With Hat and Cattle
With Hat and Cattle is built on stories that are earned, not borrowed. We sit down with people who’ve put in the miles, learned the hard lessons, and kept showing up when it would’ve been easier to quit. This is a place for straight talk and quiet wisdom. You know, qualities that many Texans hold dear.
These are stories meant to be listened to slow, turned over, and carried with you. Because when you hear from people who truly walk the walk, you don’t just feel inspired. You leave better for it.
With Hat and Cattle
The Joe Exotic Pardon, a CEO Turned Insurance Agent, and a 9-Year-Old's Wisdom
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Eric “Big Juicy” Love led the campaign for Joe Exotic's presidential pardon. Colin Weatherwax walked away from a CEO title to sell insurance in a small Texas town. His 9-year-old daughter Kennedy might be the wisest person in the room. This episode is about what's actually left once the title, the title, and the tragedy are gone. And it's about joy.
On this episode of With Hat and Cattle, Dani Raschel Chou sits down with three guests at once: Eric “Big Juicy” Love, Colin Weatherwax, and Colin's daughter, Kennedy. Eric is a Fort Worth private investigator and philanthropist who led the 2020–21 campaign for a presidential pardon of “Tiger King” star Joe Exotic. Colin spent years working his way to CEO of a nonprofit before an unexpected job loss led him to insurance sales in Roanoke, Texas. Kennedy, age 9, was named Mayor of Arlington for a Day during White Cane Safety Day.
Together they talk about the difference between joy and happiness, what actually survives once a title disappears, how to keep showing up for people without being asked, and what it means to grieve — a dog, a job, a friendship — out loud. Eric also previews forgiveness, his upcoming documentary on people who've forgiven the unforgivable.
This episode follows the With Hat and Cattle motto: stories from people who walk the walk, and leave you better off for listening.
Guest Bios:
Eric “Big Juicy” Love — Fort Worth private investigator, philanthropist, and self-described “professional friend-maker.” Led Team Tiger's 2020–21 campaign for a presidential pardon of Joe Exotic (Newsweek: https://www.newsweek.com/who-eric-love-tiger-king-team-tiger-pardon-joe-exotic-leader-1650352). Currently producing Forgiveness, a documentary on people who've forgiven the unforgivable.
Colin Weatherwax — Former nonprofit CEO, now an insurance agent focused on home, auto, and key-person coverage in Roanoke, Texas. Known for intentional, no-agenda networking and staying in touch with the people who matter.
Kennedy Weatherwax — Colin's 9-year-old daughter, named Mayor of Arlington, Texas for a Day during White Cane Safety Day. Reads in braille, plays piano, and has better advice than most adults.
Episode Outline + Timestamps
Joy vs. happiness, and why they're not the same thing [13:00]
Colin's path from CEO to insurance agent, and the wake-up call that changed his definition of success [7:00, 14:00]
The real story behind the Joe Exotic pardon campaign, from the person who ran it [19:00]
How to build a network from nothing once the title's gone [21:00, 23:00]
Kennedy's rule for staying close to the people she loves [27:00, 29:00]
Grief, in real time — a dog, a job, a friendship [31:00, 35:00, 39:00]
Inside Eric's next project, Forgiveness [47:00]
Resources & Sources Mentioned
- Newsweek — “Meet 'Pardon Joe Exotic' Campaigner Eric Love”: https://www.newsweek.com/who-eric-love-tiger-king-team-tiger-pardon-joe-exotic-leader-1650352
- TMZ — “Joe Exotic's Team Arrives to Deliver Pardon Request to President Trump”: https://www.tmz.com/2020/09/10/joe-exotic-tiger-team-eric-love-presidential-pardon-request-trump-dc/
Subscribe to With Hat and Cattle so you don't miss next week's episode. We're breaking our usual every-other-week schedule for a conversation with Amir Habib on AI literacy.
With Hat and Cattle is a podcast hosted by Dani Raschel Chou featuring honest conversations with people who've earned their lessons through experience. This episode features Eric “Big Juicy” Love, a Fort Worth, Texas private investigator who led the 2020–21 campaign for a presidential pardon of Joe Exotic; Colin Weatherwax, a former nonprofit CEO now working in insurance; and Colin's daughter Kennedy Weatherwax, age 9, named Mayor of Arlington, Texas for a Day. The show's motto: stories from people who walk the walk, and leave you better off for listening.
Connect with Dani Raschel Chou on Instagram @withhatandcattle or via email at dani@thehouseofchou.com.
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So when you find yourself having a little difficulty with with the words, do you ever does it frustrate you sometimes?
SPEAKER_03No, I I uh some people just say no close and I'll I'll just keep trying and I'll get it.
SPEAKER_02Hi, and welcome back to with Hatton Cattle, where we bring you stories from people who are walking the walk and leave you better off for listening. Today in the studio we have some pretty big personalities and I'm so excited to introduce them to you. First off, we have Eric, Big Juicy Love, Fort Worth famous. The name itself tells everyone what they need to know. Would you when when people first meet you? I'm curious, what is the first thing you would love for them to leave knowing about you?
