Texas Talks

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 130 - Women Pay $350 for a Hormone Men Get for $86 | Katrina Pierson Sep 24, 2026

Show notes

Women are paying $350 for a testosterone pellet. The same hormone, in a men’s tube, can last a year for $86.

Texas Rep. Katrina Pierson (HD 33) — former Trump national spokesperson and chair of the House Subcommittee on Maternal Health, Menopause and Access to Evidence-Based Medicine — sits down with Brad Swail on Texas Talks to walk through her Texas Women’s Health Initiative: baseline hormone testing, HRT coverage, physician liability, iron and prenatal access, and why she says doctors now practice insurance instead of medicine.

Pierson spent 14 years in healthcare, including OB-GYN. She filed a menopause-coverage bill in 2025 that never got a hearing. After the FDA lifted the HRT black-box warning, she took a larger package to the Speaker and got interim charges. In this conversation she explains:

• Why she wants insurance to cover physician-prescribed perimenopause and menopause treatment — including testosterone when medically necessary
• The case for baseline hormone testing before women get labeled with depression or anxiety
• Prior authorization, compounding clinics, and telehealth HRT after the black box came off
• Why Medicaid still requires a prescription for prenatal vitamins, and why she wants physicians able to dispense iron and basics in the office
• What she heard in her subcommittee’s first hearing on prenatal nutrition and Healthy Texas Women
• The gap she flagged in HTW: enrollment is up, participation is down
• The next hearing (date TBD) on menopause and perimenopause, including patient testimony at the Capitol

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Chapters
0:00 If a doctor prescribes it, why can’t you get it?
0:55 Intro: Rep. Katrina Pierson
2:26 How the Women’s Health Initiative started
4:28 Baseline hormone testing
7:37 Physician liability and testosterone
8:51 The $350 pellet vs. the $86 men’s tube
10:04 Why women use testosterone
11:25 Telehealth HRT and prior authorization
13:34 Iron, folic acid, and standing orders
24:19 The black-box studies and starting HRT early
27:33 Yesterday’s subcommittee hearing
28:28 Physician dispense and rural access
31:32 What Healthy Texas Women actually is
33:04 Enrollment up, services down
35:59 How is women’s health in Texas right now?
37:22 North Texas Maternal Health Accelerator
38:42 Close

#TexasTalks #KatrinaPierson #WomensHealth #HRT #Menopause #TexasLegislature #txlege

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Ep. 129 - Why We Pay for Health Insurance - Then Avoid Using It | Patrick Quigley Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

Why is it so difficult to know what healthcare will cost before you receive it?

On this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Patrick Quigley, CEO and co-founder of Sidecar Health, following his testimony before the Texas House Select Committee on Health Care Affordability.

Quigley explains Sidecar Health’s approach to insurance and why he believes greater price and quality transparency, fewer restrictions on where patients receive care, and stronger financial incentives for consumers could help lower healthcare costs.

The conversation explores provider networks, prior authorization, prescription drug prices, clinical quality data and the high cost of delayed care. Quigley also explains how Sidecar’s model rewards members for choosing care that costs less than the plan’s benefit amount and discusses the company’s experience with primary care, mental health services and emergency room utilization.

Finally, Quigley discusses Texas’ healthcare affordability debate and what he would like lawmakers to consider as the state approaches the 90th Texas Legislature.

00:00 — Introducing Patrick Quigley
01:05 — Sidecar Health & the Healthcare Affordability Problem
04:34 — Testifying Before Texas Lawmakers
06:15 — What's Wrong With Provider Networks?
07:43 — Why Patients Don't Know What Healthcare Costs
10:14 — Measuring the Quality of Medical Care
15:58 — Networks, Insurance Companies & Patient Choice
17:20 — How Much Should Healthcare Cost?
20:10 — The Texas Healthcare Opportunity
22:12 — Prior Authorization & Trusting Doctors
23:37 — Access to Care & Emergency Room Costs
26:33 — Prescription Prices & Consumer Incentives
29:26 — Why Healthcare Prices Vary by Location
32:11 — What Should Texas Lawmakers Do?
35:00 — Closing Thoughts

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Ep. 128 - Why Your Insurance Bill Keeps Going Up in Texas | Ryan Patrick Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

What is driving rising litigation and insurance costs in Texas—and what does Texans for Lawsuit Reform want lawmakers to do about it?

On this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Ryan Patrick, the new CEO of Texans for Lawsuit Reform, to discuss his vision for the organization and its priorities heading into the 90th Texas Legislature.

Patrick draws on his career as a prosecutor, judge, U.S. Attorney and private-practice attorney to explain why he believes Texas needs to refocus on civil justice and tort reform. He discusses the impact of large verdicts and litigation on insurance premiums, businesses and consumers, as well as TLR’s concerns about medical damages, litigation surrounding commercial vehicles, and the incentives created by the current system.

