Author Archives: kaitlin

Highlights: February 10-16

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KLRU Highlights

Masterpiece Classic at 7 pm Sunday presents part five of Downton Abbey, Series III.

Masterpiece Classic at 8 pm Sunday and 8 pm Saturday presents the part six of Downton Abbey, Series III. Change arrives in a big way for several key characters at Downton Abbey, while a yearly cricket match with the village sees old scores settled and new plots hatched.

Freedom Riders: American Experience at 9 pm Monday tells the story of a group of students in the 1960s who protested for Civil Rights by riding on a Greyhound bus bound for the Deep South.

Frontline at 7 pm and 10 pm Tuesday investigates the inside history of how Washington has failed to solve the country’s problems of debt and deficit.  Followed immediately by President Obama’s State of the Union address coverage from PBS NewsHour.

Nature at 7 pm Wednesday explores how two diverse animal species live together in what seems like a forgotten corner of the world in “Cold Warriors: Wolves and Buffalo”.

NOVA at 8 pm Wednesday reveals a spectacular new space-based vision of our planet in “Earth From Space.”

On Overheard with Evan Smith at 7pm Thursday Michael Oren speaks about his service as a Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. since 2009.

Trouble Puppet Theater takes Arts In Context at 7:30 pm Thursday on a journey into the art of puppetry as the company produces one of their unique plays.

David Chang travels from Tokyo to Kyoto to meet and eat with friends on Mind of a Chef at 8 pm Thursday.

The Daytripper at 8:30 pm Thursday follows Chet to Denton, TX to race the Texas Motor Speedway, explore the city’s historic square and independent music culture, and eat a “Hell” Burger that is appropriately named.

On DCI Banks at 9 pm Thursday, DCI Alan Banks and DI Helen Morton must learn to reconcile their conflicting policing styles and personalities while trying to unravel the increasingly puzzling murder of a local accountant who has been leading a secret double life.

Add good taste and good health to your garden with herbs on Central Texas Gardener at noon Saturday. On tour, fifth graders chomp into fresh food and lessons on water quality at ground level.

Austin City Limits at 7 pm Saturday presents modern blues and soul with Gary Clark, Jr. and Alabama Shakes.

Next Avenue Growing Bolder: February Episodes

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Next Avenue

As your PBS station, it is KLRU’s mission to bring people together around important issues. KLRU does this through various educational and outreach initiatives.  Our newest effort is a national collaboration called Next Avenue that features resources and an online discussion of issues facing those 50+. As part of that project we are also airing, Growing Bolder Sundays at 10:30 am on KLRU. Growing Bolder delivers empowering stories that inspire audiences of all ages to believe that it’s never too late to achieve their dreams. It features stories of masters athletes, cancer survivors, musicians, health experts, entrepreneurs and more.

Upcoming episodes:

2/3: “Mind Over Matter”
Family, Friends and Pancakes – We spend our days talking to or in search of ordinary people living extraordinary lives. And what we’ve learned is that anyone can do it. All it takes is passion. And the best thing about passion is that it’s contagious. Dr. Jack Beattie has it. And his family and friends have caught it. Mind Over Matter – Jennifer Field was 17 when a car accident left her comatose with a severe brain injury. Few expected her to survive. But she did. Fewer expected any kind of recovery. And it HAS been a battle, step by agonizing step, for nearly 20 years. Now, she travels the country, performing a one-woman show, re-living her story so that others who’ve suffered traumatic brain injuries never lose hope. The Veterans of Motocross – It’s the ultimate motorized highwire act, requiring lightning-fast reflexes, incredible strength and stamina, and nerves of steel. For decades, motocross has been a young man’s extreme sport. It’s still extreme, but suddenly there’s gray hair everywhere. How Tuppperware Helped Women Grow Bolder – The plastic bowl with the airtight seal helped transform American society and advance the women’s movement worldwide. Today, a Tupperware party is held every 2. 5 seconds. Women go home with new containers and a new dream for a better future. Most likely, none of it would have happened if it wasn’t for a man named Gary McDonald.

