Director Sam Firstenberg and film restoration pioneer Michael J. Dennis stopped by the Texas Standard studio this week to talk about the movie “Riverbend.”
This is an extended version of the interview that aired on Texas Standard.
Texas Standard
Wealth on Your Shelf
Larry McMurtry once claimed that he was mostly a book hunter who used his side hustle as a writer to finance his love of books and reading. He proved that point well with his 8,500 square foot bookstore in Archer City.
Texas Standard commentator W.F. Strong professes he knows a good deal about Texas literature, but has far less knowledge as to what classic and historical Texas books, in good condition, are worth.
Stories from Texas is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can help make this podcast happen by donating at supportthispodcast.org.
‘He didn’t take on an iconic role, he made the role iconic’: W.F. Strong on Robert Duvall
Texas Standard’s commentator remembers the Academy Award-winning actor who was not born a Texan, but played a heck of one on TV and film.
Stories From Texas is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.
You can support our work by donating at supportthispodcast.org.
Sandra Cisneros, a Texas literary rock star
Texas Standard commentator W.F. Strong examines how one of the state’s most celebrated writers found a home in San Antonio.
Stories From Texas is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.
You can support our work by donating at supportthispodcast.org.
Traces of Texas – A priceless gift for all Texans
It’s been a bit of a tradition over the years for commentator WF Strong to offer up a story of thanks each holiday season — for what he calls a great gift to Texas.
Often, the honor has gone to someone long gone. But this year, he’s thanking someone still very much with us — and hopefully with many decades still ahead.
Check out Traces of Texas
Stories From Texas is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.
You can support our work by donating at supportthispodcast.org.
How Three Gifts To UT Gave All Texans A Fourth: The Gift Of The Stars (re-run)
In December, members of the Texas Standard team had the joy of trekking out to far West Texas for a special live broadcast from the McDonald Observatory.
As we drove up into the mountains beyond Fort Davis, we recalled this story commentator WF Strong told us years ago about how the McDonald Observatory came to be.
Stories From Texas is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.
You can support our work by donating at supportthispodcast.org.
Texas Extra: The challenges and opportunities ahead for the Austin-San Antonio ‘Megaregion’
Austin and San Antonio have long been home to some of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. Together, they are becoming what the authors of a new book are calling a “Megaregion.”
This is an extended conversation with former San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros and longtime journalists Robert Rivard.
Mix up your holiday entertainment with a history of Texas’ lawless influence on Old West
For almost the full ten years of Texas Standard, commentator WF Strong has been bringing us stories about Texas. One of his first was a list of his favorite nonfiction books about the state.
On it was “The Big Rich” by Bryan Burrough. Now, WF Strong tells us that the author has a new book he’d recommend for those who might need an antidote for Hallmark holiday movies.
Stories From Texas is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.
You can support our work by donating at supportthispodcast.org.
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Want to avoid traffic in Austin? Try commuting on Mondays
Looking for a smooth commute? KUT transportation reporter Nathan Bernier shares the best days to get on the road in Austin.
The Austin Studio Tour continues this weekend at galleries, studios and homes around the city. With so much to look at, wouldn’t it be helpful to be chauffeured around to take in some of Austin’s best art? We hopped on a bus with 40 of our new best friends.
Comedian John Mulaney is in Austin for a run of four shows starting tonight. We’ll hear some of his conversation with Texas Standard.
What is Latin music? Carrie Rodriguez explores with ‘Laboratorio’ series
Texans are voting on 17 proposed amendments to the state constitution – and one of them involves voting itself. Joshua Blank from the Texas Politics Project joins us for a chat on Proposition 16, which clarifies citizenship as a requirement to cast a ballot.
KUTX’s Maile Carballo talks the Beach Boys coming to Longhorn City Limits after this weekend’s UT-Vanderbilt game.
Texas Standard has been exploring horror movies with Texas ties – today it’s “Grindhouse,” filmed in Austin.
What is Latin music? Austin musician Carrie Rodriguez is still exploring that question through her “Laboratorio” concert series and shares more about the old-timey radio show she’s planning.
What is a carne asada and what can you expect if you’re invited?
Tortillas, sides, or a six-pack are a few things on the list of what to bring – just don’t come empty handed!
Enjoying spring weather in Texas before it gets unbearably hot for some means getting outside and throwing something on the grill.
Chargrilling meats and veggies to share with friends, family and neighbors is a longtime tradition that goes by many names in different cultures: “cookout,” “barbecue,”etc.
But for Mando Rayo, it’s the “carne asada.” The Tacos of Texas podcast host spoke with the Texas Standard to dish on what it is and who’s invited. Listen to the interview above or read the transcript below.
The programming in this episode of Tacos of Texas was originally aired live on the Texas Standard on April 3, 2025.
