive deep into one of the biggest challenges business leaders face today:  staying focused in a world full of noise . Using the high-stakes world of  college football coaching  as a powerful analogy, they explore how distractions—from media pressure to fan expectations and shiny opportunities—mirror the everyday chaos of r...

In this episode of The Front Porch, Dennis sits down with Mariah Gates of Accelerated Automation for an honest conversation about what entrepreneurship really asks of you — not just in business, but at home. Mariah opens up about building a company while navigating marriage, family, pressure, and expectations. They talk about the unseen emotional weight of entrepreneurship, the sacrifices that don...

Dennis & Jay sit down with Owner & CEO of Greater Waco Realty, Robert Barnes and talk about his experiences in real estate, the restaurant business and overcoming adversity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Dennis and Jay talk about the small things that create the biggest moments in life and business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

A conversation about the amount of change in college football, and how it relates to business ownership. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

From the bright lights of Las Vegas to building Lime Lily, Twila Heiselman’s story is all about reinvention. Using creativity and courage - you can build a life you love—no matter how many times you have to start over.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sel...

This week on The Front Porch, we sit down with a firefighter and coach who knows what it means to lead under pressure. From the firehouse to the locker room, he shares real stories about courage, teamwork, and finding purpose when the heat is on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://a...

From ministry, to the stage, to the financial world, our guest shares how a career in music education and ministry shaped his journey into advising others on money. It’s a story of reinvention, and finding purpose in unexpected places.  mattandmoney.com   https://www.instagram.com/mattandmoney   https://www.facebook.com/mboudreaux.fp Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices S...

Get to know Dennis and Jay as they share their journeys in professional and college sports, their friendship, and the vision behind  The Front Porch .  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Get to know Dennis and Jay as they share their journeys in professional and college sports, their friendship, and the vision behind  The Front Porch .  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .