Texas Talks

On this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Mandy Drogin of the Texas Public Policy Foundation to discuss Texas Education Freedom Accounts, school choice policy, and the evolving future of education in the state.
The conversation explores how education savings accounts (ESAs) work, why more than 100,000 families applied within days of launch, and the ongoing debate between supporters and critics. Topics include parental rights, funding models, homeschooling options, special-needs education, and the long-term impact of market-driven education reform in Texas.
Whether you’re a parent, policymaker, educator, or simply interested in Texas politics and public policy, this episode offers a detailed look at one of the biggest education reforms in the country.
👉 Listen as they break down how ESAs function, who qualifies, and what the program could mean for the future of students and schools across Texas.

Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks

In this episode of Texas Talks, Brad Swail interviews Margaret Byfield, Executive Director of American Stewards of Liberty, to break down the growing controversy surrounding proposed transmission lines across Texas. The discussion explores property rights, eminent domain, data-center energy demand, grid reliability after Winter Storm Uri, and the debate between local dispatchable power and large-scale transmission infrastructure.
Byfield shares firsthand insight into how landowners could be affected by thousands of miles of new transmission corridors, the rising cost of electricity tied to infrastructure expansion, and the broader policy questions shaping Texas’ energy future.
Whether you’re interested in energy policy, land use, rural property rights, or the economics behind grid expansion, this conversation offers a detailed look at one of the most consequential infrastructure debates unfolding in Texas today.

Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks

Brad Swail interviews Jaime Olin, interim executive director of the Texas Humane Legislation Network, about landmark animal welfare laws in Texas, enforcement challenges, and upcoming legislative priorities. They cover spay-neuter funding, roadside puppy sales bans, criminal negligence protections, ethical pet store reforms, and rural veterinary access. A must-listen for animal advocates, policy watchers, and Texans who care about humane treatment for all.

Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks

Early childhood intervention can change the trajectory of a child’s life—but in Texas, funding hasn’t kept pace with growing need.
In this episode of the Texas Talks Podcast, host Brad Swail sits down with Veronda Durden, President and CEO of Any Baby Can, to discuss how early intervention services support children with developmental delays, strengthen families, and build long-term community resilience across Central Texas.
Drawing on her 32-year career in Texas state government and her leadership at Any Baby Can, Durden explains how federal and state policies shape early childhood services, why providers are required to serve eligible children without guaranteed funding, and how rising costs are forcing difficult decisions in rural and fast-growing counties.

Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks

Former professional tennis player and ATP top-20 competitor Christo van Rensburg joins the Texas Talks podcast to discuss building the ATX Open into one of America’s premier women’s tennis tournaments. The conversation covers WTA rankings, why Austin is the perfect home for women’s pro tennis, developing public courts, attracting top players, and the future of tennis culture in Texas.

Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks