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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
Memorial Day Weekend
Harris County
Bureaucracy
Texas A&M University
Virtual Reality
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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Artwork for Houston Matters

Latest Episodes

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

Also this hour: Andrea Ball of the Houston Chronicle catches us up on a saga surrounding control over Second Baptist Church.

And we check out a retrosp... more

On Tuesday's show: Think your electricity bill has been high lately? You might be surprised by how much some of your fellow Texans say they’re being charged for power, month to month. We examine the findings from a new survey on the financial strain ... more

On Monday's show: The Trump administration recently announced it would quadruple Argentine beef imports to lower grocery prices, drawing sharp criticism from U.S. cattle producers and Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller. But he is pushing an alternative... more

On Friday's show: We get an update on controversial plans to close a two-block section of Polk Street as a part of the $2 billion expansion of the George R. Brown Convention Center.

Also this hour: Children's author Kate DiCamillo talks about how te... 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

Diane Ravitch
Former Assistant Secretary of Education and education policy expert
Episode: Burden of rising electricity bills (Oct. 28, 2025)
Gail Butterworth
Associate Director of the Center for Public Policy
University of Houston
Episode: Burden of rising electricity bills (Oct. 28, 2025)
Allie Vellines
Puppet maker and performer
Lo-Fi Puppets and Stuff
Episode: Burden of rising electricity bills (Oct. 28, 2025)
Greg Cody
Puppet maker and performer
Lo-Fi Puppets and Stuff
Episode: Burden of rising electricity bills (Oct. 28, 2025)
Skip Hollandsworth
Texas Monthly true crime writer
Texas Monthly
Episode: Burden of rising electricity bills (Oct. 28, 2025)
Kate DiCamillo
Author of The Tale of Despereaux and Because of Winn-Dixie
Episode: Polk Street closure (Oct. 24, 2025)
Amanda Leland
Executive Director of the Environmental Defense Fund and co-author of the book Sea Change
Environmental Defense Fund
Episode: Shutdown threatens SNAP benefits (Oct. 23, 2025)
Caitlin Farrell
Marketing and Communications Manager for Buffalo Bayou Partnership
Buffalo Bayou Partnership
Episode: Shutdown threatens SNAP benefits (Oct. 23, 2025)
Errol Anthony Wilkes
Director of 'Of a Darker Hue'
Ensemble Theatre
Episode: The week in politics (Oct. 22, 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.

Burden of rising electricity bills (Oct. 28, 2025)
Q: What can be done to ease the energy burden?
Policies like inclining block rates and percentage of income payment plans can help reduce household energy burdens.
Burden of rising electricity bills (Oct. 28, 2025)
Q: What are the key findings of the Texas Trends survey?
Nearly one in three Texans are spending a high share of their income on energy costs, often needing to choose between essential payments.
The week in politics (Oct. 22, 2025)
Q: How accessible are overdose prevention programs in Harris County?
Yes, programs like Narcan training and referral services are accessible to everyone across Harris County.
The week in politics (Oct. 22, 2025)
Q: What are the primary substances driving the overdose numbers?
The primary substances are opioids and stimulants, with a recent rise in cocaine usage.
The week in politics (Oct. 22, 2025)
Q: What did you find out?
Online polls suggest Christian Menafee and Amanda Edwards as front runners for the 18th District election.

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?

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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. KERA's Think
4. It's Been a Minute
5. Science Vs

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. Diane Ravitch
2. Gail Butterworth
3. Allie Vellines
4. Greg Cody
5. Skip Hollandsworth
6. Kate DiCamillo
7. Amanda Leland
8. Caitlin Farrell

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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