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Houston Matters

Houston Public Media
Houston
Texas
Harris County
Baylor College Of Medicine
Redistricting
Democratic Party
ICE
Education
Artemis II
Houston Chronicle
Donald Trump
Texas Legislature
Public Safety
Healthcare
Mental Health
Trump Administration
Affordable Care Act
First Amendment
Houston Public Media
Fort Bend County

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
NewsSociety & CultureDaily News

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Artwork for Houston Matters

Latest Episodes

On Friday's show: We take a closer look at the forecast for heavy rain in Greater Houston throughout the day and into tonight as a Stage 1 flood alert has been issued. Eric Berger of Space City Weather brings us the latest details.

And we learn abou... more

On Thursday's show: The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on Wednesday about the Trump administration's move to end temporary protected status, or TPS, for migrants fleeing war and natural disaster. A local immigration attorney explains what's at st... more

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.

Also this hour: As the University of Houston prepares to host the first Conference on College Athlete Mental Health this week, we discuss what needs to be don... more

On Tuesday's show: We get highlights from the annual Houston Area Survey from Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research, which takes stock each year of Houstonians' thoughts and attitudes on a variety of issues facing our region.

Also th... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Lacey Hull
Republican State Representative, Texas House (District 138)
Texas House of Representatives
Episode: State involvment in public schools (April 27, 2026)
Dietrich von Biedenfeld
Assistant professor of business
UH Downtown
Episode: State involvment in public schools (April 27, 2026)
Charlotte Knaal
Parent of a figure skater
Memorial City community
Episode: State involvment in public schools (April 27, 2026)
Jeff Balkes
Houston Press writer
Houston Press
Episode: State involvment in public schools (April 27, 2026)
Catherine Harris
Policy fellow
Rice University Baker Institute
Episode: State involvment in public schools (April 27, 2026)
Nusaiba Mazan
Education reporter
Houston Chronicle
Episode: State involvment in public schools (April 27, 2026)
Lindsay Gary
Dr. Lindsay Gary, author and founder of the Pan-African Spirituality Conference
Independent scholar/organizer of Pan-African Spirituality Conference
Episode: Shifting leadership in Fort Bend County (April 24, 2026)
Vanille Mahal
Tenor, Chanticleer
Chanticleer
Episode: ICE ordinance revised (April 23, 2026)
Dr. Aaron Kors
Professor of Alcoholic Beverage Production, University of Houston; co-founder of Eighth Wonder Brewery
University of Houston; Eighth Wonder Brewery
Episode: ICE ordinance revised (April 23, 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 States5 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.

Apple Podcasts
#198
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#153
Mexico/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Texas Medical Board sanctions doctors (April 20, 2026)
Q: What did Kavitha Surana say about the significance of the board's sanctions?
She explained that delays in care for pregnant and miscarrying women have become a focal point since the abortion ban, with families and lawyers viewing the sanctions as a rare but meaningful action by the board amid ongoing litigation and a broader push for clearer guidance on care under the new laws.
What’s next for Artemis (April 13, 2026)
Q: What are the major differences Artemis II introduces compared to Apollo missions?
The mission tests a new spacecraft with people on board, focusing on testing facilities, sleeping arrangements, and plans for a permanent lunar base, aiming to inform future longer stays and Moon infrastructure.
Houston pet peeves (April 6, 2026)
Q: What are the implications of the Fort Bend Star closure for local journalism in the region?
The panel suggests that closures reduce watchdog coverage and local perspectives, but other publications and new ownership may attempt to fill the gap though at lower staffing levels, leading to concerns about sustained coverage of local government and communities.
Artemis II makes history (April 7, 2026)
Q: What are the long-term goals NASA expresses for Artemis II?
Artemis II is framed as a test mission with the aim of building a sustained capability to return humans to the Moon and establish a permanent lunar infrastructure in the coming years.
Artemis II makes history (April 7, 2026)
Q: How did the crew and mission control react to the 40 minutes of radio silence?
There was a humbling sense of quiet, with everyone appreciating the moment and the distance from Earth, framing it as a contemplative time rather than a source of worry.

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?

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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. Texas Take
3. Trump's Terms
4. Marketplace Morning Report
5. Marketplace

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. Lacey Hull
2. Dietrich von Biedenfeld
3. Charlotte Knaal
4. Jeff Balkes
5. Catherine Harris
6. Nusaiba Mazan
7. Lindsay Gary
8. Vanille Mahal

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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