KAMU Station News KAMU TV FM

MARCH 2025 UPDATE: Welcome back to lunch-hour TV! KAMU is extending PBS KIDS programming on our main channel, giving families an extra hour of kid-friendly, educational shows. Instead of kids programming ending at noon, it will end at 1 p.m., effective March 31.

We’re making room for two new episodes of popular shows with this adjustment. Across all of our children’s programming, we remain dedicated to offering fun, educational content covering a broad age appeal and curriculum topics. Have you checked out our 24/7 PBS KIDS Channel? Watch through an antenna on channel 12.3 or Optimum 18. Or, a 24/7 livestream is available on PBSKIDS.org or the free PBS KIDS Video app on iOS, Android, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, VIZIO SmartCast TV and Chromecast.

Plus, there are additional high-quality PBS KIDS programs available only for streaming through the app. Check out our list of additional resources at the end of this article for more details.

Parents, here’s a summary of our current schedule:

KAMU Schedule Updates(12.1)
1. Weekday Changes
2. Weekend Schedule
PBS KIDS Schedule Schedule (12.3)
1. Weekday Schedule
2. Weekend Schedule
Additional Resources

KAMU Schedule Changes (12.1)

Weekday Changes

We’ll kick off our summary with the weekday schedule on our main channel:

5 a.m.: “Arthur”
5:30 a.m.: “Odd Squad”
6 a.m.: “Wild Kratts”
6:30 a.m.: “Alma’s Way”
7 a.m.: “Lyla in the Loop”
7:30 a.m.: “Carl the Collector”
8 a.m.: “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood”
8:30 a.m.: “Rosie’s Rules”
9 a.m.: “Sesame Street”
9:30 a.m.: “Work It Out Wombats!”
10 a.m.: “Donkey Hodie”
10:30 a.m.: “Pinkalicious & Peterrific”
11 a.m.: “Elinor Wonders Why”
11:30 a.m.: “Nature Cat”
Now that we have an extra hour of children’s shows, keep the fun going with:
- “Molly of Denali” at noon.
- “Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum” at 12:30 p.m.
At 1 p.m., flip to PBS KIDS (12.3 or Optimum 18) to keep the children’s programs coming.

Weekend Schedule

The weekend schedule continues to resemble the weekday schedule more closely than ever.

5 a.m.: “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”
5:30 a.m.: “Arthur”
6 a.m.: “Wild Kratts”
6:30 a.m.: “Alma’s Way”
7 a.m.: “Lyla in the Loop”
7:30 a.m.: “Carl the Collector”
8 a.m.: “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood”
8:30 a.m.: “Rosie’s Rules”
9 a.m.: “Sesame Street”
9:30 a.m.: “Work It Out Wombats!”
10 a.m.: “Donkey Hodie”
10:30 a.m.: “Pinkalicious & Peterrific”
That’s it for Saturdays, but the fun continues for one more hour on Sundays, including “Elinor Wonders Why” at 11 a.m. and “Cyberchase” at 11:30 a.m.

PBS Kids Schedule (12.3)

We continue to take ages into account with toddler and Pre-K focused content from 6 a.m.-12 p.m., and an after-school focus for older kids from 2-5 p.m.

Weekday Schedule

First, here’s what’s up on weekdays:

5 a.m.: “Clifford the Big Red Dog”
5:30 a.m.: “Sesame Street”
6 a.m.: “Pinkalicious & Peterrific”
6:30 a.m.: “Sesame Street: Mecha Builders”
7 a.m.: “Sesame Street”
7:30 a.m.: “Milo”
8 and 8:30 a.m.: “Work It Out Wombats!”
9 and 9:30 a.m.: “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood”
10 a.m.: “Carl the Collector”
10:30 a.m.: “Curious George”
11 and 11:30 a.m.: “Donkey Hodie”
Noon: “Elinor Wonders Why”
12:30 and 1 p.m.: “Rosie’s Rules”
1:30 p.m.: “Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum”
2 and 2:30 p.m.: “Alma’s Way”
3 p.m.: “Lyla in the Loop”
3:30 p.m.: “Arthur”
4 p.m.: “Odd Squad”
New show “Skillsville” debuts at 4:30 p.m.
5 and 5:30 p.m.: “Wild Kratts”
That leads into the PBS KIDS evening schedule, which includes a second airing of “Lyla in the Loop” at 6 p.m., and later, “Molly of Denali,” “Hero Elementary,” “Cyberchase” and “Let’s Go Luna!”

Weekend Schedule

There’s more variety on the weekends, but a large chunk of the schedule resembles the weekday schedule.

5 a.m.: “The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!”
5:30 a.m.: “Dinosaur Train”
6 a.m.: “Pinkalicious & Peteriffic”
6:30 a.m.: “Peg + Cat”
7 a.m.: “Sesame Street”
7:30 a.m.: “Milo”
8 and 8:30 a.m.: “Work It Out Wombats!”
9 and 9:30 a.m.: “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood”
10 a.m.: “Carl the Collector”
10:30 a.m.: “Curious George”
11 and 11:30 a.m.: “Donkey Hodie”
Noon: “Elinor Wonders Why”
12:30 p.m.: “Super WHY!”
1 p.m.: “Rosie’s Rules”
1:30 p.m.: “Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum”
2 p.m.: “Alma’s Way”
2:30 p.m.: “Molly of Denali”
3 p.m.: “Lyla in the Loop”
3:30 p.m.: “Arthur”
4 p.m.: “Odd Squad”
4:30 p.m.: “Skillsville”
5 p.m.: “Wild Kratts”
5:30 p.m.: “Ready Jet Go!”
Then, it’s PBS KIDS family night.

Additional Resources

These programs are always available to stream on-demand:

“Sid the Science Kid”
“WordWorld”
“Splash and Bubbles”
“Martha Speaks”
“WordGirl”

If your kids are missing episodes of these shows and more, pull up the PBS KIDS website on your computer, phone or tablet, or the PBS KIDS Video app on your iOS or Android devices or Kindle tablet. Your kids can watch episodes of their favorite shows on-demand. Plus, the PBS KIDS Video app even allows several shows to be downloaded for your convenience.

KAMU appreciates the loyal support and loves bringing fun, educational programming to children of all ages. This schedule update will remain available to view whenever you have questions. You can also visit our PBS KIDS schedule page if you’re looking for a specific program or a single day’s schedule.

Additionally, visit our KAMU Kids Corner! Our Learning page has lots of fun games, resources and coloring pages you can print out for your kids. We have a community page, too, with links to fun community events and a photo gallery. Plus, the PBS KIDS website has fun games for all ages. And parents, there’s a website for you, too, full of PBS KIDS resources to help your children grow, learn and thrive.

“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.” – Mister Rogers

“Qu’ils mangent de la brioche” – or in English, “let them eat cake.” Did Marie Antoinette actually say that? Probably not. But she did say a lot of things – and they’re about to be dramatized on TV and streaming devices for you.

It’s time to return to revolutionary-era France as the convoluted tale of a young queen continues on KAMU. Season 2 of “Marie Antoinette” airs Sundays at 9 p.m., premiering March 23. Or if you’re a KAMU Passport member, you can binge all six episodes the night of its TV debut.

Catch up on Season 1, which aired in 2023 on KAMU.

The French Revolution may have happened over 225 years ago and 5,000 miles away, but this TV show isn’t our only connection to that era of French history in Bryan-College Station.

The Dawson French Collection

Visiting Texas A&M’s Cushing Memorial Library & Archives is like stepping back in time. The 1920s architecture remains well maintained. But the architecture wraps around something even rarer: special collections like the Robert L. Dawson French Collection.

Shelves and shelves and shelves of French books, manuscripts, plays, letters and more – a total of more than 20,000 items – live in a climate-controlled area in a closed stack. The Dawson collection is one of the finest French literature collections this side of France – and it’s owned by Texas A&M.

