Senior City Planner and longtime Oak Cliff resident Don Raines Jr. joins the Hidden City to talk about the roots and rhythms that shaped Dallas’s most distinctive neighborhood. From the Caddo Nation’s influence and Oak Cliff’s “Brooklyn of the Southwest” beginnings to the flood that forged its independent spirit and the community’s reluctant annexation into Dallas, Don traces how character, creativity, and geography continue to define this side of the river. We talk about the Trinity River, the rebirth of Bishop Arts, and what’s next for Elmwood and the streetcar line as Dallas looks to its future.

Allison Macalik, co-owner of Little Joy Coffee, joins The Hidden City to talk about the community heartbeat of Elmwood and how a local coffee shop became a neighborhood gathering place. From her roots in Garland to her years in Austin’s local business scene, Allison talks about finding that same independent spirit in Oak Cliff—and how she and her husband Russ poured it into a coffee shop built for families, neighbors, and community connection. We talk about investing in the place you live, lessons from buying a local business, and how the families, friendships, and small moments of connection continue to shape life in downtown Elmwood.

Lydia Torrez has spent nearly five decades shaping young minds in Oak Cliff. Her story spans generations of faith, education, and community—as a former St. Cecilia Catholic School student who returned to lead the school as principal, twice. She reflects on her career as an educator at both Bishop Dunne and St. Cecilia, sharing how each helped nurture confidence and curiosity in students who might have otherwise been overlooked. From guiding the future of St. Cecilia through its Blue Ribbon Initiative to serving on the advisory council for the new Halperin Park, Lydia continues to help shape Oak Cliff’s future—guiding the same neighborhood that shaped her.

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.

Cam Leggett, co-founder of Nomad Grills, joins us to share the story behind Oak Cliff’s own portable grill brand that’s taken off worldwide. From welding early prototypes in a driveway to shipping to over 80 countries, Cam talks about the patience, precision, and grit behind a “ten-year overnight success.” We get into product design, startup lessons, and how Nomad has stayed rooted in Oak Cliff through events like Camp Nomad—a neighborhood block party that blends BBQ, music, and community.

Jason Hayes, Senior Vice President of Brand Experience at the State Fair of Texas, joins us to talk about the energy, history, and community behind one of Dallas’s most beloved institutions. We revisit the fair’s early days—including its brief Oak Cliff roots—and how that local spirit continues to shape Fair Park today. From Big Tex’s rebirth to the fair’s “most Texan place on earth” vision, Jason shares what it takes to honor tradition while keeping the fair fresh for generations to come.

From fish farms in Israel to museum shops in Rome, Ari Lowenstein’s journey has been anything but ordinary. In this episode, Ari shares how a love for food, sparked in Italian markets and nurtured through family recipes, became the heartbeat of Ari’s Pantry. We talk about the leap from corporate strategy to catering, the role his wife Amy played in making it real, and how Oak Cliff became the perfect home for an Italian-inspired neighborhood shop.

In this Texas Talk, Sarah unpacks the history of Dallas—from its untold origin stories to the lasting effects of segregation and redlining—and how those realities shape the city we live in now. She reminds us that being a neighbor isn’t about grand gestures, but about the everyday choices we make with our time, work, and resources. Through her “sphere of influence” framework, she offers tangible, practical steps to love our neighbors well, whether that’s inviting someone to dinner, rethinking hiring practices, or simply showing up at a city council meeting. Sarah challenges us to claim “neighbor” as part of our identity—and to see it as seriously as the other roles we play in life.

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.

Richard Ross has spent years shaping how brands look and feel, from his work at Mizzen+Main to the launch of his own venture, Holy Water. In this Texas Talk, he shares why he sees brands as living characters—rooted in story, shaped by intuition, and built to evolve. Richard traces his path from theater and photography to design and entrepreneurship, reflecting on the influences that taught him to pay attention to detail, trust instinct, and create worlds people want to step into.

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.

Krista Nightengale has spent her career reimagining what neighborhoods can be. As Executive Director of Better Block, she’s helped communities across the globe transform empty streets into vibrant, people-first spaces. In this Texas Talk, recorded live at Wax Space in June 2024, Krista shares stories of small changes that sparked big shifts, the lessons learned from listening to neighbors, and why temporary experiments can lead to lasting impact.

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.

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.

In this Texas Talk, recorded live at Wax Space in December 2024, designer Crespatrick de los Reyes shares the story behind his Dallas-based brand C. Patricio—a label rooted in legacy, storytelling, and denim. From his DIY beginnings in Los Angeles to discovering a creative community in Oak Cliff, Crespatrick reflects on how limitations sparked innovation, why denim became his canvas, and how his Filipino heritage continues to shape his work. Along the way, he talks about finding his “Air Force One” piece, creating with upcycled materials, and building a brand that doubles as a platform for culture and community.

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.

In this Texas Talk, recorded live at Wax Space in November 2024, Brenton Phillips and Haley Nutt share the story behind building Tribal All Day Cafe, Tribal Juice, and Written by the Seasons from the ground up in Oak Cliff. What started as a cold-pressed juice company born out of 4 a.m. farmer's market runs became a neighborhood institution—but not without two years of rejection, hand-labeling thousands of juice bottles, and that time the FDA showed up at their door. They talk about their leap of faith move to Oak Cliff in 2013, the importance of building and retaining a strong team, and why hospitality is about making space for magic.

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.

In this Texas Talk, recorded live at Wax Space in September 2023, Hance Taplin shares the story behind his brand By Way of Dallas and the lessons he’s carried from design school to Nike to building a community-focused label from the ground up. He reflects on why direction matters more than speed, the importance of embracing all sides of the city, and why he believes if you can make it in Dallas, you can make it anywhere. Along the way, he offers candid stories—near misses, collaborations that almost were, and the challenge of staying true to your own “cool”—while making the case for getting your hands dirty to help Dallas grow. 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.

The Hidden City Podcast began as a simple idea and grew into over 40 conversations with neighbors across Oak Cliff. In this finale, Doug and Grant sit down with producer Jason Talley and production manager Savannah Young to reflect on favorite episodes, surprising guests, and what they’ve learned about the community along the way. They share behind‑the‑scenes stories, recurring themes from the season, and what’s next as the team gears up for Season 2, introduces Texas Talks to the feed, and invites listeners to help support the show moving forward.

For more than eight decades, Brother Bill’s Helping Hand has quietly served West Dallas and Oak Cliff with food, healthcare, and education. CEO Wes Keyes shares how the nonprofit’s unlikely roots trace back to a drinking partner of Bonnie and Clyde, why their “say yes” mantra drives everything from job training to free medical clinics, and how he’s seen the neighborhood rally behind neighbors in need. We get into Wes’s path from small-town Mississippi to Oak Cliff, the beer-brewing Sunday school class that first connected him to the community, and what it looks like to lead with humility in your neighborhood.