This week's podcast is part two featuring Rafael Jimenez, President, and Kyahn Mata Secretary of Lone Star Community College organization Pizza and Politics. We turned the tables and let them ask us the questions.

Hosts Julie Kornegay, Emily Spivak, and Brent Veazey, with Rafael and Kyahn, discussed a variety of topics, including:

• What it looks like to have a Political Party where their ideological policies are not front and center
• What the Forward Party of Texas is focused on and why it matters
• Importance of civic engagement in local politics and why we think it’s failing

As always, feel free to drop us a line @FWD_Texas on Twitter or at texas_fwd on Instagram. All questions or feedback are welcome!

Follow Pizza and Politics on Instagram @pizza.politics.iscm

Thanks for listening, and remember to tell us who you’d like to hear on the podcast soon.

🍕 Join us for a thought-provoking conversation as Julie and Emily sit down with Rafael Jimenez and Kyahn Mata, representatives from Lonestar Community College's Pizza and Politics Club. In this enlightening discussion, we delve into the origins of the club, exploring why it was created and the pivotal role it plays in fostering open conversations on political matters.

🗣️ Discover how Rafael and Kyahn are working diligently to establish a safe space where diverse opinions are not only welcomed but encouraged. The Pizza and Politics Club at Lonestar aims to bridge gaps across the political spectrum, providing an inclusive platform for students and the community to share their perspectives.

🌐 The conversation goes beyond the club's inception, delving into why having such spaces is crucial for individuals and society at large. Rafael and Kyahn shed light on the significance of engaging in political discussions with those who may hold contrasting viewpoints, emphasizing the value of constructive dialogue in today's world.

🔍 Learn about the Pizza and Politics Club's overarching goal – to provide students and the community with a hub for sharing, discussing, and gaining insights into political topics, issues, and events. This dynamic club serves as more than just a meeting ground; it's an arena where knowledge is expanded, awareness is raised, and relationships are built to foster healthy thinking, information sharing, and debate.

🌟 Be part of this insightful conversation that highlights the positive impact dialogue can have on our society. Subscribe now. #PizzaAndPolitics #OpenDialogue #CommunityEngagement

If you're in Montgomery County or a surrounding area, be sure to attend this amazing event featuring Montgomery Co. Chair Brent Veazey and representatives from other parties.

Pizza, Politics and Public Policy: A talk on Ideologies

As always, feel free to drop us a line @FWD_Texas on Twitter or at texas_fwd on Instagram. Thanks for listening.

🎙️✨ Join us for a captivating episode as Julie engages in a thought-provoking conversation with the dynamic Sarah Stogner, a devoted mom, small business owner, and passionate lawyer. Sarah is on a mission to bring justice to the residents of Ward and Reeves County by running for District Attorney of the 143rd district.

🌟 Dive into the heart of Sarah's activism as she shares insights on her viral TikTok channel, ZombieWellz, where she fearlessly exposes corruption within the Texas Railroad Commission. Discover the profound impact of this corruption on the future of our drinking water supply and how Sarah is determined to be a voice for change.

🔍 In this episode, Julie and Sarah delve into the incredible transformation of Sarah's career – from a seasoned 14-year oil and gas lawyer to a first-time candidate for the Texas Railroad Commission in 2022. Uncover the compelling story of how Sarah discovered and confronted the orphan wells problems in West Texas, shedding light on the daunting obstacles and the crony relationship between the Texas RRC and the oil and gas industry.

🚀 Don't miss this enlightening conversation that explores Sarah Stogner's journey, activism, and her bold step into the world of politics to make a meaningful impact. Subscribe now and be part of the movement for justice and transparency! 🌐💙 #ZombieWellz #SarahStogner #JusticeForWard #ReevesCounty #TexasRailroadCommission #PodcastEpisode #Activism #PoliticalJourney

Brian sat down with Austin’s very own Paul O’Brien. O’Brien is a startup veteran and a seasoned marketer with an early career at Yahoo! and HP. From there, Paul led the early growth of startups such as Outright.com (Acquired by GoDaddy), Zvents (Acquired by eBay’s StubHub), and MicroVentures (Venture Capital). 

Paul works in Venture Capital Economic Development, serving investment in entrepreneurs. With a passion for media innovation and investment, Paul seeded MediaTech Ventures, a media industry venture development.

On today’s episode. Brian and Paul discuss:

• The mindset of an entrepreneur, including How entrepreneurs might look at today’s Political Landscape and the current American gov’t as a whole as an opportunity for improvement
• What makes a city’s economy thrive and flourish 
• Why Detroit’s economy folded when car manufacturing moved out
• Social media, AI, and why you don’t want the US gov’t regulating it, but things we can do instead.

 If you want more from the Texas Forward Podcast, follow us on X formally Twitter @FWD_Texas or on Instagram at texas_fwd 

You can find Paul at https://seobrien.com/paul-obrien

Thank you so much for listening, and as always, don’t forget to like and subscribe.

Our guest today needs no introduction: the co-chair and the face of the Forward Party, Andrew Yang. 

Andrew was a candidate in the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries and the 2021 New York City Democratic mayoral primary. 

Yang left the Democratic party, stating that he was "more comfortable trying to fix the system than being a part of it," and founded the Forward Party in October 2021. 

Prior to his career in politics, he enjoyed considerable success in the private sector before founding his nonprofit, Venture for America, in 2011. 

Brian and Andrew discuss:

• How he has developed a habit of taking on big challenges and what keeps him going when things get tough
• The state of the 2024 Presidential election, including independent candidate RFK Jr and Democratic challenger Dean Phillips
• Reasons for optimism in Texas, the Forward Party, and America at large

 If you want more from the Texas Forward Podcast, follow us on X formally Twitter @FWD_Texas or on Instagram at texas_fwd 

Rick Hubbard is a long-time activist, author, retired attorney, & former economic consultant. He is currently walking across the US (Walking to Fix Our Democracy) to bring attention to the much needed political reforms he is fighting for. At 82 years old, Rick continues to be as active as ever, proving you're never too old to start, and it’s never too late to work toward change.  

Rick and Brian discuss:

• The three main reasons our Democracy isn’t working and what we can do to fix it.
• Why we have elected officials in the first place and how they are falling short.
• His activism journey and the experiences he's had along the way. 

Lee Bratcher is the President and Founder of the Texas Blockchain Council. The TBC helped spearhead two pieces of blockchain legislation that were passed in the 87th Legislative session and signed into law. Lee graduated with his Ph.D. in Political Science and International Affairs from the University of Texas. Previously, he was a political science professor at Dallas Baptist University, teaching international relations and blockchain courses. 

Brian and Lee discussed all things blockchain, including:

• The pitfalls of fiat currency and how Bitcoin can play a role in addressing them
• How different countries across the globe are approaching Central Bank Digital Currencies 
• The Environmental Impact of Bitcoin Mining in Texas and the role it plays in supporting the Electric Grid

Cody Grace is a former candidate for the District 6 Texas Lege.  He has spent over 20+ years in the IT industry and is currently the President of WayPoint Digital Networks. A native of Tyler, TX, Cody continues to find ways to give back to his community. 

Brian and Cody discussed a variety of topics including gun violence in Texas, the current fight over public education, teacher pay, and school vouchers, and the government’s role in regulating data privacy, big tech, and AI.