Our Top Texas History Podcasts

A Texas earful to get you through those long drives.

Sure, you can walk the walk, but can you talk the talk? These Texans can. We've rounded up a talkative bunch of Texans who can tell you a thing or two about Texas history, since you might as well learn something on those long Texas drives to your next heritage destination.

Pictured: J.R. Shaw, host of Galveston Unscripted, also leads running tours of Galveston history.

Credit: Lisa Shaw

Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed in the following podcasts are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Texas Historical Commission.

Space History

Dive deep into the wonders of human spaceflight with the official podcast of the Johnson Space Center in Houston, featuring in-depth interviews with the astronauts, scientists, and engineers of NASA.

Texas Lore

The radio news hour, Texas Standard, brings you Stories from Texas, written and narrated by Texas scholar W.F. Strong, featuring the best Texas tales around, some tall and some true.

Backroad Travelogue

This acclaimed documentary travelogue takes you on an unforgettable road trip away from the interstates to uncover hidden dives, traditions, and endangered histories across America, with many episodes set in rural Texas.

Local Lingo

In addition to being a handy intro to the idiosyncrasies of Texan-ese, this short Texas Monthly series is also a relic of the late, great Houston journalist John Nova Lomax.

Short, but Honorable Histories

Hosted by Justice Ken Wise, who sits on the 14th Court of Appeals, this award-winning podcast offers mini-histories on everything from the East Texas pearl rush to the Travis County dog wars.

Regional Traditions

Enter the home kitchens of San Antonio or sample the Ukrainian folk music of the Dallas area as participants in Texas Folklife's Community Folklife Fellowship program share their region's traditions and rituals.

History with a Legal Twist

Former U.S. Congressman and Texas Tech Chancellor Kent Hance covers everything from recent news to humorous anecdotes from his years as a legendary Texas lawyer, delivered with his signature honey-soaked Panhandle accent…

Armchair History

Oil-company-exec-turned-armchair-historian uses recent research and newly discovered documents to revisit the people, places, and events that have shaped modern Texan identity.

Museum Perspectives

Produced by the Museum of South Texas History, this podcast spotlights the history and heritage of the Rio Grande Valley and northeastern Mexico, including interviews with locals, historians, and museum staff.

Southern Foodways

The Southern Foodways Alliance narrates the ever-changing American South by examining its culinary landscape, from new immigrant influences to the preservation of beloved traditions.

A Personal Tour Guide

Explore the city once known as the "playground of the south" with a friendly local, J.R. Shaw, and discover the grand architecture, monumental personalities, and epic tragedies of this city's unique past…

An Archeological Discovery

The discovery of 95 abandoned and unmarked graves, what became known as the Sugar Land 95 convict labor cemetery, rocked the archeological world in 2018.

Next in your ‘Que

Smoked meat is an institution around these parts, so get familiar with the personalities, traditions, and of course, the food, courtesy of two enthusiasts who have crisscrossed Texas covering all things BBQ.

Waco Sights

Dr. Stephen Sloan of Baylor’s Institute for Oral History explores known and not-so-known chapters in Waco's history and spotlights must-see heritage destinations around town.

Meet the Locals

Get to know the people and places of southeast Texas in this companion podcast to the ongoing radio documentary series, which has aired every Sunday on KVLU public radio in Beaumont since 2016.

A Steakhouse Primer

How did this small-town steakhouse become a Texas institution? Local ranchers, historians, chefs, and more tell the tale in this short series on the iconic Perini Ranch Steakhouse.

Special Projects Coordinator