The Austin Pod

This week on The Austin Pod, we're diving into one of the most controversial topics we've ever tackled: Austin's most overrated and underrated places. From restaurants and bars to neighborhoods, attractions, outdoor spots, live music venues, and local favorites, we're sharing our honest opinions on what's worth the hype and what might be getting a little too much attention. Whe...

elcome back to The Austin Pod! Austin has officially surpassed 1 million residents, making this a huge milestone for the city. In Episode 54, Anthony and Rachel discuss what that means for Austin's future, how the city continues to change, and some of the latest stories happening around town. We also talk about the Peace Park troll that burned down, apartment hunting in Austin, how to score fr...

Welcome back to The Austin Pod 🍻🎙️ This week we’re breaking down the full 2026 Austin City Limits Music Festival lineup and giving our honest reactions to the artists, headliners, surprises, misses, and everything in between. Is ACL still built for Austin locals? Is this lineup more for millennials reliving the glory days or Gen Z discovering their next obsession? We debate who this festival is r...

The ACL 2026 lineup is about to drop… so we had to make our predictions. 👀 In this episode of The Austin Pod, we break down who we think is playing Austin City Limits Music Festival 2026 , who’s likely out, and how the Lollapalooza lineup gives us major clues for what’s coming to ATX this year. We dive into rumored artists, realistic headliners, Reddit chatter, returning acts, and the trends that...

We're back on the Austin Pod catching up on life and diving into everything happening in Austin right now. This week we're talking Omakase restaurants, Rainy Street, South Congress, and breaking down what's in and what's out in the ATX food and drink scene. If you live in Austin or are visiting soon, this episode is packed with real local takes on the best spots in the city. What we cover in this...

SXSW 2026 is officially in the books and we’re breaking it ALL down. From packed concerts and exclusive events to nonstop partying in Austin Texas, this week was absolute chaos. In this episode of The Austin Pod, we recap our full South by Southwest experience, including Anthony’s birthday during SXSW, the best concerts we saw, the wildest moments, and yes… way too much drinking. We also talk abou...

Austin, Texas is one of the fastest growing cities in the country, and with that comes a wild mix of personalities. In this episode of The Austin Pod, we’re breaking down the types of people you meet in Austin Texas, from tech bros and influencers to hipsters, fitness fanatics, and everything in between. If you live in Austin, you’ve definitely run into these characters. And if you’re thinking abo...

In this episode of The Austin Pod, Anthony and Rachel sit down with Ali Clem, the owner of the legendary La Barbecue in Austin, Texas. La Barbecue started as a small food truck in 2012 and has grown into one of the most well known barbecue restaurants in Austin. Today it’s famous for its brisket, ribs, and classic Central Texas BBQ and recently earned a Michelin Star, putting it on the global food...

Welcome back to The Austin Pod. In Episode 46, we catch up on everything going on in Austin right now before diving into a full ranking of the best outdoor activities to do in Austin Texas. From the classics to the ones that might surprise you, we break down what’s actually worth your time, what’s overrated, and what makes Austin one of the best cities in the country for being outside. Whether you...

Welcome back to The Austin Pod. This is Episode 55 and today we’re diving into 10 things nobody tells you about Austin, Texas. We start off catching up on what’s been going on around ATX, then we get into the real stuff. The things you only learn after living here. The good, the surprising, and the things that might catch you off guard if you’re thinking about moving to Austin. From local culture...

Welcome to Episode 44 of The Austin Pod. This is the start of a new monthly series where we break down the latest news in Austin, Texas so you can stay up to date on everything happening in ATX. Anthony from TheAtxDrinker and The Whiskey Boys joins Rachel from 512 Bites and Rachel Lately to talk about new restaurants and bars opening in Austin, updates to South Congress, changes in Downtown Austin...

Austin had a BIG year, and we’re breaking it all down. In this episode of The Austin Pod, Anthony from The ATX Drinker and Rachel from 512 Bites recap the best bars and restaurants we went to in Austin throughout 2025. From standout cocktails to unforgettable meals, we talk about the spots that truly lived up to the hype and the ones we still think about. We also dive into what we’re most excited...

Welcome back to The Austin Pod. After a few months away, we’re officially back for Season 3, Episode 43. In this episode, Anthony from The ATX Drinker and Rachel from 512 Bites sit down to catch up on everything that’s been happening in Austin, Texas. We talk honestly about our highs and lows over the past year, what it’s been like being full-time creators in Austin, and how the city has felt late...

