Take a Seat with Sara

Sara Fredericks
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Entrepreneurship

Take a Seat with Sara is a conversation series hosted by Sara Fredericks (commercial real estate broker, wife, mom, friend, connector). Sara sits down with leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, creatives, and cool people from all walks of life to talk about how they got here, how it’s going, and what’s next. These are conversations about more than careers. They’re about the choices, challenges, pivots, people, ideas, and unexpected moments that shape where we go next. Expect honest stories, fresh perspectives, a little humor, and questions you may not hear in the usual interview. Because everyone has a story. Everyone is navigating something. And sometimes all it takes is taking a seat to hear something that changes the way you think. Pull up a seat. Let’s talk.

Episodes

  1. 4d ago

    Building a Better Downtown Dallas: Leadership, Community & the City's Future with Jennifer Scripps

    What does it take to build a thriving downtown? On this episode of Take a Seat with Sara, Sara sits down with Jennifer Scripps, President and CEO of Downtown Dallas Inc., to discuss the future of downtown Dallas, the power of community partnerships, and the opportunities shaping the city's next chapter. Jennifer shares her journey from helping bring the Perot Museum of Nature and Science to life to leading downtown revitalization efforts. She discusses attracting more residents and businesses downtown, creating walkable and vibrant public spaces, addressing homelessness, and preparing Dallas for major developments and global events like FIFA. Plus, Jennifer opens up about finding balance, unplugging from the everyday hustle, and why we should celebrate the people and positive changes happening around us rather than getting caught up in negative headlines. Join Sara for an inspiring conversation about leadership, optimism, and what it takes to build a stronger, more connected Dallas. In this episode:- Jennifer's career journey and leadership at Downtown Dallas Inc.- The future of downtown Dallas and urban development- Creating a more walkable, vibrant city for residents and visitors- Community partnerships and efforts to address homelessness- Why optimism and celebrating positive change matter- Finding balance, unplugging, and embracing life's beautiful chaos If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who loves Dallas and believes in the power of community!

  2. Oct 6

    From Nonprofit Newcomer to CEO: Joanna Clarke on Purpose, Leadership & Serving Dallas

    What happens when you find work that feels like exactly where you’re meant to be?\ On this episode of Take a Seat with Sara, Sara sits down with Joanna Clarke, President and CEO of Community Partners of Dallas, for a conversation about purpose, leadership, community, and making a lasting impact. Joanna shares the unexpected path that led her from working on a cruise ship to discovering her passion for nonprofit work and ultimately spending nearly two decades at Community Partners of Dallas. She opens up about stepping into the CEO role, building meaningful connections across Dallas, and the importance of creating opportunities for abused and neglected children to thrive. Sara and Joanna also talk about the power of volunteering, the importance of finding your voice, navigating leadership transitions, and Community Partners of Dallas’ growing efforts to support children and young adults as they plan for their futures. Plus, the two dive into Joanna’s love of mahjong, travel, being an extrovert, and a fun rapid-fire round to end the conversation. If you’re looking for a little inspiration to get more connected, give back, or find purpose in the work you do, this conversation is for you.

  3. Sep 22

    From Fear to Founder: Matt Waldon on Faith, Family & Building Chadwick Coffee

    On this episode of Take a Seat with Sara, Sara sits down with longtime friend and entrepreneur Matt Waldon for a deeply personal conversation about family, faith, career pivots, and what it really takes to become a founder. Matt shares the journey that took him from a successful career in commercial real estate to helping build Hybrid Coffee, Chadwick Coffee Co., and Windmill Commercial. But behind the businesses is a story filled with challenges that reshaped how he thinks about success — including infertility, adoption, his daughter Eleanor’s serious health battles, career setbacks, financial uncertainty, and the decision to prioritize his family even when it meant walking away from the security he once depended on. Matt also shares how his wife Rebecca’s pursuit of cleaner living inspired Chadwick Coffee: a specialty coffee brand focused on creating a beautiful, thoughtfully sourced coffee experience without many of the ingredients and materials they wanted to avoid. Through it all, Matt discovered that sometimes the hardest seasons are the ones that reveal what you were meant to build. Sara and Matt talk about overcoming fear, trusting your calling, asking for help, entrepreneurship, hospitality, and why some people may spend years following before realizing they were meant to become founders. It’s an honest conversation about building businesses — but even more importantly, building a life around what matters most.

  4. Sep 8

    Building Bold: How Emily Pyle Created a General Construction Company

    What does it take to leave a successful career and build a company from the ground up? In this episode of Take a Seat with Sara, Sara sits down with Emily Pyle, Founder of RTTX Construction, to talk about entrepreneurship, leadership, and creating a business built on purpose—not just profit. Emily shares her unconventional journey from studying art history to leading one of Dallas' growing commercial construction firms. She opens up about trusting her instincts, finding the right business partner, balancing motherhood with business ownership, and why company culture matters more than rapid growth. Whether you're dreaming of starting your own business, leading a team, or simply looking for inspiration to take your next bold step, this conversation is full of practical wisdom and encouragement. In this episode: Emily's unexpected path into commercial constructionThe moment she knew it was time to start her own companyBuilding a business with the right partner and shared valuesWhy intentional growth beats rapid expansionLessons on leadership, culture, and protecting your teamBalancing entrepreneurship, family, and personal fulfillmentNavigating uncertainty with confidence and resilienceWhy success isn't measured by size—but by impact✨ If this episode inspires you, be sure to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who's dreaming of doing something bold.

  5. Aug 24

    Wife, Mom, Entrepreneur—in That Order with Stephy Gustafson

    Pull up a chair for the very first episode of Take a Seat with Sara as Sara sits down with Stephy Gustafson—wife, mother, & founder of Dear John Paper Co. Stephy opens up about her journey through infertility, surrogacy, cancer, heartbreaking loss, and ultimately building a family and business on her own terms. Together, they discuss hustle culture, redefining success, protecting what matters most, and finding the courage to know when to slow down and curate a meaningful life.

  • 5 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Take a Seat with Sara is a conversation series hosted by Sara Fredericks (commercial real estate broker, wife, mom, friend, connector). Sara sits down with leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, creatives, and cool people from all walks of life to talk about how they got here, how it’s going, and what’s next. These are conversations about more than careers. They’re about the choices, challenges, pivots, people, ideas, and unexpected moments that shape where we go next. Expect honest stories, fresh perspectives, a little humor, and questions you may not hear in the usual interview. Because everyone has a story. Everyone is navigating something. And sometimes all it takes is taking a seat to hear something that changes the way you think. Pull up a seat. Let’s talk.

Information

  • Creator
    Sara Fredericks
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Sara Fredericks

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