If You Denton Know... Now You Know!

If You Denton Know is a weekly podcast spotlighting the people, businesses, and stories that make Denton unique. Hosted by Brad Andrus, each episode shares local insights, community voices, and Denton pride.

If You Denton Know... Now You Know! is a society podcast hosted by Brad Andrus, with 28 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Brad Andrus hosts If You Denton Know... Now You Know!, a society show with 28 episodes published.

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  Episode #28

  #28 - David J Anzaldúa Pierce & Marcus Watson

  Sep 25, 202636 minS1

  If You Denton Know David J. Anzaldua Pierce and Marcus Watson , now you do. David J. Anzaldúa Pierce and Marcus Watson are the co-founders of Denton's Day of the Dead Festival, the event that helped turn Denton into the Halloween capital of Texas. What began in 2011 as a block party on Industrial Street has grown into a month of programming that brings visitors from across the country and beyond to downtown Denton. In this episode, David and Marcus share how they each landed in Denton by way of UNT, the story behind Cirque du Horror, and the surprising origin of Little Guys Movers. They talk about the decision to buy the Big Top tent, keeping the festival rooted downtown, and the role the festival plays for local businesses during their busiest month of the year. Listeners will also hear about this year's coffin races, the new DCTA shuttle, the Denton ISD student art exhibit, and how volunteers and sponsors can get involved. Guest Bio David J. Anzaldua Pierce is a Corpus Christi native and UNT music education graduate who taught band for a decade before writing Cirque du Horror in 2009. Marcus Watson came to Denton from Abilene to attend UNT and co-founded Little Guys Movers in 1992, which now has 14 locations. Together they launched Denton's Day of the Dead Festival in 2011 and continue to lead it today. Key Topics Covered Recapping the first Moonlight Monster Ball and plans for its return How David's original musical, Cirque du Horror, sparked the festival The Industrial Street Bash and early efforts to bring life to that side of the square The founding story of Little Guys Movers Why the festival stays in downtown Denton and what it means for local businesses Purchasing the Big Top tent and programming it for the 31 Days of Halloween The board, volunteers, and grassroots sponsors that keep the festival free David's family connection to Día de los Muertos and the Denton ISD student art exhibit Timestamps 00:00 - Welcome and the Moonlight Monster Ball recap 03:05 - How David and Marcus found their way to Denton 07:03 - The origin story of Little Guys Movers 10:37 - Keeping the festival downtown and its impact on local businesses 16:35 - The Big Top tent and the 31 Days of Halloween 20:02 - The board, volunteers, and sponsorship opportunities 24:16 - Coffin races and the Cirque du Horror show 27:22 - New DCTA shuttle and festival parking 29:27 - Denton ISD student exhibit and the meaning of Día de los Muertos 32:07 - Denton favorites and closing thoughts Guest Links / Resources Denton's Day of the Dead Festival: dentondayofthedeadfestival.com Volunteer sign up: dentondayofthedeadfestival.com Cirque du Horror tickets: available through Prekindle Little Guys Movers

