This Just In

TV Boss and Mystery Novelist Maria Lynn Barrs

Every career has a starting point… but not everyone climbs all the way to the top.This week on This Just In, we sit down with Maria Barrs—a woman who began at the very bottom in a small-market newsroom and worked her way up through the ranks… reporter, assignment editor, news director, and ultimately general manager.And just when you think the story ends there—it doesn’t.In retirement, Maria finally pursued the dream she’d put on hold: writing mystery novels.Her journey is one of grit, growth, and reinvention.This week, Maria Barrs joins Bryan and Rich.Books from the author: Parallel Secrets & Parallel Peril Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/247180628-parallel-perilwww.marialynnbarrs.com

TJI Reflections - One Year Podcasting

On this week’s episode, Richard and Bryan celebrate one year of podcasting. What did we learn? Where are we going? Is anyone listening? Bryan even floated the possibility of a new logo. It’s been a lot of fun sharing our facts, opinions, and fuzzy recollections. This is Episode 57, and we’ve had some great guests along the way—shout out to Becky, Kingsley, Crystal, Raul, Phil, Tim, Doug, Brett, and many more. We have some awesome interviews in the pipeline. Stay tuned and thanks for listening.

Did CBS11 Crack The Viewership Code?

TV news is changing—and fast.On this episode of The ‘This Just In’ Podcast with Rich and Bryan, we talk with Crystal Cooper from CBS 11, who’s right in the middle of that shift.Crystal is a UNT journalism graduate and is helping to redefine how news reaches younger audiences, using social media in ways many traditional newsrooms are still trying to figure out.Crystal represents the next wave of journalism—and she’s already making her mark. Today's TJI podcast is brought to you by Lochhead Photography, cinematic drone footage, and more. lochheadphotography.com

The Legend of Alan Wang Continues (Pt. 2)

Most viewers in Dallas–Fort Worth remember Alan Wang for the role that made him a household name — those groundbreaking, wild, and always entertaining live shots on Good Day Dallas. For a time, it felt like you never knew what Alan might do next, and that unpredictability helped define the early success of the show.But as Rich and Bryan learn in Part Two, that chapter was only a small piece of a much longer and more accomplished career.Alan spent just a few years doing that high-energy morning show reporting before moving fully into hard news, eventually landing on the anchor desk in one of the largest markets in America. Along the way, he built a respected career covering serious stories and earning the trust of viewers in a highly competitive industry.Looking back now, Alan is also remarkably candid about the challenges he faced as an Asian American working his way up in television news, breaking barriers while trying to stay true to who he was.

Crazy Morning Show Stories with Alan Wang

Back in 1994, Fox4 News was in the middle of a major transition — switching from CBS to Fox and launching a much longer, more ambitious morning program called Good Day. It was a big gamble, and in those early days the station was searching for something — or someone — who could help the show stand out.What they found was Alan Wang.With a fearless style and a willingness to try just about anything live on the air, Alan took reporter involvement to a whole new level. His wild, wacky, and often unpredictable live shots quickly became must-watch TV, turning him into one of the most talked-about personalities in Dallas–Fort Worth and helping push Good Day to the top of the ratings.But as Rich and Bryan discover, there’s much more to Alan’s story. From growing up as the only Asian student in his South Texas class to eventually breaking ground as a pioneering Asian American TV anchorman, his journey is about far more than just the laughs.In Part One, Rich and Bryan take a trip back to those unforgettable early days of Good Day, reliving the energy, the chaos, and the moments that made Alan Wang a local television legend.Visit Alan's YouTube channel to view some of his crazy Fox4 videos. https://www.youtube.com/@alanwang4474