The next episode of Heart Of It is a really fun conversation between two friends who go way back. Ben Rogers and I grew up in Richardson, attending different schools in RISD, and this conversation brought back a lot of memories from those e years and the unlikely path that eventually led Ben to becoming one of the most recognizable voices in Dallas sports radio. We talk about growing up in North Texas, and the twists and turns that shaped Ben’s journey—including his experience at the University of North Texas, where he ultimately earned his degree and which he looks back on as an important part of his story.

We also get into the unconventional way Ben has continued to build his career beyond radio, from his role as a partner in Rollertown Beerworks in Frisco to his new media venture with Haymaker. We talk about my departure from the Dallas Cowboys as the Wounded Cowboy movement was getting started, the early Ben & Skin days, and why I think there are some very big things ahead for the Cowboys this year. It’s a wide-ranging conversation filled with stories, laughs, memories, and a great deal of friendship, and we finish with a fun round of rapid-fire questions that reveal another side of Ben.

This episode of Heart of It is an unexpected conversation between two people who had never met, but quickly discovered they were connected by a shared mission: shining a bright light on organ donation and transplantation. Elle Rylee, a Miss Texas Volunteer nominee, shares why she chose to get involved with organ donation advocacy and how her service initiative, A Hopeful Heart, was inspired by the memory of her cousin Birdie, who passed away at just three years old. Elle and her family have turned their loss into a mission to keep Birdie’s memory alive and encourage others to consider the life-changing impact of organ donation. What starts as an interview quickly becomes a much more personal conversation about purpose, family, loss, and hope.

There is much more to this conversation than organ donation. Elle opens up about her perspective on pageants and what the experience means to her, the unique responsibility young people have to navigate an increasingly complicated social-media world, and the importance of being thoughtful about what we put into the world. Then comes one of those completely unexpected Heart of It moments: Elle and Scott discover they had the exact same favorite class and professor at UT, a small connection that perfectly captures the spirit of the conversation. Two people from different generations and different experiences discovering just how much they have in common.

At its heart, this episode is a reminder that you never really know where a conversation will take you or what connections you might discover when you simply take the time to listen. From Birdie’s legacy and Elle’s commitment to organ donation to pageants, social media, education, and the experiences that shape who we become, this is a conversation filled with unexpected intersections. Perhaps the biggest takeaway is that a single story, shared with purpose, can create hope far beyond the person who first lived it.

Every meaningful friendship has a story, and mine with architect and designer Josh Held began nearly 50 years ago. From carefree summers at camp to fraternity brothers in college, and now as lifelong friends navigating careers, family, and the changing seasons of life, this relationship has been built over decades. In this episode of Heart of It, we reflect on that journey while exploring Josh's passion for architecture and design a profession that, until recently, I had never fully appreciated for its depth, artistry, and impact.

Josh shares how architecture is about far more than buildings. It's about creating experiences, shaping the way people move through space, harnessing the power of natural light, and balancing creativity with function. Our conversation has challenged me to look differently at the world around me, reminding me that behind every thoughtfully designed space is a vision, a process, and countless intentional decisions. Like so many guests on Heart of It, Josh expanded my perspective and reinforced one of the greatest gifts this podcast has given me, the opportunity to keep learning. It's proof that curiosity has no age limit and that, despite the old saying, you really can teach an old dog new tricks.