ATXplained

ATXplained > All Episodes

November 22, 2024

Introducing 24 Hours in Austin

By: Elizabeth McQueen

ATXplained 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?

A team of audio producers from KUT spent the last several months documenting a handful of days in the life of Austin. They spent 24 hours straight in one location, talking to anyone who’d talk to them. They found that as big as Austin has gotten, standing still, it gets a little smaller.

Subscribe to 24 Hours in Austin

The first episode is 24 hours on 6th Street during SXSW: Part 1. Sixth Street in downtown Austin is wild enough on a regular night. But for two weeks every March, it gets even crazier when South by Southwest brings thousands of people to town. We spent 24 hours straight on 6th Street, between Congress and I-35 on March 14-15, 2024. Hear the first half of the day in this episode.


Episodes

June 19, 2025

What happened to Austin’s lesbian bars?

Only San Francisco and Portland, Oregon have more gay people per capita than Austin. So why don’t we have any lesbian bars?

Listen

June 5, 2025

Who was Austin’s first female lifeguard?

Laurel Seymour’s grandmother, Binnie Ruth Seymour, says she was the first woman to become a city lifeguard in Austin. Audrey McGlinchy looks at the record to see if Grandma Binnie is telling the truth.

Listen

June 2, 2025

Who is the 94 year-old Texan who calls every state lawmaker?

94 year-old Reta Ward has been calling all the Texas state lawmakers for decades to weigh in on everything from water policy to school vouchers. One Capitol staffer wanted to know more about her.

Listen

May 22, 2025

What’s the history of segregation at Barton Springs Pool?

Austin’s crown jewel has bought people together from all walks of life to enjoy a day in the sun. But before 1962, that wasn’t the case.

Listen

May 8, 2025

Is it safe to live near an old East Austin ‘Tank Farm’?

Decades ago, there were dozens of huge fuel storage tanks in East Austin — in some cases right next to homes, schools and businesses. These days, the whole thing is seen as a case of textbook environmental racism. But one East Austin resident wanted to know: what still lurks in the soil long after the […]

Listen

April 24, 2025

Why are there so many of the same kind of bars on Sixth Street?

Sixth Street is known for being party central, but it’s actually one of the most historic areas of the city.

Listen

April 10, 2025

Why are there so many ‘Violet Crowns’ in Austin?

Violet Crown this. Violet Crown that. What’s the deal with this name for so many Austin things?

Listen

March 27, 2025

Who has the oldest friendship in Austin?

This is a tough one. But we do our best, and maybe learn a little something about friendship along the way.

Listen