The Austin Breakdown

Community Impact reporter Zara Flores discusses the likelihood that Austin and San Antonio will form a metroplex in the vein of Dallas-Fort Worth. Reporter Elle Bent gives a rundown of the Hill Country wine scene and shares a toast to the podcast's one-year anniversary. The Austin Breakdown is a production of Community Impact. This episode was produced by Olivia Aldridge with editing by Marie Leonard. Weather and allergy reports are sourced from www.weather.com and AccuWeather.

On this episode, Community Impact reporter Taylor Cripe brings a report on the state of small business in western Travis County. Plus, we take a trip to Southwest Austin’s Texas Honey Bee Farm. The Austin Breakdown is a production of Community Impact. This episode was produced by Olivia Aldridge with assistance from Victoria Schaefer and editing by Marie Leonard. Weather and allergy reports are sourced from www.weather.com and AccuWeather. ***PATRON PROGRAM SIGN-UP: www.communityimpact.com/patron

Karl Flocke, a woodland economist with the Texas A&M University Forest Service, answers questions about Cedar Fever as Central Texans feel allergy symptoms. Plus, Community Impact reporter Brooke Sjoberg discusses Round Rock's plans to add more multifamily housing to meet population growth estimates. The Austin Breakdown is a production of Community Impact. This episode was produced by Olivia Aldridge with assistance from Morgan O'Neal and editing by Marie Leonard. Weather and allergy reports are sourced from www.weather.com and AccuWeather. ***PATRON PROGRAM SIGN-UP: www.communityimpact.com/patron

The first episode of the Austin Breakdown podcast in 2023 tackles strategic growth in the suburbs and how the Texas Legislature is set to address startling data on maternal mortality and morbidity. Community Impact reporters Zacharia Washington and Hannah Norton weigh in. The Austin Breakdown is a production of Community Impact. This episode was produced by Olivia Aldridge with assistance from Summer El-Shahawy and editing by Marie Leonard. Weather and allergy reports are sourced from www.weather.com and AccuWeather. ***PATRON PROGRAM SIGN-UP: www.communityimpact.com/patron

For the final episode of 2022, Olivia sits down with Community Impact's Austin managing editor Amy Denney to discuss some of the biggest stories from the past year, from Austin's boil water notice to Round Rock's destructive tornadoes. Episodes will return on Friday, Jan. 6. The Austin Breakdown is a production of Community Impact. This episode was produced by Olivia Aldridge with editing by Marie Leonard. Weather and allergy reports are sourced from www.weather.com and AccuWeather. ***PATRON PROGRAM SIGN-UP: www.communityimpact.com/patron

In far east Austin, Community First! Village continues to expand the footprint of its tiny home community for people exiting chronic homelessness. This week, Olivia takes a tour of the neighborhood and talks with Alan Graham, CEO of Mobile Loaves & Fishes, about the community's mission to create rooted connections in addition to housing. Later in the episode, Community Impact's Austin City Hall reporter Ben Thompson joins to discuss the results of the city's recent runoff elections and what Austinites can expect from their new leaders. The Austin Breakdown is a production of Community Impact. This episode was produced by Olivia Aldridge with editing by Marie Leonard. Weather and allergy reports are sourced from www.weather.com and AccuWeather. ***PATRON PROGRAM SIGN-UP: www.communityimpact.com/patron

This week's episode features a standby of the Tarrytown neighborhood, sandwich shop and deli Food! Food! Olivia chats with the eatery's owner Susan Eggert as Food! Food! approaches 30 years in business. Plus, Community Impact reporter Sumaiya Malik breaks down what's behind rate increases from Austin Energy. On Dec. 8, after the time of recording for this episode, Austin City Council voted to approve new Austin Energy base rates that will add approximately $9 to the average customer's electric bill. Learn more here. The Austin Breakdown is a production of Community Impact. This episode was produced by Olivia Aldridge with assistance from Victoria Schaefer and editing by Marie Leonard. Weather and allergy reports are sourced from www.weather.com and AccuWeather. ***PATRON PROGRAM SIGN-UP: www.communityimpact.com/patron

Just in time for holiday shopping, the Austin Breakdown stops by Blue Genie Christmas Bazaar as it enters its 22nd year as a local holiday tradition. Later, Community Impact reporter Ben Thompson stops by to discuss Central Texas' growing profile as a player in the chipmaking, or semiconductor, industry. The Austin Breakdown is a production of Community Impact. This episode was produced by Olivia Aldridge with assistance from Morgan O'Neal and editing by Marie Leonard. Weather and allergy reports are sourced from www.weather.com and AccuWeather. ***PATRON PROGRAM SIGN-UP: www.communityimpact.com/patron

This special Thanksgiving week episode looks at the history of longtime Austin staple ThunderCloud Subs as the iconic local business prepares for the 32nd annual Turkey Trot. Plus, Community Impact statehouse reporter Hannah Norton highlights some of the bills that have already been filed ahead of the upcoming Texas Legislative Session. The Austin Breakdown is a production of Community Impact. This episode was produced by Olivia Aldridge with editing by Marie Leonard. Weather and allergy reports are sourced from www.weather.com and AccuWeather. ***PATRON PROGRAM SIGN-UP: www.communityimpact.com/patron

Host Olivia Aldridge brings a report from the recent annual Austin Chamber of Commerce Economic Outlook event. Plus, Community Impact reporter Taylor Cripe discusses a series of projects aimed at alleviating congestion along the Loop 360 corridor. The Austin Breakdown is a production of Community Impact. This episode was produced by Olivia Aldridge with assistance from Morgan O'Neal and editing by Marie Leonard. Weather and allergy reports are sourced from www.weather.com and AccuWeather. ***PATRON PROGRAM SIGN-UP: www.communityimpact.com/patron

