Longtime listeners may know — Texas Standard is fast approaching a milestone birthday. We’re turning 10 next March. With us almost from the beginning have been signature segments including the Typewriter Rodeo and Stories From Texas — these bi-weekly commentaries from WF Strong. He says he has a goal beyond entertainment. The post Counting Cattle With the Fathers appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ..read more

Over the next couple of months, many will set off for the Texas Hill Country to enjoy the splendor of the wildflowers celebrating spring. Many of the tourists are flatlanders, who not only love the kaleidoscope of colors but also driving the hilly roads that snake through billions of blossoms. Texas Standard Commentator WF Strong suggests a route he calls the *other hill country — that is far less traveled than its cousin to the west. The post The Other Hill Country appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ..read more

We’ve all heard the proverb about one man’s trash being another’s treasure. Well, for generations of a family now living in Texas, the treasure in question was an old box found discarded many years earlier. Texas Standard commentator W.F. Strong has the story. The post The mystery of the Texas box appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ..read more

February the 14th may be one of the more divisive days on the calendar. Though Valentine’s Day is meant to celebrate love — many find it cheesy, commercial, or downright depressing. Others, lean into the holiday. In the latter camp, it seems, were a pair infamous lovers from Texas. Texas Standard commentator WF Strong has the story. The post Bonnie and Clyde: Star-synced lovers appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ..read more

Champagne toasts, fireworks, making resolutions, fancy meals… those are just some of the many ways Texans chose to to ring in 2024. Texas Standard commentator WF Strong, however, decided to welcome the New Year by reflecting on the past. The post New Year’s Eve on Houston Street appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ..read more

Texas Standard commentator W.F. Strong has a little holiday tradition. Every December he likes to count our collective blessings as Texans by highlighting a great gift to Texas. He says the tidelands were special because the giver didn’t realize how much goodness would continue to flow from them. The post The Gift of the Tidelands appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ..read more

554 miles from AT&T Stadium you will find a Dallas Cowboys celebratory tradition that is unique in Texas. You might expect it in Dallas or Arlington, but to find this three decade tradition thriving in a Brownsville neighborhood, is both surprising and heart-warming. It is called La Pitada. Texas Standard commentator WF Strong has more. The post La Pitada appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ..read more

For those with a rudimentary knowledge of Spanish, traveling Texas becomes more interesting because the Spanish names of places reveal, or hint at, their histories. Texas Standard commentator WF Strong has some examples. The post Found in Translation appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ..read more

A look at the headlines might sometimes give you a sense of déjà vu — haven’t you read or seen this before? Fights over government shutdowns… a looming presidential race that may pit the same candidates against one another. Texas Standard commentator WF Strong has been thinking about this while watching another political debate. The post On Censorship appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ..read more

All through October, the Texas Standard team is tracking Texas cryptids. As we’ve dug into some of these legends, we’ve noticed a few patterns. First of all, many of the cryptids associated with Texas have roots in Mexico. And there are also some similarities in the back stories of these creatures or characters. Ayden Castellanos has noticed this especially in the legends involving female haunters. He hosts the “Susto” podcast about latin and hispanic folklore. “I like to call them ‘the cryptid femmes’ because there are so many entities or creatures or spirits who are women or femmes and I thi ..read more