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Episodes

Building Consensus: Why Texas Grows When Communities Align
Feb. 24, 2026

Building Consensus: Why Texas Grows When Communities Align

In this episode of Beyond the Bite , Eddie Aldrete sits down with Texas Transportation Commissioner and long-time friend Alex Meade — not just to talk policy, but to tell the story of a problem-solver who believes progress be...

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The Cost of Lawsuits: Texas, Business, and the Road Ahead
Feb. 12, 2026

The Cost of Lawsuits: Texas, Business, and the Road Ahead

In this episode of Beyond the Bite, host Eddie Aldrete sits down with David McArthur, candidate for Texas House District 121, and Adam Blanchard, CEO of Double Diamond Transport and Tanager Logistics, for an in-depth discussi...

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Solutions Over Showmanship: How One County Commissioner is Rewriting the Playbook
Feb. 5, 2026

Solutions Over Showmanship: How One County Commissioner is Rewriting …

In this episode, Host Eddie Aldrete sits down with Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones for an in-depth discussion about her upbringing, career, and the unique challenges of representing one of the most diverse and faste...

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Why the State of Texas Cares About Municipal Spending and Indebtedness
Jan. 27, 2026

Why the State of Texas Cares About Municipal Spending and Indebtedness

In this episode, Eddie Aldrete sits down with Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock for a deep dive into fiscal management and government transparency, with a special focus on municipal spending and indebtedness. Hancock exp...

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How CPS Energy Balances Affordability & Reliability While Saving Ratepayers $3 Billion Dollars
Jan. 20, 2026

How CPS Energy Balances Affordability & Reliability While Saving Rate…

In this episode of Beyond the Bite, host Eddie Aldrete welcomes back returning guest Rudy Garza for an in-depth conversation about the current and future challenges facing CPS Energy and the broader San Antonio community. The...

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How to Turn Entrepreneurial Isolation into Authentic Leadership and Lasting Business Success
Jan. 6, 2026

How to Turn Entrepreneurial Isolation into Authentic Leadership and L…

In this episode of "Beyond the Bite," host Eddie Aldrete sits down with Melissa Mastrodomenico, current president of the San Antonio chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), and Aquila Mendez-Vald...

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Consensus or Conflict: Inside Local Government and Understanding What Matters Most
Dec. 30, 2025

Consensus or Conflict: Inside Local Government and Understanding What…

In this episode, Host Eddie Aldrete sits down with Steve Spriester and Demonte Alexander for a deep dive into San Antonio’s evolving political and civic landscape. The conversation kicks off with reflections on Spriester’s 30...

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Banking on Community and Building on a Hemisfair Moment
Dec. 9, 2025

Banking on Community and Building on a Hemisfair Moment

When host Eddie Aldrete sat down with David McGee, CEO of Amegy Bank for the Central Texas Region, he discovered why the bank moved from its longtime airport location to the city’s core. McGee said the strategic decision sign...

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From Dreams to Development: The Project Vida Story
Nov. 11, 2025

From Dreams to Development: The Project Vida Story

In this episode of Beyond the Bite, host Eddie Aldrete welcomes Thad Rutherford, President of SouthStar, and Jessica Loudermilk, Chief of Staff to the president of Texas A&M University - San Antonio, for an in-depth conversat...

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From Status Quo to Game Changer: Reimagining San Antonio
Oct. 28, 2025

From Status Quo to Game Changer: Reimagining San Antonio

In this episode of Beyond the Bite, host Eddie Aldrete sits down with Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai for an in-depth discussion about the upcoming county ballot propositions A and B. Judge Sakai provides listeners with a rich...

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How to Earn a $2 billion Investment in One Simple Step: Using the Power of Your Vote
Oct. 21, 2025

How to Earn a $2 billion Investment in One Simple Step: Using the Pow…

In this episode of Beyond the Bite, host Eddie Aldrete welcomes Mike Lynd, CEO of Kairoi Residential, for a deep dive into economic development and the pivotal opportunities facing San Antonio. Mike shares his personal journe...

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Project YaREN: Changing the Energy Game in South Texas
Oct. 7, 2025

Project YaREN: Changing the Energy Game in South Texas

In this episode of Beyond the Bite , host Eddie Aldrete turns his attention to a story on the Texas gulf coast as he sits down with Stephanie Hajducek from Project YaREN and Dolly Gonzales Trolley from Voices for Coastal Bend...

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Reviving the Alameda Theatre with Pete Cortez and Trey Jacobson
Sept. 23, 2025

Reviving the Alameda Theatre with Pete Cortez and Trey Jacobson

In this episode of Beyond the Bite, host Eddie Aldrete is joined by Pete Cortez, CEO of La Familia Cortez Restaurants and board chair of the Alameda Conservancy, along with Trey Jacobson, consultant and interim executive dire...

