by Adam Flagg, Austin Eras Podcast Executive Producer and Host

When I moved to Austin in 2007, the only person I knew was my wife, Brooke.

I still remember driving south on I-35, somewhere around Round Rock, listening to local sports radio. The hosts had accents I’d never heard before. They were using phrases I didn’t understand, and I remember laughing to myself thinking, What exactly did I just get myself into?

Coming from Illinois, it felt like I’d landed in a different world. The food was different. The culture was different. I’d visited Austin before, but visiting a city and building a life there are two very different things.

Like a lot of people who move here, I assumed the things that would make me stay would be the obvious ones: the live music, the barbecue, the Hill Country, or the weather.

It wasn’t.

The thing that convinced me to stay was the people.

Over the years, through my work in wealth management at Collective Advisors and by getting involved in the community, I found myself meeting entrepreneurs, artists, nonprofit leaders, musicians, educators, and people who simply cared enough to leave Austin better than they found it. They were generous with their time, quick to make introductions, and genuinely interested in helping other people succeed.

Then something started happening.

I’d leave a lunch, a happy hour, a coffee meeting, or an event thinking, Why did only six people get to hear that conversation?

The best conversations weren’t happening on stages or in keynote speeches. They were happening across restaurant tables, over a beer after work, or in the corner of a crowded event with people who were building businesses, creating art, opening restaurants, mentoring founders, serving the community, or quietly shaping Austin in ways most people would never see.

Those conversations were simply too good to disappear the moment everyone stood up from the table.

That’s really where Austin Eras came from.

When Mel Martin and I started Austin Eras, we thought we were creating a place for people who wanted to become more connected to their city. Somewhere along the way, we realized it had become something a little different. We weren’t just interviewing interesting people. We were preserving the conversations that help explain why people choose to build their lives here.

Every founder, musician, chef, educator, artist, nonprofit leader, athlete, and entrepreneur we sit down with is helping shape what Austin becomes. If we can capture their stories while they’re still writing them, maybe we all gain a better understanding of where this city has been, where it is today, and where it’s headed next.

None of that would have happened without Mel. She’s been the producer, the creative sounding board, and the person who has helped turn a lot of half-formed ideas into something real. Every creative project needs someone who isn’t afraid to tell you when an idea needs work, and I’m grateful she’s been that person from the very beginning.

Austin Eras has also become a creative outlet for me in ways I never expected. Years ago, I studied broadcasting and seriously considered making it my career before life took me in another direction. Today I spend my days helping families and business owners navigate important financial decisions through Collective Advisors, the wealth management firm I lead, and I genuinely love that work. But Austin Eras scratches a different itch. It gives me an excuse to stay endlessly curious, meet remarkable people, and tell stories about a city that has given my family so much.

One of my earliest inspirations after moving here was watching The Daytripper on PBS. Chet Garner had this incredible ability to visit a Texas town, meet fascinating people, uncover its history, and leave you wanting to experience it for yourself. Looking back, I don’t think he was simply making travel television. He was helping people understand why places matter. Whether he realizes it or not, he shaped the way I think about storytelling.

I honestly believe Austin is one of the greatest cities in the world. Not because it’s perfect, but because there’s a certain optimism here that’s difficult to explain until you’ve experienced it. This is a city where people show up with big ideas and, more often than not, someone says, “Let’s figure out how to make that happen.” Entrepreneurs encourage artists. Artists encourage founders. Neighbors encourage neighbors. People here don’t just celebrate success. They genuinely want to help create it.

I think sometimes we forget how special that is. There are cities all over the country struggling to breathe new life into their downtowns, reconnect their communities, and rediscover the optimism they once had. Austin still has that spirit. It isn’t something to take for granted. It’s something worth appreciating, protecting, and continuing to build together.

The podcast, this newsletter, our happy hours, and our live recordings are all different ways of creating the same thing: a place where people who care about Austin can discover the stories, ideas, and people shaping this city.

Some of you have listened to every episode. Others found us through an Instagram clip, and some of you may be reading this newsletter before you’ve ever pressed play on the podcast. However you found us, we’re grateful you’re here.

Looking back, I don’t think Brooke and I were really searching for a city when we moved here in 2007.

We were searching for a community.

In Austin, we found one.

Along the way, we built a family. Our two kids are growing up here, surrounded by incredible people, unforgettable experiences, and a city that continues to surprise us. Looking back, I realize much of my career and much of my life has been about helping people build meaningful relationships and stronger communities. Austin Eras is simply another expression of that same idea.

If this podcast or newsletter helps you discover one remarkable person, one unforgettable conversation, or one new reason to appreciate this city, then we’re accomplishing exactly what we hoped to build.

Because Austin Eras has never really been about documenting Austin.

It’s about helping people feel more connected to it.

And maybe, just maybe, reminding all of us to appreciate what we already have.

If you’re still looking for your place here, pull up a chair.

We saved you a seat.

Brought to you by the Austin History Center Association

Here are some songs we’ve been listening to on rotation

Adam’s Pick :: Westside Cowboy — “Kick Stones (The Boys)”

Mel’s Pick :: U2 — “Street of Dreams”

Iliana’s Pick :: Zach Top — “I Never Lie”

Nina Means’ Pick :: Beyoncé — “YA YA”

Mel’s Pick :: Billy Joel — “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)”

Iliana’s Pick :: 311 — “Amber”

Nina Means’ Pick :: Jill Scott — “Golden”

Adam’s Pick :: Fastball — “The Way”

Mel’s Pick :: The Spice Girls — “Wannabe”

Iliana’s Pick :: f.u.n, Janelle Monae — “Some Nights”

Nina Means’ Pick :: Earth, Wind, & Fire — “September”

These lists will GROW. We’ll continue to add tracks so be sure to save to your library to keep coming back!

If you loved our episode with Jim Ritts, the Executive Director of the Austin Theatre Alliance, check out this article by our friends at ATX Today.

They shared 15 facts about the Paramount Theatre and you’ll definitely want some of these handy when conversations come up about the theatre’s renovations!