Why Austin is the Next Big Thing in Podcasting

This session is part of the 3-day Podcast Creator Summit at Apple Austin. Check out the full list of events.

When we think about the cultural impact of Texas (and Austin more specifically), a certain cheesy university motto comes to mind: "what happens here changes the world." Despite the dominant narrative, the brightest hubs for media and media innovation aren't on the coasts. It’s everywhere in between. Texans, in particular, can say with confidence that the news they make, the stories they tell, and the culture they export take up a significant space in the American and global psyche. What is it about Austin that makes it so special and such a formidable player in media? And how should creators harness that energy to make great, impactful podcasts? How can aspiring, independent creators find inspiration and purpose in their own backyard?

This is an in-person event and will not be livestreamed or recorded.

Skills: podcasting, podcast marketing, audience engagement, audience growth, social media, podcast promotion

About the Speakers

Nikki DaVaughn is a queer storyteller, dancer, foul mouthed emcee and all around performer based in Austin, TX. She is Founder and Director of Fat Bottom Cabaret and Producers of the Midnight Menagerie. You can catch Nikki on stages across the country, on the daily news & culture podcast City Cast Austin, or at your local bar. She is the self-proclaimed Queen of Shenanigry, and your purveyor of profanity and thigh meat.

Eleanor Klibanoff is the Texas Tribune's women’s health reporter, based in Austin, where she covers abortion, maternal health care, gender-based violence and LGBTQ issues, among other topics. She also co-hosts the Tribune's weekly politics podcast, TribCast. She started with the Tribune in 2021, and was previously with the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting in Louisville, where she reported, produced and hosted the Peabody-nominated podcast, “Dig.” Eleanor has worked at public radio stations in Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Missouri, as well as NPR, and her work has aired on “All Things Considered,” “Morning Edition” and “Here & Now.”

Elizabeth McQueen (mod) is the manager of podcasts at KUT and KUTX. She is also the co-host and co-producer of Pause/Play, as well as the producer for The Breaks, a hip-hop podcast. Before moving to public radio and podcasting, McQueen was a professional musician who started and played for the band Elizabeth McQueen and the Firebrands and a member of the legendary Western swing band Asleep at the Wheel.

Mando Rayo’s experience is deep-rooted in Latino & BIPOC communities and is a 2022 James Beard Foundation Awards finalist and winner of two Signal Awards for podcasting. Mando is a digital story-teller and uses his Latinx identity to inspire and build bridges through his production company, IDENTITY. From working with PBS, El Rey Network, 7-Eleven/Laredo Taco Company, RamTrucks, Beef Loving Texans, Whataburger, People en Español y más, Mando shares stories through food, culture, documentaries and digital platforms. As a Taco Journalist, food explorer and street ethnographer, Mando has traveled across the U.S. to uncover the tastiest tacos, from the Rio Grande Valley in Texas to L.A. and New Orleans to New York City. Mando is the producer and co-author of the books, 'Austin Breakfast Tacos' and 'The Tacos of Texas' book (University of Texas Press) & docu-series with PBS Digital Studios, United Tacos of America TV Show on El Rey Network and the Vitamina T for Tacos children’s book series (Jade Publishing). Mando’s work has been featured on Bon Appetit Magazine, The Food Network, NPR, The New York Times and SXSW. You can listen to El Cuatro - Season 4 of the Tacos of Texas Podcast on KUT, Austin's NPR Station and Texas Standard, wherever you get your podcasts.