ATXplained
KUT & KUTX Studios
Show overview
ATXplained has been publishing since 2016, and across the 10 years since has built a catalogue of 175 episodes, alongside 1 trailer or bonus episode. That works out to roughly 25 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a monthly cadence.
Episodes typically run under ten minutes — most land between 8 min and 12 min — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. It is catalogued as a EN-US-language Society & Culture show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 2 weeks ago, with 10 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2019, with 27 episodes published. Published by KUT & KUTX Studios.
From the publisher
What about Austin has you curious?
Latest Episodes
View all 175 episodesWhat’s the story behind the huge Adirondack chair in front of this Austin church?
BONUS: A live riff on our Master Pancake story at ATXplained Live in October 2025
How did Austin’s ‘Master Pancake’ get started?
What happened to all the fireflies in Austin?
Is this Fourth of July tradition in Northwest Austin the work of some kind of cult?
What happens to all the dead animals the city collects from roads in Austin?
Was Austin’s Barton Springs sacred to Indigenous people before Europeans showed up?
Are there wild elk lurking in southwest Austin?
What’s the story behind this freaky sculpture hanging in the Barton Creek Greenbelt?
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.
Who’s the guy who dances and silently raps at the corner of Barton Springs and South First?
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.
Who was that guy who used to read psychedelic poems before big concerts in Austin?
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.
Is the Texas Capitol radioactive?
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.
Who made those giant sandwiches outside of Thundercloud Subs?
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.
How did Texas become the only state with its own toast? (archive episode)
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.
Who were the ‘Cedar Choppers’ of West Austin?
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 Choppers’ of West Austin? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.
Did Travis County vote against secession before the Civil War?
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.
Three Black Texans were lynched 130 years ago. How can Austin preserve their memory?
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.
Tickets are on sale now for our Oct. 29 ATXplained Live
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.
Why do sidewalks in Austin sometimes just end? (archive episode)
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? (archive episode) appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.
Who is the oldest World War II veteran in the Austin area?
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? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.