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A growing body of evidence shows that doulas can improve health outcomes; especially for Black women, who have a maternal mortality rate 2.5 times higher than white women in Texas. Birth workers want their services to be accessible and understood by more folks. We’ll delve more into the practice.
And the Texas DREAM Act gave undocumented Texans the chance to attend college at the cost of in-state tuition. Now, Texas public universities are progressing through the first full academic semester under new tuition rules. We’ll hear from one UT Austin student about the adjustment and the future.
Plus, another Black History Month music profile.
Finally, we’ll round up a busy weekend of sports news across the Austin area.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
The full transcript of this episode of Austin Signal is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is also available as subtitles or captions on some podcast apps.
Jerry Quijano [00:00:09] The growing body of evidence shows that doulas can improve health outcomes, especially for black women, who have a maternal mortality rate two and a half times higher than white women in Texas. Birth workers want their services to be accessible and understood by more folks. We’ve got more about them. And the Texas Dream Act gave undocumented Texans a chance to attend college at the cost of in-state tuition. Now Texas public universities are progressing through their first full academic semester under new tuition rules. We’re going to hear from one UT Austin student about the adjustment and the future coming up on today’s show.
KUT Announcer: Laurie Gallardo [00:00:44] The Austin Signal is a production of KUT News, hosted by Jerry Quijano.
Jerry Quijano [00:00:49] And we’re going to wrap up a busy weekend of sports across the Austin area. We’ve got those stories and more coming up next here on Austin Signal. Howdy out there, this is Austin Signal. Thank you for tuning in. It is the last Monday of February, 2026. I’m your host, Jerry Kikano. Five days remain to vote early in the upcoming March primaries here in Texas. Republicans and Democrats across the state are deciding their party’s nominees for this fall’s general election. Several statewide races are on the ballot and voters are also choosing their congressional district candidates. And depending on where you live and your party affiliation, your ballot might also include one of two Travis County Commissioner races. We have voter guides with more information. Those are over at KUT.org. Austin is becoming a thriving hub for doulas, advocates who provide support for women during pregnancy and childbirth, and they’re playing an important role in statewide efforts to maternal mortality rates. KUT’s Olivia Aldridge spoke with Central Texas doulas about their efforts to advocate for the profession and the women that they care for.
Olivia Aldridge [00:02:14] When Josephine Adegbate had her second baby last spring, all the stars seemed to align. At a birthing center in Maynor, she labored in a tub of water as music played, and just when it was time to push, a Yoruba gospel song began to play, one of her Nigerian grandmother’s favorites.
Sarah Asch [00:02:31] Fuck it
Olivia Aldridge [00:02:34] And I was like, oh my gosh, like, what are the odds? While the timing may have been perfect, the playlist was planned with this day in mind. By Josephine’s side the whole time, supporting her with water, towels, massages, and making sure the music kept rolling was her doula, Alicia Rivera Clemente.
Alicia Rivera Clemente [00:02:53] I was happy to be there and happy to see that she was so comfortable and felt safe and you know she was able to enjoy and really reflect on what she just did like the powerful thing that she just did.
Olivia Aldridge [00:03:08] It wasn’t like this during Josephine’s first experience giving birth just a couple of years earlier. She ended up having an emergency C-section. She felt pressured and scared.
Josephine Adegbate [00:03:18] I didn’t know like the recovery. I didn’t like the way I was treated in the hospital. I felt like
Olivia Aldridge [00:03:24] I didn’t really have a voice. That’s why, when Josephine became pregnant again, she sought out a doula. She says having a judgment-free person to talk her through her fears and questions made a big difference.
Josephine Adegbate [00:03:35] There is no shame and it’s like, that’s like your person. It’s like an extension of you.
Olivia Aldridge [00:03:42] Josephine’s experience aligns with a growing body of research that shows doulas are associated with better birth outcomes. That includes reduced rates of premature labor and fewer C-sections, which can be lifesaving but come with increased risks when performed unnecessarily. These benefits have been especially noted for Black women, who have a maternal mortality rate two and a half times higher than white women in Texas. But doula services aren’t always accessible for everyone. They’ve rarely been covered by insurance, meaning they’ve often been limited to people who can pay. But in the Austin area, there’s a network of organizations that offer free services for black and brown women who could benefit from medulla. It’s called the Maternal Health Equity Collaborative. Alicia worked with Josephine through one of the organizations in the group.
