On this episode of Titans of Texas with Casey Claiborne, Casey sits down with Kristen Doyle, CEO of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), to discuss her remarkable journey from attorney to cancer survivor to leading one of the nation's largest state-funded cancer research organizations.

Doyle shares the deeply personal story of her leukemia diagnosis at age 32, her life-saving bone marrow transplant, and how that experience ultimately led her to leave a successful legal career and dedicate herself to advancing cancer prevention, research, and treatment across Texas.

The conversation covers:

• Growing up in Ohio and building a legal career in Texas
• Surviving leukemia and receiving a bone marrow transplant
• Leaving private practice to join CPRIT
• How CPRIT funds cancer research and prevention across Texas
• The economic and medical impact of investing in life sciences
• Leadership lessons from running a statewide organization
• Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and young professionals

Doyle also explains how CPRIT helps bridge the "valley of death" between scientific discovery and patient care by funding early-stage research, clinical trials, and Texas-based biotechnology companies. She discusses why accountability, peer review, and transparency have been central to the organization's success.

Throughout the conversation, she reflects on the progress made in cancer treatment over the past two decades, her vision for CPRIT's future, and why she hopes to help take the "luck" out of surviving cancer.

00:00 — Intro & Meet Kristen Doyle
01:01 — Growing up and choosing law
05:04 — A career in public service and utility law
09:28 — The leukemia diagnosis that changed everything
14:30 — Returning to work and finding a new mission
21:34 — What is CPRIT?
25:26 — Funding breakthrough cancer research
27:22 — Becoming CEO of CPRIT
33:05 — Leading one of Texas' largest research initiatives
36:24 — Progress in cancer treatment and survival
39:37 — Advice for entrepreneurs and young professionals
41:58 — Closing thoughts

On this episode of Titans of Texas with Casey Claiborne, Casey sits down with Katherine McLane, Founder and CEO of The Mach 1 Group, to discuss her remarkable journey from growing up in Germany and East Texas to serving at the highest levels of government before launching one of the state's leading strategic communications firms.

McLane reflects on her career working with President George W. Bush, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the U.S. Department of Education, and the Livestrong Foundation, sharing the experiences that shaped her leadership philosophy and ultimately inspired her to become an entrepreneur.

The conversation covers:

• Growing up in Germany and East Texas
• Working on presidential and gubernatorial campaigns
• Serving in the Bush Administration and Schwarzenegger's office
• Leading communications during the Livestrong crisis
• Founding and growing The Mach 1 Group
• Building a successful strategic communications firm
• Leadership, entrepreneurship, and giving back

McLane also offers an inside look at the world of crisis communications, explaining how preparation, trust, and clear messaging can help organizations navigate their most challenging moments.

Throughout the conversation, she shares lessons learned from launching her own business, growing a nationally recognized team, and balancing expansion while maintaining the boutique culture that has defined The Mach 1 Group's success.

The episode concludes with advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, thoughts on careers in public affairs and communications, and why Texas continues to be one of the best places in America to start and grow a business.

00:00 — Intro + Meet Katherine McLane
01:30 — Growing up in Germany and East Texas
06:34 — Finding a career in politics and communications
11:18 — The George W. Bush campaign
15:43 — Working for Arnold Schwarzenegger
23:28 — Joining the Bush Administration
25:56 — The Livestrong Foundation years
30:30 — Starting The Mach 1 Group
34:32 — Growing a successful business
39:50 — Giving back through community service
41:02 — Advice for young entrepreneurs
42:42 — What's next for The Mach 1 Group?
43:23 — Closing thoughts

On this episode of Titans of Texas with Casey Claiborne, Casey sits down with Dr. Dan Huberty, CEO of MoakCasey, former Chairman of the Texas House Public Education Committee, entrepreneur, investor, and longtime business leader, for a conversation about leadership, risk-taking, public service, and building successful organizations.

