Could hormone changes be mistaken for depression in women? Host @BradSwail sits down with @KatrinaPierson to discuss progesterone, women’s hormone cycles and how hormonal changes can affect symptoms that may be attributed to depression.

Could hormone changes be mistaken for depression in women? Host @BradSwail sits down with @KatrinaPierson to discuss progesterone, women’s hormone cycles and how hormonal changes can affect symptoms that may be attributed to depression.

Is insurance dictating how doctors practice medicine? Host @BradSwail sits down with @KatrinaPierson to discuss how insurance requirements can influence medical decisions, limit treatment options and affect the doctor-patient relationship.

How do 30 percent of patients end up paying for an entire hospital? Host @BradSwail sits down with Allen Harrison to discuss hospital costs, how patients contribute to the health care system and the financial pressures shaping health care.

Should schools really be treated like health clinics? Host @BradSwail sits down with Chris Bryan to discuss the role of schools in health care and why schools may not be the right place to provide certain medical services.

Texas State Representative @CarlTepper joins @bradswail on Texas Talks to discuss some of the major issues being examined by the House Select Committee on Governmental Oversight. Tepper discusses the committee’s examination of district attorneys and criminal prosecution, including the scrutiny surrounding the Travis County District Attorney’s Office and possible approaches lawmakers could consider during the 90th Texas Legislature. The conversation then turns west to a highly unusual question: Could counties currently in New Mexico eventually become part of Texas? Tepper discusses interest from communities along the Texas-New Mexico border, the economic and cultural ties between those counties and West Texas, and what would have to happen for a boundary change to move forward. Finally, Tepper and Brad discuss oversight of taxpayer-funded contracts, nonprofits and local government programs, including questions surrounding homelessness spending in Austin and how governments should respond when publicly funded programs fail to meet their goals.

In Part 1 of a special two-part Texas Talks series recorded live at the Texas Hospital Association Annual Conference in Fort Worth, host @bradswail sits down with Allen Harrison, President of Medical City Healthcare, @HCAhealthcare North Texas Division, and Chair-Elect of the @texashospitals Association Board of Trustees. Harrison shares the personal story that led him to a career in healthcare before turning to the financial pressures facing Texas hospitals and the growing debate over healthcare affordability. The conversation examines Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, uninsured patients, the role of commercial insurance, hospital pricing and the growing financial burden placed directly on patients. Harrison also discusses what Texas hospitals are watching ahead of the 90th Texas Legislature and why protecting existing Medicaid funding is a major priority. Brad and Harrison also explore Texas’ healthcare workforce, including improvements in the nursing shortage, continued demand for specialized healthcare workers and how the patient experience can be complicated by an increasingly difficult-to-understand billing system. This is Part 1 of our two-part Texas Hospital Association special. Part 2 continues tomorrow with another conversation from the THA Annual Conference.

In Part 2 of our special Texas Talks series recorded live at the @texashospitals Association Annual Conference in Fort Worth, host @bradswail sits down with Chris Bryan, Vice President of Clarity Child Guidance Center in San Antonio, to examine the state of children’s mental healthcare in Texas. Bryan shares the personal experience that led her from a career in technology to becoming an advocate for children’s mental health and explains how technology and social media have changed the environment in which children grow up. The conversation explores gaps in the mental health system, including the lack of a consistent continuum of care, difficulties sharing health information, insurance and reimbursement challenges, workforce shortages and the difference between having mental health coverage and actually being able to access treatment. Bryan also reflects on nearly two decades of advocacy at the Texas Capitol, how the conversation surrounding children’s mental health has changed and what she hopes lawmakers will address during the 90th Texas Legislature.

How should Texas prepare its colleges, workforce, tax system, and infrastructure for the state's continued growth? On Episode 126 of Texas Talks, host @bradswail sits down with State Rep. @VinceMPerez, 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.

Pilot. Flight paramedic. Firefighter. State Representative. Rep. @andoconmando39 (HD 39) joins @bradswail with 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.