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Cap Chat Texas: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Stephanie Chiarello, David Mintz
Get to know the people behind the scenes at the Texas Legislature. We interview capitol staff, lobbyists, activists and other worker bees to help build our capitol community.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- May 19, 202639 min
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 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 A very special thanks to Fallout Theater 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.
- Apr 21, 202634 min
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, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Post, KPRC, Bill Hobby: A Life in Journalism and Public Service, The Governor and the Colonel, The Killer Bees, & Red Scare A very special thanks to Fallout Theater 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.
- Apr 21, 202628 min
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, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Post, KPRC, Bill Hobby: A Life in Journalism and Public Service, The Governor and the Colonel, The Killer Bees, & Red Scare A very special thanks to Fallout Theater 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.
- Apr 3, 202640 min
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, Tom Craddick, Charles Herring, Rusty Kelley, Bob Lanier, Robert Nichols, Edward Nixon, Dave Parsons (poet laureate), David Parsons (choreographer), JJ Pickle, Charley Pride, Charlie Schnabel, Preston Smith, John C White, Associated General Contractors of Texas, Austin Relativity, Texas Good Roads Association A very special thanks to Fallout Theater 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.
- Mar 3, 202646 min
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/ A very special thanks to Fallout Theater 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.
- Feb 10, 202632 min
S2E12 - Relationships Matter With Jim Arnold
Longtime lobbyist Jim Arnold joins Cap Chat Texas to share insights from his career that began as an intern at the Texas Legislative Budget Board while attending the LBJ School of Public Affairs. From working on elections across the country to advising emerging democracies and teaching government, Jim reflects on lessons from the campaign trail that still shape his work today. He also talks about why it's important to keep the Capitol community connected and how public service has become a family tradition.People and groups mentioned on this podcast: John Davis, Robert Duncan, Pete Geren, Phil Gramm, Barbara Jordan, Tom Loeffler, Rick Perry, Ramon Romero, Elspeth Rostow, Walt Rostow, Hugh Shine, Todd Staples, Dick Waterfield, Ric Williamson, Jim Wright, Goodwill, International Republican Institute, Jewish Federation of Greater Houston, LBJ School of Public Affairs, Legislative Budget Board, National Republican Congressional Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee A very special thanks to Fallout Theater 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.
- Jan 27, 202648 min
S2E11 - Got Humanity? With Emiliano Romero
With both of his parents working around the Texas Capitol, Emiliano Romero literally grew up in and around the building. In this episode, Emiliano recounts how he went from landing his first job as a Senate intern to, a decade later, working as a health care lobbyist.He reflects on the transition from staffer to lobbyist, the importance of trusting your intuition, persevering through challenging moments, and why investing in your physical and mental health is essential for long-term success. P.S. Everyone gets old, get ready for it. People and groups mentioned in this podcast: The Honorable Diego Bernal, The Honorable Nicole Collier, Denise Davis, The Honorable Rodney Ellis, Luis Figueroa, Lisa Kaufman, The Honorable Angela Paxton, The Honorable Jose Rodriguez, Sushma Smith, Laura Stowe, Carmen Tilton, The Honorable Leticia Van de Putte, Ascension Seton, Leading Age Texas, Texas Legislative Internship Program A very special thanks to Fallout Theater 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.
- Jan 13, 202642 min
S2E10 - The Message Focuser with Denise Rose
Lawyer and lobbyist Denise Rose joins us on this episode of Cap Chat Texas to share her journey from aspiring doctor to prominent lobbyist, with a strong focus on health care policy. Denise discusses both the blessings and the challenges of working in a constantly changing environment, her different approaches to collaborating with legislative offices, and how she finds stress relief through boxing.People and groups mentioned in this podcast: Jennifer Banda, John Hawkins, the Honorable Glenn Hegar, Kathy Hutto, Marsha Jones, the Honorable Joe Straus, the Honorable Vicki Truitt, Gabe Valenzuela, the Honorable Gene Wu, Americorp, Jackson Walker, Texas Children’s Hospital, Texas Hospital Association, Texas Sunset Commission, & University of Houston. A very special thanks to Fallout Theater 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.
About Cap Chat Texas
Get to know the people behind the scenes at the Texas Legislature. We interview capitol staff, lobbyists, activists and other worker bees to help build our capitol community.
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