2/10: “Quiet Confidence”
Discover Your Inner Sex Symbol – The expression “less is more” has never been more true. Women are taking it off, to turn it back on! Boudoir photography is hot, in more ways that one! And it’s not just those young, skinny 20-somethings, it’s women in mid-life and beyond who are giving their all, well, just about, to prove that age is irrelevant! Celebrating 50 Years of Skydiving History – On August 16, 1960, Air Force Capt. Joe Kittinger rode a helium balloon to 102,800 feet — the very edge of space — and jumped. Fifty years later, to commemorate man’s longest leap, Kittinger became the first inductee into the National Skydiving Museum Hall of Fame. Tracing Your Family Tree – Ever wonder where you came from? Digging up your family tree’s roots can help you see a more clear future. We’ll take a look at how technology is making it easier than ever to find out who you really are! Bobby Goldsboro: Musical Colors – In 1968 while Joplin, Hendrix, the Doors and Jefferson Airplane were singing about sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll, Bobby Goldsboro was singing about “Honey.” After a career in which he sold more than 35 million records, hosted a national TV show, wrote six best-selling children’s books and produced a national PBS show, you’d think the soon-to-be 70 Goldsboro would be winding down. Think again.

2/17: “No Limits”
How World Records are Broken – Motivated by the stories we do every week, Growing Bolder CEO Marc Middleton got back in the pool for the first time in 35 years. That was two years ago. Today, Marc is a member of Rowdy Gaines’ Blu Frog Masters Team and now, the Froggers have something to croak about. World War II’s Fading Memories – There aren’t many people like Bill Coleman. There used to be, but World War II vets are vanishing. It’s why their stories are so important. Not just for their first-hand accounts, but also to ensure the lessons they learned don’t just fade into history. Come Play With Us – From fast cars to talking water — yes, you read that right — we’re showing you the coolest new games and rides at the annual International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions expo. You won’t see this stuff anywhere else … yet! Triathlete Tony Handler Tony Handler isn’t supposed to be here. Twenty-five years ago, he was diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic cancer and given two years to live. That same year, he completed his first triathlon. After that, the cancer attacked his liver, prostate and thyroid glands but he’s beat them all back. His story will inspire you to keep on fighting, no matter what life throws your way.

2/24: “Small Actions, Big Impact”
Restore Your Passion and Pass it On – The mission was gratifying yet overwhelming. But isn’t taking on projects that are way too big the key to great accomplishment? JT Thompson had such a bright vision for an old, run-down historic home that he never had time to consider failure. And against all odds, he far exceeded even his own expectations. Be the Maestro of Your Mind – It may be music to your ears but it’s actually fuel for your brain. Many studies concur — one of the best ways to exercise your brain is by learning to play a musical instrument. As you’ll see, you don’t have to be Mozart to be the maestro of your mind!

 

 

Highlights: February 3-9

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KLRU Highlights

On Nature at 6 pm Sunday, Sir David Attenborough shares his memories of the scientists and the breakthroughs that helped shape his own career in “Understanding The Natural World”.

Masterpiece Classic at 7 pm Sunday presents the part four of Downton Abbey, Series III. The Crawley family faces its severest test yet. Meanwhile, new faces try to fit into the tight-knit circle of servants.

Masterpiece Classic at 8 pm Sunday and 8 pm Saturday presents the part five of Downton Abbey, Series III.

DCI Alan Banks receives a disturbing message from his brother just as new recruit DI Helen Morton finds evidence that links Banks to the body of a murder victim on DCI Banks at 9 pm Sunday and 9 pm Thursday.

Independent Lens at 9 pm Monday presents “As Goes Janesville”, a film that traces the impact of the economic crisis on the people of Janesville, Wisconsin amid the 2008 closure of their GM plant and America’s worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

Join the stars of landmark miniseries as they comment on the influence of their genre today in Pioneers of Television: Miniseries at 7 pm Tuesday.

Silicon Valley: American Experience at 8 pm Tuesday tells the history of the integrated circuit and how it changed the world.

Meet some of the innovators who’ve helped make Austin the nation’s third largest video game production community on Capital of Innovation “Video Game Entrepreneurs” at 9:30 pm.

