The Civics Lab
The Civics Lab at St. Edward's University (Austin, TX) is a student and faculty collaborative podcast on civics life in America. We interview guests and discuss issues around the intersection of politics, economics, society, public policy, religion and other important issues to the civics life in the United States and Texas. Dr. David Thomason, on the faculty at St. Ed's, is the director of the Kozmetsky Center of Excellence and project manager of the Civics Lab. Students at St. Ed's produce, research and comment on the podcast. The Civics Lab team is led by St. Edward's University students Jacob Zivin and the Kozmetsky Fellows team. The podcast is brought to you by the Kozmetsky Center. Support the Civics Lab Podcast by becoming a donor or sponsor! Your contribution helps us keep meaningful conversations going. Donate today at bit.ly/KOZDONOR, or contact Jacie Minnick Associate Director of Development via email at jminnick@stedwards.edu to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.
Episodes
37 episodes
Exploring Civic Education through Statecraft Simulations
Description: In this episode of the Civics Lab, we sit down with Joe Jaeger, founder and CEO of Statecraft Simulations, a project-based learning simulation for civics and politics. We delve into his entrepreneurial journey creating the p...
Public Goods and Urban Growth: Housing and Environmental Responsibility in Austin and Travis County
DescriptionThe Civics Lab toured an abandoned Travis County landfill now slated for redevelopment into housing. We explore its history, a lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against Travis County, and the developer’...
The Role of Leadership in Civic Progress: A Conversation with Leadership Austin's CEO
DescriptionThe Civics Lab sits down with Jill Goodman, CEO of Leadership Austin. Tune in to learn about Leadership Austin’s dynamic leadership programs and the diverse cohorts they engage. Jill shares insights on the importance of to...
The Civics Lab talks Austin's Public Transportation with CapMetro CEO Dottie Watkins"
In this episode of The Civics Lab, we sit down with Dottie Watkins, President and CEO of CapMetro. Dottie shares her remarkable journey starting as a bus operator while attending the University of Texas at Austin to leading the entire organizat...
The Civics Lab Attend Hillhops: A Celebration of Texas Beer History
Description: In this episode of The Civics Lab Podcast, we take you inside the annual Hillhops event at St. Edward's Munday Library - home to one of the country's few brewery archives focused specifically on Texas craft brewing. ...
A Holy Land at War: An Interview with Mark Patinkin
Podcast description On January 15, 2025, We interviewed the author of The Holy Land at War. The Civics lab also brought in Dr. Selin Guner a professor of political science at St. Edwards's University. This conversati...
Envisioning Rural Texas: The Civics Lab Attends The Texas Rural Symposium
Podcast Description On November 14, 2024, The Civics Lab attended the Texas Tribune’s Rural Symposium at the University of Texas in San Antonio. This event featured insightful panel discussions on the unique challenges...
St. Ed's Students Talk Elections, Fairness and Fact Checking
St. Edward's University PoliSci honors students, Jacob Zivin, Paige Kennedy, George Reyes, and Janie Herring analyze statements from our Election panel with Grace Chemane (League of Women's Voters), Chuck DeVore (Texas Public Policy Foundation)...
Unpacking the 2024 Presidential Election: Economics, Politics, and Campaigns
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Chad Long, a Political Science Professor at St. Edward's University and an expert in American politics. Dr. Long offers his insights on federal spending, analyzes the 2024 presidential campaign, and dives i...
Quick Take with Victoria Guerrero on the South Korean Music Scene in Austin
Victoria Guerrero, a Kozmetsky Fellow at St. Edward's University, shares her research on the relationship between South Korean music and Austin. She discusses the Asian Music Festival in Central Texas and the variety of cultures represent...
Is Texas Restricting or Securing Voting Access? Part 2
In this second part of our episode, we discuss whether Texas is restricting or securing voting access. Our discussion is with Chuck Devore, Texas Policy Foundat...
Is Texas Restricting or Securing Voting Access? Part 1
In this episode, we discuss whether Texas is restricting or securing voting access. Our discussion is with Chuck Devore, Texas Policy Foundation,
Quick Take on Voting Access in Texas
Interview with Amy Stansbury, Austin Common and Grace Chimene, with League of Women Voters Texas after the Kozmestky Center's panel on voting access ...
Politics of Voter Registration- Conversation with Travis County Voter Registrar Bruce Elfant
Before someone votes, they must first register to vote. States across the country vary in how they register voters. According to the National Conferenc...
Discussing Democracy and Tyranny with Kim Wehle
In this episode, the Civics Lab team discusses the challenges of democracy with Legal Professor and ABC Legal Correspondent, Kim Wehle. We discussed the current state of the United States Constitut...
Interview with State Representative Gene Wu
In this episode, we had the opportunity to speak with State Representative Gene Wu. Gene Wu is a Democrat representing District 137, located in West Houston. It was an enormous pleasure to talk with Gene about the current legislative sess...
Jay Kleberg, Candidate for Texas Land Commissioner
You may be asking, what is the Texas Land Commission? Texas elects a Land Commissioner? Why? In this episode, we have Jay Kleberg in the Civics Lab studio to discuss why he is running for this statewide office and what makes t...
How a Middle School in Austin is Making Salsa and Growing Young Entrepreneurs
Civics Lab team members went to John P. Ojeda Middle School, in Southeast Austin to discuss a project that teachers and students are collaborating to grow, market and finance the production of salsa.&n...
Quick Take at the Texas Capitol for Disability Voting Rights with RevUp!
Join Michael Baumgartner and Esther Heymans as they attend and interview participants at the RevUP Texas (Register Educate Vote Use Your Power!) rally to promote voter registration and raising awareness...
Russia, Money In Politics, and January 6 Attackers
We sat down for a casual conversation revolving around some of the biggest political stories of the week, and some that might have flown under your radar. Listen in as we discuss the January 6th hearings, Beto's defamation lawsuit, ...
Quick Take on Women Running for Office in Texas with Claire Campos-O'Neal
In this Quick Take, we sat down with Claire Campos-O'Neal, a candidate for state representative from an Austin district. She discusses her passion for education and the way more women can run ...
Interview with Lynn Osgood of Civic Arts
Civic Arts is an organization that promotes equity, justice, and civic engagement through the arts. We sat down with Civic Arts' Executive Director Lynn Osgood to hear her thoughts on the state of civics in America, how we can make engagement m...
Ross Ramsey discusses Texas Politics
Ross Ramsey. co-founder and chief editor of the Texas Tribune, sat down in the Civics Lab Studio this week. A lively and information conversation, Ramsey shares his thoughts on the state of Texas politics. We cover the primary...
What's all the Buzz?- Interview with Erika Thompson and the ABC (Austin Bee City) Resolution
We did a quick take with Erika Thompson (@texasbeeworks), founder of Texas Beeworks and professional bee keeper, along with advocates from UT and the community, on a recent Austin City Council to make Austin a Bee City. What's a Bee...
