Real State

How do states know whether public policy is actually working? Tennessee Senator Bo Watson joins Real | State to discuss the importance of measuring outcomes—not just passing legislation. From education reform and government transparency to higher education governance and long-term accountability, Senator Watson shares how Tennessee evaluates success, adapts policies over time, and builds public tr...

Kentucky Speaker Pro Tem David Meade joins host Lindsey Gray to discuss the state's economic development strategy, from site readiness and infrastructure investments to workforce development, housing affordability, energy needs, and emerging opportunities in aerospace and advanced manufacturing. Meade also shares insights from his role as Chair of CSG South, offering a regional perspective on the...

How do states balance fiscal responsibility with the growing demand for human services, behavioral health support, and child welfare programs? Host Lindsey Gray sits down with Oklahoma Representative Daniel Pae, Chair of the House Appropriations and Budget Human Services Subcommittee and Vice Chair of the House Children, Youth and Family Services Committee. Rep. Pae shares how Oklahoma is navigati...

Host Lindsey Gray speaks with Casey Rogers of the Alabama State Military Department about the state’s growing focus on supporting veterans, military families, and National Guard readiness. Drawing from her experience in Governor Kay Ivey’s administration and her current role, Rogers discusses how Alabama is preparing for the future of military service while strengthening support systems for servic...

Real | State host Lindsey Gray sits down with Tennessee Representative Dan Howell to unpack the proposed  Patient First Act , a sweeping piece of legislation aimed at reshaping how health insurance impacts patients, providers, and access to care. The conversation explores key provisions of the bill, including limits on insurance claim denials, protections against “downcoding,” oversight of artific...

outh Carolina Senator Greg Hembree joins host Lindsey Gray to discuss the future of education policy in the Palmetto State—from school choice and charter accountability to teacher recruitment, classroom discipline, and student achievement. As chair of the Senate Education Committee, Hembree shares how South Carolina is approaching literacy, math, technology in the classroom, and the growing role o...

As natural disasters grow more frequent and severe, states are being pushed to rethink how they prepare, respond, and rebuild. In this episode of Real State, North Carolina Representative Mark Pless shares a rare dual perspective as both a legislator and longtime first responder. From Hurricane Helene to rural economic disruption, he breaks down what’s working, where gaps remain, and how policy de...

Lindsey Gray sits down with Virginia Delegate Katrina Callsen to explore how child welfare policy can better support children and families. From expanding kinship care and preventing unnecessary foster care placements to improving school stability and adoptee rights, Callsen shares how data, lived experience, and bipartisan collaboration are shaping meaningful reform. The conversation highlights b...

When legislative sessions end, the work of state government continues behind the scenes. In this episode of Real | State, host Lindsey Gray is joined by Jay Hartz, Executive Director of Kentucky’s Legislative Research Commission, to explore how a full-time, nonpartisan staff supports part-time lawmakers year-round. From staffing and modernization to transparency, talent retention, and trust, the c...

Host Lindsey Gray sits down with Mississippi State Senator Rod Hickman to explore how Mississippi’s dramatic rise from 49th to 9th in fourth-grade reading is reshaping opportunity across rural communities. The conversation connects early literacy to workforce readiness, community college partnerships, CTE pathways, and financial literacy — all critical to sustaining economic growth in rural Americ...

Host Lindsey Gray speaks with West Virginia Delegate Clay Riley to explore how energy policy is shaping the state’s economic future during the 2026 legislative session. Energy has always been central to West Virginia’s identity—and today, it’s also a key driver of competitiveness, job creation, and long-term growth. Delegate Riley shares how lawmakers are approaching an “all-of-the-above” energy s...

In the inaugural episode of Real | State, host Lindsey Gray sits down with Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns to explore affordability as a defining issue for Georgia families—from property tax reform and housing supply to rural economic resilience and workforce development. Speaker Burns shares how state leaders are approaching these challenges, what success looks like for communities across Georgia...

Across the country, the decisions made in state capitals don't just shape policy, they shape everyday life. From how we build and strengthen our communities, to how we prepare the next generation of leaders, and how states work together to solve challenges that don't stop at state lines. This is the Real | State Podcast. I'm your host, Lindsey Gray, Regional Executive Director of CSG South. On Rea...