On Nature at 7 pm Wednesday, Sir David Attenborough chronicles the profound tranformations our global environment has endured over the years in “Our Fragile Planet”.

NOVA at 8 pm Wednesday follows a team of archaeologists, engineers, woodworkers and horse trainers as they join forces to build and test two highly accurate replicas of Egyptian royal chariots in “Building Pharaoh’s Chariot”.

Life on Fire at 9 pm Wednesday travels to the Tongan archipelago where two little-known animals have learned to cope with these ephemeral lands risen from the ocean depths in “Pioneers of the Deep”.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor talks on Overheard with Evan Smith at 7 pm Thursday.

Arts in Context at 7:30 pm Thursday profiles local Austin music-makers Mother Falcon.

David Chang prepares eggs with his chef pals and makes his Ko egg on Mind of a Chef at 8 pm Thursday.

The Daytripper at 8:30 pm Thursday follows Chet to La Grange, TX to paddle the Colorado River, explore Texas Czech culture, eat at a 100-year-old BBQ joint, and enjoy some kolaches from Hruska’s.

Many voters assume their job is done on Election Day, but citizens need to stay engaged to hold elected leaders accountable. What does it take to get your voice heard in the Texas Legislature? Civic Summit explores these issues at 9 pm Thursday.

How do roses impact our mood? Michael Shoup from the Antique Rose Emporium matches drought tough roses with a gardener’s personality on Central Texas Gardener at noon Saturday.

Eclectic indie rock dominates the stage with Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and tUnE-yArDs on Austin City Limits at 7 pm Saturday.

Community Cinema: The Powerbroker 2/5

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The February 2013 Community Cinema film is The Powerbroker with screenings and discussions in both Austin and Round Rock. All screenings will start at 7 pm, are free and open to the public.

Screenings take place February 5 at Austin’s Windsor Park Branch Library (5833 Westminster Dr.) and February 14  at Round Rock Public Library (216 E. Main Street).

The Powerbroker
During the 1950s and 60s, civil rights leader Whitney Young navigated a divided society. He challenged America’s white business and political leaders directly, but his efforts to open the doors for equal opportunity were often attacked by Black Americans who felt his methods were in contrast with the Black Power Movement of the time.

Science Night 1/30

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Nature “Attenborough’s Life Stories: Understanding the Natural World.” at 7 pm
In honor of Sir David Attenborough’s 60th anniversary on television, this three-part miniseries focuses on three fields that David Attenborough feels have been transformed most profoundly: filmmaking, science and the environment. Richly illustrated with the sequences (re-mastered in HD) that Attenborough has spent 60 years capturing, new interviews in which he revisits the content, stories and locations that were featured in his landmark series, and packed with the personal anecdotes of the BBC’s most accomplished raconteur, “Attenborough’s Life Stories” is a singular synopsis of a unique half-century plus. In “Understanding the Natural World,” Sir David Attenborough shares his memories of the scientists and the breakthroughs that helped shape his own career. He also recalls some of his more hair-raising attempts to bring new science to a television audience: standing in the shadow of an erupting volcano as lumps of hot lava crashed around him or being charged by a group of armed New Guinean tribesmen.

NOVA “Who Killed Lindbergh’s Baby?” at 8 pm
In the aftermath of his 1927 solo transatlantic flight, Charles Lindbergh became the most famous human being on earth. When he and his wife, Anne, had a son, Charlie, the press dubbed him Little Lindy. On March 1, 1932, kidnappers snatched Little Lindy from the family home near Hopewell, New Jersey. Negotiations stretched out for weeks, but Charlie never returned. His body was discovered not five miles from Hopewell. Now, NOVA is reopening one of the most confounding crime mysteries of all time as a team of expert investigators employs state-of-the-art forensic and behavioral science techniques in an effort to determine what really happened to Lindbergh’s baby – and why.

