From Library Books to Legendary Parks: How One Man's Childhood Obsession Became a Career No One Saw Coming

The Contact Sport of Business: Mike Nurre on 35 Years of Showing Up

What does business development and relationship building look like when you've been doing it for 35 years in Dallas, Texas? Guest Mike Nurre knows.  He's built a career, a community, and a reputation on one principle: give first, and keep giving. In this episode of With Hat and Cattle, host Dani Raschel Chou sits down with Mike Nurre: business broker, financial advisor, and Dallas community organizer, for a grounded conversation about business development, personal growth, and what it means to build legacy. Mike shares how he grew a career from cold calls to running his own firm, why knowing when to exit a business is its own skill, and how face-to-face relationships still drive everything.  If you're working on your personal development, building a network, or figuring out the next move in your career, take the time to invest in yourself and watch this conversation. Who this episode is for: Entrepreneurs, business owners, and professionals in Dallas, Texas and beyond who are serious about personal development, business development, and building a meaningful career without shortcuts. In this episode: [00:00] Introduction — financial advisor, business broker, and the "mayor of Casa View" [00:01] "Everybody wants a village, but nobody wants to be a villager" [00:03] What Mike wants you to know about him first [00:03] Life's break points: why 40 and 60 change everything [00:05] Career beginnings — Dun & Bradstreet and learning to sell [00:06] Xerox, oil & gas, real estate, and landing in business brokering [00:07] Forming his own firm in 2007 [00:07] "Business is a contact sport" — networking, giving first, and staying present [00:09] Not afraid to make the ask: the DMA story [00:11] Work-life balance vs. seasons of life [00:12] Life in thirds: learning, earning, returning [00:13] How Mike became the "mayor of Casa View" — building community from scratch [00:15] Community advocacy in East Dallas: the wins, the losses, finding the middle ground [00:17] The Magdalene House — the one that got away [00:20] "Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered" — on knowing when to exit a business [00:22] Preparation before opportunity — the Jim Rohn thread [00:23] The Picasso napkin story [00:25] Give, give, give — sometimes 10:1 before anything comes back [00:27] Soft skills we're losing — handshakes, name tags, and the power of face-to-face [00:29] AI, critical thinking, and the case for a liberal arts degree [00:32] Going back for an MBA at 35 — and why it mattered [00:35] Investing in yourself as a lifelong practice [00:38] The three mentors who shaped Mike's career [00:42] What kept him going when entrepreneurship got hard [00:43] Mike Nurre the music fan — The Rolling Stones, The Monkees, and live music memories Connect with Dani Raschel Chou on Instagram @withhatandcattle or via email at dani@thehouseofchou.com.  Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more conversations that leave you better off for listening: With Hat and Cattle I Hosted by Dani Raschel Chou - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@WithHatandCattle]!  Go to www.withhatandcattle.com [https://www.withhatandcattle.com] to sign up for our mailing list so you don't miss weekly insights. Be sure to check out our affiliate links!

Inside a Real Coaching Session: Purpose Factor, Enneagram Triggers & Hard Truths (Part 2)

In Part 2 of this unscripted live coaching session, Enneagram and Purpose Factor coach Darin K. Newbold takes host Dani Raschel Chou and her best friend Nicki Ketcham deeper than either of them planned to go. They unpack their Purpose Factor assessments, identify the patterns holding them back, and walk through a real-time framework for managing emotional triggers at work and at home, all in the name of personal development and personal growth. This isn't a polished interview. It's the real thing, with all the awkward pauses, the breakthroughs, and the moments where someone has to stop and say, "Oof, that's for my journal." In this episode, we explore: * The four pillars of the Purpose Factor: Natural Advantage, Acquired Skills, Pull Passion, and Origin Strength * Nicki's Builder Advantage...and the printer story that will resonate with every Type 3 listener * Dani's Truth Teller Advantage...and the uncomfortable question Darin asks about why she isn't being heard * A four-step framework for managing triggers in real time: recognize, pause, reframe, release * Why "frustration" is a cop-out word, and what's actually underneath it * Enneagram stances explained: feeling dominant vs. feeling repressed, and how they shape your relationships * A practical communication hack for Type 4 and Type 3 types If you've ever felt like people only take you seriously when you raise your voice, or you're the one quietly getting everything done while quietly resenting it, this conversation is for you. About our guests: Darin K. Newbold is the founder of Bold Solutions and creator of the Bold GPS framework, a guided purpose system combining the Enneagram with the Purpose Factor assessment to help leaders and teams find clarity and direction. He's a certified Enneagram coach and licensed Purpose Factor facilitator. Nicki Ketcham is Dani's best friend, a Type 3 Achiever, a Builder by Purpose Factor, and the woman who keeps Dani's emotions (and projects) on track. Special offer for listeners: Darin is offering $50 off his Bold GPS Starter Map — normally $297, available to With Hat and Cattle listeners for $247. Mention the show when you book a discovery call with him on LinkedIn. Mentioned in this episode: * The Purpose Factor by Brian and Gabrielle Bosché * The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile * Part 1 of this conversation (listen first for full context on the Enneagram) 🎧 Make sure you've listened to Part 1 before jumping into this one. 📲 Follow the show, leave a review, and share this episode with the friend you thought of while listening. Connect with us: * Darin K. Newbold on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/darinnewbold/] and at Your Bold Solutions [https://yourboldsolutions.com/] * Nicolle Ketcham on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nketcham/] and at Big Future Consulting [https://www.bigfutureconsulting.com/] With Hat and Cattle brings you stories that leave you better off for listening. Connect with Dani Raschel Chou on Instagram @withhatandcattle or via email at dani@thehouseofchou.com.  Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more conversations that leave you better off for listening: With Hat and Cattle I Hosted by Dani Raschel Chou - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@WithHatandCattle]!  Go to www.withhatandcattle.com [https://www.withhatandcattle.com] to sign up for our mailing list so you don't miss weekly insights. Be sure to check out our affiliate links!

