The Austin Approach

365 days and 22 episodes later, Season One of The Austin Approach is in the books! Join us as Bryce and Michele sit down with Jason Zielinski, the AUS videographer, to talk news, changes at the airport and the latest passenger numbers for 2021!

New year, new air service announcements! On this episode, Michele and Bryce talk all about some exciting new air service arriving from across the pond, as well as a new tool available in the terminal for those working while they fly. Plus a conversation with Chris Moret, the AUS wildlife biologist!

On this special year-end, jumbo-sized episode of The Austin Approach, Michele and Bryce talk about some of their memories traveling during the holidays, reflect all that AUS accomplished in 2021 and discuss some of the new changes in the terminal that await travelers this holiday season and beyond. Plus, the hosts sit down with Denise Hatch, the outgoing AUS deputy chief of operations who is retiring from the airport after more than 26 years of public service!

Coming off of the busiest Thanksgiving travel season in AUS history, there's a lot to talk about! That's why on this episode of The Austin Approach, the hosts sit down to chat with Mookie Patel, the AUS Chief of Business and Finance, to talk AUS recovery, growth and what's on the horizon. Also, Bryce answers our first listener-submitted sock contest question!

It's the week before Thanksgiving, and the hosts of The Austin Approach have met up for lunch in person (!) at AUS to talk all things related to travel this time of year. When to show up, how to pack, where to park - plus a few tips and tricks to ensure your turkey day travels go smoothly. Oh, and there is some VERY exciting new art in the terminal as well!

With more than 16% of the workforce at the Department of Aviation having prior military service, The Austin Approach is spending this Veterans Day devoting an entire show to all things veterans! From Honor Flights, to what makes AUS such a great place for veterans to work, to the stories of three AUS veteran employees, we're delighted to bring you this extra special one-hour episode.

On the latest episode of The Austin Approach, we're talking emergencies! Michele and Bryce discuss crisis communications training they both recently attended, and then sit down with Tanner Hunt, the airport's emergency planning coordinator. Plus exciting news about AUS passenger records, airport socks, and a chance for listeners to win a pair of said socks?

It's the middle of one of the busiest times of the year at AUS! On this episode we share a very exciting new air service announcement, Michelle talks about AUS after dark, and with fall festivals and races happening, the hosts sit down with a member of the airport's landside access team to talk all things ground transportation.   The link to the episode of "From the Runway Up" recorded with our friends at RDU and TYS can be found online here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-do-aus-rdu-and-tys-have-in-common-a-podcast/id1014731221?i=1000537134414 

On this slightly delayed (editor's note: Sorry!) episode of The Austin Approach, the hosts sit down with Dale Hall from the AUS Human Resources team to talk a little bit about his job, as well as his love of aviation. We also find out if Bryce managed to make it on his trip to Seattle, and learn about a unique new air service arriving in Austin soon!

When you're the airport for "The Live Music Capital of the World" you've got no choice but to have a world-class live music program in your terminal! On this episode of The Austin Approach, we sit down the Michael Pennock, the AUS Music Program Coordinator, to learn about how he keeps music in the air - even during a pandemic. Plus concession updates, returning air service, and a cliffhanger?   *Editor's note: on this episode, Bryce mistakenly and embarrassingly calls the squid painted on the side of ToyJoy an "octopus". We regret the error.

This episode covers a LOT! We're talking the best flavor of Amy's Ice Cream, employment opportunities at the airport, and a little thing called the Airport Expansion Development Program. Plus Marshall Lamm joins the hosts of The Austin Approach to talk all things parking related at AUS.

On this episode of The Austin Approach, we sit down with Cory Hurless, the AUS Program Manager for Art, Music, and Graphics, to learn more about some of the ways she and her team help bring together arts and aviation at the airport. Plus updates on a few of the airport's concessions, and exciting air service news!

It's the TENTH episode of the Austin Approach! On this episode, Michelle explains a little more about what she does when she's not hosting podcasts, specifically in her role as the airport's Performance Management Program Manager. Plus we sit down with Kingsley Coppinger, a member of the AUS Environmental Affairs team, to discuss some of the work he does to help protect Austin's natural resources.

On this episode of The Austin Approach, we take a look back at the history of aviation in Austin, from the very first airplane that ever landed in the city, to the transition of an Air Force base to the airport we know today. Our very special guest is Scott Madole, who served as the final wing commander for Bergstrom Air Force Base, and is current member of the AUS Airport Advisory Commission.

With passenger numbers starting to recover, it's getting busy at AUS! On this episode, we're talking about what you need to know for summer travel, a new air service announcement, plus we sit down with Jill Goodman, airport's Strategic Planning Manager to learn about how her team helps shape the future of AUS.

On this episode of The Austin Approach, we're still thinking that we should have jumped on that first flight to Hawaii! Meanwhile on the concessions front, an old Austin favorite returns to the terminal, and a new store gives travelers a taste of ATX. We're also joined by Jennifer McFarlin, a supervisor with the AUS Guest Services Team, to learn more about how they help make the airport accessible to all.

Did you know that airport cakes are a big deal? And what new island air service is coming to AUS? All that, plus Mandy McClendon, the AUS Public Information and Marketing Manager stops by to talk about a new way to navigate the terminal, on this episode of The Austin Approach!

Our fearless co-host Michelle is back, and we have a lot to talk about! This week on The Austin Approach, we're talking about professional development training at AUS, Texas wildflowers, the Earth's magnetic poles, kids in the air traffic control tower, R2-D2, and windows in airplane lavatories - and chat with airport duty manager Christopher Rankin - trust us, it'll all make sense in the end.

This week it's all about air service! More than a dozen new and returning routes have been announced for Austin in the past few weeks, so we'll be taking a deep dive into some of those destinations with our special guest co-host, Mandy McClendon, the AUS Public Information and Marketing Manager.

It's finally springtime! On this episode of The Austin Approach, we celebrate more hours of daylight, Michelle shares memories of St. Patrick's Day in Ireland, and we speak with Patricia Mancha, a spokesperson with the TSA, about the upcoming Spring Travel Season. Also learn about why you should consider Hawaii when planning your next next vacation getaway!   This week's episode features music from local Austin artist, Andrea McGee, who you can find online at https://andreamageemusic.com/ 

When historic winter weather and freezing temperatures hit Texas the week of February 14th, millions across the state were impacted, and air service in Central Texas froze to a halt, buried under more than half a foot of snow and ice. In this bonus episode of The Austin Approach, Michelle and Bryce talk about their experiences with the weather, and sit down with Mike Robinson, the Airport Systems Maintenance Chief, and Helen Smith, one of the AUS Airport Duty Managers, to discuss the incredible work that took place to protect the Austin airport's infrastructure and restore air service as quickly and safely as possible.

A quick update from The Austin Approach on last week's historic snowfall in Central Texas.

"Wait - an airport podcast?" That's right! Welcome to the very first episode of The Austin Approach, where we're talking all things Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.   This week, your hosts Michele and Bryce talk about their first times flying into Austin, the latest in airport food news, and interview the AUS Airport Operations Chief about the airport's response to COVID-19. Also, our friends from RDU's podcast The Fly Angle stop by to chat about about things to check out during your next trip to Raleigh-Durham.

A quick teaser for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport's new podcast, The Austin Approach!