SPEAKER_01I want them to know that uh they met a good person today. And I think it's important to, you know, we always say, oh, have a good day, but I like helping make good days happen. Uh it doesn't matter if you're going in for something to eat, leave a big tip. We're gonna die anyway. We're not gonna need the money. Exactly. Yeah, I mean, that's the way I think. Yeah, yeah. But you know, I think it's important. Just smile, be kind. And that that's kind of that's kind of something that I've just I've lived like that for the majority of my life, at least all of my adult life.
SPEAKER_02You know, I feel I'm a little late to the party, but I am reading Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People. And that's one of his principles is smile, smile at others. So thank you for that reminder. We also have Colin Weatherwax and his daughter Kennedy in the studio today. How are y'all doing? Uh, we're doing really good.
SPEAKER_00There we go. I'll let her, I'll let her say all the good stuff. She's got all the good stuff. Thanks for having us, Danny.
SPEAKER_02No, I appreciate you both driving from way across the Metroplex to join us today. So when you and I were speaking, Colin, about bringing everyone in the studio together and how we could unite the message, one of the first things that came to my heart was joy. And that's kind of the frame, how I know both of you. You know, Eric, we met because you so graciously volunteered your car, which is also a personality in and of itself, to um a fundraiser that my my friend was doing a whole gala, but it was, you know, at its heart, it was raising funds for a nonprofit. And call in your presence on LinkedIn, you know, when people think of LinkedIn, some people still see it as just a stuffy place, you know, all business, but LinkedIn has actually grown, evolved, and people are showing more of themselves, keeping that business lens, but it's a reminder that we're not buying product, we're buying from people. And so when you show up, you show up with connection and life lessons. And I would love to ask you that same question. When people first meet you, what would you like them to leave knowing about you?
SPEAKER_00It's kind of the same vein as Eric, right? You know, in my short life so far on this on this planet, um, I've made a lot of connections. And I'm very intentional about reaching out to those people and asking them how I can help them, not just, hey, let me know if you need help, right? It's like, what in your life or in your business is causing you pain right now? Um, whether it be, you know, whenever you reached out uh on one of our networking groups and said, Hey, I need someone last minute for for a gala with a with a vehicle. And I was sitting there and I was like, I know the perfect person. Uh, I knew it was it was Eric, right? And now he doesn't have a lavish car. Um, in my opinion, it is not the prettiest car, but he brings the energy. It's memorable. Yeah, it's memorable. And it's all about the person, right? You don't want just a lavish car with no personality, right? It's it's bringing in that welcoming face and then those open arms that he brings. And so that's kind of what I want to do as well, right? It's just bring that meaningful connection and show people that I'm a genuine human.
SPEAKER_02Definitely. And Kennedy, you have the honor of being the youngest guest on With Hatton Cattle. So I love your tenacity and how if this would not have happened if it hadn't been for you. I hope you know that. Absolutely. So you gathered all these people in the studio today. We appreciate you. When people first meet you, Kennedy, what would you like them to know about you? Um, the uh playing the piano. Oh my goodness, what song do you like to play on the piano? Chim chim chari. That's a good one. That is a very good one. And if gosh, I wish, I mean, I could have rented a keyboard, maybe, you know, next time you um could play that for us. So, all right, let's get right into it. So, just a little bit of background on both of you before we we jump into the conversation. Eric, you you're wearing a cowboy hat in the studio today, which I love, but you wear so many hats. You are a private investigator. You are you are you still running for mayor? Is that a current campaign? Because your website is as you are.
SPEAKER_01Listen, sometimes in life you gotta do stunts. That was the last year of my dog's life, and I knew it. Um as a stunt, man, we had a great time.
SPEAKER_02Oh my gosh. I I mean, I feel like it just we should just jump into the conversation because you're giving the perfect uh segue into it. But before we do, Colin, your background is people know your story as someone who went to work for, I believe, a nonprofit and then you worked your way up to CEO. It was was it accidental? Was that is that the gist of the story?
SPEAKER_00Oh, yeah. Never in a million years would I have thought that I'd be a CEO, right? I started cleaning out cars when I was 18. So if you would have told my 18-year-old self you'd be running this company one day, I mean, he would have probably ran away or just laughed.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. But that's not your current role. Right. You uh work in insurance sales. That's correct. Yeah, yes. Is it as enlightened me? You are you the owner of that business?
SPEAKER_00No. So it's a small team of uh four agents. Uh it's a small brokerage in Roanoke. And my focus is on home insurance, auto insurance, and then key person insurance for business.
SPEAKER_02Okay. So that is a message that we bring here on with Hatton Cattle. It's okay to pivot. You know, go to different life has its ebbs and flows. And Kennedy, um, I know, I know it is early. It is early. What what are you currently doing right now in life?
SPEAKER_03Um, I'm so what I'm currently uh doing in life is probably Did you just finish school? I just finished school and I'm um being on summer break.
SPEAKER_02What grade will you be going to? Fourth grade. Oh my goodness, that I mean you're getting up in those elementary years, and pretty soon you're gonna be in middle school.
SPEAKER_00That's true. Yeah, it's crazy to to believe.
SPEAKER_02What was your what subject do you do you like just love learning about?
SPEAKER_03I love learning about fractions.
SPEAKER_02My husband listens to the show, and that's gonna make his heart happy. Fractions? Fractions. Oh boy. The bane of my existence.
