The Think Brazos Podcast

For Veterans Day, we sit down with Marine Corps veteran Peter Michelena to talk about his path to military service, the lessons he carried home, and how serving alongside fellow Marines shaped his perspective on sacrifice and community. Peter also shares his work with VFW Post 4692 in Bryan, supporting local veterans, their families, and neighbors in need. We discuss the challenges of transitionin...

In this episode, we sit down with Floyd Jones for a special Veterans Day interview. He reflects on his journey, discussing how the challenges he has faced have provided him with a sense of stability and motivation throughout his life. Beyond his military background, Jones shares his gratitude for his longevity and the role faith has played in his personal development. This conversation offers a th...

Chrissy Ransome is running for Bryan City Council, Single Member District 2. In this Think Brazos Podcast interview, she discusses her lifelong ties to Bryan, why she is running for city council, and the local issues she believes deserve attention. Topics include housing affordability, neighborhood growth and gentrification, public transportation, public input in city government, modular and mobil...

Bryan City Council Member Ray Arrington is running for re-election to Single Member District 2 in November 2026. In this episode of the Think Brazos Podcast, Arrington discusses his background, his first term on council, and the issues facing Bryan as the city continues to grow. Topics include aging infrastructure in District 2, housing options and affordability, residential development, mobile ho...

Paul Torres, Bryan City Council District 1 representative and candidate for re-election, joins Charles Coats on the Think Brazos Podcast to discuss neighborhood infrastructure, housing affordability, and the decisions facing the City of Bryan. Torres discusses infrastructure improvements in District 1, his experience serving on city boards and commissions, and his approach to working with resident...

On the Think Brazos Podcast, host Charles Coats interviews Elizabeth Cunha, a former two-term College Station city council member running for mayor in 2026. Cunha discusses her 22 years working for College Station ISD, her experience on city council, and why she is running for mayor. She explains how her positions on taxes and impact fees differ from her opponent’s, including her support for suspe...

On the Think Brazos Podcast, host Charles Coats interviews Bob Yancy, a two-term College Station city council member running for mayor in 2026. Yancy shares his background—Air Force service, earning a political science degree from Texas A&M as a non-traditional student, building homes, and starting a business—and says he is running to help restore prosperity through a diversified job base and...

On the Think Brazos Podcast, City of Bryan Mayor Bobby Gutierrez discusses his background in Bryan, business, and long-term civic involvement, and explains why he is running again for mayor. He emphasizes economic development aimed at attracting high-paying jobs tied to projects and institutes connected to RELLIS, and says major challenges over the next decade include growth, infrastructure, and t...

In this Think Brazos Podcast interview, Rafael Peña, a former Bryan City Council District 2 member and candidate for mayor of the City of Bryan, discusses his background and why he’s running, emphasizing what he describes as better governance, accountability, and clearer communication at City Hall. Peña criticizes the Texas Avenue medians project, the city’s $2 million loan tied to the Midtown Sch...

Scotti

This week, we are honored to sit down with a true Brazos Valley icon: Scott DeLucia. After an unbelievable 59-year career in local radio, Scott recently retired from WTAW’s morning lineup. In this wide-ranging conversation, Scott brings his decades of institutional knowledge to the table. He shares incredible behind-the-scenes stories of broadcasting through the community's most defining moments—f...

Before you vote in the 2026 Texas primary election, listen to our conversation with Wanda Watson, who is running for re-election as the Precinct 4 Brazos County Commissioner. Wanda Watson was originally elected to the Brazos County Commissioners Court in 2022. Before her current role, she served as the chair of the Democratic Party in Brazos County and as an election judge. Think Brazos is a proje...

Before you vote in the 2026 Texas primary election, listen to our conversation with Prentiss Madison, Sr, who is running for Precinct 4 Brazos County Commissioner. Madison is a former two-term Bryan city councilman and has also served on Planning and Zoning, Adjustments, and Parks and Recreation Commissions. Madison and his family run a recycling business called Madison Metals. Think Brazos is a p...

