Avsnitt
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Tom Burnett, former NCAA March Madness chair and longtime Division I conference commissioner, joins Texas Talks to discuss the evolving world of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) in college sports. As the founder of Lone Star NIL and CEO of Southwest Sports Partners, Burnett dives into how Texas legislation is reshaping college athletics, the transfer portal's unintended consequences, and the vital need for education around contracts, taxes, and branding for young athletes.
Burnett also explains how Lone Star NIL supports student-athletes through guidance, opportunity building, and professional development—especially for those outside major programs. -
Texas State Rep. Lacey Hull joins host Brad Swail to discuss major legislative wins from the 89th Texas Legislative Session. From championing food transparency and health education with HB 25 to expanding rights for sexual assault victims and protecting parental choice in healthcare, Hull shares the stories behind the bills and the challenges of facing off against powerful lobbies.
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On this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail interviews Texas State Representative John Lujan of House District 118. A former firefighter and Bexar County sheriff’s deputy, Lujan shares his personal journey into public service, his passion for education and faith-based community work, and the real-world impact of Texas border policy.
Rep. Lujan offers insights on the need for practical, bipartisan solutions at the Texas-Mexico border, his role on the Homeland Security & Public Safety Committee, and why strong families and local engagement matter more than ever. Whether you're interested in border policy, Latino leadership, or public safety reform, this conversation brings a grounded, heartfelt perspective from deep in the heart of Texas.
🎯 Highlights include:
- Firsthand stories from the Texas border
- Lujan’s experience as a first responder
- Supporting faith and education nonprofits
- What’s working—and what’s not—in immigration policy -
In this episode of the Texas Talks podcast, host Brad Swail sits down with Texas State Representative Gary Gates of House District 28. Known for his endurance as an Ironman triathlete and his leadership as Chairman of the Land and Resource Management Committee, Rep. Gates dives into two major legislative initiatives: expanding vocational education for high school students and reforming Housing Finance Corporations (HFCs) to protect taxpayers and increase transparency.
They discuss Gates' landmark vocational training bill (HB 20), which aims to prepare students for high-paying, in-demand jobs without the burden of college debt. The conversation then shifts to housing policy and HB 21, addressing how certain entities exploit tax exemptions without delivering true affordable housing, costing Texas billions in revenue.
If you're interested in policy, education reform, housing legislation, or Texas state politics, this episode delivers a deep dive into the state's most pressing issues.
🔗 Full episode links and show resources in the description below! -
Senator Paul Bettencourt returns to Texas Talks for a wide-ranging conversation on the most significant legislative moves shaping Texas today. From a record-breaking property tax relief package to launching the largest education savings account program, Bettencourt dives into the priorities driving the 2025 legislative session. Host Brad Swail explores school choice, support for special needs education, and how reforms are tackling housing affordability and tax burdens for Texas seniors. It’s a deep look at policy changes with real-life impact.
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Brad Swail sits down with Texas State Representative Briscoe Cain (HD-128) for a wide-ranging and candid conversation on some of the most pressing legislative issues in the Lone Star State. Rep. Cain discusses the landmark push for universal school choice through Educational Savings Accounts (ESAs), the controversial "District of Austin" bill, and his strong stance against taxpayer-funded lobbying.
Cain also shares his views on how to phase out property taxes, tackle local government overspending, and what he sees as the future of public education in Texas. They also explore the implications of recent legislation affecting memes and political speech, and how civic engagement still plays a critical role at the Capitol.
Whether you're a Texas policy wonk, a parent following school choice, or simply a citizen concerned about taxes and governance, this episode delivers clarity, strong opinions, and actionable insights.
🟦 Subscribe for more conversations with Texas lawmakers and policy leaders. -
Ashley Spence, founder of the DNA Justice Project and author of Silent Witness, shares her harrowing story of surviving a brutal assault—and how a DNA match seven years later finally brought her attacker to justice. In this powerful episode of Texas Talks, Ashley explains how current laws on DNA collection are saving lives and why rapid DNA technology could revolutionize the criminal justice system. She also opens up about healing, advocacy, and the fight for legislative change in Texas and beyond.
From personal trauma to national reform, this interview is a must-watch for anyone who cares about justice, safety, and the real-world impact of policy.
🔗 Learn more: https://dnajusticeproject.org -
In this conversation, we’re joined by Chris Williston, President & CEO of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT), representing over 2,000 banks and branches across 700 Texas communities.