SPEAKER_01Oh boy.
SPEAKER_02So thank you so much, Kennedy. You're welcome. So, Eric, you spoke to the mayor running for mayor is being a stunt. In a way, that seems like you were trying to find joy in the journey. And you know, you knew a big life event was coming, one that, you know, so many listeners can relate to. And so you found that way to cope. Are you are you okay speaking a little bit to that?
SPEAKER_01Listen, I'll I live this life every day, and that's where I really get joy. I mean, I really do. I really do. I'm lucky. I got a lot of friends. I got a friend that owns a sign shop.
SPEAKER_04Okay.
SPEAKER_01And I said, Hey, I'm trademarked. I'm gonna run as big juicy, and they're never gonna see me. I'm just gonna put this dog uh on these really ridiculous, no little, no little signs, all huge, four by eight. They were huge.
SPEAKER_04Uh-huh.
SPEAKER_01And I said, You have free reign to do whatever you want. And boy, they came up with some real zingers. Enough to get a bunch of old, uh, you know, I'm old, so I can say it. Really, uh, really inspired people talking over in Bedford. It's a small, you know, 50,000 uh population, only about 6% votes over there.
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_01But boy, I put I put the English bulldog, his likeness on every corner over there. And we lost, but that's fine. I had the best time doing it, you know. And I like I say, I like making things memorable. I knew that was probably his last year. And um I'm in it for fun. I'm in life for fun. And that was, you know, my friends always say, What what stunt are you doing now? And uh so we're doing some fun stuff right now. But during that time, that was probably one of the funniest, most memorable stunts. And, you know, of course, I kept all the signs in my garage. And, you know, some people, close friends, will say, 'Hey man, I really want one of those that's so stupid because you can't see my name.' It looks like Big Juicy, and he's in a suit and tie, and it's so stupid and ridiculous, but it's very memorable.
SPEAKER_02Right.
SPEAKER_01And uh, but by law, you have to put your name. So I said, I need you to almost make it where it can't even be seen. Uh so mine's like in the smallest font possible, uh-huh. Eric, and then it just says Big Juicy and then love, but you can't even see my name um on the sign. So, you know, I did it because what a way to go out. Well, that's the way I thought a thousand percent.
SPEAKER_02And now it makes sense because I've seen Eric and Tiny Font, Big Juicy and Huge Font, and then love and small font. And I thought, you know, in a way, it's kind of become your brand, right? At that point. So before before we move on, Kennedy, did you? I'm curious, did you know Eric when he had his dog?
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_02Did you get to meet Big Juicy? Yes.
SPEAKER_01Do you think he would have been a really need you to bring the money here on this one?
SPEAKER_02Oh, yes. Well, you actually have experience as being mayor for a day. So what would you have done?
SPEAKER_03So I have I would have kept anybody safe.
SPEAKER_02That's public safety is the most important. Yep. It's a good platform to run on, definitely. So when what city were you mayor for for a day?
SPEAKER_03So at White Cane Day, I was um in um Arlington mayor for a day. For um being the smartest girl.
SPEAKER_02I mean, that again, I you have my vote. No. That definitely, but I heard you were mayor of Arlington for a day. Yes. Okay. Did you and you said it was for White Cane Day? Yes. Can you tell us a little bit about that?
SPEAKER_03So White Cane Day, it's like White Kane Safety Day, and it's it has the Love It Pav Pavilion and you can see stairs and it's and up in the wall, there's a stage, and it's really tall. You can go up to it and you can talk and say I am da-da-da-da-da. And and when you go down, they'll they'll tell you, good job.
SPEAKER_02Do you spoke to it? Seems you had some media coaching, which is very important when you are a public figure.
SPEAKER_01We were there when Mayor Jim Ross, the mayor of Arlington, swore her in. It's true.
SPEAKER_02So we can attest as we think you'd run for mayor when when you're older. Yes. Definitely. We need some some more smart girls in the room. Yes. So, Colin, both of you have such, again, just joyful, joyful personalities. And as someone who is building their um personal brand on Instagram, as you know, I do have the with Hatton Cattle page, but people actually know me more from unicorns eat pancakes, and that's more endurance and finding joy in the journey. And it's, you know, speaking to pivots, then joy is very different from happiness where happiness is fleeting and joy is, I think you spoke to, you know, intentionality. Joy is intentional. You have to find it, and even if life is so in you all the curve falls. So, you know, you both are known for bringing joy to communities. Colin, can you speak to how you find joy for yourself outside of that persona?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, luckily I got to bring a part of it with me today, right? Um, I will say, Danny, especially for you and for all of us here, we are very open about ourselves on social media, which is refreshing. We've all had this journey, right? And it's different for each of us, but we have these similarities, right? And so the joy for me, I used to think was my job. And I poured everything I had into it. I would go to my job and then I would be a different person away from my job. I would be in a dark room decompressing outside of what I thought was my purpose. And now, with you know, my current role and then just my family um perspective, you know, most of my joy comes from things like this and spending time with my daughters and my wife and going on trips and just experiencing life for them and providing for them, um, which in my past career and just, you know, kind of growing up within a business uh was not my biggest, you know, reward in life. I thought it was clocking in and making a difference, but I see now that it's more intentional about family and then secondarily about people.