“We have items in our collection and the only other institution that may own a copy is the National Library of France,” said Felicia Piscitelli, rare books cataloger and curator of the Dawson French Collection. “Or we may have the only copy. We have some pretty neat stuff.”

Piscitelli has cataloged books at Cushing since 2009 and took over curatorship of the Dawson collection in 2022. She said the collection’s strength is in the 18th century, but that it spans more: from roughly the 15th century to the first half of the 20th.

“It has a great deal of scope,” she said. “Literature, writings, essays, poetry, drama, a lot of theater and opera. Religious works.”

There are writings of Voltaire, collections of French laws dated with the revolutionary calendar, one of the first printings of “Les Miserables,” an official dictionary, magazines for young ladies, documents establishing public libraries and more.

“Books like these are not easy to get,” Piscitelli said.

Who Was Robert Dawson?

Americans aren’t always welcomed overseas, but Robert Dawson wasn’t an ordinary tourist. Known as an avid collector, he frequented the bookshops and auction houses of Paris with delight, so well-known that he was greeted as a friend. He was as enamored with forgotten authors as he was with famous names like Voltaire and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

But Austin, Texas, was his home. Dawson worked as a French professor at the University of Texas from 1975 until his death in 2007. He had two degrees from Yale, was fluent in French and Portuguese and proficient in Italian and Spanish, and he kept the majority of his collection in his cramped university office, packing every free inch with shelves.

An exhibit catalog produced by Cushing in 2008 said even the shelves weren’t enough: “The floor was covered with boxes and bags of books and the lone desk had long since surrendered its original role as a work surface in favor of being another spot to stack new arrivals or old gems.” He made his library available to anyone – serious researchers and curious students alike. It was never meant to be looked at; it was always meant to be used.

The Cushing Library acquired the collection from Professor Dawson a few years before his death and brought it to College Station. It took two large rental trucks and a minivan. “The movers planned for only one truck,” the catalog said, “but part way into the move added another out of fear the load would burst the tires.”

A Living, Breathing Collection

The majority of the collection may be more than 200 years old, but each page still tells a relevant story.

“Collections like this give us a sense of how we got to where we are,” Piscitelli said. “If we forget what happened in the past, we’re likely to repeat it. The French Revolution – do we really want to go through that again? I don’t think so.”

Piscitelli described an inherent vibrancy to the collection – almost as if the love, care or anger put into each work can be felt and seen.

“After a while, you get to know authors and publishers in a familiar way,” she said. “You start to recognize the unique ways they do things.”

Much of the collection remains in good shape. In the 1700s, Piscitelli said bindings were more substantial and paper was made from linen or cotton rag.

“The fibers are less acidic and stronger than wood pulp paper, which came about in the late 19th century,” she said. “Books printed in the 1880s or 90s are already crumbling, whereas books from the 1790s are still in better condition.”

Curators have kept Professor Dawson’s vision alive over the years by sharing the collection with language classes and researchers. They also keep it growing. Piscitelli adds items that are topical and fit into the time period.

“My latest purchase was printed in 1699 and it’s a collection of essays asking when the new century starts: 1700 or 1701,” she said. “It’s like Y2K 300 years earlier.”

Marie Antoinette

The collection features many items from the revolutionary period. Piscitelli browsed the collection to find a few referencing Marie Antoinette. There’s a defamatory book of essays about her life, published in 1789.

“The year the revolution started and they were already saying bad stuff about her,” Piscitelli said.

Marie Antoinette was regularly criticized as the French people became more and more unhappy with the monarchy. There’s a book from 1794 tying her to causes for the revolution. And there’s a memoir supposedly written by Madame Comtesse de la Motte detailing the Affair of the Diamond Necklace, in which Marie Antoinette was falsely accused of defrauding jewelers, further ruining her reputation with the public.

But there are also items in support of the king and queen. There are funeral elegies for Louis XVI. There’s a 20,000-signature petition defending the king from revolutionary threats. And there’s a Latin prayer book, translated and dedicated to the queen.

Making the Collection Available

Most of the collection is properly cataloged, but Piscitelli estimates she has at least 1,000 titles left. She puts her undergraduate French minor to work reading documents, analyzing authors and scouring bibliographic sources to identify each item and write a proper description. She’s also looking for printing errors. They make items even rarer – and it’s important to include those details in descriptions.

“It will take a long time to get through the last thousand,” she said. “The description for rare books is more involved than it is with modern books.”

Piscitelli encourages interest in using the collection. She’s worked with enough rare books by now to know not everything is digitized.

“There’s an idea that everything is available online now, but that is not the case,” she said. “Plus, the likelihood that you can go on Amazon or eBay and get a book like this is pretty dicey.”

Every item in the catalog is available to request and view in the Kelsey Reading Room at Cushing. Interested students, teachers or researchers should visit the library website, which explains the process for requesting items and scheduling time to view them. Au revoir!

Watch “Marie Antoinette” on KAMU, premiering Sunday, March 23 at 9 p.m. Want to learn more about the new season? Check out this PBS article for previews, casting news and more.

Spring break is almost here. Kids, college students and even parents are counting down the hours until vacation begins.

But where to go? Many gravitate toward the beach, but Texas – with its vast size and regional diversity – offers countless other unique destinations to explore.

To help you decide, we enlisted a true Texas expert, or Tex-pert, if you will. This man knows Texas better than anyone, since it’s his job to explore every nook and cranny of our beloved state. His name is Chet Garner – aka The Daytripper.

“We all know what’s coming this summer,” Chet says. “It’s going to be a giant blow dryer to the face. Enjoy the good weather while it’s here.”

We asked Chet to share his top Texas spring break recommendations. He gave us tips for a great week-long vacation, plus some smaller day trips around the Brazos Valley region – and even a few suggestions here in Bryan-College Station if you’d rather stay close to home.

For more of Chet’s adventures, tune in to “The Daytripper” every Wednesday at 1 p.m. and Saturday at 6 p.m. on KAMU.

Take a Trip

Chet’s number one tip for spring break? Spend time outdoors.

“The weather couldn’t be better,” Chet says. “You’re going to be complaining in July and August that you can’t go outside. So what did you do when you could? Right now, spring break, it’s time – go outside.”

For Families

“Kids need to go outside,” Chet says. “We’re so hooked to our screens now but this is a wonderful chance to get them into the great outdoors.”

Enchanted Rock. Chet says this should be at the top of anyone’s list. “It’s like God took a big ol’ granite basketball, chopped it in half and put it in the hill country,” Chet says. If you have small kids, give them a chance to hike and if it’s not working, a backpack carrier is a great option.
Angelina National Forest. Visit the piney woods of East Texas for some great hikes. Chet recommends Boykin Springs: a great place to explore and hike, including a 2.75-mile trek to the abandoned Aldridge Sawmill historic site.
Brazos Bend State Park. On a sunny day, head to this park south of Houston to see alligators. They can often be spotted sunning themselves near the trails.

For College Students

“This is prime road trip season,” Chet says. “Head west or north. Go do those things that take a little more time.”

Big Bend National Park. “I had my first trip to Big Bend when I was in college,” Chet says. “It changed my world, it blew my mind.”
Davis Mountains. “Yes, we have mountains in Texas,” Chet says. “If you’ve only ever seen College Station and Houston you don’t know that.” Plus, enjoy a star party at the McDonald Observatory and see some of the most beautiful night skies on Earth.
Palo Duro Canyon. The second largest canyon in the United States is a long drive from College Station but worth it. “Load up your buddies, throw in a tent or find a little Airbnb – that’s the college kid experience,” Chet says.
Caddo Lake State Park. Texas has just one natural lake. Why not go experience it? Located along the Louisiana border, it’s a swamp with cypress trees and winding kayak paths. “During the springtime, the swamp that’s been dormant all winter starts to bloom and it’s gorgeous,” Chet says. “You didn’t think you loved the swamp but I’m telling you, it is one of the most beautiful places in Texas.”

