Austin FC

Going Pro

After years of raising its profile, Austin Rise is taking steps to become a professional women’s soccer team by next spring. As their current 2026 season kicks off, Jimmy Maas and Juan Garcia talk with team co-founder Bethany Cyrtmus-Davaul, head coach Mykell Bates, and ex-Texas and McCallum High School player Katie Gernsbacher about taking the next step in the evolution of women’s soccer in Austin.

¡Vamos Verde! is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can help make this podcast happen by donating at supportthispodcast.org.

Superman Two

Jimmy Maas and Juan Diego Garcia talk with Christian Ramirez about his first minutes of action with Austin FC, with his game-winning goal in week two against DC United. Ramirez, a prolific goal scorer, was once known as “Superman” with Minnesota and won the 2023 MLS Cup with Columbus. He talks about what it’s like to be waived in Major League Soccer, his surprise call from Austin FC, and what he sees his role on the team will be.

¡Vamos Verde! is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can help make this podcast happen by donating at supportthispodcast.org.

Waterline breaks prompt Pflugerville officials to call for conservation measures

Lake Pflugerville’s water levels remain low after a series of waterline breaks, the most recent of which was fixed on Wednesday. Local officials have issued water conservation calls while the man-made lake gets back to normal levels. We’ll have more about those water issues.

Libraries are havens for many Texans, especially those living in rural areas, further away from resources like healthcare. That’s part of the reason one nonprofit is now providing mental health resources in some Central Texas libraries. We’ll dig into the work they’re doing.

And it’ll be a busy weekend for Austin sports fans. The Texas men’s and women’s basketball teams will be in action as Austin FC prepares for a home clash with a familiar foe.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Cup Dreams

Jimmy Maas and Juan Diego Garcia dive into one of the biggest questions for many North American soccer fans’ this spring: Can I actually go to the World Cup? We start with memories of the care-free days of 1994, when the last FIFA World Cup held in the U.S. The arts editor for KUT News, Stephanie Federico, takes us down sorta-memory lane. Then we get the perspective a current college student hoping somehow to get to see Mexico play in Mexico this summer. And then we turn to an expert, Jason Daley, who has put his knowledge gained from going to the last five tournaments into one spot for you, The World Cup Guide. Plus a little about Austin FC’s run of form lately.

¡Vamos Verde! is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can help make this podcast happen by donating at supportthispodcast.org.

Facu

Facundo Torres achieved more in the first year of his career than many professional soccer players achieve across their whole career. Austin FC’s new designated player tells us about his early success in Uruguay, making the hard choice to move to MLS (twice), and how becoming a girldad has changed his life.

¡Vamos Verde! is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can help make this podcast happen by donating at supportthispodcast.org.

Doula services growing, becoming accessible in Austin area

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

Four accused of yogurt shop murders are officially exonerated

Four men accused in one of Austin’s most infamous murders have been declared officially innocent; two of them were convicted, one was sentenced to death. 34 years later, their records have been cleared. We’ll have more from Thursday’s exoneration hearing.

An Austin-area congressional seat is up for grabs for the first time in nearly a decade. We’re going to hear from voters in the 21st congressional district about what they want and don’t want from their next representative.

Plus, Austin FC kicks off their new season Saturday night at Q2 Stadium. We’ll go over the things to look out for on the pitch and what you can expect this season from the team and our podcast Vamos Verde.

And a rare corpse flower blooms at a carnivorous plant shop here in Austin.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

New Jersey

Songwriter Lindsey Mackin, frontwoman of Austin band Annabelle Chairlegs talks with Jimmy Maas and Juan Diego Garcia about the group’s new album, her roots in “Soccer Town USA” (Kearny, NJ), and the power of the cowbell. Also, we talk what’s new for Austin FC with team president Andy Loughnane. The kickoff episode of the 2026 season for Austin FC and ¡Vamos Verde!

¡Vamos Verde! is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can help make this podcast happen by donating at supportthispodcast.org.

Trailer: ¡Vamos Verde! Season Three Coming Soon

Season three of ¡Vamos Verde! premieres February 19. Jimmy Maas and Juan Diego Garcia (or whatever his last name is) will get to know some new faces on and off the pitch as Austin FC looks to build on a year that featured a return to the MLS Cup Playoffs and an appearance in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final.

Find it wherever you get your podcasts!

If you’d like to support ¡Vamos Verde! and other podcasts like it from KUT & KUTX in Austin, please visit supportthispodcast.org. Thank you for your support!

Gov. Abbott targets new H-1B visa applications at state universities, agencies

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement operations have been happening in Austin and Central Texas in recent week. During the past weekend’s weather event, local officials had to dispel rumors fueled by the operation. The lack of information and communication around these operations is causing panic and anxiety that can boil beyond social media.

Gov. Greg Abbott is freezing new H-1B visa applications until 2027, with some exceptions. The move is the latest in the administration’s scrutiny of foreign workers employed at taxpayer-funded institutions.

We’re less than a month away from the start of the new Austin FC season. We’ll take a look at some of the team’s offseason moves.

The One With The Calendar

Major League Soccer announced a big change this week. The league is shifting its calendar to align with the top leagues in the sport. Instead of playing matches from January to November, the 2027-28 season will begin in late July with a champion crowned in May. What does that mean for Austin FC? What about the first half of 2027? Will Jimmy ever get his snow game in a driving Vancouver blizzard?

