S2E16 - There is Always More to the Story with Brad Johnson of the Texas Bullpen

S2E16 - There is Always More to the Story with Brad Johnson of the Texas Bullpen

How does a guy from Ohio who grew up dreaming of playing professional baseball become one of Texas’ top political reporters?   In this episode of Cap Chat Texas,  we visit with Texas Bullpen [https://texasbullpen.com/about/] co-founder Brad Johnson about what it’s like to cover the Texas Legislature, the challenges of starting up a new online publication, and why it's good to not ghost reporters.   People mentioned in this episode: Greg Abbott, Konni Burton, Harvey Kronberg, John Moritz, Jonathan Tilove, W. Lee “Pappy” O’Daniel, Bob Wills, The Texan, Texas Bullpen [https://texasbullpen.com] A very special thanks to Fallout Theater [https://falloutcomedy.com/] for providing their podcast studio. Check them out for great improv, stand up and sketch comedy just blocks from the Texas Capitol.  Cap Chat Texas spotlights the people who keep the Texas Capitol running. From staffers to lobbyists to journalists, we explore the stories, experiences, and perspectives of those shaping daily life under the Pink Dome. Join hosts Stephanie Chiarello and David Mintz for candid conversations and fresh insights. Know someone who would be a great guest?  Drop us a note at capchattx@gmail.com.   Like us? Please recommend us to three friends, subscribe and rate the podcast, and share on your socials. We'd love to get to 1,000 unique listeners this year.

S2E15 Part 1 - Getting to Know Bill Hobby with Don Carleton and Erin Purdy

In this episode, our guests Don Carleton and Erin Purdy discuss their book Bill Hobby: A Life in Journalism and Public Service, which explores the career and legacy of Texas’s longest-serving lieutenant governor, Bill Hobby. Don and Erin also talk about their work at the Briscoe Center for American History, highlighting its extensive resources, including exhibits, archival papers, oral histories, as well as the Center’s strong emphasis on Texas political history. People and groups mentioned in this podcast:  Ben Barnes, Helen Farabee, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Richard Goodwin, Diana Hobby, Oveta Culp Hobby, Will Hobby, Molly Ivins, Betty King, Bo Pilgrim, Julian Read, Jesse Romero, Saralee Tiede, Edwin Walker, American Rhapsody podcast [https://briscoecenter.org/projects/american-rhapsody/], Dolph Briscoe Center for American History [https://briscoecenter.org/], Houston Metropolitan Research Center [https://houstonlibrary.org/hhrc], Houston Post, KPRC, Bill Hobby:  A Life in Journalism and Public Service [https://briscoecenter.org/books/bill-hobby-a-life-in-journalism-and-public-service/], The Governor and the Colonel [https://utpress.utexas.edu/9780999731857/],  The Killer Bees, &  Red Scare [https://www.tshaonline.org/publications/red-scare] A very special thanks to Fallout Theater [https://falloutcomedy.com/] for providing their podcast studio. Check them out for great improv, stand up and sketch comedy just blocks from the Texas Capitol.  Cap Chat Texas spotlights the people who keep the Texas Capitol running. From staffers to lobbyists to journalists, we explore the stories, experiences, and perspectives of those shaping daily life under the Pink Dome. Join hosts Stephanie Chiarello and David Mintz for candid conversations and fresh insights. Know someone who would be a great guest?  Drop us a note at capchattx@gmail.com.   Like us? Please recommend us to three friends, subscribe and rate the podcast, and share on your socials. We'd love to get to 1,000 unique listeners this year.

S2E15 Part 2 - The More You Know about Bill Hobby with Don Carleton and Erin Purdy

