Jennifer Stayton

This time of the year – in addition to being the holidays – is also known as “cuffing season.” It is a time of the year when single people look to connect in shorter-term relationships to get through the holidays and colder winter months. It unofficially runs from October through about Valentine’s Day. But it can feel more intense with the holidays coming soon. KUT’s Jennifer Stayton talked recently with Central Texas neuropsychotherapist Bella J. Rockman MA, LPC, LCDC-i  about that pressure to “couple up,” especially ahead of the holidays.

If you’re looking for love – or just to make some new friends – join us for “KUT and KUTX Connections” an evening of mixing, mingling, community building, conversation and music.  Tuesday night, December 10th at Austin Beerworks. Find out more and RSVP at KUT dot ORG. 

There is no doubt Austin has changed a lot over the past few decades. Some of those changes were within Austin’s control. Others were not. But for author and journalist Alex Hannaford, many of those changes prompted his decision to leave after living in Austin for about 17 years. KUT’s Jennifer Stayton talked with Hannaford about his new book “Lost in Austin: the Evolution of an American City” ahead of his appearance at the 2024 Texas Book Festival in Austin. They started out discussing why he originally moved to Austin after his first visit in 1999 while on a trip to the United States from his native England.

Early voting continues through November 1 for the November 5 election. Some people have sworn off news coverage for the rest of this divisive election season, citing how anxious it makes them feel. Anxiety about the election – and about what might happen after the election – is very palpable for some people. KUT’s Jennifer Stayton talked recently with Central Texas neuropsychotherapist Bella J. Rockman MA, LPC, LCDC-i about what fuels that anxiety and some tips for navigating it.

Matthew Shepard was a 21-year-old college student in Wyoming in 1998. On October 7th of that year, in an anti-gay hate crime, he was attacked, tied to a fence, and left to die in a field outside Laramie. Shepard died five days later. Conspirare founding Artistic Director Craig Hella Johnson still remembers the grief, anger and fear he felt when hearing what had happened. Johnson went on to create the musical piece “Considering Matthew Shepard” which is being reworked and performed Thursday night, October 3, at Bass Concert Hall in Austin. KUT’s Jennifer Stayton spoke recently with Conspirare soprano Gitanjali Mathur and Johnson about bringing this work back to the Austin stage. But they start by discussing Johnson’s initial reaction to Shepard’s killing. Conspirare’s newly-staged performance of “Considering Matthew Shepard” is happening Thursday night at 7:30 at Bass Concert Hall. There will be a post-performance discussion with Matthew Shepard’s parents, Judy and Dennis, and Craig Hella Johnson.

Central Texas top stories for July 22, 2024: Austin Democrats praise President Joe Biden’s decision to drop his 2024 presidential re-election bid. It’s budget season in the city of Austin. And the Downtown Austin Alliance is working to address safety concerns as the Austin Police Department faces an ongoing staffing shortage

Another contentious and divisive political election season and another brutally hot summer may have people feeling down and even a little hopeless. But there are things we can do to counter that trajectory and even feel a little hopeful when times seem tough. KUT’s Jennifer Stayton talked recently with Central Texas neuropsychotherapist Bella J. Rockman MA, LPC, LCDC-i over Zoom about hope in the face of struggle. They started by discussing what the concept of hope even means.

A group of poets, musicians and artists is celebrating the anniversaries of the Summer of Love and Summer of Soul at an upcoming event in Austin called “A Dozen Texas Voices Swing in the Key of Summer Love.” KUT’s Jennifer Stayton asked local poet and minister Terry Dawson, poet Griselda Jane Castillo and local musician Laura Mordecai why the event is focused on the theme of love – and why now? She also got them to preview some of the poetry that will be shared at the event.

“A Dozen Texas Voices Swing in the Key of Summer Love” is June 22 at 6:00p.m. at St. James Episcopal Church in Austin. The event is free but reservations are requested here.

Austin author Sarah Bird was new to Texas in the 1970’s. She took photojournalism classes at UT- Austin back in the day when taking pictures meant a lot more equipment, film, and time in darkrooms than it does now. Bird got interested in photographing all kinds of Texas events and eventually made her way to all kinds of rodeos. But it was Black rodeos that captured her attention the most. Bird has now compiled those photos and her recollections – and an essay by sports historian Demetrius Pearson – into a book called “Juneteenth Rodeo.” KUT’s Jennifer Stayton talked with Bird recently about her path to the “Soul Circuit” and what she experienced when she got there.

School is almost over for the summer, but not at KUT – where our “Civics 101” series continues. We are exploring the institutions and governments that shape our lives and how we can be involved.

