FORTitude
Brinton Payne, left, and J.W. Wilson.
It somehow seems fitting that two Fort Worth podcasters met in a Trinity Valley computer class around the time The Internet became a thing.
“He was always joking around, which made me appreciate him and his little runt friends,” Brinton Payne recalls of J.W. Wilson.
At the time Payne was a senior Trinity Valley Trojan, and now 50, and J.W. Wilson was a lowly freshman.
“He is one of the most interesting guys I have ever known,” Wilson said of Payne.
Fast forward through dialup modems, WiFi, robust and dire economic times, a pandemic, and the FORTitude podcast emerges in 2021.
“The podcast was pure Covid coop up,” said Payne, “we also knew that there was an upcoming city election, and a lot of folks didn't know the candidates that well so we thought if we interviewed them and tried to get to know some of them — and let others listen to them as people, not as candidates — it might have some legs.”
Fast-approaching 100 episodes covering news, politics, entertainment and all things Fort Worth, FORTitude has established a solid platform capable of informing and amusing its audience. New shows are available every Friday.
“FORTitude is a passion project for us,” Wilson said. “We both have ‘real jobs.’ Brinton is a fancy consultant and I try to run a few companies (oil/gas/beverage/media).
“The podcast was Brinton's idea and he finally convinced me to do it. It has been so much fun, and we have had a blast talking to tons of interesting and mostly good people.”
Among Wilson’s and Payne’s favorites include Opal Lee, FWPD Chief Neil Noakes ride along, three visits with astronaut Chris Cassidy, Human Trafficking Undercover Detective, Mackie Barch - Cannabis 101, multiple mayors, former Dallas Cowboys, museum and gallery directors, Santa Claus, a Fan Expo, Former FBI assistant director Danny Coulson, and FORTitude friend Karen Borta.
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker stopped by just this month.
“There are no shows we want to forget, but we surely got better over time,” Wilson added. “Some of the early ones were rougher.”
During a 32-minute conversation with Lee, whose efforts led to the creation of Juneteenth as a federal holiday, the podcasters asked four questions. They simply let Lee tell her incredible tale.
“J.W. is a full-blown master of execution,” Payne said. “I have never seen or met anyone who executes the way he does. I think that's why it worked — he just keeps going — just like he is now with things.”
Lately, Wilson has largely taken over FORTitude.
“Brinton and I have decided to cut back on some shows together.” Wilson said. “I have continued slowly, but it takes quite a bit of time to create these. It is time-consuming, and we have bills to pay.”
Added Wilson, “I could never have done any of this without Brinton.”
While FORTitude has the obvious local name connection, Wilson says it wasn’t their first choice — which sounded more Fox News than Howdy neighbor!
“FORTitude" was a word we both loved and seemed to resonate as well as incorporating our hometown,” Wilson said. “Since the show reeks of positivity, we had to abandon the original Idea of ‘Burn Down the Fort.’”
Added Payne: “You hear of all of this 'story telling' these days in the media. We found that some people are better at telling their stories than others, but in the end that is what it is all about. We learned everyone has a story.
“If we could find a way for them to be comfortable enough to share it with us [and ultimately the interweb], it became a rewarding and beautiful thing.”