ATXplained

Austin’s weirdest Independence Day parade has been going for decades. Now the husband of one participant wants answers: how did it begin and why do dozens of women (and a few men) do march like this every year? Watch this story at our May 21, 2026 ATXplained Live at Bass Concert Hall — including a […] The post Is this Fourth of July tradition in Northwest Austin the work of some kind o...

Thousands of animals are picked up from the road around Austin every year. But where do these animals go when they die? The post What happens to all the dead animals the city collects from roads in Austin? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

The springs that feed Barton Springs were formed millions of years ago. So what have human relationships with Austin’s “Crown Jewel” been like in that time? The post Was Austin’s Barton Springs sacred to Indigenous people before Europeans showed up? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Darren Smith swore the dark, antlered figure he saw in the early morning hours was an elk. No one believed him. This story was originally part of KUT’s ATXplained Live on Oct. 29, 2025. Tickets for our next show on May 21 are available here. The post Are there wild elk lurking in southwest Austin? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

The story starts with a mysterious, long-nippled figure lurking among the tree tops, but it gets weirder from there. The post What’s the story behind this freaky sculpture hanging in the Barton Creek Greenbelt? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

We’re back with a new season of ATXplained. Lots of great stories coming your way this year. We’ll start with one from our last ATXplained Live. It’s about a guy who’s whole thing is to stand out. The post Who’s the guy who dances and silently raps at the corner of Barton Springs and South First? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

We go in search of a poet who was a fixture in Austin more than a decade ago — but suddenly dropped off the map. The post Who was that guy who used to read psychedelic poems before big concerts in Austin? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

We’re not talking about politics. Is the capitol building itself literally radioactive? The post Is the Texas Capitol radioactive? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

We go in search of the sandwich artist. But we find they’re behind a lot more iconic business art in Austin. The post Who made those giant sandwiches outside of Thundercloud Subs? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Think of a food that reminds you of Austin or Texas. Tacos? Barbecue? How about a thick slice of bread, buttered on both sides and toasted to perfection? The post How did Texas become the only state with its own toast? (archive episode) appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Shoeless children running around the land that would become Rollingwood and West Lake Hills. Bar fights ending in axe-chopped limbs. Illegal moonshine operations in caves. It’s the stuff of legend. But are the legends true? If you like what we do on ATXplained, we need your financial support right now. Go to supportthispodcast.org and mention […] The post Who were the ‘Cedar Chop...

Texas left the United States in 1861 and joined the Confederacy. But on the local level, the vote to leave the Union was more complicated. The post Did Travis County vote against secession before the Civil War? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Like many lynching victims, their names are unknown, and details about their lives and deaths are scarce. Only foreign newspapers reported on the crimes. The post Three Black Texans were lynched 130 years ago. How can Austin preserve their memory? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Join us for our next ATXplained Live at Bass Concert Hall! Here’s a sample from one of our previous shows, where we answer a question about the space you’ll be sitting in at the show. Get your tickets to the show at texasperformingarts.org The post Tickets are on sale now for our Oct. 29 ATXplained Live appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

In this story, originally from our Sept. 2022 ATXplained Live show, KUT’s Audrey McGlinchy investigates why Austin sidewalks sometimes just kinda stop. In the middle of a block. And she does battle with Shel Silverstein. If you like what you hear on this podcast, consider becoming a member and supporting us with a few bucks. […] The post Why do sidewalks in Austin sometimes just end? (...

Kathryn Stacer had a question about her grandfather. We try to find an answer, but also consider whether the answer even matters. If you like what we do on ATXplained, we need your financial support right now. Go to supportthispodcast.org and mention ATXplained in the comments. We’ll shout you out in a later episode! The post Who is the oldest World War II veteran in the Austin area? appeare...

Talk about “Old Austin” — this was Austin before it was Austin. So why was it named after a city in Belgium? We try to find out. The post Why was Austin once called ‘Waterloo’? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Inconsistent rain forecasts have led to conspiracies about a rain-blocking dome that covers the city. The truth lies in an age-old fault. The post What’s the deal with Austin’s “Rain Dome”? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Only San Francisco and Portland, Oregon have more gay people per capita than Austin. So why don’t we have any lesbian bars? The post What happened to Austin’s lesbian bars? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Laurel Seymour’s grandmother, Binnie Ruth Seymour, says she was the first woman to become a city lifeguard in Austin. Audrey McGlinchy looks at the record to see if Grandma Binnie is telling the truth. The post Who was Austin’s first female lifeguard? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

94 year-old Reta Ward has been calling all the Texas state lawmakers for decades to weigh in on everything from water policy to school vouchers. One Capitol staffer wanted to know more about her. The post Who is the 94 year-old Texan who calls every state lawmaker? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Austin’s crown jewel has bought people together from all walks of life to enjoy a day in the sun. But before 1962, that wasn’t the case. The post What’s the history of segregation at Barton Springs Pool? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Decades ago, there were dozens of huge fuel storage tanks in East Austin — in some cases right next to homes, schools and businesses. These days, the whole thing is seen as a case of textbook environmental racism. But one East Austin resident wanted to know: what still lurks in the soil long after the […] The post Is it safe to live near an old East Austin ‘Tank Farm’? appeared f...

Sixth Street is known for being party central, but it’s actually one of the most historic areas of the city. The post Why are there so many of the same kind of bars on Sixth Street? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Violet Crown this. Violet Crown that. What’s the deal with this name for so many Austin things? The post Why are there so many ‘Violet Crowns’ in Austin? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .