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Texas Talks

Texas Talks
Texas
Property Taxes
Artificial Intelligence
Texas 2036
Texas Legislature
Water
Education
Austin
Recycling
Data Centers
Housing
Educational Savings Account
Workforce Development
Education Freedom Accounts
Tariffs
Texas House Of Representatives
Local Government Debt
Bottle Bill
Texas Education Savings Accounts
Unions

Texas Talks with Brad Swail, brought to you by the Texas Dispatch, is a weekly podcast that features wide-ranging discussions with the people, organizations, and businesses that shape public policy in Texas. Texas Talks aims to provide listeners with a deeper understanding of the policy debates and reasons and insight into the personalities that shape public policy in Texas.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes125Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureGovernment

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Artwork for Texas Talks

Latest Episodes

What’s driving Austin’s economic boom — and can it keep up with its own success?

In this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Jeremy Martin, President and CEO of the Austin Chamber of Commerce, to break down the forces shaping one ... more

As part of the Future of Texas series in partnership with Texas 2036, this episode tackles one of the most urgent and personal challenges facing Texans today: the rising cost of healthcare.

Through the Future of Texas podcast series, Texas 2036 brin... more

What’s really happening in Texas waterways — and why is so much trash ending up there?

In this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Robby Robinson, Field Operations Manager at the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, and Mike Garver, Chairma... more

As part of the Future of Texas series in partnership with Texas 2036, this episode explores how higher education will shape the state’s workforce, economy, and long-term competitiveness.

Through the Future of Texas podcast series, Texas 2036 brings ... more

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Recent Guests

Robby Robinson
Waterway Maintenance Team Manager, Buffalo Bayou Partnership
Buffalo Bayou Partnership
Episode: Buffalo Bayou: Inside Houston’s Waterway Cleanup & Policy Fight
Mike Garver
Founding member, Buffalo Bayou Partnership; Founder, Texans for Clean Water
Buffalo Bayou Partnership; Texans for Clean Water
Episode: Buffalo Bayou: Inside Houston’s Waterway Cleanup & Policy Fight
Glenn Hegar
Chancellor, Texas A&M University System
Texas A&M University System
Episode: The Future of Higher Ed
David Leebron
President of Rice University and President/Director of Texas 2036
Rice University; Texas 2036
Episode: The Future of Higher Ed
Christopher Sparks
President of the Texas Environmental Health Association
Texas Environmental Health Association
Episode: The “Silent Infrastructure” Protecting Texas: Public Health & Policy w/Christopher Sparks
Pablo Vegas
President and CEO, ERCOT
ERCOT
Episode: Powering the Next Texas Economy
Jeremy Mazur
Infrastructure and natural resources policy lead
Texas 2036
Episode: Powering the Next Texas Economy
Sean Dobson
CEO of Amherst Group
Amherst Group
Episode: Housing Affordability Crisis in Texas: Rates, Supply & Policy w/Sean Dobson
Tanner Jones
CEO, Vulcan Technologies
Vulcan Technologies
Episode: AI and Public Policy: Transforming Government w/Tanner Jones & Chris Minge

Host

Brad Swail
Host of the Texas Talks podcast

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Buffalo Bayou: Inside Houston’s Waterway Cleanup & Policy Fight
Q: What about the bottle deposit idea—what would it take to implement it in Texas?
It would require legalization and state-level policy adoption; the participants argue a deposit system would dramatically reduce litter and provide local recyclables for manufacturing, though details would need legislation and stakeholder buy-in.
Buffalo Bayou: Inside Houston’s Waterway Cleanup & Policy Fight
Q: Is there a unique operation here in Houston, or are there other programs doing similar cleanup?
While there are other cities with efforts, the bayou vac and the Buffalo Bayou Partnership's model are unique in scale and funding, with county and port support backing ongoing efforts.
Buffalo Bayou: Inside Houston’s Waterway Cleanup & Policy Fight
Q: Can one of you describe sort of what Buffalo Bayou Project is?
The project started in 1986 to create trails and waterfront access along Buffalo Bayou, transforming an underused area into a recreational and ecological asset with ongoing trash cleanup and public space development.
Housing Affordability Crisis in Texas: Rates, Supply & Policy w/Sean Dobson
Q: What policy levers do you see as most effective for making homes more affordable in Texas, and what unintended consequences should policymakers watch for?
Key levers include increasing housing supply through zoning reform, enabling accessory dwelling units, and rethinking minimum product standards to foster innovation while maintaining safety. Unintended consequences include reduced access for lower-income families if policies overly constrain credit access or shift supply away from affordable options; thoughtful, localized implementation is essential.
Housing Affordability Crisis in Texas: Rates, Supply & Policy w/Sean Dobson
Q: Could you expand on Amherst Group's role and the core focus of your work in single-family housing finance?
Amherst specializes in the dynamics of the single-family housing ecosystem—from mortgages to securitized products—and built expertise in evaluating cash flows, default risks, and how long-term ownership affects investor outcomes. This deep research helps explain why the market behaves the way it does and informs policy discussions.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Texas Talks

What is Texas Talks about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Texas Talks offers weekly conversations with policymakers, business leaders, and analysts shaping public policy in Texas. Episodes routinely explore economic incentives, tax policy, health policy, education tech, workforce issues, and regulatory dynamics, often anchored by data-driven critique or pragmatic reform ideas. A distinctive thread across episodes is presenting policy debates with a nonpartisan frame, highlighting how incentives, costs, and governance structures drive real-world outcomes for communities and businesses. Listeners likely include policy practitioners, public affairs professionals, and executives seeking accessible, issue-focused Texas policy discussions that surface practical implications for markets and regulation.

Where can I find podcast stats for Texas Talks?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Texas Talks. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Texas Talks and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Texas Talks get?

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What are the audience demographics for Texas Talks?

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How many subscribers and views does Texas Talks have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Texas Talks has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Texas Talks?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Texas Talks:

1. Texas Take
2. Texas Standard
3. Texas Bullpen Podcast
4. Good Hang with Amy Poehler
5. The Daily

How many episodes of Texas Talks are there?

Texas Talks launched 2 years ago and published 125 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Texas Talks?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Texas Talks?

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What guests have appeared on Texas Talks?

Recent guests on Texas Talks include:

1. Robby Robinson
2. Mike Garver
3. Glenn Hegar
4. David Leebron
5. Christopher Sparks
6. Pablo Vegas
7. Jeremy Mazur
8. Sean Dobson

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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