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Driven by Community: April Ancira on Cars, Culture, and Civic Life in San Antonio
Sept. 16, 2025

Driven by Community: April Ancira on Cars, Culture, and Civic Life in…

In this episode, host Eddie Aldrete sits down with April Ancira of the Ancira Automotive Group for a wide-ranging, candid conversation about the state of the auto industry, the value of giving back to your community, and the ...

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Navigating Political Turbulence: Arena Votes, Leadership Styles, and the Future of San Antonio with Trish DeBerry and Kevin Wolff
Aug. 26, 2025

Navigating Political Turbulence: Arena Votes, Leadership Styles, and …

The question going around town is when will the campaigning stop and the governing start? In this episode of Beyond the Bite, host Eddie Aldrete sits down with Trish DeBerry, CEO of CENTRO, and Kevin Wolff, partner at Spire R...

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Laura Saldivar Luna on Breaking the Piñata and Finding the Potential Within
Aug. 12, 2025

Laura Saldivar Luna on Breaking the Piñata and Finding the Potential …

In this episode of Beyond the Bite, host Eddie Aldrete sits down with Laura Saldivar Luna, founder and creator of Piñata Possible, to explore the journey of breaking through self-imposed limitations and embracing possibility....

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Ep 62. Who Calls the Shots? Council, Staff, and the People’s Voice
July 29, 2025

Ep 62. Who Calls the Shots? Council, Staff, and the People’s Voice

In this episode of Beyond the Bite, host Eddie Aldrete sits down with San Antonio City Council members Marina Alderete Gavito and Marc Whyte to discuss a range of hot topics affecting the city. The conversation kicks off with...

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Marc Whyte & Misty Spears: Navigating Tragedy, Budgets, and Hard Choices
July 8, 2025

Marc Whyte & Misty Spears: Navigating Tragedy, Budgets, and Hard Choi…

In Episode 61 of "Beyond the Bite," host Eddie Aldrete is joined by returning Councilman Marc Whyte (District 10) and newly elected Councilwoman Misty Spears (District 9) to discuss the pressing challenges facing San Antonio’...

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Ep 60. Sukh Kaur and Ivalis Meza Gonzalez on City Hall Challenges, Budget Shortfalls and Opportunities
June 24, 2025

Ep 60. Sukh Kaur and Ivalis Meza Gonzalez on City Hall Challenges, Bu…

Meet two of the voices from San Antonio City Council. In this episode, host Eddie Aldrete sits down with San Antonio City Councilwomen Sukh Kaur of District 1 and Ivalis Meza Gonzalez of District 8 to explore the experiences and challenges facing b...

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Ep. 59 How Ranching, Baseball, and Faith Shaped Tano Tijerina’s Life in Webb County
June 3, 2025

Ep. 59 How Ranching, Baseball, and Faith Shaped Tano Tijerina’s Life …

In this episode of Beyond the Bite, host Eddie Aldrete sits down with Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina for an in-depth conversation about family, leadership, and life along the Texas border. Judge Tijerina opens up about his u...

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Ep 58. Rolando Pablos and Gina Ortiz Jones Race Toward The Finish Line in Mayoral Runoff
May 19, 2025

Ep 58. Rolando Pablos and Gina Ortiz Jones Race Toward The Finish Lin…

In this special live edition of Beyond the Bite, host Eddie Aldrete welcomes San Antonio mayoral candidates Gina Ortiz Jones and Rolando Pablos for an in-depth conversation on some of the most pressing issues facing the city....

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Ep 57.  Low Turnout and High Stakes: What Defined the 2025 Mayor’s Race in San Antonio
May 6, 2025

Ep 57. Low Turnout and High Stakes: What Defined the 2025 Mayor’s Ra…

In this episode of Beyond the Bite, host Eddie Aldrete sits down with guests Rob Killen and Erin Bley to break down the unexpected twists in San Antonio’s recent mayoral and city council elections. The discussion opens with a deep dive into the may...

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Ep 56.  Who Will Lead San Antonio’s Next Era As Mayor?
April 21, 2025

Ep 56. Who Will Lead San Antonio’s Next Era As Mayor?

In this special episode of Beyond the Bite, host Eddie Aldrete offers listeners an in-depth "Mayoral Candidate Mashup" ahead of San Antonio’s 2025 mayoral election. Instead of the typical soundbite answers found in traditional forums, this episode ...

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Ep 55. Melissa Cabello Havrda On Her Mayoral Campaign and San Antonio's Future
April 10, 2025

Ep 55. Melissa Cabello Havrda On Her Mayoral Campaign and San Antonio…

The odds of her succeeding in life have never really been in her favor, but through hard work and determination, Melissa Cabello Havrda overcame the odds, graduated from college, graduated from law school, began her own law firm and got elected to ...

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