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  Episode #27

  #27 - Terin Andrus, Becca Hobby, & Samantha Sims

  Aug 28, 202653 minS1

  If You Denton Know Terin Andrus, Becca Hobby, and Samantha Sims , now you do. Episode Description North Texas Giving Day brings three guests into the studio at once. Terin Andrus is the vice president of Meg Matters, a Krum-based nonprofit funding mental health resources in schools. Becca Hobby is the community engagement director at Veterans Point, a Denton County organization that supports veterans, service members, and their families through peer connection. Samantha Sims is the chief development officer at Giving Grace, the largest human service provider for homeless families in Denton County. Listeners will hear how each organization started, including the loss that led to Meg Matters and the merger of two small nonprofits that created Giving Grace. The conversation covers what a crisis call actually looks like, why Giving Grace refuses to simply place families in housing without addressing the root cause, and the new Love First campus taking shape near Ryan High School. The group also talks candidly about isolation, screens, and the loneliness epidemic, and about why unrestricted giving is often the most useful dollar a nonprofit receives. Guest Bio Terin Andrus is vice president of Meg Matters, a volunteer-run nonprofit founded in 2021 that funds mental health staff and peer support programs in Krum ISD. Becca Hobby serves as community engagement director for Veterans Point in Denton County, a peer support organization based on an equine therapy ranch in the southern part of the county. Samantha Sims is chief development officer at Giving Grace, a Denton County nonprofit providing shelter, case management, and wraparound services for families experiencing homelessness. All three are active connectors in the county's nonprofit network. Key Topics Covered How Veterans Point uses peer support, hiking, golf, and equine programs instead of clinical-first outreach Why Giving Grace addresses the causes of homelessness before placing a family in housing The story behind Meg Matters and getting a Communities In Schools social worker into Krum ISD What a real day looks like when a crisis call comes in A Giving Grace family's path from sleeping in a car to nursing classes and a home The Love First campus on 15 acres near Ryan High School, including an 80-bed family shelter Screens, isolation, algorithms, and the loneliness epidemic Why unrestricted funds matter more than most donors realize Concrete ways to help: referrals, serve teams, monthly giving, and sponsorships Timestamps 00:00 - Three nonprofits, one table, and why 01:28 - Becca Hobby on Veterans Point and peer support 04:34 - Samantha Sims on Giving Grace and family homelessness 08:07 - The two nonprofits that merged to form Giving Grace 08:59 - Terin Andrus on Meg Matters and the loss behind it 13:01 - Funding Communities In Schools in Krum ISD 14:54 - A day in the life at Veterans Point 19:12 - From a car in a driveway to a town home and a career path 25:05 - Screens, loneliness, 988, and the Hope Squad 33:10 - Inside the Love First campus project 37:54 - How the community can actually help Guest Links / Resources Veterans Point: veteranspoint.org Giving Grace: givinggrace.org Meg Matters: Instagram - @megmatterstx North Texas Giving Day Giving Grace gala, Saturday, October 3, Royal Affairs Ballroom, Old Town Lewisville Meg Matters community walk, late April Veterans Point "We've Got Your Six" monthly giving campaign 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, with a dedicated option for veterans

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  Episode #26

  #26 - Glenn Carlton

  Aug 14, 202634 minS1

  If You Denton Know Glenn Carlton , now you do. Glenn Carlton has been part of the North Texas Fair and Rodeo since 1985, first as a volunteer on the rodeo committee and, since 2005, as executive director. He grew up in Eugene, Oregon with deep family roots in southeastern Oklahoma, rode bulls, and landed in Denton through a beer sales territory that introduced him to the fairgrounds. Nearly four decades later, he leads one of the largest annual events in the county. In this conversation, Glenn walks through the history of the fair, the 800 volunteers and 40 committees who make it run, and the tough years that shaped it, including seven days of rain in 2016 and a pandemic-era move to October. He shares the story of a $500 bonus that kept a young Cody Johnson from quitting music, explains the fair's roughly $22 million impact on Denton County, and gives a preview of the 98th annual event running August 21 through 30, plus what is ahead for the new Expo Center north of town. Key Topics Covered Growing up in Oregon with family roots in the Kiamichi Mountains of southeastern Oklahoma Riding bulls, selling beer, and the path that led Glenn to Denton Learning the ropes under longtime rodeo chairman Weldon Burgoon How 800 volunteers and 40 committees put on a ten day event The Cody Johnson story and the $500 bonus he never forgot Surviving a rained out 2016 and pulling off the fair during COVID Scholarships, youth agriculture, and roughly $1 million a year back into the community The economic impact of the fair and the vision for the new Denton County Expo Center Timestamps 00:00 Meet Glenn Carlton, executive director of the North Texas Fair and Rodeo 01:42 Oregon roots, Oklahoma summers, and a fourth generation cattleman 03:04 Riding bulls, a beer sponsorship, and the sales route that led to Denton 04:56 Volunteering under Weldon Burgoon and what the early fair looked like 09:07 From volunteer to executive director in 2005 09:47 The Cody Johnson story and a $500 bonus 12:57 Eight hundred volunteers, forty committees, and a generational tradition 16:27 Hard lessons: seven days of rain in 2016 and running the fair during COVID 19:15 Giving back through scholarships, youth agriculture, and community programs 21:35 Economic impact on Denton and the county 25:46 What is new for the 98th annual fair, August 21 through 30 29:53 The land north of town and the future Expo Center Denton Highlights North Texas Fairgrounds Frilly's Seafood Bayou Kitchen Weldon Burgoon's saddle shop on East Hickory University of North Texas Business College Denton County Youth Fair Denton County Livestock Association Blue Ribbon Club Guest Links / Resources North Texas Fair and Rodeo: ntfair.com Volunteer sign up: ntfair.com , under the Get Involved tab 98th Annual North Texas Fair and Rodeo: August 21 through 30, gates at 5:30 p.m. weekdays and 1 p.m. weekends Advance tickets available online at ntfair.com

