Shows / Real State
Real State
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 |…
Episodes
- Real State
Election 2026: Southern States at the Ballot Box
The 2026 midterm elections are reshaping state leadership across the South. In this special edition of Real | State, host Lindsey Gray provides a nonpartisan…
- Real State
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…
- Real State
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…
- Real State
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…
- Real State
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…
- Real State
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…
- Real State
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…
- Real State
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…
- Real State
Rural Louisiana: Sustaining Communities for the Next Generation, with Rep. C. Travis Johnson
How can rural communities preserve their identity while preparing for the future? In this episode of Real | State, host Lindsey Gray sits down with Louisiana…
- Real State
From Policy to Results: Governing Tennessee Effectively, with Sen. Bo Watson
How do states know whether public policy is actually working? Tennessee Senator Bo Watson joins Real | State to discuss the importance of measuring…
- Real State
Inside Kentucky’s Economic Development Evolution, with Speaker Pro Tem David Meade
Kentucky Speaker Pro Tem David Meade joins host Lindsey Gray to discuss the state's economic development strategy, from site readiness and infrastructure…
- Real State
Balancing Budgets & Better Human Services Outcomes, with OK Rep. Daniel Pae
How do states balance fiscal responsibility with the growing demand for human services, behavioral health support, and child welfare programs? Host Lindsey…
- Real State
Alabama’s Strategic Approach to Military & Veterans, with Casey Rogers of the Alabama State Military Department
Host Lindsey Gray speaks with Casey Rogers of the Alabama State Military Department about the state’s growing focus on supporting veterans, military families…
- Real State
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…
- Real State
South Carolina Education with Senator Hembree: Gains, Gaps, and What’s Next?
outh Carolina Senator Greg Hembree joins host Lindsey Gray to discuss the future of education policy in the Palmetto State—from school choice and charter…
- Real State
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…
- Real State
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…
- Real State
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…
- Real State
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…
- Real State
Grid to Growth: Energy Policy & Economic Opportunity, with Delegate Clay Riley
Host Lindsey Gray speaks with West Virginia Delegate Clay Riley to explore how energy policy is shaping the state’s economic future during the 2026 legislative…
- Real State
Right-Sizing Housing, Taxes & Community Stability in Georgia, with Speaker Jon Burns
In the inaugural episode of Real | State, host Lindsey Gray sits down with Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns to explore affordability as a defining issue for…
- Real State
Trailer
Across the country, the decisions made in state capitals don't just shape policy, they shape everyday life. From how we build and strengthen our communities…