SPEAKER_02When you had that realization, I'm curious, was it at the job where you one day just you know sitting there with papers and like, this is not the joy? I thought it was it was.
SPEAKER_00Uh so it wasn't until I actually left that position. And I was in a period of transformation, both both professionally and personally, uh, where I was actually unemployed for eight months, which you know, people told me I had mentors and people that I worked with that said, Hey, you've reached the tip of the iceberg, right? You were CEO. Uh there's gonna be people knocking down your doors to hire you uh should something happen. And I'm still waiting for that to come because they never came, right? Yeah. And so I found out really quickly that it's all about, you know, family first and then everything else out will figure it all itself out. And um, it was a very powerful transformation.
SPEAKER_02Eric, you are also very open, you know, online when it comes time for the persona to come home. Are you still, you know, at a hundred? Or where how are you finding that joy outside?
SPEAKER_01I I gotta tell you. Tell us when I met my wife, I wasn't a dog guy.
SPEAKER_02Uh-huh.
SPEAKER_01She's the one that has created this. So I always say, Man, you're such a smart person. That's what a good husband should do. Created that.
SPEAKER_02That's the real right there.
SPEAKER_01And it's it's almost to the point where um I mean, her friends call me Big Juicy. Um, I I never have like my my first name. Yeah, I just never liked it. So I really feel like um with my wife, you know, always give her all the praise because without her, I wouldn't, I wouldn't have this to do. Okay. Uh she encouraged me to get this bulldog. I got him. We had the time of our lives. We were on global TV and different interviews, the Netherlands. I mean, they came over and filmed for a week. I think God gave him to me so I'd have something to do the rest of my life. I mean, I it might sound crazy to somebody else, but it's really kind of given me the opportunity to kind of create a person. But I've always believed set yourself apart from everybody else. And this there might be someone listening to this that maybe they have uh, oh, I can't do this or I can't do that. Let me tell you something. The greatest joy in life is developing into the greatest person that you're proud of, and you're giving homage to all the other people that kind of influenced you. You know, you take a little bit from this person, a little bit from this person. And I look at my kids, Colin knows all my kids. I look at them and I think Big Juicy did pretty good.
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_01And I have grandsons now.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_01And I look at them and I think, man, they're gonna get it from their mom or their dad. And um yeah.
SPEAKER_02Building legacy, I I love that.
SPEAKER_01So do I you you said do I turn it off? No, my wife gets asleep with big juices.
SPEAKER_02I believe that a thousand percent. Kennedy, you're we're talking about, you know, sometimes doing things that scare us. And when you had to get up on stage and speak at was it Levitt Pavilion? Yeah, yeah, I think it was. Yeah, was it scary?
SPEAKER_03Uh I'm I'm scared of some heights, but it wasn't scary for me.
SPEAKER_02Okay, so the actual doing the work wasn't scary. So if someone's listening and they have they're scared maybe to go after a dream, what would you tell them? How would you tell them it was gonna be okay?
SPEAKER_03I should I should tell him I'm gonna tell them uh you're gonna do great.
SPEAKER_02That those uh positive affirmations, those words of encouragement, I mean, we can't discredit that. It means so much in life. So yeah. Oh my gosh, I'd be so happy here. You are doing so great, Kennedy. Thank you. Eric, you I would, I mean, okay, we're everyone who has done any research on you knows you are the person who submitted the presidential pardon for Joe Exotic. I do Tiger King fame.
unknownYep.
SPEAKER_02Yep. What motivated you to do that?
SPEAKER_01You want me to be honest? I do. Um I made a whole lot of money. Okay. I made a whole lot of money as uh company sold, and I was bored, and I don't like to be bored. So I sent a letter to the Tiger King and I said, I will bankroll this whole thing. I need something to do. I'm a guy that has to have something to do.
SPEAKER_04Okay.
SPEAKER_01And um he said, Man, I desperately need your help. And that turned into, I'm all about connections. That turned into texting TMZ. I'm gonna need some platform and some airtime. We did tons of interviews. I set up the legal team. We are gonna go troll the White House. And he said, You mean on the computer? I said, Absolutely not. We've got a double decker bus, we got jets, helicopters. I'm gonna wrap it. We're gonna make a production out of this, and we did. And it was it was so fun. Uh it was just so fun. Yeah, you know, and again, this is a person that's incarcerated. I do all the work I do now, I do it for free. All the social justice work, I do it for free. Um and I enjoy doing that, taking a skill set because I think a skill set, a personality, and the ability to manifest a team. If I call, everybody wants to do it because they know it's gonna be fun. And I think creating energy, manifesting the right people. I think that's key. I had I had the best time of my life doing it.
SPEAKER_02You keep saying manifest the right people. What what does that mean?
