Blog Team
Steve Heaser
I started with Southwest as a Reservations Sales Agent at the Dallas Reservations Center in 1991. I think Reservations Employees are always the best informed of new systems, procedures, and the goings on of all Employee groups. We have to know things to answer the public's questions. In college, I began DJing at a local watering hole. I had a knack for it and it was good for about 11 years and put me through the final years of school and paid the bills and taught me a trade that was completely untransferable. Luckily, I found a home at Southwest and worked my way into Employee Communications, starting as a representative and becoming a graphic designer and then working on the company intranet. I am now on the Multimedia team working mostly with Red Belly Radio, but doing some video and whatever else needs to be done. Being a podcaster, people probably think I was one of those never-shut-up club DJs, but they are wrong. I rarely talked on the mic figuring that if people wanted to hear a DJ talk, they would turn on a radio. My first podcast was about a hobby of mine--chili. Thus proving that there is a podcast on virtually every topic. Actually it is a lot of fun and is about competitive chili cooking and it dates back to July of 2005. A long time in podcast years. Lately, I have fallen behind on that one since I have been doing Red Belly Radio but trust me, a lot more people hear this one. Perhaps my biggest claims to fame are my 17th place in chili at the 2006 Terlingua International Chili Championship. Cooler than it might sound, there were 335 cooks that day and every one of them had to qualify to get there. And there is my Alamo Heights Series of Poker Championship. Some buddies of mine started playing cards in one of the guys’ back room. After 15 short years, I won. It puts me in a rather exclusive club and I still get recognized in San Antonio (well when I am in the right zip code—okay, in the right house.)
Recent Activity:
Recent Activity Posts
An Interview with Tim Leonard on the 737-800
By: Steve Heaser 
May 04 2012
What’s that? You have never heard of Red Belly Radio? After all, this is the 145th episode. I started Red Belly Radio several years ago and it was a great success. But as successes often does, I became a victim of it and had more on my plate than I could handle. Anyway, the podcast is back and you can look forward to a new release every month.
This show is about the 737-800. I sat down and spoke... read more
Land of the Lost…and Found
By: Steve Heaser
Sep 29 2009
Southwest Airlines moves a lot of people every day. Those people carry a lot of stuff with them. So if you lost something on a flight, what are the odds of someone you know finding it?Southwest Airlines moves a lot of people every day. Those people carry a lot of stuff with them. So if you lost something on a flight, what are the odds of someone you know finding it? Well that is what this episode... read more
An Update on the All-New Rapid Rewards
By: Steve Heaser
Jul 05 2011
It’s hard to believe, but it’s been close to four months since we launched the All-New Rapid Rewards program! On this episode of Red Belly Radio I interview our Director of Rapid Rewards, Jonathan Clarkson, to get an update on how the new program is performing three months after the launch. As you all know, revamping our frequent flyer program and rolling it out was no small task. In fact, it... read more
EWR Rampers—Jersey Style!
By: Steve Heaser
Apr 26 2011
When Southwest (and I assume other airlines) opens a new city, we often send an airplane with some people to get both the airplane and the people to the new city. The people being moved might be people from Communication to deal with media in that new city, a Flight Crew to fly the plane the next day, someone from Fuel Management to coordinate fuel stuff, or maybe a videographer—that’s where I... read more
These guys don't know the meaning of "Can't."
By: Steve Heaser
Mar 25 2011
Have you ever played the basketball game "Horse?" it may been called "Pig" or any other number of animals or terms, but you play it by making a trick or difficult shot and the other person has to match it or he/she gets a letter. Each miss earns a letter and the first to miss enough to spell the word loses.
