American Audacity

In this episode of Texas Nobility, host Blaise Regan sits down with Taylor County Expo Center Executive Director Rochelle Johnson—the day before the gates open for the West Texas Fair & Rodeo! From starting out as a college receptionist to spearheading the massive $55M transformation of the grounds, Rochelle shares the incredible inside story of keeping West Texas heritage alive and thriving....

Taylor County Republican Party Chairman Ryan Goodwin joins Blaise Regan on Abilene It’s Getting Better to discuss local leadership, volunteer-driven politics, and the major policy issues shaping Texas. They discuss:  Grassroots Politics: Why face-to-face neighborhood connections and dedicated precinct chairs remain the heartbeat of local voter turnout.  The Data Center Boom: Balancing the economic...

What does it take to transform a regional university into a Division I national player while keeping local community roots deeply planted?  In this episode of American Audacity, host Blaise Regan sits down with ACU Athletic Director Zack Lassiter. From navigating the turbulent waters of modern college athletics—including Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and the transfer portal—to discussing t...

In this episode of Abilene: It's Getting Better with American Audacity, host Blaise Regan sits down with Joey Light, the long-serving superintendent of Wiley ISD in Abilene, Texas. As he prepares to wrap up his remarkable 19-year tenure, Superintendent Light reflects on the explosive growth of the district, modern educational hurdles, and the deep roots that keep a growing West Texas school d...

"Kids these days don't have the work ethic and respect we had growing up." You've heard a variation of that line a million times from your generation and the older generation. Learn the reasons why and what can be done to help the next generation of boy become men. In this powerful episode Blaise Regan sits down with Chris Daughtery, the founder of the transformative From Boys...

Jay Patterson, Abilene City Councilman, answers 15 Rapid Fire Questions and then discusses: -The benefits and challenges of the data centers in Abilene; -How the $21 million "surplus" sales tax revenue will be used; -Airport improvements; -and as owner of a cigar shop, the Leaf, what mistakes new cigar smokers make.  Take a listen and enjoy!

Riley Rodriguez does 20 Rapid Fire Question and then it's a lively discussion between him and the host Blaise Regan on: -regulating Data Centers, removing incentives, and addressing housing issues; -How the government should regulate rent and rentals and Riley's details on this; -Small government versus big government role; -Abortion and Transgender issues as a Democrat in West Texas; -G...

Jared Calvert has spent his life ferrying vintage biplanes across the country — landing on highways, wheat fields, and once for a Mission: Impossible shoot — but his real fight has been on the ground in Ranger, Texas, population 2,300 and falling. Since 2007 he’s single-handedly rebuilt Ranger Airfield, once visited by Amelia Earhart, into a working museum and refuge for antique aircraft, funded a...

In this episode, Blaise Regan sits down with Texas State Senator Charles Perry, who represents the people of Abilene, Lubbock, San Angelo, and the many counties in between. We kick things off with a fast-paced round of rapid-fire questions covering everything from the best West Texas barbecue and hidden canyon gems to his pick for the best college football team in the nation. Following the quick h...

In this episode of Texas Nobility, we sit down with Emily Gernaat - the Owner of Frontier and Legacy Marketing in Texas, horse trainer in Tennessee and Texas, and a 4th Generation Dairy Farmer.  Texas Nobility is not just about being born in Texas, it's about the ethos, spirit, character, and values that embody and infuse the Texan way of life that makes a person noble. Hailing originally fro...

Joe Waldron, the new Superintendent of Abilene ISD, answers 15 Rapid Fire Questions about Texas and then we dive into: -How the school voucher law has affected public education; -How the billions of new construction for data centers affect public education funding;  -How public education is really funded in Texas...first the taxpayers, then the state general funds, explained in an easy way to unde...

Emily Crawford, the Abilene City Manager, answers 20 Rapid Fire Questions and then gets down into the nitty gritty. If you've wanted to know the  -projected growth of Abilene over the next ten years,  -how many temporary workers and permanent workers the data center is projected to employ,  -how much water the data center uses on the daily, monthly, and annually (hint: it may blow your mind,...

