Two Texas Teas

Episode 8: Megan Thee Stallion Won the Kentucky Derby, Musgraves, and Chief of StaffsDon and Lawson are back, and this week they're trying something new. Introducing the show's new segment structure: Hot Tea (the spicy stuff), Sweet Tea (the feel-good wins), and Brewed Tea (what's coming down the pipeline). One brand, three flavors, all Texas.They open with the Klay Thompson and Megan Thee Stallion fumble, then dive into San Antonio City Hall — Chief of Staff Denise Carroll out, longtime Deputy Chief Pat Wallace out, and what those exits actually say about the mayor's office. From there: a board race for Alamo Colleges District 9 that got nasty and backfired, why Lawson is reporting from Corpus Christi.On the Sweet Tea side, Kacey Musgraves opening her Gruene Hall run with the Mariachi kids from the Dilley detention facility. Then Brewed Tea: the May runoffs, the Tony Gonzalez seat, gerrymandering going legal, internal mean-girling inside both parties, and why the age range on the ballot keeps creeping older while the country keeps getting older with it.Real talk. Texas brewed. ☕🤠What You Will Hear— Why Klay and Meg didn't work and the internet's worst takes— Denise Carroll resigns. Pat Wallace resigns. What the LinkedIn posts actually said— What it's really like being a Chief of Staff (2 a.m. pothole calls included)— The Alamo Colleges District 9 race that backfired on the opponents— Lawson's love letter to Corpus, the Valley, Del Rio, and Eagle Pass— Kacey Musgraves, Gruene Hall, the Mariachi kids, and the bot ticket scandal— Gerrymandering, runoffs, and the November setup in Texas— Why Texas weather is in its perimenopausal eraChapters00:00 — Megan Thee Stallion and Relationship Dynamics00:27 — Intro01:17 — New Segments: Hot Tea, Sweet Tea and Brewed Tea02:46 — Klay Thompson07:46 — Ad Break08:27 — Hot Tea: Political Landscape in San Antonio14:00 — Staff Turnover and Leadership Challenges19:07 — The Role of Chief of Staff22:11 — Alamo Colleges Board24:54 — Sweet Tea: Corpus Christi and the RGV31:13 — Kacey Musgraves and the Mariachi Band37:15 — Brewed Tea: Upcoming Elections and Gerrymandering40:24 — Congress and the President of the United States45:26 — Climate Change: Weather Patterns and Local Impact46:56 — OutroWant to Be on the Show?You don't have to be famous. If you have an opinion, come talk to [email protected] • twotexasteas.comSponsors: [email protected] Connected🎙️ biosites.com/twotexasteas📸 instagram.com/twotexasteas🎬 tiktok.com/@twotexasteas🐦 x.com/twotexasteas▶️ youtube.com/@twotexasteas✍️ substack.com/@twotexasteas👕 twotexasteas.myshopify.comReal talk. Texas brewed. ☕

