ATXplained: Recent Episodes
KUT & KUTX Studios
We investigate why “Austin treasure” Bob Schneider has seen big success on the local scene, but hasn’t seemed to crack into the world of huge mainstream “success”.
The post Why hasn’t Bob Schneider ever had a Top 40 hit? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.
It’s the hot to Barton Springs’ cold. Why is Big Stacy warm year-round?
The post How is Big Stacy Pool naturally heated? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.
A generation of Austinites’ memories all line up: several alligators right in Zilker Park in the 1980s. Is it some kind of mass delusion or could it be true?
The post Were there ever alligators in Zilker Park? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.
In 1974, Austin was host to an epic — and epically messy — concert at UT’s Texas Memorial Stadium. This is the story from people who were there.
The post What’s the story behind this insert from a 1975 ZZ Top album? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.
A mysterious poster about a famous artist with no connections to Texas — or Jason’s Deli — leads us on a hunt for who made the thing — and why on Earth they put it there.
The post Why is there a display about Jasper Johns on the side of a Jason’s Deli in San Marcos? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.
Where the pain stops and the good memories begin.
The post There used to be a pet cemetery in Pflugerville. What happened to the animals? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.
Let’s take a moment to reflect on the color of Austin’s contemporary skyline.
The post Why do all the new skyscrapers in Austin look blue? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.
It’s break time. Everyone out of the pool. But what’s that sound?
The post Why do lifeguards at Austin’s pools blow their whistles like that? (archive episode) appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.
When you walk along The Drag, there’s not much to see in terms of businesses. Sure, there’s some hustle and bustle — students walking to and from class, cars rushing by — but many of the storefronts are empty.
The post Why are there so many empty stores on The Drag near UT Austin? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.
When a person buys a property under an HOA, they’re agreeing to any rules the HOA enacts. But there are state laws that could change things.
The post Can you raise backyard chickens in Austin even if your HOA says you can’t? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.
Does the color of your house make a difference in how energy efficient it is? We try to find out.
The post Black houses are so hot right now in Austin. But are they hotter? (archive episode) appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.
Some neighborhoods around Austin have their own reputation. Most of them are probably not all that accurate.
The post Is Steiner Ranch really full of swingers? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.
We spend a lot of time in Austin talking about how many new people move here. But most of us don’t talk much about the people who came before us — way before us.
If you’ve ever taken a walk along Shoal Creek or gone to Barton Springs on a hot summer day, you’re doing something that people have done here for thousands of years. Because all of this was actually once — and in some ways still is — Indigenous land.
The post Where have Austin’s Indigenous people gone? (archive episode) appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.
If you’ve ever been jealous of the lush, beautiful patches of wildflowers along Austin’s highways, this story is for you.
The post Why do bluebonnets grow so well along MoPac? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.
Audrey McGlinchy on the prevalence, psychology and behavior of what are maybe humans’ most vexing pest.
The post Does Austin have a rat problem? Maybe. But this reporter sure does. appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.
He’s everywhere: TV, radio, billboards, YouTube. What’s the marketing strategy for this personal injury lawyer?
The post How does Thomas J. Henry make any money when he spends so much on ads all over Austin? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.
At one point, this tower was Austin’s main communication link to the outside world. Decades later, is it a landmark — or an eyesore — for the neighborhood?
The post A tower has loomed in Austin’s Clarksville neighborhood for 72 years. What does it do? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.
There’s your standard gray sidewalk, of course. But what on Earth does a red sidewalk mean?
The post Why are some Austin sidewalks red? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.
The full transcript of this episode of ATXplained is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is also available as subtitles or captions on some podcast apps.
The post What’s the oldest tree in Austin? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.
The full transcript of this episode of ATXplained is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is also available as subtitles or captions on some podcast apps.
The post What happened to the time capsule UT Austin buried at Centennial Park? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.
Before there was an IHOP, there was a university that attempted to revolutionize higher education for immigrants at the corner of I-35 and Cesar Chavez Street.
The post What happened to Juarez-Lincoln University in downtown Austin? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.
Off to Austin’s west, you may have seen a collection of towers with their red lights blinking through the night.
ALSO: You can get tickets to our next ATXplained Live show here.
The post What are those towers for in West Austin and why are they all there? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.
We question a question about the history of this Mexican-American cemetery — one that stands in contrast to many of the more staid cemeteries around Austin.
