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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
Alley Theatre
Immigration Reform
Mosquito-Borne Diseases
Emergency Services
FEMA
Memorial Day Weekend
Harris County
Virtual Reality
Bureaucracy
Texas A&M University
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
Number of ListenersCategories
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Artwork for Houston Matters

Latest Episodes

On Wednesday's show: In what has become a sort of tradition in the days leading up to Thanksgiving, the Houston Matters team gives thanks to you for listening and supporting this program -- and to each other for the work we’ve done this year.

Coming... more

On Tuesday's show: State regulators have approved a request from CenterPoint Energy to bill taxpayers $2.9 billion to strengthen the Houston-area power grid against extreme weather. We learn details of the company's “resiliency plan” from Claire Hao ... more

On Monday's show: Two inmates died inside the Harris County Jail last week, according to a spokesperson for the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, bringing the jail’s in-custody death total to 18 this year. We learn the latest on these cases.

Also this... more

On Friday's show: A new study suggests more than 1.4 million more Texans will lose their health insurance in 2026 once Affordable Care Act subsidies expire as premiums double or even triple.

Also this hour: Just in time for holiday travel, we welcom... 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

Sergeant Stephen Woodard
Sergeant with the Texas Department of Public Safety
Texas Department of Public Safety
Episode: How to drive in Houston (Nov. 21, 2025)
Dr. Ann Barnes
President and CEO of the Episcopal Health Foundation
Episcopal Health Foundation
Episode: How to drive in Houston (Nov. 21, 2025)
Dylan Powell
Author of Lost Treasures of Houston
Episode: School marshal program at Humble ISD (Nov. 20, 2025)
Bianca Seward
News 88.7 reporter covering Humble ISD's school marshal program
Houston Public Media
Episode: School marshal program at Humble ISD (Nov. 20, 2025)
Bianna Golodryga
CNN anchor and senior global affairs analyst
CNN
Episode: The week in politics (Nov. 19, 2025)
Katie Thomas
Investigative genetic genealogist and co-founder of Moxie Forensics
Moxie Forensics
Episode: The week in politics (Nov. 19, 2025)
Abby Church
City Hall Reporter for the Houston Chronicle
Houston Chronicle
Episode: Possible Spring ISD takeover (Nov. 18, 2025)
Dr. Duncan Klusman
Clinical Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Houston and former Superintendent of Spring Branch ISD
University of Houston
Episode: Possible Spring ISD takeover (Nov. 18, 2025)
Ken Burns
Documentary filmmaker known for his extensive work on American history
PBS
Episode: Ken Burns on ‘The American Revolution’ (Nov. 14, 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 States6 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.

How to drive in Houston (Nov. 21, 2025)
Q: What does the law say about lights during fog?
Bright lights are effective for visibility but should be dimmed when within proximity of other vehicles.
How to drive in Houston (Nov. 21, 2025)
Q: What is the official law regarding when headlights need to be turned on?
Headlamps need to be turned on in the nighttime provision, specifically 30 minutes before sunset.
Houston’s top public schools (Nov. 11, 2025)
Q: Are those improvements compared to pandemic years and the year or two that followed?
Yes, we are comparing it to pre-pandemic where we see these improvements getting better.
Houston’s top public schools (Nov. 11, 2025)
Q: How does your ranking differ from the accountability ratings the Texas Education Agency releases?
Our ranking is a little bit more rigorous, focusing on comparisons of similar demographics and school growth, using SAT and ACT scores for high schools.
Up-and-down temperatures (Nov. 10, 2025)
Q: Why are my blood orange leaves turning yellow?
There could be multiple reasons including nutrient deficiencies or pests. A helpful tool is to use a macronutrient deficiency chart to identify potential issues.

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. Fresh Air
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.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

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. Sergeant Stephen Woodard
2. Dr. Ann Barnes
3. Dylan Powell
4. Bianca Seward
5. Bianna Golodryga
6. Katie Thomas
7. Abby Church
8. Dr. Duncan Klusman

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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