Special Episode: Fiesta, Spurs, and San Antonio SuciaDon and Lawson are back together and they brought the full San Antonio energy with them. Recorded mid-Fiesta, this one is exactly what you would expect from two people obsessed with this city.They go full send into Fiesta — medals, cascarones, Market Square's new $5 cover, Fiesta Sucia, the Spurs Guy as a Fiesta saint, Fiesta Flambeau, and the very real possibility that Two Texas Teas drops its own Fiesta medal next April. From there: the Spurs playoff run, why the city goes honking when they win, and why LeBron James is still not forgiven for the AC game. Don tells his Eagle Pass wedding story (95 degrees, no AC, full suit), Lawson defends keeping her thermostat at 72 year-round and points the finger at data centers, and they close on Tony Gonzalez stepping down, the Eric Swalwell allegations, accountability across both parties, and why we still owe Monica Lewinsky an apology.Warm, funny, and very San Antonio. ☕🤠What You Will Hear— Market Square's $5 cover and what it means for Fiesta culture— Fiesta medals as the Pokemon Go of San Antonio— Lawson's history designing medals (Mandalorian, picture-frame, corporate misfire)— The Two Texas Teas Fiesta medal announcement— Spurs playoff run, going honking, and the LeBron AC game— Don's Eagle Pass wedding and surviving 95 degrees in a suit— Lawson at 72 degrees year-round, no apologies— Tony Gonzalez, Eric Swalwell, and believing survivorsChapters00:00 — Introduction and Energy Drinks02:34 — Email [email protected] to Be a Sponsor03:15 — Fiesta in San Antonio17:37 — Fiesta Medals!28:14 — LeBron versus the Spurs31:54 — Visit twotexasteas.com32:34 — Freezing Weather in a Texas Spring38:19 — Don's Mexican Wedding in Eagle Pass42:15 — Congressman Woes in Texas52:52 — Follow Us on Social Media @twotexasteas53:29 — EndingWant to Be on the Show?You don't have to be famous. If you have an opinion, come talk to [email protected] • twotexasteas.comSponsors: [email protected] Connected🎙️ biosites.com/twotexasteas📸 instagram.com/twotexasteas🎬 tiktok.com/@twotexasteas🐦 x.com/twotexasteas▶️ youtube.com/@twotexasteas✍️ substack.com/@twotexasteas👕 twotexasteas.myshopify.comReal talk. Texas brewed. ☕

Episode 7: No Tumbleweeds: Two Outsiders on What Texas Really Is ft. Jordan Webb⚠️ A Note Before You Press Play Lawson is taking an unplanned week off due to some technical difficulties on our recording app. We will have her back next episode. Bear with us on the audio and video quality as this interview was recorded a few months back. We are fixing it as we go. ☕About This EpisodeDon flies solo this week and brings in a very familiar face. Jordan Webb, IT consultant and Don's college friend of over a decade, joins for a candid conversation about what Texas looks like through the eyes of people who were not born and raised here.From Jordan's first work trip to Austin to Don's wide eyed arrival in San Antonio expecting tumbleweeds and cowboys, this episode is a love letter to the state that keeps pulling people in from everywhere else. They talk culture, city vibes, Texas exceptionalism, and the big question nobody wants to answer out loud: is Texas still Texas when everybody from California and New York keeps moving in?No Lawson this week. But plenty of tea. ☕🤠About Jordan Webb Jordan Webb is an IT consultant, avid traveler, and Don's friend of over a decade. A proud non-Texan with a deep appreciation for the Lone Star State, Jordan brings a sharp outside perspective on what makes Texas culture so magnetic.📱 Follow Jordan: @spiderwebb_24Chapters 00:00 Don Opens the Episode Solo 06:43 Introducing Jordan Webb 07:16 Jordan's First Trip to Austin 09:07 Expectations vs Reality: The Real Texas 10:05 How Every Texas City Has Its Own Vibe 22:27 Texas Exceptionalism: Real or Propaganda?24:04 The Transient City: Where Did All the Austinites Go? 24:46 What Texas Gives to the Rest of the Country 26:37 Closing ThoughtsWant to Be on the Show? You do not have to be famous. If you have an opinion, come talk to us. Reach out at [email protected] or visit www.twotexasteas.com.Sponsors reach out at [email protected] Connected with Two Texas Teas 🎙️ All Episodes: https://biosites.com/twotexasteas 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twotexasteas/ 🎬 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@twotexasteas 🐦 X/Twitter: https://x.com/twotexasteas ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twotexasteas ✍️ Substack: https://substack.com/@twotexasteas 👕 Rep the Brand: https://shop.twotexasteas.comReal talk. Texas brewed. ☕

