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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Before becoming a lobbyist, Ricardo Lopez-Guerra wore many hats at the Texas Capitol running campaigns, staffing committees, as a legislative aide in the Senate and Chief of Staff to two state reps.  In this episode, he talks about some of the differences working in the House and the Senate, the benefits of sometimes “not knowing what you don’t know,” and what his act would be if there is ever a Cap Chat Texas Talent Show.  

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.

Know someone who would be a great guest?  Drop us a note at capchattx@gmail.com

People and groups mentioned in this podcast:

The Honorable Veronica Gonzales, Representative Bobby Guerra, and Senator Royce West

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.

In this episode, we continue our conversation with lobbyist and former Texas House Chief Clerk Robert Haney.

Robert shares stories about the infamous “Night of Great Unpleasantness,” the often-overlooked contributions of the dedicated support staff, and a look a side of the lawmaking process that Bill didn’t sing about on Schoolhouse Rock. 

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 the Fallout Theater for providing their podcast studio. Check them out for great improv, stand up and sketch comedy just blocks from the Texas Capitol.  

Know someone who would be a great guest?  Drop us a note at capchattx@gmail.com

People and groups mentioned in this podcast:

The Honorable Christi Craddick, Nadine Craddick, The Honorable Tom Craddick, Tom Craddick, Jr., Denise Davis, The Honorable Harold Dutton, Chris Griesel, The Honorable Todd Hunter, The Honorable Terry Keel, The Honorable Joe Nixon, The Honorable Rick Noriega, The Honorable Joe Straus, The Honorable Ron Wilson

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.

Cap Chat Texas returns for Season Two with an insightful conversation featuring Robert Haney, whose journey to the heart of Texas politics began by shagging golf balls. Over his 20-year tenure as Chief Clerk of the Texas House, Haney served under five different Speakers, playing a crucial role in keeping the legislative gears turning.

From navigating procedural hurdles and managing the complexities of the state budget, to knowing how to mix a proper Yellow Tail, this episode pulls back the curtain on the inner workings of the Clerk’s Office, revealing a side of the legislative process most people never see.

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 the Fallout Theater for providing their podcast studio. Check them out for great improv, stand up and sketch comedy just blocks from the Texas Capitol.  

Know someone who would be a great guest?  Drop us a note at capchattx@gmail.com

People and groups mentioned in this podcast:

Jesse Ancira, The Honorable Bob Bullock, Sharon Carter, Steve Collins, Tim Dudley, Nancy Fisher, Don Green, Bob Kelly, Bob “Big Daddy” Johnson, John Keel, The Honorable Mike Krusee, The Honorable Pete Laney, The Honorable Gib Lewis, Barry Miller, Stacey Nicchio, John O’Brien, The Honorable Rick Perry, Chas Semple, The Honorable Carole Keeton Strayhorn, The Honorable Mike Toomey,  & The Honorable Ron Wilson.

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.

When proud Texas Aggie JD Hale headed to Washington for an internship, he never imagined it would lead to a career lobbying for a major statewide trade association. In this episode, JD talks about his appreciation for logos on one-pagers, making the most of every opportunity, and the unique perspective gained from working in both the district office and at the Capitol.

People and groups mentioned in this podcast:

The Honorable John Cornyn, The Honorable Robert Nichols,  Scott Norman, Texas A&M, Texas Association of Builders

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.

What started as a one-day stint as a House Sergeant turned into a lifelong career working. In this episode, former legislative aide and longtime lobbyist Kwame Walker shares how not making the UT Basketball team unexpectedly led him to the Texas Capitol. He talks about seizing opportunities, respecting staffers' time, and the lasting impact of being nice. 

People and groups mentioned in this podcast:

Ann Brooks, The Honorable Chet Brooks, Larry Casto, The Honorable Brandon Creighton, Machre Gibson, Shanna Igo, Rusty Kelley, The Honorable Ted Lyon, The Honorable Jerry Patterson, The Honorable Tati Santiesteban, Carlton Turner, Cal Varner, The Honorable Royce West. Cissy Woomer

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.