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

Archives for July 2018

Best Of “Higher Ed:” The Great Homework Debate

This episode was originally posted on Dec. 17, 2017.

There has been an ongoing debate in education about a staple of the school landscape: homework. Do students get too much? Too little? What role does – and should – homework play in education? In this episode of KUT’s podcast Higher Ed, KUT’s Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger discuss all things homework.

It has long been a complaint of students – and some parents, too – that too much homework is a problem and can throw a young student’s life out of balance. Ed and Jennifer discuss the history of homework; if Ed (as a teacher) thinks students have too much; and what he advocates as an alternative to homework at some levels of school. Listen to the full episode for more takes on the role of homework in education and to get the solution to the “Let’s Make A Deal” puzzler. And take note: the strategy in solving this puzzler has real world applications for making decisions and answering multiple-choice questions.

This episode was recorded Nov. 7, 2017.

Patricia “Ms. Pat” Williams (Ep. 33, 2018)

In Black America producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. speaks with Patricia “Ms. Pat” Williams, standup comedian, actress, and author of Rabbit: The Autobiography of Ms. Pat, about her early challenges and her subsequent healing and successful career.

Mushrooms (Ep. 33)

“We just assume our everyday normal consciousness is the one and the most accurate…there are unseen worlds, there are unseen forces, and you can look them in a religious sense, but you don’t have to.” –Michael Pollan

On the latest Secret Ingredient Podcast Raj Patel and Tom Philpott talk with Michael Pollan about his new book How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence.

 

KUT Weekend – July 20, 2018

Trump voters in Central Texas react to the president’s contradictory statements about Russian election interference. Plus, a look at Texas’ public school wealth redistribution system called “recapture.” And a brief history of air conditioning. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend!

Subscribe at https://weekend.kut.org

Texas Standard: July 20, 2018

A challenge from a Texas GOP congressman to fellow lawmakers on his own side of the aisle: whatever happened to checks and balances? In what is his strongest condemnation yet of President Trump post-Helsinki, Republican congressman Will Hurd writes an op ed in the New York Times calling on congress to defend the U.S. from Russia, if the president won’t. We’ll explore the political implications. Also the President’s promise to change business as usual when it comes to immigration. Upon closer inspection, just how much has changed down at the border? And the tiny town of Edna Texas loses a Walmart and maybe something less tangible, too. Plus the week in Texas politics and much more today on the Texas Standard:

Squirrels Cooling Off By Laying Flat On Concrete

For a moment, you might think there has been an unfortunate accident. But, upon closer inspection, you realize: that critter is not dead — it’s simply trying to cool off in the Texas heat! That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.

Goon: “Green Peppers”

Calling all scuzz rockers! We’ve got some Goon for your Friday afternoon! Only a couple years into their musical career, this L.A. four-piece has been celebrating a lot of “firsts” in 2018, including their first-ever national tour, being signed to their first record label and the first physical release of their first two EPs.

On the note of that tour, Goon guitarist and singer Kenny Becker recently sustained an injury postponing their Texas and remaining national dates. That said we’re still happy to spice up your weekend with something from their double EP release that’s equal parts analog, electric and acoustic – “Green Peppers”.

Texas Standard: July 19, 2018

They may call it the reddest state in the nation, but when it comes to bagging the green, the party of the blues is going gangbusters in Texas. We’ll break down what that means. Plus San Antonio’s long been the site of the Air Force cyber command, but now we’re hearing of a shift to combat status? We’ll find out what’s up. And what to do about the feral hog problem. One Texas county says you figure it out: offering bounties to help cut down the wild pig population. Will it work? And you’re just about ready for the family’s summer road trip, did you remember to bring along tech support? Never fear, our very own digital savant is here and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Now, Now: “MJ”

Fifteen years after getting together and five since their last album, Minneapolis indie rockers Now Now are back and better than ever. 2017 was quite the period of intrigue for Now, Now, who silently withdrew from SXSW, deleted all their previous social media content, and announced that their longtime guitarist Jess Abbott had left the group. This less-than-stellar news came alongside the launch of a new website, their first tour in years, a couple teaser videos and oh yeah – brand new music.

Performing these days as a duo, Now, Now’s third full-length Saved came out at the beginning of summer to critical acclaim. They’ll be playing Saturday night at Stubb’s so here’s a quick preview: the final single from Saved – “MJ”.