The post What’s the story behind the colorful Maria de la Luz Cemetery in South Austin? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.
No matter the season, the iconic Austin dive bar off Justin Lane is filled with snow globes, Christmas trees and strings of red and green lights. But the story behind how this decor came to be is always changing.
Army veteran Denise Gordon questioned whether it makes any sense for lawmakers from the second-largest state in the country and one of the largest economies in the world to meet so infrequently.
The Texas Legislature’s regular session is nearing an end. While some of the laws passed during these sessions are crucial to keep the state running, other laws have been a little more interesting.
In a city with a reputation as being young, we got a question about where all of Austin’s older people are.
There’s the Moody College of Communication at UT, the Moody Rooftop at the Contemporary Austin, Moody Hall at St. Edwards University, Moody Bank, the Moody Pavilions at Laguna Gloria, ACL Live at the Moody Theater, the Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park, and Moody Center. It can be a little confusing.
The process can leave him feeling “beat up,” but he still gets the thrill he felt when he painted for the first time after an accident left him paralyzed from the neck down.
Plastic in the U.S. is largely going unrecycled, but the city says that’s not so for the plastic we put in the blue bins.
Two-stepping originated from foxtrot and has been danced to country music in dancehalls around Austin for ages. Influenced by other music genres played in the region, people here have put their own spin on it.
KUT listeners Allyson Lipkin and Cristopher Juarez wanted to know why people in Austin and San Antonio dance the two-step differently than folks in the rest of Texas and the U.S. So, they reached out to KUT’s ATXplained project.
One of the oldest homes still standing in Austin was once known as The Chateau. Its residents hosted legendary parties that were often safe spaces for gay people in the 1960s and ‘70s. Today, the home is boarded up — but there’s a new effort brewing to ensure it’s preserved.
Brian Vargo was 20 years old when he disappeared in 1976. The UT Austin student seems to have simply vanished.
The landmark theater in downtown Austin has been a source of movie entertainment for more than a century, while many of its contemporaries have closed for good.
According to the Public Works Department, the city is missing about 1,600 miles of sidewalk — a length of concrete that could stretch from here to Winnipeg, Canada.
The Zilker Zephyr stopped running almost four years ago, and there’s still no miniature train in Zilker Park.
As an enticement to get tickets to our next ATXplained Live show at the Paramount Theatre on Feb. 22 — here’s a taste of our last live show from back in September 2022.
Decades ago, the public event space was full of life. Now it’s rundown, like an old relic.
Does it make any sense to live in a dark-colored house in a state like Texas? We ask experts whether these homes are less energy efficient.
Your grip on the steering wheel tightens as you squint to find the road markings and avoid smashing into another car.
The Pinnacle building in Oak Hill was intended to be an office tower, but then the economy tanked and it was sold to Austin Community College.
El Camino Real de los Tejas is a National Historic Trail that traces back to before the start of Texas. The 2,600 miles stretch all the way from the Texas border to Natchitoches, Louisiana. Part of the historic trail runs right through San Marcos.
We’re bringing our show back to the stage next month at the Paramount Theatre in downtown Austin. Tickets available now at austintheatre.org
Who doesn’t love a good treasure hunt? But is any of it real? KUT’s Skye Seipp tries to find the X.
We first met Yorkie Louie in 2020. Now, he’s leaving the dance floor — at least in Austin.
The bizarre tale of completely made up stories about one of Austin’s oldest trees — and an even more bizarre tale that’s completely true.
A traffic median can be anything you imagine. A field of green grass. A pedestal for a classic statue. Or a vegetable garden.
You’ll find no signs for now — but that doesn’t mean you can drive as fast as you want.
We spend a lot of time in Austin talking about how many new people move here. But most of us don’t talk much about the people who came before us — way before us. If you’ve ever taken a walk along Shoal Creek or gone to Barton Springs on a hot summer day, you’re doing […]
Austin thinks it has great food going for it. But does it? We look into the mystery of why more restaurants don’t make this staple from scratch.
We’re back with a story about a weird sculpture near MoPac and Enfield. But there’s more to it than that.
One ATXplained listener wanted to know how women going topless at public pools came to be popular in Austin.
A plumber. Who sings? As part of our Hi, Who Are You? spinoff, we get introduced to Herman Bennett.
