The Bastrop Podcast
The Bastrop Podcast — real people, real stories, all from right here in Bastrop, Texas. Hosted by Matt & Liana Walker of Wisdom House Realty Group & Bastrop Drone & Media Co., we bring you weekly convos with the locals shaping our town. From city leaders to Main Street business owners, we cover real estate, new developments, small-town entrepreneurship, Bible reading journeys, digital marketing, and more. Sponsored by Wisdom House Realty Group. Follow @WisdomHouse_TX and reach out if you know someone we should feature!hello@wisdomhousetx.com
The Bastrop Podcast
Bastrop Mayor Ishmael Harris on Smart Growth, Infrastructure, and Bastrop’s Future
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In this episode of The Bastrop Podcast, Matt sits down with Bastrop Mayor Ishmael Harris to talk about what it’s really like stepping into leadership during a season of rapid growth — and how Bastrop can move forward without losing the small-town character people love.
Mayor Harris shares what surprised him most after going from campaigning to serving in office, why “boring” city council meetings can actually be a good sign, and how he approaches unity, transparency, and decision-making when residents have strong (and sometimes divided) opinions. The conversation covers smart growth, what city government can and cannot control, and why major projects take longer than most people realize.
We also dig into what’s already in motion behind the scenes — from street repairs and mobility connections (including the Blakey extension discussion) to wastewater capacity planning, and how Bastrop is thinking long-term about healthcare access, recreation, and building a more self-sustaining community where families can live, work, and thrive locally.
Location: Bastrop, TX
Guest: Mayor Ishmael Harris (City of Bastrop)
Topics: Bastrop growth & development, smart growth meaning, city council leadership, community unity & trust, infrastructure and road projects, wastewater planning, traffic and mobility, healthcare access and a regional hospital discussion, recreation and future rec center needs, Bastrop events and community identity (Juneteenth, Homecoming, festivals), civic engagement and voting, Bastrop’s 5–10 year vision
Connect with Ishmael Harris:
Phone: 512-718-5957
Email: iharris@cityofbastrop.org
Connect with The Bastrop Podcast:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/bastroppodcast
and @wisdomhouse_tx
Website: wisdomhousetx.com
Podcast: The Bastrop Podcast