SPEAKER_01So here's a good example. Thank you. Um, I invite, so I only have friends that are true friends. Now, going through life, we've had those other people, right? And you see who's there. Um I'm a good cheerleader and I cheer my folks on. I love them. And by design, I invited everybody from the guy that owned this the sign shop, because I was gonna need him to wrap buses, to the guy that owned the buses, double decker, to the guy that owned the jet, to the helicopter, to all my attorneys. Anybody want to be on Netflix? I'm doing a project. And you know what? They say, Oh boy, let's go. Everybody said yes. And Manifesting is being positive, being resourceful. And so a good example. I was invited to join this real elite uh social networking club last week. And I said, where is it? And they told me, and I said, I already know everybody. I don't need to go down there. I don't need that, you know, I don't need to go social. I know everybody I need to know. And um, it doesn't matter if it's in Washington, D.C. or wherever. I've got, I'm fine. Um, but I think manifesting is bringing people into your circle that are like-minded people that have um, if you ever go, hmm, I don't know if that person's gonna fit, they're not. Yeah, you know when a person has the right moral comp. I only like right moral compass people to to do my inner circle stuff with.
SPEAKER_04Right.
SPEAKER_01Uh, because you can touch anybody else, but your inner circle has to be 100% on the same page, and you attract them by not only walking, but talking. You're doing the same thing. So everybody has the ability to do that. Sometimes it's painful because some people are toxic. Even family members can be toxic, and you have to understand how to, you know, you can still love somebody, but you can love them nine blocks away instead of right here at the dinner table. You can, in my opinion. And that's that's how that yeah.
SPEAKER_02Colin, for someone who hasn't, you know, they don't have that. Well, I was gonna say Rolodex, but the contact list of, you know, that Eric has, right? They're just building. You it seems you would you know a bit or two about building up that Rolodex. What would be the first step how that you would recommend someone do? They're like, I have, I don't have someone I can call that has a double decker bus. I mean, it takes a while to get there. How do we start building that?
SPEAKER_00Well, first you need to get into Eric's inner circle. So yes, that's that's the first step, obviously. Um, no, so for me, one of the things that you brought up earlier was my LinkedIn presence, right? I was told by a really good friend of mine whenever I was in my position of power that I needed to build up my LinkedIn profile. Well, I didn't listen because I was working in the business, right? And so whenever I transitioned from that job, I looked at LinkedIn and I was like, this is this is a gold mine and I need to nurture it and kind of build on this platform. And so I got to work. Like I just went and I liked people's posts and I interacted with people, not trying to pitch them, just trying to say, hey, I like what you're doing. Like, what can I do to help? I want to learn more about you, the person. And I literally built it up from the ground up without that title to kind of ride on the coattails of, right? And so I think it goes to what Eric is speaking to, and it's just showing up as yourself. And it's hard for some people to let that in because a lot of people have been burned before, right? They're like, hey, you're you're this genuine person, but are you this genuine person, right? And so I've I've ran into that a couple of times where people are like, hey, you know, after our first interaction, I thought you were just, you know, gonna be here and gone. But one of the other things that I love to do is just be consistent and intentional and top of mind, and not because I need something, right? I'll text Eric, you know, out of the blue and just say, Hey, how are you doing? You know, I'll call him and I'll say, Hey, you want to go to lunch? Right. Um, you know, he's he's a proud uh opa now, um, a proud opa of two. And, you know, like he mentioned earlier, I reach out to his kids. And, you know, before yesterday, I reached out to Gabby and Connor before they welcomed their little boy into the world. And um, same thing with his son, Chase. And my wife and his his daughter Allie have a really good connection, right? And my biggest thing and the biggest takeaway that I want listeners to know is that if someone crosses your mind, doesn't matter who it is, for what reason, right? If if you heard someone say Eric and it made you think of Eric Love, text that person. There's a reason why that person is is crossing your mind. And it doesn't have to be, hey, Eric, do you want to go to lunch? It's just, hey, I'm thinking of you. I don't know why, but I will go to lunch.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_00Eric will definitely take you up on lunch.
SPEAKER_01And you know what? And there's nothing worse. Me and me and you have talked about this. There's nothing worse than you get a phone call. They always want something. Somebody that doesn't maintain a relationship, but somebody that you know out there in the pond. Me and Colin have talked about that, and we've watched that demonstrated right in front of us. And I said, it's okay to say no. I've gotten real good at saying no. And um, I think that that's important. Don't just call somebody when you need them, maintain a relationship. Like he contacted my children after they had children, or when there's something, you know, something going on in life. And that that's very, very important. Don't be don't be the person that just calls somebody when you need something because you go to the X list. Yeah, but maybe somebody needs to hear that.
SPEAKER_02No, you sure do. Yeah, Kennedy, yes, you just got a phone, right?
SPEAKER_03Right.
SPEAKER_02Okay. So we've been talking about texting someone if they cross your mind, but you didn't have that ability to until recently. So so when you were thinking about your friends, how are you staying? How were you maintaining that relationship?
SPEAKER_03By um not calling someone too early or too late.
SPEAKER_00So we we have some rules. Yeah, you gotta be respectful of people's time. No, you're doing great, Bubs. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02So you actually would call them on the phone.
SPEAKER_00Or send them voice messages, right? Right.
SPEAKER_02Okay, that again is another takeaway there. It doesn't always have to be a text message, send an audio note.
SPEAKER_00Oh, yes.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, she loves that.
SPEAKER_00She'll replay the audio notes just when you know, sometimes life happens, right? Sometimes you just want to hear someone's voice.
SPEAKER_01And think about if you have the audio video with someone and they unexpectedly pass, uh-huh, you got gold.