Life On Fire “Ash Runners” at 9 pm
Around the Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua, life has struggled for thousands of years to re-emerge from the ashes. Underground, vampire and other bat species have colonized the miles of tunnels created by hot flowing magma. In the crater, parakeets and vultures have made nests on cliffs exposed to toxic gases. On the flanks of this still active mountain, the vegetation has been burnt away by lava flows leaving barren stretches that are recolonized over hundreds of years. At the foot of the volcano, fields, pastures and towns have grown over the oldest lava flows. In this harsh environment, nature struggles to conquer ash and lava before the next eruption erases its efforts … and the phoenix must rise again.

Highlights: January 27 – February 2

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KLRU Highlights

Nature at 6 pm Sunday presents part one of a three-part miniseries focusing on three fields that Sir David Attenborough feels have been transformed most profoundly: filmmaking, science and the environment, in “Attenborough’s Life Stories”.

Masterpiece Classic at 7 pm Sunday presents the part three of Downton Abbey, Series III. Two social revolutions arrive at Downton Abbey: the Irish civil war and the fight for women’s suffrage. Meanwhile, a mysterious conspiracy keeps Anna and Bates apart.

Masterpiece Classic at 8 pm Sunday and 8 pm Saturday presents the part four of Downton Abbey, Series III. The Crawley family faces its severest test yet. Meanwhile, new faces try to fit into the tight-knit circle of servants.

On DCI Banks at 9 pm Sunday and 9 pm Thursday, a case terrifyingly close to home is asked of Banks by his boss, Chief Superintendent Gerry Rydell, to find his missing teenage daughter.

Independent Lens at 9 pm Monday presents “The Revisionaries”, a film examining the highly politicized Texas State Board of Education whose revisions every decade determine the teaching and textbook standards for its nearly 5 million schoolchildren.

On Nature at 7 pm Thursday, Sir David Attenborough shares his memories of the scientists and the breakthroughs that helped shape his own career in “Understanding The Natural World”.

NOVA at 8 pm Wednesday NOVA is reopening one of the most confounding crime mysteries of all time as a team of expert investigators employs state-of-the-art forensic and behavioral science techniques in an effort to determine what really happened to Lindbergh’s baby – and why – in “Who Killed Lindbergh’s Baby?”

Life on Fire at 9 pm Wednesday travels to the Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua, where life has struggled for thousands of years to re-emerge from the ashes in “Ash Runners”.

Writer and historian Joe Nick Patoski talks about his career on Overheard with Evan Smith at 7 pm Thursday.

Explore the beauty and athleticism of the aerial arts with Sky Candy, a group of experienced aerialists sharing their love for ethereal beauty with other Austinites, on Arts In Context at 7:30 pm Thursday.

Space Shuttle Columbia: Mission of Hope at 8 pm Thursday tells a unique story that interweaves the heights of scientific achievement and the public mourning of many nations in the aftermath of the Columbia Shuttle disaster.

How do we handle drought without actually making things worse? New Mexico landscape architect David Cristiani explores the sensitive, ecological response on Central Texas Gardener at noon Saturday. On tour, a gardener’s balanced design spares the water and keeps the wildlife.

Country superstar Tim McGraw blazes through a set of his distinctive brand of rockin’ country music on Austin City Limits at 7 pm Saturday.

Science Night 1/23

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Nature “Attenborough’s Life Stories: Life on Camera” at 7 pm
In honor of Sir David Attenborough’s 60th anniversary on television, this three-part miniseries focuses on three fields that David Attenborough feels have been transformed most profoundly: filmmaking, science and the environment. Richly illustrated with the sequences (re-mastered in HD) that Attenborough has spent 60 years capturing, new interviews in which he revisits the content, stories and locations that were featured in his landmark series, and packed with the personal anecdotes of the BBC’s most accomplished raconteur, “Attenborough’s Life Stories” is a singular synopsis of a unique half-century plus. In “Life on Camera,” Sir David Attenborough revisits key places and events in his wildlife filmmaking career, reminisces through his old photos and reflects on memorable wildlife footage, including swimming with dolphins and catching a komodo dragon. Returning to his old haunts in Borneo, he recalls the challenges of filming on a seething pile of guano in a bat cave.