Weldon Hurt, Mayor of Abilene, does 20 Rapid Fire Questions followed by an in depth discussion with Blaise Regan on: -the Data Centers, their impact on the community, the challenges they brought and the benefits, the safeguards and agreements on water, sounds, and taxes; -how Abilene will spend the $20 Million in additional sales tax revenue this year; -the Abilene Firefighters Association negotia...

TIM CONDON, owner and executive chef of the Angry Cactus, answers 20 Rapid Fire questions about himself, Angry Cactus, and the restaurant industry, and followed by an in depth discussion about what it takes to open a second restaurant, the drive and passion, the differences between Abilene and San Angelo where his first restaurant is, his favorite dishes, the advice and tips he gives to new chefs,...

Ben Bailey, candidate for Abilene City Council, answering 20 Rapid Fire questions followed by in depth discussion on how to spend $20 million in sale tax revenue, housing, how to budget time for public service, how we zone and increase the supply of housing, and where he'd like to see Abilene in ten years. Vote: Early voting starts Monday. Runoff Election Day is June 13th. Don't let othe...

Tammy Fogle, candidate for Abilene City Council, answering 20 Rapid Fire questions followed by in depth discussion on Data Centers, how to spend $20 million in sale tax revenue, how we zone and increase the supply of housing, and her ten year vision for Abilene.  This isn’t a polished campaign speech. It’s a transparent, hard look under the municipal hood at the sacrifices, budget realities, and h...

Tom Sell is running for Texas' Congressional District 19, which covers Lubbock and Abilene and most of rural West Texas. We do 20 Rapid Fire Questions right off the bat, from best BBQ to the Iran War, and then dive into Data Centers and Agriculture. Early Voting is May 18 through May 22, and Election Day for this Runoff is May 26, 2026. 

Abraham Enriquez is running for Texas' Congressional District 19, which covers Lubbock and Abilene and most of rural West Texas. We do 20 Rapid Fire Questions right off the bat, from best BBQ to the Iran War, and then dive into Data Centers and Ukraine. His answers are quick and concise so we are able to cover other issues: student loan debt; foreign affairs; and immigration. Early Voting is...

Brian Yates - GM of the West Central Texas Municipal Water District  On Water Usage by the Data Centers, Our Current Water Situation, What Needs to Be Done to Water for Growth through 2070, and If He Drinks the Tap Water

Katie Alford - President/CEO of the Community Foundation of Abilene - On Executive Director Burnout and Pay, What She Tells Potential New Charity Founders, Optimal Board Size, Event Fatigue, Biggest Weakness and How to Address it, Monthly Meetings by CFA for Exec Dir Support, and Much more!

John Kuhn - Abilene ISD Superintendent on School Vouchers, 8.5 Billion in Funding, Cell Phone Ban, Accountability and School Grading, Homestead Exemption Increase, and Abilene ISD Horizon, all told in an easy to understand terms in a laid back conversation.

A sit down with Taylor County Sheriff Ricky Bishop to discuss AI and its impact on law enforcement, fentanyl and the border and their impact on West Texans, mental health and homeless, and the law enforcement environment today versus 4 years ago. 

Features Taylor County Judge Phil Crowley discussing the effect Lancium and the Data Centers have on West Texas, the changes to the the Texas CPS laws, and increasing the EMS services in Taylor County.

Fidele Sebahizi is an immigrant from the Congo, survived a UN refugee camp massacre, immigrated to the US, and became an American citizen and an officer in the Abilene Police Department. While an officer he earned his bachelors, Masters, and PhD and wrote a book on his journey from a small village in Eastern Congo in Africa to Abilene, Texas. He tells of the brutal violence he experienced and the...

Courtney Horton - On Homelessness, Not all Panhandlers are Homeless, On Giving to Panhandlers, What Causes Homelessness In The First Place, and More. Courtney Horton is the Executive Director of Hope Haven Abilene, a non-profit that helps the homeless. She talks on how panhandlers are not homeless normally, on the effects of giving to panhandlers, what we can do in our community, where the break d...