Episode 6: TSA & Texas Infrastructure ft. Ariel SlickDon and Lawson kick things off with a conversation about the TSA funding disputes rattling travelers across the nation, then welcome Fort Worth author and journalist Ariel Slick for a deep dive into Texas infrastructure, historical floods, and the water crisis quietly building across the Lone Star State.From the devastating floods of Fort Worth and San Antonio to the funding gaps leaving Central Texas communities at risk, this episode connects the dots between history and what is happening right now. Ariel breaks down the 2025 Texas Infrastructure Report Card and shares a sobering stat: if Texas does nothing, by 2070 nearly 550,000 Texans could have less than 10 percent of the water they need. The time to contact your state representative is today.⚠️ A Note on Audio Quality We hear you and we are sorry! This episode has some echo issues we are actively working to fix. Better sound is coming. Thank you for your patience and for riding with us. ☕Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Texas Infrastructure 06:26 Funding and Accountability for Infrastructure Issues 11:37 Awareness of Flood Risk and Infrastructure Funding 17:06 Texas as a Red State and Funding 22:12 Impact of Population Growth on Water Systems 28:00 Texas Infrastructure Rating and Book ReleaseKey Takeaways Historical floods in Texas have shaped infrastructure and communities in ways still felt today. Funding gaps and lack of public awareness remain the biggest barriers to meaningful change. Population growth across Texas is outpacing the infrastructure built to support it. And if no action is taken, millions of Texans face serious water shortages by 2070.Resources from Ariel 🔗 Texas Water Development Board State Flood Plan 🔗 2025 Texas Infrastructure Report Card 🌐 arielslickwrites.com 📸 Instagram: @arielslickwrites 🐦 X/Twitter: @arielslickwritesAbout Ariel Slick Ariel Slick is a novelist and journalist from Fort Worth, Texas. Her novels include The Devil Take the Blues, The Royals of Sea and Song, and The Good Harbor Witches mystery series co-written with USA Today Bestselling author Jeri White. Her articles have appeared in Texas Highways, The Texas Observer, Texas Co-op Power, Deep South Magazine, and many others.Stay Connected with Two Texas Teas 🎙️ All Episodes: https://biosites.com/twotexasteas 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twotexasteas/ 🎬 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@twotexasteas 🐦 X/Twitter: https://x.com/twotexasteas ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twotexasteas ✍️ Substack: https://substack.com/@twotexasteas 👕 Rep the Brand: https://twotexasteas.myshopify.comReal talk. Texas brewed. ☕

⚠️ CONTENT WARNINGThis episode discusses harassment and women's issues. If you need support:RAINN - Call: 1-800-656-4673 (24/7) | Chat: online.rainn.org SummaryLawson and Don start with hilarious SXSW stories—from out-of-towners accidentally flying into Dallas to Don's free tequila adventure at an Austin bar. Lawson reveals how MTV's Real World Austin introduced her to the festival in the early 2000s and shares her experience speaking at SXSW 2023. They discuss how the event evolved from scrappy indie music roots to a tech and civic engagement powerhouse.The conversation shifts to an important question: Why does Dolores Huerta always get second billing to Cesar Chavez when she was equally instrumental in the farmworkers' movement? This sparks discussion about women's contributions being systematically undervalued throughout history and why believing women shouldn't be controversial.They wrap with movie recommendations—Project Hail Mary, Spider-Man, and why Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes are relationship goals—before previewing upcoming TSA drama and primary runoff coverage.Key TakeawaysSXSW evolved from indie music festival to tech/civic engagement mega-eventDolores Huerta deserves equal (or greater) recognition as Cesar ChavezWomen's historical contributions are systematically minimized across all movementsBelieving women's experiences should be the default, not radicalAustin's growth has changed SXSW's accessibility and cultureFree tequila at unofficial SXSW events: amazing and dangerousChapters00:00 Introduction: Wrong Texas City Problems02:00 SXSW Stories & How It's Changed06:00 Don's Free Tequila Adventure08:30 Lawson's 2023 SXSW Speaking Gig16:00 THE Dolores Huerta: Why She Deserves Top Billing22:00 Austin Street Naming Debate26:00 Believing Women Across History32:00 Women's Agency & Historical Erasure38:00 The Sip Senate: Movie Talk40:00 Project Hail Mary & Ryan Gosling Appreciation43:00 Next Episode Preview: TSA Drama & RunoffsConnect With Us🌐 https://biosites.com/twotexasteas/🛍️ https://twotexasteas.myshopify.com/Follow @twotexasteas:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twotexasteas/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twotexasteasTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@twotexasteasX: https://x.com/twotexasteasSubstack: https://substack.com/@twotexasteasLearn MoreDolores Huerta Foundation: doloreshuerta.orgDocumentary: "Dolores" (2017) by Peter BrattNew episodes every other Sunday. Real talk, Texas brewed. ☕

