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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
Immigration Reform
Alley Theatre
Emergency Services
FEMA
Centerpoint Energy
Memorial Day Weekend
Harris County
Bureaucracy
Virtual Reality
Texas A&M University

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes129Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Daily NewsNewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Houston Matters

Latest Episodes

On Thursday's show: Houston police recovered the body of a man in White Oak Bayou Wednesday morning, the seventh body found in the bayous in about a month. Investigators do not suspect foul play. Houston Public Media's Michael Adkison brings us the l... more

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

Also this hour: We reflect on the legacy of Monica Roberts, an influential activist for transgender rights who passed away five years ago. We remember ... more

On Tuesday's show: A new Texas-based national stock exchange has moved one step closer to becoming a reality. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is allowing the Texas Stock Exchange, operated by a Dallas-based startup, to move forward as a d... more

On Monday's show: Gov. Greg Abbott announced last week that the Department of Public Safety is launching a new task force in Harris County aimed at targeting what he called “repeat violent offenders.” The governor says the DPS-led effort will bring m... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Brittany Templeton
Assistant Director for Computer Science and Mathematics at Rice University's Office of STEM Engagement
Rice University
Episode: Government shutdown (Oct. 2, 2025)
Lizzie Fletcher
Democratic Congresswoman representing Texas' 7th Congressional District
U.S. Congress
Episode: Government shutdown (Oct. 2, 2025)
Celeste Diaz-Schurman
Co-host of Hello Houston
Houston Public Media
Episode: Astros miss the playoffs (Sept. 29, 2025)
Ernie Manouse
Co-host of Hello Houston
Houston Public Media
Episode: Astros miss the playoffs (Sept. 29, 2025)
Frank Billingsley
Co-host of Hello Houston and weatherman
Houston Public Media
Episode: Astros miss the playoffs (Sept. 29, 2025)
Mary Griffin
Recording artist and producer
Episode: Astros miss the playoffs (Sept. 29, 2025)
Emily Hynds
Lifelong Houstonian observing City Council meetings for five years
Emily Takes Notes blog
Episode: Keeping tabs on local government (Sept. 26, 2025)
Dave Fanucchi
Author of Miracle on Grass and former press officer for USA Baseball
Episode: Keeping tabs on local government (Sept. 26, 2025)
Gabby Birenbaum
Washington Correspondent for the Texas Tribune
Texas Tribune
Episode: Congressional maps and the Hispanic vote (Sept. 19, 2025)

Host

Craig Cohen
Host and journalist focusing on local issues and community engagement in Houston.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 117 ratings
  • 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 States5 years ago
  • Giving Houston a bad name

    Before Trump, this was a 4 star show. Downhill ever since.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    El De Smith
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the informative and timely coverage of local issues, emphasizing its relevance to their daily lives.
Many find value in the depth of content and expert opinions, though some feel the presentation can be overly sensationalist at times.
Critiques often point out a perceived political bias in certain discussions, suggesting a wish for even-handed reporting.

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 unemployment (Sept. 30, 2025)
Q: What first step should someone take if they have just been laid off?
Stipeche suggests applying for unemployment benefits and connecting with Workforce Solutions to start the job search.
Houston unemployment (Sept. 30, 2025)
Q: Mark, what are some other potential emergencies that you and other officials prepare for?
Sloan describes flooding, chemical incidents, and house fires as some of the major threats faced in Harris County.
Keeping tabs on local government (Sept. 26, 2025)
Q: How and why do data centers consume water?
Data centers consume water primarily for cooling systems to manage heat and through electricity generation.
Immigration enforcement in Houston (Sept. 25, 2025)
Q: How has the relationship between ICE and local law enforcement changed?
Cesar highlights increased police-ICE collaboration and more reports of minor offenses leading to ICE detainers, affecting community trust.
Immigration enforcement in Houston (Sept. 25, 2025)
Q: What impact does the recent immigration enforcement have on Houstonians?
Cesar Espinoza discusses that many, including naturalized citizens, feel unwelcome and apprehensive, impacting their participation in the community and local businesses.

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?

Focuses on the diverse and pressing issues that shape the Houston community, exploring topics like local politics, healthcare, environmental challenges, and cultural events. Engaging discussions often feature expert guests from various fields, emphasizing the intricate dynamics of life in Houston. Listeners can expect enriching conversations that highlight both the challenges and successes faced by the city, along with a variety of cultural insights, making it a poignant source of timely information for Houstonians.

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. Throughline
4. It's Been a Minute
5. The New Yorker Radio Hour

How many episodes of Houston Matters are there?

Houston Matters launched 12 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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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. Brittany Templeton
2. Lizzie Fletcher
3. Celeste Diaz-Schurman
4. Ernie Manouse
5. Frank Billingsley
6. Mary Griffin
7. Emily Hynds
8. Dave Fanucchi

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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