🔍 In This Episode:
- The vital role of community banks in rural Texas towns
- Why swipe fee legislation (SB 2026 & HB 4124) could hurt small banks and benefit big-box retailers
- How alternative currencies and stablecoins could drain lending power from local banks
- The legacy of banking in the Williston family and why relationship-based lending still matters
- Behind-the-scenes challenges facing Texas' independent banks
- Chris breaks down complex policy issues in a way that makes sense for everyday Texans and small business owners. If you care about local economies, financial policy, and keeping banking close to home, this is a must-listen.
🔗 Learn more at: https://ibat.org
🎧 Subscribe for more deep-dive conversations from across the Lone Star State. -
Why is Texas importing trash from China and Mexico? In this episode of the Texas Talks podcast, Brad Swail sits down with Dr. Raymond Robertson—international economist at Texas A&M and Director of the Mosbacher Institute—to unpack a surprising trade reality: Texas doesn’t recycle enough to meet its own demand for recycled materials. They discuss what economics is really about (hint: it’s human behavior), why bottle deposit systems are gaining attention, how recycling impacts energy use and jobs, and the political push to make Texas a leader in responsible consumption. This is an eye-opening conversation that blends trade policy, environmentalism, and common sense solutions.
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In this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Texas State Senator Molly Cook, a sixth-generation Texan, registered nurse, and first-time elected official representing Senate District 15 in Houston. Senator Cook brings her real-world experience from the emergency room straight into the legislature — and she’s not wasting any time.
They dig into her "Nurse First Agenda," a bold, holistic policy platform rooted in public health, housing stability, emergency preparedness, criminal justice reform, and youth safety. Senator Cook lays out why every bill is a health bill, how clean air and tenant protections save lives, and why CPR training in schools isn’t just nice to have — it’s necessary.
From preventing power outages to keeping kids out of vape shops, this conversation connects the dots between personal experience and statewide policy. Whether you're a parent, a nurse, or just a concerned citizen, this is one episode you don’t want to miss.
Follow Senator Cook:
https://x.com/MollyforTexas
https://www.instagram.com/mollyfortexas/
https://www.facebook.com/mollyfortexas/ -
Travis McCormick is the founder of the Make Texans Healthy Again movement, which aims to tackle the alarming rise in chronic diseases, poor nutrition, and preventable health challenges across Texas.
https://www.maketexanshealthyagain.com/
https://x.com/Travis15mcc -
James Quintero is the Policy Director for the Taxpayer Protection Project of the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
James joins the show to discuss property taxes in Texas, proposals to reign them in, M&O taxes paying for bond debt, and much more.
https://www.texaspolicy.com/
https://x.com/JamesQuinteroTX -
Graham Dugoni is the CEO and Founder of Over Yondr, a company that produces pouches and other tools to alleviate the intrusion of personal technology to create vital, distraction-free experiences that enrich people’s lives. https://www.overyondr.com/
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Annie Spilman is a Texas Lobbyist and representative for the Texas Business Association. She joins the show to discuss unions in Texas, the government collecting union dues, and much more.
https://www.txbusinesscoalition.com/
https://x.com/tbc_com
https://www.facebook.com/TexasBusinessCoalition -
Representative Caroline Fairly of Texas House District 87 is not only the youngest member of the Texas House as well as the first Gen Z representative.
She joins the show to discuss banning electronic devices in schools, protecting people from deepfake sexually explicit visual material, and much more.
https://x.com/FairlyForTexas
https://www.fairlyfortexas.com/ -
Ryan Walters is a former Oklahoma public school teacher and the current Superintendent of Public Instruction in Oklahoma.
Ryan discusses how Oklahoma handles school choice, school finance, teacher pay, union dues, and more.
ryanwaltersforoklahoma.com
https://x.com/RyanWaltersSupt -
Tony McDonald is a conservative civil rights attorney and 1st amendment litigator. He joins the show to discuss the Texas Ethic Commission generally, as well as the Michael Quinn Sullivan v TEC case that he is trying to push to the Supreme Court.
https://x.com/TweetTonyMac
https://tonymcdonald.com/ -
Wayne Christian is a politician and financial planner who has served as a member of the Railroad Commission of Texas since 2017. A member of the Republican Party, Christian formerly served in the Texas House of Representatives for the 9th district, which included Jasper, Nacogdoches, Sabine, San Augustine, and Shelby counties in East Texas.
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Ellen Troxclair is an American small business owner and politician who is a member of the Texas House of Representatives for District 19. A member of the Republican Party, Troxclair was the youngest woman ever elected to the Austin City Council, where she served the 8th district from 2015 to 2019.
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Mayes Middleton is an American businessman and politician serving as a member of the Texas Senate for the 11th district. Previously, he served as a Texas House of Representatives for district 23. A member of the Republican Party, Middleton has been in the Texas legislature since January 8, 2019.
- Visa fler