In this episode, our guests Don Carleton and Erin Purdy discuss their book Bill Hobby: A Life in Journalism and Public Service, which explores the career and legacy of Texas’s longest-serving lieutenant governor, Bill Hobby. Don and Erin also talk about their work at the Briscoe Center for American History, highlighting its extensive resources, including exhibits, archival papers, oral histories, as well as the Center’s strong emphasis on Texas political history. People and groups mentioned in this podcast:  Ben Barnes, Helen Farabee, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Richard Goodwin, Diana Hobby, Oveta Culp Hobby, Will Hobby, Molly Ivins, Betty King, Bo Pilgrim, Julian Read, Jesse Romero, Saralee Tiede, Edwin Walker, American Rhapsody podcast [https://briscoecenter.org/projects/american-rhapsody/], Dolph Briscoe Center for American History [https://briscoecenter.org/], Houston Metropolitan Research Center [https://houstonlibrary.org/hhrc], Houston Post, KPRC, Bill Hobby:  A Life in Journalism and Public Service [https://briscoecenter.org/books/bill-hobby-a-life-in-journalism-and-public-service/], The Governor and the Colonel [https://utpress.utexas.edu/9780999731857/],  The Killer Bees, &  Red Scare [https://www.tshaonline.org/publications/red-scare] A very special thanks to Fallout Theater [https://falloutcomedy.com/] for providing their podcast studio. Check them out for great improv, stand up and sketch comedy just blocks from the Texas Capitol.  Cap Chat Texas spotlights the people who keep the Texas Capitol running. From staffers to lobbyists to journalists, we explore the stories, experiences, and perspectives of those shaping daily life under the Pink Dome. Join hosts Stephanie Chiarello and David Mintz for candid conversations and fresh insights. Know someone who would be a great guest?  Drop us a note at capchattx@gmail.com.   Like us? Please recommend us to three friends, subscribe and rate the podcast, and share on your socials. We'd love to get to 1,000 unique listeners this year.

S2E14 - Horses, Typewriters and Pickles with the Legendary Lawrence Olsen

Over a career spanning five decades, Lawrence Olsen has done it all - senate messenger, tour guide, agency staffer, journalist, campaign aide, congressional staffer, and lobbyist.  In this episode of Cap Chat Texas, Lawrence shares memorable stories from his career including the time he gave a lift to Charley Pride and an unexpected benefit of being a “nepo baby”.   People and groups mentioned in this podcast: Bob Bullock, Jimmy Carter, Ciscos [https://www.ciscosaustin.com/home], Tom Craddick, Charles Herring, Rusty Kelley, Bob Lanier, Robert Nichols, Edward Nixon, Dave Parsons (poet laureate) [https://www.daveparsonspoetry.com], David Parsons (choreographer) [https://www.parsonsdance.org/about/david-parsons], JJ Pickle,  Charley Pride, Charlie Schnabel, Preston Smith, John C White,  Associated General  Contractors of Texas, Austin Relativity [https://tcupress.tcu.edu/9780875659077/], Texas Good Roads Association  A very special thanks to Fallout Theater [https://falloutcomedy.com/] for providing their podcast studio. Check them out for great improv, stand up and sketch comedy just blocks from the Texas Capitol.  Cap Chat Texas spotlights the people who keep the Texas Capitol running. From staffers to lobbyists to journalists, we explore the stories, experiences, and perspectives of those shaping daily life under the Pink Dome. Join hosts Stephanie Chiarello and David Mintz for candid conversations and fresh insights. Know someone who would be a great guest?  Drop us a note at capchattx@gmail.com.   Like us? Please recommend us to three friends, subscribe and rate the podcast, and share on your socials. We'd love to get to 1,000 unique listeners this year.

S2E13 - Whistleblowing, AI, And Fallout Boy With Laura Davis (Carr)

Before co-founding the legislative tracking service US Lege, Laura Carr Davis worked in DC, did advance work for Governor Abbott, lobbied, and headed policy for a state senate office.   In this episode of Cap Chat Texas, Laura talks about how she started US Lege to help address the challenges of following the legislative process, some of the benefits and challenges of AI’s role in the legislative process, and why sometimes you have to stand up for what’s right even under difficult circumstances.   People and groups mentioned in this podcast: Greg Abbott, Jeff Blaylock, Ryan Brannan, Eric Davis, Ryan Harrington, Angela Paxton, USLege Check out USLege here - https://www.uslege.ai/ [https://koosh.uslege.ai/b?y=49q24eh2c9h34pb169ijao9kcgo36or3copj4chhccs32p1hchi3ep9g6oh2o8ji48t24q3keho76ehf5trnetpeelpmopb7ckn62q9f7tqn8ravednnasj3ckun0rr4cdgn6t16elq6qnrdcli6itbd7lhm2s1dcdk62t1dehingobj48======] A very special thanks to Fallout Theater [https://falloutcomedy.com/] for providing their podcast studio. Check them out for great improv, stand up and sketch comedy just blocks from the Texas Capitol.  Cap Chat Texas spotlights the people who keep the Texas Capitol running. From staffers to lobbyists to journalists, we explore the stories, experiences, and perspectives of those shaping daily life under the Pink Dome. Join hosts Stephanie Chiarello and David Mintz for candid conversations and fresh insights. Know someone who would be a great guest?  Drop us a note at capchattx@gmail.com.   Like us? Please recommend us to three friends, subscribe and rate the podcast, and share on your socials. We'd love to get to 1,000 unique listeners this year.