Black Austin Matters

In this episode of Black Austin Matters, hosts Lisa and Rich sit down with artist, educator, father, community leader, and Austin’s Poet Laureate, Zell Miller III. Recorded live in May at the inaugural KUT Festival, Zell shares what it was like growing up in Austin and finding his voice as an artist. He also discusses […]

At just 15 years old, community organizer Kyra Newton testified at the Texas Capitol in support of the CROWN Act. Now, as the youngest guest to appear on Black Austin Matters, she joins Lisa and Rich to share how she found her voice as an organizer, the story behind the nonprofit Beyond Boundaries that she […]

Civic strategist, native Austinite, and community leader Eric Byrd sits down with Lisa and Rich to reflect on growing up in Austin, why he believes being of service is his life’s purpose, the lasting impact of positive male role models, the importance of men coming together to support one another, how brilliance can be found […]

Lisa and Rich continue their conversation with basketball champion, commentator, author and entrepreneur Fran Harris. Fran reflects on what inspired her entrepreneurial journey, the vision behind launching her own basketball league, and how the loss of her mother profoundly reshaped her perspective on life. The full transcript of this episode of Black Austin Matters is […]

Basketball champion, entrepreneur and author Fran Harris talks with Lisa and Rich about what it means to be a champion, lessons her mother taught her about resilience, being part of the 1986 Women’s National Championship team at Texas, making the WNBA after retiring from basketball, and why coaching was never her calling.