Austin Found Podcast

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Do you love Austin as much as we do? Find out how it became the city it is today via Austin Found, a podcast from journalist and history buff Michael Barnes and radio personality J.B. Hager. They share the stories behind the stories about the people, places, culture and history of the inimitable Texas capital.

Austin Found


    • Aug 8, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 18m AVG DURATION
    • 88 EPISODES

    4.8 from 92 ratings Listeners of Austin Found Podcast that love the show mention: barnes, austin, city, informative and entertaining, great stuff, history, great podcast, awesome, listen, love.



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    Latest episodes from Austin Found Podcast

    Ep. 87 She Broke the Good Ol' Boy Network With a Smile

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2022 16:11


    Jacquelyn McGee - a former star athlete, outstanding teacher, and the first woman to run a large urban high school in Texas. 

    Ep. 86 Zach Theatre at 99

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2022 15:38


    The standard history - which Zach has touted and which we have repeated - states that Austin's regional theater was born in 1932. Not so it turns out. According to contemporary stories in newspaper archives now easily available online, what eventually became Zach premiered as the Austin Community Players in 1921. That troupe turned into the Austin Little Theatre in 1927. It took the name Austin Civic Theater in 1949 and Zachary Scott Theater Center in 1967.

    Ep. 85 Austin Symphony at 109

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2022 15:14


    Among the secrets to the Austin Symphony's longevity: Its fiscal austerity, its capable leadership, and its willingness to disappear for a long period of time. Here we dig into the history of the Austin Symphony and its survival, including the last couple of years of the pandemic and its impact. 

    Ep. 84 The Neill-Cochran House Museum Pt. 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2022 35:39


    West Campus-area house constructed by Austin master builder Abner Cook — since 1958, it has been preserved and operated by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Texas. Museum director Rowena Dasch shares with us the history of one of Austin's oldest homes, some stories from a living resident, Mary Cochran Bohls and updates us on the happenings as a museum including a recent discovery that it might include Austin's only intact slave quarters.

    Ep. 83 The Neill-Cochran House Museum

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2022 31:09


    West Campus-area house constructed by Austin master builder Abner Cook — since 1958, it has been preserved and operated by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Texas. Museum director Rowena Dasch shares with us the history of one of Austin's oldest homes, some stories from a living resident, Mary Cochran Bohls and updates us on the happenings as a museum including a recent discovery that it might include Austin's only intact slave quarters.

    Ep. 82 We Turn the Clock Back 20,000 Years

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2022 14:51


    In Florence, on the border of Bell and Williamson counties, is the Gault Site, a vast archaeological treasure trove that dates back some 20,000 years.

    Ep. 81 The Lego State Capitol

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2022 14:06


    In August of 2019, Pflugerville residentBen Rollman and a team of Lego enthusiasts arrived at the Texas State Capitol visitors center to deliver a Lego Masterpiece replica of our State Capitol.  

    Ep. 80 Land, love, work, family and loss made Salt Lick barbecue

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2022 14:11


    We've all been there, love it, and share with pride Salt Lick barbecue with friends visiting Austin. You might be surprised and just how far back it goes and the history and traditions of this hill country landmark.

    Ep. 79 Volume 4 of Indelible Austin has arrived

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2022 18:31


    We are excited to announce that Volume 4 of "Indelible Austin" by Michael Barnes has made it to publication, which is not only great for Austin preservation, but for sharing many great stories in upcoming episodes of Austin Found.  

    Ep. 78 Iconic Austinite - Lonnie Limón Pt. 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2022 27:11


    Lonnie Limón could have worked anywhere in the country after graduating from the University of Notre Dame. But eventually, Limón moved to back to Austin, where he is closer to relatives — more than 3,500 of them. The Limóns and the Estradas — the latter is his mother's family — have lived in Central Texas since the late 19th century. More than 100 years ago, some members of the two clans moved into Austin proper, where they labored as cab drivers, shop clerks, and domestic workers before starting businesses and turning out community leaders. The two families are almost universally familiar to longtime Austinites, especially in East Austin. Lonnie joins the show to tell his family story, share memories of old East Austin as told by his family elders and give us his thoughts on the ever-changing community his family shaped. 

    Ep. 77 Iconic Austinite - Lonnie Limón Pt. 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2022 26:43


    Lonnie Limón could have worked anywhere in the country after graduating from the University of Notre Dame. But eventually, Limón moved to back to Austin, where he is closer to relatives — more than 3,500 of them. The Limóns and the Estradas — the latter is his mother's family — have lived in Central Texas since the late 19th century. More than 100 years ago, some members of the two clans moved into Austin proper, where they labored as cab drivers, shop clerks, and domestic workers before starting businesses and turning out community leaders. The two families are almost universally familiar to longtime Austinites, especially in East Austin. Lonnie joins the show to tell his family story, share memories of old East Austin as told by his family elders and give us his thoughts on the ever-changing community his family shaped. 

    Ep. 76 The Trick to a Fruitful Life - Ramón Galindo

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2022 13:00


    One secret to Galindo's success had nothing to do with sleight of hand. One of the founders of the Mexican-American Chamber of Commerce, founder of Ace Tailors, and downtown landowner, Galindo left quite a footprint in shaping Austin.

    Ep. 75 An Outlandish Poet

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2022 10:39


    Robert Lord was "the somewhat outlandish 'poet' who had a column in the Austin American Statesman back in the late 1960s and early '70s. Google has not turned up anything on this man. Interviewing Statesman colleagues from that era turned up nothing.  Who was this mystery poet?

    Ep. 74 Iconic Austinite - Shannon Sedwick - Esther's Follies Pt. 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2022 20:31


    Co-founder and performer since the very begging of Esther's Follies unique sketch comedy troupe, Shannon Sedwick joins Austin Found to share their story. You might also be surprised at how many iconic places she has been a part of, including Liberty Lunch and The Tavern.

    Ep. 73 Iconic Austinite - Shannon Sedwick - Esther's Follies Pt. 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2022 21:17


    Co-founder and performer since the very begging of Esther's Follies unique sketch comedy troupe, Shannon Sedwick joins Austin Found to share their story. You might also be surprised at how many iconic places she has been a part of, including Liberty Lunch and The Tavern.

    Ep. 72 LBJ's Congressman and Judge

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2022 11:56


    Did you know that exactly one native Austinite was nominated for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court? And not that long ago, historically speaking. 

    Ep. 71 Austin before IBM

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2022 18:53


    During the early 1960s, before the arrival of IBM in 1967, the entire workforce in Travis County hovered around 80,000. Today, the tech industry alone employs more than 120,000 workers in Central Texas.

    Ep. 70 Iconic Austinites - Harrison Eppright pt. 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2021 28:15


    Manager of Visitor Services/Tour Ambassador at Visit Austin, Harrison discusses growing up in East Austin and shares his passion for Austin architecture and it's history.

    Iconic Austinites - Harrison Eppright pt. 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2021 34:52


    Manager of Visitor Services/Tour Ambassador at Visit Austin, Harrison discusses growing up in East Austin and shares his passion for Austin architecture and it's history.

    Ep. 68 The Klan was not always underground

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2021 16:06


    The Ku Klux Klan has emblazoned a long historical scar on Texas. At one point during the 1920s, the group was almost a daily fact of life. It took an effort by crusaders such as future Texas Gov. Dan Moody to quell the tide. 

    Ep. 67 Lighting the Tree for Over 50 Years

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2021 19:30


    According to a 1967 article, the Zilker Christmas Tree was concieved by Mrs. Alden Davis, special chairwoman of Yule Fest, which, along with Trail of Lights, celebrated its 50th in 2014.

    Ep. 66 Over 50 Years of High Standards

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2021 14:41


    KMFA, which is not over 50 years old, was built on high standards. 

    Ep. 65 An Austin Gallery since 1993

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2021 14:01


    Stephen L. Clark Gallery, a story that reaches back to 1993.  Clark, former owner of the Waterloo Ice House group, opened the spot that pulls together so many strands of Austin Culture.

    Ep. 64 Biggest of the Big Time

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2021 19:21


    A populist palace from the beginning, the Paramount was the biggest of big-time venues in Austin, at least from 1915 until late in the 20th century. As the theater has since passed 100 years old, it is crucial to recall that the grande dame of Congress Avenue--frequented by all social and economic classes, although in segregated seating for its first 50 years--hosted some of the top showbiz names.

    Ep. 63 Murder, Suicide, and a Historic Juror

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2021 13:39


    "Virgil Oliver---first Negro in the South to serve on a jury." Could that possibly be true? Did Austin play such a dramatic role in the struggle for civil rights? Well, yes and no.

    Ep. 62 Josefina Zamarripa, mother of 14, raised her children while advocating for East Austin

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2021 17:02


    A little over a month after they said goodbye to their mother, 10 of the Zamarripa children gathered in their childhood home on Tillery Street. Now in their 50s, 60s and 70s, they showed two guests the spots in the house that made family history. One sibling might disagree with another, but with so many eyewitnesses to that history, a shared narrative emerges.

    Ep. 61 Meet Mary Arnold, the godmother of Austin's green movement

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2021 17:41


    Along with allies such as Shudde Fath, Roberta Crenshaw, Dorothy Richter, Scotty Sayers, Ben Crenshaw, Bill Bunch and others, Arnold showed that steady, smart and well-informed environmental and neighborhood activism can change the city forever. 

    Ep. 60 Faith Kept for 150 Years

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2021 13:28


    The legacy of an Austin church. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Ep. 59 The birth, growth and history of Lakeway

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2021 13:43


    Surprisingly, Lakeway has been well documenting and preserving it's short history. A west Austin hotbed for retiree's and now young prosperous families, we give you a brief history of Lakeway, Tx. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Ep. 58 Iconic Austinites - Eddie Wilson Pt. 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2021 28:38


    Eddie Wilson was the founder of the legiondary Armadillo World Headquarters that shaped Austin as a music town. After AWH he purchased Threadgill's which continued the music heritage of our city. We run through a listener submitted list of great Austin restaurants that are now gone and gather Eddie's thoughts and memories. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Ep. 57 Iconic Austinites - Eddie Wilson Pt. 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2021 34:09


    Eddie Wilson was the founder of the legiondary Armadillo World Headquarters that shaped Austin as a music town. After AWH he purchased Threadgill's which continued the music heritage of our city. We run through a listener submitted list of great Austin restaurants that are now gone and gather Eddie's thoughts and memories. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Ep. 56 Life Down at the Poor Farm

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2021 12:44


    What we know know as Tarrytown was once a poor farm in the late 1800's. It was for paupers, convicts, and farmhands, some looking for work, some looking for food in tough times. It was even used for some criminals to pay off debt. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Ep. 55 No, It's the Heat!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2021 12:08


    As much as we love Austin, dealing and adjusting to the heat is a very real consideration, especially with so many moving here. Can you handle it?  Not sure?  Give this a listen. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Ep. 54 The Mystery of the Downtown Castle on the Hill

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2021 13:03


    This Victorian mansion, known as Chateau Bellevue, is home to the Austin Woman's Club, formed by female leaders in the 1920's. However, not the only castlelike structure in Austin, we explore more in the Austin surroundings. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Ep. 53 Sex, Drugs, and Jazz

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2021 21:44


    Between World War 1 and the Great Depression, the Jazz Age picked up where Guy Town's vices left off.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Ep. 52 Recent passing of iconic Austinites that shaped our city and culture

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2021 18:40


    Teresa Lozano Long, major philanthropist, longtime educator and community leader, died at age 92. Austin civil rights pioneer, school namesake, church co-founder, business leader and lifelong educator Bertha Sadler Means died at age 100.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Ep. 51 What happened to the Native Americans in Texas?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2021 18:11


    Texas is home to just three surviving small reservations, two of which, the Alabama-Coushatta in East Texas and the Kickapoo on the Rio Grande, were set aside for immigrant Native Americans, meaning the remnants of tribes what were forced into Texas from their original homelands in the eastern United States What happened, then, to the Caddos, Comanches, Wichitas, Kiowas, Apaches, Karankawas, Tonkawas, Coahuiltecans, Jumanos and other indigenous Texas tribes? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Ep. 50 The Vietnam War Split Austin Wide Open

