Ashley Spence, founder of the DNA Justice Project and author of Silent Witness, shares her harrowing story of surviving a brutal assault—and how a DNA match seven years later finally brought her attacker to justice. In this powerful episode of Texas Talks, Ashley explains how current laws on DNA collection are saving lives and why rapid DNA technology could revolutionize the criminal justice system. She also opens up about healing, advocacy, and the fight for legislative change in Texas and beyond.

From personal trauma to national reform, this interview is a must-watch for anyone who cares about justice, safety, and the real-world impact of policy.

🔗 Learn more: https://dnajusticeproject.org

In this conversation, we’re joined by Chris Williston, President & CEO of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT), representing over 2,000 banks and branches across 700 Texas communities.

🔍 In This Episode:

- The vital role of community banks in rural Texas towns

- Why swipe fee legislation (SB 2026 & HB 4124) could hurt small banks and benefit big-box retailers

- How alternative currencies and stablecoins could drain lending power from local banks

- The legacy of banking in the Williston family and why relationship-based lending still matters

- Behind-the-scenes challenges facing Texas' independent banks

- Chris breaks down complex policy issues in a way that makes sense for everyday Texans and small business owners. If you care about local economies, financial policy, and keeping banking close to home, this is a must-listen.

🔗 Learn more at: https://ibat.org

🎧 Subscribe for more deep-dive conversations from across the Lone Star State.

Why is Texas importing trash from China and Mexico? In this episode of the Texas Talks podcast, Brad Swail sits down with Dr. Raymond Robertson—international economist at Texas A&M and Director of the Mosbacher Institute—to unpack a surprising trade reality: Texas doesn’t recycle enough to meet its own demand for recycled materials. They discuss what economics is really about (hint: it’s human behavior), why bottle deposit systems are gaining attention, how recycling impacts energy use and jobs, and the political push to make Texas a leader in responsible consumption. This is an eye-opening conversation that blends trade policy, environmentalism, and common sense solutions.

In this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Texas State Senator Molly Cook, a sixth-generation Texan, registered nurse, and first-time elected official representing Senate District 15 in Houston. Senator Cook brings her real-world experience from the emergency room straight into the legislature — and she’s not wasting any time.

They dig into her "Nurse First Agenda," a bold, holistic policy platform rooted in public health, housing stability, emergency preparedness, criminal justice reform, and youth safety. Senator Cook lays out why every bill is a health bill, how clean air and tenant protections save lives, and why CPR training in schools isn’t just nice to have — it’s necessary.

From preventing power outages to keeping kids out of vape shops, this conversation connects the dots between personal experience and statewide policy. Whether you're a parent, a nurse, or just a concerned citizen, this is one episode you don’t want to miss.

Follow Senator Cook:

https://x.com/MollyforTexas

https://www.instagram.com/mollyfortexas/

https://www.facebook.com/mollyfortexas/

Travis McCormick is the founder of the Make Texans Healthy Again movement, which aims to tackle the alarming rise in chronic diseases, poor nutrition, and preventable health challenges across Texas.

https://www.maketexanshealthyagain.com/

https://x.com/Travis15mcc

James Quintero is the Policy Director for the Taxpayer Protection Project of the Texas Public Policy Foundation.

James joins the show to discuss property taxes in Texas, proposals to reign them in, M&O taxes paying for bond debt, and much more.

https://www.texaspolicy.com/

https://x.com/JamesQuinteroTX

Graham Dugoni is the CEO and Founder of Over Yondr, a company that produces pouches and other tools to alleviate the intrusion of personal technology to create vital, distraction-free experiences that enrich people’s lives. https://www.overyondr.com/

Annie Spilman is a Texas Lobbyist and representative for the Texas Business Association. She joins the show to discuss unions in Texas, the government collecting union dues, and much more.

https://www.txbusinesscoalition.com/

https://x.com/tbc_com

https://www.facebook.com/TexasBusinessCoalition

Representative Caroline Fairly of Texas House District 87 is not only the youngest member of the Texas House as well as the first Gen Z representative.

She joins the show to discuss banning electronic devices in schools, protecting people from deepfake sexually explicit visual material, and much more.

https://x.com/FairlyForTexas

https://www.fairlyfortexas.com/

Ryan Walters is a former Oklahoma public school teacher and the current Superintendent of Public Instruction in Oklahoma.

Ryan discusses how Oklahoma handles school choice, school finance, teacher pay, union dues, and more.

ryanwaltersforoklahoma.com

https://x.com/RyanWaltersSupt