Hi! I grew up in a one-stoplight town in rural Nebraska and my whole family still lives there with three churches, a bar, and a courthouse. I left because I like lots of people and taller buildings, and I don't like cold weather. On those rare days in Texas when it gets snowy and icy, you'll find me inside Googling beach vacations. I don't plan to leave Texas now that I've been here for most of my adult life because the barbecue and fajitas are just way too addictive. I've worked in radio from the moment I graduated from college at the University of Nebraska, and besides getting the hang out with cool people like you every day, I love sports, great restaurants, self improvement, and meeting new people. I love all movies starring Melissa McCarthy or Julia Roberts, and all TV shows with home improvements or food in them. You'll probably hear me talk about my three daughters on the air, along with the challenges of being a single mom. I'm on several of the dating apps, because trying to meet someone in person these days is way too creepy.
Jen Austin
Today Is the Perfect Day to Thank an East Texas First Responder
Every time 9/11 rolls around, I think about the first responders who rushed into the Trade Towers that day in 2001 to save lives, thinking very little about their own. Would any of us have had the guts? It makes today the perfect day to thank a first responder in East Texas for what they do on a daily basis And there's one simple way to do it.
East Texas Dairy Queens Master the Fall Flavors
If you're already growing tired of the lattes, how about churning some of that pumpkin spice flavor into some ice cream?
Dairy Queen has five new Blizzard flavors this month and that makes five reasons why DQ is winning the fall flavor battle.
Texas Could Have Another Brutal Flu Season This Year
If you made it through the last flu season without missing a day of work or school, you're one of the few.
The flu vaccine that was supposed to keep us from getting sick was only 36 percent effective last time around, but the CDC says they've tweaked it to be more effective this year. Hope so!
Try These NFL Picks In Your Office Pool
With the NFL kickoff tonight, it's time to get your picks in! If you're part of an office pool or our online contest, you'll want to save these winners.
A couple of these picks may be wildly unpopular.
Marching Bands For The Win — 3 Reasons Why They Deserve Respect
Marching bands add so much to the atmosphere at high school football games, that it's hard to imagine what the game would be like without them. It's not Friday Night Lights without the band, and we've got three reasons why these dedicated students deserve a big high five this weekend.
Texans Are Short on Free Time
If you feel like you're constantly on the go with very little downtime, you must be a Texan. When it's broken down state-by-state, Texas is in the top ten for hours worked. And we're not very good at vacationing.
Try This Grilled Pizza Recipe At Your Labor Day Cookout
Labor Day weekend is one of the biggest grilling weekends of the year, and if you want a break from the burgers and hot dogs, impress your guests with this recipe for grilled pizza. It's easy!
Do This and End Up in Jail This Labor Day Weekend
We hope your Labor Day weekend is full of fun football parties, road trips, and some good ole brisket smokin' in the back yard. And we hope it doesn't include a trip to jail.
Doing this one stupid thing can land us behind bars this Labor Day weekend, and there's something simple we can do to prevent it.
5 Weird Things You See at the Gym
Sometimes the gym is a great place to work out, and sometimes it's a great place to read the newspaper and catch up on phone calls. And this is just one of many weird things we see at East Texas gyms.
Texas Millennials Are Hipper Than This
This parody video on millennials has been around for a couple of years, but a friend showed it to me again over the weekend and I thought it was worth sharing to ask a question. Are millennials in Texas this stereotypical?
Argue With My Dallas Cowboys Predictions for the Season
What are the odds that the Cowboys will go 16 and 0 this season? I say 50-50. Either they will or they won't. The NFL season is near, and with that comes some trash talkin' by arm-chair quarterbacks about which games they'll win and why. So let the not-so-expert analysis begin.
Will This Wedding Trend Catch on in Lufkin?
Something new is happening with brides and grooms, and while it could be a fantastic new way to tie the knot, it may also really upset your grandma. Would you ever combine last names to invent a completely new one?