Skip the Beach…

Party beaches usually grab the spotlight for college spring break, but Chet says it’s just not the best time to head to the coast.

“I think it’s a terrible time to go to the beach,” Chet says. “It’s not quite warm enough to swim. You get the crowds but not the sun.”

…Don’t Rush…

Chet’s biggest advice: let the road take you where it will. “Don’t try to rush to get to the destination, enjoy the journey,” he says. “Stop and bobble around as you go along – that’s the joy of the trip.”

…And Load Up

Once you know your destination, get your starter pack ready to go.

Food! “You can’t go on a road trip without snacks, right?” Chet says. “Go to the gas station and just load up on garbage. You shouldn’t eat it all the time, but it wouldn’t be a road trip without it.” Chet recommends gas station hot dogs, and once you get out west, an Allsup’s beef and bean burrito (editor’s note: this is an underrated recommendation).
Plan for Camping. If you’re going to camp, you do need to plan a little bit. Yes, grab the tent and sleeping bag, but we’re talking about location. State parks fill up quick so go online and make a reservation in advance – it’s not really something you can play by ear during a busy week like spring break.
Swimsuit. “It’s not the warmest time, but the water will probably feel good regardless,” Chet says.
Camera. To take pictures of all the memories!
Toothbrush? “Bring a toothbrush if you want, but you can really live on very little for a few days,” Chet says.

Take a Day Trip

If you don’t have the time for a full adventure, not to worry! There are plenty of fun day trips a few hours from the Brazos Valley.

“Bryan-College Station is in a great day trip zone,” Chet says. “Plus, for a day trip, you don’t have to find someone to feed your dog,” Chet says. “Throw the dog in the car, it can come.”

Museum District in Houston. “The best museums in the country are right there in Houston,” Chet says. He recommends the Museum of Natural Science and The Museum of Fine Arts.
Prison Museum in Huntsville. “Really weird, fun day trip,” Chet says. “But I guarantee you’re going to like it.” Find fascinating, strange and fun history just an hour from Aggieland.
Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory in Brenham. A short but tasty day trip! Who doesn’t love ice cream?
Leona General Store in Leona. Only open on weekends for dinner, it’s widely known for amazing steak. Get there early, though – it’s a little store in a small town along I-45 but people line up hours before opening. “One of the best steaks you’ll ever have in your life,” Chet says. They’re also open on Thursday evenings for catfish night.
Paddle the Colorado River in La Grange. A wonderful way to spend a warm Texas day. Find a canoe rental place around La Grange and paddle to your heart’s content.

Stay and Explore

If you can’t travel or don’t want to travel for spring break, there’s still a lot to explore in Bryan-College Station. Chet may be a longhorn alum but he loves exploring this area and has some favorites to share.

Mountain Biking at Lake Bryan. “It’s right under people’s noses,” Chet says. “When I was in school in Austin, I visited a buddy in College Station and he said ‘bring your mountain bike.’ I didn’t believe him but it was so much fun.”
George H.W. Bush Presidential Library. You may have driven past the museum dozens of times but have you ever stopped in? “Don’t write it off as a lame, boring museum,” Chet says. “Every presidential library is an awesome experience.” Tip: bring your Texas A&M or Blinn student ID and you get in free!
Downtown Bryan. If you haven’t strayed far from Northgate, spring break is a perfect time to visit Downtown Bryan. “Great coffee, great barbecue, great drinks,” Chet says. “I love the Dixie Chicken, don’t get me wrong, but maybe wander up the road a little bit.”

About The Daytripper

“The Daytripper” is now in its 15^th season on KAMU.

“We all want to have adventures, we love experiences,” Chet says. “What we don’t realize is there are so many amazing things right under our noses that we’re just totally missing.”

Chet loves to travel and wants to inspire others to enjoy it, too. But the biggest misconception is that travel has to involve an exotic location.

“Then you have to take all this time off of work and find someone to water your plants,” he says. “No, no, no, just hop in your car and go – that’s really it.”

If you’re looking for a travel guide, you’ve come to the right place. Big cities, small towns, hidden gems – “The Daytripper” hits them all. But after 173 episodes, will he ever run out of places to go?

“People ask me that all the time and I’m like ‘do you live in the same state I live in?'” Chet says. “It’ll never happen.”

Opportunities to travel abroad in college and law school inspired Chet to start the show. When he would talk to people overseas, all of them wanted to come to Texas.

“It really spun my mind to realize we live in a place the rest of the world wants to come and see,” he says.

Bottom line: go out and experience the uniqueness of Texas. Enjoy it. Adventure awaits!

Watch “The Daytripper” on KAMU every Wednesday at 1 p.m. and Saturday at 6 p.m. Check our TV schedule for specific episode listings.

For more on “The Daytripper,” visit the show website or watch past episodes on the show’s YouTube channel.

Not long after being appointed, Texas A&M President Mark A. Welsh III sought to improve communication across the university, and KAMU Studios stepped in to help.

We’re proud to be the production partner for his new podcast, “At Ease with General Mark A. Welsh III.” Now three episodes in, the podcast offers candid, informal conversations about topics that truly matter at A&M.

KAMU Associate Executive Director Jay Socol pitched the original concept to the president’s team and worked behind the scenes for over a year to bring the project to life.

“I believed President Welsh might be open to a show where he could authentically share his thoughts on a variety of issues, and with a depth that we rarely get to experience,” Socol said. “What we’ve helped create is relevant for current and former students, faculty and staff.”

The podcast is filmed in one of KAMU’s studios, and produced, filmed and edited by KAMU staff. Episodes are available on major podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Podcasts, Amazon Music and NPR, while a video version is available on Texas A&M’s YouTube channel.

“At Ease” is the newest of 14 local shows, series and podcasts that KAMU Studios offers. We’re the heartbeat of the Brazos Valley with shows ranging from interesting people in our community, the local art scene, politics, books, gardening, water, music and more. Plus, two of our shows are entirely produced by students. From lively discussions to deep dives into local stories to thought-provoking interviews with students, faculty and staff, we aim to offer a little something for everyone.

“We want to evolve and offer a broad range of content because we know everyone has different interests, needs and passions,” said Kelly Brown, general manager of KAMU. “The locally created content is what makes us unique, so we will keep working to deliver content that connects, informs and entertains.”

In each episode of “At Ease,” President Welsh and Chief of Staff Dr. Susan Ballabina talk with outstanding Aggies making a difference in our community and beyond. The hosts also share key university updates and answer questions from listeners.

In the debut episode, new baseball coach Mike Earley shares his vision for the team’s future.
In Episode 2, Dr. Abhishek Jain and former student Ashley Chuong tell the president about groundbreaking “organ-on-a-chip” research.
The new Citizenship and Service Initiative is highlighted in Episode 3 by Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Kim Field and graduate student Morgan Schorn.

“Large organizations like ours demand great communication, and this podcast offers a new way to connect with and share information with Aggies everywhere,” Welsh said. “I’m doubling down on that commitment to keep our community engaged and informed, and I’m looking forward to getting to chat with people across campus who make A&M a great place to work, study and grow.”

New episodes drop at least once a month. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform to ensure you don’t miss an episode. And you’re invited to submit a question that could be answered in a future episode.

We hope this podcast sparks engaging conversations with the Aggie community. Join us for thoughtful, informal and in-depth discussions you won’t hear anywhere else.

Are you up for a little time travel? Back to a time when there were only a handful of channels to enjoy and they didn’t broadcast 24/7?

