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Houston Matters

Houston Public Media
Houston
Severe Storms
Houston Independent School District
Thornton Wilder
Storm Recovery
Houston Police Department
The Emporium
Hurricane
Mental Health
Mosquito-Borne Diseases
Alley Theatre
Immigration Reform
Emergency Services
FEMA
Centerpoint Energy
Memorial Day Weekend
Harris County
Texas A&M University
Bureaucracy
Virtual Reality

Houston Matters is a radio program airing weekdays at 9 am on Houston Public Media News 88.7 FM in Houston. During each hour, we’ll investigate the issues and ideas, people and places that make Houston…well…Houston! We’ll talk about current events, politics, education, health care, the environment, business, transportation, arts and culture, literature, sports and leisure. But we also hope that wh... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes129Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Daily NewsNewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Houston Matters

Latest Episodes

On Friday's show: We learn about some potential strong winds and even flooding in Greater Houston this weekend with the help of Justin Ballard, meteorologist for the Houston Chronicle.

Also this hour: We talk about movies dealing with time travel. T... more

On Thursday's show: We broadcast live from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo where we talk about the annual celebration of western culture with Chris Boleman, the event's president and CEO. We also discuss the future of water in Texas and how the ... more

On Wednesday's show: We examine how the races turned out in the Texas primary election and discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.

Also this hour: In this month’s installment of The Full Menu, food writers discuss some of ... more

On Tuesday's show: We have the latest news on voter turnout during primary election day.

Also this hour: Houston didn't make the headlines like Minneapolis or Los Angeles for aggressive immigration enforcement this past year, but it felt the impact.... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Renee Cross
Senior Director at the Hobby School of Public Affairs, University of Houston
University of Houston
Episode: Primary election results (March 4, 2026)
Barry Wilmore
Retired NASA astronaut with multiple spaceflight missions
NASA
Episode: Primary Election Day (March 3, 2026)
Tamra Walter
Associate Professor of Archaeology, Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University
Episode: Primary Election Day (March 3, 2026)
Mary Cantrell
Reporter, Marfa Public Radio
Marfa Public Radio
Episode: Primary Election Day (March 3, 2026)
Jeff Lundeman
Former Astroworld tour guide featured in memory segment
Public memory/history segment
Episode: Primary Election Day (March 3, 2026)
Dan Potter
Director of the Houston Population Research Center at the Kinder Institute for Urban Research, Rice University
Rice University
Episode: Primary Election Day (March 3, 2026)
Marcus Connolly
Photographer focused on Big Bend region
Freelance/Marfa Public Radio
Episode: Primary Election Day (March 3, 2026)
Sarah Grunau
Houston Public Media reporter
Houston Public Media
Episode: Iran strikes and Houston (March 2, 2026)
Lisa Gray
Houston Chronicle op-ed editor
Houston Chronicle
Episode: Iran strikes and Houston (March 2, 2026)

Host

Craig Cohen
Host of Houston Matters

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 120 ratings
  • Insightfully informative & fun

    So glad to have this program available to Houston ! Objectively approachable discussions about issues THAT MATTER to Houstonians.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Scubarru
    United States4 months ago
  • Extreme political bias

    It’s so unfortunate that so many great shows have been ruined by their obsession with partisan politics with no attempt at neutrality. Any deviation from the narrow minded, bigoted opinions of the producers is heresy because their tribe lose an election 2 1/2 years ago. I would have rated zero stars if not for the excellent content pre TDS. Hopefully rationality and openness to diversity of opinion will return eventually but I couldn’t justify donating to HPM anymore. I still listen occasionall... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Nostrathomas.
    United States4 years ago
  • Special Edition

    I am typically a fan of this show when it’s led by Craig Cohen & I have appreciated the local doctors and scientists that have contributed, but Ernie Manouse is insufferable and the way he treated a guest today by inserting his own political views (the guest had covid - his family got it & he said he’s a moderate, he asked for feedback on the media’s role in where we’re at, and the guy answered and he said he didn’t agree and just was patronizing) - if you don’t want politics inserted, then stic... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Ehodges05
    United States6 years ago
  • Give it a rest

    I used to listen to this show for daily local news. In recent months the fear mongering and aggrandizement of COVID related issues is insufferable. There’s a way of reporting the facts without sensationalizing it, Houston Matters should aim for that goal. Even the tone of the reporting is overkill. Every time I try to listen I hear myself saying “give it a rest!”

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Ayjayrose
    United States6 years ago
  • Partisan

    If you enjoy one-sided, bias discussions, you will enjoy this dumpster fire.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    htx2020!
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Overall, many find the content well-researched and timely, bridging gaps in local news coverage.
The podcast is praised for covering a wide array of topics relevant to Houstonians, making it a valuable resource.
Critics express concerns about perceived biases in some discussions, particularly around sensitive political topics.
Listeners appreciate the informative and engaging discussions that resonate with local issues.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Closing HISD schools (Feb. 27, 2026)
Q: How many schools are closing and which ones are they?
The board voted to close 12 campuses, including Alcott Elementary, Briscoe Elementary, Burris Elementary, Franklin Elementary, Henderson NQ Elementary, Port Houston Elementary, Ross Elementary, Cage Elementary, Fleming Middle School, MacReynolds Middle School, Hobby Elementary, and Galton Middle College.
Iran strikes and Houston (March 2, 2026)
Q: Are we headed for World War III?
We are not headed for World War III; the conflict is currently focused on Iran and its allies, with potential economic destabilization but no broad ground war.
Preserving Houston landmarks (Feb. 24, 2026)
Q: What criteria should determine whether a building qualifies for historic preservation?
A human-centered approach should consider community heritage values while understanding the building's significance to local history.
Preserving Houston landmarks (Feb. 24, 2026)
Q: What recommendations do you have as a result of this study?
We recommend rewarding pathways and encouraging districts to expand offerings that genuinely prepare students for success, rather than merely meeting accountability metrics.
Preserving Houston landmarks (Feb. 24, 2026)
Q: How does the state measure college and career readiness?
The state utilizes a variety of pathways including earning associate's degrees, dual credits, and other indicators to assess college and career readiness.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Houston Matters

What is Houston Matters about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focusing on a diverse range of topics, the content explores current events, politics, education, healthcare, the environment, business, arts, and culture in the Houston area. Discussions often dive into significant local issues, community stories, and initiatives that resonate with the audience. Through interviews and expert analysis, it aims to provide insight into the challenges and opportunities facing residents, reflecting on the city's identity in a broad social context. Engaging the audience, the objective is to spark conversations among listeners that extend beyond the episodes themselves, fostering a sense of community and shared understanding.

Where can I find podcast stats for Houston Matters?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Houston Matters. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Houston Matters and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Houston Matters get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Houston Matters, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Houston Matters?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Houston Matters, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Houston Matters have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Houston Matters has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Houston Matters?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Houston Matters:

1. Consider This from NPR
2. The Indicator from Planet Money
3. Planet Money
4. Marketplace
5. The Daily

How many episodes of Houston Matters are there?

Houston Matters launched 13 years ago and published 129 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Houston Matters?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Houston Matters?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Houston Matters from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Houston Matters?

Recent guests on Houston Matters include:

1. Renee Cross
2. Barry Wilmore
3. Tamra Walter
4. Mary Cantrell
5. Jeff Lundeman
6. Dan Potter
7. Marcus Connolly
8. Sarah Grunau

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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