KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts

KUT and KUTX news and music podcasts for Austin, Texas and beyond

Ray Benson

New proposals would let ranchers kill two birds. But is one really a predator?

New laws on arresting migrants who cross the border into Texas illegally are just one of many changes related to border security from this year’s legislative sessions. Julián Aguilar of The Texas Newsroom takes a closer look at what passed, what didn’t, and what it means.

How do Texas voters think lawmakers did dealing with top-line issues in 2023? Jim Henson of the Texas Politics Project shares the findings of a new poll.

A Texas perspective of the struggle over campus free speech.

Democratic lawmakers in Congress are pitching a plan to stop hedge funds from buying rental homes.

And the Standard’s Michael Marks dives in on Texas ranchers’ ongoing fight against predatory birds.

Texas Standard: December 30, 2021

2021 may soon be in the rear view, but the sounds of Texas will linger for a long time. The year that was in Texas music on a special edition of the Texas Standard. Willie remains the king, and Beyoncé the queen… But the sound of Texas is more diverse than ever before with rule breakers, hitmakers, award winners and newly installed hall of famers. From ground breaking sounds in hip hop to the impact of covid on our listening and concert going habits, the return of western swing, and a new spotlight on the Texan who saved the Fab Four. 2021 was quite a year for Texas Music. So turn it up for this special edition of the Texas standard:

How Austin’s housing market helped build the music scene, and how it could destroy it

In the latest episode of Pause/Play, we’re looking at how the housing market helped build Austin’s music scene, and how it could be the thing that destroys it.  You’ll hear from Austin artists about how the housing market has changed for them over the years and why some of them have decided to leave. You’ll also learn about the connection between cheap housing and thriving music scenes, musician incomes, and Austin’s housing market from experts Nicky Rowling, Michael Seman, and Audrey McGlinchy.

In this episode you’ll hear from:

Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel
Robert A. Kraft
Laura Mendoza from Cosmic Chaos
Gina Chavez
Chinasa Broxton 

Listen to the documentary “Back Home to the Armadillo”

Laura Mendoza of Cosmic Chaos is pictured on Dec. 3, 2021, at her home north of Austin. Michael Minasi/KUTX

 

Texas Standard: June 1, 2021

An eleventh-hour walkout at the Texas State Capitol as the legislature prepares for an overtime session. High drama as Texas House democrats break quorum to head off passage of a controversial measure to tighten the state’s election laws. Although the regular session comes to an end, an overtime session is already expected. We’ll look back at what got done, what didn’t and what comes next. Also, A Harris county constables unit in the crosshairs of controversy, we’ll hear why. And 50 years of Asleep at the Wheel: Texas music legend Ray Benson takes a glance in the rear view mirror. All those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: April 30, 2020

60 state lawmakers, Democrats and Republicans, call on the Governor to explain a lack of transparency concerning apparent hotspots statewide. The letter to Governor Abbott cites Coronavirus outbreaks at long term care facilities for the elderly and the lack of information on what’s being done to protect residents and staffers. We’ll talk to the representative who drafted the letter. Also, a federal class action lawsuit that claims thousands are being denied relief checks because they’re married to immigrants without social security numbers. And Dr. Fred Campbell of UT Health San Antonio takes on more listener questions about COVID-19 and much more today on the Texas Standard:

Lone Star Playlist

Texas has inspired many a singer-songwriter. So if you’re traveling across the state, you might consider listening to what others have seen on those wide-open roads. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.

Texas Standard: March 17, 2017

It’s called a ‘declaration of taking’. Tho you might call it something else: the first tangle steps toward a border wall. Also a rough landing for US air traffic controllers? Why the FAA may not be in charge of managing the highways of the sky much longer…we’ll explain. And the New York stock exchange. The Chicago Mercantile exchange, the Texas gold depository? A Texas lawmaker polishes up plans to make an official Texas gold repository open for business. Plus saving Texas dance halls, a certain madness seizing Texas, the week that was at the capitol and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

Brian Beattie //Kathy McCarty //Ray Benson

In  this episode of “This Song” we hear Brian Beattie talk about a song that blew him away and made a shelf in his brain, Kathy McCarty talks about a song that opened her up to the possibility that songwriting wasn’t just for people from the olden times, and Ray Benson explores a song that showed him the power of one note played with emotion.

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