With KAMU-TV’s 55th birthday happening in February and KAMU-FM’s 48th birthday coming up in March, we’re looking back at our station’s earliest days. Learn what the first broadcasts were on each station, find out why our birthday should have been in December instead of February, listen to the KAMU-FM sign-on ceremony, see archival evidence that we weren’t the original KAMU and find out what “Play That Funky Music” from a personal record collection has to do with all this.

We Weren’t the First KAMU

That’s a bit of a surprise, right? After all, our call letters stand for Texas A&M University (the K is an FCC designation, indicating stations west of the Mississippi River). But a station about as far away from us as possible had those call letters first.

In 1966, a radio station owner in Anchorage, Alaska, was trying to sell the FM side of his operation to Alaska Methodist University (now Alaska Pacific University) and applied for the KAMU call letters. The sale to the university didn’t go through despite months of negotiations. But once someone did buy the station, the call letters stuck around.

– A 1969 advertisement for Anchorage, Alaska’s KAMU-FM. (click on the image to expand)

The station broadcast an easy listening format under the KAMU call letters for about three years, before changing to KWKO on Nov. 3, 1969 – just in time for Texas A&M to apply for the letters before our station’s launch.

– Before computer databases, the FCC used “History Cards” like these to track TV and radio station owners, studio locations, construction permits and more. In this card from Alaska, you can see KAMU was used as the call letters for a radio station in Anchorage from March 23, 1966 – Nov. 3, 1969. (click on the image to expand)

By the way, that Alaska station still broadcasts at 102.1 FM to this day. They’ve been through several more call letter changes, now playing classic hits on KTMB since 2014.

Our Birthday Should Have Been in December

Okay – so we had our call letters in place. What more could be needed for a successful launch?

A way to transmit our signal, as it turns out.

KAMU-TV was all set to launch on Dec. 15, 1969. A highlight package from a recent race at what was then called Texas International Speedway (since demolished) was to be among the first programs.

The station manager at the time, Mel Chastain, is quoted in a November 1969 article in The Eagle as saying: “It’s going to be a tight deadline, but we will be ready.”

– From the front page of the Nov. 23, 1969 edition of The Eagle. KAMU-TV was ready to operate. (click on the image to expand)

But just a few days before the big launch, it became clear the General Electric transmitter used to send our signal out to Bryan-College Station would not be finished in time. Why? The 1969-1970 GE strike.

Lasting 102 days, union workers nationwide took on what was then one of the largest companies in the world. For KAMU, it meant delaying the start of telecasts 60 days – to Feb. 15, 1970.

– From the front page of the Dec. 9, 1969 edition of The Eagle. The GE strike meant KAMU’s transmitter wouldn’t be completed in time. (click on the image to expand)

The transmitter was finally installed on Jan. 23, 1970 by station staff and GE staff. A few days later, our antenna was connected to the transmitter and everything was ready. Fun fact: at the time, the antenna was located on the A&M water tower, which was demolished in 1975 to make way for the current water tower that looks over campus.

Time to Sign On

When KAMU-TV was finally ready to sign on in February 1970, the very first broadcast day, Feb. 15, only lasted an hour and a half.

That’s because it was a Sunday evening – outside of the regular broadcast schedule.

In 2025, when you find KAMU on your TV, radio, phone, tablet, smart TV or social media platform, you’ll find something all hours of the day. But it didn’t used to be that way. Stations would sign on and off, only broadcasting for part of the day.

KAMU’s plan was to broadcast from 2-10 p.m. Monday through Friday, with instructional programs for public schools and the university starting at 2 and regular telecasts beginning at 5.

– The Battalion features a photo from an early KAMU studio rehearsal. (click on the image to expand)

But to celebrate the launch of the new station, KAMU decided to make its debut on a Sunday evening, going live for the first time at 8:30 p.m. for a 90-minute special preview of all the shows to come during the week. Station staff hosted the program from the new studio, answering viewer questions and generating excitement.

– This clip from the front page of the Feb. 12, 1970 edition of The Eagle expresses excitement for the impending launch. (click on the image to expand)

So, a special programming preview was the official first broadcast on KAMU. What was the first regular program?

It’s hard to tell what KAMU broadcast between 2-5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 16, 1970, but we do know what aired at 5 p.m. to start regular telecasts: “Misterogers’ Neighborhood.”

The show may be a vintage classic now, but back then it was only a few years old. And yes, that strange spelling is correct – Misterogers was one word from 1966-1970. Other programs for the first full evening included “Sesame Street” at 5:30 p.m. and “French Chef” with Julia Child at 7:30 p.m.

Local news broadcasts, an instructional guitar series, nostalgic silent films and more made up the rest of the early KAMU lineup.

– “Misterogers” pictured in The Eagle’s TV Log on KAMU’s first day on the air. (click on the image to expand)

There were only two ways to watch KAMU in those early days. One was with an antenna, the second was with cable. The newfangled way to watch TV was still growing in Bryan-College Station in 1970. The local company offered a whopping 11 channels, a far cry from the thousands available today. KBTX, KAMU and WTAW music were the local channels, joined by stations from Houston and Austin.

– An early Bryan-College Station cable advertisement – yes, you’re reading that right, their sales pitch was that cable cost less than cigarettes. (click on the image to expand)

Taking to the Skies

KAMU-TV went off the air several times in its first few years. Most of the time it was for transmitter maintenance, including a two-and-a-half-month period in early 1970. But the longest time off the air was for a good reason: a move.

For the first two years of its existence, KAMU operated out of Bagley Hall, an old textile engineering building. It was a good first home, but by the time it was demolished in May 1972, the 68-year-old building was the oldest on campus. The Harrington Education Center Office Tower now stands there.

– Bagley Hall in the process of being razed in this photo from the May 9, 1972 edition of The Eagle. (click on the image to expand)

This time in KAMU’s history provides some of the most dramatic photos. KAMU’s new building was too close to an Easterwood Airport approach path to build an antenna tall enough to reach the whole Brazos Valley. So the station split up for the first time – with studios, control rooms and offices moving to KAMU’s new campus building, and the transmitter and antenna moving off campus to Hensel Park.

– Pieces of KAMU’s new broadcast tower lie in wait to be used, seen in this KAMU archival photo. (click on the image to expand)

The 300+ foot tower went up over a few months, with workers from a tower company in Houston doing the most dramatic parts, hanging off the side of the tower in their harnesses.

– The base section of the KAMU tower is installed, seen in this KAMU archival photo. (click on the image to expand)

– The KAMU tower is almost complete as a piece is hauled up, seen in this KAMU archival photo. (click on the image to expand)

– The top of The Eagle front page on Aug. 16, 1972 featured these five photos of the KAMU tower under construction. (click on the image to expand)

By Dec. 30, 1972, the move was complete and KAMU was back on the air, nine months after ending transmissions from Bagley Hall.

90.3 KAMU-FM

It took a few years for KAMU-FM to join its TV twin on the airwaves. In late 1975, the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents made the first move, authorizing the university to submit an FCC application to start the station. If approved, the station would broadcast from 6 a.m. to midnight every day, reaching radios up to 15-19 miles away. News and music would make up the schedule, including classical, easy listening and jazz.

The application was submitted in Dec. 1975 and approved in July 1976. While much of the infrastructure was already in place from the TV station, lots of new equipment was still needed. Staff worked long hours to make it happen and barely eight months later, in March 1977, KAMU-FM was ready for its debut at 90.3 FM.

Wait, not 90.9?

Nope. For the first five months of our existence, we could be found at 90.3. That’s the frequency we applied for and received. Doesn’t roll off the tongue quite as well, does it?

– Early advertisement for 90.3 KAMU-FM in The Eagle. (click on the image to expand)

By August of that year, the FCC shifted frequencies around to allow an Austin radio station to upgrade to higher power and we moved to the place you know us at today: 90.9 KAMU-FM.

While we still feature news and play classical and jazz music, the lineup has changed a lot in 48 years. Except in one place. The afternoons were and still are anchored by “All Things Considered.”