SPEAKER_00I just sent you a video the other day of something that you sent me probably three or four years ago. And it's just him walking around a parking lot just really, really good walking around the parking lot. That's what it was.
SPEAKER_02Well, you sent me a video message for my birthday.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_02I was blown away. I sent it to my colleagues that it went to the gala that night because I mean, we all thought you were amazing. And I was like, be jelly, look what I got. Like, you know. So, Kennedy, though, I cannot, I cannot just stress how important the advice you gave is. Like, so a few years ago when I was dating, I would send video messages to some of the guys that I was dating. And you know what they told me? That I was the only person, the the only person that do that. That, you know, they were getting texts and messages, but I was staying to Colin's advice, top of mind. Because I was sending these video messages. So, Kennedy, I again, that advice is so amazing, and we thank you for that. Oh, you're welcome. Yeah. So curious, if you um needed to pump up your friends, what were some of those messages you were giving to pump them up?
SPEAKER_03Um, some of the messages to make them happy, to bring them joy. To bring them joy, I think I should say oh it doesn't it's going to be okay. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02There you go.
SPEAKER_01I mean it's gonna be okay.
SPEAKER_02It sure is. When my child was young, I was again, and you have these core memories, right? As especially as parents, you can remember where your kid is telling you this. And I'm sitting in a passenger seat in a truck, and I'm just feeling overwhelmed with life, and I can hear their little voice. They leaned up and I was like, Pat my shoulder. It's okay, mommy. Anything's popsicles. And and oh my goodness, that's a future tattoo, I swear. Right? Kennedy, it was it was great.
SPEAKER_03Have you ever had instead of anything is possible, it's everything is popsicle. Exactly.
SPEAKER_02You know what I should have done, and we should have gone out for popsicles after that.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, that's fine.
SPEAKER_01Have you ever been down or maybe not with anybody else, and somebody else witnesses or they're they're they see it and they come over and they just say, Hey, it's gonna be okay. Yeah, how important that is because you know, I've learned in my lifetime not everybody has a support group. And I've now have even a deeper empathy on projects that I do. Watching some of these girls at the hospital that I mean, I've seen it, they don't have a support group, and I'm thinking, oh man, how to how you know how tough that is. But a lot to be said for just hugging somebody, it's gonna be okay. It motivates them.
SPEAKER_02It sure does. Kennedy, you are leaving us with such nuggets of truth. Oh, thanks. You're so nice. I appreciate that. You know, it that did, that took some work too, but a podcast for another day. So I just am loving hearing everything that you guys are speaking to. But I would love to go back to again when you need someone to tell you it's gonna be okay and you don't have that, where where do you draw the strength to to move through that challenge, that storm, the you know, contract that was gonna come in and was gonna get you to help pay the bills at the end of the month, and then it just falls through. You know, where where are you drawing your faith, your strength from? And that's for either one of you. Yes.
SPEAKER_00I'll I'll start. Um, so it was actually during my job, Hunts. This might resonate with with a lot of people, right? Um, I went through a rigorous eight interview process with a company. One company, one company, eight interviews, probably totaling about two months long. And it got to the point where I was getting ready for the final interview, right? And I remember this, another core memory, like we've been speaking of. I was in the kitchen with my wife, and I was kind of manifesting and planning how we were gonna split up, you know, some bills and some responsibilities. Like I'm like, I got this in the back, right? And then come to find out, I I didn't. Yeah. And so that was a big kind of reality check. Um, where I was like, okay, don't count your chickens before they hatch. Um, but the the biggest thing for me was that support system, like Eric mentioned, right? And at the time that was my wife and Kennedy. And so luckily for for me, you know, I got the news, it was around holiday season. And so I just I didn't log into LinkedIn, right? Um, I didn't get on the computer and start making connections and firing off my resume and the abyss. It was like, okay, I'm unplugging. And what that meant was me and Kennedy going on the trampoline or me and her mom going out for dinner, um, just something like that. And life is hard, but making an intentional effort to step away, even though everything in you is like, but I have I have to find something, right? At some point, you're doing yourself a disservice if you're behind that computer and you're not in the right mindset.
SPEAKER_02That is so important, and that's a nice reminder. I mean, you're right. Kennedy, when you hear your dad talk about how this was, you know, a challenging time in his life, how is that making you feel? Because he's he said you were a strong support for him.
SPEAKER_03Oh, that that made me feel really happy.
SPEAKER_02That you were able to show up for your dad? Yes. That's that's a very important role to take. Do you remember? Can you share one way that you showed up for your dad or how you helped him? How I helped him. Yeah.
unknownSomething fun.
SPEAKER_03Um, something fun. We jumped on the trampoline and played jump and and played some games like who can jump the highest.
SPEAKER_02Now, who can jump the highest? Oh, oh, we both can. And you know, it is important to to share the to share the title, you know. That's thank you again for doing so. Yo, you're welcome. Eric. You are you always show up. It seems, I mean no, and I hear my therapist in the background. We don't use always or never. Um nine times out of ten, you show up, huge smile on your face. It's such a joy to be in your presence. When and you know, I will. I'll bring it back to when when Big Juicy passed away. How did you sit with those feelings?
