PODCAST · business
The Building Texas Show
by Justin McKenzie
The Building Texas Show with host, Justin McKenzie, about the balance of business and governance. Each week, we’ll interview the local leaders affecting the issues and uncover the power you have to forge the future.www.buildingtexasshow.com
Episodes
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Why One House Survives a Wildfire (And the Rest Don't)
Ashe juniper, the "mountain cedar" covering the Hill Country, is native here. There just used to be a lot less of it. Grass fires swept through and killed the young trees, because a juniper dies once it loses its green. We stopped letting those fires burn, and now the hillsides are thick with a...
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How Texas Youth Are Changing The Game at VentureFest
Texas kids are pitching on stage in Mason while a Hill Country co-op backs the schools and the tents behind them. Madysen McDonald of Hill Country Telephone Cooperative sits down with Justin McKenzie in Ingram, Texas, ahead of Hill Country VentureFest. HCTC is putting $10,000 into each of 26...
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Building Content for the Algorithm: Are You Doing It Wrong?
Your content has two audiences now: humans and machines. Mark Willaman of Newsworthy.ai breaks down why the press release is still the perfect document for AI search, SEO, and brand discoverability. SEO can get you into the library. AI retrieval decides whether you get pulled off the shelf. We...
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Your Volunteer Fire Department Needs You Right Now
Roughly 70% of America's firefighters are volunteers, and most of those departments can't find enough people to keep trucks staffed. Kendall County is one of them. Modern homes reach flashover in five minutes, but rural fire response takes twenty. Your volunteer fire department needs help. Chief...
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The Power of Community: Sisterdale Fire Department
Celebrate 50 years of the Sisterdale Fire Department. See why the volunteer fire department model is far from dying out. Seventy percent of America's firefighters serve as volunteers, yet many departments struggle to find recruits. In this first part of our 3-part series, we sit down with Chief...
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San Antonio Culture: Why It Matters More Than You Think
San Antonio culture is not a side show. It is how the city keeps a downtown worth showing up for, a heritage you cannot outsource, and a free stage most cities only talk about. Suhail Arastu of Musical Bridges Around the World breaks down why San Antonio culture matters in 2026: 278 free concerts...
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Why Pflugerville Texas Is Quietly Building Austin's Next Economy
Pflugerville Texas went from a joke that you could not buy socks in city limits to advanced manufacturing, semiconductor, life sciences, dual-use defense, and aerospace. Jerry W. Jones Jr., executive director of the Pflugerville Community Development Corporation (PCDC), breaks down Texas economic...
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Your Roofer Showed Up After the Storm. That's the Problem
Sixty to seventy percent of roof claims get denied. Jasper Shin of Texas Roof Guardians says the average file is already short $3,000 to $5,000, and San Antonio took five hail storms last year. Insurance is incentivized not to pay. Jasper walks the full-property inspection, the three-reinspection...
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$400 Electric Bill on 2,000 Sq Ft. He Said It's the Windows
$400 to $500 electric on a rental under 2,000 square feet. New 3,200 square foot house in San Antonio: $150 to $200. He said it's the windows. Gabby and Jonathan own First Choice Windows and Home Exteriors, based in Bulverde and working San Antonio. Gabby could not find a locally owned window…
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She Left Construction to Become a 4th-Generation Pitmaster | Sloan Rinaldi
She spent decades building buildings — now she's built a barbecue empire. On this episode of The Building Texas Show, filmed live at the San Antonio Home & Garden Show, host Justin McKenzie sits down with Sloan Rinaldi, a 4th-generation pitmaster and founder of Texas Q, to talk construction...
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Texas Screwworm Is Back, and So Is the Pronghorn Comeback | Building Texas Show
Pronghorn don't jump fences. They just stop. That single fact nearly wiped them out of West Texas, and it's the reason Borderlands Research Institute exists. In this episode of the Building Texas Show, host Justin McKenzie sits down in Alpine with Lalo Gonzalez, chair of the Department of Natural...
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Inside Fredericksburg ISD's INCubatoredu Program | The Building Texas Show
Jason Roemer has taught business at Fredericksburg High School for 27 years — the last two building the school's INCubatoredu program from scratch. In year one, his students launched six businesses, pitched to a sold-out theater, and walked away with $21,000 in seed funding and scholarships.…
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San Antonio Homeowners Are Choosing Fiberglass—Here's Why
A fiberglass pool can last a lifetime — or fail early — and the difference is almost never the shell brand alone. It is who installs it, how they build the site, and whether they are certified to do the work. Jeff and Kelley Turner, owners of Staycation Fiberglass Pools, join Justin McKenzie at…
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Catalyzing Innovation at Texas State University
Texas State University is up to $183 million in research expenditures, and invention disclosures have tripled in the past two years. Dr. Matt Sorenson, the university's first Director of Venture Development, breaks down what happens after a researcher files a patent — and who actually owns it....
