KUT » ATXplained

We’re back with a new season of stories about Austin’s people, places and culture. As SXSW rolls through Austin this week, we answer a question from Sarah Dixon about the history of films and filmmaking in Austin. The post How long have movies and TV shows been filmed in Austin? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

TXplained wants to share a new podcast with you. 24 Hours in Austin tries to answer the question: What does a day in the life of Austin, Texas sound like? The post Introducing 24 Hours in Austin appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Our question asker noticed it happening at Boggy Creek Trail. But the explanation is weirder — and more fun! — than you might think. The post Why are people dropping flour in weird patterns around Austin? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

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 […] 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. The post Why is Lala’s Little Nugget in Austin always decorated for Christmas? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

It seems like a simple question, with a simple answer. But there’s more to it. The post What’s the oldest music venue in Austin? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

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 post Why does the Texas Legislature meet for only 140 days every two years? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

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. The post What are the weirdest laws in Texas? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

In a city with a reputation as being young, we got a question about where all of Austin’s older people are. The post ‘Is Austin hiding their elderly?’ What’s the average age of its residents? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

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.

Every week banana peels, coffee grounds, moldy strawberries and pizza boxes are placed in green bins and rolled out to the street as part of the city’s residential composting program.

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 […]

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.  

There’s expensive stuff, and then there are those things that just have value.

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.