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2021 12:48


    During the 1960's, Austinites, found themselves in a unique position. Many remained loyal to the man who had served as their congressman, senator, vice president and president. Others, played a part in the local protest movement against the war.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Ep. 49 Two of Austin's oldest houses

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2021 17:13


    You know one — the French Legation — as the “oldest house in town.” Locals and tourists love this Creole-style home that rests on a steep crest; it was built for Alphonse Dubois de Saligny, France’s chargé d’affaires to the new Republic of Texas. You are probably familiar with the other handsome house — Boggy Creek Farm — because of its organic foodstuffs rather than its history.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Ep. 48 “Forty Years of East Austin Evolution” about Black East Austin newspaper

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2021 12:53


    Austin leaders wanted more integration in the 60’s and didn’t know where to find black owned business and started a black registry. In 1973, the Villager was born.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Ep. 47 ‘A natural-born progressive’: Enter the modernist world of Texas Black architect John S. Chase

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2021 20:54


    Any alert observer passing along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard near Chestnut Avenue in East Austin inevitably notices two revolutionary sites. One is the David Chapel Missionary Baptist Church with its dramatically escalating roofline, color-block windows and soaring modernist steeple. The other is the radically geometrical and cantilevered residence located a bit to the east of the landmark church at MLK and Maple Avenue known as the Phillips House. John Saunders Chase Jr. — the first licensed Black architect in Texas and, in 1952, the first African American to graduate from University of Texas’ School of Architecture — designed all three striking buildings. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Ep. 46 A Holy Land, Deaf Smith and the Texas School for the Deaf

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2021 16:28 Transcription Available


    The story of Deaf Smith, a war hero and the fight to preserve the Texas School for the Deaf, the oldest continuously operated school in the state. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Ep. 45 Ballet at the Armadillo World Headquarters

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2021 16:37


    You've heard the stories of the legendary Armadillo, where hippies and rednecks co-mingled... oh, and ballet. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Ep. 44 116 Years of German-Austin Music. The Saengerrunde Hall

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2021 18:42


    German settlers in Austin formed a traditional singing group as early as 1852. The tradition continues today at the Saengerrunde Hall at 1607 San Jacinto Street, adjacent to Scholtz Garden. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Ep. 43 Closing up shop. The Frisco Shop

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2021 12:03


    Known for comfort food such as beef tips, chicken-fried stea, chicken and dumplings, and icebox pie, the Frisco Shop was part of the Night Hawk chain, which Harry Akin, mayor of Austin from 1967 to 1969, started in 1932. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Ep. 42 How did 2.8 Million trees get planted around Austin?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2021 17:17


    During the past 30 years, TreeFolks has set down more than 2.8 million trees in the Austin area. Tree Folks now works with a 1.2 Million dollar annual budget planting trees around Austin See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Ep. 41 Secrets of the Buford Tower

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2021 10:57


    The Buford Tower conceals three secrets. The graceful, six-story Italianate structure poised above Lady Bird Lake is a fire tower without any fires to fight and a bell tower without any real bells. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Ep. 40 From golf to racehorses: The many lives of Austinite Walter Benson, 103

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2021 17:01


    Over the course of more than a century, Austinites have known Benson as many things. Among them: adventurous youth, World War II veteran, textbook publisher, thoroughbred breeder and polished social dancer. Yet it has been his legendary golf game that has followed Benson through much of his life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Ep. 39 Austin activist Shudde Fath over 100: A life well spent

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2020 14:49


    Some citizens are honored merely for reaching the centennial mark. The Bastrop-born-and-reared Shudde Bess Bryson Fath has been spearheading causes for more than half her life, even before the fire station plan sparked her public outrage. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Ep. 38 Sam the Space Monkey

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2020 10:28


    Little-known fact: One of the earliest space travelers from Earth was an Austin Native. Sam the Space Monkey was born in 1957 at the Balcones Research Center.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Ep. 37 17 parties that altered Austin

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2020 27:33


    We look back at parties that altered our fair city. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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