Alicia Rivera Clemente [00:04:31] You know, if one organization doesn’t have the capacity, we’re not just telling you no, or saying like, you know, better luck next time, we can refer you to somewhere else, and then it’s not just that referral process of, hey, we just gave you the website, we’re getting you in touch with somebody.
Olivia Aldridge [00:04:49] Directly. It’s an example of the kind of coalition building that doula leaders in the state want to see more of throughout Texas. Deanna von Bart held is vice president of the Texas Doula Association. She thinks Austin’s proximity to the capital has bolstered the local doula network and motivated them to take an advocacy focused approach to their work.
Deanna Von Bart [00:05:09] You have a freeing environment to provide the services that you need. You have local representatives who support and have a better understanding of the doula work. We would want to see what’s happening in Travis County multiplied across
Olivia Aldridge [00:05:26] The state. The Texas Doula Association recently released the results of a first of its kind survey of the Texas doula workforce, an attempt to get a picture of a profession that largely operates outside of the traditional medical establishment, with no one single credentialing agency and many training pathways.
Deanna Von Bart [00:05:45] We wanted to reflect the reality of our community-based work, which includes, I’ll say, informal care, unpaid labor, cultural responsiveness, and of course the emotional and financial toll of supporting families in a under-resourced system.
Olivia Aldridge [00:06:03] The survey confirmed that Austin is a hotspot for birth workers, with almost 30% of doulas who responded saying they worked in Travis County. Rural doulas were more isolated, and indicated they could use more support. Across the board, doulas said they still encounter a lack of understanding from the public about what their job is and why it’s important. Von Barthold and the Texas Doula Association want to make sure state policymakers are I’m educated about this too. Especially as several bills related to doula services have been filed in the past two legislative sessions. Having to.
Deanna Von Bart [00:06:37] Sit across a policymaker that’s going to say, okay, I’m gonna vote on this bill, but I still don’t know what you do, is alarming.
Olivia Aldridge [00:06:46] The push to cover more doula services through Medicaid has gained momentum in recent years. So far, bills in Texas that would have introduced a Medicaid pilot program have stalled in committee. But other states have already made it happen. Around half of U.S. States now offer reimbursement through their Medicaid programs. And for the next Texas legislative session, the Texas Doula Association is hoping to get more individual doulas involved in advocacy. Dula Alicia Rivera-Clemente says that’s something she’s interested in.
Alicia Rivera Clemente [00:07:16] I’d like to get more involved and become more knowledgeable about how these things can change and why they’re remaining the same. The compensation to me doesn’t equate to the work that’s being done and the impact that’s been made. So I’d to see change there for sure.
Olivia Aldridge [00:07:34] But in the meantime, Alicia loves the work she’s doing, and that work has been motivating for Josephine too. She wants other women to have positive experiences with childbirth.
Josephine Adegbate [00:07:44] It was so good, it felt like I could do it. I knew what I was doing, I had support. I felt heard, I felt seen. And that’s really what every woman deserves.
Olivia Aldridge [00:07:57] As Josephine parents her two little girls. She’s also back in school, hoping to work towards becoming a labor and delivery nurse. I’m Olivia Aldridge in Austin.
Sarah Asch [00:08:10] Oh
Jerry Quijano [00:08:15] For over two decades, the Texas DREAM Act gave undocumented Texans a chance to attend college at the cost of in-state tuition. Now Texas public universities are in their first full semester under new tuition rules, which are at the center of a federal court fight. A lower court order siding with the Justice Department challenging the DREAM act is under appeal right now at the Fifth Circuit. And on campuses like UT Austin, this legal battle isn’t just some legal abstraction. Spring tuition bills have already gone out under the new rules, and students here in Austin and across the state are adjusting in real time. Marco Julian Gonzalez is a dual-degree double honors junior here at UT. He’s also a member of Sigma Lambda Beta, a Latino-founded fraternity whose chapter has stepped into this legal fight. Gonzalez stopped by the Texas Standard to speak with host David Brown.