SPEAKER_01I cried a lot. But you know what? Men can't cry, Eric. Well, I I cried in the I I cry on the balcony. And you were talking about, you know, what does, you know, how do you relieve something? Right. My wife is a wonderful German woman, professor at TWU. And she used to laugh because I would always take my my dog on the balcony for about five minutes. And she said, What are you talking about out there? I said, He can't testify against me. You know, sometimes you maybe you've maybe you're in it too much, you know. And I always enjoyed kind of making him human by just talking to him. Um, but I grew up in the old days, and when I say the old days, um, you know, if you had a problem, you go over in that corner and figure it out. And you have to figure it out by yourself. And then add not being very uh, well, let's just say poor. Yeah, you get real resourceful if you're a poor person too. Because I lived that life and when I became a young adult, I said, I don't, I've tried that. I don't want to do that no more. What else can I do? And um, you know, so like I'm a person, I like to look at myself in the mirror and say, you can fix this. And I think sometimes you can cheerlead other people, but you gotta cheerlead. I don't need anybody to cheerlead me because I I cheerlead myself. Now my wife does a wonderful job. And, you know, last night it was really funny because uh typical German person, she doesn't have any, there's no emotions. And she's holding Gabby's baby. I look over and I say, Oh my god, I gotta go write this down. And we had a good laugh about it, but she's just not an emotional person. But I like cheerleading myself, and if somebody says it can't be done, Colin will tell you, I'm the one that says, Okay, here's what we're gonna do. And that's for me, that's what makes it fun.
SPEAKER_00There's there's actually a story there because I came to him with an idea, uh-huh, and it was this big idea that I had thought of in my head, thinking it's the best thing, right? And Kennedy was there for this. Uh, it was actually when I proposed to her mom. So I went to Eric and I was like, Hey, do you have a big building? Just something that we could, you know, make a fictitious courtroom. My wife's an attorney. And I was like, I want to build this fictitious courtroom and propose to her in it, like invite friends and family and stuff like that. And I went to Eric first. He's the only person that I went to because I knew he could get it done, like he said. And my idea in my head was butterflies and rainbows, right? And he immediately was like, No, why would we do that? Pulls out his phone, calls a judge, and says, Hey, I need to borrow your courtroom.
SPEAKER_04Oh my God.
SPEAKER_00And we borrowed a courtroom. We borrowed a courtroom.
SPEAKER_01And he participated. We had to make up a fake story. So I'm a very truthful person, and that can get you in trouble. Because if somebody asks you a question and you're truthful, they'll say, Oh my God, the first person to ever tell the truth. Now I have to lie to his wife that I'm getting a big award from the governor and the state.
SPEAKER_00And um He pulled out all the stops. I mean, he had her.
SPEAKER_01I'm a person, okay? Um, and so I literally, you know, I sent it over and I said, here's what I'm getting. And so I'd like for you to be the one to read it. Uh, because we wanted to get her in the courtroom first. And then I needed her to be a participant to this big lie. And uh man, I don't like, and I I've apologized to her for so, you know, for years now.
SPEAKER_00He made a video before we went into the to the courtroom, and he's like, I'm sending this as soon as we leave. As soon as it's over.
SPEAKER_01I send a video. I'm I'm a liar. But she came in and it was just beautiful because Colin is on the witness stand or going up there, the judge is there. Valerie comes in, and in that moment she starts realizing, oh my gosh, there's a lot of people here that I know and that I love. Oh, there's my family. What is my sister doing here? What is yep, so it was wonderful. It was a really good pull-off, and that was fun to do.
SPEAKER_02So, note to self, don't ask me juicy if this outfit makes me look fat, because he'll be truthful. Okay. And to to touch back on, you know, calling your community when you're going through a challenging time. I had a car accident, and so I had to get a new car and I wasn't poor, but I, you know, was going through some changes. And so I bought a used car and that's as is. And the tires needed to be replaced, right? And I was made aware of that when I'm driving down 75, skitting all over that highway, it felt like, because you know, the tires are bald and it was raining. And so I remember calling a friend, being like, I'm gonna have to figure this out, but can I go and sit in a corner of your kitchen and cry before I do that? And she said, Come over, right? And I did. And first she checked on me, do you need me to sit with you and cry? Like, no, I just don't want to be alone, but I need to cry. And she's like, You got it. I had my moment and then went and figured it out. So again, if you need that help, call. You never, you know, and sometimes we we stop ourselves because we do think no one cares or we don't want to trauma dump. But if you have that inner circle, they're they're gonna be there for you. Sure. Definitely. And Kennedy, it was so important for you to come on on the show and speak to to your story. So before we go, what is something from your story that that you felt so that you just had to share?
SPEAKER_03I I oh from my sir story, I had to share how um some some something makes me feel.
SPEAKER_02Definitely. And you know, when your dad reached out and and said that you wanted to be on a podcast, what what was what made you want to be on a podcast?
SPEAKER_03PBS Kids from the Arthur the Arthur Podcast wanted to make made me be on the podcast on a podcast.
SPEAKER_00That was her inspiration.
SPEAKER_02Definitely. I mean, we have our dreams and our goals, and it's so important because then that motivates us to to work towards them. Yes, that's exactly right. My gosh. That I I'm gonna need you to do some ads for me. Yeah, yeah. That's exactly right. Before again, before we leave, how do you what is something that you do to put some joy in your day?
