Stories from Texas

Stories from Texas > All Episodes

January 4, 2023

The Port Mansfield Cut and the treasure discovered there

By: W.F. Strong

Running from Corpus Christi to near Brownsville, Padre Island is the longest barrier island in the world. Up until the late 1950s, you could drive the entire 113 miles of the island if you had a vehicle with decent four-wheel drive. That option was blocked in 1957 when the Port Mansfield Cut was dredged. The waterway had been a dream of Laguna Madre locals for decades. Texas Standard commentator W.F. Strong tells us how the island was split and what was found.


Episodes

July 22, 2026

Remembering the bass boat heroes (Re-run)

The way we face storms is symbolic of our resilience to unmitigated pressure. As Texans, we know this well.

Listen

July 8, 2026

Texas Phonetic Alphabet REVISTED

Texas Standard is an interactive program. We don’t just share news and information with you — we’re also interested in hearing *your perspective. Our commentator WF Strong recently got in on this interactive element of Texas Standard when he solicited feedback for his Texas NATO alphabet idea.

Listen

June 24, 2026

The Texas phonetic alphabet

R is for Rodeo or Rattler. S Shiner, Space X? And T is for Texas, isn’t it?

Listen

June 10, 2026

Tim Brown’s Nolan

A look into a new book about one of the Lone Star State’s most iconic athletes.

Listen

May 28, 2026

Rebroadcast: The craziest race you’ve never heard of happened on Padre Island

Texas Standard commentator WF Strong says that, starting in the 1950s, participants in the Padre Island Walkathon covered 110 miles – all walking, no running – over three days.

Listen

April 29, 2026

How a man named Connie forged a global chain that started in Texas

Texas has been the starting point for a lot of iconic brands. Whataburger, H-E-B and Buc-ee’s are a few modern behemoths that come to mind. But Texas as a place to start a business goes back way further than that. W.F. Strong has the story of a man named Connie who forged a global chain […]

Listen

April 15, 2026

The Angel of Goliad

Collective historical memory is not always based in fact. Take the example that Napoleon was short. You might call these historical myths.

Listen

March 18, 2026

How the Texas Hill Country inspired NYC’s Central Park

It’s not hard to find a Texas connection to a news story. The same is true for history. One example that may surprise you is the fact that the Texas Hill Country inspired the design of New York Central Park. Texas Standard commentator W.F. Strong explores. Stories from Texas is a listener-supported production of KUT […]

Listen