A Presidential Welcome

When it was time to start KAMU-FM, who was the first DJ? A president, specifically university president Jack K. Williams. When KAMU-FM went on the air at 3 p.m. on March 30, 1977, President Williams manned the control board, dedicated the station and pressed the button to play the first song. KAMU-TV Station Manager Mel Chastain called President Williams key to getting the radio station going.

– President Jack K. Williams at the microphone during KAMU-FM’s first broadcast, seen in this picture from The Battalion. (click on the image to expand)

The sign-on ceremony was a big deal. KAMU staff and supporters gathered in the TV studio as KAMU-TV carried the sign-on ceremony live. Chastain interviewed President Williams and KAMU-FM Station Manager Don Simons for 15 minutes before they walked down the hall together for the radio station’s debut.

In his introductory remarks, Dr. Williams said the first song was a unanimous decision. Everyone wanted to play a song from the Texas A&M Singing Cadets. They selected “I Believe in Music.” Listen to Dr. Williams’ remarks and the first song in this video from the KAMU Archives.

It became the first song ever played on KAMU-FM. At least, it was the first official song.

Play That Funky Music

During construction, it’s common for broadcast stations to undergo a test period before going live. They use it to make sure equipment works properly. They might play music or have someone talk into a microphone.

KAMU-FM had a test period of its own. Our broadcast engineers worked hard for months to make sure the equipment was ready. It feels only appropriate that one of our engineers, Wayne Pecena, who is still with KAMU to this day, brought something from his personal record collection for the first test.

The test began and the sounds of Wild Cherry’s signature song carried over headphones and speakers.

“Play that funky music, white boy. Play that funky music right. Play that funky music, white boy. Lay down the boogie and play that funky music ’til you die.” – the chorus of Wild Cherry’s “Play That Funky Music.”

While “I Believe in Music” was the first official song played on KAMU-FM, the first unofficial song was “Play That Funky Music” – a bit of a departure from the easy listening, classical and jazz lineup the station would soon carry.

Decades of History

Keeping KAMU-TV and FM on the air all this time hasn’t been easy. For example, university budget cuts almost killed KAMU-FM less than a year after its debut. But thanks to community support, KAMU stuck around and continues to provide fun, informational and educational programming to everyone from kids to older adults. We couldn’t do it with you. If you’d like to help support KAMU as we embark on our 56^th year of TV broadcasting and 49^th of radio broadcasting, please visit our donation page. Thank you!

Bonus Features

– Want to listen to the full KAMU-FM launch day interview with President Jack K. Williams? Enjoy it here:

– Want to learn more about the Alaska station that used to carry our call letters? Former station owner Joe O’Hearn lays out the history in this AnchorageMemories.com article.

– You saw the FCC history card from the Alaska station. Want to peek through our station history cards? Click on these links:

KAMU-TV History Cards
KAMU-FM History Cards

– Today, we have a state-of-the-art remote truck to help us bring you live events such as Texas A&M Commencement Ceremonies, Midnight Yell Practices and Aggie Muster. But when KAMU-TV first began, we purchased an old remote truck from KTRK in Houston, repurposing it as a studio control room and remote truck.

– Finally, remember how we said stations used to sign on and sign off each day? Check out this video of an early sign-on from KAMU-TV. This was seven years after launch and shows you just how much things have changed since the 1970s.

History is full of amazing people who changed the world in ways big and small. “Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum” on PBS KIDS brings their stories to life in a way that is fun, exciting and easy to understand for kids and adults alike. In each episode, Xavier, Yadina and Brad travel back in time to meet these famous figures and learn an important lesson along the way. Whether it’s discovering how to turn mistakes into happy accidents with Bob Ross or finding out that you can be more than just one thing with Hedy Lamarr, the show teaches kids that history isn’t just about the past; it’s full of lessons that still matter today. Let’s dive into some of the incredible people featured on the show and see what wisdom they have to share!

Julia Child

Julia Child was a famous chef, author and television personality who introduced French cooking to American audiences. She made gourmet cooking accessible and encouraged people to try new things, proving that anyone could master a new skill with patience and practice. Just like following a recipe, she teaches our young heroes to take things one step at a time, because even the most complicated dishes start with a single ingredient.

This isn’t the only lesson Julia Child can teach us! Learn more about her on PBS.org.

Louis Braille

Louis Braille went completely blind at age 5 and later invented the Braille writing system. Created when he was just 15, his groundbreaking method allowed blind and visually impaired people to read and write, opening up a world of knowledge and independence. Xavier, Yadina and Brad learn there are many ways to write and different abilities do not mean limited possibilities.

Sacagawea

Sacagawea is the Shoshone woman who played the crucial role of guide and interpreter for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. She traveled thousands of miles from North Dakota to the Pacific Ocean, helping explore new frontiers and share Native American culture. Our characters learn from her that others are capable of great things.

Johann Sebastian Bach

Considered one of the greatest musical minds in history, Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer during the Baroque period. He is known for his remarkable contribution to classical music, including compositions like the “Brandenburg Concertos” and “The Well-Tempered Clavier.” The artist teaches that if you want to get better at something, you have to work hard and practice–every masterpiece starts with a single note.

Hedy Lamarr

Hedy Lamarr wasn’t just a Hollywood actress, but a brilliant inventor as well. Her most notable innovation, frequency-hopping technology, helped pave the way for modern advancements like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. She shares with our crew the lesson that you can be more than one thing, no one should ever be put into a box.

Mary Shelley

Gothic author Mary Shelley is best known for her story “Frankenstein,” one of the first science-fiction novels. Her creativity and imagination changed the world of literature forever. Her dark and inventive tale explores themes of science, humanity and responsibility. Shelley shows Xavier, Yadina and Brad that you must tell stories your own way.

Bob Ross

Bob Ross was a painter and television host, known for his PBS show “The Joy of Painting.” He encouraged people to paint and embrace creativity without fear. With his calming voice and positive outlook, he made art accessible to everyone, reminding viewers that perfection isn’t the goal, expression is. The trio is taught to turn a mistake into a happy accident.

Bob Ross reinforces this lesson in his show “The Joy of Painting.” Watch full episodes on PBS.org.

Kate Warne

Kate Warne was the first female detective in the United States, breaking barriers while working for the Pinkerton National Detective Agency. Using her sharp instincts and clever disguises, she even prevented an assassination attempt on Abraham Lincoln, saving the president’s life. Warne teaches Xavier, Yadina and Brad to use what they know to solve a problem.

Nellie Bly

Nellie Bly was a trailblazing journalist and adventurer, best known for her record-breaking journey “Around the World in 72 Days.” Bly also went undercover to expose the terrible conditions of an asylum, changing the way mental health patients are treated. She shows our young adventurers that when you really want to do something, be bold because courage and determination can change the world.

Fred Rogers

Fred Rogers was the beloved creator and host of the PBS KIDS show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” where he spent decades teaching kindness, empathy and self-worth to generations of children. Through gentle storytelling and meaningful conversations, he helped kids understand big emotions and important life lessons. He reminds Xavier, Yadina and Brad that you are special just the way you are.

Want to dive deeper into the world of Fred Rogers? Head over to PBS.org for more information.

KAMU loves pets of all sizes… or shall we say “All Creatures Great and Small!” Season 5 of the beloved show returns to KAMU on Sundays at 8 p.m. beginning Jan. 12, bringing heartwarming stories of veterinary life back to your screens.

College Station in 2025 may not be the Yorkshire Dales during World War II, but just as the show has a team of beloved vets, so do we. We’re home to the world-renowned Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, full of talented faculty, residents, interns and students. They provide compassionate care to your creatures, however great or small.

These caring vets also share a bond with their own special pets. So we’re showing off those adorable friendships to get you in the spirit for the return of “All Creatures.”

