The Think Brazos Podcast
”Think local. Think Brazos!” The Think Brazos Podcast hosts conversations with locals, politicians, and experts to discuss policies that impact housing affordability, economic opportunity, and financial resiliency for families in Brazos County. Disclosure and disclaimer: The purpose of the Think Brazos Podcast is to present to the public a deeper sense of who the candidates are who hope to lead this community and to create a space for them to present their ideas, especially about housing and affordability. However, as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Bryan-College Station Habitat for Humanity (which created and sponsors Think Brazos) does not and cannot endorse any particular candidate or political party. The open dialogue we create by doing our utmost to speak to every candidate for a particular political race we decide to cover should in no way be construed as an endorsement of the candidate or his/her political party. Further, the ideas and opinions expressed by the candidates we interview are purely their own and not necessarily those of Habitat for Humanity. Housing affordability is an important issue, so we thank you for following the Think Brazos Podcast. Executive Producer - Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity, Inc. Producers - Charles and Whitney Coats Host - Charles Coats Videographer and Sound Engineer - Mario Treviño
Episodes
Before you vote in the 2026 Texas primary election, listen to our conversation with Wanda Watson, who is running for re-election as the Precinct 4 Brazos County Commissioner.
Wanda Watson was originally elected to the Brazos County Commissioners Court in 2022. Before her current role, she served as the chair of the Democratic Party in Brazos County and as an election judge.
Think Brazos is a project of Bryan/College Station Habitat ...
Before you vote in the 2026 Texas primary election, listen to our conversation with Prentiss Madison, Sr, who is running for Precinct 4 Brazos County Commissioner.
Madison is a former two-term Bryan city councilman and has also served on Planning and Zoning, Adjustments, and Parks and Recreation Commissions. Madison and his family run a recycling business called Madison Metals.
Think Brazos is a project of Bryan/College Station Habi...
Before you vote in the 2026 Texas primary election, listen to our conversation with Peter Michelena, who is running for Precinct 4 Brazos County Commissioner.
Michelena deployed twice to Afghanistan and received two Purple Hearts while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, has worked for the City of Bryan, and is currently the CFO of the local VFW Post #4692.
Think Brazos is a project of Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity intend...
Before you vote in the 2026 Texas primary election, listen to our conversation with Andre Malone, who is running for Precinct 4 Brazos County Commissioner.
A self-described "Army brat," Malone has lived in Brazos County for 45 years and is a failure auditor for the oil and gas industry.
Think Brazos is a project of Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity intended to help our community understand local government policie...
Before you vote in the 2026 Texas primary election, listen to our conversation with Jeff Murski, who is running for Precinct 2 Brazos County Commissioner.
Jeff Murski brings years of experience in public relations with an electric company and government working for Congressman Pete Sessions.
Think Brazos is a project of Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity intended to help our community understand local government policies tha...
Before you vote in the 2026 Texas primary election, listen to our conversation with Jordan Januse, who is running for Precinct 2 Brazos County Commissioner.
Jordan Januse's family ran Frank's Country Store, a store beloved by many locals. Januse continued his experience with small businesses by starting a home cleaning company.
Think Brazos is a project of Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity intended to help our commu...
Before you vote in the 2026 Texas primary election, listen to our conversation with Kyle Greenwood, who is running for Precinct 2 Brazos County Commissioner.
Locally, Greenwood is known for his role fighting a proposed road in eastern Brazos County. "No East Loop" supporters attended commissioners' court meetings for months arguing against the road.
Think Brazos is a project of Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity intended to...
Before you vote in the 2026 Texas primary election, listen to our conversation with former Bryan City Councilman Mike Southerland, who is now running for Brazos County Judge.
Mike Southerland is a Vietnam veteran who served two terms on the Bryan City Council.
Think Brazos is a project of Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity intended to help our community understand local government policies that impact our daily lives, especi...
Before you vote in the 2026 Texas primary election, listen to our conversation with former State Representative Kyle Kacal, who is now running for Brazos County Judge.