This episode pays a visit to the new downtown Austin bar Electric Shuffle, which aims to make shuffleboard cool with the help of craft cocktails. Plus, Community Impact reporters Katy McAfee and Zara Flores stop by to discuss tension between Hays and Travis counties regarding the SH45 gap road project. The Austin Breakdown is a production of Community Impact. This episode was produced by Olivia Aldridge with editing by Marie Leonard. Weather and allergy reports are sourced from www.weather.com and AccuWeather. ***PATRON PROGRAM SIGN-UP: www.communityimpact.com/patron

Ahead of the 20th anniversary Austin Studio Tour that kicks off Nov. 5, Coka Treviño, the Curator and Director of Programming for event organizer Big Medium, stops by to discuss the annual event's local impact. Plus, Community Impact's statewide reporter Hannah Norton digs into the current conversation surrounding whether Texas should rely less on standardized test scores when assessing school performance. The Austin Breakdown is a production of Community Impact. This episode was produced by Olivia Aldridge with assistance from Morgan O’Neal and editing by Marie Leonard. Weather and allergy reports are sourced from www.weather.com and AccuWeather. ***Link to E&P Reports podcast featuring John Garrett ***PATRON PROGRAM SIGN-UP: www.communityimpact.com/patron

This episode pays a visit to Zucchini Kill bakery, a vegan, allergen-free shop with a metal twist located on the old Spiderhouse Cafe property in Central Austin. Plus, Community Impact reporter Brooke Sjoberg discusses a recent forum for Round Rock ISD school board candidates heading into the Nov. 8 election. The Austin Breakdown is a production of Community Impact. This episode was produced by Olivia Aldridge with assistance from Morgan O’Neal and editing by Marie Leonard. Weather and allergy reports are sourced from www.weather.com and AccuWeather. ***PATRON PROGRAM SIGN-UP: www.communityimpact.com/patron

On the final installment of the Austin Breakdown's "CI Conversations" series, guest host Connor McGovern chats with Scot Wilkinson, Director for Arts and Culture for the city of Round Rock. Wilkinson discusses the city's annual Chalk Walk Arts Festival and other major initiatives for Round Rock's cultural development.

Since 2009, Blue Starlite Urban Drive-In has brought a sense of nostalgia to Austinites looking to take in a movie—with a view of the city. This Halloween season, the drive-in theater is screening classic horror flicks alongside new spooky titles. Plus, with early voting starting Oct. 24, Community Impact Austin City Hall reporter Ben Thompson gives a rundown of the races set to appear on Austin voters' ballots, including the candidates vying for mayor. The Austin Breakdown is a production of Community Impact. This episode was produced by Olivia Aldridge with assistance from Morgan O’Neal and editing by Marie Leonard. Weather and allergy reports are sourced from www.weather.com and AccuWeather. ***PATRON PROGRAM SIGN-UP: www.communityimpact.com/patron

On this installment of "CI Conversation," guest host Connor McGovern talks with Christine DeLisle, the mayor of Leander, Texas. DeLisle offers her perspective on what drew her to the suburbs in Central Texas, the fulfillment she finds in public service and her priorities for her next two years in office.

Host Olivia Aldridge visits the Buda farm of mushroom company Smallhold, which aims to innovate the grocery store produce aisle through fungi. Plus, Community Impact reporter Katy McAfee discusses progress in Austin's Innovation District. The Austin Breakdown is a production of Community Impact. This episode was produced by Olivia Aldridge with assistance from Morgan O'Neal and editing by Marie Leonard. Weather and allergy reports are sourced from www.weather.com and AccuWeather. ***PATRON PROGRAM SIGN-UP: www.communityimpact.com/patron

Ahead of the Dripping Springs Songwriters Festival set for Oct. 14-16, 2022, guest host Connor McGovern sits down with Pam Owens, the president and CEO of the Dripping Springs Visitors Bureau. Owens discusses the value of the annual event and what festival-goers can expect this year, plus more upcoming events in Dripping Springs—like two solar eclipses with a prime view from the Texas Hill Country.

For three decades now, the Austin Steam Train Association has sent vintage steam and diesel trains chugging through the Hill Country on Texas' one and only nonprofit railroad. Listen to this episode to hear about the history of the local "rolling museum," and why the preservation of locomotive history matters. Plus, stick around until later in the episode for a conversation with Community Impact reporter Zara Flores, who sheds light on how Hays CISD is responding to several fentanyl overdose deaths among students. The Austin Breakdown is a production of Community Impact. This episode was produced by Olivia Aldridge with assistance from Morgan O'Neal and editing by Marie Leonard. Weather and allergy reports are sourced from www.weather.com and AccuWeather. ***PATRON PROGRAM SIGN-UP: www.communityimpact.com/patron

In this special "CI Conversations" episode of the Austin Breakdown, guest host Connor McGovern sits down with Sloan Struble, who is best known as the indie pop music project Dayglow. Struble created Dayglow in 2018, just before briefly enrolling in the University of Texas at Austin, with the release of his debut album “Fuzzybrain.” One of the singles, titled “Can I Call You Tonight?”, achieved mainstream success, eventually becoming certified platinum. Since then, Dayglow has released a sophomore album, embarked on tours around the world and is anticipating the release of his 3rd record titled “People in Motion.” In this conversation, Sloan talks about his success at a young age and reflects on the purpose of his music.