Texas Standard: July 18, 2018

Helsinki’s halo effect for the left? If the Texas Senate contest is any indication, it could mean stiffer pushback from Democrat challengers, we’ll have details. Also, we’ll take a closer look at how the President’s remarks at the summit with Russia might already be reflected in the race between Beto O’Rourke and Ted Cruz. Kevin Diaz of the Houston Chronicle joins us from Washington. Plus, what would be whistleblowers are telling us about conditions in immigrant detention centers in the Rio Grande Valley. And the fifth highest paid University administrator in the nation talks about student debt: Texas A&M’s John Sharp joins us and so much more on the National News Show of Texas:

MOURN: “Fun at the Geysers”

When a band forms out of hometown friendship, the music usually makes you smile. There’s no exception with Catalonia-bred, Barcelona-based quartet MOURN, who put out their self-titled debut when the three eldest members were only eighteen. They may be young but MOURN continues to channel post-rock and alternative punk of past generations, fitting snugly in a playlist between PJ Harvey, Pixies, and Patti Smith.

At a rate of an album a year, MOURN showed off their rapidly maturing energy and contagious energy last month with their fourth studio album Sorpresa Familia. MOURN continues their national tour of the U.S. with a show next Tuesday at Barracuda with Chastity and Thin Skin and you can get riled up to one of the shortest and best from MOURN’s dozen new tunes, “Fun at the Geysers”!

This Song: Tame Impala (Rerun)

Kevin Parker of Tame Impala describes how hearing Led Zeppelin’s “Good Times Bad Times” made him realize that he could meld his love of rock music with his love of dance music.

Tame Impala will be headling Float Fest in San Marcos Texas on July 22nd.  Buy tickets to Float Fest.

Listen to this episode on Stitcher
 

 

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 this episode of This Song

 

Texas Standard: July 17, 2018

It’s being called by some treasonous; more and more Republicans now breaking with the President. Words matter. We’ll try to decode them. Also, MS-13, a hyper violent gang from Central America at the center of a new litmus test in U.S. politics. How much of a threat does the gang really pose in the Lone Star State? And how the zero-tolerance border backlash has put some San Antonio lawyers in the national spotlight raising 20 million dollars to help separated families. Plus in our spotlight on health: what looks like a psychiatrist shortage in west Texas. And east Texas bugs beware: the mosquito assassins are in the air. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Night Glitter: “Tunnels” (Live in Studio 1A)

We’re halfway through July and at this point, you probably know a little something about Austin group Night Glitter. Between John-Michael of The Happen-Ins, LouLou of Thievery Corporation and their talented backing band, it was a kind of a no brainer when picking Night Glitter as our July 2018 Artist of the Month!

Night Glitter first linked up in 2015 but only debuted their dreamy downtempo synthpop this past year with a handful of singles and their EP Hangin’ On A Dream. Night Glitter was kind enough to share their new sound with us in our own Studio 1A back in June, and if you haven’t heard them live, hop on the opportunity right now with “Tunnels”!

Texas Standard: July 16, 2018

Testimony gets underway today in a challenge to Texas’ fetal burial law: a law that some believe is really designed to undermine abortion providers, we’ll have details. Also, half the kids under the age of five separated from their families under the Trump administration’s zero-tolerance plan have now been reunite. But with a court-ordered deadline to complete reunifications fast approaching, we’ll take you to El Paso where people are trying to put families back together. And the toll of tariffs on Texas businesses. Plus attracting businesses and creating Texas jobs: how well do incentives really work? Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Ume: “Don’t You Worry”

Three years since their last release, the wait for new Ume is coming to a close! Austin-based rocker Lauren Larson has had her hands full with both of her new babies – the child she just gave birth to and her latest album as Ume.

Larson wrote the ten new tunes on Ume’s upcoming full-length Other Nature working through physical ailments and newfound motherhood, two conditions that almost put the future of Ume in jeopardy. Already one of the hardest working women in the music industry, Larson overcame immense physical and mental obstacles into what is now a thoroughly personal record. Other Nature comes out this Friday but don’t you worry! Take those last three words to heart with a free download of one of Ume’s new jams, “Don’t You Worry”!

-Jack Anderson

Photo Credit: Katrina Barber

Best Of “Higher Ed:” Competition In Education

This episode was originally posted on Dec. 10, 2017.

“Whaddya get?” That’s the question students often ask each other after graded exams or papers are handed back. Competition among students persists in education. In this episode of KUT’s podcast Higher Ed, KUT’s Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger discuss if that kind of competition is ever productive or useful for learning.

Competition in school is usually among students, but Ed and Jennifer discuss how students can set up a competition with themselves to try and improve their own individual learning and performance. They also discuss how to balance competition with being part of a community. Check out the full episode to hear Ed’s thoughts about whether competition is something that should be taught in school and to hear a throwback puzzler a la “Let’s Make  A Deal.”

This episode was recorded Nov. 7, 2017.

Michael Hurd (Ep. 32, 2018)

In Black America producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. speaks with Michael Hurd, Director of the Texas Institute for the Preservation of History and Culture at Prairie View A&M University and author of Thursday Night Lights: The Story of Black High School Football in Texas.

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