David Brown [00:09:07] For listeners who may not have followed every turn of this case, I’m not going to ask you to try to rebuild that, but can you briefly explain in real terms, everyday terms, what’s changed this semester and what students are seeing in their tuition bill?
Marco Julian Gonzalez [00:09:20] Yeah. And I guess I’ll pick up in what we’re not seeing is, uh, thousands and thousands of students all over the state of Texas attending these end state public universities that they’re admitted to because they can’t afford the cost of tuition. Uh, what we have seen is, uh, some of the people that we know, uh their tuition bills have spiked from some, I don’t know, $7,000 for a semester to about $22,000 a semester. Uh, seemingly overnight.
David Brown [00:09:52] You’ve described this as a rare moment where student organizations move from legislative advocacy to state rulemaking to now here you are in a live federal appeal. What did that journey look like from your vantage point as a member of this fraternity joining into this
Marco Julian Gonzalez [00:10:11] huge legal fight? Well, I guess to say is we know many people who are affected by the end of the Texas Dream Act. And I guess not the end because it’s still in litigation, but right now it’s not an enforcement, right? And 57,000 students across the state of Texas, many of these students feel that they can’t speak and share their own testimonies because of the predicament that they’re in. So we feel the need to step in and be able to speak for them, for the people that now. For the people that are being called, I would say, unjust labels, right? These are members of Trinde Agua or MS 13. These are students that study in the same libraries, go to the same dining hall, go to same rec here at UT Austin alongside of us. We know who they are. We know they aren’t.
David Brown [00:11:02] Here we have the situation in the court’s Fifth Circuit appeal still pending. Can you give me an example of how this is affecting the lives of some of your fellow students? Yeah. Time.
Marco Julian Gonzalez [00:11:14] I can give a testimonial, for example, I have a friend who, you know, she dreams of being a doctor, right? She was brought here when she was really young, went to our Texas public schools, graduated from Texas high schools, remembers the Alamo, remembers everything about Texas, and they got here to University of Texas at Austin. This was supposed to be their senior year. They were expecting to apply to, you now, different medical schools to be a doctor because they want to help save lives in the state of Texas. And because of this, she has all of her requirements for her degree met except for some semester or two. And that semester or two is charging her about $22,000, right? She and her family weren’t expecting that type of price, right? And so now she’s had to unenroll, put her educational career on pause. Until we can see the outcome of this litigation. For me and my fraternity, it’s not about politics, it’s now about party. For us it’s about the people, the people that we know in our lives who are affected.
David Brown [00:12:22] Marco, I know you mentioned specifically that this isn’t a political thing. This is about the impact on others. And yet here we are in a very important election season. Do you imagine that there will be any political implication as a result of these changes or not so much? What do you think?
Marco Julian Gonzalez [00:12:44] To be honest with you, I never asked that question. It kind of goes back to as a, I mean, we never expected to be where we are today, right? We never expected testifying from the legislature, the state executive committees. We never expect it to be named the Mise Curiae and the federal circuit court. It just so happens to be, you know, one step along the way, here we are. We feel like we’re here to defend meritocracy in America. We feel the political implications Is that Texas Pride itself? On the free enterprise system. And these students did everything that the state asked them to do. Got good grades, studied for the SAT, ACT, to get to where they are today because they’re hardworking. They dream to be an American and they dream to a Texas citizen. And that’s part of the implications of the Texas Dream Act. Is in order to be eligible, you have to commit yourself in sworn affidavit to pursue lawful. Status. These people want to be Americans. They’re already tax contributing and so I feel the biggest implication is just that, you know a loss to the meritocracy in our state of Texas.
