Lone Star Deep Dive

In Episode 20, we talk with Lauren Bick from the League of Women Voters of Texas. Lauren is the state League's Issue Chair on Child Welfare for the 89th legislative session. We discuss how our state’s legislative proposals will affect foster youth and families, as well as other vulnerable youth in Texas.

After graduating from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX with undergraduate degrees in Public Health and Psychology, Lauren returned to her hometown of San Antonio, TX. Lauren has worked under a judge in the Bexar County Children’s Court Division, conducting research on critical issues impa...

In Episode 19, we are taking with Teri Marsh from the League of Women Voters of Texas and Evgenia Spears of the Lone Star Sierra Club. We discuss our state’s plans to supply water for a growing population in an unpredictable future.

A native Texan, Teri Marsh exchanged the big city lights of Houston for tiny Brackettville, Texas in 2020 upon retiring after 23 years of teaching in the Houston ISD. A Fort Worth native and the mother of two adult sons, Teri holds degrees from Baylor University and the University of Houston.

After retirement, Teri discovered th...

In Episode 18, we are taking a deep dive into what Charter Schools have to teach us about publicly funding private schools in Texas. Thanks to a webinar sponsored by the Leagues of Women Voters of Dalla& Tarrant County, we're able to listen in on a discussion by leading experts on the topic. The event, titled "Facing Facts: Charter Schools in Texas," was held on April 7th, 2025. It featured Patti Everitt, a consultant on state education policy with a focus on the impact of charter schools on public education. Her work on a recent report, "Texas Board of Directors: Our...

On Episode 17, the Lone Star Deep Dive Podcast talks with Rachel Hanes, Policy Director of the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in both Political Science and Spanish from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX, as well as a Master of Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. Rachel has multiple years of experience in environmental and water policy, and she's worked extensively with nonprofits and all levels of governent. Before joining GEAA, Rachel served for three years as a program analyst for the U.S. Department of Interior's Bureau of...

On Episode 16, the Lone Star Deep Dive chats with Dr.Tim Bowman, Professor of History and department head at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. He is the author of two books: Blood Oranges: Agriculture and Colonialism in the South Texas Borderlands (2016) and You Will Never be One of Us: A Teacher, a Court Case, and the Rural Roots of Radical Conservatism (2022). He is currently working on a book about the Texas farmworkers movement during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

DIVE DEEPER!

Texas Standard: You Will Never Be One of Us shows how...

This week, we are actually bringing you an episode from a podcast hosted by journalist Krys Boyd: It's called Think, and it dives deep on topics that would be of interest to those who enjoy Lone Star Deep Dive. Plus, it's based out of KERA studios in Dallas, so it has Texas roots. On the episode we're sharing here, Krys interviews Josh Cowen, author of The Privateers: How Billionaires Created a Culture War and Sold School Vouchers.

In the book, Cowel lays bare the surprising history of tax-funded school choice programs in the United States and warns...

On Episode 14, the Lone Star Deep Dive Podcast spotlights Dr. Brian M. Ingrassia, an associate professor of history at West Texas A&M University. We asked him to join us to talk about a new series of articles about the Comstock Law of 1873 that is being published by the Society for Historians of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era (SHGAPE), and why that and similar laws may be relevant in today’s politics (especially with regards to proposed restrictions on women's reproductive freedom).

In addition to his work as an educator, Brian is a prolific author and ed...

On Episode 13 of the Lone Star Deep Dive Podcast, we talked to an Amarillo College student that started a voting advocacy group on campus. Danna Gonzalez, President of the Voters Voice Club, shared with us her passion for getting young people involved in politics, engaged with elections, and empowered by making their opinions heard at the polls. Voters Voice is a nonpartisan club open to Amarillo College students with a goal of educating, mobilizing, and spreading awareness to the student body about voting, civic duties, and current affairs.The group currently has 10 Volunteer Deputy Registrars ready to help any...

On Episode 12 the Lone Star Deep Dive Podcast features Catlow Shipper presenting “Utilizing the Run-Off: Shifting to a “Hydro-Local” Approach”, during the Stewarding Our Water Future Conference this year.

