City Cast Houston

By City CastSociety & Culture News Daily News

City Cast Houston episodes

October 09, 2025The Best Fall Events in Houston for Under $20
Fall is PACKED with fun events and things to do in Houston, but with the holiday season looming, how can we experience it all without breaking the bank? Host Raheel Ramzanali is calling on his friend Meagan Clanahan, co-owner of HoustonMom.com, to put together a list of fun fall events for under $100. From classic pumpkin patches to scary mazes, you’ll enjoy the season without it costing a fortune.

Places we talked about on today’s show:
Houston Pumpkin Festival at Discovery Green

Viral SLAB at Discovery Green

Saturday Stargazing at George Observatory

ArBOOretum

The Great Pumpkin Hunt in Bellaire

Haunted Maze

The Ultimate Houston Fall Bucket List

Spooky, Scary, and Frightfully Fun: Houston’s Haunted Houses

Houston Area Guide to Pumpkin Patches and Fall Festivals
Learn more about the sponsors of this October 9th episode:
Westbury Christian School
Wise
AIA Houston
Bayou City Art Festival
CAF Wings Over Houston - Use code CCWOH25

Want to become a City Cast Houston Neighbor? Check out our membership program.

Submit what YOU love about Houston here for our 1,000 things list. Or, leave us a voicemail or text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts!

Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston
Follow us on Instagram @CityCastHouston
Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know!
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk!
Photo: Kaboompics.com/Pexels
25 min
October 08, 2025Shrimp, Oysters, and More of Houston’s Best Seafood
It’s National Seafood Month and Houston has so many delicious seafood spots to try … so, where should you go first? Host Raheel Ramzanali is bringing on Raz Halili, owner of Fish Company Taco and Pier 6 Seafood and Oyster House, to get his recommendations of the best places to eat fish, shrimp, oysters, and more. Plus, we get into how important the seafood industry is to our region!
Check out recommendations from today’s show:
Pier 6 Seafood and Oyster House

La Lucha

Caracol

Katie’s Seafood House

Goode Co.

Fish Company Taco

Uchi

Trulucks

Brennan’s

Submit what YOU love about Houston here for our 1,000 things list. Or, leave us a voicemail or text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts!
Want to become a City Cast Houston Neighbor? Check out our membership program.
Learn more about the sponsors of this October 8th episode:
Westbury Christian School
Wise
AIA Houston
Bayou City Art Festival
Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston
Follow us on Instagram @CityCastHouston
Don’t have social media?
Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know!
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk!
Photo: Maria Orlova/Pexels
19 min
October 07, 2025HISD Limits Media Coverage, I-10 Bridge Hit Again, and Another Candidate for Senator
Why is HISD creating a new plan to limit how the district is covered by local media? Plus, the Houston Avenue bridge on I-10 keeps getting hit by trucks … what is going on?! Host Raheel Ramzanali is talking to Gwen Howerton, Texas culture reporter at Chron.com, about these stories and others, including a new religious community center in Montrose.

Stories we talked about on today’s show:
⁠Houston ISD to control coverage of district by hiring own news crew⁠

⁠Houston Avenue bridge struck by semi-truck, temporarily blocking eastbound lanes on the Katy Freeway⁠

⁠Houston U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt joins Republican Senate primary against John Cornyn and Ken Paxton⁠

⁠Sprawling Muslim community center eyes fall opening in Houston⁠

⁠2025 2nd Annual Faith and Affordable Housing Summit⁠

⁠Indie Rock Band Passion Pit Calls for Houstonians to Help ⁠

⁠Before becoming a hip-hop legend, a Houston producer helped Selena find her pitch⁠

⁠Passenger attempts to open door on United flight after landing at Bush Airport, police say⁠
Learn more about the sponsors of this October 7th episode:
⁠Westbury Christian School⁠
⁠Wise⁠
⁠AIA Houston⁠
⁠Bayou City Art Festival⁠

Want to become a City Cast Houston Neighbor? Check out our ⁠membership program⁠.