So imagine playing with some guys who have hit shots (using regulation basketballs and... read more
When Rachael Met Roy
By: Steve Heaser
Jul 21 2010
This week’s episode of Red Belly Radio is about two people flying from Chicago to Nashville. They were not traveling together, nor did they know each other. Roy Harris, a Southwest Airlines Customer would meet Rachel Jacobs, a Southwest Airlines Flight Attendant. Their introduction was anything but typical. read more
SWA Mechanics Compete With The Best
By: Steve Heaser
Mar 17 2011
Suits and Seats
By: Steve Heaser
Dec 09 2009
We enjoy a lot of Freedoms at Southwest Airlines and this episode of Red Belly Radio is about two of them. We have a program called “A day in the field” and I interview a young lady who learned first-hand how podcasts are made. I also talked with a Finance Employee who decorated his cube with Christmas lights and airline memorabilia including a row of seats off one of our aircraft! To top it off... read more
An Army of Blankets
By: Steve Heaser
Dec 11 2009
This week’s episode of Red Belly Radio is about the 150,000 blankets and more than 30,000 pillows we donated to the Salvation Army. I interview Ashley and Major Carl Earp of the Salvation Army. read more
There's No Such Thing As Centrifugal Force
By: Steve Heaser
Dec 23 2009
In this episode, you will learn the difference of Centrifugal and Centripetal forces and about the energy required to move 321,300 tons through the air. Yep, it's about how Santa actually does the magic! read more
Recent Activity Luvs
An Update on the All-New Rapid Rewards
By: Steve Heaser
Jul 05 2011
It’s hard to believe, but it’s been close to four months since we launched the All-New Rapid Rewards program! On this episode of Red Belly Radio I interview our Director of Rapid Rewards, Jonathan Clarkson, to get an update on how the new program is performing three months after the launch. As you all know, revamping our frequent flyer program and rolling it out was no small task. In fact, it... read more
SWA Mechanics Compete With The Best
By: Steve Heaser
Mar 17 2011
RNP—The TLA that's A-OK!
By: Steve Heaser
Jan 13 2011
My guest on Red Belly Radio this week is David “Fig” Newton and he knows WAY more about this than we have time for in this episode, but if you want to learn about how it works and what it does, this is the podcast to listen to.
My guest on Red Belly Radio this week is David “Fig” Newton and he knows WAY more about this than we have time for in this episode, but if you want to learn about how it... read more
New Rapid Rewards—I Get The Point(s)
By: Steve Heaser
Jan 06 2011
This episode of Red Belly Radio is about the new Rapid Rewards program and my guest is Ryan Green from Marketing. No one knows more about this new program than Ryan. Give it a listen and you can talk to acquaintances and sound like an expert, too.
This episode of Red Belly Radio is about the new Rapid Rewards program and my guest is Ryan Green from Marketing. No one knows more about this new... read more
Inside the Southwest Weather Center
By: Caleb Fox 
Dec 28 2010
I have always been fascinated by weather, especially growing up in Texas and going to college in Oklahoma...weather just tends to happen there. With all of the crazy weather sweeping across the country this time of year and causing all sorts of problems for travelers, we thought it would be a great idea to sit down and talk with Southwest's Chief Meteorologist, Rick Curtis, to get an inside... read more
How Many is 1,000,000?
By: Steve Heaser
Dec 10 2010
My guest this week on Red Belly Radio is Brooks Thomas who works in our Emerging Media group and one of his duties is to help keep up with our ever-growing Facebook page. Hear him talk about the Company page and our newest effort, city-specific Facebook pages.
My guest this week on Red Belly Radio is Brooks Thomas who works in our Emerging Media group and one of his duties is to help keep up with... read more
Dick East--Raconteur
By: Steve Heaser
Dec 01 2010
This is the third and last part of story-telling session with Dick East and Houston Ronald McDonald House co-founder Liz Kelly.
This is the third and last part of story-telling session with Dick East and Houston Ronald McDonald House co-founder Liz Kelly. read more
All Things Denver
By: Steve Heaser
Nov 18 2010
Can you name the fastest-growing city in Southwest’s history? That is if you call 150 flights a day and 500 Employees in less than five years fast. Denver Employees already know the answer, as does anyone who read the title. read more
Bringing Home Heroes—A Southwest Airlines’ Veteran Looks Back
By: Steve Heaser
Nov 10 2010
One of the best current online tributes to our Veterans is Radney Foster’s moving YouTube video, “Angel Flight,” which salutes the Air Force Crews who bring home the remains of fallen soldiers.
read more
The Real King of the Hill
By: Steve Heaser
Oct 27 2010
Did you know that the top of the pitcher’s mound is 10 and-a-half inches above the level of home plate? On this edition of Red Belly Radio I just couldn’t help myself. I went into the Red Belly Radio vault and found a gem when I talked to baseball legend Nolan Ryan. read more
