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KUT and KUTX news and music podcasts for Austin, Texas and beyond

Archives for September 2017

Tomatoes: Coalition of Immokalee Workers (Ep. 29)

“The work we do is too important to the nation. We are the people who make it possible for every meal to exist. We feed the nation and we ask, have always asked, for the possibility to feed our own families in a dignified way without having to be in a vulnerable position all the time…Right now our community is in need and that is going to be the case for a while…but then the most important thing is not how to go back to normal necessarily, because normal for us it’s poor, it’s vulnerable, it’s all the things that make it really scary when hurricanes hit our area.” –Gerardo Reyes Chavez, Coalition of Immokalee Workers

When hurricane Irma hit the Florida coast in September of 2017, one place under siege was Immokalee, FL; the center of the region’s agriculture industry and home to many immigrant and migrant families, where almost 90% of the nation’s tomatoes are harvested during the winter months.

In this edition of The Secret Ingredient, Raj Patel and Tom Philpott talk with Gerardo Reyes Chavez and Julia Perkins from The Coalition of Immokalee Workers, about not only about what is needed now in the aftermath of this devastating hurricane, but also about why this population is so vulnerable, underserved, and exploited, and what they have done to transform the food industry through the Fair Food Program.

 

 

 

 

KUT Weekend – September 29, 2017

Early results from an experiment to improve safety around a downtown homeless shelter. Plus, how uncertainty around the future of health care is affecting Texans. And how undocumented day laborers face additional risks as they help rebuild from Hurricane Harvey. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend!

Subscribe at https://weekend.kut.org

Texas Standard: September 29, 2017

New York, Chicago, parts of Florida known for large Puerto Rican communities. My, after Maria, it’s looking like destination Texas. We’ll have the story. Also, a conversation with the head of Texas Task Force One, one of the first rescue groups to arrive in Puerto Rico. Plus, that phone in your hand? Chances are, it’s also a radio. An emergency communication device even if a cell tower’s down. So why don’t all phone companies turn on the chip? Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

This Song: Fleet Foxes

Fleet Foxes have just released their third full length record, “Crack Up,” after a six year break. Listen to lead singer and songwriter Robin Pecknold as he explores the effect Glen Campbell’s recording of Brian Wilson penned “Guess I’m Dumb” had on his songwriting.  And you’re definitely going to dig his theory as to why music is such an effective emotion transmitter.

Subscribe via the Podcasts App, iTunes or Stitcher to get the new episodes of This Song delivered to you as soon as they come out.

Listen to Songs from Episode 103 of This Song

 

Writer’s Block (Rebroadcast)

Writer’s block! That phrase might induce panic and a recollection of a familiar experience. It’s a very common phenomenon. So what is it?

When in the beginning stages of undertaking a new writing project, a writer might find themselves blocked – stuck in front of a blank page or screen with no thoughts coming to mind. This lack of creative flow is further exacerbated by anxiety over the lack of production – making it a self-perpetuating cycle that can lead to stagnation.

In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke explain the ins and outs of how and why we sometimes get stuck – and what we can do to help ourselves in those difficult situations.

Texas Standard: September 28, 2017

They say it’ll help balance the budget, grow the economy, create more jobs, but what does it add up to for Texas? We’ll explore. Also after this week’s highly watched senate race in Alabama, what’s the take away for Texas? We’ll hear how that election could have shockwaves for the lone star state, and for one top congressman in particular. Plus Homeland Security will start gathering social media information for all immigrants, an effort sparked by the 2015 San Bernardino attack. But what’s the government looking for and does it make sense for security? Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

This Song: Iron and Wine

Sam Beam, aka Iron and Wine, has been testing the boundaries of folk music since the early 2000’s. Hear how Big Star’s “Take Care” helped him to evolve his ideas of what he could do with musical arrangements, and listen as he proposes a theory as to why music moves emotion. Warning: his theory may give you the good chills.

Subscribe via the Podcasts App, iTunes or Stitcher to get the new episodes of This Song delivered to you as soon as they come out.

 

 Check out Iron and Wine’s Tour Dates

Listen to Andrew Bird’s This Song interview

Listen to Songs from Episode 102 of This Song

 

Texas Standard: September 27, 2017

A decades old backlog of evidence gathered after sexual assaults and the Houston lawsuit that could shake things up, we’ll have the story. Plus our question of the day: can a former punk rocker from El Paso stage a Texas sized political upset? The ballad of Beto vs. Ted, and the battle for the US senate. Also, a harvey-sized hit to Texas hospitality? Why there’s no room at the inns. And a little known defense department program has been discovered at a major Texas installation: what is the mission of Starbase Kelly? And why is everyone so small? Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: September 26, 2017

Travis County’s Sheriff does a 180 after a ruling on Senate Bill 4. All ICE Detainers will be honored, but it’s not so simple. The status quo ante, the way things were before SB4. Is that what the court wants Texas to return to? We’ll try to sort out an opinion that’s left considerable confusion over the short term implementation of Texas’ so-called sanctuary cities bill. Also, remember the Texas Miracle? A piece in the New York times asks the question, Texas, you still feelin miraculous? And harvey sparks global interest in the concept of sponge cities. Like the suburbs, only extra absorbent. All that and a whole lot more on the national news show of Texas, the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: September 25, 2017