⚠️ CONTENT WARNINGThis episode discusses suicide and political allegations. If you need help:988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - Call/Text: 988 (24/7) | Chat: 988lifeline.org Crisis Text Line - Text HOME to 741741SummaryRecorded a few days after Texas's primary elections, Lawson calls in from a San Diego beach. The hosts tackle one of the most difficult stories in Texas politics: Congressman Tony Gonzalez (TX-23) stepping down amid scandal and tragedy. With sensitivity and appropriate warnings, they discuss the intersection of personal tragedy, political pressure, and where campaigns cross ethical lines.They then analyze primary results including Ron Nirenberg's Bexar County Judge victory, the tight DA race between Jane Davis and Luz Elena Chapa, and James Talarico's upset win over Jasmine Crockett in the Democratic Senate primary. Plus: Dallas polling chaos, Ken Paxton's quid pro quo response to Trump, and a South by Southwest preview.Key TakeawaysMental health resources available 24/7 through 988Ron Nirenberg won Democratic primary for Bexar County JudgeJames Talarico narrowly defeated Jasmine Crockett for Senate nominationKen Paxton conditioned dropping out of Senate race on passing the SAVE ActDallas polling locations required emergency extensions due to chaosProject Marvel controversy hurt Grant Moody's re-election bidDA race headed to runoff: Davis vs. ChapaChapters00:00 Introduction from the Beach04:00 ⚠️ Trigger Warning04:30 Tony Gonzalez Resignation & Ethics Discussion13:00 Bexar County Judge: Nirenberg's Victory19:00 District Attorney Race Analysis24:00 Statewide Results: Talarico Upsets Crockett26:00 Paxton's Quid Pro Quo27:00 Dallas Polling Disaster29:00 Looking Ahead: SXSW & NovemberConnect With Us🌐 Website: https://biosites.com/twotexasteas/🛍️ Merch: https://twotexasteas.myshopify.com/Follow @twotexasteas:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twotexasteas/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twotexasteasTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@twotexasteasX/Twitter: https://x.com/twotexasteasSubstack: https://substack.com/@twotexasteasAdditional Crisis ResourcesNAMI Texas: 1-800-950-6264 | namitexas.orgTrevor Project (LGBTQ+ Youth): 1-866-488-7386Veterans Crisis Line: 988 then Press 1You are not alone. Help is available.New episodes every other Sunday. Real talk, Texas brewed. ☕Hosts: Lawson & Don

