Tales from the Trail

Welcome back to Tales from the Trail! In our sixth episode, and the first of the Fall 2026 semester, Texas Trailblazers sits down with President Jim Davis, the 31st President of the University of Texas. President Davis shares his personal journey, his philosophy on leadership, and the experiences UT has given him along the way. Whether you're a returning Longhorn or a brand-new student starting your own trail, this conversation is a great way to kick off the semester.

Tales from the Trail is a leadership podcast from Texas Trailblazers.

In our fifth episode, Walter Bristol, founder of TourFlow, a startup business focused on helping touring artists collect fan-shot footage in order to deliver authentic social content after every show, joins the show to discuss his background, founding and managing TourFlow, and advice to students on starting a business.

(00:38) Walter joins the show!

(01:04) Introduction

(02:24) Founding TourFlow & business overview

(08:43) Building TourFlow from "day zero"

(14:00) Present-day business

(18:35) Future outlook & plans

(21:51) Advice to students on starting a business

(24:53) What does leadership mean to you?

In our fourth episode, Sarah Graves, player on the Texas Women's Basketball team, joins the show to discuss her background, experience with the team and McCombs, as well as her interests and advice for listeners.

(00:36) Sarah joins the show!

(01:19) Introduction & background

(4:05) Experience with team

(05:23) Life as a student-athlete

(07:21) Personal interests

(10:10) What it means to be a "personality hire"

(11:55) Experience at the McCombs School of Business

(14:24) Post-graduation plans

(15:51) Rapid fire

(18:15) Advice

(19:23) What does leadership mean to you?

In our third episode, Grant Michelsen, founder of AustinXChange, a leadership network and talent pipeline with the University of Texas at Austin and University of Austin, joins the show to discuss his background and the founding, building, and future of AustinXChange.

(00:42) Grant joins the show!

(01:41) Introduction & background

(2:59) Founding AustinXChange

(10:03) AustinXChange Overview

(19:41) Building AustinXChange

(28:45) AustinXChange guest speakers, future events, personal future

(37:00) What does leadership mean to you?

(38:30) Closing

In our second episode, Carson Domey, Mental Health Advocate at the University of Texas at Austin, joins the show to discuss his upbringing, initiatives led throughout the country, and advice for students when approaching mental health.

(00:54) Carson joins the show!

(01:44) Introduction, background, beginning of advocacy journey pre-university

(09:10) Mental health initiatives on-campus & throughout the United States

(18:10) Issues students face regarding mental health

(21:40) Relationship & platform with the University of Texas

(23:15) Personal challenges faced & advice

(29:58) Advice to students surrounding mental health

(33:27) What does leadership mean to you?

(34:24) Closing

In our inaugural episode, Hudson Thomas, current University of Texas at Austin Student Body President, joins the show to discuss his background, initiatives on campus, and takeaways and insights on leadership.

(0:00) Texas Trailblazers Overview

(1:42) Hudson joins the show!

(2:23) Introduction / Background

(5:49) Student Body President role, on-campus initiatives

(12:12) Election / campaign process, keys to success, advice to students on how to make an impact on campus

(20:55) Post-graduation career-goals

(24:35) What does leadership mean?

(27:04) Closing