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!
Interested in advertising with City Cast? ⁠Let’s Talk!⁠
Photo: Larry D. Moore/Creative Commons
27 min
October 06, 2025How Worried Should Houstonians Be About the 18th Congressional District’s Future?
What is going on in Houston’s historic 18th congressional district? It’s been targeted by state leaders since Representative Sylvester Turner died earlier this year, which has caused it to go without representation for nearly eight months. And now with the special election to fill the vacant seat just weeks away, the future of the district is about to change because of redistricting court battles. Host Raheel Ramzanali is talking to Tannistha Sinha, political reporter at The Defender, about why the future of the historic 18th congressional district should matter to every Houstonian.
Stories we talked about on today’s show:
Two-way dead heat: Texas Congressional District-18 Special Election field still wide open, survey finds

How Texas’ mid-decade redistricting could affect voters in one Houston community

Potential primary challenge next year by U.S. Rep. Al Green looms over November’s special election in TX-18
Learn more about the sponsors of this October 6th episode:
Westbury Christian School
Wise
AIA Houston
Bayou City Art Festival
Want to become a City Cast Houston Neighbor? Check out our membership program.
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!
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk!
Photo: Ed Uthman/Creative Commons
22 min
October 03, 2025Do We Need Gov. Abbott’s Crime Task Force? Plus, Avoiding the Bayous and Bad Bunny Outrage
What’s the deal with Governor Abbott’s new crime task force focusing on Houston? Host Raheel Ramzanali is joined by Maggie Gordon, senior storytelling editor at Straight Arrow News, to explain what’s going on and break down other news of the week. Plus, are you avoiding the bayous because of the 22 bodies found in them? And, why is one state leader worried about a halftime show?
Stories we talked about on today’s show:
‘All-in effort’: Governor Abbott unveils public safety initiative in Houston to combat violent crime

Reddit: Abbott to launch Houston crime crackdown. But will Whitmire be on board?

We were always told to fear Houston's bayous. Now we fear what we're not being told

22 people found dead in Houston-area bayous, but cause of death released for only 6

Here are the biggest impacts on Texas during the government shutdown

Space Center Houston remains open during government shutdown; NASA tours paused

Where can Americans afford to live solo in 2025?

Ken Paxton, conservatives criticize NFL's decision for Bad Bunny halftime show at Super Bowl 60

Members-only dog park coming to Houston this fall
Learn more about the sponsors of this October 3rd episode:
4th Wall Theatre Company
Midtown Houston
Bayou City Art Festival
FotoFest
CAF Wings Over Houston - Use code CCWOH25
Downtown Houston+
Want to become a City Cast Houston Neighbor? Check out our membership program.
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!
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk!
Photo: Brooke Lewis
32 min
October 02, 2025Where To Go for Nigerian Food in H-Town
Houston is home to the biggest Nigerian population outside of Nigeria, and with that comes some delicious restaurants in our area. Houston-based blogger and proud Nigerian Nneka Kanu shares some of her favorite spots with host Raheel Ramzanali. With some places specializing in grilled suya and others boasting about their savory Jollof Rice, these are the local Nigerian restaurants you have to try.
Places we talked about on today’s show:
CHÒPNBLỌK

Finger Licking

Aria Suya Kitchen

Café Abuja

Wazobia Market

Suya Outpost

Mex African Foods

Learn more about the sponsors of this October 2nd episode:
4th Wall Theatre Company
Midtown Houston
Bayou City Art Festival
FotoFest
CAF Wings Over Houston - Use code CCWOH25
Want to become a City Cast Houston Neighbor? Check out our membership program.

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!
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk!
Photo: Jermaine Thomas II/City Cast
19 min
October 01, 2025 Your Guide to October 2025 in Houston
We’re in the final stretch of 2025 and it all kicks off with October. Host Raheel Ramzanali is joined by Erica Cheng, news and city life editor at Houstonia Magazine, and Hey Houston newsletter editor Brooke Lewis to lay out what you need to do this month in Houston. From spooky season to award-winning bites, here’s your guide to October! Want to meet more single people in Houston this month? Check out our tips for where to meet people in real life!
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 Hey Houston’s take on what to do this month.
Learn more about the sponsors of this October 1st episode:
4th Wall Theatre Company
Midtown Houston
Bayou City Art Festival
FotoFest
CAF Wings Over Houston - Use code CCWOH25
Holocaust Museum Houston

Want to become a City Cast Houston Neighbor? Check out our membership program.

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!
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk!
Photo: Kaboompics.com/Pexels
33 min
September 30, 2025Halloween Decoration Sparks Free Speech Debate, METRORail Controversy, and Dog Park Gentrification
METRORail is experiencing so many delays with their red line, and a group seeking to recall Mayor Whitmire is getting ready to start collecting signatures. City Cast Houston host Raheel Ramzanali and ABC13 reporter Pooja Lodhia are breaking down these stories, plus the battle over an influential megachurch, how a local man’s Halloween decoration is sparking an intense free speech debate, and the end of a golden era in Houston. Oh, and you have to hear today’s Only in H-Town segment about why some community members are worried about gentrification in the East End.

Stories we talked about on today’s show:
⁠METRORail riders are asking why trains are experiencing delays⁠

⁠METRORail operator on Reddit ⁠

⁠Group working to recall Houston mayor says it will start collecting signatures next week⁠

⁠Can These Houstonians Really Kick Mayor Whitmire out of Office?⁠

⁠Houston’s Second Baptist is a church at legal war with its members. Who will win — and at what cost?⁠

⁠Halloween decoration in Houston's Second Ward sparks controversy⁠

⁠Astros eliminated from playoff chase, ending 8-year postseason streak⁠

⁠Members-only dog park coming to Houston this fall⁠
Learn more about the sponsors of this September 30th episode:
⁠4th Wall Theatre Company⁠
⁠Midtown Houston⁠
⁠Bayou City Art Festival⁠
⁠FotoFest⁠
⁠CAF Wings Over Houston⁠ - Use code CCWOH25

Want to become a City Cast Houston Neighbor? Check out our ⁠membership program⁠.

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!
Interested in advertising with City Cast? ⁠Let’s Talk!⁠
Photo: Ed Uthman/Creative Commons
26 min
September 29, 2025Is Houston or Austin the Best City in Texas?
It’s a Lone Star Showdown today on City Cast Houston, as we take on our colleagues at City Cast Austin for the title of best city in Texas. Host Raheel Ramzanali is partnering up with local journalist Laura Isensee to rep H-Town, versus City Cast Austin host Nikki DaVaughn and producer Elissa Castles. We’re debating everything from affordability and entertainment to music and food to see which city deserves the crown.
Stories we talked about on today’s show:
⁠Houston vs Austin affordability calculator ⁠

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 29th episode:
⁠4th Wall Theatre Company⁠
⁠Midtown Houston⁠
⁠Bayou City Art Festival⁠
⁠FotoFest⁠
⁠CAF Wings Over Houston⁠ - Use code CCWOH25

Want to become a City Cast Houston Neighbor? Check out our ⁠membership program⁠.

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!
Interested in advertising with City Cast? ⁠Let’s Talk!⁠
Photo: CY/Unsplash
37 min
September 26, 2025Is There a Bayou Serial Killer? Plus, Emergency THC Law and Voter Suppression on College Campuses
It’s our final day of Education Week and we’re mixing it up by bringing on student journalists for our Friday news roundup! Host Raheel Ramzanali is joined by Sarah Knowlton, editor in chief at ⁠The Rice Thresher⁠, and David Hill, reporter at ⁠KTSU from Texas Southern University⁠, to talk about safety on campus and Mayor Whitmire’s press conference in light of the Houston serial killer social media rumors, what free speech issues local university students are facing right now, and more!

Stories we talked about today:
⁠No serial killer in Houston, Mayor Whitmire says, after five bodies pulled from bayous⁠

⁠Rice announces Chao College as 12th residential college⁠

⁠Rice drops to bottom of free speech ranking⁠

⁠Rice’s Student Survey ⁠

⁠Andrew White officially launches Democratic bid to take on Greg Abbott⁠

⁠Students struggle with mail-in ballots during 2024 election⁠

⁠Texas Southern University's beloved campus radio station could go silent⁠

⁠Many Texas retailers can no longer sell THC to customers under 21⁠

⁠Soccer wins twice, ranked 25th in the nation⁠

Want to become a City Cast Houston Neighbor? Check out our ⁠membership program⁠.
Learn more about the sponsors of this September 26th episode:
⁠Texas Renaissance Festival⁠
⁠The Village School⁠
⁠Babbel⁠ - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST
⁠Downtown Houston+⁠
⁠Wise⁠
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!
Interested in advertising with City Cast? ⁠Let’s Talk!⁠
Photo: Jermaine Thomas II/City Cast
32 min

About City Cast Houston

From the publisher's feed

The daily podcast for food, culture, news, and nature in the sweaty Bayou City. Join host Raheel Ramzanali and the City Cast Houston team every weekday morning as we celebrate and interrogate this…