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Houston Matters

Houston Public Media
Houston
Harris County
Texas
Baylor College Of Medicine
Democratic Party
Artemis II
Donald Trump
ICE
Education
Houston ISD
Houston Public Media
Redistricting
Houston Chronicle
Trump Administration
Affordable Care Act
First Amendment
Mental Health
Texas Education Agency
Government Shutdown
Houston City Council

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
NewsDaily NewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Houston Matters

Latest Episodes

On Thursday's show: Greater Houston may have dodged a bullet in terms of widespread flooding when Tropical Storm Arthur bypassed our region on its way to Louisiana, but it has left with us some extreme heat. We get an update and an explanation from m... more

On Wednesday's show: We get an update on the forecast for rainy weather across the region. And we discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.

Also this hour: How often do you really think about how you're going to get from poi... more

On Tuesday's show: We get an update on the potential for "life-threatening flooding" this week as the Houston area faces sustained heavy rains amid a flood watch. We check in again with meteorologist Eric Berger of Space City Weather for the latest. ... more

On Monday's show: More stormy weather is inbound and brings with it the threat of potential flooding this week. We get the latest on two storm systems headed our way from meteorologist Eric Berger from Space City Weather.

We check in with Houston Pu... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Rachel Kimbrough
Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Professor of Sociology at Rice University
Rice University
Episode: How grocery stores influence neighborhoods (June 8, 2026)
Ricky Cardenas
Director of External Affairs for the East End District
East End District
Episode: How grocery stores influence neighborhoods (June 8, 2026)
August Stubler
Houston area agroecologist and educator
Planet Forward / Blackwood Sky Farm at Post Houston
Episode: How grocery stores influence neighborhoods (June 8, 2026)
Kensyl Fallon
CEO and co-founder of Three Keys Coffee
Three Keys Coffee
Episode: Quality of life for Harris County children (June 5, 2026)
Mahdi Bakus
Festival Director, Pride Houston
Pride Houston
Episode: Quality of life for Harris County children (June 5, 2026)
Colleen de Guzman
Reporter with the Texas Tribune following Corpus Christi water developments
Texas Tribune
Episode: Corpus Christi reconsidering desalination (June 4, 2026)
Bill Norris
Principal Engineer at Norris Leal, desalination plant developer in Katy
Norris Leal
Episode: Corpus Christi reconsidering desalination (June 4, 2026)
Nancy Sims
University of Houston Political Science Lecturer
University of Houston
Episode: The week in politics (June 3, 2026)
Arnie Roth
Conductor and co-founder of Distant Worlds concert series
Distant Worlds
Episode: The week in politics (June 3, 2026)

Hosts

Craig Cohen
Host of Houston Matters
Michael Haggerty
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 States7 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.

Listeners praise thoughtful, in-depth coverage of Houston issues and practical context for local life.
Some reviews suggest perceived bias and desire for neutrality; others appreciate balanced, issue-focused discussions.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#190
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#203
South Korea/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#211
Mexico/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How grocery stores influence neighborhoods (June 8, 2026)
Q: What is the fan festival in East Downtown and why is it significant for Houston?
The fan festival is a 34-day free event in East Downtown where fans can watch every World Cup match for free, with food, activities, and fan experiences.
Campus police incidents in Texas (June 2, 2026)
Q: What did you find about the data and oversight for school policing across Texas?
We found that data is spotty, with little state-level tracking, and most oversight is at the district level, which leads to inconsistent records and unclear accountability regarding use of force by campus officers.
Campus police incidents in Texas (June 2, 2026)
Q: What did you set out to learn about in this reporting?
We wanted to understand whether incidents of use of force in schools were isolated or part of a broader pattern, given the state mandate to have a police officer on every campus after Uvalde, and to see what data reveal about the prevalence and context of these events.
The week in politics (June 3, 2026)
Q: What are the main takeaways from the six-state primaries discussed on the program?
The panel notes a mixed outcome across states, with some gains for Democrats in California-style contests and notable shifts in Iowa, where endorsements and Trump-related dynamics are affecting candidate viability and race competitiveness.
Trump’s ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund’ (May 29, 2026)
Q: What legislative remedy is being proposed to prevent presidents from using settlements to fund personal or political agendas?
A simple, bipartisan law that would bar presidents from suing the United States and directing funds from the Judgment Fund to settle such cases, ensuring accountability and preventing future abuses.

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?

Local-focused daytime discussions cover Houston-area governance, policy, infrastructure, and culture with a newsroom-style approach. Episodes blend reporting on public education, transportation, public safety, weather events, and community voices, often pairing hard-news segments with interviews from experts, advocates, and local artists. A notable strength is the diverse mix of topics and guests that reflect the city's breadth—from city policy and school governance to cultural events and Venus-like offbeat features—making it useful for listeners who want practical context on how regional issues affect everyday life and business in Houston.

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?

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What are the audience demographics for Houston Matters?

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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. WSJ Your Money Briefing
3. Houston Public Media Newscasts
4. NPR News Now
5. Here & Now Anytime

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. Rachel Kimbrough
2. Ricky Cardenas
3. August Stubler
4. Kensyl Fallon
5. Mahdi Bakus
6. Colleen de Guzman
7. Bill Norris
8. Nancy Sims

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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