“I’m too busy. I didn’t have time, I was sick. I didn’t know what was on the ballot.” Those are some of the reasons people give for not voting. Travis County Clerk Dyana Limon Mercado also believes people are a bit intimidated by the process and may be unsure about how to participate. She talked recently with KUT’s Jennifer Stayton at the Travis County Clerk’s office in Austin all about elections and voting. But they started by first discussing what the County Clerk’s office actually does:

The KUT newsroom is focusing some coverage this week on helping people better understand how government works. We are calling it “Civics 101,” and as part of our effort, we are hosting some special events to take an ever deeper dive into how things work and what our role is in a functioning democracy. One of these events is modeled on a popular game show. “The Price is Right: How the City of Austin Spends Your Money” is happening Tuesday night, May 21, at Austin PBS in conjunction with the local news and civics website The Austin Common, Austin PBS and Good Politics. The announced candidates for Mayor of Austin this year have also been invited to attend. KUT’s Jennifer Stayton talked recently with The Austin Common Editor-in-Chief Amy Stansbury about this game-show-meets-city-budget event:

Central Texas top stories for May 21, 2024. UT’s Frank Erwin Center site will next host a medical center but there’s still lots of work to do. Del Valle ISD Board of Trustees approved a three percent salary increase for teachers, staff and administrators. And animal shelters in the Austin area are offering free or discounted pet adoptions.

Central Texas top stories for May 20, 2024. The Austin Independent School District is still trying to make a dent in its growing budget deficit. A new initiative in Texas would help teens get better access to mental health services in their communities. And there may be a small silver lining to the big problem of leaky water pipes in Austin.

The City of Austin’s historic preservation plan dates back to 1981. But an effort is underway to change who participates in that planning and what gets preserved. People can give their input on a draft of the city’s new Equity-Based Preservation Plan through May 31st. KUT’s Jennifer Stayton recently talked with the city’s Planning Department Program Manager Cara Bertron and two members of the working group that helped draft the plan: historian Julia Brookins and architect JuanRaymon Rubio. They talked at Austin’s Parque Zaragoza, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, about why the city’s current plan needs a reboot.

Marian Henley is a cartoonist, artist and author who lives in Austin. She was raped twice in her life. Once at the age of 19. The second time at the age of 35. Later on, Henley adopted a son. In her recent graphic memoir “Finding the Light: A Mother’s Journey from Trauma to Healing,” she chronicles sharing that information with her son – and how it impacted both of their lives. KUT’s Jennifer Stayton talked with Marian Henley recently about her journey – beginning with how, and why, she told her son. ( A note: this interview includes discussion of a work that deals with sexual assault).

Henley will be speaking about her graphic memoir Thursday, April 25, at 7:00 p.m. at BookPeople in Austin.

Lisa B. Thompson has been working on “The Black Feminist Guide to the Human Body” as a 2023-2024 Texas Performing Arts Artist in Residence. KUT’s Jennifer Stayton talked with Thompson ahead of the April 12th premier at the Vortex in Austin, Texas about the themes of the work – including her desire to focus on middle-aged and older Black women.

Central Texas top stories for April 12, 2024. The Austin City Council could soon extend the contract for the Marshalling Yard – a temporary homeless shelter in Southeast Austin. Advocates for ethnic studies classes in Texas public schools urge the State Board of Education to approve an American Indian-Native Studies course.

This week’s total solar eclipse was really spectacular – even with the cloudy skies. It turns out even a beautiful, natural phenomenon like the eclipse is not immune from conspiracy theories and disinformation. Why are some people eager to embrace information that is wrong – and sometimes really reluctant to let it go? KUT’s Jennifer Stayton put that question recently over Zoom to Central Texas neuropsychotherapist Bella J. Rockman, MA, LPC, LCDC-i. She says a mix of factors is at play- especially when it comes to politics:

Central Texas top stories for April 9, 2024. Cloudy skies didn’t keep hundreds of thousands from experiencing Monday’s total solar eclipse. Austin Independent School District students were among those impressed by the rare event. Austinites who qualify can still get help filing their federal income taxes before next week’s deadline.

Central Texas top stories for April 5, 2024. The Austin City Council makes official the hiring of a new City Manager. Get ready for clogged roads before, during and after Monday’s total solar eclipse. And a long-planned pedestrian bridge at the east end of the Butler Trail around Lady Bird Lake can finally go ahead.

Violence has been flaring in Haiti as gangs have attacked government facilities after elections were delayed. There is still no ceasefire agreement in the Israel-Hamas war. Concerns persist about potential Russian aggression in Europe two years after the invasion of Ukraine. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed or even hopeless in the face of multiple ongoing wars. The Reverend John Dear has devoted his adult life to nonviolence and is the author of the new book The Gospel of Peace: A Commentary on Matthew, Mark and Luke from the Perspective of Nonviolence. He talked with KUT about his life’s work – starting with what the word “nonviolence” means to him.