Titans of Texas w/ Casey Claiborne

Ep. 5 - Leading Kerbey Lane Cafe Through Austin’s Evolution w/Mason Ayer

How does an Austin institution survive for nearly 50 years while the city around it changes dramatically? 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

Ep. 4-John Paul DeJoria-John Paul Mitchell Systems and Patron Spirits Co.

How do you go from living in your car with your young son to building multiple billion-dollar companies? 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

Ep. 3 - From Law to Leading a Texas Dairy Queen Empire w/Robert Mayfield

What makes Dairy Queen in Texas so different — and how do you build a multi-generational business that lasts? 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

Ep. 2 - From Real Estate to Ending Homelessness: Alan Graham’s Mission in Texas

Success isn’t just about making money — it’s about what you do with it. 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

Ep. 1 - Building a Law Firm, Marketing, Sobriety, and Giving Back in Texas w/Adam Loewy

In the debut episode of Titans of Texas, host Casey Claiborne sits down with Adam Loewy, one of Austin’s best-known personal injury attorneys, for a candid conversation about entrepreneurship, marketing, philanthropy, recovery, and building a business in Texas. 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