In this episode of The Austin Pod, Anthony and Rachel finally reunite after more than a month apart and catch up on everything happening in Austin and beyond. Recorded at Auditorium Shores with the Austin skyline in the background, this laid-back conversation hits on:Rachel and Anthony's recent travels The much-debated new Austin Texas logo that everyone is talking aboutUpcoming ACL Festival —...

In this episode of The Austin Pod we sit down with Berry, a driving force behind some of Austin’s most iconic bars including Armadillo Den in South Austin as well as Chalmers and Dainty Dillo in East Austin. We recorded live at the legendary Armadillo Den which previously won Best Bar in Austin Texas and continues to represent everything unique about the city. Berry shares his story of helping cre...

In Episode 40 of The Austin Pod , we're breaking down the best neighborhoods to live in Austin, Texas — whether you're renting your first apartment or looking to buy your forever home. From trendy hotspots to quiet hidden gems, we’re sharing our personal rankings of where we’d actually live in Austin based on lifestyle, affordability, vibe, and more. Whether you're moving to Austin or...

In this episode of The Austin Pod, we’re breaking down the best things to do in Austin, Texas—from iconic spots like Zilker Park and Barton Springs to local nightlife gems, live music venues, food trucks, and weird Austin traditions you won’t find anywhere else. Whether you're moving here, vacationing, or just trying to spice up your weekend, we’ve got the perfect mix of local favorites, touri...

In Episode 38 of The Austin Pod, we sit down with Gustavo and Pao, the visionary couple behind two of the most creative bars in Austin, Texas — Travelers Lounge, the iconic two-decker cocktail bus in East Austin, and Visitant Lounge, a hidden speakeasy operating out of a literal U-Haul. Their journey is as wild and creative as the bars they’ve built. From their early days working together in Brook...

Episode 36 of The Austin Pod, we’re recording from one of the coolest bars in Austin, Traveler’s Lounge, a double-decker space-themed bar in East Austin! We answer your questions and dive into everything from Anthony’s wild 11-bar crawl in one day, our favorite spots on South Congress, Love Island, and our top local hangouts in ATX!Whether you're new to Austin or a local looking for new spots...

On Episode 35 of The Austin Pod , Anthony from @theatxdrinker and Rachel from @512bites dive into one of the most common challenges for people living in or moving to Austin: how to make real friends in this city . From meetups and social clubs to underrated events and local hangouts, we break down what actually works. But that’s not all — we also round up our favorite happy hours in Austin , inclu...

In Episode 34 of The Austin Pod, Anthony TheAtxDrinker and Rachel 512Bites dive into a completely unserious and 100% speculative convo about Austin businesses that look like they could be money laundering fronts. Let’s be clear, this is all just for fun. We’re not accusing anyone of anything… except maybe being too empty to stay open? We also catch up on:💨 That wild hail storm that hit Austin🕯️ O...

Welcome back to The Austin Pod! After a quick two-week break, Anthony (@theatxdrinker) and Rachel (@512bites) are back and catching up on everything happening in the ATX. In this episode, we dive into some of the best BBQ joints in Austin—from iconic staples to underrated gems—and share our go-to coffee spots around the city. Recorded on-site at the cozy and vibey Murray’s Tavern in East Austin, t...

On this episode of The Austin Pod , co-hosts Anthony from Theatxdrinker and Rachel from 512bites go all in on the newly announced Austin City Limits Music Festival 2025 lineup ! We’re reacting live to the full artist drop — from the headliners that shocked us to the undercard gems we can’t wait to see. Did ACL get it right this year? Who are we hyped about? Who are we skipping? And does this lineu...

On this episode of The Austin Pod with Anthony from @theatxdrinker and Rachel from @512bites, we’re posted up at Equipment Room — the South Congress vinyl sanctuary and cocktail bar — with two legendary guests: Aaron Franklin of Franklin BBQ and Uptown Sports Club, and Josh LaRue of Equipment Room and Breakaway Records. We dive deep into the upcoming Hot Luck Festival, with Aaron giving us the ins...

Episode 30 of The Austin Pod, the only podcast for Austin Texas! This week, we’re literally on the water! Join us as we hop aboard Floaties Saloon—a one-of-a-kind floating bar and boat on Lake Austin—for an unforgettable episode packed with good vibes and great convos. Join Anthony (@theatxdrinker) and Rachel (@512bites) as we dive into:📰 The latest news making waves around Austin🍹 Our favorite...