A new podcast about last year’s harrowing July 4 floods will be released soon by PBS and The Texas Newsroom. Here’s what to know.
PBS’ Frontline, in collaboration with The Texas Newsroom, has announced a new podcast series, “After the Flood,” premiering on June 24. It will consist of five episodes and examine the devastating Central Texas floods that claimed the lives of over 130 people on July 4, 2025.
The official announcement for the series states that it will follow Hill Country communities, families, and survivors as they grapple with the aftermath of the tragedy, which has widely been acknowledged as one of the deadliest floods Lone Star State history. Within a matter of hours, dozens of lives were lost and numerous properties were significantly damaged or completely swept away, the effects of which are still being deeply felt almost a year later.
“After the Flood” is the product of diligent reporting conducted by The Texas Newsroom. Throughout the series, listeners will hear the stories of Matthew Childress, who lost a child at Camp Mystic, as well as Bumble Bee Hills residents who bravely rescued friends and neighbors when the sweeping floods came to their doorsteps. Additional stories will be told by local leaders and survivors who are fighting for improved emergency alert systems, and from Sandy Creek families who lost everything that fateful day.
The lead reporter and host of “After the Flood,” Dominic Anthony Walsh, said, “The first days of a disaster are only part of the story. Recovery unfolds over months and years. By returning repeatedly to these communities, we were able to document how grief evolves, how people rebuild their lives, and why many residents believe important questions about preparedness and accountability remain unresolved.”
Another podcast about the flood, ‘Where the River Took Us,’ is out now
Aaron Parsley serves as the senior editor at Texas Monthly. He recently won a Pulitzer Prize for his firsthand reporting of the harrowing Guadalupe River flood and has since expanded on his initial storytelling with the release of a seven-episode podcast series titled “Where the River Took Us.”
Parsley and his family were celebrating July 4 together at their house on Guadalupe River in 2025. In attendance were Parsley’s father Clint, his husband Patrick, his sister Alissa and her husband Lance, and two of Alissa and Lance’s children, Rosemary and Clay. When the flood waters rushed through, everyone in Parsley’s family survived except for 20-month-old Clay. In the midst of his devastating loss, Parsley wrote about what he and so many others were experiencing.
Speaking with CultureMap about the podcast and what it was like for him to interview his husband and sister for the series, Parsley said, “It was extremely strange. It was emotional. It made me feel really proud of them. Every single person showed up in the best way possible for something like this — And ultimately, those conversations are unforgettable to me, and I really appreciate that I was able to do that. I guess it sort of provided this moment for us to take some time, and sit face-to-face, and ask each other questions, and explore our experience and our lives since.”
In addition to featuring his family members, Parsley spoke with the people in his community who sheltered him and Patrick when they emerged from the river, a parent who lost a child at Camp Mystic, and neighbors who are still trying to rebuild, slowly but surely. All episodes of “Where the River Took Us” are now available to stream. Click here to access Texas Monthly’s podcast player. It can also be found on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
