Connecting the Dots with Jeff Sandford

Todd Whitten: Building Tarleton Football | Connecting the Dots Ep. 16

On Episode 16 of Connecting the Dots, we sit down with Tarleton State Football Head Coach Todd Whitten to talk about his coaching journey, the growth of Tarleton Football, and what it takes to build a winning culture.

Coach Whitten shares stories from throughout his career, his connection to Stephenville and Tarleton State, the evolution of the Texans’ footba...

Episode 15 of Connecting the Dots features Stephenville ISD Superintendent Eric Cederstrom.

In this conversation, Eric shares his path into education, what led him to Stephenville, and what it takes to lead a growing school district. We talk about the challenges facing public education, the importance of supporting teachers and students, the future of Stephenville ISD, and what makes this community such a unique place to live, learn...

What started as an idea to share meaningful conversations has grown into something bigger than we ever expected.

To every guest who has sat down with us, every person who has watched, shared, commented, or supported Connecting the Dots.

And hitting 254,000 feels especially fitting for a podcast built right here in the 254.

We’re grateful for how far this has come, and we’re excited for what’s next.

Thank you for 254,0...

In Episode 14 of Connecting the Dots, Jeff Sandford sits down with accomplished entrepreneur, business leader, and visionary Cathy Bonner.

Cathy’s career has included serving in Governor Ann Richards’ cabinet as Director of the Texas Department of Commerce, leading major organizations in both the public and private sectors, and helping create programs that have developed generations of women leaders. Fortune Magazine eve...

Introducing The Upside, a new series from Naylor House Productions focused on finding the encouraging side of today’s biggest stories.

In a world where the news can often feel negative or overwhelming, The Upside looks for the progress, people, and possibilities that deserve more attention. Each episode takes a current topic and offers a fresh perspective without ignoring the challenges, but choosing to highlight what gives us...

Coach Sterling Doty joins us on this episode of Connecting the Dots to share his journey through football, leadership, and his return home to Stephenville.

From playing college football at the University of Houston to becoming a head coach and rebuilding the program at Magnolia High School, Coach Doty has experienced the game from several different perspectives. He discusses what brought him back to Stephenville, the responsibility ...

In this episode of Connecting the Dots, we sit down with Eric Haut, the new Tarleton Men’s Basketball Head Coach.

Coach Haut shares more about his journey in coaching, stepping into a new program, and the importance of building the right culture from the start. He talks about two of the biggest priorities when taking over a program scheduling and recruiting while also giving insight into what fans can expect as Tarleton prepar...

In this episode of Connecting the Dots, we sit down with Kasey Mock to hear more about his journey, how he got started, and what eventually brought him to Stephenville.

Kasey shares stories about business, family, hunting, and the values that have shaped him along the way. From building a life in Stephenville to raising a family in a community focused on quality and culture, this conversation gives a great look into who Kasey is and...

In Episode 10 of Connecting the Dots, we sit down with Lathes “Momma T” Towns for a conversation full of energy, leadership, and Tarleton pride.Momma T shares her story, the impact she has made on students and the Stephenville community, and what it means to truly bleed purple. From the relationships she has built to the passion she brings everywhere she goes, this episode highlights the heart behind one of Tarleton Sta...

On this week’s episode of Connecting the Dots, we sit down with Chad Decker, owner and operator of Hard Eight BBQ.

Known for his barbecue and the impact Hard Eight has made across the state of Texas, Chad shares the story behind how it all began, what life looked like before the restaurant, and the work it took to build Hard Eight into what it is today. We also get to hear about the lessons learned along the way, the people wh...

On this episode of Connecting the Dots, we sit down with the legendary JJ Hampton — an 18-time World Champion, 25-time National Champion, and a proud member of the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame.

JJ shares her story of growing up in the western world, building a championship career, and what it took to compete at the highest level across multiple disciplines. She also opens up about the importance of family, the people who help...

In this episode of Connecting the Dots, Jeff sits down with James Andrae to talk about the craft behind shaping hats and the uniqueness that goes into every cowboy hat he creates. Each hat tells a different story — shaped by the person wearing it, the life they live, and the style that makes them who they are.

James shares what goes into creating a custom hat, from the small details to the personal touches that make each piece...

On this week’s episode of Connecting the Dots, we welcome Kerri Massey, President and CEO of Holy Angels in Belmont, North Carolina. Holy Angels is a private, 24-hour care facility dedicated to serving children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Kerri shares more about the heart behind Holy Angels, the importance of compassion and service, and how organizations like this can make a lasting impact on t...

Bo Moore is an upcoming music artist with a story built on hard work, growth, and staying with it.

After coming up short in last year’s Larry Joe Taylor Singer/Songwriter Contest, Bo came back better, won this year’s contest, and earned the chance to debut at the festival.

In this episode of Connecting the Dots, Bo talks about how he got into music, what he learned from losing, how he improved as an artist, and what it me...

In this episode of Connecting the Dots, we sit down with Stephenville Mayor Lonn Reisman to talk about his journey to Stephenville, his legendary coaching career, and the moments that made him want to call this community home.

Lonn shares why he decided to stay in Stephenville, what led him to run for mayor, and how a simple decision to not say “no” helped change the trajectory of a young man’s basketball career. F...

In this episode of Connecting the Dots, we sit down with Dan Hunter, State Executive Director of the Farm Service Agency, to talk about agriculture, leadership, and the role FSA plays in supporting farmers, ranchers, and rural communities across Texas.

From helping producers navigate programs and resources to understanding the challenges facing today’s agriculture industry, Dan shares what it takes to serve at the state level ...

In this episode of Connecting the Dots, we sit down with Steve Urayzs, Athletic Director at Tarleton State University, to talk about leadership, growth, and the vision behind Tarleton Athletics’ rise on the national stage.From navigating the transition to Division I to building a culture of excellence across every program, Steve shares what it takes to lead at a high level and how Tarleton continues to elevate its impact&mdas...