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The Hidden Damage Hard Water Is Doing to Your Home Right Now
San Antonio's water runs 10 to 32 grains hard—and in Helotes, up to 150. Hidden damage in your home Hard water damaging appliances. Jason Stevenson from Kinetico joins us at the San Antonio Home and Garden Show to break down what that actually does to your home: shortened appliance lifespans,...
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No Storage Unit. Still 24/7 Access: Tuff Shed
In San Antonio, you can go up to 300 square feet without a building permit. Tuff Shed designs stick-built custom sheds, studios, chicken coops, and greenhouses — then builds most of them on site in a single day. Richard Castellanos from Tuff Shed joins Justin McKenzie at the San Antonio Home and...
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University President on Spaceport Expansion & Energy Diversification
UTPB serves 7,400 students in the heart of the Permian Basin — and most come from within 150 miles. President Dr. Woodley breaks down how the University of Texas Permian Basin trains the energy, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing workforce powering West Texas. The only regional comprehensive...
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Why Texas Data Centers Must Build Their Own Power
ERCOT has over 300,000 megawatts in the queue by 2032. Peak load today is about 85 gigawatts. That is roughly 4x the power the Texas grid already handles. Nash Whitney of Stella Power Company breaks down behind-the-meter power, the fix large loads are using so data centers and manufacturers stop...
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San Marcos Spaceport? Here's What's Coming
San Marcos just bought almost 200 acres to extend its runway for commercial air service. Berry Aviation runs DoD work from the airport. And the economic development director still gets asked: when does this become a spaceport?Helen Ramirez, Economic Development for the City of San Marcos, breaks...
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Texas Flood Recovery for Small Business: Grants Up to $10K & Where to Apply
LiftFund has deployed 525 grants and loans totaling more than $17 million to Texas Hill Country small businesses in the last year alone. Now they've launched the 2026 Texas Hill Country Flood Relief Program — grants of up to $10,000 for small businesses and nonprofits in 16 eligible counties. Amy...
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Iteration Under Pressure: Why This Texas High School's Fail Forward Method Works
This Texas high school built a quiet pipeline to SpaceX and NASA, and now it's teaching freshmen to pitch for $20,000 in real startup money. David Pedregon, community champion for the Incubator EDU program at Fredericksburg ISD, joins Justin McKenzie on The Building Texas Show to explain how a…
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Fractional CFO: The 2 Hires Every Founder Gets Wrong Before Their Exit | Bart Davis
Fractional CFO, now CEO, Bart Davis built 512Financial into a firm serving startups across Austin and the wider Texas startup ecosystem, and he says most founders wait too long to fix their back office. In this conversation he breaks down what a fractional CFO costs (his rule: 2 to 4 percent of...
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The Aerospace & Defense Companies Picking Buda Over Austin
Everyone says aerospace and defense is coming to Austin. It's actually coming to Buda. In this episode of The Building Texas Show, host Justin McKenzie sits down with Jennifer Storm (CEO, Buda Economic Development Corporation) and Monica Davidson (CEO, Greater Buda Chamber of Commerce & Buda City...
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CEO Explains: The Real Reason Community Associations Succeed or Fail
Associa is the largest manager of homeowners associations in the world — a 24,000-employee, five-country operation that started with just two people in Dallas, Texas. In this episode of The Building Texas Show, host Justin McKenzie sits down with John Carona, CEO of Associa and former Texas State...
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Worker Misclassification Could Cost You Everything | Here's Why
Are you classifying your workers correctly? The difference between a 1099 contractor and a W-2 employee isn't a choice — it's the law. And getting it wrong can cost your business everything. In this episode of The Building Texas Show, host Justin McKenzie sits down with Neil Katz, CEO of...
