Texas Standard » Stories from Texas

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. The full transcript of this episode of Stories […] The post Texas Phonetic Alphab...

R is for Rodeo or Rattler. S Shiner, Space X? And T is for Texas, isn't it? The post The Texas phonetic alphabet appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

A look into a new book about one of the Lone Star State's most iconic athletes. The post Tim Brown’s Nolan appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

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. The post Rebroadcast: The craziest race you’ve never heard of happened on Padre Island appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

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 […] The post How a man named Connie forged a global chain that started in Texas appeared first on KU...

Collective historical memory is not always based in fact. Take the example that Napoleon was short. You might call these historical myths. The post The Angel of Goliad appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

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 […] The post How the Texas Hill Country inspired NYC’s Central P...

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. The post Wealth on Your Shelf appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

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. The post ‘He didn’t take on an iconic role, he made the role iconic’: W.F. Strong on Robert Duvall appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Texas Standard commentator W.F. Strong examines how one of the state’s most celebrated writers found a home in San Antonio. The post Sandra Cisneros, a Texas literary rock star appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

LBJ's presidency was marked by turbulent change. And while the longtime Texas-born politician is often remembered for his role in the war and in civil rights, few remember what Commentator WF Strong calls LBJ's ' secret weapon' -- his sense of humor. The post LBJ’s Humor (re-run) appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

W.F. Strong offers up a story of thanks for Traces of Texas. The post Traces of Texas – A priceless gift for all Texans appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

WF Strong talks about how the McDonald Observatory came to be. The post How Three Gifts To UT Gave All Texans A Fourth: The Gift Of The Stars (re-run) appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

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. The post Mix up your holiday entertainment with a history of Texas’ lawless influence on Old West appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Boxer, preacher, and grill super salesman George Foreman died in his longtime hometown of Houston in March. Texas Standard commentator W.F. Strong has been thinking about Foreman’s life and how he literally fought his way from rags to riches more than once. The full transcript of this episode of Stories from Texas is available on […] The post George Foreman’s resilience: A two-time rag...

In 1909, in the little town of Shiner, a group of German and Czech farmers decided they missed the beer of the old country. They pooled their money, built a ramshackle brewery, and called it the Shiner Brewing Association. But they weren’t brewers. They were farmers. The beer was, well, bad. Locals apparently joked it […] The post The two men who rescued Shiner Beer appeared first on K...

Did you know a Texan actually co-founded the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA)? But before that, she showed prowess in several other sports. Texas Standard commentator W.F. Strong explains that she was so good at baseball, she was nicknamed after one of the greatest players of all time. Here is the story of Mildred “Babe” […] The post They called her ‘Babe’ appeared fir...

Texas Standard commentator W.F. Strong has met a lot of Texans throughout the years. Some have shared bits of history from the Lone Star State. Some have recalled old family traditions or news of certain oddities. But others have imparted on him some unique problem-solving skills. This story tells of two old friends and their […] The post Belle and Lea appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studio...

Texas Standard commentator W.F. Strong reminds us of a time you’ll find particularly in rural Texas – Cowboy Time. The full transcript of this episode of Stories from Texas is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is also available as subtitles or captions on some podcast apps. The post Cowboy Time appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

The start of the school year means it’s the end of summer travel season for many families. As Texans well know, depending on where you live in the state, it can take longer to travel out of it than to cross several state lines beyond our borders. Texas Standard commentator W.F. Strong reflects on coming […] The post The sky welcomes you home appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios --...

There are a few symbols so deeply woven into the fabric of Texas that they seem as native as mesquite or bluebonnets. One of them is the Stetson hat. Not just any Stetson hat – the Boss of the Plains. Texas Standard commentator W.F. Strong says that oddly enough, it didn’t come from Texas at […] The post The hat that made the cowboy appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts...

If there’s one thing the Texans of the early republic never lacked, it was imagination – especially when it came to dodging tariffs and taxes. Texas Standard commentator W.F. Strong explains. The full transcript of this episode of Stories from Texas is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is also available […] The post Creative smuggling when Texas was a repu...

Back in frontier times, it was the most deeply feared moon in Texas and northern Mexico. The full transcript of this episode of Stories from Texas is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is also available as subtitles or captions on some podcast apps. The post The Comanche Moon appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

This bit of history really does seem too strange to be true. It involves the family of John Wilkes Booth, the son of Abraham Lincoln, and Sam Houston. The full transcript of this episode of Stories from Texas is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is also available as subtitles or […] The post New York aids Texas Revolution appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios...

Growing up in Texas, WF Strong found that whistling played a important role in his life. But there are many ways to whistle. He explores a few of them. The full transcript of this episode of Stories from Texas is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is also available as subtitles […] The post Whistling while you work appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podc...