Working Title with Zach Sams

This special Giving Episode of Working Title with Hosts Zach Sams and Tyler Isbell, who shine a spotlight on local DFW nonprofits making a real impact. Dressed as an elf to keep the spirit light while the mission stays serious, Tyler is full of surprises in this holiday edition. The highlighted are four organizations changing lives through mental health advocacy, homelessness outreach, mentorship for fatherless boys, and helping victims of human trafficking. Meg Matters Taran Andres joins the show to share the powerful story behind Meg Matters, a nonprofit founded after the tragic loss of Megan to suicide in 2021. Officially established as a 501(c)(3) in 2023, Meg Matters raises funds for mental health resources in schools, suicide prevention programs, and community education aimed at breaking the stigma around youth mental health. The organization provides scholarships to Crumb ISD seniors based on essays about mental resilience, not GPA, and brings critical support services like Communities in Schools into local campuses. As a fully volunteer-run nonprofit, 100 percent of donations go directly to its mission. Learn more or give at megmatterstx.org. The Human Impact Founder and CEO Elisabeth Jordan shares how The Human Impact serves the long-term chronically homeless population in South Dallas by focusing on authentic relationships rather than quick fixes. By walking the streets, sitting with people where they are, and speaking dignity and hope into their lives, the organization fills a gap often missed in traditional care models. Weekly gatherings like Come to the Table foster community through shared meals, worship, and prayer. Viewers can support or volunteer at thehumanimpact.org. 4Runner Mentoring Stephen Murray and Clint Williamson discuss 4Runner Mentoring, an organization built on the belief that relationships change lives. Focused on fatherless boys in the Lake Highlands area, 4Runner addresses fatherlessness caused by death, divorce, desertion, deportation, or incarceration as a root issue impacting entire communities. Started by a middle school football coach who experienced fatherlessness himself, the program invests in mentorship and consistency while honoring single mothers as everyday heroes. Support from events like the Bonanza at the Border golf tournament helps sustain and grow their impact. New Friends New Life CRE champion Karla Smith and New Friends New Life representative Vanessa Barker. New Friends New Life restores and empowers trafficked and sexually exploited teen girls, women, and their children, and drives awareness of the issue and its prevalence. By providing case management, counseling, economic empowerment/educational support, we are creating a community where women and girls can soar above the limits of their past to achieve their dreams.

Why are people moving back downtown Dallas and what still needs to change in the Big D?    Jennifer Scripps, CEO of Downtown Dallas Inc joins the Working Title show to unpack the projects, the politics, and the practical fixes driving Dallas’s downtown comeback.   From public improvement districts and safety teams to new parks, college campuses, and convention-center plans, Jennifer walks us through what’s changed in Dallas, what’s working, and what still needs to happen to make downtown a seven-day, mixed-use neighborhood people actually WANT to live, work, and play in.   This episode covers: What Downtown Dallas Inc. (DDI) does—security, clean teams, outreach, planning—and how the public improvement district funds those services.   Post-pandemic downtown trends: office return patterns, rising weekend foot traffic, and why Saturday can be busier than some weekdays.   The growth of downtown housing and why a true 7-day downtown needs grocery stores, parks, and neighborhood services.   Safety and coordination with DPD, camera footage sharing, and DDI’s role in quality-of-life enforcement.   Big-picture projects: convention center renovation, Dallas College expansion, rehabbing iconic office towers, and the need for more hotel rooms and destination dining.   Infrastructure challenges (old signaling, tunnels, parking) and the opportunity FIFA and other events create for long-term improvements.   Why downtown matters to the whole region—jobs, tax base, and future growth—and the vision for a pedestrian-friendly, activated core.   If you care about Dallas urban revitalization, Dallas city planning, or how public-private partnerships actually move a downtown forward, this episode gives practical, boots-on-the-ground insight from one of the people leading the effort.   Quick highlights: -DDI overview & public improvement district  -Post-pandemic office + residential trends  -Safety, outreach, and coordination with DPD  -Convention center, Dallas College, and jobs pipeline  -Redevelopment wins & future vision    Guest: Jennifer Scripps, President & CEO of Downtown Dallas inc https://downtowndallas.com/   Hosts: Zach Sams leads Kensington Vanguard National Title Company in Texas and Arizona. Zach is also the President of Nexus Caritas Opus, LLC, the charitable organization that hosts and runs The Bonanza at the Border Charity Golf Tournament in Lajitas, TX.   Dallas Cothrum - Dallas Cothrum is the CEO of Masterplan Consultants, the oldest land use and zoning firm in Texas. He is formerly a tenured professor in the University of Texas System. He co-hosts the “Working Title” podcast about DFW Real Estate. And he is a Dallas Morning News contributing columnist.   Tyler Isbell, Senior Vice President and Principal,SRS Real Estate Partners: Tyler co-hosts the “Working Title” podcast about DFW Real Estate.  He is a retail CRE strategist and dealmaker  with SRS, specializing in National Tenant Representation, Capital Markets, and business development.  He is blessed with loyal clients and good mentors, who align smart investment strategy with community impact and long-term stewardship