In this episode of Two Texas Teas, hosts Lawson and Don explore the intersection of technology, politics, and personal responsibility in the Lone Star State.What We're Discussing:🤖 AI in Texas: From creative processes to business applications, we break down how Texans are using artificial intelligence in their daily lives—both professionally and personally. Learn about TRAIGA (Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act) and why Texas is positioning itself as a national leader in responsible AI regulation.🗳️ Primary Elections: With early voting underway, we dive deep into the explosive Texas Senate primaries on both sides of the aisle. The Republican race features incumbent John Cornyn battling Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt in what's become a civil war over the soul of the GOP. On the Democratic side, Rep. Jasmine Crockett and State Rep. James Talarico are competing for their party's best shot to flip Texas in 30 years.⛷️ Winter Olympics Check-In: We celebrate San Antonio native Boone Niederhofer competing for Team USA in four-man bobsled and discuss our favorite Winter Olympic moments and sports.🎨 The Creative Process: Lawson and Don explore artistic methods, material selection, and how AI is changing creative workflows, from artwork evaluation to content generation.Key Takeaways: Texas is only the second state to pass comprehensive AI legislationThe Austin-San Antonio corridor raised $3.8 billion in tech funding in 2024Nearly 19 million Texans are registered to vote, but primaries are decided by a tiny fractionUnderstanding AI legislation matters for businesses and consumersYour vote in the primary matters—especially in potential runoffsPolitical scandals continue to shape races at every levelWhy This Episode Matters: Whether you're a tech entrepreneur navigating new AI regulations, a voter trying to understand the primary landscape, or just someone curious about how AI impacts daily life, this episode offers real talk about the issues shaping Central Texas and beyond.Early voting runs through February 27, with Primary Election Day on March 3. Find your polling location and make your voice heard.Chapters02:15 Winter Olympic Pride: San Antonio's Boone Niederhofer07:00 How We're Using AI: Personal Stories12:00 Texas Primary Drama: The Republican Civil War20:00 Democrats' Historic Senate Opportunity28:00 Runoff Reality & Voter Turnout Crisis30:00 TRAIGA Explained: Texas Takes on AI RegulationConnect With UsWebsite: www.twotexasteas.comMerch Store: twotexasteas.myshopify.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twotexasteasTikTok: tiktok.com/@twotexasteasSubstack: substack.com/@twotexasteasInstagram: instagram.com/twotexasteasX (Twitter): x.com/twotexasteasNew episodes every other Sunday.

SummaryIn this episode of Two Texas Teas, hosts Lawson and Don dive into a wide-ranging conversation that spans from San Antonio's iconic rodeo season to the complexities of the Star Wars universe. They discuss recent life changes, ICE, and the role of government responsibility in times of crisis. The hosts also share their Super Bowl predictions and explore unexpected political parallels in the galaxy far, far away.Note: Every episode will get better as we refine our process—please forgive the audio echo from Don's mic as we work out the technical kinks!Connect With UsWebsite: www.twotexasteas.comMerch Store: twotexasteas.myshopify.comFollow Us:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twotexasteasTikTok: tiktok.com/@twotexasteasSubstack: substack.com/@twotexasteasInstagram: instagram.com/twotexasteasX (Twitter): x.com/twotexasteasTakeawaysGovernment's role in the lives of its citizensRodeo season and cowboy breakfast hold nostalgic significance for the hosts. Year-round rodeo events are changing the landscape of traditional rodeo programming.The emotional journey of Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars resonates with personal experiences and societal issues.Chapters00:00 Life Changes and Social Justice05:06 Local Support and Political Pressure13:00 Country Music and Cowboy Breakfast Experience19:32 Rodeo Festivities and Childhood Memories25:05 Year-Round Rodeo Events30:12 Anakin Skywalker's Emotional Journey36:10 Valentine's Day Inside Joke46:27 Closing Remarks and Support

In our offically offical first episode, we delve into the significance of the MLK parade this year. We also discuss how important constituent services are for an elected official. We talk about how long we've been stuck in TJMaxx and overcome more technical issues. Every episode will get better.Visit our website to learn more: twotexasteas.com Get you're mom a shirt at our Shopify store!SocialsYouTubeTikTokSubstackInstagramX (Twitter)

Episode 0 is uncut, unpolished, and proudly amateur — and that’s exactly what it is. Join Lawson and Don as they introduce themselves, look back at 2025 with candid (and funny) takes, and explore the differences between people who live in Texas and those who don’t. This inaugural episode might be rough, but the goal is authenticity and growth. It only gets better from here. Grab a seat, sip some tea, and enjoy the beginning of Two Texas Teas! Learn more, get merch, or be a guest at www.twotexasteas.com.Socials: Substack Twitter (X) InstagramYouTubeVist the store at: Two Texas Teas Store 👕