City Cast Houston

It’s Friday and that means host Raheel Ramzanali is recapping the big news from the week. Joining him today is dynamic media personality Antre’chelle Nova to talk about why hate crimes are going unreported, the heated debate around property tax hikes, the difference between the rapper Big Boi and a train with the same name, and more! 

Stories we discussed on today’s show: 

Learn more about the sponsors of this October 4th episode here: 

Downtown Houston+

The Village School

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Introducing The Tipping Point Revisited: Georgetown Massacre Part 1 from Revisionist History.

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In the ‘Varsity Blues’ college admissions scandal, the government indicted more than 50 people. Business leaders. Celebrities. Actors. Rich people accused of paying millions of dollars to get their children into elite universities. The Department of Justice was successful in all but one case: U.S. v. Khoury. What we’re calling: The Georgetown Massacre.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

There are SO many fall festivals happening around H-Town, but host Raheel Ramzanali is on the hunt for the best free options to check out this month. So, he’s bringing on Meagan Clanahan, co-owner of HoustonMom.com, to get her recommendations of where to go for the best fall vibes, pumpkin patches, spooky experiences, and more…all for free! 

Recommendations from today’s show: 

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Introducing Hot Takes on a Low Key Debate from Pod Save America.

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Jon, Lovett, Dan, and Tommy break down Tim Walz's great arguments about democracy and reproductive rights, JD Vance's distortions on Obamacare and immigration, and the other moments that might—might!—break through from a surprisingly collegial vice presidential debate.

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

A lot is happening in Houston food scene, so host Raheel Ramzanali is bringing on Erica Cheng, food reporter at Chron.com, to dish on the latest buzz for foodies, from the decline of steakhouses to which restaurants will get a Michelin star. Plus, is H-town now a burger city? Raheel and Erica are talking all about food on today’s episode! 

Here are stories that we talked about on today’s show: 

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Introducing Uncover Ghost Towns with Brent Underwood from Via Podcast.

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On the season finale of the Via Podcast, hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks head into the high deserts of California and Nevada to visit ghost towns. They learn what it's like to actually live in one—where there may or may not be a resident spirit—and where to go to see the most preserved mining towns in the West.

Guest Brent Underwood, owner and resident of Cerro Gordo near Death Valley, California, shares what it's like to make a home in a former mining town, and why it's important to visit and maintain these snapshots of Western life.

Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

It’s the spookiest month of the year, and that means we’re exploring the haunted side of Houston. Plus, we’re going beyond the pumpkins with some memorable shows and literary festivals to check out this month. And you know we’re giving you some delicious recommendations for fall flavors in H-Town, from pumpkin cheesecake to dining in the dark. Our October guide is laying out how to enjoy the best of Houston and our surrounding areas this month. Want even more fall food recommendations in Houston? We put together a guide of the best fall snack you need to try at H-E-B this month! 

Here are all our recommendations from today’s show:

If you're new here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast Houston community. 

For even more tips on how to make the most of October in Houston, check out the latest events in the Hey Houston newsletter. 

If you enjoyed today's interview with The Village School's boarding admissions manager, Natalie Goodwin, and their enrollment officer, Cassie Riddle, learn more here.

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In today’s City Cast Houston episode, Raheel Ramzanali gets an insider’s take on the local GOP, if they’re dealing with an identity crisis like the national party, between old-school conservatives and the MAGA movement. He talks with conservative commentator Charles Blain about that, plus the local Republican Party’s strategy for local races this November. 

You can check out more from Charles Blain at the Urban Reform Institute.

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Introducing Sarah Longwell on politics, AI, and elections from Possible.

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What’s driving some of the greatest political divisions and threats to democracy ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential election?

This week, Reid and Aria attempt to unpack this with someone who specializes in listening to American voters and translating those insights, at scale: Republican political strategist and The Bulwark co-founder/publisher Sarah Longwell. Sarah, who also hosts The Focus Group Podcast, joins the show to talk about her experience listening to everyday voters through focus groups — and her perspective on how doing so can help people better understand one another, combat misinformation, and heal some of the deepest divides in America today. She shares her perspective on Donald Trump, the upcoming election, the state of politics in Silicon Valley, AI, the future of the Republican Party, and the value of compromising. Plus, Reid tests GPT-4o’s ability to separate fact from fiction. 

Note: This conversation is not intended to proselytize or convert anyone. Rather, it is an attempt to learn from someone who has spent hundreds of hours talking to thousands of voters about their lives and politics.  

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/ 

Topics:

03:41 - Hellos and intros

04:55 - The state of politics now

06:08 - Inside the mind of an undecided voter

08:22 - What polls actually tell us

10:04 - What’s different about the political attitude right now

12:22 - How focus groups work, and what they tell us

18:08 - The benefits of qualitative research

18:52 - How can technology improve focus group research?

23:12 - How to become a better listener and persuader

28:21 - The impact and use cases of AI running focus groups

34:03 - When a human touch is necessary

36:37 - AI video-based sentiment analysis

41:05 - Sarah navigating being a lone wolf in politics

45:19 - What Sarah learned fighting for marriage equality

47:25 - How does misinformation spread and stick?

54:08 - What’s next for the Republican party?

57:42 - GPT-4o “spot the fake headline” test

01:02:57 - Rapid-fire questions

Possible is an award-winning podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future. Hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, each episode features an interview with an ambitious builder or deep thinker on a topic, from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Whether it's Inflection’s Pi, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or other AI tools, each episode will use AI to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

Let’s recap the week with host Raheel Ramzanali, political analyst Rafael Lemaitre, and Monica Flores Richart, education advocate and attorney. The trio start off by talking about where our city’s justice system stands after former Houston officer Gerald Goines was found guilty of felony murder. Then, they talk about our infamous sidewalks to nowhere and what it would mean to H-town if we eliminate them. Plus, why Texas pushed over 2 million people off Medicaid, an inspiring children's choir in the East End, and more! 

Dive deeper into the stories from today’s episode:

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 27th episode here:

Downtown Houston+

Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston 

Follow us on Instagram  @CityCastHouston

Don’t have social media? Then leave us a voicemail or text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts!

Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know! 

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