City Cast Houston

Every Friday on City Cast Houston we’re breaking down all of the big stories from the week with some of the top journalists and dynamic voices from H-Town. Today, Host Raheel Ramzanali is joined by Lucio Vasquez, reporter at Houston Public Media, and Anna-Catherine Brigida, immigration reporter at the Houston Landing. The trio start by talking about outgoing Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg charging a former director in Judge Lina Hidalgo’s administration. Then, they dive deep into Anna-Cat’s new story about Alexis Nungaray, mother of Jocelyn Nungaray, and how a call from Donald Trump after her daughter’s murder changed her life. Plus, is Texas one step closer to putting biblical teachings in public school? And, of course, they end the week with their moments of joy! 

Dive deeper into the stories we talked about today:

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Introducing So, Are We Buying Guns Now? from Hysteria.

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While Trump is busy casting his cabinet and staff picks with former reality stars, Fox News hosts, sex pests, and even some of America’s Worst Women, Alyssa and Erin are here to keep you posted. They discuss the rights and wrongs of the women Trump picked and question who will even make it to the inauguration. Then they ponder the question on a lot of our minds right now: is it time to buy a gun? Finally, they discuss the ways to prepare mentally and physically for a second Trump presidency without descending into doomsday prepping madness.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

Trump names former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence (NPR 11/13)

Rancher, Politician, Trump Ally: Who Is Kristi Noem, the Homeland Security Pick? (NYT 11/13)

5 things you need to know about Susie Wiles (Politico 11/8)

Trump names Karoline Leavitt as youngest ever White House press secretary (AP 11/15)

Meet the billionaires leading Trump’s transition team (Politico 11/07)

What to know about the Matt Gaetz allegations (BBC 11/18)

Should women be allowed to fight on the front lines? Trump’s defense pick reignites the debate (AP 11/18)

Duckworth on Hegseth speaking out against women in combat: ‘Where do you think I lost my legs?’ (The Hill 11/14)

The USPS will honor Betty White with her own stamp in 2025 (NPR 11/17)Buying a Gun Won’t Save You (Jezebel 11/15)

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].

If you’ve been to a big grocery store in the last month or looked up at a power line then you’ve noticed tons of blackbirds all around you. So, what are these birds, and why are they taking over?! Host Raheel Ramzanali spoke to Rice University professor Cin-Ty Lee last year about this annual fall phenomena, so we’re playing back our conversation to answer all your blackbird questions.. 

This episode originally aired Nov. 27, 2023.

Learn more about the sponsors of this November 21st episode here:

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Downtown Houston+

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

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Introducing Stop dementia before it starts from ZOE Science & Nutrition.

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How early should you start taking dementia seriously?

Here’s 5 things you can do now to reduce dementia risk today.

Professor Claire Steves and Jonathan Wolf explore the multifaceted world of dementia. They delve into the significance of dental health, genetics, diet, and physical activity — plus, they unpack the latest research — to give you practical strategies for preventing dementia.

Claire is a consultant physician in geriatric medicine at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. She’s also a senior clinical lecturer at King's College London and deputy clinical director of the institution’s Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology where she leads research on the characterization of physical and mental aging traits and frailty.

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Timecodes:

00:00 - Introduction

01:26 - Quickfire questions on dementia

02:42 - Main discussion: understanding dementia

04:18 - Control over fate with dementia

06:52 - Why older people get more fractures

08:32 - Warning signs of dementia

09:55 - Unique aspects of dementia

12:12 - Cellular level discussion on dementia

15:49 - Risk factors for dementia

16:07 - Inheritance and dementia

18:29 - High-risk factors for dementia

19:15 - Fetal development and dementia risk

21:47 - Brain reserves and mental health

24:24 - New advances in dementia treatment

30:47 - Medications and life expectancy

33:21 - Diet and dementia prevention

35:58 - The role of physical activity

39:45 - Oral health and dementia

42:10 - Social interaction and brain health

44:02 - Diabetes and dementia

45:36 - Women, HRT, and dementia

49:09 - Recap: Types of dementia

53:39 - Hearing aids and dementia prevention

55:39 - Episode sign-off

Studies related to today’s episode:

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Episode transcripts are available here.

