Today we’d like to introduce you to Austin Beck.
Hi Austin, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am a true Austinite through and through. My parents grew up here and met at Westwood High School in North Austin. My grandparents on my dad’s side both worked for the University of Texas in Downtown Austin. My grandfather worked in construction and my grandmother worked at a daycare on campus. My grandmother on my mom’s side graduated from Austin Presbyterian Theology Seminary, the same seminary that James Talarico attended. I have extremely deep roots in the city of Austin, and was even named after the city itself (and so is my son for that matter).
I am very proud to be from the city of Austin and it’s where I feel the most at home. There are so many things about this city and its surrounding areas that are incredible, breathtaking, and unique. My goal when I started my Instagram account (austinbeckstagram) and subsequently TikTok (austinbecktok) and Facebook, was to highlight some of the places (restaurants and businesses) that I grew up visiting, or are what longtime locals would consider pillars of their respective communities. So often lately it feels like it’s become “cool” to talk about how overrated Austin is, or how much it’s changed and doesn’t have the same appeal that it once had. I completely disagree with that narrative. Austin has certainly changed over the years, but it’s always evolved into a new version of itself that I appreciate as much as any previous iterations. And a lot of the places that helped shape this city and its surrounding areas still exist, so I wanted to highlight them as well as I’m able to without feeling like I’m being anything other than authentic and honest. Thats why everything is filmed on an iPhone and my voiceovers are casual and unscripted.
Most of the places I highlight would not be considered for a Michelin Star. A lot of them are family owned and operated. Several of them have been serving their communities for decades, while others are newer establishments that I feel embody everything that makes Austin such a cool place to live and grow up.
It’s been an interesting journey and I can’t say that I envisioned it getting to the point that we are at within the first 6 months, but it’s been so amazing to read all of the comments from people who have frequented some of the restaurants and businesses that I’ve highlighted, and the appreciation shown by the business owners has not gone unnoticed in the slightest. I’m not sure what my ultimate goal is from here. I’d love to continue highlighting as many spots as possible while also sharing bits and pieces of myself along the way – ultimately as long as I am showing everyone the pieces of Austin (both the city and myself) that mean the most to me, that’s all that matters.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The biggest obstacle for me personally has been keeping up with the demand of social media. My page grew very quickly, and with that growth comes the expectation that you will upload as often as possible and highlight X amount of places weekly. It became overwhelming and there were times it didn’t feel as fun and exciting as the first few weeks that I started uploading. I’ve since decided that I will upload at a pace that feels comfortable to me. If that means I skip a few days here and there, or even a week occasionally, I am fine with that. It may mean that my page grows slower than it would if I uploaded daily, but I want to enjoy what I’m doing, and ultimately I want to be passionate about it. It needs to mean something to me personally. If it becomes a chore, or something that I don’t enjoy doing, then I’ve lost the plot.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m proud of the fact that I’ve been able to highlight places that others see and say “wow I’ve never seen anyone talk about this place!” Or “my family and I have been going here for 40 years and we still love it!”
There’s so many new, trendy spots opening in Austin that are very cool and worthy of attention, but I don’t want local icons and places that built certain communities to be forgotten or lost in the shuffle. A lot of times the places I’m highlighting don’t have a marketing budget. They may not even have a social media page, so the way I look at it is I’m doing my part to give them the exposure they deserve, and it won’t put them in a bind financially. I haven’t made a dollar off of this venture yet, and I’d never charge a small business to make a video of their establishment. I just want to help my community however I’m able, and this has become an opportunity for me to do just that.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love its natural beauty. I love our lakes, our trails, the hill country, the trees, and the native species that call this place home just like I do. I love that people here care about maintaining its natural beauty. We have a population that truly cares about the future of this place. To live in Austin means to care about nature, to care about the world around you, and to care about your neighbors. I want this city and its residents (both human and otherwise) to thrive. I want this to continue being a place that people flock to and say “WOW! I can’t believe this little pocket of life exists in Texas!”
There’s nothing about the city of Austin I dislike… except the cost of living hahaha
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/austinbeckstagram?obrf=MWM1ZDQ3NmZodXNueA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1JQAxbKwAc/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@austinbecktube?si=-wdIoWw0xUVTNy58
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@austinbecktok?_r=1&_t=ZT-9AucyJd7nEE
