Texas Talks

Brad Swail sits down with Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath and Mary Lynn Pruneda (Texas 2036 Director of Education & Workforce Policy) for a forward-looking conversation on the future of Texas public education. They discuss post-COVID recovery (literacy at all-time highs, math still climbing), the game-changing Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) shifting to performance-based pay and creatin...

After the 2026 primaries delivered a fresh wave of “new blood” in the Legislature, will property taxes finally get crushed… or will the same old insider games continue? In this hard-hitting episode of Texas Talks , host Brad Swail sits down with Jeramy Kitchen, President of Texas Policy Research and the driving force behind the brand-new Texas Liberty Compact . Jeramy breaks down exactly what the...

Future of Texas is a special limited series from Texas Talks exploring the ideas, leaders, and innovations shaping the state’s next century.  As Texas approaches its bicentennial in 2036, this series brings together some of the state’s most influential thinkers—from entrepreneurs and venture capitalists to policy experts and public leaders—to discuss the opportunities and challenges that will defi...

Is the “Texas Miracle” still alive — and what does it take to keep Texas competitive in 2026 and beyond? In this episode of Texas Talks, Megan Mauro, Interim President and CEO of the Texas Association of Business (TAB), joins Brad Swail to break down the state of the Texas economy. As the state chamber of commerce representing businesses of every size and industry, TAB sits at the center of Texas’...

In this episode, Kelly Hancock , Acting Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, breaks down what the Comptroller’s office actually does—and what the latest numbers say about the Texas economy. Hancock discusses revenue estimating, procurement, contracts, and why sales tax trends matter so much to the state budget. He also explains how Texas is tracking key indicators like manufacturing, construction...

On this episode of Texas Talks , host Brad Swail sits down with Mandy Drogin of the Texas Public Policy Foundation to discuss Texas Education Freedom Accounts, school choice policy, and the evolving future of education in the state. The conversation explores how education savings accounts (ESAs) work, why more than 100,000 families applied within days of launch, and the ongoing debate between supp...

In this episode of Texas Talks, Brad Swail interviews Margaret Byfield, Executive Director of American Stewards of Liberty, to break down the growing controversy surrounding proposed transmission lines across Texas. The discussion explores property rights, eminent domain, data-center energy demand, grid reliability after Winter Storm Uri, and the debate between local dispatchable power and large-s...

Brad Swail interviews Jaime Olin, interim executive director of the Texas Humane Legislation Network, about landmark animal welfare laws in Texas, enforcement challenges, and upcoming legislative priorities. They cover spay-neuter funding, roadside puppy sales bans, criminal negligence protections, ethical pet store reforms, and rural veterinary access. A must-listen for animal advocates, policy w...

Early childhood intervention can change the trajectory of a child’s life—but in Texas, funding hasn’t kept pace with growing need. In this episode of the Texas Talks Podcast , host Brad Swail sits down with Veronda Durden, President and CEO of Any Baby Can , to discuss how early intervention services support children with developmental delays, strengthen families, and build long-term community res...

Former professional tennis player and ATP top-20 competitor Christo van Rensburg joins the Texas Talks podcast to discuss building the ATX Open into one of America’s premier women’s tennis tournaments. The conversation covers WTA rankings, why Austin is the perfect home for women’s pro tennis, developing public courts, attracting top players, and the future of tennis culture in Texas. Watch Full-L...

Texas faces a growing rural health care crisis as hospitals close and emergency access shrinks. In this episode of the Texas Talk Podcast , Rob Morris—CEO of Complete Care and former president of the National Association of Freestanding Emergency Centers—explains how freestanding emergency rooms improve access, reduce costs, and stabilize rural communities. The conversation covers Medicare and Med...

Veteran Texas politics reporter Brad Johnson joins the Texas Talks Podcast to break down the biggest policy fights shaping Texas in 2026. From water shortages and data centers to property tax relief, school vouchers, nuclear energy, and artificial intelligence, this wide-ranging conversation explains what actually passed in 2025—and what still lies ahead. The episode closes with a sharp analysis o...

