Everything's Bigger Podcast

Joseph Kopser shares his journey from military service to entrepreneurship and now to running for Texas House District 47. He discusses the importance of community, the challenges of healthcare and education in Texas, and his vision for transportation and affordability. Kopser emphasizes the need for innovative solutions and a pragmatic approach to governance, drawing on his diverse experiences to advocate for Texas families. Find out more about Joseph at https://www.kopserfortexas.com/

Former Texas gubernatorial candidate Andrew White sits down with Terry Virts, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, former astronaut, and former International Space Station commander, for a candid conversation about Texas politics, governance, leadership culture, and the responsibilities that come with public power.Terry Virts is a retired Air Force officer, combat veteran, NASA astronaut, and former commander of the International Space Station. He has flown combat missions over Iraq, piloted the Space Shuttle, and spent more than six months living and working in space. In this conversation, Andrew and Terry move beyond campaign slogans and into a deeper discussion about leadership under pressure, institutional accountability, and why service experience matters when shaping public policy.Follow Terry VirtsWebsite: https://www.terryvirts.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AstroTerryInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/astro_terry/X: https://x.com/AstroTerryIn this episode, they discuss:◼️ What combat leadership reveals about decision making under pressure◼️ Lessons from commanding the International Space Station◼️ How leadership culture shapes outcomes inside large institutions◼️ Why public service requires accountability beyond elections◼️ What working class districts need from federal representation◼️ How gerrymandering affects democratic accountability in Texas◼️ The importance of alliances, stability, and institutional trust◼️ Why gridlock can sometimes protect democratic systemsEpisode Chapters00:00 Introduction and Podcast Opening01:10 Terry Virts’ background and public service03:00 Early motivation to serve and Air Force career05:40 Combat missions and leadership under pressure09:30 Transition from military service to NASA12:10 Space Shuttle missions and institutional lessons15:00 Columbia tragedy and accountability failures18:30 Life aboard the International Space Station22:00 Leadership culture and decision making24:00 Why Terry Virts entered politics28:30 Texas District 9 and representation challenges33:00 Governance, accountability, and economic fairness40:30 Closing reflections on service and leadershipHosted by Andrew WhiteWebsite: https://andrewwhite.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrewwhite4txInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewwhite4txLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randrewwhite/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andrewwhite4txX: https://x.com/andrewwhite4txEverything’s Bigger is a Texas political podcast focused on governance, leadership, and how decisions made by institutions shape real lives. Each episode steps away from campaign cycles to examine how power operates and why accountability matters.In this conversation, Andrew White and Terry Virts explore how leadership experience from military service and spaceflight informs a serious approach to governing. Rather than centering on partisan conflict, the discussion emphasizes responsibility, institutional integrity, and the long-term consequences of policy decisions.This episode is intended to inform listeners about how leadership culture influences government outcomes and why public service requires perspective, discipline, and accountability beyond rhetoric.

Former Texas gubernatorial candidate Andrew White sits down with Vikki Goodwin, the presumptive Democratic nominee for Texas Lieutenant Governor, for a candid conversation about Texas politics, governance, affordability, and the people and power shaping the state today.Vikki Goodwin is a Texas state representative from Travis County, a former small business owner and realtor, and a longtime advocate for public education, responsible budgeting, and strong local communities. In this conversation, Andrew and Vikki move beyond campaign talking points and into a deeper discussion about how Texas government actually functions and why the office of Lieutenant Governor, currently held by Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, plays such a decisive role in shaping policy outcomes across the state.Follow Vikki GoodwinWebsite: https://www.vikkigoodwin.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VikkiGoodwinTX/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Goodwin4TexasTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vikkigoodwintxX: https://x.com/VikkiGoodwinTXIn this episode, they discuss:◼️ Why the Texas Lieutenant Governor is the most powerful statewide office◼️ How Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick controls the Texas Senate agenda◼️ What Vikki Goodwin learned serving on the Appropriations and Insurance Committees◼️ How state budget decisions under Dan Patrick affect local property taxes◼️ The breakdown of legislative culture inside the Texas House◼️ Flood mitigation, infrastructure funding, and state responsibility◼️ Public education, vouchers, and the influence of Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick◼️ Affordability pressures facing working and middle-income Texans◼️ How long-term Republican control of Texas government has shaped governance◼️ What leadership and accountability should look like moving forwardEpisode Chapters00:00 Introduction and Podcast Opening02:30 The Power of the Texas Lieutenant Governor04:10 Entering the Texas Legislature05:20 How Legislative Culture Has Changed07:00 Running for Office and Flipping a District09:00 The Personal Cost of Public Service10:45 Appropriations, Insurance, and Budget Power12:30 Running Against Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick13:55 Property Taxes and State Funding Decisions16:30 Flood Infrastructure and Local Government18:30 Public Education, Vouchers, and Accountability20:00 Affordability, Wages, and Higher EducationHosted by Andrew WhiteWebsite: https://andrewwhite.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrewwhite4txInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewwhite4txLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randrewwhite/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andrewwhite4txX: https://x.com/andrewwhite4txThis episode of Everything’s Bigger continues the mission established in the first episode, stepping outside the campaign cycle to better understand the people, institutions, and incentives that shape Texas politics. After ending his own race for statewide office, Andrew White uses this platform to focus on long-form conversations about governance rather than rhetoric.Throughout the episode, Andrew and Vikki Goodwin examine how power operates inside Texas government, with particular attention to the role of Dan Patrick, the Texas Lieutenant Governor, and how his control of the Senate influences budgets, education policy, infrastructure investment, and accountability. The conversation emphasizes how decisions made by the Governor and Lieutenant Governor directly affect Texans’ daily lives.Everything’s Bigger is a Texas political podcast focused on leadership, governance, and the real-world impact of policy decisions. Episode two reinforces the show’s core purpose, helping Texans understand how power works in Austin, who holds it, and why it matters beyond election cycles.Podcast Post-Production: Cut The Pod

Former Texas gubernatorial candidate Andrew White sits down with Gina Hinojosa, the presumptive Democratic nominee for Texas governor, to talk candidly about Texas politics, public education, immigration, and the people and power shaping the state today.Gina Hinojosa is a Texas state representative from Austin, a former school board member, and a longtime advocate for Texas public schools. In this conversation, Andrew and Gina move past the campaign and into a deeper discussion about governance, leadership, and what Texas needs next.Follow Gina HinojosaWebsite: https://ginafortexas.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ginafortexas/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ginafortexasTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ginafortexasX: https://x.com/GinaHinojosaTXBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/ginafortexas.bsky.socialIn this episode, they discuss:◼️ What it was like running against each other in the race for Texas governor◼️ How Texas politics has changed under Greg Abbott◼️ Why Texas public schools have become a central political battleground◼️ The real impact of vouchers, testing, and school funding on students and teachers◼️ Immigration, ICE, and how border enforcement is affecting Texas communities◼️ Why leadership, accountability, and trust in government matter more than party labels00:00 Introduction and Podcast Announcement00:41 Meet Gina Hinojosa: The Democratic Nominee04:42 Discussing Public Education Challenges12:00 Personal Stories and Political Journeys14:49 The Urgency of Political Involvement15:44 Growing Up in South Texas16:27 Law Enforcement and Community Concerns17:30 The Impact of Immigration Policies21:03 Political Shifts and Voter Sentiment23:26 Corruption and Governance Issues28:52 Strategies for Winning Elections33:41 Engaging Young VotersHosted by Andrew WhiteWebsite: https://andrewwhite.comFacebook: https://facebook.com/andrewwhite4txInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewwhite4txLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randrewwhite/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andrewwhite4txX: https://twitter.com/andrewwhite4tx