We Put Ourselves on the Couch: A Live BoldGPS Session with Darin Newbold (Part 1)

What does a live executive coaching session actually look like? In Part 1 of this two-part episode, host Dani sits down with Enneagram coach Darin K. Newbold and best friend Nicki Ketcham for an unedited walkthrough of the BoldGPS framework: Darin's Bold Guided Purpose System that combines the Enneagram with the Purpose Factor Assessment. Following Darin's first appearance on With Hat and Cattle, Dani and Nicki took both assessments and invited Darin to coach them on the mic. The result is a candid conversation about self-awareness, blind spots, and the patterns that quietly shape our personal and professional relationships. In this episode, you'll hear: * A live Enneagram typing session, with Dani as a Type 4 with a 3 wing, and Nicki as a self-preservation Type 3 with a 4 wing * How the Enneagram's wings, stress paths, and growth paths actually work in real life * Why the heart-center triad (Types 2, 3, and 4) processes grief and shame differently, and what that means for high performers * A real friction point between Dani and Nicki, broken down in real time using the framework * Why no Enneagram number is "better" than another, and how each one contributes something the world needs * Childhood wounds, core fears, and the unconscious messages that shape who we become at work * A preview of the Purpose Factor Assessment (the lighthouse half of BoldGPS) coming in Part 2 Whether you're new to the Enneagram or you've been studying it for years, this episode demonstrates how personal development tools translate into practical decisions about leadership, relationships, and self-trust. Part 2 drops next week with the Purpose Factor reveal for both Dani and Nicki. Connect with Darin Newbold (BoldGPS) (Be sure to tell him you heard about him on With Hat and Cattle to get your community discount!): You Bold Solutions [https://yourboldsolutions.com/] Connect with Nicki Ketcham: Big Future Consulting [https://www.bigfutureconsulting.com/] Color analysis by Bianca: B. Well Styled | DFW Color Analysis [https://www.biancaschiffman.com/] Subscribe to the With Hat and Cattle podcast wherever you get your podcasts, and join the community at the kitchen table for stories from people who walk the walk and leave you better off for listening. Keywords: Enneagram Type 3, Enneagram Type 4, emotional intelligence Want to be notified when Claude responds?Notify Connect with Dani Raschel Chou on Instagram @withhatandcattle or via email at dani@thehouseofchou.com.  Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more conversations that leave you better off for listening: With Hat and Cattle I Hosted by Dani Raschel Chou - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@WithHatandCattle]!  Go to www.withhatandcattle.com [https://www.withhatandcattle.com] to sign up for our mailing list so you don't miss weekly insights. Be sure to check out our affiliate links!

AI Can Write the Message, But It Can't Carry Your Reputation | Amir Khawaja on Leading Human in a Machine Age