Don’t miss the new season that reminds us why we care so much for the creatures who share our world. Watch Sundays at 8 p.m., beginning Jan. 12, or stream the most recent episode anytime on PBS.org. And check our TV schedule for more dramas coming this spring.

Dr. Dustin Major

Clinical Associate Professor
Equine Soft Tissue Surgery

Dr. Major and his dog, River, and cat, Ron Swanson.

Dr. Elizabeth Malcolm

Clinical Associate Professor
Cardiology

Dr. Malcolm and her dog, Hickory. As a puppy, Hickory had a device placed to help with Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), which is a congenital heart defect.

Dr. Beth Onaga

1st Year Veterinary Resident
Internal Medicine

Dr. Onaga and her pets:
– Brew, a 6-year-old English Shepherd;
– Malibu, a 13-year-old chihuahua;
– Davy Jones “Davy,” a 7-year-old cat;
– Firestone Walker “Walker,” a 5-year-old tripod cat.

Dr. Ashley Saunders

Professor and Assistant Department Head for Teaching, Small Animal Clinical Sciences
Cardiology

Dr. Saunders and her dog, Hazel.

Dr. Tracy Vemulapalli

Clinical Professor
Laboratory Animal Medicine
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology

Dr. Vemulapalli rings the “BTHO Cancer” bell after her dog, Daisy, completed her last round of chemotherapy at the Texas A&M Small Animal Teaching Hospital.

Dr. Adriana Regalado-Ibarra

Clinical Associate Professor
Dentistry

Dr. Regalado-Ibarra gives her dog, Paco, a dental exam.

Dr. Kendra Zelachowski

3rd Year Veterinary Resident
Cardiology

Dr. Zelachowski with her dog, Delta; and Delta with Dr. Zelachowski’s cat, Phoenix.

Dr. Lori Teller

Clinical Professor
Primary Care & Telemedicine

Dr. Teller with her cat, Goose, and dog, Gracie.

Dr. Amanda Trimble

Clinical Associate Professor
Equine Internal Medicine

Dr. Trimble with her dog, Pippa (photo credit: Lessa Crawford).

Dr. Shannon Reed

Clinical Associate Professor
Food Animal Medicine & Surgery

Dr. Reed riding her horse, Vincento.

Dr. Jen Fridley

Clinical Assistant Professor
Director of Veterinary Medical Park

Dr. Fridley and her horse, Ace.

Dr. Jessica Lee

Rotating Intern
Pursuing a Residency in Veterinary Oncology

Dr. Lee and her guinea pig, Daikon.

Dr. Abby Ostronic

3rd Year Veterinary Resident & Chief Resident
Internal Medicine

Dr. Ostronic and her dogs, Remi and Rueger.

Dr. Kimberley Sannajust

2nd Year Veterinary Resident
Radiology

Dr. Sannajust and her rabbit, Baguette.

Dr. Eileen Donoghue

2nd Year Veterinary Resident
Neurology & Neurosurgery

Dr. Donoghue and her pets:
– Felix, a white Pomeranian;
– Pig, a white Terrier;
– Poodle, a black Poodle;
– Grechen, a mini horse;
– Gunner, a horse.

Dr. Shayna Doyle

2nd Year Veterinary Resident
Emergency & Critical Care

Dr. Doyle with her dog, Ezra.

KAMU has been keeping busy this year but before we wrap up, here is a glimpse into our year. From podcasts to video productions to live events, we did it all. Rediscover your forgotten favorites, see what you may have missed and learn what impact you’ve helped us make along the way with KAMU Wrapped.

Podcasts

This year, we produced six podcasts with so many topics that there’s something for everyone. That’s a lot of episodes!

Garden Success: 43 episodes

The Heart of Art: 17 episodes

Brazos Matters: 20 episodes

Inside Political Science: 18 episodes

Unsung Talents: 5 episodes

KAMU Student Perspectives: 8 episodes

These podcast episodes have been downloaded a total of 11,264 times across all platforms.

You can listen to these podcasts on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, NPR, iHeart Podcasts, Amazon Music and Spotify.

Live Events

Every year, KAMU is tasked with livestreaming three major on-campus events: Midnight Yell, Muster and Graduation Ceremonies.

7,840 people from across the U.S. streamed Muster, with most of them coming from Texas, California and Florida.

We also streamed and recorded 16 graduation ceremonies during which approximately 19,800 Aggies walked the stage.

Original Productions

The production team worked on many projects this year. Here are three that stand out!

Aggie Chef Showdown: Aggieland’s own cooking competition in which chefs from across campus faced off against each other and cooked their own family recipes.

The Bookmark: Host Christine Brown interviews authors and reviews books from the Texas A&M University Press.

Waterful Wednesdays: We turned our popular audio series into videos, designed to inform the community about water featuring host and City of College Station Water Resource Coordinator Jennifer Nations.

KAMU Students

Student employees are active in every aspect of KAMU.

Two Marketing coordinators

Three TV & Digital Content Assistants

Ten Production Assistants

Four Administration Students

You can learn more about what these talented students do for your favorite public broadcasting station in this article!

Social Media

This year has been very social!

KAMU has made 1,025 posts receiving a total of 825 comments and 97,743 likes.

We’ve also attended 12 community events.

Your Support

KAMU relies on the support of the community to make all of this and much more possible! Thanks to 1,093 donors, this year we have been able to provide quality programming and education plus serve as an outlet for storytelling. Learn more about what your support means to us and consider donating by visiting our support page!

The weather gets cooler, sweaters are put on, seasonal baking starts, gifts are wrapped, ornaments are put on the tree and lights are hung with care. This can only mean one thing: KAMU is ready for the holidays! We’re counting down to Christmas with 24 programs found on KAMU Passport to get you into the holiday spirit. This advent calendar has a variety of options for you to enjoy this season. A screen reader-friendly version is available below. KAMU wishes you a Happy Holidays!

