Rob Walters is a lawyer’s lawyer—an antitrust expert, constitutional scholar, and courtroom veteran with a long record of public and private sector impact. In this episode, Rob shares insights from landmark cases (like AT&T-Time Warner and LIV Golf), breaks down today’s antitrust landscape, and explains the legal tension between the executive and judicial branches. With experience ranging from federal litigation to Dallas civic leadership, Rob offers a unique perspective on the shifting balance of power in American government and why legal norms matter more than we might think.

In This Episode:

[00:02:05] Why Law? Rob reflects on his journey into law—how growing up abroad and witnessing global politics shaped his passion for justice and intellectual rigor.

[00:08:34] Antitrust 101 & the Chicago School Legacy A breakdown of how antitrust evolved, where it’s headed, and why current approaches may be dangerously muddled.

[00:11:53] Big Tech & the Power Question Do Meta and Google have too much influence? Rob offers a nuanced view of dominance, innovation, and where antitrust fits in.

[00:19:00] AT&T vs. DOJ: Behind the Scenes The high-stakes courtroom drama of the AT&T-Time Warner merger and how the team—including CEOs Randall Stephenson and John Stankey—went toe-to-toe with the DOJ.

[00:25:00] LIV Golf & Saudi Investment How Rob approaches controversial clients like LIV Golf, the impact on global sport, and the importance of legal representation—even when geopolitics get messy.

[00:30:23] Chevron Doctrine & Supreme Court Shifts Why the Chevron case matters, how the Court is reshaping agency power, and the return of judicial interpretation over executive deference.

[00:36:00] Is the Judiciary Still Independent? A look at how the courts act as a check on power, the politicization of judges, and the enduring role of judicial neutrality.

[00:42:00] Executive Orders and Separation of Powers Rob weighs in on Presidential use of E.O.s and the critical balance between the branches of government.

[00:55:00] Government Overreach? From universities to private enterprise and law firms—where does legal oversight end and overreach begin?

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In this episode, we sit down with Clay Cooley—a Dallas-born entrepreneur and automotive powerhouse who went from sacking groceries to owning 22 car dealerships and employing thousands. Known for his “Shop Me First, Shop Me Last, Either Way Come See Clay” slogan, Clay unpacks his journey of hustle, hard knocks, reinvention, and relentless growth. We talk entrepreneurship, failure, family business, the effects of COVID on the used car marker, the impact of EVs, and how the car business has evolved (and stayed the same). If you’ve ever seen a Clay Cooley ad, this episode will give you insight into the brain—and heart—behind the brand.

In This Episode:

[01:05] The Clay Cooley Tagline – The origin of the iconic “Come See Clay” slogan

[02:00] From Groceries to GMC – How Clay got his start in the car business

[04:50] Lubbock Lessons – Growing up, working young, and the value of early hardship

[07:07] Starting His First Lot – The leap into entrepreneurship, repos, and maxed-out credit cards

[13:00] Scaling Up – Moving from hustling solo to acquiring multiple franchises

[17:00] Learning From Failure – Why missteps are key to long-term success[19:00] Leadership & Culture – Dress codes, internal training, and hiring from within

[23:00] The Family Guarantee – Clay’s return-any-car policy and its impact on business

[27:00] Why Texas Wins – Why dealerships thrive more in the Sunbelt vs. other states

[28:00] Revenue Breakdown – Where the real money is in a dealership

[31:00] New vs. Used – Why COVID upended the used car market and what comes next

[36:00] Ad Strategy – From newspaper liners to family-made TV commercials

[39:40] Passing the Torch – How his kids are modernizing operations and leading with tech

[40:00] AI in Auto Sales – Where automation is improving the dealership experience

[44:00] Planning for Perpetuity – Slimming corporate, scaling smart, and future-proofing

[46:00] Private Equity & Price Inflation – Why rollups are changing dealership dynamics

[48:00] The Local Advantage – Why being community-rooted still matters

[50:00] Will Dealerships Die? – Clay’s take on EVs, Tesla, and the franchise future

GUEST RESOURCES

https://www.claycooley.com/

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Cynt Marshall, the first Black Female CEO in the NBA and former AT&T executive, shares her incredible journey from growing up in public housing to leading major organizations with a philosophy grounded in joy, integrity, and people-first leadership. She opens up about her early lessons, personal losses, and how she transformed a workplace in crisis into a national model of inclusion and culture. We also discuss Mark Cuban, the Mavs' new ownership, the Luka trade, and the future of the Mavericks. Cynt’s take on leadership, her perspective on the Mavs, and her unwavering optimism make this one of our most interesting conversations yet.

In This Episode

• [01:38] The Origins of “Cynt the Sprint”

• [02:50] The Three L's of Leadership: Listen, Learn, Love

• [04:30] Killing the Light and Changing the Culture

• [07:30] Joy vs. Happiness: A Philosophy of Resilience

• [09:54] Breaking Barriers at UC Berkeley

• [13:30] Grace at Delta Gamma: A Lesson in Belonging

• [15:30] Corporate Growth at AT&T & Navigating Bias

• [20:00] The Call from Mark Cuban

• [34:00] The Mavericks Culture Crisis

• [38:00] Introducing CRAFTS: A New Leadership Framework

• [42:00] Fan-Centric Thinking & Building Mavs TV

• [48:30] From Customer Service to Coaching Staff

• [52:00] The Role of Faith in Corporate Culture

• [55:20] Mentoring the Next Generation of Leaders

• [59:10] Why Diversity Isn’t Enough—Inclusion Matters

• [01:03:00] What Legacy Really Means

• [01:07:00] Getting Real About Work-Life Balance

• [01:12:00] “You’ve Been Chosen”: The Message Behind the Memoir

Resources Mentioned

You've Been Chosen by Cynthia Marshall

The Power of Nice by Linda Kaplan Thaler & Robin Koval

Tom Leppert's Article on the Luka Trade

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  Editing and Support by ⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