Cap Chat Texas

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 [email protected].

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.

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 [email protected].

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.

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 [email protected].

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.

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 [email protected].

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.

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 [email protected].

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.