The Austin Pod

Welcome back to The Austin Pod, the podcast where Anthony from The ATX Drinker and Rachel from 512 Bites talk about everything happening in Austin, Texas.This week we're catching up after some time away and diving into some of the biggest stories around Austin. We talk about the closing of the last official Hooters in Round Rock, our search for the best buffalo and smoked wings in Austin, Ariana Grande stopping by De Nada while she was in town, whether West 6th Street is still the place to go, and the new White Rocks Amphitheater project that's planned for the Austin area. We also get into the NBA Finals, the Spurs trade that sent Victor Wembanyama to the Knicks, and plenty of other Austin conversations along the way. The proposed White Rocks development includes a new 10,000 seat outdoor amphitheater west of Austin alongside a hotel and residences, making it one of the biggest entertainment projects announced for the area.If you love Austin restaurants, bars, food, concerts, events, local news, and everything happening around the city, you're in the right place.Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a new episode of 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.

Whether you're new to Austin, visiting for the weekend, or you've lived here for years, this episode is packed with Austin recommendations, hidden gems, local hot takes, and plenty of debate.

Do you agree with our rankings, or are we completely wrong? Let us know in the comments.

The Austin Pod is your weekly podcast covering all things Austin, Texas, including the best restaurants in Austin, Austin bars, things to do in Austin, Austin events, local news, hidden gems, nightlife, food recommendations, and everything happening around the city.

🍻 Follow Anthony:
Instagram: @theatxdrinker

🍴 Follow Rachel:
Instagram: @512bites

🎙️ Follow The Austin Pod for new episodes covering Austin food, Austin nightlife, Austin culture, Austin events, and the best things to do in Austin, Texas.

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 free Guinness at local bars, and a variety of other things happening around the 512.

Whether you're a longtime Austinite or just moved here, this episode is a fun catch up on what's happening in Austin right now.

🎙️ The Austin Pod Episode 54

📍 Austin, Texas

Follow along for conversations about Austin news, events, restaurants, bars, growth, culture, and everything else that makes Austin one of the most unique cities in America.

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 really for in 2026.

We also get into:
• The artists we’re most excited to see at ACL 2026
• Which names feel overrated or underwhelming
• Whether ACL is still one of the best festivals in the country
• Rainey Street finally finishing construction and bringing back free parking
• Why we somehow always end up talking about Rainey Street 😂
• Why Broadway in Nashville absolutely clears Dirty 6th for nightlife
• Why we STILL think Austin is the better overall city
• Rachel’s apartment hunting experience in Austin right now
• General Austin chaos, growth, nightlife, and life updates

If you love Austin, festivals, nightlife, concerts, bars, music culture, or just listening to two people spiral into Austin debates for an hour, this one’s for you.

Make sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more Austin conversations every week 🍻

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 usually shape the ACL lineup every year. If you’re planning to go to ACL in Austin or just love music festivals, this is everything you need before the official announcement.

🎧 In this episode:
• ACL 2026 lineup predictions
• Artists we think are LOCKS
• Who’s probably out this year
• Lollapalooza vs ACL lineup overlap
• Reddit rumors and fan expectations
• How ACL typically builds their lineup
• Biggest surprises we could see in Austin this year

If you’re in Austin, TX or planning a trip for ACL Festival, this is your early guide to what to expect in 2026.

Subscribe for more Austin content, bar recommendations, events, and everything happening in ATX and the 512 🌆

Follow along for more Austin content:
Instagram: @theatxdrinker
Instagram: @512Bites
TikTok: @theatxdrinker
TikTok: @512Bites
YouTube: The Austin Pod

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 episode:

What's in and what's out in Austin right now

The best Omakase spots in ATXRainy Street and South Congress updates

Austin food and drink scene catchup

Real talk and honest opinions on everything Austin

The Austin Pod drops new episodes every week covering the best food, drinks, nightlife, and things to do in Austin Texas.

Subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Follow us:

TheAtxDrinker on Instagram and TikTok

512Bites on Instagram and TikTok

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 about what SXSW in Austin is really like in 2026, what events were actually worth it, and what we’d do differently next year.

If you’re planning to visit Austin for SXSW or just want a behind the scenes look at one of the biggest festivals in the world, this episode is for you.

Topics we cover:
SXSW 2026 Austin recap
Best SXSW concerts and shows
Anthony’s birthday during SXSW
Austin nightlife during SXSW
Best events and parties in Austin Texas
What SXSW is really like

Subscribe for more Austin Texas content, bar recommendations, and local insights every week 🍻

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 about moving to Austin Texas, this is exactly what you can expect when it comes to the people and culture here.

We get into the funny, the real, and the painfully accurate stereotypes that make Austin what it is today.

Whether you're deep in the Austin nightlife scene, working in tech, or just love exploring the city, this episode is for you.

For more content on Austin Texas bars, things to do in Austin, and the best spots around the city, make sure to subscribe and follow along.

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 map.

Ali joins the pod to share the story behind La Barbecue, how it grew from a food truck into one of the most talked about BBQ spots in Texas, and what it takes to run a Michelin Star restaurant in Austin.

In this episode we talk about:

• The early days of La Barbecue as a food truck

• The growth of the Austin BBQ scene

• What makes great Texas brisket and barbecue

• The journey to earning a Michelin Star

• Behind the scenes of running one of Austin’s busiest restaurants

If you love Austin, Texas barbecue, the BBQ scene, and hearing the stories behind great restaurants, this episode is for you.

The Austin Pod Episode 47

Guest: Ali Clem – Owner of La Barbecue

Filmed in Austin, Texas

Austin BBQ | Texas Barbecue | Michelin Star BBQ | La Barbecue Austin | Austin Texas Food | Central Texas BBQ | Austin Restaurants | BBQ in Austin Texas

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’re new to Austin, visiting for the weekend, or have lived here for years, this episode will give you fresh ideas for getting out and experiencing the city.

We talk about the spots locals love, the activities that define Austin culture, and the ones that spark debate every single time.

If you love Austin, care about where to spend your weekends, or just want to argue with our rankings, this one’s for you.

New episodes of The Austin Pod drop every week covering everything from Austin culture and food to bars, events, local news, and what it’s really like living in this city.

Subscribe so you don’t miss the next one.