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Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas with Vanessa Williams
- There’s no better way to kick off the season than by listening to Christmas Carols! Join the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation and special guest stars for a spectacular celebration with music from the American Pops Orchestra album of holiday classics.
Scrooge (1935)
- Music is not the only kind of classic we’re enjoying before Christmas. This 1935 adaptation of the iconic Charles Dickens novel is a perfect option for the first movie night of December. Curl up next to your decorated tree with a cup of hot chocolate and press play on a holiday favorite.
Victoria Season 2 Episode 7 – Comfort and Joy
- In the mood for some history, royalty or drama? Tune into the festive and romantic Christmas episode from Season 2 of “Victoria” and watch all three seasons of the hit biopic.
Mary Berry’s Highland Christmas
- Some say the most important part of the holidays is the food. See how Mary Berry makes some of her favorite festive foods with friends while visiting her mother’s homeland of Scotland.
Christmastime in New Orleans
- Take a trip to the home of Mardi Gras and learn how the city celebrates a different time of year. Discover some of the best parts of their holiday culture from the music to the cuisine.
CLOWN by Quentin Blake
- Christmas is a time for childlike wonder and what better way to feel that than by watching this animated special? The children’s book by Quentin Blake of the same name comes to life as we follow a little toy clown as he takes on a holiday adventure to find a new home.
Paradise Season 4 Episode 8 – Christmas at Paradise
- The stores in Aggieland are decorated for the season, ready with those last-minute gift necessities, and so is The Paradise. Check out this Walter Presents series and get a look into the holidays in Italy during the 1950s in a drama-filled Christmas episode from Season 4. Watch all five seasons now on Passport!
O Holy Night: Christmas with The Tabernacle Choir
- Music during the holiday season is part of what makes Christmas so magical, and The Tabernacle Choir feels the same way. Witness the most recent annual special and catch up on timeless holiday experiences from years past filled with classic tunes.
How She Rolls Season 2 Episode 10 – A Very Carrie Christmas
- Get a taste of a southern treat with a holiday twist. Join Carrie Morey of Callie’s Hot Little Biscuits as she makes ham biscuits with her mom and other recipes for their holiday party. See the holiday antics her family gets into as they get ready for Christmas.
The Paris Murders Season 7 Episode 7 – Toxic
- Maybe a bit of mystery is more your cup of tea… or should we say hot cocoa! Catch up on all seasons of this Walter Presents series or jump right in by watching the Season 7 holiday-themed episode.
All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914
- The incredible story of the 1914 Christmas ceasefire during World War I is reenacted in this recorded stage play filled with music and monologues. Experience a recital meant to remind you of the spirit of the season.
NATURE Season 25 Episode 3 – Christmas in Yellowstone
- Amongst the snowy landscape of Yellowstone, animals of all kinds are spending time in their own winter wonderland. See what Christmas is like from a different perspective in an extra magical episode of “NATURE.”
All Creatures Great and Small Season 4 Episode 7
- Veterinarian James Herriot tries to make it home in time for the holidays in the Season 4 finale of this popular book-to-television adaptation. Make sure to watch, along with the rest of the series, before Season 5 premieres in January.
A Chef’s Life Season 5 Episode 8 – Chasing Trout
- Chef Vivian Howard spends the holidays hoping for a break but ends up staying as busy as ever. Join her between volunteering and book signings as she navigates the merriest time of the year while doing what she loves the most: feeding people!
George Perris – The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
- George Perris takes the stage in a special that celebrates the holiday in the best way possible. Listen to Christmas carols sung by this magical voice from Greece with the beautiful backdrop of his home country.
Rustic Living Season 2 Episode 10
- In the Adirondack mountains sits a rustic lodge decorated top to bottom for the holidays. Explore the cabin with host Derek Muirden and learn how to set the table for a perfect rustic holiday spread.
The Nutcracker and the Mouse King
- Experience “The Nutcracker” in a whole new way. Learn more about the characters from the holiday classic ballet through the storytelling of actor Alan Cumming accompanied by the famous music.
The Great American Recipe Season 2 Episode 5
- There is nothing better than a home-cooked meal, especially during a cold Christmas winter. Cheer on Season 2’s contestants as they bring their holiday traditions to “The Great American Recipe” kitchen.
Hello, Mr. Chuck! Holiday Special
- Feeling nostalgic? Go back in time and join Mr. Chuck as he celebrates the season with special guests. Make sure to check out other holiday programs for the youngest generation on PBS KIDS or visit our KAMU Kids Corner for more information.
A Christmas Wish (1950)
- Santa can’t help but HO HO HO to this classic comedy about a family that finds luck from a squirrel. Your sides will hurt after watching this fun and heartfelt holiday film.
Rick Steves’ Europe – European Christmas
- If you wish to take a look into the wonders of other cultures, we have just the thing. Discover the history of the holiday and how different countries celebrate Christmas as Rick Steves takes you on a tour around Europe.
The B.E. Taylor Christmas Concert
- As Christmas day approaches, our studio is filled with the music of the season, and we believe your home should be as well. Witness the late B.E. Taylor as he performs his annual Christmas tour filled with festive decorations and modern renditions of holiday classics.
Cooking in Concert – Julia Child and Jacques Pepin
- While the oven is turned on as you make the big dinner, turn on the TV and let the expertise of Julia Child and Jacques Pepin fill the air while the holiday ham is baking. Watch as they share recipes for a classic Christmas feast.
Call the Midwife Holiday Special
- The big day is fast approaching and there is so much left to do, but make sure to take time to sit back and relax. KAMU recommends catching up on past holiday specials of “Call the Midwife” through Passport and watch the premiere of this year’s special live on PBS at 7 p.m. Christmas Day!

From freshly baked pastries to festive decorations to cozying up with your favorite blanket, there’s a reason why it’s called “the most wonderful time of the year.” Every thing about this season can bring joy and cheer, but those feelings can especially be true when spending the holidays with those you love most.

Here at KAMU, we know every festive family gathering is sure to be accompanied by a yummy snack, scrumptious entree or delectable dessert. That’s why our staff put together some of their favorite recipes for you to cook up this holiday season. Whether it’s a generational favorite or original homegrown concoction, we hope you enjoy these meaningful dishes as much as we do.

If you happen to whip up one (or several!) of these recipes, please direct message us on social media with a picture of your dish. We’d love to feature it!

Dips and Snacks
Entrees and Sides
Desserts

Dips and Snacks

A great way to start a holiday get-together is with some festive appetizers. Check out this variety of treats to nibble on until the main course arrives.

Mimo’s Fresh Cranberry Relish Dip

“My grandmother, or my Mimo as we call her, makes this every holiday season. She always has a huge bowl of it ready for us before we even walk in the door! It goes so well with tortilla chips.” – Hannah Morris, TV and Digital Content Assistant

Ingredients

1 bag fresh cranberries
1 bunch green onions
1 bunch cilantro
¾ cup of sugar
1 tbsp of fresh lime juice
1 tsp. Olive oil
1 fresh jalapeno

Instructions:

Put everything in the food processor and chop. Serve with chips or crackers.

Sausage Snacks

“This is a go-to holiday snack that my mom makes every year. It’s perfect for a small breakfast or a quick snack before the turkey is ready!” – Hannah Morris, TV and Digital Content Assistant

Ingredients

1 lb pork sausage, room temperature
2 cups Bisquick
1 lb sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Combine sausage and Bisquick in a large bowl. Mix with your hands until well combined.*
Add in shredded cheese. Continue mixing with hands until well combined.
Roll mixture into about 30 golf-ball sized balls. Place on a prepared baking sheet.
Bake in the oven until golden brown and cooked through, about 20-25 minutes.

*Special note: if the mixture is too crumbly and not sticking together, add a splash of water.

Baked Brie

“My friend’s mom would make this whenever we had dinner parties at their house. It was always one of my favorite things, so I knew I needed to learn how to make the recipe.” – Marifer Moctezuma, TV and Digital Content Assistant

Ingredients:

8 oz. wheel of brie cheese
Salt
Cinnamon
Honey or agave
Handful of blueberries
Handful of chopped walnuts

Instructions:

Score the top of the brie wheel. Place brie in an oven safe dish (or small cast iron skillet).
Sprinkle on salt and cinnamon, using as much as you’d like.
Top with honey or agave as desired.
Sprinkle on the blueberries and walnuts.
Bake for 25 minutes or until cheese is melty and blueberries are bursting. Let cool for 5 minutes then serve!

Entrees and Sides

Serve up something unique at your next gathering with these entree and side ideas. But be sure to save room for dessert!

Chicken (or Turkey) and Dumpling Soup

Ingredients:

For Soup:
7 cups chicken broth
2-3 bay leaves
1 tsp ground thyme
4-5 stalks of celery, sliced into ¼ inch pieces
1 cup carrots, sliced into ¼ inch pieces
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
2-3 cups of seasoned, pre-cooked meat (either chicken or turkey)
Salt
Pepper

For Dumplings (easily double these quantities for extra dumplings!):
1 cup of Bisquick
⅓ cup milk

Instructions:

Place cooked meat into a soup pot.
Add the broth, bringing it to a boil over medium-high heat.
Toss in bay leaves, thyme, celery, carrots and onion. Cook for 5 minutes.
Add sliced meat and simmer for another 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, mix together Bisquick and milk in a bowl.
Drop spoonfuls of dumplings on top of the soup. Cook for 10 minutes without a lid, then an additional 10 minutes with a lid.
Turn off heat and gently mix in dumplings. Enjoy!