Jerry Quijano [00:13:56] That was Marco Julian Gonzalez. He is a junior at UT Austin and a member of a Latino-founded fraternity whose chapter has stepped into a battle over in-state tuition costs. We’re going to have more in today’s podcast, show notes and at kut.org slash signal. And coming up, we’re going have some black Austin music history for you and a recap of the busy sports weekend that was here in Austin. That’s after this break. This is Austin signal. This is Austin Signal, welcome back. It is the final week of February and all month long host Myles Bloxson has been chronicling Austin Music History for Black History Month. Today we’re gonna hear about an East Austin club that became a hub for live music, dancing and Austin’s black community.
Miles Bloxson [00:14:55] Charlie’s Playhouse opened around 1958 under the ownership of East Austin businessman Ernest Charlie Gilden, located at 1206 East 11th Street in the historically black cultural district. The building had previously housed the show bar and the black cat. During segregation, the club became a central gathering place for Austin’s black community, offering live music, dancing and nightlife in a city that actually limited where black residents could socialize. At a time when black musicians were restricted in where they could perform, Charlie’s became part of the Chitlin circuit, the network of venues that actually welcomed black performers across the country. Throughout the 1960s, Charlie’s hosted live bands five nights a week. Austin native and local legend blues boy Hubbard helped define the club sound, alongside groups like the Jets. National R&B acts also made their way through Charlie’s doors, including Hank Ballard and the Midnighters. Famously known for recording the original version of the twist.
Sarah Asch [00:15:54] Come on baby, let’s do it!
Miles Bloxson [00:16:11] But in the mid-late 1960s, Austin itself was beginning to shift. While limited school integration had started in the 1950s, widespread desegregation of schools and businesses did not take hold into the mid 1960s. And full integration would be forced by federal intervention around 1970s. As those changes moved through the capital city, White University of Texas students began showing up at Charlie’s. Gradually shifting the dynamic of the space long rooted in black community life. And when formerly segregated venues began opening their doors to black patrons, Donald Duck Jennings, a former performer at Charlie’s and member of the Jets put it this way, all the customers and the patrons, they left and went across the freeway. And by the 70s, shifting demographics and changing audience patterns were reshaping East Austin. In 1971, a cornerstone of the black community and Austin’s first public high school for black students. LC Anderson High School was shut down during court-ordered integration. As integration continued to unfold across the city, the city’s entertainment landscape also shifted, and Charlie’s Playhouse closed its doors for good. The building was eventually demolished, and today a four-story condo built in 2009 stands where the iconic East Side venue once filled the night with music and blues. Even though Charlie’s Playhouse no longer stands at 1206 East 11th Street, its imprint on Austin’s music history is forever woven into the city’s story, a lasting reminder of when East Austin was the heart of black business, culture, and blues! For more on Charlie’s Playhouse, visit kutx.org. I’m Miles Bloxson. This is Austin Signo.
David Brown [00:18:08] And she said that she’s my first class lover
Jerry Quijano [00:18:12] Well, it was a busy sports weekend here in Austin with some professional soccer, basketball, and some UT action as well. Here to help us recap some of it is KUT’s program director and co-host of the Vamos Verde podcast, Jimmy Moss. Howdy, Jimmy.
Jimmy Mass [00:18:28] Howdy, and it was a busy weekend. It’s kind of a busy time in sports in town. This is a big city now, so.
Jerry Quijano [00:18:33] It’s a fun time to be a sports enjoyer for sure because it’s the final week of February which means we’re ramping up into March and March Madness. So let’s start with the Texas women’s basketball team.
Jimmy Mass [00:18:45] How did they do yesterday? Well, they continued their pursuit of a top seed in the NCAA tournament They they more than doubled Mississippi State score yesterday at the Moody Center 92 to 42 They are still ranked fourth in the newest AP basketball poll. They host 24th ranked, Georgia Thursday here in town and speaking of Georgia the Bulldogs ended the men’s team’s Five-game win streak and threw a bit of a wrench in the plans for the horns to coast into the NCAA tournament They beat Texas Saturday in Athens. And now bracketology is of course, this imaginary inexact pseudoscience, but that’s not gonna stop ESPN and others from paying someone to come up with these numbers.
