Amanda Mecsey started building a neighborhood studio by teaching mat Pilates in Kidd Springs Park. Joined by her husband and creative partner Kiel Jared, the two turned those early park classes into Oak Cliff Pilates—a community that now stretches across Dallas while keeping its Oak Cliff heart. We talk about those first classes in a second-story studio overlooking Davis Street, teaching through power outages with a gas generator, and creating a teacher certification program from scratch. From expanding into Uptown and Lower Greenville to keeping prices accessible and the vibe down-to-earth, Amanda and Kiel share what it means to grow with a community instead of outgrowing it.

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 marathoners—feels like they belong. Vincent also opens up about his personal journey with grief, the loss of his father, and how that led to the Say Less Project, a powerful mental health awareness run from Dallas to Austin. Through it all, Vincent reflects on what it means to run with purpose and lead with authenticity.We talk about journalism as a public service, the rise of nonprofit newsrooms, and the balancing act of writing for both the archives and the algorithm. Along the way, we dig into her coverage of the Belmont Hotel, navigating conspiracy brain, and why there's joy in hyperlocal journalism—even when you're writing about Southwest Airlines' baggage policy.