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].

Thanksgiving is almost here and if you don’t want to cook and clean, but still enjoy great food, we have you covered! Host Raheel Ramzanali is talking to Eric Sandler, CultureMap Houston’s city editor, about the best restaurants open on Thanksgiving. From traditional turkey plates to extravagant buffets, there’s something for everyone around Houston on Thanksgiving. 

Restaurants we talked about today: 

Learn more about the sponsors of this November 20th episode here:

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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!

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Introducing S5:E4 Digital Health: Transforming Care, Improving Access from Unseen Upside: Investments Beyond Their Returns.

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How will evolving digital technologies impact healthcare delivery, patient experience, and access to care?

According to new venture-backed companies, they can advance health equity, democratize access, and empower individuals to take control of their health journey. Alongside industry pioneers and investors, we explore digital health advancements such as telemedicine, remote monitoring, and data-driven diagnostics that are all working to improve healthcare efficiencies.

Join us as we uncover the potential of these technologies to improve healthcare outcomes for all.

Guests include:

Unseen Upside: Investments Beyond Their Returns is developed in partnership with PRX, an award-winning podcast media company.

Cambridge Associates is a global investment firm that works with endowments, foundations, healthcare systems, pension plans, and private clients to implement and manage custom investment portfolios that aim to generate outperformance and maximize their impact on the world. Cambridge Associates delivers a range of portfolio management services, including outsourced CIO, non-discretionary portfolio management, staff extension, and asset class mandates.

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].

The week is off to a busy start, and host Raheel Ramzanali is getting you caught up with the stories you need to know. Today, he’s joined by executive producer Laura Isensee to learn about what’s next for HISD and state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles after voters rejected its historic $4.4 billion bond. Plus, Beyoncé is performing on Christmas, but will we will be able to watch it on Netflix without streaming issues? And, H-town is REALLY popular as we’re headed into a record-breaking year for tourism.

Stories we talked about on today’s show: 

Learn more about the sponsors of this November 19th episode here:

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

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Photo: Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle

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Introducing Conquer IBS: 3 steps to healthier digestion from ZOE Science & Nutrition.

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Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a lot more common than you might think. In fact, it affects 1 in 10 people globally. Yet there are still a lot of questions about why it occurs and how best to treat it. 

Could new research connecting gut health to mental health help us unravel its mysteries?

In today’s short episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Dr. Will ask: What exactly is IBS, and how does it connect to our brains? 

Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/

Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide

Referenced in today’s episode:

Episode transcripts are available here.

Is there a nutrition topic you’d like us to explore? Email us at [email protected] and we’ll do our best to cover it.

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 almost time for the holiday travel season, and we want to help you make it less stressful! So, today host Raheel Ramzanali is speaking with Jim Szczesniak, director of aviation at the Houston Airport System, about essential travel hacks, the latest on construction projects at Bush International Airport, and his insider tips on picking up passengers at Hobby or Bush. 

Learn more about the sponsors of this November 18th episode here:

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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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Introducing Trump's YOLO Cabinet from Pod Save America.

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Donald Trump goes all in on naming his biggest political boosters to Cabinet posts, whether they're qualified or not (they're not!). Trump wants alleged sex offender Matt Gaetz for Attorney General, vaccine skeptic RFK Jr. for HHS Secretary, dictator sympathizer Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence, Fox News host Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense, and Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy for the newly invented Department of Government Efficiency. Jon and Dan discuss the odds of Senate Republicans blocking any of these nominations, why Trump picked them in the first place, and how Democrats can respond without defending the status quo. Then, Jon sits down with Senator-elect Andy Kim of New Jersey to talk about how Democrats can listen and learn after the election, what Kim thinks of Trump's Cabinet picks so far, and learning to be comfortable with uncomfortable politics.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

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].