From the summer of 2025 until January 2026, Kacal served as acting Brazos County Judge while Judge Duane Peters took a medical leave of absence. Now, Kacal wants the job for a full term.
Think Brazos is a project of Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity intended...
Join us on this episode of the Think Brazos Podcast as we host Texas State Representative Paul Dyson. From the Reese Avonley Homes Studio in Bryan, Texas. Dyson shares insights on legislative challenges, affordable housing issues across the state, the impact of unfunded mandates, and his firsthand experiences during his first legislative session. He also discusses plans for the future, including property tax relief and the impact f...
**Heads up**
⚠️ We had an audio glitch during part of our interview with David Brower.
You’ll notice a dip in sound quality in the second half of the interview—but we promise it’s worth powering through.
In this episode of the Think Brazos podcast, host Charles Coats speaks with David Brower, the Community Development Administrator for the City of College Station. They delve into the city's housing action plan, its goals, and the s...
In this episode of the Think Brazos Podcast, Mayor John Nichols of College Station joins us to discuss various challenges and legislative issues affecting housing affordability in Texas. The conversation delves into the implications of impact fees, local control versus state legislation, and the unique housing demands caused by Texas A&M University's large student population. Mayor Nichols also explains the city's efforts to ad...
Addressing Housing Affordability with Rep. Paul Dyson
In this episode of the Think Brazos Podcast, host Charles Coats welcomes Representative Paul Dyson of House District 14 in Texas to discuss the current legislative session. The conversation delves into the pressing issue of housing affordability in Texas, exploring proposed bills and solutions like House Bill 5489, which aims to impose a moratorium on impact fees to ease housing...
We sit down with Salim Furth, Senior Research Fellow and Director of the Urbanity Project at the Mercatus Center, George Mason University. We dive deep into state-level housing bills and explore what's being proposed in Texas’ 89th Legislative Session to enhance housing affordability and attainability. Discover the impact of HB878, the benefits of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and the broader implications of zoning reforms on pr...
In this episode of the Think Brazos Podcast, Justin Wager discusses his plans and aspirations for Bryan, Texas, as he campaigns for Place 6 on the Bryan City Council. Justin shares insights about his upbringing in Bryan, his early interest in politics, and how his background in the family restaurant business influences his perspective. He addresses key policy areas such as infrastructure improvements, downtown revitalization, zonin...
Join us on this episode of the Think Brazos podcast as we sit down with Kevin Boriskie, Place 6 at Large Council Member and re-election candidate for the City of Bryan. Kevin, a fourth-generation Bryan resident with extensive experience in community development and finance, shares his insights on maintaining affordable housing, enhancing public transportation, and strategically planning for community growth. He emphasizes the impor...
On this episode of the Think Brazos Podcast, join us for an engaging conversation with Bob Achgill, a candidate for the third single-member district of the Bryan City Council. Achgill delves into his transition from a petrochemical engineer to a community advocate, shares his experiences in Russia, and highlights his work with the deaf community. The discussion covers key issues such as Bryan's housing affordability, public transpo...
In this episode of the Think Brazos Podcast, host Charles Coats interviews Jared Salvato, candidate for Bryan City Council District 3, as he shares his vision for Bryan, Texas. Councilman Salvato discusses his background in banking and finance, affordable housing, and strategies for revitalizing neighborhoods through multifamily projects. The conversation covers Bryan's housing market challenges, economic development initiatives, i...
In this episode of Think Brazos Podcast, Charles interviews Patrick Giammalva, a candidate for City Council District 5 in Bryan, Texas. Giamalva emphasizes the need for a city council with vision focused on current community needs, advocating for infrastructure improvements, park restoration, and addressing the city's affordable housing challenges. He highlights his past efforts in clean-up initiatives and stresses the importance o...
This episode of the Think Brazos Podcast features Marca Ewers-Shurtleff, a candidate for Single Member District Five on the Bryan City Council. Shurtleff discusses her ongoing commitment to Bryan's development, highlighting her achievements in economic growth and her plans for diverse housing solutions. The conversation also covers public transportation, city collaboration, and the importance of local governance for community bette...
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