Catlow Shipek has a MSc in Watershed Management from the University of Arizona and over 15 years of experience in applied watershed management and planning, and policy specializing in urban applications like water harvesting, green infrastructure, stream restoration, and eco-sanitation. Catlow serves as the co-lead of the Santa Cruz Watershed Collaborative and has served on the Citizens’ Water Advisory Committee for Tucson Water including Chair of the Conservation & Education subcommitt...

On Episode 11 the Lone Star Deep Dive Podcast features David Hauls Ph.D. presenting “Playas: Keystone Ecosystems of the Southern High Plains”, during the Stewarding Our Water Future Conference this year.

David Haukos Ph.D. is currently the Unit Leader of the Kansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at Kansas State University. Previously, he was the Regional Migratory Management specialist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. David developed a deep appreciation and strong connection with playa wetlands during nearly three decades of researching, managing, and educating others on playas in the Southern High Plains of T...

On Episode 10 the Lone Star Deep Dive Podcast features Andrew Millison presenting “Practices to Move from Water Scarcity to Water Abundance”, during the Stewarding Our Water Future Conference this year.

Andrew Millison is the founder of Oregon State University’s Permaculture Design program, where he introduced a revolutionary ecological design system into the mainstream university establishment, educating tens of thousands of students. His popular YouTube Channel boasts hundreds of thousands of subscribers with tens of millions of views, where he documents the most impactful ecological projects on Earth and presents them in both an artistic and technical manner...

On Episode 9 the Lone Star Deep Dive Podcast features Sam Hege presenting “Migrating to the Ogallaga: Using Historical Analysis to Imagine New Hydrologic Cycles”, during the Stewarding Our Water Future Conference this year.

Sam Hege Ph.D. is a Postdoctoral Associate in the Program in Agrarian Studies at Yale University. He received his Ph.D. in History from Rutgers University-New Brunswick, NJ, and his research broadly examines the history of the Ogallala Aquifer as a source of profit, migration, work, and activism.

DIVE DEEPER!

Major grant support provided from the Tecovas Foundation.

Le...

On Episode 8 of the Lone Star Deep Dive Podcast, host Tonya Kleuskens talks with Darryl Birkenfeld Ph.D., Deputy Director, Ogallala Commons about the Darryl’s 30 plus years of experience with Ogallala Commons, the Stewarding Our Water Future Conference and featured speakers.

After serving as Executive Director of Ogallala Commons for twenty years, Darryl Birkenfeld Ph.D., is currently the Ogallala Commons Deputy Director and Stewarding Natural Resources Program Coordinator. He liven in Nazareth, Texas with his wife Joann.

DIVE DEEPER!

Major grant support provided from the Tecovas Foundation.

Learn more ab...

On Episode 7, (Part 2) of the Lone Star Deep Dive Podcast, host Tonya Kleuskens talks with Dr. Ken Kramer, Ph.D., a writer and Texas water policy specialist.

Dr. Kramer currently serves as the “public” representative on the Region H Water Planning Group, which conducts water supply planning for the 15-county area that includes Houston. He is also an “environmental” representative on the stakeholder committees on environmental flows for both the Brazos River Basin and the Trinity & San Jacinto River Basins & Galveston Bay. Dr. Kramer is also a member of the board and Treasurer of the Texas Water Foundati...

On Episode 7 (Part 1) of the Lone Star Deep Dive Podcast, host Tonya Kleuskens talks with Dr. Ken Kramer, Ph.D., a writer and Texas water policy specialist, about Water Planning in Texas, Texas water sheds environmental flow and much more.

Doctor Kim Kramer, Ph.D., is a writer and Texas water policy specialist. He currently serves as the “public” representative on the Region H Water Planning Group which conducts water supply planning for the 15-county area that includes Houston. Dr. Kramer is also an “environmental” representative on the stakeholder committees on environmental flows for both the Brazos River Ba...

On Episode 6 of the Lone Star Deep Dive Podcast, host Tonya Kleuskens talks with Caroline Petti and Leon Lowery about the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 and how the search for a Nuclear Waste Repository was derailed by political agendas and poor nuclear waste siting decisions.

In the amending of the NWPA December 22, 1982, Caroline and Leon advocated for the MRS-linkages - that is, the provisions of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act linking the Monitored Retrievable Storage (MRS) to an existing repository. It was this law that supported the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that the Nuclear...

