Lauren McGaughy is based here at KUT in Austin and is an investigative reporter and editor for The Texas Newsroom, a collaboration of NPR stations in Texas. She specializes in criminal justice, government ethics and LGBTQ issues.
In fact, she recently won the 2024 Randy Shilts Award for LGBTQ+ Reporting, which honors journalists who consistently bring stories of the LGBTQ+ community to life in mainstream media.
Lauren previously covered state politics and policy for The Dallas Morning News, Houston Chronicle and New Orleans Times-Picayune. Her personal essay on coverage of the 2017 Sutherland Springs mass shooting sparked a national conversation about the media’s treatment of communities after tragedies.
She loves cats, cemeteries and comics. Ask about her wig collection!
Follow Lauren on Instagram @LaurenMcGaughy.
What are you listening to at the moment?
As for music, I listen to a lot of what I call “K-Earth 101.” That’s the oldies radio station in Los Angeles where I grew up. When I was a kid, they played Motown and rock from the ’50s and ’60s, and that was my soundtrack of summer.
I have also just started the podcast “Tested” on the topic of sex testing in sports. It is very interesting.
Have you read anything interesting lately?
I always read multiple things at once even though I’m such a slow reader (or maybe that’s what makes me slow!). On my lunch break, I read “Life 3.0” about the future of AI. It makes me rewire my brain to understand the concept of life and intelligence that exists not only in breathing things but also in information.
On the weekends, I’ve been plodding through A Court of Wings and Ruin, the third book in Sarah J. Maas’ Court of Thorns and Roses trilogy (think Harry Potter, but with fairies and for adults only).
I’m also reading the monthly reading for my Middle School Book Club, a group of friends who read books for grades 5-9. This month it’s “From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.” Very entertaining!
What have you been liking about Austin lately?
I still love the local dance scene! Once a month I like to go to Sagebrush to take part in Country Fried Dance’s line dance lessons, to Cheer Up Charlies to take part in their monthly 90’s country night called Neon Rainbows, and for couples dancing I like to go to The White Horse or Sam’s Town Point.