Jerry Quijano [00:19:26] It’s fun to be a fake bracket ology in that
Jimmy Mass [00:19:29] in that spirit. Going into the weekend, the Longhorns had an 80% chance of making the tournament. Now, after that loss in Athens, they have a 70% chance and they have a tough game this Wednesday at Moody Center against Florida.
Jerry Quijano [00:19:43] Okay, well speaking of the Moody Center, that Texas game took place at one o’clock in the afternoon yesterday. There was a professional basketball game the night before and it was a busy weekend for the Spurs here in Austin. You were out there. What was it?
Jimmy Mass [00:19:56] The I-35 series is seemingly one of, it’s a super popular stop for the Spurs. They come here and they pack the house more so than they fill the upper rafters of the Moody Center, which they’re not typical for long-horn basketball games. Anyway, both Spurs posted double-digit wins against the Suns on Thursday and the Kings on Saturday, so Spurs are kind of rolling right now. They really are. They’re heading into the playoffs on a high note. See if they can maintain that through the end of March and into the NBA playoff
Jerry Quijano [00:20:29] Yeah, they’re on an eight game winning streak and tonight they’re going against the Detroit Pistons who have the best record in the Eastern conference So should be a fun game. That’s starting at 6 o’clock So yeah, there was a lot going on but the big go ahead
Jimmy Mass [00:20:43] No, staying on campus though, real quick. Defending national champion softball team. Went out to California and did what? Defending National Champion should do. They went 5-0 in a tournament out there. And they beat the likes of Stanford and Arizona. And they had a good weekend for themselves. They’ve now won 12 games in a row. And the Longhorn men’s baseball team swept Michigan State over the weekend. Big name opponent there. So they’re keeping their season off to a good start. And also pro volleyball. Love, Austin. They split a series loop, beating Madison and then losing to Atlanta. So, and we haven’t even gotten to the marquee event because as listeners know of almost Saturday, the Austin F C began their season over the weekend. That’s right. Q2 stadium. And, uh, while, you know, it is, uh. They drew two, two against Minnesota and there’s some, some draws that are feel like wins, some that feel like losses and. Minnesota did tie the score, like, the last minute of regulation time, they, I think most fans feel fairly optimistic. There was offense, there was offense generated by Mirto Zuni and Robert Taylor, who had tough seasons last season, and the fans let them know about it. So I think there are moments from takeaways from Saturday that kind of keep most Austin fans optimistic. I think Minnesota was it. Playoff team last year who knows what they’ll be this year, but you know this reasonably good start of offense for Austin FC
Jerry Quijano [00:22:17] Last week we had your co-host Juan Diego Garcia on the show and he mentioned Mirto Uzuni as a guy who maybe might have he was keeping his eye out on this guy especially with the signing of Facundo Torres. Like you said some draws and not all draws are equal Austin FC did put up two goals in this one. Does that make you feel a little bit better about their chances this year to put more goals on the scoreboard?
Jimmy Mass [00:22:42] There was strong build-up play throughout possession. Like, Minnesota was, at least last season, a quality opponent. There’s no reason to expect them not to be this season. It was the return of Josh Wolfe to this, he’s an assistant coach at Minnesota. Oh, I didn’t realize that. Yeah, so it was, you know, there were little tiny storylines throughout, but I think overall there’s room for optimism for Austin FC fans. And that, they will, they have another home game this weekend. And that’s another busy weekend ahead for us here in Austin. NASCAR is back in town at Circuit of the Americas. And the ATX Open, the Women’s Tennis Association event, is happening. And that is taking off Venus Williams, Tennis Great Venus Williams and Peyton Stearns, the ex-Longhorn, they’ll be playing tomorrow.
Jerry Quijano [00:23:30] All right, lots happening, as we said. It’s a busy time for sports fans. Lots to enjoy out there. That is KUT program director Jimmy Moss. Jimmy, thanks for being on the show. Thank you. And thank you out there for spending some time with us on this Monday. Special thanks to Renee Chavez and Casey Cheek for their help with today’s show. I’m your host, Jerry Kehannel. We will be back with you tomorrow. Talk then.
This transcript was transcribed by AI, and lightly edited by a human. Accuracy may vary. This text may be revised in the future.
