Before Stevie Ray Vaughan was one of the greatest guitar players in the world, he was a kid growing up in Oak Cliff trying to keep up with his older brother Jimmie. In this episode, we trace Stevie’s early years playing Dallas clubs, the gritty Texas blues sound that defined him, and how Texas Flood launched him onto the national stage. We also talk about the Oak Cliff neighborhood that shaped his intensity—and the legacy he left behind after his life was cut short in 1990.

In this episode, Tyler and Cheyenne talk about why they left restaurant life, why they won’t do wholesale or pre-orders, and why staying small is part of the plan. We get into three-day croissants, 1 a.m. bake shifts, sourdough starter science, and the very real tension between growing a business and protecting its quality.

In this episode, River shares how an open mic night at Opening Bell led to a long-term creative partnership, the launch of Alma Row Records, and eventually a growing series of living-room concerts designed to bring neighbors together outside of traditional venues. What started as a small experiment with 30 people has quickly turned into shoulder-to-shoulder gatherings where artists, DJs, and community collide.

We talk about his “Super Moody” project, writing from feeling rather than formula, and the lyric that captures his philosophy: “I’m not here for so long, I’m just passing by.” River reflects on anxiety, faith, small goals over big ambitions, and why creating space for laughter and connection might be the most important thing an artist can do right now.

For more than three decades, DJ EZ Eddie D has been a steady presence on Dallas airwaves and a quiet force in the city’s hip-hop culture. In this episode, Eddie traces his path from Cincinnati to Oak Cliff, from early club nights to KNON and Knowledge Dropped, a show that became a home for true school hip-hop and social commentary. We talk about the Oak Cliff music scene of the ’80s and ’90s, the loss of local infrastructure, and what it meant to break records before algorithms took over. Eddie reflects on community, craft, and the importance of local radio, sharing stories of Biggie, KRS-One, early SXSW days, and more from his nearly 40 years in the Dallas music scene.

Michael and Lauren Boss are the founders of BOCO, a neighborhood music school in Oak Cliff. In this episode, they share how they started with a single student next to the Kessler Theater and grew into a school serving kids, adults, and families across the community. We hear about their approach to teaching music, curating what students learn, and giving them the chance to perform on real stages. From youth bands to adult programs, the conversation explores how BOCO combines education, performance, and neighborhood culture into a single, thriving space.

Twin brothers Ryan and Calvin Sprague have built a career out of saying yes to their creative instincts. What started with DIY band posters in high school grew into design work that’s reached everyone from Paul McCartney to Nike to Target. In this Texas Talk, recorded live at Wax Space in March of 2025, the Spragues share the unorthodox path that carried them from late-night merch hustles to murals, motion graphics, and global brand collaborations—while never losing sight of their personal voice as artists. They also open up about twin dynamics, creative pivots, and why making work just for yourself might be the best career move of all. Wax Space hosts Texas Talks, a live lecture series featuring creative thinkers, entrepreneurs, and community voices from across the state. We bring a selection of these conversations to the Hidden City podcast so you can hear them, too.

Wax Space hosts Texas Talks, a live lecture series featuring creative thinkers, entrepreneurs, and community voices from across the state. We bring a selection of these conversations to the Hidden City podcast so you can hear them, too.

Amy Miller’s radio story begins in the Bay Area, winds through a Virginia station backed by Bruce Hornsby, and lands in Dallas, where she became a defining voice at KXT. In this episode, Amy shares what it takes to build a public radio brand rooted in community, the origin of the station’s beloved local music show, and how a late-night internet search led to her managing Abraham Alexander—all the way to the Oscars. We get into what makes a song radio-worthy, how Dallas music surprised her, and why staying grounded in community still matters most.

Alex Bhore is a musician and producer, and the man behind Elmwood Recording, a studio tucked away in the Elmwood neighborhood of Oak Cliff. In this episode, Alex shares how he went from touring with This Will Destroy You to working alongside Grammy-winning producer John Congleton, eventually taking over the Elmwood Recording studio from John. We talk about some of Alex's past projects including composing for Halo Infinite and Meow Wolf, and he shares what makes Elmwood Recording a hidden gem for artists and how Oak Cliff continues to shape its sound.