Huberty shares the story of growing up in Ohio, working construction through college, breaking into the parking industry, and eventually building a decades-long career in commercial real estate, parking operations, and business management before entering Texas politics.

The conversation covers:

• Growing up in Ohio and early career lessons
• Building a 35-year career in the parking industry
• Commercial real estate and investment strategies
• Working for T. Boone Pickens
• Entrepreneurship and creating Capital Cafe
• Winning a Texas House seat through grassroots campaigning
• Serving on the Humble ISD school board
• Leading the House Public Education Committee
• School finance reform and public education policy
• The impact of COVID on commercial real estate
• Acquiring and leading MoakCasey
• Advice for entrepreneurs and business leaders

Huberty also reflects on the challenges of balancing a successful private-sector career with service in the Texas Legislature, where he spent twelve years representing House District 127 and ultimately chaired one of the most influential committees in state government.

The discussion explores the dramatic impact COVID had on downtown real estate, parking operations, and investment markets, along with the lessons Huberty learned navigating one of the most difficult business environments of his career.

Throughout the episode, Huberty emphasizes the importance of relationships, calculated risk-taking, adaptability, and long-term planning. Whether discussing commercial real estate, public education, or entrepreneurship, he argues that success often comes from saying "yes" to opportunities and being willing to move outside your comfort zone.

The episode concludes with practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, thoughts on the future of downtown business districts, and reflections on building a career that spans both the public and private sectors.

00:00 — Intro + Meet Dan Huberty
01:20 — Launching Capital Cafe in Austin
03:42 — Growing up in Ohio
05:30 — Working construction through college
06:15 — Cleveland unions and organized crime stories
09:27 — First jobs after college
11:25 — Discovering the parking business
14:29 — Building a career in parking and real estate
15:52 — Oklahoma City, Hawaii, and career growth
18:30 — Lessons from managing major operations
22:10 — Owning parking assets and real estate
26:21 — COVID and the collapse of downtown business
32:27 — Entering Texas politics
34:11 — School board service and first campaigns
37:53 — Winning office and campaign lessons
41:45 — Public education and legislative leadership
45:14 — School finance reform in Texas
47:15 — Leaving the Legislature and next steps
49:16 — Buying and leading MoakCasey
51:29 — Advice for entrepreneurs
57:41 — Favorite drink at Capital Cafe
58:19 — Closing thoughts

In this episode of Titans of Texas with Casey Claiborne, Casey sits down with Mason Ayer, CEO of Kerbey Lane Cafe, to discuss the history of one of Austin’s most iconic restaurant brands, the challenges of leading a family business, and what it takes to stay relevant in a rapidly changing city.

Ayer shares the remarkable story of how his parents launched the original Kerbey Lane Cafe in 1980, how he initially pursued a legal career before returning to the family business, and the lessons he learned transforming the company during a period of significant growth.

The conversation covers:

• The origins of Kerbey Lane Cafe and Austin in the early 1980s
• Growing up inside a family-owned restaurant business
• Leaving corporate law to join Kerbey Lane
• Standardizing operations across multiple locations
• Leadership, company culture, and employee development
• How Austin’s growth has changed the restaurant industry
• Adapting menus while preserving iconic traditions
• Navigating the COVID-19 pandemic
• Supporting local businesses and community organizations
• Why family-owned businesses matter to Austin’s identity
• Entrepreneurship, risk-taking, and leadership lessons

Ayer also reflects on the realities of restaurant ownership, the importance of creating a welcoming culture for both employees and customers, and why community engagement remains central to Kerbey Lane’s mission.

Throughout the discussion, he emphasizes that long-term success requires constant adaptation while remaining true to the values that made the business successful in the first place.

The episode closes with advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, lessons from law school, and thoughts on the future of Kerbey Lane Cafe and Austin’s local business community.

00:00 — Intro + Meet Mason Ayer
01:32 — How Kerbey Lane Cafe got started
04:00 — Growing up in the family business
07:33 — Law school and a legal career
14:56 — Leaving law to join Kerbey Lane
16:16 — Taking over and modernizing operations
19:27 — Growth, training, and leadership
21:23 — How Kerbey Lane evolved with Austin
23:30 — COVID-19 and surviving the pandemic
25:47 — Why 24-hour dining disappeared
27:20 — The culture and values behind Kerbey Lane
28:43 — Keeping Austin businesses alive
31:05 — Championing local entrepreneurship
33:01 — The future of Kerbey Lane Cafe
35:07 — Advice for young entrepreneurs
37:07 — Law school versus business school
38:00 — Closing thoughts

On this episode of Titans of Texas, host Casey Claiborne sits down with legendary entrepreneur and philanthropist John Paul DeJoria, co-founder of John Paul Mitchell Systems and Patrón Spirits Co.

DeJoria shares the incredible true story behind one of America’s most inspiring entrepreneurial journeys — from growing up poor in Los Angeles, to selling encyclopedias door-to-door, to launching a global haircare empire with just $700.

The conversation dives deep into the mindset, resilience, and philosophy that helped DeJoria overcome homelessness, rejection, financial collapse, and repeated setbacks on the road to becoming one of Texas’ most successful business leaders.

Major topics include:
• Growing up in poverty in Los Angeles
• Being voted “least likely to succeed” in school
• Learning sales through door-to-door encyclopedia sales
• Living in his car while raising his young son
• Starting John Paul Mitchell Systems with only $700
• How he convinced distributors to take a chance on the company
• Building Paul Mitchell into a global haircare powerhouse
• The creation and explosive rise of Patrón Tequila
• Why early distributors believed premium tequila would never work
• Selling Patrón to Bacardi
• Launching his new tequila company, Bandero Tequila
• Why Texas became home for his family and businesses
• The philosophy behind “Success Unshared Is Failure”
• Charity, philanthropy, and giving back
• Supporting Mobile Loaves & Fishes in Austin
• Joining Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge
• Entrepreneurship advice for young business owners
• Dealing with rejection and failure
• Why enthusiasm matters in business
• The future of AI and entrepreneurship
• Why Texas is one of the best places in the world to start a business

DeJoria also discusses his upcoming book, Success Unshared Is Failure, which combines his personal story with practical business advice and lessons on leadership, resilience, positivity, and generosity.

Throughout the episode, DeJoria emphasizes the importance of kindness, persistence, and looking forward instead of dwelling on failure.

His message is simple: success means very little unless you use it to help others.

00:00 — Intro + John Paul DeJoria joins
02:06 — New book: Success Unshared Is Failure
05:18 — Growing up poor in Los Angeles
08:27 — Being voted “least likely to succeed”
10:08 — Living in his car with his son
12:27 — Starting Paul Mitchell with $700
16:34 — Landing the company’s first distributor
19:53 — Making his first million
22:17 — The origin story of Patrón Tequila
24:41 — Why distributors thought Patrón would fail
25:28 — Selling Patrón + launching Bandero Tequila
27:11 — Moving to Texas
28:00 — Film production + philanthropy
30:35 — Joining the Giving Pledge
33:31 — Mobile Loaves & Fishes and helping the homeless
36:29 — Advice for young entrepreneurs
39:58 — Why Texas is great for business
41:10 — AI, skilled trades, and the future of work
45:49 — Final thoughts on success and legacy

In this episode of Titans of Texas, host Casey Claiborne sits down with Robert Mayfield, owner of Mayfield Dairy Queens, to share the story behind one of Texas’s most recognizable local brands.

Mayfield traces the origins of the business back to 1949, when his father opened one of the earliest Dairy Queen franchises in Texas after leaving the cattle business. What started as a single soft-serve stand in Cleburne grew into a multi-location operation — and eventually a family legacy spanning generations.

