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Real State

CSG South

REAL | STATE is a policy-forward podcast from CSG South spotlighting the bold ideas, practical solutions, and cross-sector leadership shaping the future of the Southern United States.

Hosted by Lindsey Gray, Regional Executive Director of CSG South, each episode offers candid insights from state legislators, government leaders, and policy experts across the South’s 15 member states. From workforce and education to infrastructure, energy, innovation, and intergovernmental partnerships, REAL | STATE explores the real issues—and real solutions—driving progress and prosperity across the region.

Grounded in CSG South’s trusted, nonpartisan voice, the show bridges public service with private-sector and nonprofit perspectives to inform, connect, and inspire. Whether you’re an elected official, policy leader, or engaged listener, REAL | STATE is your front-row seat to the evolving landscape of Southern state government.
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  • 21 episodes
  • fortnightly
  • Avg 35 min
  • English

Episodes 21

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  • S1 · E20
    October 22 · 36 min

    From Wall Street to Texas Y’all Street

    Texas is making a bold play to become a major hub for U.S. capital markets. In this episode of Real | State, host Lindsey Gray talks with Texas Senator Tan Parker about the rise of “Y’all Street,” the launch of the Texas Stock Exchange, and the...

    • Transcript
  • S1 · E19
    October 8 · 44 min

    Education, Investment & What Comes Next in Arkansas

    Arkansas House Speaker Brian S. Evans joins host Lindsey Gray to discuss the state’s evolving approach to education—from early literacy and teacher investment to school funding, workforce preparation and school safety. Evans shares what Arkansas is...

    • Transcript
  • S1 · E18
    September 24 · 10 min

    Voices of the South: Leaders on What’s Next

    We set up a podcast microphone at this year’s Southern Legislative Conference in Lexington, Kentucky, so we could hear directly from legislators and legislative staff across the region. They share the issues they believe will shape the South over the...

    • Transcript
  • S1 · E17
    September 10 · 36 min

    Reentry on the Road: Florida’s Approach to Community Corrections

    Florida is rethinking how probation and re-entry services reach the people who need them. Lindsey Gray talks with Joe Winkler, Assistant Secretary of Community Corrections for the Florida Department of Corrections, about the state’s award-winning...

    • Transcript
  • S1 · E16
    August 27 · 33 min

    Leading Through AI: What's Next for State Government

    Artificial intelligence has become a practical tool for improving operations and serving citizens more effectively. In this episode of Real | State, Lindsey Gray sits down with Doug Robinson, Executive Director of NASCIO, to explore how states are...

    • Transcript
  • S1 · E15
    August 13 · 42 min

    Building Credibility into Public Service

    What makes public institutions credible in an era of AI, social media, and declining public trust? Recorded live at the CSG South Senior Legislative Conference (SLC) in Lexington, Kentucky, host Lindsey Gray sits down with Missouri Senate...

    • Transcript
  • S1 · E14
    July 30 · 1 hr 11 min

    The Future of Medicaid: Challenges, Costs & Care

    Medicaid is at the center of some of the biggest policy debates facing states today—from rising healthcare costs and workforce shortages to rural hospital sustainability and evolving federal requirements. Recorded live at the Southern Legislative...

    • Transcript
  • S1 · E8
    May 7 · 29 min

    An Inside Look at Tennessee’s Patient First Act, with Rep. Dan Howell

    Real | State host Lindsey Gray sits down with Tennessee Representative Dan Howell to unpack the proposed Patient First Act, a sweeping piece of legislation aimed at reshaping how health insurance impacts patients, providers, and access to care. The...

    • Transcript
  • S1 · E6
    April 9 · 36 min

    North Carolina’s Approach to Disaster Resilience, with Rep. Mark Pless

    As natural disasters grow more frequent and severe, states are being pushed to rethink how they prepare, respond, and rebuild. In this episode of Real State, North Carolina Representative Mark Pless shares a rare dual perspective as both a legislator...

    • Transcript
  • S1 · E5
    March 26 · 36 min

    Inside Virginia’s Child Welfare Reforms, with Delegate Katrina Callsen

    Lindsey Gray sits down with Virginia Delegate Katrina Callsen to explore how child welfare policy can better support children and families. From expanding kinship care and preventing unnecessary foster care placements to improving school stability and...

    • Transcript
  • S1 · E4
    March 12 · 41 min

    Staffing State Legislatures: Doing More With Less, with Jay Hartz

    When legislative sessions end, the work of state government continues behind the scenes. In this episode of Real | State, host Lindsey Gray is joined by Jay Hartz, Executive Director of Kentucky’s Legislative Research Commission, to explore how a...

    • Transcript
  • S1 · E3
    February 26 · 41 min

    Revitalizing Rural Mississippi, with Senator Rod Hickman

    Host Lindsey Gray sits down with Mississippi State Senator Rod Hickman to explore how Mississippi’s dramatic rise from 49th to 9th in fourth-grade reading is reshaping opportunity across rural communities. The conversation connects early literacy to...

    • Transcript
Showing 1–20 of 21 episodes