¡Vamos Verde! is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can help make this podcast happen by donating at supportthispodcast.org.

How the Digital Equity Act helped before funding was cut

Organizations are working to bridge the digital divide in Texas and across the country, but that work has been made more difficult since the Trump administration withheld funds to assist programs aimed at getting underserved people online. Texas Standard’s Shelly Brisbin has more on how these groups and local governments are planning for a future without the financial aid.

Austin FC is partnering with We Are Blood for a community blood drive this week. Learn how you can participate.

And: Antone’s lands a deal to stay in their current digs for the next five decades.

The One With The Armadillo

Austin FC will get a new away shirt next season, set to replace the “Amadillo” shirt introduced ahead of the 2024 season. The shirt paid homage to the legendary Armadillo World Headquarters, the Austin music venue at the epicenter of the cosmic cowboy music wave. The shirt also gave Austin FC a mascot: an armadillo named Speed Bump. ‘Dillo handler Swift Sparks tells us all about Speed Bump’s celebrity, what it takes to care for him, and what the future holds for their partnership with Austin FC.

¡Vamos Verde! is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can help make this podcast happen by donating at supportthispodcast.org.

How state Prop 14 could help fund Texas dementia research

Voters tomorrow will have one last chance to make their voice heard this election. One state constitutional amendment on the ballot – Prop 14 – would commit $3 billion to fund the new Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. We’ll get the details from KUT’s Olivia Aldridge.

Check out KUT’s Voter guides for Travis County, Williamson County and the proposed constitutional amendments. Plus what you need to know for election day.

Texas Standard’s Sarah Asch explores adult education programs across Texas that are working to help immigrants find jobs relevant to their professional experience from before they came to the U.S.

Plus: Austin FC is out of the playoffs after a weekend loss to LAFC.

KUT Morning Newscast for November 3, 2025: Pause in SNAP funding to impact almost 45,000 Travis County households

Central Texas top stories for November 3, 2025. More than 117,000 people in Travis County cast a ballot during Early Voting this year. Prop 16 clarifies that a person must be a U.S. citizen to vote in Texas. City of Austin officials say the pause in SNAP funding impacts almost 45,000 Travis County households, over 87,000 people. Open enrollment is underway for insurance on the Affordable Care Act marketplace, Texans are seeing higher prices. Texas is now number 13 in AP Top 25 College Football Poll. Austin FC’s 2025 season is over.

KUT Morning Newscast for October 30, 2025: Neighbors of Sandy Creek are still in need of volunteers after July floods

Central Texas top stories for October 30, 2025. The City of Austin says it’s connecting those living outside with housing and medical services. Neighbors of Sandy Creek say they are still in need of volunteers after the July floods. Prop 12 would amend the Texas constitution to grant the governor significant new powers when it comes to disciplining or dismissing elected judges. Make sure the tire pressure on your car is right during this cold front. Austin FC fell to LAFC last night.

ICE enforcement is ramped up at county jails

There’s lots to consider on your ballot, from state constitutional amendments to tax rate increases for cities and school districts. Travis County Clerk Dyana Limon-Mercado shares some dos and don’ts for heading to the polls.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is removing people from Austin jails more frequently as the Trump administration ramps up enforcement across the country. The Texas Newsroom’s Mose Buchele joins us with more.

Austin FC enters the playoffs today at LAFC. We’ll have more on what to watch out for with KUT’s Jimmy Maas.

‘No Kings’ rally draws 20,000 protesters in Austin

A Travis County judge has signed off on a local disaster declaration to give the county access to resources and respond quickly to wildfires when and if they pop up this season. KUT’s Luz Moreno-Lozano joins us to talk preparedness.

An estimated 20,000 people attended Austin’s ‘No Kings’ rally on Saturday as part of planned demonstrations against the Trump administration nationwide. We’ll hear from a few who attended.

Plus: A wrapup of Formula 1 in Austin and looking ahead to Austin FC in the MLS playoffs.

The One With Diego Rubio

Austin FC is headed to the 2025 MLS playoffs. A key reason for that is Diego Rubio. The veteran stepped into a bigger-than-anticipated role after Brandon Vázquez’s season-ending injury. Rubio turned pro at age 17 in his native Chile. His passion to compete and penchant for scoring goals got the attention of the Chilean National Team. He played for clubs in Portugal, Spain, Kansas City, and Denver before joining Austin FC last year. Rubio joins hosts Jimmy Maas and Juan Diego Garcia to talk about his maturation as a player, the importance of family, and building a legacy.

¡Vamos Verde! is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can help make this podcast happen by donating at supportthispodcast.org.

KUT Morning Newscast for October 2, 2025: UT Austin is one of the nine universities the White House asked to sign agreement to get funding advantage

Central Texas top stories for October 2, 2025. UT Austin is one of nine universities the Trump administration is asking to sign a ten-point contract in exchange of giving the schools priority in accessing federal funds. Travis County and local public health provider Central Health have announced a new program to offer virtual medical care to Travis County jail inmates. If you’re traveling this month, know that ABIA is expected to be very busy. Austin FC lost their chance to win their first major trophy.