Podcast
Hello Houston
Hosted by Houston Public Media · EN
Hello Houston is your connection to the heart of the Bayou City. Every weekday, we dive deep into the stories that matter to Houstonians — from breaking local news to cultural happenings, community voices, and the everyday joys and challenges of life in our vibrant city.
50episodes
Episodes
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Hello Houston (May 15, 2026)
3w ago01:39:28Tap to summarizeOn today’s Hello Houston, Dr. Theresa Tran, Director of the Houston Health Department, discusses how restaurant inspections work, how the department helps ensure Houston restaurants meet health and safety standards, and what happens if violations are found.In the second hour of the show, Harris County Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen tells us about his precinct’s Animal Cruelty Division, as well as a recent rescue of 17 dogs from a suspected breeding operation, with the assistance of investigators from the Houston SPCA.Plus, our hosts share a rundown of events happening this weekend in Houston for our regular Friday feature, Last Minute Plans, while Hello Houston listeners share their upcoming weekend plans.And, as always, Ernie Manouse and guest host Doris Childress talk about today’s top headlines at the top of each hour, including John Cornyn and Ken Paxton's negative campaign ads about each other, Governor Abbott wanting to make district attorneys impeachable, and the Supreme Court allowing access to the abortion pill Mifepristone to continue.
Transcribe →Hello Houston (May 14, 2026)
3w ago01:39:12Tap to summarizeOn today’s Hello Houston, we’re joined by Houston Mayor John Whitmire during the first hour of the show, who discusses his proposed budget for the next fiscal year and why he believes it will help alleviate the city’s financial pressures.In the second hour, Ernie Manouse and guest host Katharine Shilcutt discuss today’s top headlines, including President Trump considering making Venezuela the 51st state and Waymo recalling nearly 3,800 of its driverless vehicles after one experienced a flooding incident. Then, we hear Hello Houston producer Garrett Bohlmann talk with award-winning comic book writer Jason Aaron, known for his work with Marvel Comics and his own creator-owned series, ahead of his upcoming appearance at this year’s Comicpalooza.And finally, our hosts and listeners discuss the things that are currently taking over all their free time as part of our regular Thursday feature, Current Obsessions.
Transcribe →Hello Houston (May 13, 2026)
3w ago01:38:08Tap to summarizeOn today’s Hello Houston, Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth joins us to explain what voters need to know about upcoming runoff elections, as well as share her thoughts on voter fatigue with May being a busy month for elections in Harris County.Next, comedian and filmmaker Lahna Turner tells us all about her new documentary Come What May, which tells the story of her ex-husband, the late comedian Ralphie May, who began his stand-up career in Houston’s comedy scene.In the second hour, we’re joined by Kat Robinson, Vice Chair of the Houston Association of Realtors, who breaks down the latest report on the Houston housing market, with new numbers showing that home sales picked up in April, and what this means for buyers and sellers as we approach the summer season.Also, as health officials continue to monitor the exposed passengers from the hantavirus outbreak that occurred on a cruise ship, epidemiologist Dr. Catherine Troisi joins us to help us understand what the virus is and what Texans should and shouldn’t be worried about.And, as always, Ernie Manouse and guest host Katharine Shilcutt talk about today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including U.S. Sen. John Cornyn introducing a bill to rename a U.S. highway as “Interstate 47” in honor of President Trump, several businesses on Galveston’s Bolivar Peninsula planning on closing for this weekend’s annual "Jeep Weekend,” and more.
