The Brazos River Authority shares updates on projects, water supply, and news in several ways, but none so far allow you to listen on the go.
That is, until now.
The BRA has launched a podcast called Unpacking the Brazos River. This platform will provide in-depth insights into our organization, services, projects, and water-related information. This podcast will also replace the existing Brown Bag on the Brazos. Since its launch in April 2021, this bi-monthly, live-streamed luncheon series has effectively served as a valuable means for sharing information with the public.
Now it’s time to transition to something new.
“We're adapting and making some changes to how we provide information to the public,” said Judi Pierce, public information officer. “This is a new direction we're moving in, in a way that fits your life, letting you listen whenever and wherever it's most convenient.”
The Brazos River Authority uses several different ways to share important information with the public, making sure it's accessible to as many people as possible. This includes updating the BRA’s website weekly with new educational information and BRA Board of Directors actions, using six social media platforms to answer public questions and share project updates, sending out an email newsletter with more in-depth articles on water supply and environmental projects, and streaming Board of Directors meetings live. The BRA also offers a free Speakers Bureau program, which allows community groups and organizations, such as chambers of commerce and gardening clubs, to ask for an expert to speak to their group on topics including water safety, water supply, water and wastewater treatment, future planning, and more.
“I feel like this is a good natural transition into a new avenue that is going to reach people in a way that is accessible to them on a platform that's already really popular for people,” said Charlie L. Shugart, assistant public information officer. “And it's at their convenience as well. Rather than having a live stream meeting on a Thursday at noon, they can access that information at any time. You can listen to a whole episode at once or catch it in pieces while you're cooking, doing laundry, fishing, or working out.”
Why is it called Unpacking the Brazos River, Pierce asked.
“When we talk about unpacking, we're not just looking at a list of items. We're taking something apart, piece by piece, to really dig into its layers and understand what it's all about,” Shugart said. “That's exactly what we're doing here. We're taking topics that affect people in the Brazos River Basin, things we're involved in, and exploring them on a much deeper level.”
Each episode will feature different guests. General Manager and CEO David Collinsworth will join to discuss Texas water rights and how that affects those who live in the basin. Chief Environmental Officer Tiffany Malzahn will discuss why you should never release your pet goldfish in the river. There will be a wide variety of people from BRA reservoirs, water and wastewater treatment plants, and more experts in their field, along with special guests from outside organizations.
You can subscribe to Unpacking the Brazos River wherever you listen to podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, YouTube, and more, or bookmark this handy website: https://brazosriverauthority.transistor.fm/subscribe. You’ll find several episodes already available, with more added monthly. And, of course, each episode will be shared on the BRA’s social channels for easy access and as a reminder.
“So, what happens if somebody listens to the podcast and decides they'd like to know more,” Pierce said. “Where can they find more information?”
At the end of every podcast episode, we share our email address – information@brazos.org – and encourage questions, further clarification, or suggestions for future episodes, Shugart said.