In this episode of Heart of It, Scott visits with Nicki Purcell, Group President at Morgan’s, for a meaningful conversation about friendship, mentorship, growth, and leadership. Our relationship has evolved over time, often blurring the lines between mentor, colleague, and friend, and reminding us that the most impactful relationships rarely fit neatly into a single category.

We explore Nicki’s commitment to personal growth, the investments she makes in herself, and how she continually looks for opportunities to stretch, learn, and expand her impact. We also reflect on the lessons she has modeled for her three boys, and how she has navigated the challenge of bringing her best to motherhood while embracing the demands and opportunities of an evolving career.

Finally, Nicki shares her vision for her new role at Morgan’s, including how she plans to leave her mark and expand the possibilities for this remarkable collection of organizations.

At its heart, this conversation is about the power of relationships, the importance of continued growth, and the lasting influence we have on the people around us both through what we accomplish and the example we set along the way.

On this episode, Scott is joined by Guy Benjamin, a former F-16 fighter pilot for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), Yale graduate, former McKinsey consultant, and cofounder and CEO of Healthee. Guy’s story is a remarkable one, filled with the rigor, discipline, and determination it takes to become a fighter pilot, earn admission to one of the nation’s top universities, and go on to work for one of the world’s leading consulting firms. But his journey was just getting started.

We talk about Guy’s path from Israel to the United States and how he set out to solve a problem that affects millions of people: making health benefits simpler, smarter, and more accessible for both employers and employees. Guy saw the potential of AI long before it became the conversation dominating boardrooms and headlines. We explore how Healthee is leveraging AI to transform the health benefits experience, why Guy believes this technology will fundamentally change the way we navigate healthcare, and what he sees coming next. His vision is bold, his perspective is insightful, and his entrepreneurial journey offers a fascinating look at what happens when you combine technology, purpose, and a willingness to challenge the status quo.

And because every great conversation on Heart of It goes beyond the résumé, we wrap things up with a discussion of hummus, falafel, chocolate chip cookies, and the things that make us who we are outside of our professional lives. This episode is about leadership, innovation, taking risks, and the power of genuine human connection. I walked away with a new perspective on AI and a deeper appreciation for this new friendship. You won’t want to miss this conversation with Guy Benjamin!

I never intended to write a book. In fact, when the idea first surfaced, it felt more like something I should do than something I actually wanted to do. But as I began writing My New Heart Says, I realized this story needed to be told and that the process itself was going to be part of the healing. What started as a chore became unexpectedly cathartic, giving me a chance to reflect on my life, my heart transplant, the people who shaped me, and the lessons I’ve learned along the way. In this episode of Heart of It, I’m joined by two people who were instrumental in making the book possible: Jackie Haley of Dream To Author and Stephen Goldblatt, founder of Partners In Crime.

Jackie brought a proven methodology and accountability to a process I had never experienced before. Her system, resources, and ability to keep me committed transformed an overwhelming goal—“write a book”—into a series of manageable steps. Stephen brought something entirely different: years of knowing me, a deep friendship, and an incredible understanding of the heart behind the story. They say you can’t judge a book by its cover, but in this case, I hope you absolutely do. Stephen’s design captured the essence of My New Heart Says in a way that only someone who truly understood me and the journey could have. Together, Jackie and Stephen helped turn an idea into something tangible and something I’m incredibly proud to share.

This conversation is about much more than writing and designing a book. We talk about what Jackie and Stephen learned about me through the process, what I learned from each of them, and how creating this book opened all of our eyes to things we might not have discovered otherwise. We explore what it’s really like to write a book when you’ve never written one before...the doubt, the commitment, the surprises, and ultimately the incredible feeling of seeing your story come to life. It’s an uplifting and inspirational conversation, and if you’ve ever thought, “Maybe someday I should write a book,” I hope this episode gives you the push to stop thinking about it and start doing it.

In this special episode of Heart of It, Scott sits down with Alison Conklin, Editor-in-Chief of Bonus Days Magazine, who recently interviewed Scott for a story in the magazine’s latest issue. What began as an interview quickly became something much more personal. Alison and Scott discovered that they share an extraordinary connection: both are heart transplant recipients who were diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and given a second chance at life through the generosity of an organ donor. Two people who had never met suddenly found themselves comparing experiences, discoveries, side effects, emotions—and the remarkable ways a new heart can change not only your life, but your perspective on it.

Their conversation goes far beyond the mechanics of transplantation. They talk about what it means to receive a gift you can never repay, the responsibility they feel to make the most of the lives they have been given, and the desire to honor their donors by using their stories to create meaning and inspire others. At times, it feels like looking in a mirror—hearing someone else describe experiences that are deeply familiar yet almost impossible to explain to someone who hasn't lived them.

