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Houston Matters

Houston Public Media
Houston
Texas
Harris County
Houston ISD
Artemis II
Houston Public Media
ICE
World Cup
Education
Houston, United States
Baylor College Of Medicine
Immigration
Texas Education Agency
Trump Administration
Venezuela
Fort Bend County
Public Health
Beef Production
Traffic Safety
Affordable Care Act

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 NewsNewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Houston Matters

Latest Episodes

On Friday's show: ERCOT has announced when its audit of data centers mandated by Gov. Greg Abbott will be complete. And a new report expresses concern over certain pathogens found in Texas waterways.

Also this hour: Houston Chronicle columnist Regin... more

On Thursday's show: We look at the forecast for hot weather as a heat advisory begins today with Justin Ballard, meteorologist with the Houston Chronicle. And, amid the Houston heat, Houston City Council has approved an ordinance requiring landlords ... more

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

Also this hour: When Texas became a state in 1845, it might have been given Congressional permission to divide itself into five states. We contemplate what su... more

On Tuesday's show: We take a closer look at the redistricting saga in Galveston County.

Also this hour: We get a primer on MUDs, municipal utility districts, which handle water services and other utilities for unincorporated areas of Texas.

Then, w... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Ron Funches
Comedian and voice actor
Self / Entertainer
Episode: Comedian Ron Funches (Aug. 14, 2026)
Cristian Briones
Director and writer, Filmaticate
Filmaticate
Episode: Ballot measures in November (Aug. 13, 2026)
Orlando Briones
Cinematographer and producer, Filmaticate
Filmaticate
Episode: Ballot measures in November (Aug. 13, 2026)
Dr. Michael Weaver
Professor and Medical Director, Center for Neurobehavioral Research on Addictions
UT Health Houston
Episode: Ballot measures in November (Aug. 13, 2026)
Nikki Heard
Poet
Independent
Episode: Ballot measures in November (Aug. 13, 2026)
Andy Noble
NobleMotion Dance co-director
NobleMotion Dance
Episode: The week in politics (Aug. 12, 2026)
Badi Khalegian
Composer and multimedia artist
Independent artist
Episode: The week in politics (Aug. 12, 2026)
Kerry Francis
Composer and vocal director
Independent artist
Episode: The week in politics (Aug. 12, 2026)
Catherine Troisi
Houston area infectious disease epidemiologist and APHA board member
American Public Health Association (APHA); local health expert
Episode: New vaccine recommendations (Aug. 11, 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 States9 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.

Balanced, informative Houston-focused coverage that avoids fluff.
High-quality local reporting that helps Houstonians understand regional issues.
Listeners appreciate practical, local context and expert guests.
Some listeners feel the show leans political; neutral framing and diverse guests could help broaden appeal.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Limiting student AI use (July 27, 2026)
Q: What did Katy ISD ban for elementary students and what are they allowing?
They banned the use of generative AI chat tools for students through sixth grade and allowed supervised use of such tools starting in seventh grade with specific guardrails and teacher oversight.
The week in politics (July 22, 2026)
Q: How might the Republican and Democratic positions on foreign policy and domestic issues affect Texas' Senate race and local elections?
The discussion suggests that campaign dynamics will hinge on perceived handling of inflation, tariffs, immigration, and security, with several senators facing scrutiny over their stances and potential electoral vulnerabilities in the wake of national issues that resonate locally.
Calls to investigate ICE shooting (July 16, 2026)
Q: What can you tell us about the public viewing and the family's request for attendees?
Attendees were directed to the Houston Public Media website for details; the family, with LULAC support, asked people to leave phones in cars and consider wearing blue in Lorenzo Salgado Araujo's memory.
The week in politics (July 15, 2026)
Q: Renee, with early voting three months away, what could be the political consequences of these shootings and immigration debates?
The panelists suggest it could dampen GOP support among Latino voters while potentially galvanizing conservative-leaning groups; however, the overall impact will depend on how voters weigh crime, immigration policy, and economic concerns, with attention to how leaders respond.
Sean Teare on ICE shooting (July 17, 2026)
Q: How much or little is your office coordinating with the Texas Rangers, the FBI, and DHS's Inspector General as you all investigate?
Teare emphasizes layered collaboration with the FBI on a day-to-day basis, notes that the Texas Rangers are involved in officer-involved shooting investigations, and says DHS's OIG has not engaged substantively, framing cooperation as mixed but functional.

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?

A Houston-focused public affairs program delivers timely coverage across politics, education, health, and local policy, interleaving hard news with practical guidance and cultural segments. Episodes frequently feature regional governance, school AI policy, health guidance from pediatric experts, energy market context, and community voices from arts, sports, and local journalism. A notable strength is balancing rigorous reporting with accessible, everyday relevance for Houstonians, plus regular in-studio guests who illuminate policy and culture at the city level.

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 four 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?

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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. Houston Public Media Newscasts
3. Planet Money
4. Consider This from NPR
5. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

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. Ron Funches
2. Cristian Briones
3. Orlando Briones
4. Dr. Michael Weaver
5. Nikki Heard
6. Andy Noble
7. Badi Khalegian
8. Kerry Francis

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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