AI can write the message, but it can’t carry your reputation. In an era where everyone is starting to sound polished, automated, and put-together, what actually separates the leaders people trust from the ones they don’t? In this episode of With Hat and Cattle, host Dani sits down (again) with Amir Khawaja, engineering executive and co-host of the Black Belts and Boardrooms podcast, for a candid conversation about authenticity, leadership in the age of AI, and how to stay human when the tools around you are getting smarter every day. After his first appearance had listeners texting Dani about how much it hit, Amir is back to go deeper: on trust, credibility, the Dunning-Kruger effect, AI hallucinations, and why “leave people better than you found them” is still the leadership standard that holds up.  Whether you’re a leader trying to use AI without losing your voice, a young professional wondering how to build a career when entry-level tasks are being automated, or a creative worried about what authenticity even means anymore — this conversation gives you something rare: a thoughtful, grounded, real-talk framework for showing up as a human in a machine-driven world. What you’ll learn: •        Why AI can polish your words but can’t protect your reputation •        How to give AI “pre-flight constraints” so it stops flattering you and starts telling you the truth •        The difference between a chatbot and an AI agent explained without the jargon •        Why the Dunning-Kruger effect is about to get magnified by AI — and how to protect your credibility •        What every young professional should be doing right now to build a career that AI can’t replace •        The leadership philosophy that still wins: “leave people better than you found them” •        Why a liberal arts mindset and critical thinking are now competitive advantages •        Slop vs. scratch kitchen: how to feed your mind in a content-saturated world Quotes from the episode: “AI can write the message, but it can’t carry your reputation.” “We all have a PhD in our pockets now.” “If you feed your mind slop every day, what happens to your ability to appreciate the more nuanced things in life?” “Titles are what other people give you. Can somebody honestly say I was useful to them? That would make my day.” About Amir Khawaja: Amir is a seasoned engineering executive with nearly three decades in technology, product, and transformation leadership. He is the co-host of Black Belts and Boardrooms, a podcast at the intersection of leadership, mindset, and real-world performance, and the author of the AI Brain Trust methodology shared on LinkedIn. If this episode hits something for you, send it to one person who’s navigating this AI moment with you, then follow With Hat and Cattle on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube so you don’t miss the next one. We’re sharing 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.  Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more conversations that leave you better off for listening: With Hat and Cattle I Hosted by Dani Raschel Chou - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@WithHatandCattle]!  Go to www.withhatandcattle.com [https://www.withhatandcattle.com] to sign up for our mailing list so you don't miss weekly insights. Be sure to check out our affiliate links!

From Library Books to Legendary Parks: How One Man's Childhood Obsession Became a Career No One Saw Coming

What happens when you follow a passion so relentlessly that the world eventually has no choice but to make room for you? In this episode of With Hat and Cattle, Dani sits down with Jim Futrell: amusement park historian, 11-time author, and the man the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions trusts to capture the soul of an entire industry. And here's the twist: Jim never had a degree in history. He had something rarer, an unshakeable curiosity and the courage to say yes every single time an opportunity showed up. From checking out the same three library books on repeat as a kid in Chicago, to interviewing industry legends at global conventions, Jim's story is a masterclass in turning a "hobby run amok" into a legacy. He breaks down how his career in market research and his lifelong love of amusement parks weren't competing priorities. Oh, no. They were two lanes running parallel toward the same destination. What you'll walk away with: * Why saying yes first and figuring out the logistics second is often the right move * How showing up at industry events can completely redirect the trajectory of your life * The mindset shift that separates people chasing passion from people living it * Why "balance" is a myth, and what seasons of sacrifice actually look like in practice * A reminder that the greatest careers are sometimes built without a single class on the subject Whether you're an entrepreneur, an executive, a career-changer, or just someone who's ever been told their interest is "too niche," Jim's story will leave you better than it found you. You can find Jim on LinkedIn: Jim Futrell - CERP, ICAE | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-futrell-cerp-icae-13a0695/]. And his new book dropped April 14, 2026, and is now available on Amazon: Knoebels Amusement Resort (Images of America): Futrell, Jim, Knoebel, Dick: 9781467163132: Amazon.com: Books [https://www.amazon.com/Knoebels-Amusement-Resort-Images-America/dp/1467163139/ref=sr_1_1?crid=26F4B31N05EEW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Hk0Ffd1WhKweT4Zw3REg6rj2P5-vnENOtDHbVnf3Hx5TQxBMow7WApuZfCBgm7xXY67_SsNn0Z_FqVVLZHXzI2vFp3xbXRJRk6rnwMBk3GqTY1Gmt7ZiCMcCS-eWoM5XClTcbmCfxpqKdjY_gSNJ-LRLJlYdxpB2mUeCF17nZR08N717BRKpipNVLT3mAIIw.XIx0SciCP9QSeznXlkIV55BWuk--NBfE68rtibsewOM&dib_tag=se&keywords=jim+futrell&qid=1776280161&sprefix=jim+fut%2Caps%2C374&sr=8-1]. New episodes drop biweekly (for now). Subscribe, share, and come join the With Hat and Cattle community. #WithHatAndCattle #FollowYourPassion  #PersonalDevelopment #AmusementParks #HistoryNerd #CareerAdvice #PurposeDrivenWork #GrowthMindset #LifeLessons Connect with Dani Raschel Chou on Instagram @withhatandcattle or via email at dani@thehouseofchou.com.  Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more conversations that leave you better off for listening: With Hat and Cattle I Hosted by Dani Raschel Chou - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@WithHatandCattle]!  Go to www.withhatandcattle.com [https://www.withhatandcattle.com] to sign up for our mailing list so you don't miss weekly insights. Be sure to check out our affiliate links!