Hill Country Institute Live: Exploring Christ and Culture

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Judd Messer, an advocate for wind and solar energy, as well as battery storage systems, on the Texas Electricity Grid, discusses how these assets contribute to reliability and affordability of electricity in Texas. 

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Zack Cooper is a Senior Fellow with the American Enterprise Institute and the author of Tides of Fortune: The Rise and Decline of Great Militaries. In this conversation, Larry and Zack explore how economic growth has historically been closely linked to the development of powerful militaries. They discuss examples from the late 19th century, when robust economies of the U.S. and Germany contributed to significant military advancements. At the same time, Great Britain faced a relative decline in military capacity. They consider what lessons these historical patterns offer regarding China’s current rise and emphasize the importance of understanding and preparing for China’s expanding military capabilities.

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Sarah is the CEO of Texas Water Foundation. She and Jeremy Mazur were on Hill Country Institute Live in 2023. In this interview, Sarah and Larry discuss water policy for Texas, including water supply, aging infrastructure, and flood control.

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Jeremy Mazur is the Director of Infrastructure and Natural Resources for Texas 2036. He was on Hill Country Institute Live in 2023 (podcast for that interview is available in our podcast library). In today's interview, Larry and Jeremy discuss water policy for Texas, including water supply, aging infrastructure, and flood control.

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Senator Perry is Chairman of the Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs. He was also Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding during the recent special session of the Legislature. He is a visionary and a leader in addressing the severe water issues facing Texas. 

Larry and Senator Perry discuss how his faith informs his work as a CPA and a legislator, the flooding in Texas during July 2025, particularly the tragic deaths of the Camp Mystic "Heaven's 27," and Proposition 4, which Texans voted on November 4th, 2025. Proposition 4 provides additional funding for water supply, infrastructure repair, wastewater management, and flood control in Texas. 

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Veronica, a native Argentinian, is the Central Texas Conservation Project Director for A Rocha, the international creation care ministry. She is passionate about connecting people with God's creation, caring for His creation, and growing awareness of creation care in the church. In this interview, you'll hear about A Rocha's work on 6 continents, Veronica's projects in the Central Texas area, and how we can be involved personally in caring for God's good creation.

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John Davis, Wildlife Biologist, worked for Texas Parks and Wildlife for 30 years and currently serves as the new Conservation Program Manager with the Kyle Parks and Rec Department, working to improve the native wildlife and plant conservation efforts in Kyle. Larry and John discuss environmental stewardship, creation care, and the spectrum of things individual residents can do to improve the health and sustainability of their local environment.

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See inside the day-to-day realities of this couple  faithfully serving the least of these in the Ukraine. Chris & Christy Hill of Program for Humanitarian Aid talk with Larry about the orphans and other individuals they are caring for in Ukraine.

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The Hill Country Institute is non-partisan; however, we like to talk to Christians who are in the political arena about how their faith impacts their approach to governance, how we develop and live as good citizens, and how we initiate and sustain gracious, respectful dialogue in our pluralistic culture.

Josh Graham is an independent candidate for U.S. Congress in the 37th District. He has a fascinating background including working for the CIA, assisting companies in developing international markets, and now serving as a teacher and men’s basketball coach at Veritas Academy in Austin, Texas.

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In this fascinating interview, Larry talks with General Robert Neller about  Just War Theory; the increasing security risks our country faces from the alliance of China, Russia, and Iran; the importance of Allies to the United States; and our commitment to Ukraine from the time they gave up nuclear weapons.

General Neller served in the U.S. Marine Corps for forty-four years. He was the 37th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps and served as member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the U.S. Military. 

General Neller also served as Deputy Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (05-07); Assistant Division Commander for 1st and 2d Marine Divisions; and President of Marine Corps University.

His Joint assignments include service in the Policy Division of Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Belgium, and as the Director of Operations (J-3) of the Joint Staff in Washington, D.C.

General Neller’s many honors include having The Marine Corps Wargaming and Analysis Center named after him. It will be called the “General Robert B. Neller Center for Wargaming and Analysis” when it is completed in 2025. Neller Center will be a world-class facility for Marines to wargame in a secure, centralized location and will provide next-generation technologies to facilitate wargaming and analysis across multiple levels of classification, with a host of coalition and joint partners. 

General Neller is a Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Strauss Center for International Security and Law and a Distinguished National Security Fellow at the Clements Center. Both centers are located at the University of Texas. 

He is a Board Member of Bridge to Mobility, which provides access to wheelchair accessible vehicles.