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Why Galveston Is Booming: Inside the 9 Million Visitor Economy
How does a barrier island with only 53,000 residents handle over 9 million visitors a year? In this episode of The Building Texas Show, we sit down with City of Galveston Mayor Craig Brown to uncover the massive economic engine driving this historic Texas city. From becoming the 4th largest…
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Rural Texas Has a Problem—Alpine Found the Answer
In this episode of The Building Texas Show’s Mayoral Series, host Justin McKenzie travels to Alpine, Texas, to sit down with Mayor Catherine Eaves for a candid and substantive conversation about rural governance, emergency medical services reform, tourism growth, civic engagement, and the future…
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Bastrop, Texas Is Changing Overnight—Here's Why
Bastrop, Texas is one of the fastest-growing small cities in the state. Mayor Ishmael Harris joins The Building Texas Show to explain how Bastrop,@btxntvonline, is balancing explosive growth, global investment, and small-town heritage. In this episode of @thebuildingtexasshow host Justin...
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Edinburg Texas mayor discusses border region economic development
The Rio Grande Valley is one of the most misunderstood — and fastest-growing — regions in Texas. In this episode of The Building Texas Show, host Justin McKenzie sits down with the City of Edinburg Mayor Omar Ochoa to explore why Edinburg is emerging as a major economic hub for South Texas…
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Fort Worth Just Got $6.7 Billion and Nobody's Talking About It
We're excited to present an episode of the Building Texas show, live from Fort Worth. Our guest, a professor at Texas Christian University, shares insights into the city's dynamic growth and his work in finance and private equity. This discussion highlights the intersection of education and...
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Inside Tomball with Mayor Lori Klein Quinn
Tomball, Texas is one of the rare communities that has experienced explosive regional growth without losing its identity. In this episode of The Building Texas Show, host Justin McKenzie sits down with Mayor Lori Klein Quinn to explore how Tomball has intentionally planned its future—while…
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Doug Weiss: What's Next for Pflugerville?
Is Pflugerville becoming the new economic heart of Central Texas? We sat down with Mayor Doug Weiss to uncover how this quiet suburb transformed into a major powerhouse while fighting to keep its small-town soul. From the strategic impact of the SH-130 corridor to being named the 'Trail Capital…
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Why This Texas Town Lowered Taxes While Growing
@CityofHelotesTexas sits at the gateway to the Texas Hill Country—and with growth accelerating across Central Texas, the city is facing the same hard questions many small towns are struggling with. In this episode of @thebuildingtexasshow host Justin McKenzie sits down with Helotes Mayor Rich...
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Texas Cannabis Marketplace: What's Coming Next?
In this episode of @thebuildingtexasshow we sit down with Heather Fazio from the @texascannabispolicy to discuss the emerging marijuana marketplace in Texas. We explore the nuances of current marijuana policy and the potential impacts of THC and CBD on the state's economy. This conversation sheds...
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Texas Leaders Just Revealed Their $Billion Investment Strategy
Is Texas about to overtake Silicon Valley? In this episode of @thebuildingtexasshow we sit down with Robert Pieroni from @gener8tor to uncover why the Lone Star State is becoming the ultimate destination for entrepreneurs. From the massive economic impact of the 2026 World Cup to the explosion of...
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Why Lubbock Is Quietly Becoming One of Texas’ Most Important Cities | Mayor Mark McBrayer
What makes the City of Lubbock one of the most underrated growth stories in the state? In this episode of The Building Texas Show host Justin McKenzie sits down in Lubbock with Mayor Mark McBrayer for a deep, honest conversation about how this West Texas city is planning for the future — not just...
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Sugar Land Texas & FIFA World Cup 2026: Mayor McCutcheon’s Vision
Is Sugar Land poised to become the most exciting suburb in Texas? In this episode of The Building Texas Show, Justin sits down with Mayor Carol McCutcheon—the first female mayor of Sugar Land—to discuss the massive transformation happening in 2026. From the revitalization of the Imperial Historic...
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Mike Pryor Reveals Texas Space Coalition's Secret Mission
Is the Texas space industry the new gold rush? In this episode of The Building Texas Show, Justin McKenzie sits down with Mike Pryor from the Texas Space Coalition to reveal how the state is transforming into a global aerospace powerhouse—and why it’s happening in unexpected places like El Paso.…
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Midland, Texas Is Becoming a Space City—Here’s Why | Mayor Lori Blong
Midland, Texas is evolving beyond oil and gas—emerging as a hub for space, infrastructure, workforce development, and long-term growth in Texas. In this episode of The Building Texas Show, Mayor Lori Blong explains how Midland is planning for the next 5, 50, and 100 years. In this conversation,...
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Is Lakeway the Answer to Escaping Austin's High Taxes?