Green Spaghetti

My mom used to make this every Thanksgiving and Christmas. It was the only time of year we would have it, so that made it extra special.” – Marifer Moctezuma, TV and Digital Content Assistant

Ingredients

4 poblano peppers
1 jalapeno
4 tbsp butter
3 garlic cloves
1/4 of an onion
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup mexican crema
8oz Philadelphia cream cheese
1/4 cup chicken broth
1c cilantro
Salt
Pepper
Spaghetti
Queso fresco

Instructions

Roast, peel, and dice all peppers.
Chop onion and garlic.
Melt 2 tbsp of butter and sautee onions and garlic for a few minutes.
Add mixture to a blender. Add in heavy cream, crema, broth, peppers, garlic, onion, cilantro salt and pepper. Blend until creamy.
Cook the spaghetti according to package directions.
Add blended sauce plus remainder of butter to saucepan to simmer, adjust seasoning if needed.
Add in pasta to the sauce, serve and top with queso fresco and cilantro.

Mommy’s Mashed Potatoes

“We eat these mashed potatoes at every holiday get-together and before the first Dallas Cowboys game of the season. My grandma started making them and now my mom is carrying on the tradition.” – Alex Bowden, Marketing Coordinator

Ingredients:

1 bag 5lb gold potatoes
1-2 sticks of Kerrygold salted butter
1 pint heavy whipping cream
Salt
Pepper

Instructions:

Peel, cut and boil potatoes.
Drain the potatoes and place in large mixing bowl.
Add 1/2 stick butter (in slices) to the potatoes.
Add 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream.
Salt and pepper to taste.
Mix the above with a hand mixer until desire texture, adding butter, heavy cream, salt and pepper as desired.

*Special Note: Best served right after mixing

Candied Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients:

1.5 lbs of sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into ½ inch thick rounds
¼ cup dark brown sugar
3 tbsp butter
⅛ cup maple syrup
1/2 tbsp water
¾ tsp kosher salt
½ tsp ground cinnamon
⅛ tsp ground ginger
Pinch of nutmeg
Bag of marshmallows
Optional: 1 tsp bourbon

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In a large bowl, whisk together brown sugar, butter, maple syrup and water, salt, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg (plus bourbon if using).
Add sweet potato slices to the mixture and toss to coat.
Pour mixture into a square casserole dish. Be sure to spread the sweet potatoes into an even layer.
Bake for 45-60 minutes until tender and sauce thickens into a glaze, stirring every 15 minutes.
Once ready, remove from the oven and top with marshmallows. Let cool for 10 minutes then serve.

Aunt Wanda’s Best Baked Mac & Cheese

“My mom, everyone else’s Aunt Wanda, makes this mac and cheese recipe for every family get together. People threaten to stay home if she doesn’t make it!” – Zaria White, Production Coordinator

Ingredients:

2 cups heavy cream
1 cup milk
1 lb of macaroni
1 cup Velveeta, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
4 tbsp butter, melted
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
2 cups extra sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 cup mozzarella cheese, grated
1 cup asiago cheese, grated
4 to 6 eggs beaten (your choice)
1 pinch of salt
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

Instructions:

Combine heavy cream and milk to make your cream mixture.
Boil macaroni to al dente and drain well.
Place pasta in a big bowl and add Velveeta, butter and ½ of your cream mixture.
Mix until nice and creamy.
Now add beaten eggs and all cheeses. Be sure to leave enough cheese to cover your dish at the end.
Add salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and the rest of the cream mixture. Mix well.
Pour mac & cheese mixture into a buttered baking dish.
Bake at 325° for 45 minutes.
Add the remaining cheese on top and put back in the oven for 15 minutes or until the top turns golden brown.

Desserts

Did you listen? Well either way, no meal is complete without a dessert. And you definitely won’t be able to stop at just one bite!

Mom-Ma’s Chocolate Sheet Cake

“Geneva “Mom-Ma” Bounds had several cake recipes in her arsenal: A Coca-Cola cake. A Hershey’s bar cake. And a pound cake that’s crazy good. But the king of them all was her Chocolate Sheet Cake. That cake — baked and served in an ancient cake tin — signaled that something extra-special was being celebrated and that we’d better have some Blue Bell ready to go with it. Mom-Ma is no longer with us, but her recipe and cake tin stand ready for our family’s most important events.” – Jay Socol, Associate Executive Director

Ingredients:

For cake:
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
1 stick butter
½ cup shortening
4 tbsp cocoa
1 cup water
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla

For icing:
1 stick margarine
4 tbsp cocoa
6 tbsp milk
1 box of powdered sugar, sifted
1 tsp of vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans

Instructions:

In a mixing bowl, sift together sugar and flour. Set aside.
In a sauce pan, melt butter and shortening. Add cocoa and water, bringing to a rapid boil.
Pour mixture into dry ingredients and stir well.
In the same sauce pan, combine baking soda and buttermilk. Add that, plus eggs and vanilla, to the other mixture.
Pour into sheet pan and bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Test center for doneness.
Start the icing about five minutes before cake is done. Use the dirty saucepan.
Melt 1 margarine and add cocoa and milk. Bring to a rapid boil, stirring constantly.
Remove from heat and add powdered sugar, vanilla and chopped pecans.
Stir until smooth and let cool.
Let the entire sheet cake cool before icing.
Serve with your favorite ice cream and thank Geneva Bounds, the late baking legend, for this amazing family recipe.

Cherry Delight

“I love making my Cherry Delight dessert for family and friends, especially around the holidays. Over the years, it’s become a cherished family tradition — a sweet treat that brings everyone together. It’s so easy to make and so delicious that it’s always a favorite!” – Jill Borowiec, Marketing Manager

Ingredients:

1 (20 oz) can crushed pineapple (undrained)
2 (21 oz) cans cherry pie filling
1 box yellow cake mix
1/2 cup unsalted butter ( 1 stick), melted

Instructions:

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Prepare Baking Dish: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Add Fruit: Pour the entire can of crushed pineapple (with juice) into the baking dish and spread it evenly. Then, add the cherry pie filling on top of the pineapple layer and spread it evenly.
Add Cake Mix: Sprinkle the dry yellow cake mix evenly over the cherry and pineapple layers.
Add Butter: Drizzle the melted butter evenly over the cake mix. Try to cover as much of the dry cake mix as possible.
Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes or until the top is golden and bubbly.
Serve: Let cool slightly, then serve warm. Great on its own or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

White Texas Sheet Cake

“My mom’s family used to get together every Thanksgiving and this cake was the highlight of those meals for me. Tasty and moist with a subtle almond flavor, it’s a cake I’ll never turn down.” – Christian Hamilton, Production and Content Coordinator

Ingredients:

Cake:
1 cup butter or margarine
1 cup water
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 eggs, beaten
½ cup sour cream
1 tsp almond or vanilla extract
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda

Frosting:
½ cup butter or margarine
¼ cup milk
4 ½ cups powdered sugar
½ tsp almond or vanilla extract

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
In large saucepan, bring butter and water to a boil.
Remove from heat and stir in all other cake ingredients until smooth.
Pour into a greased 10×15 inch baking pan.
Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 22 minutes, or until cake is golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.
Cool for 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, combine butter and milk for frosting in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
Remove from heat and add powdered sugar and almond extract.
Spread frosting over cake.
Enjoy!

Dairy Free Chocolate Frosting

“This icing is just one of my wife, Shelby’s, many efforts at making great homemade, non-dairy desserts for me,” Matt Dittman, Radio Program Director

Ingredients:

2 cups plant butter, softened
7 cups confectioner’s sugar
1 cup cocoa powder
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 tsp salt
½ cup almond milk

Instructions

Sift confectioner’s sugar and cocoa powder in a large bowl.

In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter for a few minutes until creamy.

Add all dry ingredients into butter.

In a separate bowl, mix milk, vanilla and salt until salt is dissolved. Add into the mixer and mix until creamy, smooth texture is achieved.

KAMU wishes you a wonderful and safe holiday season. Stay tuned for more festive programming and content throughout the season.