Rephonic
Artwork for ATXplained
Austin
Friendship
Clarksville Tower
University Of Texas At Austin
World War II
Barton Springs
Communication
Violet Crown
Austin Music Scene
Barton Springs Pool
Marriage
Telecommunications
Texas Right To Farm Act
Athens
Cedar Choppers
Master Pancake
Bob Schneider
Alligators
AT&T
Childhood

What about Austin has you curious?

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes204Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureDaily NewsNews

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Artwork for ATXplained

Latest Episodes

Ella moved to Austin from Waco over the summer. But she’s kind of overwhelmed with all the choices here. She wants your help! Go here to record your recommendations for things like outdoor spaces, festivals, food and more.

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The facility has been under construction for years now — at least twice as long as expected. Parts of it have reopened, but the whole thing was supposed to be done a year ago. So what’s the hold up?

Source

We all have vague memories of childhood, that are so faded we can’t even tell if they’re real. This is a story about one such memory.

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At Austin City Hall, a sign points to each of Austin’s international sister cities. The sister cities program dates back almost 60 years. Our question asker knows a lot about this, but she wants more people to know.

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Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Alyssa Therrett
Oversees architectural development for Austin Parks and Recreation
City of Austin Parks and Recreation
Episode: Why is it taking so long to finish the renovations at the Barton Springs bathhouse?
Paige Ellis
Council district representative for Barton Springs area
City Council
Episode: Why is it taking so long to finish the renovations at the Barton Springs bathhouse?
Riley Triggs
City official at environmental commission
City of Austin
Episode: Why is it taking so long to finish the renovations at the Barton Springs bathhouse?
Richard Breimer
City commissioner
City of Austin
Episode: Why is it taking so long to finish the renovations at the Barton Springs bathhouse?
Christie Bryant
Question asker, involved with Austin Sister Cities International
Austin Sister Cities International
Episode: Austin has 14 sister cities. What’s a sister city, anyway?
Jay Cooper
Pastor at Violet Crown City Church
Violet Crown City Church
Episode: What’s the story behind the huge Adirondack chair in front of this Austin church?
John Erler
Co-founder of Master Pancake Theater
Master Pancake Theater
Episode: BONUS: A live riff on our Master Pancake story at ATXplained Live in October 2025
Jerm Pollet
Co-creator and organizer of Master Pancake riffs
Master Pancake Theater
Episode: BONUS: A live riff on our Master Pancake story at ATXplained Live in October 2025
Owen Edgerton
Collaborator in early Master Pancake works
Master Pancake Theater
Episode: BONUS: A live riff on our Master Pancake story at ATXplained Live in October 2025

Host

Matt Largey
Host of ATXplained

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 114 ratings
  • One of the best local radio programs I have ever heard.

    Podchaser
    5
    Sarah B
    5 years ago
  • 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 grea... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    paydro*
    United States8 years ago
  • 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?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hoodedfantasia
    United States8 years ago
  • 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.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    E. B. South
    United States9 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests often highlight under-the-radar Austin stories, making it feel uncovering the city's fabric.
The mix of history, culture, and contemporary issues helps newcomers understand Austin's idiosyncrasies and ongoing changes.
Listeners appreciate deep local grounding and personal connections to Austin's neighborhoods.

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This American LifeThis American Life

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Austin has 14 sister cities. What’s a sister city, anyway?
Q: What exactly is a sister city and how do these partnerships work in practice for a city like Austin?
A sister city relationship is a structured partnership between two cities aimed at mutual understanding and collaboration across arts, culture, education, technology, and health, often including exchanges, training, student programs, and joint projects that help both sides learn from each other and grow together.
How did Austin’s ‘Master Pancake’ get started?
Q: My question, I believe, was, what was the origin of Master Pancake, and how have they been able to sustain it for so long?
The origins trace back to a collaborative effort in Austin to riff on films live, evolving from a past MST3K-inspired project, with a name and format shaped by early team members including Tim League, Jerm Pollett, and John Erler; sustenance comes from adapting to audiences, maintaining intimacy, and evolving the show over years, including a rebrand after a cease-and-desist and a shift to online formats during the pandemic.
BONUS: A live riff on our Master Pancake story at ATXplained Live in October 2025
Q: What was the origin of Master Pancake and how has it sustained for so long?
The origin involved John Erler and collaborators forming a live riff group inspired by MST3K, evolving the concept, adapting a new name after a cease and desist, and building a strong community through in-person and online shows that emphasize camaraderie and shared laughter.
Who’s the guy who dances and silently raps at the corner of Barton Springs and South First?
Q: Is there anything that could help him become more than this corner performance?
He recalls a moment of guidance about finding support and channels in the community, but emphasizes staying true to the art form and its purpose rather than chasing external validation.
Who’s the guy who dances and silently raps at the corner of Barton Springs and South First?
Q: How are you having such a great time?
The guest explains that the performance is a sustained personal practice and a form of community connection, describing the experience as a sanctuary and a way to give back to strangers at the light.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About ATXplained

What is ATXplained about and what kind of topics does it cover?

ATXplained explores Austin's unique local stories through a mix of archival context, on-the-ground reporting, and intimate conversations with city organizers, artists, and community figures. Episodes span sister-city relationships, neighborhood art projects, and deep dives into Austin's cultural landscape—from Master Pancake's legacy to the Lawn Chair Brigade and public art mysteries—offering a window into local history, governance, and everyday bravery. The show stands out for its strong regional focus, narrative curiosity, and ability to connect disparate Austin threads into cohesive civic and cultural glimpses that feel both informative and warmly human.

Where can I find podcast stats for ATXplained?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for ATXplained. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to ATXplained and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

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What are the audience demographics for ATXplained?

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How many subscribers and views does ATXplained have?

To see how many followers or subscribers ATXplained has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to ATXplained?

These podcasts share a similar audience with ATXplained:

1. Texas Standard
2. Snap Judgment
3. This American Life
4. Radiolab
5. Short Wave

How many episodes of ATXplained are there?

ATXplained launched 9 years ago and published 204 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact ATXplained?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for ATXplained?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for ATXplained from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on ATXplained?

Recent guests on ATXplained include:

1. Alyssa Therrett
2. Paige Ellis
3. Riley Triggs
4. Richard Breimer
5. Christie Bryant
6. Jay Cooper
7. John Erler
8. Jerm Pollet

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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