City Cast Houston

By City Cast

Food, culture, news and nature in the sweaty Bayou City. Join Host Raheel Ramzanali and the City Cast Houston team as we celebrate and interrogate this sprawling place with our favorite journalists, t... more

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FAQs about City Cast Houston:

How many episodes does City Cast Houston have?

The podcast currently has 1,171 episodes available.

City Cast Houston episodes:

July 18, 2025TikTok Creates Hurricane Panic, 9 Days at IAH, & Mayor’s New Street Law
We made it to Friday! Host Raheel Ramzanali is breaking down the biggest stories of the week with ABC13 reporter Pooja Lodhia. From why a Palestinian man was detained without reason at Bush Airport to Mayor Whitmire’s new plan on solving homelessness, Raheel and Pooja are talking about it all. Plus, an update on the Tropic Storm Dexter and how TikTok created a rush of panic in our city.

Stories we talked about on today’s show:
Why Is Mayor Whitmire Scrapping an Approved Montrose Bike Lane?

Houston family says Palestinian man was released after being detained at IAH for more than a week

More than 1,300 immigrants arrested in Houston in just one month, ICE says

Apparently TikTok is convinced a hurricane will hit Houston this weekend

Houston bans sidewalk sleeping on downtown, East End sidewalks as Whitmire pushes homelessness fixes

Quiet mastermind behind Houston's largest sculptures dies at 98

Jane and the Lion Bakehouse

Houston World Series of Dogs

Learn more about the sponsors of this July 18th episode:
Visit Port Aransas
Jones Dairy Farm
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!
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk!
Photo: Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images
...more
29min
July 17, 2025 Why We Love Houston (Even When It’s Hard to Live Here)
If you don’t know by now, we REALLY love Houston. So, today host Raheel Ramzanali is joined by City Cast Houston executive producer Laura Isensee, producer Carlignon Jones, and Hey Houston newsletter editor Brooke Lewis to write a love letter to the city to explain why H-Town will always hold a special place in their hearts.
Learn more about the sponsors of this July 17th episode:
Visit Port Aransas
Jones Dairy Farm
Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston Follow us on Instagram @CityCastHoustonDon’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!
...more
29min
July 16, 2025The Best Food Trucks in Houston Right Now
Food trucks are a great way to get a taste of our diverse and innovative culinary scene, but with so many to pick from, it can be overwhelming! So, host Raheel Ramzanali is talking to Sofia Gonzalez, food and travel editor at Houstonia Magazine, about which food trucks we need to check out! Places we mentioned on today's show:
403 Eats Food Truck Park

Boat Basin Food Truck Park

Gourmandize

Tacos Laguna

Our Favorite 25 Tacos in Houston

Foreign Policy Food Truck

Tacos Tierra Caliente

Cheaters Creamery

Mom’s Kunafa

Latin Restaurant Weeks
Learn more about the sponsors of this July 16th episode:Visit Port AransasJones Dairy Farm
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!
...more
17min
July 15, 2025Why Is Mayor Whitmire Scrapping an Approved Montrose Bike Lane?
Mayor Whitmire and his administration just scrapped a planned bike lane in Montrose. So, host Raheel Ramzanali is talking to Dominic Anthony Walsh, reporter at Houston Public Media, about why this administration is taking out another bike lane, what the public response has been to this move, and what this means for other parts of the city.

Stories we talked about on today’s show:
Montrose loses another planned bike lane as Houston Mayor John Whitmire preserves width of car lanes

Houston Subreddit’s thoughts on the scrapped bike lane

Why Isn't Montrose More Walkable?

Learn more about the sponsors of this July 15th episode:
Margaritaville Lake Resort Lake Conroe | Houston
Visit Port Aransas
Jones Dairy Farm

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: Brett Holmes via Getty Images
...more
29min
July 14, 2025Why It’s Even Harder To Become a Citizen in Houston Now
Houston is home to more than 1 million immigrants — and for many, the path to legal status is confusing, expensive, and painfully slow. Just ask our host Raheel Ramzanali — his family went through it. So on today’s show, he talks with immigration attorney Zulfiqar Prasla to break down why the process is so broken and how it’s impacting immigrants in our city.

Dive deeper into today’s topic:
What we know (and don’t know) about immigrants living in the Houston area without legal permission

DOJ announces plans to prioritize cases to revoke citizenship

Learn more about the sponsors of this July 14th episode:
Visit Port Aransas
A.D. Players Theater
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
Jones Dairy Farm

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!
...more
24min
July 11, 2025Viral Football Quote, Special Session, & Dress Code at Houston Clubs
It’s been an intense week of news here in Houston and Texas. Host Raheel Ramzanali and Evan Mintz, editor of opinion and community engagement for the Houston Chronicle, discuss how we can prevent future flooding tragedies in Texas. Plus, they talk about Governor Abbott’s special session agenda and his viral quote about the floods and football. Then, it’s a new meeting time for City Council, dress code reform and a crowded race for Harris County Judge. Oh, and of course they’re ending the week with their moments of joy!

A previous version of this podcast incorrectly stated that none of the new candidates for Harris County Judge had experience winning a Democratic primary. Erica Lee Carter won the Democratic primary for the Harris County Department of Education board in 2012. She also won a 2024 special election to her late mother’s congressional seat — she was not appointed.

Stories we talked about on today’s show:
Gov. Greg Abbott says asking hard questions about flood deaths is for 'losers.' He's wrong. | Opinion

Gov. Abbott orders special session on Hill Country flooding, redistricting, THC and unfinished GOP priorities

Green Ribbons for Camp Mystic. Plus, Calls for Flood Safety Measures

Who Can Actually Hold CenterPoint Accountable for Beryl?

Camp Mystic families are hurting enough. Stop the hate, hoaxes and rumors

Houston council member Letitia Plummer launches bid for Lina Hidalgo's seat for Harris County judge

Houston City Council will test out evening public comment periods to boost public participation

These Houston politicians were denied entry to a nightclub. Now they want dress codes posted.

Learn more about the sponsors of this July 11th episode:
Downtown Houston+
Margaritaville Lake Resort Lake Conroe | Houston
Visit Port Aransas
A.D. Players Theater
Contemporary Arts Museum 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!
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk!
Photo: Robert Daemmrich Photography Inc/Corbis via Getty Images
...more
31min
July 10, 2025The Best Deals and Events for 713 Day This Weekend
713 Day is coming up this weekend — July 13 named after Houston’s OG area code. So, we’re getting you ready with the best deals and events from Houston influencer ShawnTheFoodSheep! From block parties to drink specials, these recommendations will have you set to celebrate H-Town.

Recommendations from Shawn:
Meow Wolf x Saint Arnold Block Party

Lil Flip and Friends at Karbach

713 Day Fest at Wonky Power

713 Day at the Houston Food Bank

713 Day Adoption Event at the Houston Humane Society

Houston Dynamo 713 Day Mural Celebration

Pizaro’s 713 Day Pizza Special

Houston Zoo $7.13 Tickets

Fielding’s River Oaks

Christians Tailgate

Norigami Houston

Houston Astros 713 Day Game

Learn more about the sponsors of this July 10th episode:
Margaritaville Lake Resort Lake Conroe | Houston
Visit Port Aransas
A.D. Players Theater
Contemporary Arts Museum 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!
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk!
...more
25min
July 09, 2025Green Ribbons for Camp Mystic. Plus, Calls for Flood Safety Measures
Today on City Cast Houston, over 100 people have died from the Texas floods, raising questions if the scale of this tragedy could have been prevented. Host Raheel Ramzanali talks with columnist Chris Tomlinson about why he believes state leaders ignored warnings of worsening flood risks. Plus, former camper Rachel Kherkher shares what made Camp Mystic so magical — and how she’s trying to help uplift our community during this time of grief.
Houston ISD elementary school student Greta Toranzo dies in Camp Mystic floods, parents say

Guadalupe River flood deaths were entirely preventable — but Texas officials ignored the warnings

Learn more about the sponsors of this July 9th episode:
Margaritaville Lake Resort Lake Conroe | Houston
Visit Port Aransas
A.D. Players Theater
Contemporary Arts Museum 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!
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk!
...more
25min
July 08, 2025Who Can Actually Hold CenterPoint Accountable for Beryl?
It’s been one year since Hurricane Beryl hit Houston and knocked out power for millions. In the aftermath, state leaders and local lawmakers blasted CenterPoint for multiple failures, from its outage tracker, to delayed power restoration, and generators that never turned on. But, did our leaders hold CenterPoint accountable? Host Raheel Ramzanali talks with Claire Hao, energy and power grid reporter at the Houston Chronicle, about the failure to deliver meaningful reform, the power company’s plans, and why customers will have to pay more.
Texas lawmakers failed to deliver on big CenterPoint reforms after Beryl: 'Band-Aids on bullet wounds'

Texas leaders broke promises to hold CenterPoint accountable after Hurricane Beryl. Here are 5 takeaways.

Seniors died at higher rates after Beryl, one calls days without power “scary”

SB 231

Learn more about the sponsors of this July 8th episode:
Margaritaville Lake Resort Lake Conroe | Houston
Visit Port Aransas
A.D. Players Theater
Contemporary Arts Museum 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!
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk!
Photo: Getty Images
...more
37min
July 07, 2025Houstonians Missing and Mourning after Texas Flooding
Historic rainfall in the Texas Hill Country over the July Fourth weekend killed at least 67 people statewide. Some of the missing are from the Greater Houston area, including some young girls from the sleep-away camp, Camp Mystic. With state leaders promising a “relentless” search and federal assistance on the way, host Raheel Ramzanali and executive producer Laura Isensee talked on Sunday to bring you the latest on what we know and how to help.The latest on the historic flooding and stories we talked about:
Houston Chronicle’s Live Coverage

Here’s why the Texas Hill Country flood was much worse than anyone ever expected

In Texas region prone to catastrophic floods, questions grow about lack of warning

Making sense of the weather that led to a horrible Texas flooding tragedy

What we know about the Camp Mystic girls still missing after devastating floods in Central Texas
Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston Follow us on Instagram @CityCastHoustonDon’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!
...more
19min

FAQs about City Cast Houston:

How many episodes does City Cast Houston have?

The podcast currently has 1,171 episodes available.

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