This is a conversation about gratitude, purpose, generosity and the complicated but beautiful relationship between organ donation and transplantation. Alison and Scott explore how something as unlikely and life-altering as a diagnosis can ultimately lead to connection, purpose and a renewed appreciation for every day. It’s a perspective on the power of organ donation you may never have considered and a reminder of just how much one person's generosity can live on in another.

The next episode of Heart Of It is a really fun conversation between two friends who go way back. Ben Rogers and I grew up in Richardson, attending different schools in RISD, and this conversation brought back a lot of memories from those e years and the unlikely path that eventually led Ben to becoming one of the most recognizable voices in Dallas sports radio. We talk about growing up in North Texas, and the twists and turns that shaped Ben’s journey—including his experience at the University of North Texas, where he ultimately earned his degree and which he looks back on as an important part of his story.

We also get into the unconventional way Ben has continued to build his career beyond radio, from his role as a partner in Rollertown Beerworks in Frisco to his new media venture with Haymaker. We talk about my departure from the Dallas Cowboys as the Wounded Cowboy movement was getting started, the early Ben & Skin days, and why I think there are some very big things ahead for the Cowboys this year. It’s a wide-ranging conversation filled with stories, laughs, memories, and a great deal of friendship, and we finish with a fun round of rapid-fire questions that reveal another side of Ben.

This episode of Heart of It is an unexpected conversation between two people who had never met, but quickly discovered they were connected by a shared mission: shining a bright light on organ donation and transplantation. Elle Rylee, a Miss Texas Volunteer nominee, shares why she chose to get involved with organ donation advocacy and how her service initiative, A Hopeful Heart, was inspired by the memory of her cousin Birdie, who passed away at just three years old. Elle and her family have turned their loss into a mission to keep Birdie’s memory alive and encourage others to consider the life-changing impact of organ donation. What starts as an interview quickly becomes a much more personal conversation about purpose, family, loss, and hope.

There is much more to this conversation than organ donation. Elle opens up about her perspective on pageants and what the experience means to her, the unique responsibility young people have to navigate an increasingly complicated social-media world, and the importance of being thoughtful about what we put into the world. Then comes one of those completely unexpected Heart of It moments: Elle and Scott discover they had the exact same favorite class and professor at UT, a small connection that perfectly captures the spirit of the conversation. Two people from different generations and different experiences discovering just how much they have in common.

At its heart, this episode is a reminder that you never really know where a conversation will take you or what connections you might discover when you simply take the time to listen. From Birdie’s legacy and Elle’s commitment to organ donation to pageants, social media, education, and the experiences that shape who we become, this is a conversation filled with unexpected intersections. Perhaps the biggest takeaway is that a single story, shared with purpose, can create hope far beyond the person who first lived it.

Every meaningful friendship has a story, and mine with architect and designer Josh Held began nearly 50 years ago. From carefree summers at camp to fraternity brothers in college, and now as lifelong friends navigating careers, family, and the changing seasons of life, this relationship has been built over decades. In this episode of Heart of It, we reflect on that journey while exploring Josh's passion for architecture and design a profession that, until recently, I had never fully appreciated for its depth, artistry, and impact.

Josh shares how architecture is about far more than buildings. It's about creating experiences, shaping the way people move through space, harnessing the power of natural light, and balancing creativity with function. Our conversation has challenged me to look differently at the world around me, reminding me that behind every thoughtfully designed space is a vision, a process, and countless intentional decisions. Like so many guests on Heart of It, Josh expanded my perspective and reinforced one of the greatest gifts this podcast has given me, the opportunity to keep learning. It's proof that curiosity has no age limit and that, despite the old saying, you really can teach an old dog new tricks.

In this episode of Heart of It, Scott Bennett sits down with longtime friend and President of Wealth Advisory, Debra Tagg, for an honest conversation about leadership, resilience, and the relationships that shape our lives. Debra reflects on the evolution of her career, sharing what it was like building a successful career in a traditionally male-dominated industry and how those experiences helped define her leadership style and purpose.

Debra also shares her unique philosophy of wealth advising, one that extends far beyond financial planning. Her mission is to empower clients with the confidence to make informed decisions in every aspect of their lives, creating clarity and peace of mind through every stage of life. The conversation takes a deeply personal turn as Debra recalls the loss of her father, someone she was incredibly close to, and the meaningful advice Scott shared with her during that difficult time. Filled with authenticity, mutual respect, and genuine friendship, this episode is a powerful reminder that the greatest conversations often happen at the intersection of professional success and personal connection.