NOVA “Rise of the Drones” at 8 pm
Drones. These unmanned flying robots – some as large as jumbo jets, others as small as birds – do things straight out of science fiction. Much of what it takes to get these robotic airplanes to fly, sense and kill has remained secret. But now, with unprecedented access to drone engineers (including a rare interview with the “Father of the Predator,” Abe Karem) and those who operate drones for the U.S. military, NOVA reveals the amazing technologies that make them so powerful. Discover the cutting-edge technologies that are propelling us toward a new chapter in aviation history.

Life On Fire “Phoenix Temple” at 9 pm
Around the Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua, life has struggled for thousands of years to re-emerge from the ashes. Underground, vampire and other bat species have colonized the miles of tunnels created by hot flowing magma. In the crater, parakeets and vultures have made nests on cliffs exposed to toxic gases. On the flanks of this still active mountain, the vegetation has been burnt away by lava flows leaving barren stretches that are recolonized over hundreds of years. At the foot of the volcano, fields, pastures and towns have grown over the oldest lava flows. In this harsh environment, nature struggles to conquer ash and lava before the next eruption erases its efforts … and the phoenix must rise again.

Highlights: January 20-26

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KLRU Highlights

Masterpiece Classic at 7 pm Sunday presents the part two of Downton Abbey, Series III. The fate of Downton Abbey hinges on a letter from a dead man, while Edith and Sir Anthony face their own fateful moment.

Masterpiece Classic at 8 pm Sunday and 8 pm Saturday presents the part three of Downton Abbey, Series III. Two social revolutions arrive at Downton Abbey: the Irish civil war and the fight for women’s suffrage. Meanwhile, a mysterious conspiracy keeps Anna and Bates apart.

Annie Cabbot investigates the murder of a woman found out on the moor with her throat cut, while Banks is called to a murder of a young girl in the centre of town in DCI Banks at 9 pm Sunday and 9 pm Thursday.

Independent Lens at 9 pm Monday presents “Beauty is Embarrassing,” a film that chronicles the vaulted highs and the crushing lows of commercial artist Wayne White as he struggles to find peace and balance between his work and his art.

Pioneers of Television at 7 pm Tuesday profiles the primetime soap frenzy in the late 1970s with shows like “Dallas,” “Dynasty,” and “Knots Landing.”

Part three of Abolitionists: American Experience at 8 pm Tuesday examines the battle between pro-slavery and free-soil contingents rising to fever pitch with the raid on Harpers Ferry, the 1860 election, and the secession of southern states.

Frontline at 9 pm Tuesday investigates why Wall Street’s leaders have escaped prosecution following their fraudulent practices contributing to America’s financial meltdown in “The Untouchables”.

TV megahit Everybody Loves Raymond creator Phil Rosenthal discusses the (not so) universal language of comedy on On Story Presented by the Austin Film Festival at 10 pm Tuesday.

Join Vincent Martinez – one of the most stunningly original artists in Austin – as he lives his self-proclaimed “Jazz Life” on Hardly Sound at 10:30 pm Tuesday. Then marvel at his undeniable hooks and poetic, personal lyrics as he steps into the studio as Emcee Eats.

Nature at 7 pm Wednesday presents part one of a three-part miniseries focusing on three fields that Sir David Attenborough feels have been transformed most profoundly: filmmaking, science and the environment, in “Attenborough’s Life Stories.”

NOVA at 8 pm Wednesday reveals the amazing technologies that make drones so powerful in “Rise of the Drones.”

Life on Fire at 9 pm Wednesday watches at the foot of the Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua as fields, pastures and towns have grown over the oldest lava flows and nature struggles to conquer ash and lava before the next eruption erases its efforts in “Phoenix Temple.”

Diane Ravitch, one of the country’s leading thinkers about education, discusses the school system on Overheard with Evan Smith at 7 pm Thursday.

Arts in Context at 7:30pm Thursday profiles La Junta Heritage Center, the product of the late artist, writer, cowboy sage and visionary A Kelly Pruitt.