Dallas is changing fast. The crew digs into why local coverage feels thinner, what that means for residents and investors, and how decisions downtown ripple across the entire metro.Real estate touches everything. From arena politics to permitting portals, each decision shifts values, activity, and the Dallas city’s story.What We Get Into:If you care about Dallas, real estate, and growth, this is your show.Episode Recap:-Downtown at a tipping point:-Safety + homelessness perceptions vs. on-the-ground improvements-Functional obsolescence: big towers, thin parking, street-level retail challenges-How perceptions shape capital flows, leasing, and where people choose to live and work-Sports as an economic engine:-What happens to hotels, restaurants, and tax base if the Mavs or Stars leave the core?-Why modern teams want full control of districts—and what it would take to keep them in Dallas proper-Big civic chessboard:-City Hall’s future location (museum piece vs. pragmatic move)-Convention center overhaul and the risk/reward for downtown vitality-Signals from City departments: permitting tech upgrades, faster responses, signs of accountability-Projects to watch: Landmark towers eyeing mixed-use conversions; why resetting basis on older buildings matters; where adaptive reuse beats wrecking balls.Culture & community sidebars:-State Fair of Texas 2025 recap low attendance dynamics, Cotton Bowl upgrades-School district perceptions (HP vs. IB at Woodrow) and why perception = pricing-Skilled trades boom: electricians, plumbers, welders—the backbone growth Dallas actually needsWe want YOU!Got a downtown data point, development rumor, or topic we should chase? DM the show. Subscribe, rate, and share if you want a smarter Dallas conversation in your feed every week.Hosts: Zach Sams with co-hosts Tyler Isbell & Dallas CothrumCo-hosts Tyler Isbell and Dallas Morning News Writer Dallas Cothrum, shifting from guest-only spotlights to a weekly round-up of the real Dallas—especially where news, real estate, sports, and city policy collide.

Tyler Isbell returns as co-host on Working Title with Zach Sams — and this week’s episode is packed with real estate insights, golf dreams, and Texas-sized innovation. ️⛳First: Big news to talk about with co-host Tyler Isabell, Zach Sams is going to the Mid-Am!Zach Sams shares his humble excitement for qualifying for the US Mid-Amateur and shooting a bogey-free 68! Zach and Tyler talk about what Zach needed to qualify for this, and a big congrats from Tyler.264 players made it out of 9,000!From luxury “man cave” storage spaces and the launch of a jaw-dropping new gym to interest rate uncertainty and upcoming major golf tournaments, Tyler and Zach break down what’s shaping the market — and their personal milestones — heading into 2025. Topics Covered:· Why “luxury storage” is becoming the new man cave trend in real estate· Inside Texas’ most talked-about gym — a 45,000 sq. ft. powerhouse built for serious lifters· How fluctuating interest rates are freezing deals and widening the bid-ask gap· Tyler’s golf journey to the U.S. Mid-Amateur & what it takes to qualify out of 9,000 hopefuls·  Retail and fitness markets: challenges, bankruptcies, and fresh opportunities Episode Highlights:·      00:01:10 — Zach qualifies for the U.S. Mid-Amateur ·         00:03:12 — Golf for a cause: Bonanza at the Border tournament at Lajitas Golf Resort·         00:05:26 — What makes luxury storage “man caves” a booming real estate trend·         00:08:08 — Inside a 70-ft screen gym that’s redefining the Texas fitness scene·         00:12:29 — Real talk on interest rates & how they’re stalling commercial deals·         00:17:15 — Grass talk: course prep for the desert heat of Troon North·         00:20:03 — Looking ahead: why 2025 could be the comeback year for real estateWebsite: https://bonanzaattheborder.com/#RealEstate #WorkingTitlePodcast #ZachSams #TylerIsbell #GolfLife #TexasBusiness #InterestRates #CommercialRealEstate #ManCaves

On this powerful episode of Working Title with Zach Sams, Zach sits down with Terin and Bret Andrus — the inspiring husband-and-wife duo that join Working Title to share Meg Matters Inc., a mission-driven organization that exists to inspire, educate, and connect in the world of mental health. Meg Matters is excited to join Bonanza at the Border this year! https://bonanzaattheborder.com/ Born out of a deeply personal journey, Meg Matters is more than a brand — it’s a movement. Terin and Bret share the story behind their work, their commitment to raising awareness about suicide prevention, and how they’re using education and fundraising to break the stigma surrounding mental health. This episode dives into the heart behind the mission, the impact Meg Matters is making in communities, and how others can get involved. If you care about mental health, meaningful conversations, and purpose-led entrepreneurship — this one’s for you. https://www.megmatterstx.org/ Buy your Meg Matters Merch: https://joygrace.shop/collections/meg-matters-partnership Free resource link Provided by United way of Denton Co.(Programs are FREE for anyone): https://www.instagram.com/p/DEM-RQWudOC/?igsh=dTd3dzJrYzJ1MnM0