City Cast Houston

All week long on Education Week, we’ve been focusing on traditional career paths and education pathways, but there’s a labor trend that could provide Houstonians with another route to career success. Host Raheel Ramzanali is talking to Hany Khalil, executive director of the Texas Gulf Coast Labor Federation, about why more and more Houstonians are turning to union apprenticeships, how these roles are benefiting the city, and why attitudes are changing toward a “college or bust” mentality. 

Stories we talked about on today’s show: 

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If you enjoyed today's interview with the Texas Renaissance Festival's King, Greg Taylor, learn more here.

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Photo: Kelly/Pexels

It’s year three of the state’s takeover of HISD, so today’s episode of Education Week is all about the issues parents and community leaders are facing this school year. Host Raheel Ramzanali is talking to Dani Hernandez, elected chair of the Houston ISD Board of Education, and HISD parent Liz Silva about state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles’ lofty goals, in-class learning, school closures, and more. 

Stories we talked about on today’s show: 

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 24th episode:

Texas Renaissance Festival

The Village School

Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST

Downtown Houston+

Wise

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Photo: Larry D. Moore/Creative Commons 

Education week continues here on City Cast Houston and today we’re learning about why our youngest Houstonians need better childcare. Host Raheel Ramzanali is talking to Dr. Melanie Johnson, CEO for the Collaborative for Children, about why we’re in a childcare crisis, what’s being done to create more quality early learning centers in Houston, and why it should matter to all Houstonians. 

Stories we talked about on today’s show :

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 23rd episode:

Texas Renaissance Festival

The Village School

Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST

Downtown Houston+

Wise

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

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Photo: Bruno Girin/Creative Commons

It’s Education Week on City Cast Houston! All week long we’ll be focusing on how the future of our city is being shaped through education-related developments like early child care, the rise of workforce training, and more. But today, we’re looking at how new state education laws are changing Houston’s public schools and colleges. Host Raheel Ramzanali is talking to Samantha Ketterer, higher education reporter at the Houston Chronicle, and Jaden Edison, K-12 reporter for the Texas Tribune, about these new state laws and what you need to know for this school year and beyond. 

Stories we talked about on today’s show: 

If you enjoyed today's interview with Switchyards' Creative Director, Brandon Hinman, learn more here.

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 22nd episode:

Texas Renaissance Festival

The Village School

Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST

Downtown Houston+

Wise

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

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Photo: Bruno Girin/Creative Commons 

Harris County saw major political moves this week when Judge Lina Hidalgo announced she would not seek reelection for a third term. Host Raheel Ramzanali breaks down that story, from Hidalgo’s legacy to what this means for the Texas Democrats, to who’ll take her seat. Plus, a local suburb is getting some national attention and the heartbreaking story behind why a man died outside a restaurant. And, a special goodbye to a member of the City Cast Houston team.

Stories we talked about on today’s show: 

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 19th episode:

Holocaust Museum Houston

Kidney Cancer Association

The Texas Tribune Festival

4th Wall Theatre Company

Texas Renaissance Festival

Downtown Houston+

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

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Photo: Ed Uthman/Creative Commons

Houston’s packed with so many things to see and do, sometimes you’ve got to play tourist in your own town. And now that the weather’s cooling down (just a little), it’s the perfect time to start crossing that off your Houston bucket list. Host Raheel Ramzanali, producer Carlignon Jones, and Hey Houston newsletter editor Brooke Lewis share the must-do experiences they’re adding to theirs — and we want to know, what’s on yours?

This conversation originally aired May 15, 2025.

If you enjoyed today's interview with Switchyards' Creative Director, Brandon Hinman, learn more here. RSVP here for the Sneak Peak. 

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 18th episode:

Holocaust Museum Houston

Kidney Cancer Association

The Texas Tribune Festival

4th Wall Theatre Company

Texas Renaissance Festival

Places on our bucket list: 

Learn more about the sponsors of this May 15th episode:

Stages

Prolonlife.com/city - Use this link for 15% off 

Buffalo Bayou Partnership

Bandera County Convention & Visitors Bureau

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Photo:Jermaine Thomas II/City Cast

We’re all feeling the financial pressures of today’s economy. So, host Raheel Ramzanali is getting some great budget bites around the city from Culture Map Houston’s editor Eric Sandler. Plus, Raheel has a hot take on a new viral ice cream that might get Bluebell lovers in an uproar. And, what is going on with James Harden’s restaurant?! 

Places we talked about on today’s show: 

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 17th episode:

Holocaust Museum Houston

Kidney Cancer Association

The Texas Tribune Festival

4th Wall Theatre Company

Texas Renaissance 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!

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Photo: Marco Torres/@MarcoFromHouston

Houston’s annual count of our homeless population shows a troubling trend. And now, our city just ranked first in the country for the highest poverty rate. What’s going on?! Host Raheel Ramzanali is talking with Rebecca Schuetz, housing reporter for the Houston Chronicle, about what’s being done by the city to reduce homelessness. Plus, what happens when the fire truck’s too big for the station, and why one of the world’s most famous influencers got banned from the Galleria. 

Stories we talked about on today’s show: 

If you enjoyed today's interview with the Texas Renaissance Festival's King, Greg Taylor, ⁠learn more here⁠.

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 16th episode:

⁠Contemporary Arts Museum Houston⁠

⁠Holocaust Museum Houston⁠

⁠Kidney Cancer Association⁠

⁠Huel⁠ - Save 15% with code HOUSTON

⁠The Texas Tribune 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!

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Photo: Jermaine Thomas II/City Cast

Last month, local journalists with the Houston Chronicle and The Texas Newsroom revealed that Elon Musk and a Texas Congressman are quietly pitching a plan to build tunnels under Houston, apparently to ease flooding. It would cost $760 million. It’s part of a playbook from so-called “Tesla” tunnels in other cities like Las Vegas and Nashville. So Raheel Ramzanali is bringing on Dayvid Figler, host of our sister show City Cast Las Vegas, to talk about how these tunnels have played out for residents in Sin City and what Houstonians need to know.

Dive deeper into the Tesla tunnels:

If you enjoyed today's interview with the British International School of Houston's Principal, Barrie Scymgeour, learn more here.

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 15th episode:

Holocaust Museum Houston

Kidney Cancer Association

The Texas Tribune Festival

4th Wall Theatre Company

Texas Renaissance 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!

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Photo: Brooke Lewis/City Cast

Meltdowns at commissioners court, a hotel workers’ strike, and a new investigation into building in the floodplain— it’s another busy week in Houston! Host Raheel Ramzanali is joined by Chron.com’s trending news reporter Faith Bugenhagen and conservative commentator Charles Blain to unpack why Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo abruptly walked out of budget talks, what the Hilton Americas strike means for other workers, and why Houston is STILL building in flood zones.

Dive deeper into stories we talked about on today’s show: 

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 12th episode:

Contemporary Arts Museum Houston

Awty International School Houston

Holocaust Museum Houston

Kidney Cancer Association

Huel - Save 15% with code HOUSTON

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! 

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Photo: Ed Uthman