Mind of a Chef at 8 pm Thursday features over-the-top indulgence with Joe Beef chefs Federic Morin and David McMillian’s foie gras sandwich, a whiskey tasting mayhem with Chef Sean Brock at Buffalo Trace in Kentucky and the classic dish “Hot Brown” served up three ways.

The Daytripper at 8:30 pm Thursday follows Chet as he heads to Stephenville, TX to visit Dublin Bottling Works, see some barrel racing at Lone Star Arena, and polish it off with chicken fried steak.

Discover the facts and legends behind the wildflowers that captivate us every spring on Wildflowers: Seeds of History at 9 pm Thursday.

Acclaimed author and horticulturist Greg Grant transitions the winter garden to summer on Central Texas Gardener at noon Saturday. On tour, see how a new gardener replaced grass with a charming vegetable garden and flowers to attract bee pollinators.

Austin City Limits at 7 pm Saturday showcases alternative rock with punk veteran Bob Mould and young bucks Delta Spirit.

Highlights: January 13-19

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KLRU Highlights

Masterpiece Classic at 6 pm Sunday presents part one of Downton Abbey, Series III. The Great War is over and the long-awaited engagement of Lady Mary and Matthew is on, but all is not tranquil at Downton Abbey as wrenching social changes, romantic intrigues, and personal crises grip the majestic English country estate.

Masterpiece Classic at 8 pm Sunday and 8 pm Saturday presents the part two of Downton Abbey, Series III. The fate of Downton Abbey hinges on a letter from a dead man, while Edith and Sir Anthony face their own fateful moment.

DCI Banks and DS Annie Cabbot are called to investigate an arson attack that caused two narrow boats to go up in flames on DCI Banks at 9 pm Sunday and 9 pm Thursday.

Independent Lens at 9 pm Monday presents “Soul Food Junkies,” a film that puts the culinary tradition of soul food under the microscope to examine both its benefits and consequences.

Pioneers of Television at 7 pm Tuesday profiles the first standup comediennes to appear on television, covers television’s most enduring variety star and features interviews with contemporary actresses in “Funny Ladies.”

Part two of Abolitionists: American Experience at 8 pm Tuesday focuses on the deepening divide between the North and South, touching off a crisis that is about to careen out of control.

Frontline at 9 pm Tuesday takes a probing look at the first four years of Obama’s presidency and examines his key decisions and the experiences that will inform his second term in “Inside Obama’s Presidency.”

Take to the skies with psychedelic rock band Royal Forest as they lead Hardly Sound at 10:30 pm Tuesday on an epic adventure.

Nature at 7 pm Wednesday examines the day-to-day dramas of an extended family of koalas, seen through the eyes of the scientists studying their every move and vocalization on “Cracking The Koala Code.”

In a race against developers in the Rockies, archaeologists uncover a unique site packed with astonishingly preserved bones of mammoths, mastodons and other giant extinct beasts, opening a vivid window on the vanished world of the Ice Age on NOVA at 8 pm Wednesday.

Life on Fire at 9 pm Wednesday explores the fish escaping the Earth’s wrath to give birth to descendants that continue their pioneering journey to the heart of an active volcano in “The Surprise Salmon.”

David Maraniss, Pulitzer Prize winning author and journalist, discusses his career on Overheard with Evan Smith at 7 pm Thursday.

Arts in Context at 7:30 pm Thursday grants viewers an all-access pass to Fantastic Fest, the largest genre film festival in the U.S., to give a glimpse at horror, fantasy, sci-fi, action and just plain fantastic movies from around the world.

Mind of a Chef at 8 pm Thursday explores deceptively simple dishes around the world with David Chang ranging from Chicken Yakitori to high-end sushi.

The Daytripper at 8:30 pm Thursday follows Chet to Bay Area Houston to visit NASA, eat a hoagie and fried shrimp, go birding on Armand Bayou, and visit the Kemah Boardwalk.

Discover how fungi, like mushrooms, slime mold, and lichens, benefit the garden on Central Texas Gardener at noon Saturda. On tour, visit a garden geared for wildlife all year long.

Jazz and pop cross on Austin City Limits at 7 pm Saturday with Norah Jones and Kat Edmonson.