Episodes
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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.
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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.
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Missing episodes?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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People and topics mentioned in the podcast: The Texas Tribune, Texas Weekly, Ron DeSantis, The Florida Legislature, cats
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.
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People and topics mentioned in the podcast:
Mike Villareal, Baylor Law School LBJ School of Public Affairs
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.
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People and topics mentioned in the podcast:
Lt. Governor Bill Hobby, House Speaker Joe Straus, Oveta Culp Hobby, Interim Babies, Bob Kelly, Steven Collins, Chris Greisel, “Night of Great Unpleasantness”, Bob “Big Daddy” Johnson, Sharon Carter, Gordon Johnson
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.
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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.
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TESTing the simplecast platform. 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.
