Intersections

Bob Rowling is the chairman and CEO of TRT Holdings and the driving force behind Omni Hotels & Resorts. From growing up in a financially struggling household in Corpus Christi to building a multibillion-dollar business empire, Bob shares the pivotal decisions, unexpected opportunities, and lessons in integrity that shaped his career. He takes us behind the scenes of Omni's growth, the deve...

Ross Perot Jr. is a businessman, entrepreneur, aviation pioneer, real estate developer, and Chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In this wide-ranging conversation, Ross shares why he remains deeply optimistic about the future of American business and the power of free enterprise—even as the country faces challenges around China, immigration, political division, and the rise of AI. Ross also t...

Dallas is booming—but can its downtown keep pace? In this live episode of Intersections, Dallas City Manager Kim Tolbert and businessman Ray Washburne join the conversation about what it will take to build a stronger, more connected and more vibrant Dallas. From Charleston and Santa Barbara to Dallas’ own Bishop Arts, Deep Ellum and Klyde Warren Park, they explore why great cities need more than e...

Trevor Rees-Jones is an independent oil and gas entrepreneur whose career took him from practicing bankruptcy law and struggling to keep a tiny energy business alive to becoming an early leader in the Barnett Shale and building one of the country’s most successful independent oil and gas companies. But his story is as much about failure as success. Trevor shares what kept him going through 17 cons...

Victor Vescovo may have one of the most unusual résumés on the planet. He has climbed the highest peak on every continent, skied to both the North and South Poles, descended to the deepest points of the world’s oceans, served as a U.S. Navy intelligence officer, built a successful career in private equity and venture capital, and traveled to space. Yet Victor’s biggest takeaway from those experien...

Dr. Robert Jeffress is the senior pastor of First Baptist Dallas and the founder and host of Pathway to Victory. Known nationally for his outspoken views on faith, culture, and politics, Jeffress joins Intersections to share the story behind the public figure—from growing up at First Baptist Dallas and sensing a call to ministry at 15 to leading one of the country’s most historic churches. Jeffres...

Drew McKnight is co-CEO of Fortress Investment Group, where he has spent more than two decades helping build one of the world’s leading alternative asset managers. In this episode, Drew takes us inside the world of private credit and distressed investing—from his early days at Goldman Sachs and Fir Tree to joining Fortress and ultimately helping lead the firm. Drew also shares how his years as a c...

Ben Lamm is the co-founder and CEO of Colossal Biosciences, a company using genetic engineering, computational biology, AI, and reproductive technologies to tackle one of science’s biggest challenges: bringing extinct species back to life while helping protect the species still here. Ben joins Tom and Kyle to unpack the journey from his Texas upbringing and five successful entrepreneurial ventures...

Mark Gibson, CEO of JLL Capital Markets and former CEO of HFF, joins Intersections to discuss the journey from first-generation college student to building one of the most influential capital markets businesses in America. Mark shares lessons from entrepreneurship, leadership, faith, mentorship, and navigating multiple economic cycles—including the Texas real estate crash, the 2008 financial crisi...

Dan Hunt, President of FC Dallas and one of the key leaders behind Dallas’ successful World Cup 2026 bid, joins Intersections to discuss the journey that brought the world’s biggest sporting event back to North America. Dan reflects on the legacy of his father, Lamar Hunt, whose vision helped shape professional soccer in the United States, and shares stories from growing up in one of America’s mos...

Rob Kaplan returns to Intersections for a wide-ranging discussion on the forces shaping America’s economic future. Drawing on his experience as Vice Chairman of Goldman Sachs, former President of the Dallas Federal Reserve, and Harvard Business School professor, Kaplan explores workforce shortages, immigration policy, AI adoption, inflation, federal debt, leadership, and the growing divide between...

Elaine Agather is the Global Vice Chair and Chairman of the Dallas Region for JPMorgan Chase, where she has spent nearly five decades building one of the most respected careers in banking. From growing up in Sherman, Texas with a bulldozer-operator father to working in New York, London, San Francisco, and eventually returning home to Texas, Elaine shares the personal and professional experiences t...