SPEAKER_03Something that I do. I'd like to read to make me happy.
SPEAKER_02That is an important skill. You know, a lot of CEOs, that's one of the number one things they're reading all the time. What books are you reading?
SPEAKER_03I'm I'm reading the uh chameleon and I'm reading the moon book.
SPEAKER_00One thing that the audience probably doesn't know is she actually reads her books in Braille. Um, she's she's visually impaired, and so another thing kind of tying in this podcast, right, is going about life and seeing life through a different lens and seeing how she lives her life and the amount of joy that she's bringing just to this group here, right? Um, you know, she has a visual impairment, but it doesn't stop her. And that's that's super inspiring for hopefully anybody listening.
SPEAKER_02Yes, yeah. When when you were learning Braille, was that challenging to do?
SPEAKER_03Yes. Sometimes I mix F with D, and sometimes I mix J with H.
SPEAKER_02You know, and some of us who don't read Braille, we wouldn't we wouldn't know that. So when you
SPEAKER_03find yourself having a little difficulty with with the words do you ever does it frustrate you sometimes no I uh some people just say no close and I'll I'll just keep trying and I'll get it.
SPEAKER_02Definitely yes no so that's it no close and keep trying.
SPEAKER_00Good job. Yeah don't give up again all these things that I feel we know as adults but we forget you're reminding us thank you again oh you're welcome if you had any advice to give to the community Kennedy yes what piece of advice would you give them um a piece of advice and you've given us such such great advice today um I can help people because I'm there I'm everybody's helper I'm everybody's girl it is important to use your talents and your skills and again that word of encouragement definitely it's gonna be okay yes yeah Colin the last piece of advice that you would give I think tying it all together right reaching that top of the mountain from the outside um and honestly personally right I thought I had reached the pinnacle of success right and so a lot of people ask me today they're like hey you've reached that pinnacle of success what what happened or why are you doing what you're doing now and it was leaning on that network right I thought I had a big network whenever I was at the top of the mountain and I quickly realized that I was just surrounded by people that were already there and not people that I was intentional about going and finding and helping. And once I changed that mindset my community became bigger my impact became bigger and the people that I surrounded myself with were the right people like yourself like Eric and of course like Kennedy um just bringing up bringing up what I knew was inside me and just making it shine for everybody else.
SPEAKER_02Oh my goodness Eric you I I feel I want to ask what's next for you. I'm glad you did listen to this question.
SPEAKER_01It's funny that question got asked last night with my second grandson in about 80 days what are you going to do now? I'm actually working on a project called forgiveness we're shooting it and um this is going to be a real impactful this is going to be the most serious project that I've done I do death row cases I do a lot of different stuff this is going to be a very purposeful um forgiveness. Can you forgive? The question is can you forgive we've interviewed some people and you know listen I'll be the first to say I can't forgive my own brother for not helping me with my father financially I can't forgive him. I have met a person they came to me I've met a person and they said we heard that you're shooting this project this man is a wonderful man and I got introduced to him and he has forgiven someone that's done the most egregious thing your mind can think of that ended in death and he's forgiven the perpetrator oh boy God's got me on a plan right now to learn a lot so that that's what I'm doing next but listen every day is a good day we're we're not here for long. No we're not and I say that a lot on social media we're not here for long. Get out and do something and do something for somebody else make you feel better. I think that's important.
SPEAKER_02Oh my gosh I'm tearing up hearing that again you never know what someone's just gonna say in the studio and it's just gonna resonate so much.
SPEAKER_01Thank you Eric forgiveness is that something you're doing you know that you're producing and you're gonna launch yourself maybe on YouTube or I'm financing it self-producing it and we will probably market it to Netflix okay um because it's the it was the hottest uh story literally globally just recently that took place in Terrant County and I see where with my connections and us producing it I think that we can really make an impact to people that maybe have a problem with forgiveness.
SPEAKER_00Remember I can't forgive my brother over a financial issue and I think that this is going to be I think God put this in my place because I wasn't going in that direction with this project and then it developed but it happens just like it's supposed to I'm sure there's a lot of people that have that forgiveness like I mean just hearing you speak just like you Danny I mean it's resonating with me right I have a few people that I can't forgive for other reasons probably are absolutely not as bad as what you're talking about. So I'm excited to watch it so I can see if maybe I can learn some stuff from it too.
SPEAKER_02So thank you both for sharing your light with the world it is very much needed these messages are needed and you never know why God has placed an opportunity right like that because again someone needs to hear it so Kennedy thank you for waking up early for putting on your Sunday v to come into the studio. Oh you're welcome thanks for inviting me and again thank you both or thank you sorry thank all three of y'all for being here today. Thank you Danny thank you thank you before we let you go quick heads up on what's coming we usually land in your feet every other week but starting next week with Hatton Cattle Drops Weekly and I'm so excited that our first guest is Samir Habib he calls himself a trusted leader and after sitting across from him in the studio I'd say that's earned not just a LinkedIn line. We talked about AI not the hype version but the useful one. It was a good grounded conversation and I'm so glad I don't have to sit on it for two weeks. So mark it down with hat and cattle. Stories from people who walk the walk and leave you better off for listening. I'll see you soon