Transcribe →Hello Houston (May 12, 2026)
3w ago01:37:39Tap to summarizeOn today’s Hello Houston, City Controller Chris Hollins joins us to share his thoughts on Mayor Whitmire’s proposed plan for the city’s budget, after having raised concerns about the proposal and what it could mean for taxpayers and city services.Then, we hear from BBC reporter and cultural commentator, William Lee Adams, the internet’s number one source for all things Eurovision, who gives us an inside peek into some of the contestants for this year’s event, which is set to take place this weekend.In the second hour, Memorial Hermann Health System’s Director of Emergency Management & Organizational Resilience, Adam Lee, and UTHealth Houston’s Chief of Infectious Diseases, Dr. Luis Ostrosky, join us to discuss preparing for health emergencies during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, from increased ER traffic to infectious disease concerns.Plus, Doug Meikle, the President and CEO of the Houston-based homeless shelter Star of Hope, tells us all about their work and impact on our community.And, as always, Ernie Manouse and guest host Houston Public Media reporter Michael Adkison discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including organizers saying Houston is prepared for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton suing Netflix for allegedly collecting users' data without their consent.
Transcribe →Hello Houston (May 11, 2026)
3w ago01:39:19Tap to summarizeOn today’s Hello Houston, U.S. Representative Christian Menefee joins us to discuss his campaign for the upcoming runoff election for Texas’ 18th Congressional District, the issues he’s focused on, and what he hopes to accomplish if elected to a full term in Congress.In the second hour, we’re joined by Shubhra Endley, the Director of Mental Health and Wellness at Communities In Schools of Houston, who tells us about the non-profit organization’s Mental Health Initiative and the growing need for student mental health support in our community. And, as always, Ernie Manouse and guest host Shelley Wade talk about today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including a new survey that’s found nearly 70% of Houston-area residents disapprove of ICE, new UFO files released by the Pentagon, the man charged with targeting President Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner pleading not guilty, and more.
Transcribe →Hello Houston (May 8, 2026)
4w ago01:38:30Tap to summarizeOn today’s Hello Houston, we talk with UT Health Houston assistant professor, psychologist, and childbirth educator, Dr. Angel Glover, who discusses maternal mental health and how motherhood affects brain chemistry in recognition of Maternal Mental Health Month.Also, in the first hour, director Paul Bunnell joins us to discuss his new film A Blind Bargain, and how it reimagines a long-lost Lon Chaney film from 1922.In the second hour, the University of Houston’s Dr. Tara T. Green and Dr. Demetrius Pearson tell us about the Black Cowboy/girl Preservation Project, a growing oral history archive documenting the experiences of Black cowboys and cowgirls, that will be housed at the Houston Public Library’s African American History Research Center.Plus, singer and stage actress Teal Wicks, known for her roles in Wicked and & Juliet, joins us to talk about her Broadway career and her cabaret-style concert & Broadway, which will be performed tonight at the Hobby Center.And, as always, Ernie Manouse and guest host Doris Childress talk about today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including the city of Grand Prairie cancelling a private Muslim event after Gov. Abbott threatened to cut the city’s funding and Attorney General Ken Paxton announcing an investigation to ensure Texas school districts are complying with the state’s Ten Commandments law.
Transcribe →Hello Houston (May 7, 2026)
4w ago01:37:54Tap to summarizeOn today’s Hello Houston, we’re joined by Quentin Wiltz, the mayor-elect of the City of Pearland, who joins us to talk about his winning campaign, his priorities, and what residents can expect from him in this new role.Then, we talk with Houston actors and singers, Simone Jasmine Gundy and Mark Ivy, who are co-hosting this year’s 2026 Tommy Tune Awards, celebrating the very best in Houston-area high school musical theatre.In the second hour, Andy Uhler, a University of Texas energy reporter and host of the podcast Phases and Stages: The Texas Energy Story, discusses what renewable energy means for Texans and how his podcast explains what’s happening in Texas energy.Plus, our hosts and listeners share the latest things that are taking over all their free time as part of our regular Thursday feature, Current Obsessions.And, as always, Ernie Manouse and guest host Brandi Smith talk about today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including the Houston City Council approving an ordinance cracking down on apartment complexes with health and safety issues, health officials monitoring a Hantavirus outbreak, and Republicans moving forward with a plan to fund ICE and Border Patrol for the rest of President Trump’s term.
