When proud Texas Aggie JD Hale headed to Washington for an internship, he never imagined it would lead to a career lobbying for a major statewide trade association. In this episode, JD talks about his appreciation for logos on one-pagers, making the most of every opportunity, and the unique perspective gained from working in both the district office and at the Capitol.

People and groups mentioned in this podcast:

The Honorable John Cornyn, The Honorable Robert Nichols,  Scott Norman, Texas A&M, Texas Association of Builders

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. 

Co-hosts Stephanie Chiarello and David Mintz bring you Cap Chat Texas, a podcast dedicated to building community at the Texas Capitol by highlighting the people who make it all happen. From staffers to lobbyists to journalists, Cap Chat Texas explores the stories, experiences, and perspectives of those shaping daily life under the Pink Dome.

What started as a one-day stint as a House Sergeant turned into a lifelong career working. In this episode, former legislative aide and longtime lobbyist Kwame Walker shares how not making the UT Basketball team unexpectedly led him to the Texas Capitol. He talks about seizing opportunities, respecting staffers' time, and the lasting impact of being nice. 

People and groups mentioned in this podcast:

Ann Brooks, The Honorable Chet Brooks, Larry Casto, The Honorable Brandon Creighton, Machre Gibson, Shanna Igo, Rusty Kelley, The Honorable Ted Lyon, The Honorable Jerry Patterson, The Honorable Tati Santiesteban, Carlton Turner, Cal Varner, The Honorable Royce West. Cissy Woomer

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. 

Co-hosts Stephanie Chiarello and David Mintz bring you Cap Chat Texas, a podcast dedicated to building community at the Texas Capitol by highlighting the people who make it all happen. From staffers to lobbyists to journalists, Cap Chat Texas explores the stories, experiences, and perspectives of those shaping daily life under the Pink Dome.

In this episode, we sit down with Bob Garrett, the former longtime Capitol Bureau Chief for The Dallas Morning News. Bob shares his insights on the challenges of covering the Texas Legislature, how political journalism has evolved, and reveals a surprising connection between Jimi Hendrix and George Best.  Note: This episode was recorded on March 28, 2025 shortly before the passing of John Thornton, who is mentioned during the conversation.

People and groups mentioned in this podcast:

The Honorable Greg Abbott, The Honorable Bill Clements, The Honorable John Connally, James Barragán, Renzo Downey, Karen Brooks Harper, The Honorable Bill Hobby, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Phil Jankowski, Gromer Jeffers, Tom Johnson, Sam Kinch, Eleanor Klibanoff, Dave McNeely, The Honorable Dan Patrick,  Jasper Scherer, John Thorton, Aarón Torres, Bryan Woolley, Capitol Tonight, Dallas Times Herald, Dallas Morning News, Texas Monthly, Texas Observer, Texas Tribune, The Booze Brothers, The Killer Bees 

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. 

Co-hosts Stephanie Chiarello and David Mintz bring you Cap Chat Texas, a podcast dedicated to building community at the Texas Capitol by highlighting the people who make it all happen. From staffers to lobbyists to journalists, Cap Chat Texas explores the stories, experiences, and perspectives of those shaping daily life under the Pink Dome.

How did a serial entrepreneur become publisher of the state’s longest-running political newsletter? On this episode of Cap Chat Texas, we sit down with Quorum Report's Harvey Kronberg to hear how he stumbled into journalism, his take on the state’s shifting political landscape, and the importance of institutional memory.

People and groups mentioned in this podcast:

Scott Braddock

The Honorable Doc Arnold 

The Honorable Warren Chisum  

The Honorable Tom Craddick 

Nick Krajl

David Minceberg

Davey Joe Montgomery

John Moritz

Ross Ramsey 

The Honorable Stan Schlueter 

Evan Smith  

The Honorable Jonathan Stickland 

The Honorable Joe Straus 

The Honorable Carole Strayhorn

THe Honorable Mike Toomey

The Honorable Leticia and Pete Van de Putte 

The Honorable Ralph Wayne 

Dixie Flag Company 

German Shepherd Rescue of Central Texas

The Texas Civil Justice League

The Texas Trial Lawyers Association  

The Texas Tribune 

The Quorum Club 

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. 

Co-hosts Stephanie Chiarello and David Mintz bring you Cap Chat Texas, a podcast dedicated to building community at the Texas Capitol by highlighting the people who make it all happen. From staffers to lobbyists to journalists, Cap Chat Texas explores the stories, experiences, and perspectives of those shaping daily life under the Pink Dome.

In this episode, legislative staffer and community leader Donovon Rodriguez shares how his experience as a 911 dispatcher taught him to stay calm amid the chaos of the Capitol. He also discusses the importance of building strong constituent relationships, his approach to managing a legislative office, and some of the differences between working in the House and Senate.

People and groups mentioned in this podcast: 

Senator Jose Menendez

Senator Roland Gutierrez

Representative Diego Bernal 

Representative Philip Cortez

Representative Trey Martinez Fischer

Representative Ray Lopez 

City Council Member Shirley Gonzales

Edgewood Education Foundation

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. 

Co-hosts Stephanie Chiarello and David Mintz bring you Cap Chat Texas, a podcast dedicated to building community at the Texas Capitol by highlighting the people who make it all happen. From staffers to lobbyists to journalists, Cap Chat Texas explores the stories, experiences, and perspectives of those shaping daily life under the Pink Dome.

From Senate Messenger to CEO of Habitat for Humanity Texas, Amy Ledbetter Parham shares the unique challenges of nonprofit advocacy, negotiating with “lizard people” (no, not folks in Austin), and what it's like to build a house on the Capitol grounds.

People and groups mentioned in this podcast: 

Senator Bob Glasgow 

Habitat for Humanity 

LBJ School of Public Affairs 

President Jimmy Carter 

Visit Habitat for Humanity Texas for more information about their work and how you can support their efforts to provide affordable housing.  

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. 

Co-hosts Stephanie Chiarello and David Mintz bring you Cap Chat Texas, a podcast dedicated to building community at the Texas Capitol by highlighting the people who make it all happen. From staffers to lobbyists to journalists, Cap Chat Texas explores the stories, experiences, and perspectives of those shaping daily life under the Pink Dome.

Regarded as one of the state’s premier lobbyists, Rusty Kelley literally started out mopping floors in the Capitol.  In this episode Rusty tells about his deep respect for the institution, legislators he has admired and how the Sharpstown Scandal transformed lobbying in Texas.

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.

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. 

People mentioned in this podcast: 

Dick Brown 

Senator Jack Christie

Speaker Billy Clayton 

Speaker Price Daniel, Jr. 

Jeff Davis 

Senator Kevin Eltife 

Jack Gullahorn

Representative Bill Messer 

Lawrence Olsen 

Tommy Townsend 

The Sharpstown Scandal 

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. 

Co-hosts Stephanie Chiarello and David Mintz bring you Cap Chat Texas, a podcast dedicated to building community at the Texas Capitol by highlighting the people who make it all happen. From staffers to lobbyists to journalists, Cap Chat Texas explores the stories, experiences, and perspectives of those shaping daily life under the Pink Dome.

People mentioned in this podcast:

Representative Roberto Alonzo

Senator Hugo Berlanga

Speaker Billy Clayton

Congressman Ron Coleman

Representative Robby Cook

Lynn Cutler  

Representative Linda Garcia

Calvin Guest

Representative Susan King

Representative Mike McKinney

Representative Doug Miller

Representative Christina Morales

Gloria Moreno

Kate Raetz

Representative Mark Strama

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. 

Co-hosts Stephanie Chiarello and David Mintz bring you Cap Chat Texas, a podcast dedicated to building community at the Texas Capitol by highlighting the people who make it all happen. From staffers to lobbyists to journalists, Cap Chat Texas explores the stories, experiences, and perspectives of those shaping daily life under the Pink Dome.

Lawyer/lobbyist Michelle Wittenburg shares how a chance encounter at a charity event—and a love of reading the paper—launched a career that has included running campaigns and working in all three branches of government. Michelle talks about the value of surrounding herself with good people, balancing work with philanthropic efforts, and the joy of coming home to a house full of animals.

People mentioned in this podcast:

Senator Bill Sims 

House Speaker Tom Craddick

Representative Kyle Kacal 

Representative Ken King  

Judge Lee Yeakel

Lewis Sessions 

Congressman Pete Sessions  

Andrea Sloan 

Justice Nathan Hecht 

Rahsaan King 

Jack Jack’s Pack Street Dog Rescue 

KK125 Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation 

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. 

Co-hosts Stephanie Chiarello and David Mintz bring you Cap Chat Texas, a podcast dedicated to building community at the Texas Capitol by highlighting the people who make it all happen. From staffers to lobbyists to journalists, Cap Chat Texas explores the stories, experiences, and perspectives of those shaping daily life under the Pink Dome.

How does an aspiring ballerina and environmental scientist end up running a legislative office? From starting as an intern in 2007 to serving as Chief of Staff for a state representative, Stephanie shares tips for new staffers, explains the '72-hour rule' for reviewing potential legislation, and reveals the surprising benefits of befriending penguins. 

People talked about on this episode:

Sherri Greenberg, Mike Villarreal, Peter Clark, LBJ, Gina Amatangelo, Laura Hernandez, Harold Cook, Amber Hausenfluck, CATS, Shawn Leventhal, Mackenzie Astin

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. 

Co-hosts Stephanie Chiarello and David Mintz bring you Cap Chat Texas, a podcast dedicated to building community at the Texas Capitol by highlighting the people who make it all happen. From staffers to lobbyists to journalists, Cap Chat Texas explores the stories, experiences, and perspectives of those shaping daily life under the Pink Dome.