Former Texas gubernatorial candidate Andrew White sits down with Terry Virts, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, former astronaut, and former International Space Station commander, for a candid conversation about Texas politics, governance, leadership culture, and the responsibilities that come with public power.Terry Virts is a retired Air Force officer, combat veteran, NASA astronaut, and former commander of the International Space Station. He has flown combat missions over Iraq, piloted the Space Shuttle, and spent more than six months living and working in space. In this conversation, Andrew and Terry move beyond campaign slogans and into a deeper discussion about leadership under pressure, institutional accountability, and why service experience matters when shaping public policy.Follow Terry VirtsWebsite: https://www.terryvirts.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AstroTerryInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/astro_terry/X: https://x.com/AstroTerryIn this episode, they discuss:◼️ What combat leadership reveals about decision making under pressure◼️ Lessons from commanding the International Space Station◼️ How leadership culture shapes outcomes inside large institutions◼️ Why public service requires accountability beyond elections◼️ What working class districts need from federal representation◼️ How gerrymandering affects democratic accountability in Texas◼️ The importance of alliances, stability, and institutional trust◼️ Why gridlock can sometimes protect democratic systemsEpisode Chapters00:00 Introduction and Podcast Opening01:10 Terry Virts’ background and public service03:00 Early motivation to serve and Air Force career05:40 Combat missions and leadership under pressure09:30 Transition from military service to NASA12:10 Space Shuttle missions and institutional lessons15:00 Columbia tragedy and accountability failures18:30 Life aboard the International Space Station22:00 Leadership culture and decision making24:00 Why Terry Virts entered politics28:30 Texas District 9 and representation challenges33:00 Governance, accountability, and economic fairness40:30 Closing reflections on service and leadershipHosted by Andrew WhiteWebsite: https://andrewwhite.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrewwhite4txInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewwhite4txLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randrewwhite/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andrewwhite4txX: https://x.com/andrewwhite4txEverything’s Bigger is a Texas political podcast focused on governance, leadership, and how decisions made by institutions shape real lives. Each episode steps away from campaign cycles to examine how power operates and why accountability matters.In this conversation, Andrew White and Terry Virts explore how leadership experience from military service and spaceflight informs a serious approach to governing. Rather than centering on partisan conflict, the discussion emphasizes responsibility, institutional integrity, and the long-term consequences of policy decisions.This episode is intended to inform listeners about how leadership culture influences government outcomes and why public service requires perspective, discipline, and accountability beyond rhetoric.