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Artwork for Houston Matters

Houston Matters

Houston Public Media
Houston
Harris County
Texas
Artemis II
ICE
Houston ISD
Baylor College Of Medicine
Donald Trump
Houston Public Media
Houston Chronicle
Trump Administration
Education
Democratic Party
Government Shutdown
First Amendment
Affordable Care Act
Texas Education Freedom Accounts
World Cup
John Whitmire
School Vouchers

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

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Artwork for Houston Matters

Latest Episodes

On Tuesday's show: We learn how a little-known appeals process allowed thousands of wealthy homes to be removed from floodplain maps. Houston Chronicle investigative reporter Yilun Cheng explains how it happened and what it means.

And we get details... more

On Monday's show: We learn more about an investigative series from the Houston Chronicle examining how a Houston-based compounding pharmacy is stretching the boundaries of health care regulation and creating potential dangers for patients.

Also this... more

On Thursday's show: As Houston gears up to mark not just another Fourth of July but also the nation's semiquincentennial, there's no shortage of ways to celebrate -- from fireworks over Buffalo Bayou to a tree-planting event that had to work around a... more

On Wednesday's show: From the U.S. Supreme Court upholding birthright citizenship, to other decisions from the High Court, we discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.

Also this hour: Foodies discuss their favorite places fo... more

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

Inyang Youak
Director of Research and Policy at Air Alliance Houston
Air Alliance Houston
Episode: Tire fire and air quality (June 29, 2026)
Ruby Powers
Immigration attorney
Private practice
Episode: Tire fire and air quality (June 29, 2026)
Tony Payan
Director, Center for the United States and Mexico at Rice University
Rice University
Episode: Tire fire and air quality (June 29, 2026)
Monty Monroe
Southwest Collection Archivist and Professor Emeritus at Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University
Episode: Tire fire and air quality (June 29, 2026)
Michael Shapiro
Sports journalist for Cron (Houston Chronicle)
Cron
Episode: Tire fire and air quality (June 29, 2026)
Mitchell Katine
Attorney who worked on Lawrence v. Texas and UH Law Center adjunct professor
Katine Netchman McLaurin LLP; UH Law Center
Episode: Bible-infused curriculum (June 26, 2026)
Trevor Bond
Actor in Ensemble Theatre's Get Ready
Ensemble Theatre
Episode: Bible-infused curriculum (June 26, 2026)
Patrick Harris
Director and choreographer
Ensemble Theatre
Episode: Bible-infused curriculum (June 26, 2026)
Ryan Nickerson
Houston Chronicle reporter
Houston Chronicle
Episode: New rodeo complex (June 25, 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 States8 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
#233
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#78
Taiwan/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#104
China/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#224
Taiwan/News
Apple Podcasts
#248
Mexico/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Potential flooding amid heavy rain (June 16, 2026)
Q: First off, why was this Houston wastewater consent decree necessary?
The city had a history of sewage overflows and untreated discharges; the decree mandates upgrades and 15 years of remediation, with ongoing reporting and transparency requirements.
STAAR test results (June 11, 2026)
Q: How significant is the improvement in scores statewide after the pandemic-era declines?
Guests respond that the gains are meaningful, with broad improvements, but acknowledge algebra lag and the ongoing impact of pandemic disruptions, suggesting a nuanced recovery rather than a wholesale rebound.
World Cup underway (June 15, 2026)
Q: How did the World Cup events impact Houston's transportation and crowd management this week?
Officials emphasized that the retractable roof and indoor areas helped with comfort, but the rain and heat still posed challenges for entry, crowd flow, and parking; parks and fan zones had to adapt to weather while maintaining safety.
Intense heat after Tropical Storm Arthur (June 18, 2026)
Q: How should families approach conversations about help and potential relocation for an aging relative?
Dr. Little recommends framing care as a team effort with geriatric specialists, focusing on staying independent where possible, and ensuring that the loved one remains at the center of decision-making while exploring options that support safety.
The week in politics (June 17, 2026)
Q: What is the city doing about AI and technology in governance?
The city formed a technology committee to evaluate how AI could reduce budget costs and improve services, indicating proactive exploration of tech in municipal operations.

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?

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. Engagement Party
3. Y'all-itics
4. The NPR Politics Podcast
5. Death, Sex & Money

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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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Houston Matters?

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What guests have appeared on Houston Matters?

Recent guests on Houston Matters include:

1. Inyang Youak
2. Ruby Powers
3. Tony Payan
4. Monty Monroe
5. Michael Shapiro
6. Mitchell Katine
7. Trevor Bond
8. Patrick Harris

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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