Blog Team

sheaser
Author Since 2008

Steve Heaser

Sr. Multimedia Specialist
Dallas, TX  | 

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

Shuttle Craft

By: Steve Heaser sheaser

Jan 27 2010
Southwest Airlines is offering extra flights from New Orleans and Indianapolis to Fort Lauderdale for some big event that is going on in Florida in early February. Listen to learn more! Southwest Airlines is offering extra flights from New Orleans and Indianapolis to Fort Lauderdale for some big event that is going on in Florida in early February. Listen to learn more! read more

Colleen Barrett Speaks to MBAs Part 2

By: Steve Heaser sheaser

Feb 03 2010
This week’s episode of Red Belly Radio is the second half of an interview between Peter Cappelli, a professor with the MBA program at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and Colleen Barret, our President Emeritus. Hear Colleen answer the questions: “How do you see Southwest competing going forward?” and “What is the biggest risk you face?” This week’s episode of Red Belly Radio... read more

Own It!

By: Steve Heaser sheaser

Feb 15 2010
This episode of Red Belly Radio is about our Culture—well, one aspect anyway—parties. I recorded this under the bridge between terminals at the Las Vegas airport. Not as troll-like as it sounds, the bridge provided shade for a celebration that Davern, one of our Culture Ambassadors (yes we have those) explains. This episode of Red Belly Radio is about our Culture—well, one aspect anyway—parties... read more

Cheesesteak Wit Beans: Keeping Score

By: Steve Heaser sheaser

Feb 17 2010
Southwest Airlines announced new service between Cheesesteak and Beans—Philadelphia and Boston to most people—and a sweet introductory price as well. Maybe not as sweet as those maple syrup-flavored Beans, you could save a lot of beans. Southwest Airlines announced new service between Cheesesteak and Beans—Philadelphia and Boston to most people—and a sweet introductory price as well. Maybe not as... read more

Old But Timely

By: Steve Heaser sheaser

Feb 24 2010
Do you remember when they were called “Re-runs?” the trouble with re-runs is that you wound up watching the “Brady Family Christmas” in July. This is a “Best Of” and it is timely. How, you may ask? Because it is about how planes are deiced and with all the winter weather we have had I know I could use a refresher. Do you remember when they were called “Re-runs?” the trouble with re-runs is that... read more

Bobbles and Zebras

By: Steve Heaser sheaser

Mar 03 2010
On this Episode of Red Belly Radio I speak with Dan, a Phoenix Ramp Sup, about a growing collection of bobble-heads. Then I go all the way around the corner from my cube to talk with Laura and her fun and functional cube décor. read more

Message Mania

By: Steve Heaser sheaser

Mar 10 2010
This episode of Red Belly Radio is about the party before what has become more like a concert than a corporate message. Gary Kelly, our President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board gives a prepared speech and answer questions at our Employee Message tothe Field. yes, I said it is about the tailgate party before the Message. This episode of Red Belly Radio is about the party before what has become... read more

Gary on Leadership

By: Steve Heaser sheaser

Mar 17 2010
On this episode of Red Belly Radio features our CEO, President, and Chairman of the Board, Gary speaking on Leadership—trust me on this, he knows a thing or two about it. Hear Gary answer the question: “How do you define Leadership?” and “What makes it most difficult to execute that philosophy?” read more

Hey, I Know That Guy on the Radio

By: Steve Heaser sheaser

Mar 24 2010
Have you ever been listening to the radio and actually heard someone you knew?  This happened to me on March 17, when our own Brian Lusk, a Manager in Communications, was on Marketplace. Marketplace is a show by American Public Media and airs across the country on  National Public Radio. And I had that "Hey, I know that guy on the radio!" moment. The nice people at Marketplace agreed... read more

Aviation’s Best Maintenance Professionals-An interview with Coach Tom Zollar

By: Steve Heaser sheaser

Mar 04 2011
Have you ever wondered how Southwest Mechanics compare to mechanics at other carriers? Aircraft Maintenance Professionals met last week in Las Vegas and a team of our Southwest Mechanics showed their talent in the fourth annual AMT Society Skills Competition. Teams from China, Mexico, Australia, and the US competed. This was Southwest's second year to compete and they went into Sin City with a... read more

Recent Activity Luvs

I’ve Looked at Fireworks From Both Sides Now

By: Steve Heaser sheaser

Jun 30 2010
On this episode of Red Belly Radio, I recap my favorite thing to do on July 4, which ends with my observation of watching fireworks displays from an aircraft at 30,000 ft. On this episode of Red Belly Radio, I recap my favorite thing to do on July 4, which ends with my observation of watching fireworks displays from an aircraft at 30,000 ft. read more

Colleen Didn’t Start Out As President Emeritus

By: Steve Heaser sheaser

Jun 24 2010
If you don’t know Colleen Barrett, you are really missing something special. She is our President Emeritus and when she was the President of Southwest, she was the highest ranked woman in the American airline industry. She helped start this company as she was Herb’s legal assistant, but she her first job was typing bills of lading for a trucking company in Vermont. If you don’t know Colleen... read more

Welcome To "The Meadows"

By: Steve Heaser sheaser

May 05 2010
There are few places in this world that I like more than the city known as “The Meadows,” although you might know it by its Spanish pronunciation, “Las Vegas.” On this episode of Red Belly Radio, I fulfill a dream. It is a simple dream years in the making, but for some time, I’ve been wanting to record a drive up the Las Vegas strip. Record my thoughts about favorite hotels, restaurants, shows,... read more

Project Panhandle

By: Steve Heaser sheaser

Apr 28 2010
You may have seen the video of the building of Florida One, but did you stop to think about how the plane was kept secret and got to Tampa? I interview Director Flight Safety, Captain Jeff Hamlett who was one of the pilots that flew the plane from its hiding place in Louisiana to the first stop on the all-city-tour of Florida. And, yes, it was literally under wraps! read more

Earth Day 101

By: Steve Heaser sheaser

Apr 21 2010
This is episode of Red Belly Radio is not so much about the 40th anniversary  of Earth Day but more about some of the actions Southwest Airlines is doing to conserve and recycle. The name comes from this being the 101st episode of Red Belly Radio, and not so much a first class about Earth Day.   I talk with Marilee Mcinnis, who has explains our efforts on our “Green Plane” and then Debbie Neel... read more

Earth Day 101

By: Steve Heaser sheaser

Apr 21 2010
This episode is about some of the actions Southwest Airlines is doing to conserve and recycle. The name comes from this being the 101st episode of Red Belly Radio, and not so much a first class about Earth Day. read more

Five minutes with Herb—the first Five

By: Steve Heaser sheaser

Apr 14 2010
This episode of Red Belly Radio answers to questions with Southwest Airlines founder and Chairman Emeritus Herb Kelleher.  I will be playing parts of this over the next several months so here’s the first installment. read more

I See A Trend

By: Steve Heaser sheaser

Apr 07 2010
For the third time since I began Red Belly Radio, I am interviewing a celebrity chef. Even if you don’t, I see a trend. Tim Love is the chef/owner of Lonesome Dove Western Bistro in Fort Worth’s historic Stockyards. Tim was on Top Chef Masters in 2009 and he has also been a judge on Top Chef.  Tim is considered the foremost pioneer of urban western cuisine and was at a local Save-A-Lot doing a... read more

Sofia Proll and the iPhone App

By: Steve Heaser sheaser

Mar 31 2010
This episode comes in two (shorter) segments. Of everything to pick from, the first part was recorded on my way to Las Vegas, when I hosted an inflight contest to guess how many bags of peanuts Southwest Airlines gives out in a typical week. Then I have a wonderful interview with Sofia Proll, a Southwest Flight Attendant. read more

Gary on Leadership

By: Steve Heaser sheaser

Mar 17 2010
On this episode of Red Belly Radio features our CEO, President, and Chairman of the Board, Gary speaking on Leadership—trust me on this, he knows a thing or two about it. Hear Gary answer the question: “How do you define Leadership?” and “What makes it most difficult to execute that philosophy?” read more