108 episodes

Is there something you see every day in or around Austin that you want to know more about? Have you always wondered about some aspect of life in Austin or the people who live here? That's why we started our ATXplained project – a crowdsourced reporting project in which we ask you what you want us to investigate and what stories you'd like us to tell. It's simple. You ask a question, we put it to a vote and, if your question gets chosen, a KUT reporter, with your help, will set out to try and answer that question.

ATXplained KUT & KUTX Studios

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.9 • 71 Ratings

Is there something you see every day in or around Austin that you want to know more about? Have you always wondered about some aspect of life in Austin or the people who live here? That's why we started our ATXplained project – a crowdsourced reporting project in which we ask you what you want us to investigate and what stories you'd like us to tell. It's simple. You ask a question, we put it to a vote and, if your question gets chosen, a KUT reporter, with your help, will set out to try and answer that question.

    What happened to Brian Vargo almost 50 years ago? His niece is still looking for answers.

    What happened to Brian Vargo almost 50 years ago? His niece is still looking for answers.

    Brian Vargo was 20 years old when he disappeared in 1976. The UT Austin student seems to have simply vanished.

    • 11 min
    Is Austin’s Paramount one of only a few century-old theaters still operating in the country?

    Is Austin’s Paramount one of only a few century-old theaters still operating in the country?

    The landmark theater in downtown Austin has been a source of movie entertainment for more than a century, while many of its contemporaries have closed for good.

    • 11 min
    Why do sidewalks in Austin suddenly end?

    Why do sidewalks in Austin suddenly end?

    According to the Public Works Department, the city is missing about 1,600 miles of sidewalk — a length of concrete that could stretch from here to Winnipeg, Canada.

    • 12 min
    What happened to the Zilker Park minitrain?

    What happened to the Zilker Park minitrain?

    The Zilker Zephyr stopped running almost four years ago, and there’s still no miniature train in Zilker Park.

    • 9 min
    How did H-E-B’s Combo Loco get its name?

    How did H-E-B’s Combo Loco get its name?

    As an enticement to get tickets to our next ATXplained Live show at the Paramount Theatre on Feb. 22 — here’s a taste of our last live show from back in September 2022.

    • 14 min
    What was the grandstand on the shores of Lady Bird Lake in East Austin used for?

    What was the grandstand on the shores of Lady Bird Lake in East Austin used for?

    Decades ago, the public event space was full of life. Now it’s rundown, like an old relic.

    • 9 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
71 Ratings

71 Ratings

paydro* ,

Thank you so much

With the exception of that tool from New York that eventually ran away from his students and our city - everyone involved in this program has provided some outstanding narratives. My wife and I grew up in different cities and actually met at A&M (go ahead, laugh) but it didn’t take long for us to declare Austin as our forever home. Literally. We bought a house and everything. I’ll never get tired of learning new things about our city. Thank you so much for this podcast, and keep up the great work!!

Hoodedfantasia ,

I like to learn

Thank you for teaching things about the city that I would never have known... still looking for this “cemetery” seeing as how I drive 183 every day. Also why do drivers here refuse to use there blinkers and constantly swerve out of there lane... it’s so terrifying. I drive a lot for work and sometime I have to swerve because I don’t know what they are doing....what is going on?

E. B. South ,

Great inside view of local stories

As a new Austinite, this show is helping me cross off the several questions I've had about this pretty idiosyncratic town.

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