The conversation also looks ahead to the next legislative session, where Patrick says TLR will pursue reforms addressing medical damages, staged accidents, insurance fraud, liability involving criminal activity, and other areas of Texas civil law.

Patrick also explains how he hopes to lead a new generation at TLR while building on the organization’s three decades of work in Texas.

00:00 — Introducing Ryan Patrick
00:50 — From Prosecutor to Judge to U.S. Attorney
03:18 — Why Patrick Joined Texans for Lawsuit Reform
04:59 — A New Generation at TLR
07:06 — Refocusing on Tort & Civil Justice Reform
09:28 — Texas Courts & the Case for Reform
13:48 — Venue Shopping & Consistency in the Courts
16:40 — Litigation, Insurance Premiums & Rising Costs
19:26 — How Lawsuits Can Impact Small Businesses
23:03 — Medical Damages & TLR’s Next Reform Push
28:32 — Do Large Verdicts Make Texans Safer?
30:34 — When Insurance Becomes Unaffordable
33:04 — How Texas Compares with Other States
40:41 — Staged Accidents & Insurance Fraud
41:36 — Priorities for the 90th Legislature
47:21 — TLR’s Strategy for the Next Session
48:10 — Final Thoughts

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Ep. 127 - Government Transparency, Oversight & Accountability in Texas w/Rep. Cody Vasut Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

Texas lawmakers are taking a closer look at government transparency, taxpayer spending and accountability at the state and local levels.

On this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail welcomes back State Rep. Cody Vasut, who represents House District 25 and chairs the House Select Committee on Government Oversight.

Vasut explains the committee’s mission and the wide range of issues lawmakers are examining during the interim—from Texas’ public information laws and the growing impact of AI on records requests to education foundations, taxpayer money flowing to nongovernmental organizations, and prosecutorial discretion.

The conversation covers:

Whether Texas' public information laws provide enough transparency
How AI could transform public records requests
Oversight of education foundations and public funds
Taxpayer dollars flowing to NGOs and outside organizations
Prosecutorial discretion and proposals for greater state oversight
The unusual effort by eastern New Mexico counties interested in joining Texas

Vasut also discusses how his previous experience in local government influences his approach to state oversight and what he hopes the committee can accomplish before the next legislative session.

00:00 — Introduction & Rep. Cody Vasut
03:02 — The House Government Oversight Committee
05:26 — Could New Mexico Counties Join Texas?
11:13 — Government Transparency in Texas
15:08 — AI & Public Information Requests
20:15 — Education Foundations & Public Funds
24:02 — Taxpayer Money Going to NGOs
30:05 — Prosecutorial Discretion & District Attorneys
37:23 — What Success Looks Like for the Committee
38:12 — Local Government, Transparency & Taxpayers
42:03 — Closing

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Ep. 126 - Texas Community Colleges Did Too Well — Then the State Ran Out of Money | Rep. Vince Perez Aug 27, 2026

Show notes

How should Texas prepare its colleges, workforce, tax system, and infrastructure for the state's continued growth?

On Episode 126 of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with State Rep. Vince Perez, who represents House District 77 in El Paso, to discuss some of the major policy questions facing Texas ahead of the next legislative session. Perez describes his district at the center of the El Paso–Ciudad Juárez region and explains how its location along the U.S.-Mexico border shapes its economy and workforce.

A major focus is higher education. Perez discusses recent interim hearings, Texas' performance-based community college funding system, funding shortfalls facing those institutions, workforce development, and how artificial intelligence could transform the jobs awaiting today's college students.

The conversation covers:

Community college funding and workforce development
Academic freedom and state involvement in higher education
Preparing Texas students for AI and the future economy
Property taxes and how Texas funds state and local government
The massive expansion of data centers around El Paso
Energy, water, tax incentives, and the economic impact of those facilities

Perez also lays out his concerns about the enormous electricity and water requirements associated with new data centers, questioning whether the jobs and economic benefits they generate will justify the incentives and infrastructure demands placed on local communities.

00:00 — Introducing Rep. Vince Perez & House District 77
02:20 — Texas Higher Education & Community College Funding
05:11 — Why Community Colleges Are Facing Shortfalls
09:26 — Can Texas Make Colleges Whole?
11:09 — Higher Education & the Future of Warfare
13:18 — AI, Healthcare & Texas' Future Workforce
15:52 — Academic Freedom in Texas Universities
20:39 — The Fight Over Texas Property Taxes
25:32 — West Texas' Massive Data Center Boom
27:53 — Water, Electricity & the Cost of Data Centers
29:15 — Closing Thoughts

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Ep. 125 - Texas General Aviation: Funding, Workforce & Disaster Response | Armando Martinez Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

Pilot. Flight paramedic. Firefighter. State Representative.

