The Straight-Up 30

The Straight-Up 30 cuts through the noise and delivers clear, accessible breakdowns of the most relevant policy, political, and governmental issues shaping our world. No partisanship. No spin. No tired talking points. Just straightforward analysis that anyone can understand — in 30 minutes or less. Whether you’re a seasoned policymaker, a political professional, or an engaged citizen, The Straight-Up 30 gives you the clarity you need in a world full of confusion.

The Straight-Up 30 is a government podcast hosted by Ross Izard, with 17 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Ross Izard hosts The Straight-Up 30, a government show with 17 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  The Straight-Up 30

  Faith, Policy, and the Role of the Catholic Conference

  Jun 18, 202628 min

  In this episode of the Straight-Up 30, host Ross Izard sits down with Brittany Vessely , Executive Director of the Colorado Catholic Conference, to discuss the intersection of faith, public policy, and civic engagement in Colorado.The conversation explores how the Catholic Conference represents the state’s bishops in policy debates, how Catholic social teaching shapes its work, and why faith-based organizations remain active in issues like education, religious liberty, parental rights, human trafficking, and the role of families in public life. What we cover: • What the Colorado Catholic Conference does • How faith-based organizations engage in public policy • Education, religious liberty, and parental rights • The role of Catholic schools in Colorado • How people of faith can get involved About the guest: Brittany Vessely is the Executive Director of the Colorado Catholic Conference. Her background includes work in education policy, religious liberty, school choice, and public policy at organizations including the Heritage Foundation, EdChoice, and Catholic Education Partners. Resources: • Colorado Catholic Conference Leave a review and stay in touch: If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review the show. It helps more listeners find us. Have feedback or questions? Email straightup30@xiphosstrategies.com. Straight facts. Straight talk. Straight to the point.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  The Straight-Up 30

  Private Schools, Policy, and Educational Choice

  Jun 2, 202627 minS0

  <p><b>Summary:</b><br/>In this episode of the Straight-Up 30, host <b>Ross Izard</b> sits down with <b>Weston Kurz</b>, Executive Director of the Colorado Association of Private Schools (CAPS), to discuss how private schools operate, why they need representation in policy conversations, and the challenges facing independent schools in Colorado. Ross and Weston explore the role of private schools, the work of CAPS, and how policies around universal preschool, regulation, and educational choice are shaping the future of independent education in Colorado.<br/><br/><b>What we cover:</b><br/>• What CAPS does and why private sc...

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  The Straight-Up 30

  Colorado Politics, Independent Voters, and the Future of the GOP

  May 19, 202627 minS0

  <p>In this episode of the Straight-Up 30, host <b>Ross Izard</b> sits down with longtime Colorado political strategist <b>Dick Wadhams</b> to discuss how Colorado shifted from a competitive purple state to a solidly blue one and what that means heading into the 2026 election cycle. The conversation explores the rise of unaffiliated voters, growing frustration with both political parties, and the internal battles shaping the future of the Colorado GOP.</p><p><b>What we cover:</b><br/>• Why Colorado became a blue state<br/>• The rise of unaffiliated voters<br/>• TABOR and Colorado tax politics<br/>• The evolutio...

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  The Straight-Up 30

  Colorado’s Caucus System and the Fight Over How Candidates Reach the Ballot

  May 13, 202629 minS0

  <p>In this episode of the Straight-Up 30, host <b>Ross Izard</b> sits down with <b>Deborah Flora</b> to unpack one of the least understood parts of Colorado politics: the caucus and assembly system. From precinct captains and state assemblies to petitions and primaries, the conversation breaks down how candidates actually make it onto the ballot and why many voters feel disconnected from the process. They also explore the growing debate over whether Colorado’s caucus system still reflects a representative democracy in a state where most voters are now unaffiliated.</p><p><b>What we cover:</b><br/>• How...

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  The Straight-Up 30

  Water, Policy, and the Systems We Depend On

  May 5, 202630 minS0

  <p>Water is one of the most critical and complex policy issues in Colorado, yet most people rarely think about how it actually works. In this episode, <b>Ross Izard</b> sits down with <b>Casey Davenhill</b> of the Colorado Watershed Assembly to break down the systems, history, and policies that govern how water is managed across the state.</p><p>From the Dust Bowl to today’s drought concerns, the conversation explores how Colorado built a legal and collaborative framework around water, why watersheds shape decision-making, and how competing interests from agriculture to cities to recreation all intersect in...

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on The Straight-Up 30. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.