Before you vote in the 2026 Texas primary election, listen to our conversation with Peter Michelena, who is running for Precinct 4 Brazos County Commissioner. Michelena deployed twice to Afghanistan and received two Purple Hearts while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, has worked for the City of Bryan, and is currently the CFO of the local VFW Post #4692. Think Brazos is a project of Bryan/College...

Before you vote in the 2026 Texas primary election, listen to our conversation with Andre Malone, who is running for Precinct 4 Brazos County Commissioner. A self-described "Army brat," Malone has lived in Brazos County for 45 years and is a failure auditor for the oil and gas industry. Think Brazos is a project of Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity intended to help our community...

Before you vote in the 2026 Texas primary election, listen to our conversation with Jeff Murski, who is running for Precinct 2 Brazos County Commissioner. Jeff Murski brings years of experience in public relations with an electric company and government working for Congressman Pete Sessions. Think Brazos is a project of Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity intended to help our community unde...

Before you vote in the 2026 Texas primary election, listen to our conversation with Jordan Januse, who is running for Precinct 2 Brazos County Commissioner. Jordan Januse's family ran Frank's Country Store, a store beloved by many locals. Januse continued his experience with small businesses by starting a home cleaning company. Think Brazos is a project of Bryan/College Station Habitat for...

Before you vote in the 2026 Texas primary election, listen to our conversation with Kyle Greenwood, who is running for Precinct 2 Brazos County Commissioner. Locally, Greenwood is known for his role fighting a proposed road in eastern Brazos County. "No East Loop" supporters attended commissioners' court meetings for months arguing against the road. Think Brazos is a project of Bryan/College Stati...

Before you vote in the 2026 Texas primary election, listen to our conversation with former Bryan City Councilman Mike Southerland, who is now running for Brazos County Judge. Mike Southerland is a Vietnam veteran who served two terms on the Bryan City Council. Think Brazos is a project of Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity intended to help our community understand local government policies...

Before you vote in the 2026 Texas primary election, listen to our conversation with former State Representative Kyle Kacal, who is now running for Brazos County Judge. From the summer of 2025 until January 2026, Kacal served as acting Brazos County Judge while Judge Duane Peters took a medical leave of absence. Now, Kacal wants the job for a full term. Think Brazos is a project of Bryan/College St...

Join us on this episode of the Think Brazos Podcast as we host Texas State Representative Paul Dyson. From the Reese Avonley Homes Studio in Bryan, Texas. Dyson shares insights on legislative challenges, affordable housing issues across the state, the impact of unfunded mandates, and his firsthand experiences during his first legislative session. He also discusses plans for the future, including p...

**Heads up** ⚠️ We had an audio glitch during part of our interview with David Brower. You’ll notice a dip in sound quality in the second half of the interview—but we promise it’s worth powering through. In this episode of the Think Brazos podcast, host Charles Coats speaks with David Brower, the Community Development Administrator for the City of College Station. They delve into the city's housin...

In this episode of the Think Brazos Podcast, Mayor John Nichols of College Station joins us to discuss various challenges and legislative issues affecting housing affordability in Texas. The conversation delves into the implications of impact fees, local control versus state legislation, and the unique housing demands caused by Texas A&M University's large student population. Mayor Nichols als...

Addressing Housing Affordability with Rep. Paul Dyson In this episode of the Think Brazos Podcast, host Charles Coats welcomes Representative Paul Dyson of House District 14 in Texas to discuss the current legislative session. The conversation delves into the pressing issue of housing affordability in Texas, exploring proposed bills and solutions like House Bill 5489, which aims to impose a morato...

We sit down with Salim Furth, Senior Research Fellow and Director of the Urbanity Project at the Mercatus Center , George Mason University. We dive deep into state-level housing bills and explore what's being proposed in Texas’ 89th Legislative Session to enhance housing affordability and attainability. Discover the impact of HB878, the benefits of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and the broader...