Who will remember you when you die? Family? Friends? We got a question about a cemetery in Central Austin for ATXplained. It got KUT’s Matt Largey thinking about what happens when people are forgotten.
It’s January, so that means cedar fever is at its peak. Amid a global pandemic, this is the last thing we need. But here we are. KUT’s Nadia Hamdan answers this question about the annual trial in Central Texas.
The words would appear on the bridge overnight. The artist would come and go like a ninja. But who is it? And why did they do it?
If you’ve ever been near Lamar and Oltorf, you probably saw it. But what’s the story behind the now-gone mural there?
Voting should be easy, right? Well, can it get any easier than going to your local supermarket? KUT’s Jimmy Maas has the history behind what’s become an election season tradition in Austin.
Yorkie Louie is known as the Godfather of Clubbing in Austin. But his story is more complicated than that. Someone asked about him for our ATXplained spin-off, Hi, Who Are You?.
Traffic sucks. But every so often a sign in the distance might give you a chuckle. Or a groan. So who writes those electronic road signs with (sometimes) funny rhymes?
A year ago, we answered a question from an ATXplained listener: Where did all the families that used to live on Rainey Street go? One man was still there. But now, even that has changed. Audrey McGlinchy has this follow-up.
Tickets are running out for our Jan. 23 ATXplained Live show at the Hogg Auditorium. Details and tickets here.
Austin’s 37th St. lights aren’t the only holiday light display in town, but it did draw this question about its origins.
Christine Hannon wanted to meet this postal worker who seems to know everyone who come into his East Austin post office.
They usually only appear when there’s and drought and lake levels are low. But who named them?
Uber and Lyft said their services would give other transportation options for people who’ve been drinking in Austin. So — did they?
No matter how jet-lagged, or sweaty, Austin tourists may find themselves when they reach the Texas Capitol Visitors Center, they’ll find a breath of fresh air waiting for them just inside its doors: Mary Jackson.
Madeline Fening heard the break whistle at Austin city pools and just had to know why it was so dramatic.
The aging population is growing fast in Austin. So Becky Rhodes said we should meet a couple trying to keep seniors active in the community.
Catherine Samuel was curious about where the guano goes and who cleans it up, so she asked about it for our ATXplained project.
Billboards are all over I-35 — but not MoPac and a few other freeways in Austin. Why not?
Everyone’s an architecture critic. But why does the crown on “The Independent” look the way it does?
In our latest, “Hi, Who Are You?” story, we hear the story of a man and his bird — and the family that wanted to meet them.
We get a lot of questions for ATXplained that don’t really have answers. So KUT’s Andrew Weber put some of those to longtime KUT/X host John Aielli.
For the next episode in our Hi, Who Are You? series, KUT’s Nadia Hamdan introduces us to Burrell W. Lankford.
The second in our Hi, Who Are You? series. A low-speed chase. Revving engines. Inflatable flamingoes.
In the first episode of our spin-off series, Hi, Who Are You?, we meet Sylvester Myers. This piece was produced by KUT’s Nathan Bernier.
Their signs looked oddly similar. The names were pretty darn close, too. Is the origin of Dan’s and Fran’s an urban legend?
Go behind the scenes at KLRU’s Austin City Limits TV show to find out how they pick their artists — how little they get paid. MORE HERE.
Are there people in your life that you see all the time, but have never stopped to meet?
The spiced ham product was the centerpiece of this longtime festival. For a time, the event was insanely popular — so what why did it go away?
Does it really take longer to get home in the afternoon than to get to work in the morning?
Sometimes you can find people riding horses on the streets of Austin. We went for a ride with one of them. SUBSCRIBE: iTunes RSS
Mose Buchele takes a walk with our question-asker to learn the science behind this fall’s colorful trees.
What are the experiences that bind Austinites together? Send us your answer at ATXplained.org or call/text to 737-443-9466 or email us at austin@kut.org
Basements are common in other parts of the country. So why not here? Is it the rock? The flooding? Nope.
For decades, Aqua Fest was an annual celebration in Austin. Then, it stopped. One ATXplained listener wanted to know why.
Join us on Friday, September 21 at 7 p.m. at the Texas Union Theater on the UT campus. Details and tickets (they’re free) are right here.
An Austin creek is home to a wild population of platyfish, known worldwide as colorful, affordable pet-store species. But they jumped the tank as early as 2004.
At the end of Colorado Street on the north bank of Lady Bird Lake stands a six-story brick tower. So what’s it there for?
Out by the Austin airport, there’s a tiny cemetery in a huge construction site. Who’s buried there? What will become of it? See more here.
You can’t not notice the trees that line the paths on Austin’s many hike and bike trails. But have you ever noticed a fair amount of them are numbered?
It seems like they’re everywhere: Self-storage facilities. Why are there so many being built in Austin?
The operators of the MoPac tolls lanes say the “goal” is 45 mph — so what happens if it doesn’t meet that goal?
You might have heard that twang beckoning you across the street. Meet the real-life person behind the walk signal.
Colter Sonneville had a hunch that it might be legal to walk down the street with an open beer in most of Austin’s residential neighborhoods. It started when he noticed some big signs around Chicon and East Cesar Chavez streets.
We got almost 200 recommendations when we asked for your favorite books about Austin and/or Texas. Here are but a few of the ones you sent in.
State and city efforts to preserve views of the Texas Capitol have led to some oddly-shaped buildings in downtown Austin.
Interstate Highway 35 is many things to many people. It is a vital thoroughfare for commerce and shipping. It is also an economic and social barrier through much of Austin. And nearly from its construction, it has been a source of frustration for drivers stuck in its traffic. I-35 has inspired a number of questions […]
People have strong opinions about the custom. Some say it’s a heartwarming expression of holiday spirit; others consider it a flagrant violation of Texas’ anti-littering laws. But one thing no one really knows is how the tradition got started. See more here.
There’s a new building in Austin that’s drawing a lot of attention. And there are a couple of doors — yes, doors — in that building that are getting some funny looks. Several people asked about them for our ATXplained project. KUT’s Audrey McGlinchy investigated.
This is a story about feelings. And how you translate those feelings into something real. Read more.
They’re all over town: printed or painted signs in someone’s yard, telling drivers not to park in front of a house. But do they mean anything?
There’s no First Street where you’d think it would be. But there is one where you wouldn’t think.
You’re standing in a mattress store. Right across the street are two more mattress stores.
When you’re driving down Lamar Boulevard between Lady Bird Lake and Fifth Street, do you ever look at the walls of the underpass beneath the train bridge? Do you look at those blank blue signs on the walls of the underpass and wonder: What the heck are those things?
You’ve probably seen them while driving around town –- those handwritten signs next to the road with messages like: “We buy houses for cash! Call now!” What are they about, and why?
In 1881, the first Texas Capitol building burned to the ground, and leaders set about building a new one. They wanted to use local materials, including limestone from a quarry in Oatmanville – the area now known as Oak Hill – so they built a 6-mile railroad line from Oatmanville to the Capitol site. Then […]
The glorified parking lot known, at least officially, as Loop 1 has given many a driver plenty of time to ponder its quirks while stuck in traffic.
Every year they invade Austin in loud swarms – eating, drinking, mating. No, it’s not the throngs of ACL or South by Southwest. We’re talking about the crickets.
Austin residents are no strangers to orange cones dotting the highways or construction cranes in the sky. But one KUT listener wondered: Why does it take so long to get anything built around here?
Regardless of what you think of Austin calling itself the “Live Music Capital of the World,” you’ve got to admit it is pretty effective branding. Even people who don’t like music, and who’ve never been here, equate the city with a vibrant scene.
Austin’s love affair with Hatch chile peppers comes and goes every August. Did you ever wonder why grocery stores get so excited about Hatch?
“Keep Austin Weird.” The phrase is printed on T-shirts, bumper stickers, posters; it’s part of Austin’s national reputation. But, it seems that for every pocket of weird, there’s a new corporate chain from California moving in.
Many people think of recycling as somehow both mundane and mysterious. So, we followed a 12-ounce can of Coke.
You’ve probably seen this memorial if you’ve ever driven on Lamar Blvd in Austin. It’s right there, on the pillar holding up the train bridge where Third Street crosses Lamar. It says: “Fair Sailing Tall Boy. Ivan Garth Johnson. Not forgotten. 1971 – 1989. Don’t Drink and Drive, You Might Kill Someone’s Kid.”
In the first episode of our ATXplained podcast, we explore the factors behind Austin’s declining African-American population.