Transcribe →Hello Houston (May 6, 2026)
4w ago01:37:50Tap to summarizeOn today’s Hello Houston, Jason Cunningham, Deputy Chief Appraiser for the Harris Central Appraisal District, joins us to walk us through the process of how people can protest their property taxes in Harris County ahead of the deadline on Friday, May 15.Next, director and choreographer Jakari Sherman talks to us about his residency, Our Road Home: Gallery as Instrument, which honors the legacy of Houston’s Freedmen’s Town as part of Fresh Arts' 2026 Space Taking Artist Residency initiative.In the second hour, we’re joined by Bryan Sisk, Chief Nursing Executive with the Memorial Hermann Health System, who discusses the shortage of nurses in Texas with a new projection showing the state could be short of more than 50,000 nurses by 2032.Plus, Justin Lacey, the Director of Communications and Community Engagement at Houston Botanic Garden, talks to us about their new sculpture exhibition ViewPoints: Nature in Focus, which will be on view through October 2026.And, as always, Ernie Manouse and guest host Brandi Smith talk about today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including Houston Mayor John Whitmire’s proposed city budget plan, a murder-suicide in River Oaks connected to Houston area restaurant owners, and a new poll showing President Trump's approval ratings dropping due to rising gas prices.
Transcribe →Hello Houston (May 5, 2026)
May 501:37:24Tap to summarizeOn today’s Hello Houston, we’re joined by University of Houston researcher Francisco Haces-Garcia, who discusses the use of AI in flood mapping as well as what was found in a recent flood risk study he authored and what it could mean for the future.Next, we talk with Houston-based James Beard Award-winning chef and TV host, Chris Shepherd, who tells us all about his new live conversation series, Breaking Bread, which is being presented by the Hobby Center.In the second hour, we celebrate the 30th anniversary of a truly one-of-a-kind Houston institution, notsuoH, with co-founders and owners Jim Pirtle and Missy Bosch, who walk us through the story of how it all began, and what’s ahead as the popular art space and bar enters a new chapter.Plus, Houston entrepreneur Moe Vickers tells us about the non-profit she founded, Salon 180 Angels, which provides free hair‑care services to immobile seniors, while also supporting underserved youth through beauty education programs.And, as always, Ernie Manouse and guest host Lisa Gray discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including the Galveston County Sheriff's Office announcing increased patrols for Jeep Weekend 2026, historic U.S. documents coming soon to Houston as part of a national tour, a new poll showing Ken Paxton statistically tied with John Cornyn in Texas’ Republican Senate primary runoff, and more.
Transcribe →Hello Houston (May 4, 2026)
May 401:37:41Tap to summarizeOn today’s Hello Houston, we talk with Sarah Kirkle, the Policy and Legislative Affairs Director for the Texas Water Association, who helps us understand what needs to be done for the state of Texas to avoid a major water crisis in the future.Then, we hear from Performing Arts Houston President and CEO Meg Booth and Director of Artistic Programs, Lee Strickland, who tell us all about the arts organization’s upcoming 60th anniversary season, which they are calling “The Diamond Season.”In the second hour, David Froomkin, assistant professor of law at the University of Houston Law Center, joins us to discuss the continuing legal battles surrounding redistricting and voting rights following the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decisions involving Texas and Louisiana’s congressional maps.Plus, Nicholas Sawicki, Executive Director of the Houston Public Library Foundation, rejoins us on the show to explain how the library helps foster a love for reading among children and families in recognition of Children’s Book Week this week.And, as always, Ernie Manouse and guest host Houston Public Media Reporter Michael Adkison talk about today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including Houston's World Cup host committee taking over parts of the region in preparation of the massive international soccer event, Mayor John Whitmire proposing an administrative fee for trash pickup, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick exploring ways to close “gambling loopholes” for online prediction markets, and more.
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