Based here at KUT in Austin, Lauren McGaughy is an investigative reporter and editor for The Texas Newsroom, a collaboration of NPR stations in Texas. Her specialty areas include criminal justice, governmental ethics and LGBTQ issues.
In fact, she recently won the 2024 for LGBTQ+ Coverage honoring journalists who consistently bring stories of the LGBTQ+ community to life in mainstream media outlets.
Lauren previously covered state politics and policy for “The Dallas Morning News,� “Houston Chronicle� and “New Orleans Times-Picayune.� on the coverage of the spurred a national conversation about media treatment of communities in the wake of tragedies.
She loves cats, and comic books. Ask about her wig collection!
Follow Lauren on Instagram
What are you listening to these days?
For music, I am listening to a lot of what I called "" music. That’s the oldies radio station in Los Angeles, where I grew up. When I was a kid, they played 1950s and 60s Motown and rock, and so that’s been my soundtrack of the summer.
I also just started the podcast �,� on sex testing in sports. It’s very interesting.
Read anything interesting lately?
I’m always reading a few things at once, even though I’m such a slow reader (or maybe that’s what makes me slow!). On my lunch break, I’m reading �,� about the future of AI. It’s making me rewire my brain to understand the concept of life and intelligence as not solely found in breathing things but also information.
On the weekends, I’ve been slogging through �,� the third book in Sarah J. Maas� Court of Thorns and Roses trilogy (think, Harry Potter but with fairies and for adults only).
I am also reading whatever is the monthly read for my Middle School Book Club, a group of my friends who read books for grades 5-9. This month’s is �.� Very fun!
What are you loving about Austin lately?
I continue to love the local dance scene! I love hitting up once a month for the Country Fried Dance line dancing lessons, for their monthly 90s country night called Neon Rainbows and or for partner dancing.