The Texan Optimist

The Texan Who Defeated the All-White Primary

Becky Bullard — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 15:44:09 -0500

On this solo episode of The Texan Optimist, host Becky Bullard gets into the story of the Texans who ended the all-white primary for the entire country. Thanks, Dr. Lonnie Smith! He won the Smith v Allwright Supreme Court case with the help of NAACP attorney Thurgood Marshall and many other brave folks.

Get email updates about The Texan Optimist podcast, support our work with a tax-deductible contribution, or reach out for sponsorship opportunities at TheTexanOptimist.com

LINKS:

In Austin? Come out and hang! October 10: Gay History Month Screening with author Dale Carpenter! https://www.thetexanoptimist.com/events/gay-history-month-screening-of-the-texan-optimist

Buy books from my Bookshop (your purchase helps support my work!): https://bookshop.org/lists/the-texan-optimist-book-list

13th Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krfcq5pF8u8

THANK YOU to:

Record ATX - https://www.recordatx.com/

Lady Diarist - https://ladydiarist.substack.com/

The Hudspeth Foundation - https://hudspethfoundation.org/

The Texans Who Legalized Gay Sex

Becky Bullard — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 15:28:16 -0500

Nikki DaVaughn joins The Texan Optimist host Becky Bullard to discuss the story of the Texans who legalized gay sex – Tyron Garner and John Lawrence. (And all the amazing attorneys and advocates who worked so hard for the Lawrence v Texas Supreme Court victory!)

Get email updates about The Texan Optimist podcast, support our work with a tax-deductible contribution, or reach out for sponsorship opportunities at TheTexanOptimist.com

LINKS:

October 10: Gay History Month Screening with author Dale Carpenter! https://www.thetexanoptimist.com/events/gay-history-month-screening-of-the-texan-optimist

Nikki’s website: https://www.nikkidavaughn.com/

Shop my book list for this episode:

The Texan Optimist on BookShop.org

Go see Fat Bottom Cabaret: https://tickets.austintheatre.org/13159

Gilley’s - https://texasarchive.org/2017_00513

THANK YOU to:

Record ATX - https://www.recordatx.com/

Lady Diarist - https://ladydiarist.substack.com/

The Hudspeth Foundation - https://hudspethfoundation.org/

The Texans Who Gave Us All Abortion Rights

Becky Bullard — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Serita Fontanesi joins The Texan Optimist host Becky Bullard to discuss the story of the young Texas women who won Roe v Wade.

Get email updates about The Texan Optimist podcast, support our work with a tax-deductible contribution, or reach out for sponsorship opportunities at TheTexanOptimist.com

Shop my book list for this episode:

The Texan Optimist on BookShop.org

About URGE:

https://urge.org/

Abortion rights in Texas now:

https://www.aclutx.org/know-your-rights/abortion-texas/

Linda Coffee article in the Texas Tribune:

https://www.texastribune.org/2022/07/12/linda-coffee-abortion-texas-roe/

About The Rag newspaper:

http://www.nuevoanden.com/rag/background.html

https://aliceembree.substack.com/p/the-rag-v-regents

https://www.texasobserver.org/roes-grassroots-beginnings-abortion-ut-austin/

About the Lone Star Three:

https://lonestarthree.com/

https://msmagazine.com/2026/03/05/lone-star-three-documentary-roe-v-wade-texas-abortion-birth-control-victoria-foe-judy-smith-barbara-hines/

More about Barbara Hines:

https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/barbaras-fire-11762585/

Introducing The Texan Optimist

Becky Bullard — Sun, 20 Sep 2026 10:29:08 -0500

Ready to feel good about being Texan? The Texan Optimist is a new video podcast telling the stories of Texas women, LGBTQIA+ folks, and Texans of color who took brave action that resulted in incredible progress for all of America.

Each week host Becky Bullard (founder of Democrasexy) will be joined by a different guest to discuss a story from Texas history and how it impacts us today.

Launching on YouTube and all podcast platforms September 23. Subscribe so you don't miss any episodes!

THANK YOU to Record ATX and Lady Diarist for sponsoring!