David Martin Davies
Senior Reporter and Host, "The Source," "Texas Matters"dmdavies@tpr.org
Twitter: @DavidMartinDavi
David Martin Davies is a veteran journalist with more than 30 years of experience covering Texas, the border and Mexico.
Davies is the host of "The Source," an hour-long live call-in news program that airs on KSTX at noon Monday through Thursday. Since 1999 he was been the host and producer of "Texas Matters," a weekly radio news magazine and podcast that looks at the issues, events and people in the Lone Star State.
Davies' reporting has been featured on National Public Radio, American Public Media's "Marketplace" and the BBC. He has written for The San Antonio Light, The San Antonio Express-News, The Texas Observer and other publications.
His reporting has been recognized with numerous awards. In 2022,2021 and 2020 Davies was recognized with first place awards for News/Public Affairs by the Public Media Journalists Association.
In 2019 Davies was honored with a National Edward R. Murrow Award for his radio documentary exposing human sex trafficking. Davies was also awarded in 2019 by the Public Radio News Directors Inc. for best talk show. Davies was named the 2008 Texas Radio Journalist of the Year by the Houston Press Club. In 2019 he was recognized with a First Amendment Awards by the Fort Worth Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. The Association for Women in Communications San Antonio Professional Chapter honored Davies with the 2015 Edna McGaffey Media Excellence Headliner Award.
Davies is the author and creator of the comic "San Antonio Secret History." He is the co-author of the book "San Antonio 365"
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How did the Avocado become the toast of the nation? The humble tropical fruit is now common in supermarkets, but even in the 1980s many Americans had never seen an avocado, much less tasted one. How did this once obscure alligator pear come to occupy a central spot in American culture? -
Bexar County is in a prolonged exceptional drought, and we’re already dealing with 100-degree days.And due to climate change it’s only going to get hotter and dryer in the coming years. How do we garden and landscape using drought and heat tolerant plants? How can you make your lawn Texas tough and beautiful? -
In a special Texas Public Radio podcast series medical reporter Bonnie Petrie and reporter Robin Berghaus explore how Texas is, somewhat ironically, leading the way in the therapeutic application of psychedelics. -
What’s it like to be a child in Central America, forced to flee to the United States and then spend months in immigration detention? “Detained” is the first-ever memoir of a child’s experience in detention on the U.S.-Mexico border under President Trump’s infamous family separation policy. The book tells a story of pain, cruelty, friendship, and resilience. -
President Trump and the Republican controlled congress are planning deep cuts to Medicaid to help cover the cost of $4.5 billion in tax breaks. This could knock off over 8 million people from Medicaid and reduce services for millions more. Texas rural hospitals will be especially hit hard along with Texas new mothers and children. -
Alcohol use disorder doesn’t mix well with marriage. It frequently leads to personal chaos. That’s the story that Melissa Fletcher Stoeltje has written in her tell-all memoir about her journey to sobriety. Her book “Drunk Love: A Marriage Under the Influence” explores the depths of addiction and the redemptive power of love. -
America’s rivers are a vital resource for drinking water. They support wildlife habitats and are critical for transportation and industry. However, across the U.S., many of the largest and most important of these waterways are at risk from pollution, poor flood management and more. These endangered rivers include the Mississippi and the Lower Rio Grande. -
The first singing cowboy of the movies—Gene Autry —was one of America’s most popular stars. As the Texas native sang "Back in the Saddle Again" he was also promoting ideas that supported the New Deal and friendly relations with Mexico. His messages rang true with his fans during the Great Depression. On this episode, we unpack the ways this western folk hero, Gene Autry, used his talents to support a positive pro-America agenda. -
Beto O’Rourke is again finding big crowds across Texas with townhall meetings. The former congressman and Democratic presidential candidate says he wants to give Texans an opportunity to ask questions about state and federal issues and have conversations about America’s future. O’Rourke joins us to talk about protecting rural Texans and the future of the Democratic Party. -
Few have ever valued literacy as much as the enslaved Black people of the American South. For them, it was more than a means to a better life; it was a gateway to freedom and, in some instances, a tool for inspiring revolt. Few governments tried harder to suppress literacy than did those in the South. When knowledge is power, the powerful make knowledge unobtainable or illegal.