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  Episode #25

  #25 - Nate Hamilton

  Aug 7, 202632 minS1

  If You Denton Know Nate Hamilton , now you do. Nate Hamilton is the founder and owner of 144 Print House and Race Studio in Denton, Texas. A former Formula Drift professional driver, he competed at the sport's highest level through 2017 before shifting his focus to design, screen printing, and embroidery. His shop serves motorsports brands, YouTubers, and local Denton businesses alike. Key Topics Covered What drifting is, how it is scored, and why it is closer to skateboarding than racing Nate's path from skate parks in Rowlett to the Formula Drift pro circuit The real cost of competing, from tire budgets to six figure season funding Why he walked away from the pro class in 2017 to build a business How the "Endless Search for Tires" tour turned a sponsorship gap into an opportunity The origin of the number 144 and the friend it honors Lessons on scaling a shop through unpredictable demand Building a team culture where the right person is in the right seat ⸻ Timestamps 00:00 Meet Nate Hamilton and 144 Print House and Race Studio 02:26 Skateboards, screen printing, and the road to drifting 03:11 What drifting is and how it gets judged 07:06 Inside a Formula Drift race weekend 10:35 Why he stepped away from the pro class 12:15 The Endless Search for Tires campaign 14:19 The story behind the number 144 16:31 A chance meeting on the courthouse lawn 21:15 Apex Fest and what to expect 26:54 Every day is Friday and building the right team Guest Links / Resources Website: 144racing.com Shop: 1700 Shady Oaks, Denton, TX Event: Apex Fest, September 5, free to attend. Schedule details at 144racing.com Social: @144racing Denton Highlights Hannah's Off the Square Queenie's Steakhouse Harvest House East Side Social Club The Denton Square and Courthouse Lawn Denton Day of the Dead Festival Texas Motor Speedway (nearby)

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  Episode #24

  #24 - John Williams, Desmond Moore, & Patrick Blancas

  Jul 17, 202641 minS1

  If You Denton Know John Williams, Desmond Moore, and Patrick Blancas, now you do. For more than a decade, John Williams, Desmond Moore, and Patrick Blancas have quietly shaped where Denton goes to unwind. What started as a single house bar just off the square grew into a family of four sister spots known today as EastOak DanGeline's: Oak Street Drafthouse, East Side, Miss Angeline's, and Dan's Silverleaf. All three are UNT grads, and all three came up through the Denton service industry before building something of their own. In this conversation, they share how a Fry Street era bar scene shifted east of the square, why they chose to compete with themselves rather than let outsiders move in next door, and how a pawn shop full of lawnmowers helped them keep nearly their entire staff employed through COVID. They also talk about stepping in to keep Dan's Silverleaf alive, what makes Denton's culture different from a suburban market like Lewisville, and what they hope downtown looks like ten years from now. Guest Bio John Williams, Desmond Moore, and Patrick Blancas are the team behind East Oak Dangelines, the Denton hospitality group that operates Oak Street Drafthouse, East Side, Miss Angeline's, and Dan's Silverleaf. John grew up between Ponder, Krum, and Denton and studied entrepreneurship at UNT before opening his first bar in 2012. Desmond serves as general manager of Miss Angeline's after starting on the door at Oak Street, and Patrick, an El Paso native and UNT marketing grad, came up alongside John behind the bar at Lucky Lou's. Key Topics Covered How each of them landed in Denton and found their way into the bar business The Lucky Lou's years and the mentorship that shaped their approach Opening Oak Street Drafthouse and the Austin house bar idea behind it Why they opened a second bar 500 feet from their first Building a team by giving key employees a piece of the business Keeping staff paid through COVID with a lawn mowing operation and community support Taking over Dan's Silverleaf and the decision not to change it The story behind the Miss Angeline's name How Denton's nightlife shifted from Fry Street to east of the square What a Lewisville location taught them about Denton's culture Timestamps 00:00 - Meet the group behind East Oak Dangelines 01:45 - Denton roots, Ponder, Krum, and UNT 04:06 - How John got his start in the bar business 06:52 - Dan's move to Industrial and the shift east 07:49 - Opening Oak Street Drafthouse 08:25 - Desmond and Patrick talk their way in 11:39 - Why East Side opened just down the street 13:02 - Building a team and sharing the pie 20:10 - The house that became Miss Angeline's 24:29 - Surviving COVID and keeping the staff together 31:00 - Taking over Dan's Silverleaf 35:01 - Lewisville versus Denton 37:30 - The next ten years downtown 39:01 - Denton favorites and shout outs

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