Rep. Armando Martinez (HD 39) joins Texas Talks to break down why Texas general aviation airports are more important than most people realize — and what the new House Select Committee on General Aviation is trying to fix.

In this episode we cover:

• Why Speaker Burrows created a Select Committee on General Aviation

• The real difference between general aviation and commercial airports • Infrastructure and funding challenges facing small and rural airports

• How Mid-Valley Airport in Weslaco is expanding to become a regional disaster response hub

• The economic power of corporate aircraft landing in small communities

• The serious aviation workforce shortage (especially avionics)

• South Texas launching its first-ever avionics training program

• How HB 4520 lowered the local match requirement from 10% to 5%

• What Martinez wants to see from the committee heading into the 90th Legislature

Timestamps:

0:00 – Cold Open

1:15 – Why a Select Committee on General Aviation now?

4:40 – What actually is general aviation?

8:30 – The funding problem for small airports

12:05 – Mid-Valley Airport expansion & disaster response hub

14:50 – Economic impact of corporate jets in small towns

18:10 – Aviation workforce shortage & the new avionics program

24:10 – Role of general aviation airports in disasters

27:40 – HB 4520: Lowering the match requirement

34:15 – Goals of the Select Committee

36:50 – Priorities for the 90th Texas Legislature

39:40 – Closing thoughts

If you care about Texas infrastructure, rural economic development, or disaster readiness, this conversation is for you.

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Ep. 124 - Can Texas Become America’s Regenerative Medicine Capital? | Jack Collier Aug 13, 2026

Show notes

What would it take for Texas to become the national leader in health, wellness, and regenerative medicine?

On this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Jack Collier, co-founder and CEO of Optimized Health and Performance, a nationwide telehealth clinic based in the Austin area. Collier explains how his own experience with hormone testing led him into the health and wellness industry and why he believes patients need more information and control over their healthcare decisions.

The conversation covers:

Preventive health, hormone optimization, and regenerative medicine
Healthcare costs and the role of insurance
Peptides and the growing online gray market
How Texas could encourage research while protecting consumers
The Make Texas Healthy Again movement and health education
Why Austin has become a hub for health and wellness innovation

Collier argues that Texas has an opportunity to become a national center for emerging healthcare research and innovation while improving health education and giving patients greater choice in how they manage their health.

00:00 — Introduction & Jack Collier
02:09 — Hormone Optimization & Jack’s Health Journey
05:09 — The Future of Health & Regenerative Medicine in Texas
09:17 — Prevention, Nutrition & the Current Healthcare Model
16:03 — Healthcare Costs, Insurance & Patient Choice
20:17 — The Long-Term Value of Preventive Health
23:27 — What Texas Can Do Through Public Policy
24:53 — Peptides, Safety & the Online Gray Market
28:53 — Peptide Therapies & Medical Innovation
31:04 — Regulation, Research & the Future of Healthcare
32:40 — Make Texas Healthy Again & Health Education
36:17 — Austin’s Health & Wellness Boom

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Ep. 123 - Texas Tech, Higher Education Reform, & the Future of AI w/Chancellor Brandon Creighton Aug 06, 2026

Show notes

What will higher education look like in an age of artificial intelligence, and how can Texas universities make sure their degrees continue to deliver value?

On this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Brandon Creighton, Chancellor of the Texas Tech University System and former Texas state senator and representative, to discuss higher education reform, artificial intelligence, and his vision for Texas Tech’s future.

Creighton reflects on his transition from writing higher education policy in the Texas Legislature to implementing it as chancellor, including Texas Tech’s review of roughly 14,000 courses under Senate Bill 37. He discusses curriculum reform, degrees of value, workforce needs, and how universities must adapt as AI rapidly changes both education and the private sector.

The conversation also explores Texas Tech’s work with NVIDIA, its plans for advanced AI computing infrastructure, and the potential applications for healthcare research, energy, national security, and other major challenges facing Texas.

The episode covers:

Senate Bill 37 and higher education reform
Texas Tech’s review of roughly 14,000 courses
Preparing students and universities for AI
Texas Tech’s work with NVIDIA and advanced computing
AI research, healthcare, energy, and national security
Creighton’s priorities heading into the 90th Texas Legislature

Creighton ultimately argues that Texas universities have an opportunity to lead rather than follow as AI transforms education, research, and the economy—summarizing his approach with a simple warning: “You’re either designing the menu or you’re on it.”

