City Cast Austin

Austin is known for its tacos, but you probably don’t know the stories behind the people who make our corn-or-flour-wrapped deliciousness, or what makes Austin’s tacos stand out among the sea of tacos statewide. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by taco journalist Mando Rayo, whose latest season of “Tacos of Texas” is out now. Plus, Mando shares some of his favorite tacos in town, and encourages Austinites to venture out of the city center for the best tacos around, and to head particularly to Austin’s Taco Mile (map here!). Don’t miss Mando’s story on the origin of the San Antonio/Austin taco wars — not that they’re a thing, y’all. Seriously.  

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Austin claims to be an environmentally-friendly city — and based on our local tree canopy, that’s mostly warranted. But zooming in, it’s clear that trees are more dense on the west side than in East Austin. Tree-huggers are paying attention, though, and regularly work to make things better — including by holding the annual Tree of the Year awards (nominations are still open, by the way). Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by TreeFolks’ Executive Director Andrew W. Smiley to talk about Austin’s latest Tree Canopy Report, how our canopy compares to those in other cities across the country, and why it matters. 

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This episode originally aired on May 12. 

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is undergoing a massive expansion, and as the airport adds more terminals, two airlines are vying to be the biggest carrier in town. Delta Air Lines has added tons of direct Austin routes lately, and is opening a flight attendant base here in October, meaning local flight attendants won’t have to commute to work. But Southwest Airlines is hoping to be ABIA’s anchor tenant and hopes to lease most of the new terminal gates. So, which airline is a better fit for Austin? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by producer Elissa Castles and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to duke it out.    

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Last week, the City of Austin unveiled a new $1.1 million logo and rebrand, just as it prepares to ask Austin voters to raise taxes. Austin is facing a budget deficit, and in order to maintain services, the city is asking voters to increase property taxes in November. But one man, former mayoral candidate Jeffery Bowen, says the ballot language is misleading, and is suing the city over it. So, just what will Austin voters be agreeing to if they vote for the tax rate increase? And why does Bowen’s lawyer, Bill Aleshire, keep suing the city? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Luz Moreno-Lozano, who covers city hall for KUT, to discuss it all. 

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On Wednesday, Texas lawmakers wrapped up a drawn-out special session and finally headed home. Republican lawmakers claimed big wins with a new district map, stricter anti-abortion measures, and a transgender bathroom bill. But the session ultimately fizzled after lawmakers failed to agree on regulating THC, the issue that sparked the special session in the first place. On today's Friday News Roundup host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by producer Elissa Castles and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to talk about the wins and losses from the Capitol. Plus, we get into the good and the bad restaurant news of the week and then unpack Austin Monthly's 2025 Best of Austin list, where many friends of the pod made the cut!

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Every day, you drive on streets, bridges, and past buildings named after Austinites who did something amazing — and chances are, you have no idea who they are. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined today by Adam Powell, the executive director of the Austin History Center Association, who shares the stories behind some of Austin’s namesakes, like the newspaper man who helped bring The University of Texas to Austin, the World War II vet-turned magician who made incredible clothing, the man who successfully challenged the so-called Hollywood blacklist, and the alderman who died in the fight to rename 19th Street after Martin Luther King, Jr. The Austin History Center has been undergoing renovations, and reopens this weekend with an event on Sunday, Sept. 7. 

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Austin-area students are back in school, but things are looking a little different this year in classrooms. While the new Texas law requiring schools to display the 10 Commandments is on hold at Austin Independent School District, the law banning cellphones during the school day is in full effect. Three AISD campuses are going through changes to stave off closures for poor performance, and a slew of others are facing closures to help the district fight off a $19.7 million budget deficit. There’s still another year before Texas students will be eligible for school vouchers, but even now, new and innovative private schools — like the AI-driven Alpha School — are coming to town. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Community Impact’s education reporter Chloe Young and Sharon Jayson, a local independent reporter who recently wrote about the district’s new equity assessment for the Austin Free Press, to discuss it all. 

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We made it through the worst of summer weather y’all, congratulations! The kids are back in school, the tourists are starting to come back, and maybe you’re feeling romantic. It’s time to date this city that we all call home — and we’ve got some excellent recommendations on what to do if you’re looking for some me time, some ideas for a great date night, a few things you can do as a family (spoiler alert: Everyone’s going to Bat Fest!). And, if you’re looking for ways to make that budget stretch but still have fun, don’t miss our recent episode on what to eat, drink and do for under $50. 

For even more tips on how to make the most of September in Austin, check out Hey Austin’s take on what to do this month. 

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College is back in session, Cheer Up Charlies was saved from the chopping block, and we’ve made it past 100-degree days. Buckle up for a busy Friday News Roundup, where host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by local drag performer and activist Brigitte Bandit, and University of Texas at Austin junior Genesis Britz, get into it all. Britz tells us what life is really like this semester at UT and how it feels now that UT police have expanded their footprint; while DaVaughn and Bandit share their experiences as past performers at Cheer Ups and what the bar means to them. Finally, with colder temperatures on the way, we share some recommendations for what to do this weekend. And, for more on the conservative-ization of UT, check out our recent interview with Austin Chronicle’s Brant Bingamon. 

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This weekend, Texas Longhorns play Ohio State University, kicking off The University of Texas at Austin’s football season — and the stakes couldn’t be higher. For the first time ever, UT is ranked No. 1, we’ve got a Manning as our quarterback, and the schedule is jam-packed with rivals. Plus, the tailgating scene and pre-game festivities around Darrel K. Royal Memorial Stadium have never been better. Executive Producer Eva Ruth Moravec is joined by superfan Megan Grigsby, who hosts the podcast, Fire the Cannon, and Austin American-Statesman reporter Danny Davis, to talk about all things UT Football. And, if you’re hungry for more burnt orange-themed City Cast Austin coverage, check out our Hey Austin guide to the 2025 Longhorn Football season, and this episode from last year on how to tailgate like a pro. 

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