The conversation explores how Mayfield went from working in the stores as a kid to becoming a lawyer, and ultimately returning to take over and expand the family business. He explains why shifting from a single location to managing multiple stores required a completely different mindset — especially when it came to leadership, trust, and building a strong team.

A major focus of the episode is what makes Texas Dairy Queens unique. Unlike locations in other states, Texas franchisees banded together decades ago to create their own food offerings — including fan favorites like Hunger-Busters, steak finger baskets, and tacos — helping define a distinctly Texan identity for the brand.

The discussion also covers:
• How Mayfield scaled from a few stores to a regional operation
• Why leadership and company culture are key to long-term success
• The importance of treating employees well to build loyalty
• Lessons learned from early business struggles and turnaround efforts
• Why franchising requires careful research and hands-on experience
• The role of branding and local identity in business success
• How Mayfield built one of the highest-performing Dairy Queen operations
• The evolution of the business, including digital ordering and delivery
• Why entrepreneurship requires both independence and discipline

Mayfield also shares his perspective on policy and regulation, emphasizing that business owners must stay engaged in politics because it directly impacts their ability to operate and grow.

Beyond business, the episode highlights Mayfield’s commitment to philanthropy — including significant support for children’s hospitals — and his focus on building something that can be passed down to future generations.

The conversation closes with advice for aspiring entrepreneurs: understand what you want, develop leadership skills, and don’t be afraid to take unconventional paths — including trade careers or hands-on experience outside of traditional college routes.

00:00 — Intro + Robert Mayfield joins
00:24 — The origin of Mayfield Dairy Queen (1949)
01:21 — From cattle business to soft serve success
02:38 — What “soft serve” actually means
03:01 — Early risks and business decisions
03:58 — First job at Dairy Queen at age 11
05:13 — Early career goals and becoming a lawyer
06:02 — Law school and professional development
07:13 — Transition from law to business ownership
08:26 — Expanding into multiple locations
09:18 — Early struggles and business turnaround
10:00 — Creating Wally’s Burger Express
11:05 — Why Texas Dairy Queen is different
12:11 — Unique Texas menu items explained
13:10 — Growth of Mayfield Dairy Queen locations
13:38 — Day-to-day operations as an owner
14:41 — Industry changes and leadership shifts
15:54 — Keys to success: culture and leadership
16:40 — Employee experience and customer service
17:02 — Business and politics: why engagement matters
18:30 — Policy challenges and regulation
20:37 — Philanthropy and community impact
21:48 — Memorial Day traditions and honoring service
22:16 — Passing the business to the next generation
23:51 — Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs
26:10 — Trade careers vs college paths
27:33 — Franchising advice and risks
28:49 — Financial discipline and saving money
29:34 — Branding and marketing (iconic DQ truck)
31:32 — New promotions and digital ordering
33:19 — Closing thoughts

On this episode of Titans of Texas, host Casey Claiborne sits down with Alan Graham, founder and CEO of Mobile Loaves & Fishes, to explore his journey from real estate entrepreneur to one of the most innovative leaders tackling homelessness in America today.

Graham shares how his early career in real estate brought financial success, but ultimately left him searching for deeper purpose. After a life-changing spiritual experience in the mid-1990s, he began asking a simple but transformative question: What does God want me to do? That question led to the creation of Mobile Loaves & Fishes — starting with a single food truck serving the homeless and evolving into a nationwide movement.

At the heart of the conversation is Community First! Village in Austin — a groundbreaking model that provides permanent housing, community, and dignity for the chronically homeless.

The discussion covers:
• Alan Graham’s early life in Texas and path into entrepreneurship
• Lessons learned from success — and failure — in real estate
• Why financial success alone wasn’t fulfilling
• The spiritual turning point that reshaped his life mission
• The founding and growth of Mobile Loaves & Fishes
• How one food truck became a nationwide outreach movement
• The origin story behind Community First! Village
• Why housing — not treatment first — is key to helping the homeless
• The reality of addiction, mental health, and chronic homelessness
• Why “no one chooses homelessness” — and what people get wrong
• The role of dignity, rent, and accountability in the model
• How government can support — but not solve — social problems
• Scaling the model nationwide and replication efforts
• What success looks like when serving the most vulnerable

Graham also explains how Community First! Village operates as a permanent home — not a temporary solution — for individuals nearing the end of their lives, many of whom struggle with disabilities and long-term hardship.

The episode closes with a powerful reflection on purpose, generosity, and the idea that “success unshared is failure.” For Graham, true fulfillment comes not from wealth, but from building something that restores dignity and transforms lives.

00:00 — Intro + Alan Graham joins
00:44 — Background: Houston, Alvin, and moving to Austin
02:32 — Faith growing up and early adulthood
03:49 — Spiritual turning point and life direction
04:12 — Childhood dreams and early ambitions
05:08 — First jobs and early work ethic
06:34 — Discovering real estate and entrepreneurship
08:01 — Early success and making significant money
10:42 — Why success felt unfulfilling
11:07 — Business struggles and career reset
12:49 — Building the Lynx Group and air cargo business
14:38 — Transition toward service and purpose
15:10 — Founding Mobile Loaves & Fishes
16:15 — Early outreach and feeding the homeless
17:13 — Changing perspective on homelessness
18:31 — Growth of Mobile Loaves & Fishes
23:14 — Origin of Community First! Village
25:06 — How the housing model works
26:42 — Residents, rent, and daily life
28:14 — Addiction, recovery, and housing-first approach
30:28 — Do people “choose” homelessness?
32:13 — Role of government vs community
34:59 — Partnerships and major supporters
36:27 — Expansion and future growth
38:19 — Running the organization and funding
39:29 — Book, podcast, and broader mission
41:01 — Philosophy: “Success unshared is failure”
43:01 — Closing thoughts and final reflections

Loewy reflects on growing up in St. Louis, coming to Texas for law school, and realizing early in his career that he did not want to work for other lawyers. After a short stint in traditional legal jobs, he took the leap and launched his own firm in 2005 from his apartment in downtown Austin — without clients, without much money, and without a clear roadmap, but with the determination to build something on his own.

The conversation traces how he found his niche in personal injury law, why that work became meaningful to him, and how persistence eventually turned a risky solo venture into a successful firm. Loewy also explains how he approached early internet marketing, why he remains such a strong believer in billboard advertising, and how he developed a more straightforward, less gimmicky public style than many others in the industry.

The discussion also covers:
• Why he always wanted to be a lawyer
• What pushed him to start his own firm instead of working for others
• How Austin’s growth helped shape his business journey
• The value of direct client service and personal accessibility
• Why he believes philanthropy is one of the most important uses of success
• His long-standing interest in politics and civic life
• His sobriety journey since 2013 and why he speaks openly about it
• His advice for young Texans starting a business in an uncertain economy

Loewy also shares broader thoughts on ambition, independence, and why he remains deeply bullish on Austin and Texas as places to build a life and a business.

00:00 — Casey Claiborne introduces Titans of Texas and Adam Loewy
00:59 — Adam Loewy’s background and legal career overview
03:27 — Growing up in St. Louis and coming to Texas for law school
05:18 — Wanting to be a lawyer from an early age
06:18 — Why he did not like law school or working for other lawyers
07:47 — Starting his own law firm in 2005
09:35 — Why Austin was the right place to build a business
11:08 — How he found his way into personal injury law
12:28 — Realizing the firm was starting to work
13:34 — Early marketing, the internet, and media exposure
15:14 — Why billboards still work
16:44 — Building a brand without gimmicks
17:28 — Client service and being directly accessible
19:15 — Why giving back matters so much
20:44 — Interest in politics and civic engagement
22:18 — Sobriety since 2013 and speaking openly about recovery
24:15 — Advice for young Texans starting a business
25:14 — Thoughts on financial pressure and independence
26:35 — Final thoughts on Austin, Texas, and what comes next