On Episode 5 (Part 1) of the Lone Star Deep Dive Podcast, host Tonya Kleuskens and Mark Nair talk with Karen D. Hadden about her work as the Executive Director of the Sustainable Energy & Economic Development (SEED) Coalition, which aims to prevent high-level nuclear waste from being stored above ground in Andrews County Texas.

Karen D. Hadden is a former high school science teacher. She has a passion for clean air, water, and energy to protect public health and minimize climate impacts. As Executive Director of the Sustainable Energy & Economic Development (SEED) Coalition, she advocated for clean-up of coal...

On Episode 5 (Part 1) of the Lone Star Deep Dive Podcast, host Tonya Kleuskens and Mark Nair talk with Karen D. Hadden about her work as the Executive Director of the Sustainable Energy & Economic Development (SEED) Coalition, which aims to prevent high-level nuclear waste from being stored above ground in Andrews County Texas.

Karen D. Hadden is a former high school science teacher. She has a passion for clean air, water, and energy to protect public health and minimize climate impacts. As Executive Director of the Sustainable Energy & Economic Development (SEED) Coalition, she advocated for clean-up of coal...

On Episode 4 (Part 2) of the Lone Star Deep Dive Podcast, host Tonya Kleuskens talks with League of Women Voter’s of Amarillo member Katie Paul about as she provides an overview of the Civics 101 Program Slide Presentation. Claudia and Katie created Civics 101 to explain the functions of county, city, and state government, along with elections.

The Civics 101 Program is available to Civic Groups and educational organizations. To request a program for your group contact the League of Women Voter’s Amarillo at amarillolwv@gmail.com.

Claudia Stravato is currently a Political Science Adjunct Political Science Inst...

On Eposide 4 (Part 1) of the Lone Star Deep Dive Podcast, host Tonya Kleuskens talks with League of Women Voter’s of Amarillo members, Claudia Stravato and Katie Paul about their Civics 101 Program. Claudia and Katie created Civics 101 to explain the functions of county, city, and state government, along with elections. To request the program for your group contact the League of Women Voter’s Amarillo at amarillolwv@gmail.com.

Claudia Stravato is currently a Political Science Adjunct Political Science Instructor – State & Local Government at West Texas A&M University, and a former Full-Time Faculty Political Science Instructor – State...

On Episode 3 (Part 2) of the Lone Star Deep Dive Podcast, host Tonya Kleuskens and co-host Mark Nair continue the conversation with Dr. Craig Nazor.

Dr. Craig Nazor is originally from Ashtabula, Ohio, but has been a resident of Austin, Texas for 36 years. He has a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Texas at Austin, and he has composed, performed, and taught music for most of his life. However, he is also a dedicated environmentalist; that work began when he was in high school, living on the shores of Lake Erie. His past positions include President...

On Episode 3 (Part 1) of the Lone Star Deep Dive Podcast, host Tonya Kleuskens and co-host Mark Nair speak with Dr. Craig Nazor.

Dr. Craig Nazor is originally from Ashtabula, Ohio, but has been a resident of Austin, Texas for 36 years. He has a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Texas at Austin, and he has composed, performed, and taught music for most of his life. However, he is also a dedicated environmentalist; that work began when he was in high school, living on the shores of Lake Erie. His past positions include President of a...

On episode 2, Lone Star Deep Dive, host Tonya Kleuskens and co-host Mark Nair, talk with Susybelle Gosslee about her experience as the League of Women Voters Texas State Hazardous Waste Chair, her founding of Our Friends Place, a home for girls with little or no personal support, and why she feels it is important for every citizen to vote.

Susybelle Gosslee is a member of the League of Women Voters of Dallas. She has served as President for three terms and been chair of numerous committees. She is currently chair of the LWVD Education Committee.

...

On this first-ever episode of the new podcast, Lone Star Deep Dive, host Tonya Kleuskens sits down with the current co-presidents of the Amarillo League of Women Voters to check in on what’s going on with the organization during an important election year. Michelle Hoggatt and Jenny Inzerillo discuss the upcoming primary, the importance of the Nonpartisan Voters Guides and Candidate Forums, and the League’s concerted efforts to “Get Out the Vote” in 2024. They also discuss some of the projects on which the League is working, including their new Civics 101 course, the 2024 Youth Voter Registration Project, and maternal...