Reality TV and lifestyle stars gather in Austin for juicy, women-led podcasting conference

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Photo courtesy of Dear Media

It does seem like everyone has a podcast these days, but some podcasters have built an empire. These post-radio pundits can offer experience-based tips on the art of audio media, and they will via Dear Media, at the two-day event, “Dear Media IRL: Doing Audio Differently.”

Some big names in TV and audio experience sharing will gather at Austin's Distribution Hall on May 6 for conversions, interactive panels, networking, and more geared toward supporting Dear Media’s mission statement, to amplify women’s voices in podcasting.

Some of the featured speakers include:

Married co-hosts Michael Bosstick and Lauryn Evarts Bosstick, who discuss basically everything on The Skinny Confidential Him & Her Show, from beauty and wellness to entrepreneurship and celebrity interviews.
Nicole Walters, who highlights opportunities for a more balanced lifestyle through a business lens on The Nicole Walters Podcast. Her topics frequently include networking and questioning the usefulness of hustle culture.
Jaci Marie Smith, whose lifestyle content on What We Said with Chelsey Curtis tackles the everyday topics like roommates, dieting, and being “chronically online.” The Gen-Z friendly tone is introspective, but casual and focuses largely on goals and relationships.
Kristin Cavallari and her former co-star, Stephen Colletti, who are known for multiple MTV reality shows, rewatch episodes from their time in the limelight and discuss the drama on Back to the Beach with Kristin and Stephen.

Dear Media hosts more than 60 podcasts and provides support, much like a record label, at every stage from creation to post-distribution expansion. This mini-conference includes coffee, lunch, and a happy hour to make sure networking opportunities are taken advantage of, plus panel discussions and Q&As. The VIP experience comes with an expanded gift bag, preferred entry and seating at panels, and an invite to an organizer mixer.

Tickets ($85 general admission, $150 VIP) are available now at dearmedia.com.

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Cheers cast reunites in Austin, plus more highlights from the ATX TV Festival

30 years after turning the lights off on the bar, the cast of Cheers reunited in Austin this month. While there were a few cast members missing, including Texan Woody Harrelson, three of the main men of the classic '80s series were on hand for the ATX TV Festival. But that's not all that happened at the fest.

Photo by Jack Plunkett.

Members of the Cheers cast reunite at ATX TV Festival.

The four day celebration of television kicked things off on Thursday, June 1, with an Outlander panel. It just so happened to be World Outlander Day and Catriona Balfe was in attendance. She joined a discussion about what it's like to work both in front of the camera and behind. She even gave the electrified audience a tease of some things that are to come in Season 7 of the groundbreaking series, premiering June 16 on Starz.

Later that afternoon, audiences got a sneak peek of an episode of Manifest, which returned for its final season on Netflix the following day. Following the screening, cast members of Manifest, Justified, and a handful of other projects featured at the fest walked the opening night red carpet.

Highlights from Friday, June 2, included presentations of Primo, Minx, Accused, and Cruel Summer, and a Shark Tank discussion that included Austinite Kendra Scott.

But the biggest highlight of the night was the Cheers reunion: Ted Danson, John Ratzenberger, and George Wendt walked onto the stage at ACL Live amidst raucous applause. The trio, along with co-creator James Burrows, enjoyed a drink earlier in the day at Dumont's Down Low while shooting a segment for The Today Show.

Sadly, there were no female cast members present for the event and though we were hoping for a surprise appearance from Woody Harrelson, one never came. The evening was a success regardless. The gentlemen are just as entertaining as ever, making the sold out audience clap, laugh, and cheer for more.

Danson stuck around for a chat with wife Mary Steenburgen which started out Saturday's programming. Jury Duty packed 800 Congress, as did Mayans BC, while a panel on the WGA strike educated festival goers on the demands of the entertainment union.

Saturday night's main event was a screening and Q&A with the cast and creators of Righteous Gemstones. All main cast members were is attendance. That means Danny McBride, John Goodman, Adam Devine, and Edi Patterson were all there. Like the Cheers reunion, the event took place at ACL Live and was open to non-festival goers who could buy standalone tickets.

The addition of the ACL venue was one of this year's biggest success stories. Addressing the crowd post screening, Devine said that the viewing experience was pretty insane: "You don't get a chance to watch the show with, I'm gonna say, 25,000 people," he joked.

The final day gave fans a look at the upcoming Prime Video docuseries The Ride, which follows a group of bull riders throughout the PBR Team Series — including the Austin Gamblers.

Austin resident Christy Carlson Romano and co-founder of PodCo hosted a podcasting panel with fellow podcasters who previously starred on hit TV shows in the '90s and early 2000s. Stars of The Wizards of Waverly Place and Ned's Declassified took part, as well as the Lawrence brothers: Joey, Matthew, and Andy Lawrence.

Finally, yours truly hosted a panel with The Women of the Good Doctor where we discussed the series' most impactful storylines, what it's like to be a woman in the entertainment business, and what to expect in season 7 of the ABC series.

The ATX Television Festival launched in Austin in 2012. This was the 12th season for the homegrown TV extravaganza.

Lake Travis: Paradise awaits with Mediterranean-inspired, resort-style living every day

Your Neighborhood Expert

There are so many great places to live in Austin that it helps to have an expert on your side. The Neighborhood Guide presented by Kuper Sotheby's International Realty gives you insider access from the agents who live and work there, providing in-the-know info about your possible new community.

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More than 20 years ago, real estate agent Sandy Cary moved to Lakeway from Dallas — and never looked back.

“Coming from such a flat area, the hills and the trees and all of the beauty and nature of Lake Travis were a huge draw for me,” she says.

Having worked in the area for just as long, Cary is well-attuned to the resort-style feel of the community and the unique perks of lake life: “I absolutely love it.” Her 53-year-old double yellow-headed Amazon parrot doesn’t mind it either!

Cary also loves the predominantly Mediterranean-style architecture. Fun fact: “The movie Spy Kids was filmed on Lake Travis and you would think you are really in the Mediterranean with all of the stucco and tile roofs we have!”

Another top attraction is The Oasis. “It's one of the most beautiful places to see amazing sunsets overlooking Lake Travis,” adds Cary. The destination restaurant is even known as The Sunset Capital of Texas.

Cary offered up a few more of her personal favorites about life in the Lake Travis area. Here's her guide:

Where to eat & drink
In addition to The Oasis, there are so many great places to eat and drink in this area, including: Plate by Dzintra (from-scratch goodness), Steiner Ranch Steakhouse (excellent surf and turf), SP Brazilian Steakhouse, The Grove Wine Bar & Kitchen, Café Blue (the best seafood and oyster bar), Buenos Aires Café (for Argentinean cuisine), Carmela's (grab one of their artisan pizzas), The League Kitchen & Tavern (an homage to the 1920s Prohibition era), Verdes Mexican Parrilla, Sundancer Grill, Santa Catarina, Canyon Grille Rough Hollow, and The Lighthouse Restaurant & Lounge (great lake views).

Where to play
“Boating is number one!” says Cary. “There are many marinas in the area and lots of places to rent boats.”

She also recommends Lakeway Park as an amazing place to relax, as well as the Lakeway community pools.

For golfing, Falconhead Golf Club is a top favorite public course.

The Hill Country Galleria also has free live music on the lawn on Friday nights, a farmers market on Sundays, periodic yoga classes, and more activities.

What to see
“There are several wonderful hidden gems in the Lake Travis area, including Hamilton Greenbelt,” says Cary. “It's a beautiful park filled with amazing trails.”

The Spicewoodwineries are also at the top of her list to see — and savor, too.

More nature-rich destinations include Bee Cave Sculpture Park, Muleshoe Bend, Jessica Hollis Park, Mansfield Park, and Pace Bend Park.

Where to live
“The homes are definitely varied; there's something here for everyone,” says Cary. “Around the lake, the style is mostly Mediterranean. However, you'll also see modern, traditional, and super-eclectic homes — one, in particular, is even shaped like a mushroom.”

Many properties here have gorgeous views and spacious grounds, like the five-bed, eight-bath property Cary sold at 35 Water Front Ave. Another significant sale of hers is the 10,000-square-foot Mediterranean stunner at 12017 Kirkland Court.

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Sandy Cary works and plays in the Lake Travis area. For more information on buying and selling a home in the area, click here, sandy.cary@sothebysrealty.com, or call 512-589-1002.

Photo by Onward Group

Agent Sandy Cary.

Belterra: Bold, beautiful attitude and activities galore in Dripping Springs

Your Neighborhood Expert

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“When I first saw Belterra, I thought it was too good to be true,” says real estate agent Betsy Smith, who has lived and worked in this premier master-planned community of Dripping Springs since 2012.

“It is so beautiful — and the location is amazing,” adds Smith. “There are wide-open spaces throughout, and I love that the elementary school is in the neighborhood right along with the playgrounds and community pool. We have tons of golf carts driving around to pick up their kids from school.”

Anyone who enjoys being outside will love Belterra, thanks to all the hike and bike trails and sport courts.

The community also hosts events regularly — think live music and entertainment, yoga classes, food truck block parties, and poolside movies, all planned weekly by their lifestyle director.

“We have a weekly newsletter that tells you about all the activities, along with a magazine that’s just about our neighborhood,” says Smith. “We even have our own swim team called the Belterra Marlins.”

For her, Belterra represents the “rock-n-roll attitude” of the Austin city experience and the “scenic peacefulness” of the Hill Country.

Smith offered up a few more of her personal favorites about life in Belterra. Here's her guide to the area:

Where to eat & drink
Not only can you get house-made Neapolitan pizza at Pieous, they also have house-made pies and sweets fully stocked to-go along with fresh sourdough bread and more.

Vintage, speakeasy-inspired eatery The League Kitchen & Tavern is a homage to the 1920s Prohibition era.

For barbecue, Smith recommends The Switch and for a casual night out, Backspin Sports Bar & Grill is also in the neighborhood.

Where to play
“We are lucky to now have Belterra Village in front of our neighborhood, which has a movie theater, restaurants, shops, a gym, and more,” says Smith. “Definitely catch a show at the EVO amphitheater next to the theater.”

What to see
Smith loves nature walks through the trails: “We have lots of beautiful trails here and there is so much to see on them, especially after a good rain when the rivers are flowing.”

Where to live
Belterra is made up of 14 different sections within the master-planned community and each section has a unique style of homes, some of which you can see in three of Smith’s sales at 140 Empire Court, 110 Welshpool, and 435 Sand Hills.

“You can buy anything from a 1,500-square-foot home to a 5,000-square-foot home,” says Smith. “We have garden homes, larger lot homes, homes with views, homes that back to the greenbelt. The last section that was built is comprised of Toll Brothers homes with more of a modern style and feel. There are still a few open lots you can buy and choose any builder you wish.”

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Betsy Smith works and plays in Belterra. For more information on buying and selling a home in the area, click here, email betsy.smith@sothebysrealty.com, or call 512-348-5888.

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