Rephonic
Artwork for Houston Matters

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
Bureaucracy
Texas A&M University
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 NewsSociety & CultureNews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Houston Matters

Latest Episodes

On Tuesday's show: We learn about problems with group homes for elderly or disabled people across the state, which is the subject of an investigation from the Texas Observer.

Also this hour: The holidays may bring realizations about the health of ag... more

On Monday's show: Civil rights organizations are seeking to block parts of Senate Bill 12, a sweeping Texas law that prohibits discussions about gender identity in public schools as well as student clubs based on sexual orientation. We take a closer ... more

On Friday's show: Every Houstonian has something they miss, but should we still be missing it? As the year wraps up, we’re asking which beloved parts of the city deserve remembrance and which might be holding us back.

Then, our non-experts weigh in ... more

On Thursday's show: When an elected official leaves office, what happens to their campaign funds? Well, it turns out many Texas politicians are using those funds on everything from luxury hotels, to steakhouse dinners, to salaries for political opera... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Texas Standard
Texas StandardTexas Standard
Reveal
RevealThe Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX
1A
1ANPR

Recent Guests

Sharona Jacobs
Geriatric care health consultant
Elder Advisory Group
Episode: Houston’s favorite holiday music (Dec. 23, 2025)
Atavia Spajati
Investigative reporter
Texas Observer
Episode: Houston’s favorite holiday music (Dec. 23, 2025)
Father Joseph Paul Alban
Pastor of Holy Rosary Church, Dominican priest
Holy Rosary Church
Episode: Houston’s favorite holiday music (Dec. 23, 2025)
Taylor Goldenstein
State Bureau reporter for the Houston Chronicle
Houston Chronicle
Episode: How ex-officials spend campaign funds (Dec. 18, 2025)
Steve Warner
Professor of international business and chair of the management and leadership department at the University of Houston's Bauer College of Business
University of Houston
Episode: How ex-officials spend campaign funds (Dec. 18, 2025)
Robyn Martin
Senior clinician from the Menninger Clinic
Menninger Clinic
Episode: Ticketing the homeless (Dec. 16, 2025)
Rick Levy
Retired president of the Texas AFL-CIO
Texas AFL-CIO
Episode: Harris Co. employee pay (Dec. 15, 2025)
Milad Niazi
Afghan immigrant involved in a controversial detention incident.
Episode: Concern among Afghan immigrants (Dec. 12, 2025)
Gabriella Hamdier
Policy Associate at Environment Texas
Environment Texas
Episode: Reducing trash in Houston (Dec. 11, 2025)

Hosts

Craig Cohen
Host of Houston Matters, known for his engaging style and focus on local issues.
Michael Haggerty
Filling in for Craig Cohen; routinely covers local news topics.

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 Statesa month 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 States3 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 States5 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 States5 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.

There are mixed feelings about the balance of political views, with some expressing concerns about biases. However, many find the content informative and relevant to daily life in Houston.
Overall, it is regarded as a valuable source for understanding community dynamics and current events in Houston.
Listeners appreciate the in-depth coverage of local issues and the engaging style of the hosts.
The interactions with various guests add depth, but some wish for a more diverse range of perspectives to avoid echo chambers.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Houston’s favorite holiday music (Dec. 23, 2025)
Q: What reforms are possible for boarding homes in Texas?
Recent policy changes have drawn attention to the issues with boarding homes, and there is hope for future improvements. Experts stress the need for increased health insurance access as part of the solution.
Houston’s favorite holiday music (Dec. 23, 2025)
Q: What should people do if they suspect abuse at a boarding home?
Complaints should be directed to county authorities and Adult Protective Services (APS).
Houston’s favorite holiday music (Dec. 23, 2025)
Q: How can family members check on their loved ones in boarding homes?
It's crucial to check if the boarding home is registered with local administration for oversight; surprise visits are also recommended.
How ex-officials spend campaign funds (Dec. 18, 2025)
Q: What options are there for ex-officials for how they can spend this money?
Taylor explains that while the funds are supposed to be spent for political purposes, ex-officials often do so through donations to charities, other politicians, or utilizing the funds for personal benefits due to loopholes in the laws.
How ex-officials spend campaign funds (Dec. 18, 2025)
Q: Can you walk us through a couple of examples of zombie campaign accounts?
Taylor highlights examples of former Speaker Joe Strauss and former Senator Kevin L. Tyfe, detailing their spending habits with their campaign funds long after leaving office, including luxury travel and lavish expenses.

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?

The episodes feature a blend of local news coverage, community stories, and expert discussions that focus on pressing issues facing the Houston area. Topics range from environmental challenges, such as waste management and sustainability, to socio-economic issues affecting youth disconnection and health care access. There's a notable emphasis on local politics, featuring insights from scholars and journalists on the implications of political decisions on the community. What sets this podcast apart is its commitment to engaging with a diverse range of voices, from local artists to educators and political analysts, promoting a well-rounded understanding of Houston's landscape and culture. This format likely provides a platform for connecting ... more

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. Texas Standard
2. Reveal
3. Code Switch
4. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
5. 1A

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.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Houston Matters?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Houston Matters. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Houston Matters?

Recent guests on Houston Matters include:

1. Sharona Jacobs
2. Atavia Spajati
3. Father Joseph Paul Alban
4. Taylor Goldenstein
5. Steve Warner
6. Robyn Martin
7. Rick Levy
8. Milad Niazi

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days