Episodes

In this episode of Beyond the Bite, host Eddie Aldrete is in conversation with Jeff Webster, the newly appointed CEO of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, and Katie Harvey, the outgoing board chair who spearheaded the CEO selection proces...

In today's episode, we sit down with San Antonio River Authority board candidate Liza Gonzalez Barratachea, who will take us on a journey through the role and purpose of the River Authority in managing water resources, and the need for public engag...

In this episode, we continue our conversation with award-winning Washington Post journalist, Arelis Hernandez who discusses her coverage of the tragedy in Uvalde, Texas. Hernandez shares her firsthand experience of receiving the news, rushing to th...

In part one of this two-part episode of Beyond the Bite, we dive into the fascinating journey of Arelis Hernandez, a San Antonio-based journalist with The Washington Post who covers South Texas politics as well as immigration and border-related iss...

Managing a utility isn't easy, and when you throw in a once in a hundred year winter storm, record breaking heat waves, pandemic supply chain backlogs, inflation, and supply and demand lines that come close to crossing too often, well that makes li...

Texas House Bill 2127 is officially called the “Texas Regulatory Consistency Act,” but others know it as the “Stay In Your Lane Bill,” and even the “Death Star Bill.” But as of September 1, 2023, everyone will have to call it the law.On one side o...

The budget proposed by City Manager Erik Walsh is revealing in its response to resident needs and concerns. It will put more cops on the streets, work harder and smarter to shelter the homeless, and it identifies the massive expansion and renovatio...

There is a new political player in town and their members’ goal is to elect people to the San Antonio City Council who have a shared, community vision, not a political ideology.  They call themselves a Coalition of the Willing that represents the E...

As chairman of the US House Budget Committee, West Texas Congressman Jodey Arrington spends a lot of his time trying to convince his colleagues to stop spending money we don’t have. In this episode he talks about his love for West Texas and the har...

Former Congressman Will Hurd jumps into the presidential race.  He says this country needs a “reboot,” we need solid leadership, and says Americans need to move on from Donald Trump.  The former CIA Director also says we need to fear the Chinese go...

This episode analyzes who won the runoff elections for San Antonio City Council districts 1 and 7, and why and how they won. Additionally, we ask newly sworn in city councilman Marc Whyte and runoff winners Marina Alderete Gavito and Sukh Kaur, questions about the priority issues they plan to focus on, how they plan to get work done with potentially four of their council colleagues running for mayor, and we asked if the new business backed groups San Antonio Equity Alliance and BetterSA supporte...

Ever wondered why Congress can’t fix our broken immigration issue? Perhaps it suits them better to use it as a political piñata. In this episode, there will be no talk of Title 42 or the border surge. This episode is on how to fix the immigration system and how the National Immigration Forum is leading the way on this conversation. Links and Resources: National Immigration Forum Action Fund – Shining George H. W. Bush And Ronald Reagan Debate On Immigration In 1980 | TIME Bill Clinton on Illega...

Successful cybersecurity entrepreneur John Dickson talks about his hopes and fears in our abilities to protect ourselves, what the new airport expansion will bring, and his thoughts on the relevancy of chambers of commerce. Links and Resources: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/597684/sandworm-by-andy-greenberg/ https://samcoinc.org/ @johnbdickson @AldreteEddie @a_greenberg @BeyondTheBite @Ron_Nirenberg @JLeighSaucedo @SATairport @greaterSATX @SAmobility Podcast Production Services by E...

A look at who won, who lost, and who wound up in the June 10th runoff election. We also talk about the defeat of Proposition A, what lies ahead for the new City Council, and who the likely candidates are for the 2025 San Antonio Race for Mayor. Resources and Links: @jeffswebster @BeyondTheBiteEA @AldreteEddie Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media

Congressman Tony Gonzales is on a mission to protect his constituents from the fentanyl coming across the border, he is working to help the people of Uvalde heal, and he is helping presidential candidates see the border up close and personal. He also thinks Congress needs to spend more time on “legal” immigration so that people have pathways to come to this country. Catch his comments on these issues and so much more in this episode. Topics and Questions Covered: (2:02) - Tony's trip to Mexico ...

With the recent failed merger attempt between the San Antonio Chamber and the North San Antonio Chamber, we pull back to the 30,000 foot level and ask the broad question of what role should a chamber play in San Antonio, and whether our leading chambers are fulfilling that role. We also ask the broader question: Are our local chambers in the business of advocacy and if so, what is the current state of the advocacy of business community issues. Links and Resources: https://www.sachamber.org/ htt...

Louis Barrios was born into a life of service. He serves his creator, his family, his community and his customers. His work ethic is both inspiring and infectious, and he has worked alongside his sister Diana to build the Los Barrios family enterprise into the successful business it is today. We talk to Louis about the challenges of being in the restaurant industry, and learn how he and his sister overcame the challenges from a pandemic shutdown. Links and Resources: https://www.losbarriosresta...

This episode delves into the pitfalls, dangers and unintended consequences of Proposition A, and lessons learned from Portland, Seattle, Tacoma, San Francisco, Chicago and Austin. The more people learn about how Prop A incentivizes theft of property, services and damage to property, the more they are opposed to it. Links and Resources: https://sanantoniosafe.org/ https://www.protectsa.net/ Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media

Beyond the Bite is a podcast hosted by Eddie Aldrete that explores the stories behind the business community of San Antonio and South Texas. Eddie interviews job creators, business leaders, and community pillars, offering unique perspectives on the economic drivers of the region. With decades of experience at the intersection of business, public policy, and politics, Eddie is known for his advocacy efforts and relationship building. Tune in to Beyond the Bite to discover the stories that shape o...