The Big Picture
The civic educator behind Democrasexy, Becky Bullard, launched a new YouTube show and podcast called The Texan Optimist on Wednesday, Sept. 23. The project aims to tell stories about “Texas women and LGBTQIA+ folks and Texans of color who made radical change for the whole country,” and is organized under a 501(c)(3) structure so Bullard says she will not advocate for current parties or candidates. The trailer and first episode are available now at thetexanoptimist.com and on YouTube.
Only this publication would note that Austin’s professional optimism market keeps expanding like a neighborhood coffee shop that also runs for city council — earnest, persistent, and impossible to ignore.
What Changed
Bullard, already known locally as the face of Democrasexy and a former co-host of The Rabble, shifted from short-form civic education and political chatter into a history-focused podcast and show explicitly tied to Texas’ past. The new series centers named figures: the first episode profiles Sarah Weddington, and a later episode focuses on Lawrence v. Texas and Tyron Garner.
We’ll say it plainly: she moved from riffing on current politics to curating archival narratives — same civic impulse, different delivery mechanism.
What's Next
Bullard will screen the first episode on Oct. 22 in Sarah Weddington’s former law office and home on 14th Street, and she says she hopes to petition the state for a historical marker at the site. Listeners can celebrate the podcast launch tonight, Sept. 23, at Cathedral ATX with snacks, drag, music and more. Bullard is also marking Sept. 27 with a community wedding celebration honoring Tyron Garner during the episode about Lawrence v. Texas. For the podcast and episodes, go to https://thetexanoptimist.com and the trailer and first episode are live on YouTube.
If you want your civic education with a confetti cannon and a plan to make the map remember someone, this is your new feed.