Why did James Talarico go to seminary while serving in the Texas legislature?

James Talarico said he enrolled in seminary at 31 after the 2021 Texas legislative session, which he called one of the most partisan in modern state history, left him doubting his impact. His pastor and his Baptist preacher grandfather reminded him of the first commandment to love God, which he felt he had neglected while focusing on loving his neighbor. He now studies as a seminarian and serves as a lawmaker at once, and called it the best decision he has made.

• Talarico said studying Greek showed him the word for faith can also mean trust.
• Talarico likened faith to his swim teacher at the Wells Branch Pool telling him to let the water hold him.

▸In their words

“It feels much more like trust than it does belief.” James Talarico · at 1:29:24 — open in the transcript →

Source: our own transcription of the episode. The full conversation is on The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett (2026-11-02). Read the whole episode summary →

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