Summer Reading Club continues with The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. Joined by Fred Durham of the C.S. Lewis Institute, we explore why these beloved stories continue to resonate with readers of all ages. From talking animals and enchanted forests to themes of courage, redemption, and hope, we discuss what makes Narnia so much more than a children's fantasy series.

Along the way, we trace Lewis's life from wartime Britain to Oxford, discuss the friendship that shaped both him and J.R.R. Tolkien, and consider how the best stories can change the way we see the places and people around us.

Summer Reading Club continues with Theo of Golden by Allen Levi. We explore why this story has resonated with so many readers and how its themes of place, hospitality, and human connection echo the kinds of stories we love to talk about on the podcast.

We discuss what the book has to say about truly seeing the people around us and draw connections to Oak Cliff. Whether you've already read the book or are looking for your next summer read, this conversation is a great place to start.

We kick off our Summer Reading Club with John Steinbeck's Cannery Row, a novel that finds humor, humanity, and unexpected beauty in the lives of a small working class neighborhood in depression-era California. Grant, Doug, and Savannah discuss why this classic still resonates today, exploring the ways place shapes identity, how community forms in unlikely spaces, and what Cannery Row can teach us about seeing the hidden stories in our own neighborhood.

Before Reunion Tower and the Dallas skyline, there was La Réunion, a French utopian colony on the banks of the Trinity River. In this episode, Grant and Doug explore how a group of European settlers came to North Texas hoping to build a new kind of society, why the experiment failed, and how its residents helped shape early Dallas through culture, business, science, and civic life. It's the story behind one of Dallas' most recognizable names and a forgotten chapter of Oak Cliff history.

Carlos De La Fuente has been part of Oak Cliff since 1974, and few people know the neighborhood's history quite like he does. In this episode, Carlos shares the story of immigrating to Dallas as a child, growing up in Oak Cliff, working at the Dallas Farmers Market, and leaving a stable aviation career to pursue his dream of entrepreneurship.

We talk about the early days of ABC Party, the mentors who believed in him, the risks he took to build a business from the ground up, and the partnership with his wife that helped turn a small produce stand into one of Oak Cliff’s most beloved institutions. Along the way, Carlos reflects on leadership, community, work ethic, and why staying rooted on Davis Street has always mattered more than chasing the next opportunity.

Philip Haigh, Executive Director of The Loop Dallas, joins the podcast to talk about the ambitious effort to connect Dallas through a 50-mile trail network. From discovering the bike-friendly culture of Oak Cliff to leading one of the city's most transformative public space projects, Philip shares how trails can change the way people experience their neighborhoods and their city.

The conversation explores the future of transportation in Dallas, the hidden green spaces many residents never realize exist, and the vision behind connecting landmarks like White Rock Lake, the Trinity River Audubon Center, and communities across the city. Along the way, Philip discusses Parkdale Lake, the challenges of building urban trails, and why creating more ways to move through Dallas might shape the city's next chapter.

In this episode, we explore the story of 10th Street, one of the most important surviving Freedman’s Town landscapes in the United States. Long before I35 cut through Oak Cliff, 10th Street was a thriving African American community built by formerly enslaved people and their descendants. Through churches, schools, businesses, homes, and family networks, residents created a neighborhood where generations could live, work, worship, and build a future together.

We trace the rise of neighborhood institutions while looking at the people who shaped the community and the lasting impact they had on Dallas. We also examine how roads, urban renewal, and decades of disinvestment fractured the neighborhood, and how descendants and preservationists are working to recover and protect its history today. This is a story about resilience, memory, and why 10th Street still matters.

Our research for this episode leaned heavily on the work of Kinkofa, a platform designed specifically to document and preserve Black history. Learn more about their work to preserve 10th Street History at tenthstreethistoricdistrict.com and follow them on socials ( @kinkofa ) or on their website: www.kinkofa.com

Sean Springer, founder of Springer Design Studio, joins The Hidden City to talk about his journey from studying sculpture at RISD to building a woodworking and design practice rooted in craftsmanship, healing, and creativity. Sean shares how working with reclaimed wood shaped his artistic path, the philosophy behind his handmade objects, and why materials like wood still feel deeply alive to him.We also talk about fatherhood, creative community at Tyler Station, learning through physical work, and the ways art, design, and movement can reconnect us to the world around us. Along the way, Sean reflects on collaboration, injury and healing, and the inspiration he draws from Oak Cliff and beyond.