As we gear up for season 5 of Tacos of Texas, we want to hear from listeners like you.
Please visit our listener survey at kut.org/tacosurvey
¡Vamos!
And thank you!
Mando Rayo’s Taco Glossary
Mando Rayo walks through some of the terms you need to know if you want to cook tacos in Texas.
You can learn more in the book “The Tacos of Texas.”
The programming in this bonus episode of Tacos of Texas originally aired live on the Texas Standard in 2017.
Still reading? We appreciate you! And as we gear up for season CINCO of the Tacos of Texas podcast, we want to hear from dedicated listeners like you! Please tell us what you want to hear on the show by taking our listener survey at kut.org/tacosurvey
Thank you.
¡Vamos!
Taking your tacos to the next level in 2025 – BONUS
Mando Rayo shares his “taco hacks” for both restaurants and home cooking in this previously aired segment of the Texas Standard from 2024.
As we gear up for the next season of Tacos of Texas, we want to hear from listeners like you! Visit kut.org/tacosurvey to send us your thoughts about what you’d like to hear on the next season of the show. And stay tuned for Season CINCO of Tacos of Texas.
¡Vamos!
Texas voting restrictions challenged in court
The trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton continues, but not for long. We’ll have details on the latest testimony from the Senate floor.
State senators could start deliberations in Paxton’s impeachment trial as soon as Thursday.
Texas voting laws go on trial in San Antonio. We’ll have details about a case challenging state bans on 24-hour polls and drive-thru voting.
All that, and how to keep your trees fungus-free, the best bean and cheese taco in Texas, and the latest headlines from across the state. It’s coming up today on the Texas Standard.
Workers rally to fight state bill ending water breaks
As Texans brace for another week of extreme heat, there’s pushback against a new state law that nullifies local rules requiring mandatory water breaks for outdoor workers.
Austin has ended its policing partnership with the Department of Public Safety – but Gov. Greg Abbott is sending more troopers to the capital city.
Some legal experts say the Supreme Court’s student debt decision may have scrambled the issue of standing, or whether a plaintiff has enough interest in a particular matter to stand before the court to request legal intervention. UT Law professor Stephen Vladeck explains.
And a new documentary on Jesse Treviño honors the late San Antonio artist, long considered one of the city’s finest.
State policies cause Texas to slip from top business rankings
A lawsuit challenging Texas’ new prohibition on hormone blockers and other treatments for transgender youth.
Lawmakers failed to pass new rules on locating concrete batch plants – what do those pushing for change plan to do next?
A report shows modest economic growth in Texas, we’ll hear more. Plus – Texas slips in the rankings of business-friendly states. Why and what are the implications?
A hit, or a swing and a miss? A certain sport using bats and balls arrives in Texas for summer, but are Texans ready for professional cricket?
Plus the week in Texas politics with the Texas Tribune.
Texas Extra: More from a Texas intersex advocate about what we all need to know about bodies
We’re experimenting with bonus episodes here at the Standard. This one is another extended interview.
This conversation with political consultant and intersex activist Alicia Roth Weigel first aired Thursday. We had so much to talk about when it came to her experiences in life and with her new movie — “Every Body” — and we wanted to bring you more.
As always, we’re interested in what you think of our bonus content. You can let us know on social media or on the contact us page at Texas Standard dot org. Thanks — and happy extended listening!
How to keep yourself and your pets safe this Fourth of July
Texas prison heat is an issue we’ve highlighted on this program for years. Why it’s not being solved quickly.
Abortion access is one of the top political issues in Texas. So how did state lawmakers manage to quietly pass a bill clarifying exceptions to the ban?
On the eve of July Fourth, we’ll give you a checklist to run through to make sure people, pets and property are all well taken care of.
And how the Supreme Court’s latest ruling on affirmative action will impact the processes at some Texas colleges and universities.
How two Uvalde survivors are rebuilding their lives
Almost a year after the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, two injured fourth graders are still trying to recover. Edgar Sandoval of the New York Times talks with us about his profile of two children injured in the shooting – and the months since.
Yesterday’s half-hour grounding of Southwest Airlines departures was blamed on technical issues. Why the FAA and other investigators want a closer look.
Why some lawmakers are pushing to keep Texas crypto miners from cashing in on a tool to help the power grid survive during times of peak demand.
Expanded telehealth is coming to an end
A Texas couple chose midwife care over a hospital, and now their baby is in foster care. Why this story is sounding alarm bells for many across the state.
Changes are coming to telehealth with the end of a federal pandemic order – and some patients will have to return to in-person medical care.
A bill in the Texas Legislature could lead to fines for some Texans who report pollution concerns.
Texas is home to millions of bats. But according to a new report out this week, more than half of North America’s bats are in peril if action isn’t taken to protect them.