00:00 — Introduction
00:23 — Brandon Creighton’s move from the Legislature to Texas Tech
02:39 — Creighton’s background and interest in education
04:30 — What is Senate Bill 37?
07:37 — From writing SB 37 to implementing it
09:34 — Reviewing 14,000 Texas Tech courses
12:15 — Curriculum reform and degrees of value
14:06 — Texas Tech’s approach to higher education reform
16:18 — What could come next for SB 37?
17:30 — Preparing Texas Tech for the AI era
21:00 — Students, AI, and academic integrity
25:08 — Texas Tech’s NVIDIA partnership
29:09 — Sovereign data independence and national security
32:08 — Priorities for the 90th Texas Legislature
33:41 — Closing thoughts

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Ep. 122 - Texas Healthcare, Education Funding, & Property Taxes w/Rep. Donna Howard Jul 30, 2026

Show notes

How can Texas improve healthcare access, strengthen public education, and prepare its workforce while balancing competing budget priorities?

On this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail welcomes State Representative Donna Howard, who represents House District 48, for a wide-ranging conversation on healthcare, higher education, workforce development, public school funding, and the state's fiscal outlook. As Vice Chair of both the House Higher Education Committee and Article II Appropriations, Howard offers insight into some of the biggest policy debates facing Texas ahead of the next legislative session.

The discussion explores the challenges of funding public education, improving rural healthcare access, expanding workforce training through community colleges, and addressing shortages of nurses and healthcare providers. Howard also discusses property tax relief, the Sunset Commission's ongoing review of health agencies, dementia research, and how lawmakers are preparing for the state's next budget cycle.

The episode covers:

Texas public education funding and property taxes
Community colleges, workforce development, and credentials of value
Rural healthcare access and provider shortages
Expanding the role of nurse practitioners
Sunset Commission priorities and state health agencies
Texas budget outlook heading into the next legislative session

Howard also discusses child healthcare, Medicaid enrollment challenges, maternal healthcare deserts, medical research, housing growth, local infrastructure, and the difficult balancing act legislators face when weighing competing policy priorities.

00:00 — Community college funding controversy
00:33 — Introducing Rep. Donna Howard
02:06 — Sunset Commission and health agency review
04:10 — Children's healthcare and Medicaid challenges
07:23 — Public education funding and state mandates
08:17 — Community colleges and workforce outcomes
10:34 — Higher education priorities
12:22 — Nursing shortages and workforce development
16:28 — Education funding and ESAs
17:45 — Property taxes and state revenue challenges
25:05 — Rural healthcare and maternal health access
27:16 — Nurse practitioners and healthcare shortages
32:58 — Dementia research and medical innovation
36:25 — Housing growth, infrastructure, and local planning
40:35 — Texas budget outlook and closing thoughts

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Ep. 121 - Texas Housing Affordability & the Next Legislative Session w/Chairman Gary Gates Jul 23, 2026

Show notes

Texas Talks host Brad Swail sits down with State Representative Gary Gates, Chairman of the House Land and Resource Management Committee and longtime Fort Bend County representative.

As one of the Legislature’s leading voices on housing policy, Chairman Gates breaks down the interim hearings focused on restoring affordability across Texas. The conversation covers the real-world impact of recent bills, aggressive local pushback from cities, and bold solutions to cut red tape and deliver more attainable housing.

Major topics include:
• The dramatic rise in home prices and interest rates since 2020 and their effect on Texas families
• SB 840 and by-right conversion of offices/retail into housing
• SB 15 and reduced minimum lot sizes to increase supply without disrupting established neighborhoods
• Local resistance tactics — from Olympic-sized pool mandates to public art fees and three-bedroom requirements
• Impact fees, their unintended consequences, and why they drive prices higher
• Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs), transparency, and their role in financing rapid growth
• Third-party plan reviews and inspections to speed development and lower costs
• The balance between state leadership and legitimate local concerns

Chairman Gates shares how the committee is preparing strong legislation for the 90th Session and why housing affordability remains a top priority for Texas leadership.

00:00 Intro & Welcome
01:13 Rep. Gary Gates Background & Committee Role
02:42 Interim Hearings Process & Preparation
05:11 Housing Affordability Crisis in Texas
08:50 Review of Key Bills: SB 840, SB 15 & Others
10:13 Local Resistance & City Ordinances
13:49 Why Cities Are Pushing Back (NIMBYism)
17:35 State vs Local Control Debate
21:15 Infrastructure & State Support for Growth
24:01 Supply Shortage vs Affordability Problem
28:10 Balancing Neighborhood Character & New Housing
30:44 Impact Fees & Their Real Effects
37:14 Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) Explained
44:32 What Success Looks Like Next Session
48:21 Closing Thoughts

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