Round Rock Mayor Pro Tem Kristin Stevens is the featured guest on episode 93 of the Rock Solid: Round Rock Business Leaders Podcast, titled “Kristin Stevens | Building Round Rock’s Future Through Service,” hosted by Bryan Eisenberg and released on September 30, 2026. The episode offers a candid conversation about Stevens’s journey from a 22-year career in speech pathology to elected office, and her perspective on guiding one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities.
Stevens, the daughter of longtime civic leader Charlie Culpepper, reflects on inheriting a stewardship mindset. The episode is notable for featuring the daughter of a former guest, highlighting a familial continuity in civic leadership. It traces Round Rock’s transformation from a farming community of fewer than 5,000 residents in the 1970s to a city approaching 150,000, situated in Williamson County—the fastest-growing county in the nation.
In the conversation, Stevens and Eisenberg explore the challenge of balancing ambitious goals with responsible growth. Stevens describes Round Rock’s identity in plain terms, telling Eisenberg: “We have a very accepting and welcoming and warm culture here. We expect the best, right? But we accept and we bring in and we welcome everybody and all ideas and all businesses and the stories of the people that come here.” She also addresses the difficulties of public service in the social media age, emphasizing the need for ‘thick skin’ and direct engagement with constituents. The discussion touches on combating misinformation on issues ranging from data centers to public comment ordinances.
Community service runs deep in Stevens’s family. The episode highlights the role of organizations such as Blue Santa, Meals on Wheels, Sertoma, Rotary, Frontier Days, and the Sandbass Shootout in shaping her family’s service ethic. Stevens credits her father’s lesson to remain accessible, and she mentors through Leadership Round Rock, Ascend, and YMCA leadership classes. She urges newcomers to volunteer strategically rather than dilute their impact.
A full-circle Round Rock moment surfaces in the conversation: Stevens was the first person ever to get engaged at Dell Diamond, during the inaugural Friday night fireworks game after voters passed the hotel-motel tax that funded the stadium. Her husband, who studied architecture and now works in construction, coordinated a heart-shaped fireworks display on Good Friday nearly 26 years ago. Today, her father takes her older two sons to dollar hot dog nights with Papa, and her youngest son works as a parking lot attendant for the Round Rock Express.
The episode is important because it provides a firsthand look at the values and decisions shaping a city experiencing explosive growth. As Round Rock approaches 150,000 residents, Stevens’s emphasis on welcoming culture, responsible development, and active volunteerism offers a model for other fast-growing communities. Her transition from speech pathology to city council underscores the role of citizen-leaders in local governance. The podcast, hosted by New York Times bestselling author Bryan Eisenberg, spotlights the people and ideas fueling one of America’s fastest-growing communities. Episode 93 is available now wherever podcasts are heard.