Could Ted Cruz sink the latest republican attempt at Obamacare repeal? Yes. Will he? That’s now the question, we’ll explore. Also, what really happened that caused fires to break out at a chemical plant during Harvey. We’ll hear what environmental regulators are looking into one month later. Plus Pulitzer Prize winning reporter and native Houstonian David Farenthold sent shock waves thru campaign 2016 with his stories on Donald Trump. And what impact has the Trump era had on Texas politics? What Farenthold says might surprise you. Our conversation coming up. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Higher Ed: Navigating a Math-y Career Pivot

A listener wrote in to “Higher Ed” about his decision to pursue a Ph.D. in pure mathematics after studying classical piano performance and working as a pianist. In this episode of KUT’s podcast Higher Ed, KUT’s Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger discuss becoming a mathematician later in life and the joys and challenges of making a career shift. Focus, passion and commitment. Those are some of the qualities Ed says are necessary to successfully pull off a career pivot to mathematician – or to pursuing any new field. As a matter of fact, Ed says “talent is secondary to commitment” when making this kind of change. Preparing for a job interview for a new job? This week’s puzzler could help. It’s a “classic” that actually gets asked in some job interviews.

This episode was recorded Aug. 10, 2017.

Elva Diane Green, pt. 2 (Ep. 42, 2017)

In Black America producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. concludes his interview with Elva Diane Green, author of Eddie Green: The Rise of an Early 1900;s Black American Entertainment Pioneer.  Ms. Green is the daughter of the little-known but influential comedian, singer, dancer, actor and filmmaker.

KUT Weekend – September 22, 2017

Questions persist over how FEMA decides who gets help after Hurricane Harvey. Plus, what if Amazon chooses Austin for its second headquarters? And why aren’t Rollingwood, West Lake Hills and Sunset Valley part of Austin? Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend.

Subscribe at https://weekend.kut.org

Sidney Mintz (Extended Interview)

“Most of all I would like more coming to terms with what happened…I think what needs to be done is for all of my fellow citizens in this country to understand what happened and to be able to say, this is what was done and now we must think about how to make the playing field level for all of us in this country, and by some ways for all of us eventually in the world. Because we can’t live by ignoring that past.” –Sidney Mintz

In this bonus edition of The Secret Ingredient, Raj Patel, Tom Philpott and Rebecca McInroy revisit the conversation with anthropologist Sidney Mintz about his seminal work “Sweetness and Power: The Place of Sugar In Modern History.”

The interview took place in September of 2015 and later that year on December 27th Dr. Mintz passed away.

In this extended interview, Mintz not only takes us through our prehistoric relationship to sweetness–from the bloody history of slavery and sugar production to our current state of the mass production and consumption of sweetness worldwide, but he also talks about his development as an anthropologist and thinker. He discusses his time as a student of anthropology and how he was able to study in Puerto Rico, along with who was influencing his thinking at the time. He also talks about how factories developed on the sugar plantations and the way slavery developed in the New World, as well as the role this brutal past plays in current volatile racial relations in the U.S.

As hurricanes continue to wreak havoc on the Caribbean and our hearts go out to all those who are suffering, we look to Mintz for wisdom and guidance in the days ahead.

Praise (Rebroadcast)

“Hey, you know, you’re really good at that.” That feels good to hear, doesn’t it?

Praise always feels good to hear, but not all praise motivates us to try new things, challenge ourselves, or deal with failure.

In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke discuss how to praise in a productive and meaningful way.

Texas Standard: September 22, 2017

After Trump, after a special session, after Harvey—where does Texas go from here? From the biggest annual political event in the Lone Star State, this is the Texas Standard.

With the federal government in the hands of republicans, what kind of mark is Texas making on American politics right now?

This is the place to ask such questions: tonight’s the kickoff of the Texas Tribune festival–a weekend in the Texas capitol city devoted to all things Lone Star politics.

From what to do about interminable commutes to the role of Texas cities in climate change —and we assume, of course you can name the governor? We’ll try a little “on the street” test. We’ve got miles and miles to cover, we’re at Tribfest today on the Standard.

Never-Ending Construction on I-35

Tired of the seemingly endless construction on Interstate 35? Wondering if it will ever end? That slow traffic flow is the subject of this week’s Typewriter Rodeo poem.

V&B – Being Trans in Texas: Education, Advocacy and Support

KUT’s Rebecca McInroy joins Chuck Smith from Equality Texas, Carmarion Anderson of The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries, Attorney Claire Bow, Professor Shane Whalley from the UT School of Social Work, and Filmmaker Jett Garrison to talk about what it means to be transgender in the current social and political moment and how allies can provide effective and helpful support to the trans community.

Texas Standard: September 21, 2017

Two major earthquakes south of the border in the course of two weeks. Should Texans be worried about our tectonic ties to Mexico? We’ll explore. Also, a new battlefront in the debate over just how separate church and state are in the US, and Texas’ Harvey experience is a big part of that discussion, we’ll hear why. Plus the head honcho of the Texas house, Joe Straus has filed for reelection, but a veteran political watcher says the speaker of the house may not return as many think. We’ll hear why and what speaker Straus is and is not saying about the matter. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

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