Texas Christmas trees are more than a holiday tradition—they’re a growing agricultural industry reshaping rural economies across the state. In this episode of Texas Talks , host Brad Swail sits down with Stan Reed, Executive Secretary of the Texas Christmas Tree Growers Association, to explore how Texas farmers are expanding from traditional crops into Christmas tree farming, agritourism, and year...

Texas Hospital Association CEO John Hawkins joins Brad Swail to break down the toughest challenges facing health care in Texas — from rural hospital closures and workforce shortages to Medicare policy, uninsured rates, and the future of federal funding. Hawkins explains how geography, payer mix, population growth, and administrative burdens are reshaping the system, and outlines the state and fede...

Texas housing is shifting fast — and in this in-depth interview, Texas Realtors Vice President of Governmental Affairs Tray Bates breaks down the real forces driving prices, affordability, and policy debates across the state. We cover the post-COVID market cooldown, interest-rate shocks, short-term rentals, global capital flowing into Texas development, and the growing “missing middle” problem aff...

Texas Talks host Brad Swail sits down with Peyton Schumann — the Interim Executive Director of Government Relations for the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association — for a deep dive into the challenges and future of cattle ranching in Texas. They cover everything from rising beef prices and drought-driven herd declines to the complexities of beef imports, federal trade policy, and the thre...

Dr. Audrey Young, elected to the Texas State Board of Education in 2020, joins Texas Talks for an in-depth conversation about the real state of special education in Texas. Drawing from 31 years in public schools as a speech therapist, reading specialist, administrator, and executive director, Dr. Young clarifies how dyslexia policy is being reshaped, why the statewide special-education population...

Former Railroad Commission Chairman and current head of the Texas Geothermal Energy Alliance, Barry Smitherman , joins host Brad Swail to break down the next big chapter in Texas energy. From the state’s oil legacy to the rise of geothermal power , Smitherman explains how advances in drilling technology, abandoned oil wells, and dispatchable clean energy could redefine the grid. They discuss what...

In this episode of Texas Talks , host Brad Swail interviews Kelley Shannon , Executive Director of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas . They discuss the state’s Public Information Act , government transparency, and why access to information is essential for accountability. Shannon explains how Texas laws were built after the Sharpstown scandal, how lawmakers have gradually weakened the...

Texas Talks host Brad Swail sits down with Reed Clay , President of the Texas Nuclear Alliance , to discuss how nuclear energy could reshape Texas’ power future. Clay explains why the state hasn’t built a new plant in over 30 years, the myths and politics that sidelined nuclear in the 1990s, and how AI data centers and small modular reactors (SMRs) are driving a modern nuclear renaissance. From Wi...

Economist Dr. Raymond Robertson joins host Brad Swail on Texas Talks to explain a surprising discovery: the United States actually imports plastic waste — and how tariffs, recycling incentives, and Texas-style solutions could change that. Robertson, Director of the Mosbacher Institute at the Bush School of Government and Public Service, breaks down how a simple deposit-refund system could clean up...

In this Texas Talks interview, Vulcan Technologies CEO Tanner Jones explains how his AI platform “maps the law” to simplify regulation, empower builders, and strengthen American competitiveness. From Virginia’s landmark use of AI in government to the potential for Texas to unleash new growth, Jones shares a bold vision for abundance, innovation, and smarter governance. Watch Full-Length Interviews...

In this episode of Texas Talks , Brad Swail sits down with Tom Butler, Vice Chair of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. They dive into Texas’s booming energy sector, the state’s role in powering the nation, and how licensing reforms are shaping a skilled workforce. Butler shares insights on balancing regulation with growth, the rise of AI and data centers, and why small nuclear powe...

Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath joins the Texas Talks podcast to discuss the future of education in the Lone Star State. From literacy challenges and the impact of cell phones in classrooms, to the A–F accountability system and the new Bluebonnet curriculum, Morath shares his vision for improving student outcomes statewide. He also breaks down the Teacher Incentive Allotment program, whic...

In this episode of Texas Talks , host Brad Swail sits down with Mary Lynn Pruneda , Director of Education & Workforce Policy at Texas 2036 and former education policy advisor to Gov. Greg Abbott. They dive into the controversies and complexities of Texas public education —from the end of the STAAR test to the new three-test system, literacy challenges, teacher pay, and the long-term workforce impa...