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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
Immigration Reform
Mosquito-Borne Diseases
Alley Theatre
Emergency Services
FEMA
Centerpoint Energy
Harris County
Texas A&M University
Virtual Reality
Bureaucracy
Meteorology

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
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NewsDaily NewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Houston Matters

Latest Episodes

On Wednesday's show: From the latest on the war with Iran, to sexual misconduct scandals and resignations, to President Trump clashing with Pope Leo XIV, we discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.

Also this hour: What if t... more

On Tuesday's show: Fort Bend County’s new chief executive was sworn in Monday. We learn more about County Judge Daniel Wong, a former Sugar Land city council member who was appointed to the position after K.P. George was removed from office last week... more

On Monday's show: We discuss what we learned from the Artemis II mission, what's ahead for future Artemis missions, and how the mission moved us closer to establishing more permanent operations on the moon — and potentially going to Mars someday.

Als... more

On Friday's show: We preview this evening's planned re-entry and splashdown of the Artemis II astronauts. Houston Public Media will offer live coverage of the crew's splashdown beginning around 6:45 p.m. on News 88.7 and on YouTube.

Also this hour: W... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Jennifer Hadaya
Executive Director of Air Alliance Houston
Air Alliance Houston
Episode: Artemis II returning home (April 10, 2026)
Mauricio Campos
Founder of the Brazilian Cultural Institute
Brazilian Cultural Institute
Episode: Artemis II returning home (April 10, 2026)
Natalie Arseneau
President of Arseneau International Consulting
Arseneau International Consulting
Episode: Artemis II returning home (April 10, 2026)
Raul Ramos
Associate Professor of History, University of Houston
University of Houston
Episode: Artemis II returning home (April 10, 2026)
Warren Luckett
Founder of Black Restaurant Week
Black Restaurant Week
Episode: Limiting HPD’s cooperation with ICE (April 9, 2026)
Sid Davis
Director of Music and Fine Arts, St. Luke's United Methodist Church
St. Luke's United Methodist Church
Episode: Limiting HPD’s cooperation with ICE (April 9, 2026)
Betsy Cook-Weber
Artistic Director, Houston Chamber Choir
Houston Chamber Choir
Episode: Limiting HPD’s cooperation with ICE (April 9, 2026)
Daisy Fancourt
Professor of Psychobiology and Epidemiology, UCL
University College London
Episode: Limiting HPD’s cooperation with ICE (April 9, 2026)
Alejandra Salinas
City Council member, At-Large District 4
Houston City Council
Episode: Limiting HPD’s cooperation with ICE (April 9, 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.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Artemis II makes history (April 7, 2026)
Q: What made yesterday the most action-filled day of the mission besides the launch?
The team described active observations from orbit, the emotional moment of crater naming, and the overall shift from cautious anticipation to celebratory excitement as the crew completed the flyby.
The week in politics (April 1, 2026)
Q: What is Artemis II expected to accomplish on this mission?
Artemis II is a test flight around the moon with four astronauts; it won't land, but it aims to validate the mission's navigation, life-support, and Earth-to-Moon operations as a stepping stone toward future crewed lunar landings.

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?

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. Texas Take
3. Consider This from NPR
4. Up First from NPR
5. Code Switch

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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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. Jennifer Hadaya
2. Mauricio Campos
3. Natalie Arseneau
4. Raul Ramos
5. Warren Luckett
6. Sid Davis
7. Betsy Cook-Weber
8. Daisy Fancourt

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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