Dale Petroskey has lived one of the most fascinating careers imaginable—from the Reagan White House to the Baseball Hall of Fame, National Geographic, the Texas Rangers, and the Dallas Regional Chamber. In this episode, Dale shares the leadership lessons, relationships, and defining moments that shaped his journey. He reflects on growing up in a close-knit family of nine children, working alongsid...

Todd Wagner joins Intersections for an in-depth conversation covering faith, doubt, church leadership, apologetics, and the rise of Watermark Community Church. Todd reflects on growing up in a nominally religious home in St. Louis, struggling with isolation and identity as a teenager, and eventually encountering authentic Christianity through Young Life relationships that changed the trajectory of...

In Part 2 of this conversation, former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Robert Jordan shares a firsthand account of stepping into one of the most complex diplomatic roles in modern history—just as the world changed on September 11th. Jordan reflects on navigating U.S.–Saudi relations amid suspicion, fear, and global uncertainty, while working closely with President George W. Bush, senior U.S. offic...

This episode features a timely conversation with Ambassador Robert Jordan, former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Drawing on firsthand experience, he unpacks the evolving geopolitical landscape of the Middle East—focusing on the growing influence of China and Russia, shifting alliances, and the erosion of U.S. dominance. The discussion dives into the current conflict involving Iran, the strategic...

David Miller shares the story behind his journey from a college basketball player at SMU to a pioneering force in private equity within the oil and gas industry. He reflects on the importance of resilience, especially after a career-threatening injury, and how that mindset carried into entrepreneurship. Miller dives into the founding of Mays Exploration, the lessons learned from its challenges, an...

Blake Walker, Founder & CEO of Arcis Golf, shares how he built one of the largest and most innovative golf course portfolios in the country. Broadcasting from Augusta during the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, the conversation explores how golf is evolving beyond the course into a full lifestyle experience. Blake breaks down Arcis’ “four pillars” strategy—combining golf, hospitality, wellnes...

Rob Holmes, Chairman, President, and CEO of Texas Capital, joins Intersections to talk about one of the most dramatic turnarounds in regional banking. After a 31-year career at JPMorgan Chase, Rob came back to Texas to lead a bank he says was in worse shape than he originally realized. He shares how cancer, COVID, and a major career pivot changed his perspective on leadership, candor, accountabili...

Mark Cuban reflects on his path from early entrepreneurial experiments to building and selling multiple companies, including Broadcast.com. He shares lessons on recognizing opportunity during industry change, managing risk, and staying disciplined through uncertainty. Cuban also discusses what it took to reshape the Dallas Mavericks into a championship organization, emphasizing culture, accountabi...

SMU President Jay Hartzell shares his journey from growing up in Oklahoma to leading two major universities—first at the University of Texas and now at SMU. He reflects on the differences between large public institutions and smaller private schools, the complexities of leadership during times of crisis, and the evolving landscape of higher education. Hartzell offers a behind-the-scenes look at na...

Rick Welts, CEO of the Dallas Mavericks and a Hall of Fame NBA executive, joins Intersections to discuss the future of the Mavericks and the role the franchise plays in the city of Dallas. Welts shares stories from his 57-year career in professional basketball—from starting as a ball boy for the Seattle SuperSonics to helping shape the modern NBA through innovations like All-Star Weekend and globa...

Craig Hall had built an empire by 35 — 70,000 apartment units, billions in assets, and national recognition as one of the largest private real estate sponsors in the country. Then it unraveled. In this candid conversation, Craig walks through the early hustle that started with $4,000 saved as a kid, the bold bets that built his fortune, the savings and loan crisis that nearly wiped him out, and th...

Lucy Billingsley, co-founder of Billingsley Company, shares how she stepped out from under a legendary last name to build her own path in real estate. From launching a travel business to developing landmark master-planned communities like Austin Ranch and Cypress Waters, Lucy explains why fear can be fuel, integrity is non-negotiable, and long-term ownership wins. She also tackles big-picture ques...

Entrepreneur and former honey mogul Nate Sheets—best known for founding Nature Nate’s, the #1 honey brand in America—joins the show as he runs for Texas Agriculture Commissioner. From humble beginnings with a single beehive to full-time ministry to launching the “I Am Second” campaign, Nate shares how faith, food, and service intersect in his journey. He gets real about the collapse of mid-sized f...