Welcome to the Building Texas Show! In this episode, we chat with Mayor Tom Gilgore about Lakeway, a beautiful community situated just west of Austin. Discover the charm of the Texas Hill Country and the unique austin lifestyle that makes this area a prime location for real estate. We dive into...
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League City’s Future: Growth, Taxes & Infrastructure with Mayor Nick Long
League City, Texas is one of the fastest-growing cities in the Houston–Galveston region — and in this episode of The Building Texas Show, host Justin McKenzie sits down with Nick Long, Mayor of League City, to talk about what’s driving that growth and how the city is managing it responsibly.…
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How Bellaire Preserves Its Soul Inside Houston | Mayor Gus Pappas
In this episode of The Building Texas Show, host Justin McKenzie sits down with Gus Pappas, Mayor of Bellaire, for a deep, candid conversation on what it takes to govern one of the Houston region’s most distinctive communities. Bellaire is a fully built-out enclave city surrounded by…
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Inside Texas Angel Investing: How the Central Texas Angel Network Funds Startups Across Texas
In this episode of The Building Texas Show, host Justin McKenzie sits down with Gary Forni, Chairman of the Central Texas Angel Network, for a deep, behind-the-scenes conversation on how angel investing actually works in Texas. If you’re an entrepreneur raising capital, a founder trying to...
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What It’s Really Like to Run a Texas Lake Town | Sunrise Beach Village & Lake LBJ
In this episode of @thebuildingtexasshow host Justin McKenzie sits down with Rob Hardy, Mayor of Sunrise Beach Village, for a deep conversation on small-town leadership, life on Lake LBJ, and what it really takes to run a city of just 800 residents in the Texas Hill Country. Located in Llano...
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Building Del Rio, Texas: Border Growth, Infrastructure & Opportunity | Mayor Al Arreola
In this audio-only episode of The Building Texas Show, host Justin McKenzie returns to his hometown of Del Rio, Texas for an in-depth conversation with Al Arreola, Mayor of Del Rio. Mayor Arreola shares how Del Rio is entering a new era of economic growth—driven by infrastructure investment,...
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Fuel Polishing Explained: Protecting Texas Generators & Critical Infrastructure
In this episode of The Building Texas Show, host Justin McKenzie sits down with Whit Runion, founder of Fuel Perfect to unpack an often-overlooked but mission-critical topic: diesel fuel risk. Whit explains how fuel polishing works, why diesel fuel no longer lasts like it used to, and how...
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Denton, Texas is building a future driven by long-term planning, culture, and economic growth.
In this news-style episode of @thebuildingtexasshow host Justin McKenzie sits down with Denton Mayor Gerard Hudspeth to discuss how the city is navigating rapid North Texas growth while preserving its unique identity. From higher education and workforce pipelines to major employers, tourism,...
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College Station’s Growth Story | Mayor John Nichols on University Growth, Innovation & the Future
College Station, Texas sits at the center of the Texas Triangle—and at the center of one of the most dynamic growth stories in the state. In this episode of The Building Texas Show, host Justin McKenzie sits down with Mayor John Nichols to explore how College Station is managing rapid growth…
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The Building Texas Show | Mayor Mike Borger | Pampa, Texas, America
In this episode of The Building Texas Show, host Justin McKenzie travels to Pampa in the Texas Panhandle to sit down with Mike Borger, Mayor of Pampa, to explore one of the most compelling rural growth stories unfolding in Texas today. Once known primarily for oil, gas, and agriculture, Pampa is...
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The Alamo Reimagined: Preservation, Archaeology, and San Antonio’s Future
The Alamo is more than a battlefield—it is a 300-year story that spans Spanish missions, revolution, preservation, and modern Texas identity. In this episode of The Building Texas Show, host Justin McKenzie sits down with Emily Baucum of Alamo Trust, Inc. to explore the Alamo’s past, present, and...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The Building Texas Show with host, Justin McKenzie, about the balance of business and governance. Each week, we’ll interview the local leaders affecting the issues and uncover the power you have to forge the future.www.buildingtexasshow.com
HOSTED BY
Justin McKenzie
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Building Texas Show have?
The Building Texas Show currently has 135 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Building Texas Show about?
The Building Texas Show with host, Justin McKenzie, about the balance of business and governance. Each week, we’ll interview the local leaders affecting the issues and uncover the power you have to forge the future.www.buildingtexasshow.com
How often does The Building Texas Show release new episodes?
The Building Texas Show publishes regularly with 135 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Building Texas Show?
You can listen to The Building Texas Show on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Building Texas Show?
The Building Texas Show is created and hosted by Justin McKenzie.
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