Hello Houston

On today’s Hello Houston, we observe the 25th anniversary of 9/11 with Christopher Combs, a former FBI agent who was at the Pentagon minutes after the building was struck. He recounts to us what he witnessed and the lessons he carries with him to this day.

Then, Tessa hosts the first edition of her feature, Tessa Takes On, in which she talks with Andrew Johnson, known to football fans as the Houston Texans’ mascot Toro. He talks about how his journey began, his children's book, and the physical requirements that go into playing the character.

In the second hour, we continue our observance and talk with Bill Tatar, Roman Aguilar, and Maren Will, the organizers of the Houston National Day of Service event taking place tomorrow, September 12, at the Houston National Cemetery, to honor those who lost their lives on 9/11.

And finally, we do our regular Friday feature Last Minute Plans, in which our hosts share a comprehensive rundown of events going down in the Houston area this weekend, while they, and Hello Houston listeners, share their own plans for the weekend.

Plus, our hosts Tessa Barrera and Ernie Manouse respond to calls and messages from Hello Houston listeners at the top of each hour, as they share their reflections on where they were and what they experienced on September 11, 2001.

On today’s Hello Houston, Dr. Zoabe Hafeez, a nonresident fellow at the Baker Institute’s Center for Health Policy, joins us to discuss a new study that looks at how changes to streets and school campuses could make traveling to school safer for students.

Then, we have our first HPM in Focus with Houston Public Media reporter Dominic Anthony Walsh, who joins us to discuss his article on how misdemeanor marijuana arrests have soared under Houston Mayor John Whitmire.

In the show’s second hour, we hear an excerpt from the latest edition of Ernie’s InnerVIEWS series, in which he chats with Motown legend Martha Reeves, lead singer of Martha and the Vandellas, to discuss her career and her new album, which is her first studio album in twenty-two years. To watch the full interview, click here. 

And finally, we do our regular Thursday feature, Current Obsessions, in which our hosts and listeners share a rundown of things that are currently taking over all their free time. You can send us your questions anytime by emailing us at [email protected].

And, as always, our hosts Tessa Barrera and Ernie Manouse discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani attending the city’s 9/11 remembrance ceremony despite calls for him not to attend, two Houston-area communities suspending the use of Flock cameras, President Trump promising $5,000 to every American if Republicans win in the midterms, and more.

On today’s Hello Houston, we talk with Dr. Anitra Beasley, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, who shares her thoughts on President Trump’s new leader of the FDA and how this choice could impact women’s health.

Then, we turn to the arts and debut the first edition of Ernie’s On the Marquee, in which he learns all about the upcoming production Gloria: A Life with Janye Anderson, founder and Executive Director of Cypress Stage, and the show’s director Deborah Hope.  

In the second hour of the show, we’re joined by three-time Olympian and 1996 gold medalist, Dominique Dawes, who tells us about her new Houston-based gymnastics academy and how it helps kids build strength, confidence and a love of movement.

Plus, Ann Dang, co-founder of Asian Streetness, and Thanh Le, chair of the Vietnamese Culture and Science Association, tell us about the upcoming Việt Cultural Fest, the largest Vietnamese festival in Texas, which will be held this Saturday, September 12, at Reliant Center.

And, as always, our hosts Tessa Barrera and Ernie Manouse discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including Latino lawmakers calling on Democratic leaders to invest in the Texas Governor’s race, Lindsay Clancy’s attorney asking President Trump to pardon her, and the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, which they discuss with Nate Hurst, a Political Editor for C-SPAN.

On today’s Hello Houston, we discuss a new report that finds renting a starter home is still cheaper than buying in all fifty of the nation’s largest metro areas with Jiayi Xu, an economist with Realtor.com, who also explains what the numbers look like in the Houston area. 

Then, Hello Houston Executive Producer Jim Kovacik launches our brand-new Tuesday feature, Five Simple Questions, where he asks famous and up and coming stars questions to find out who they truly are. Today, the spotlight is turned on local social media comedian Desmun Dangerfield.

In the second hour, we talk with University of Houston Law Center’s Nikolas Guggenberger, who discusses social media company Meta’s settlement with several U.S. states to resolve a landmark lawsuit over claims that its platforms are designed to be addictive to children, as well as a separate settlement with the state of Texas.

Plus, pianist Timo Andres tells us about his participation in The Complete Piano Etudes by Philip Glass, a live performance in which ten pianists perform one of the prolific composer’s most personal works. The performance will take place on Saturday, September 12, at Jones Hall. To watch Ernie Manouse’s interview with Phillip Glass for his series InnerVIEWS, click here.

And, as always, our hosts Tessa Barrera and Ernie Manouse talk about today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including a pro-Trump super PAC spending $10 million on an ad buy in the Texas Senate Race, the Trump administration drafting a plan to create a grant program for stay-at-home parents, Harris County commissioners considering a property tax increase today, and more.

On today’s Hello Houston, with food recalls growing in recent months, we talk with Dr. Byron Chaves, a professor in the Department of Food Science at Rutgers University, who discusses food safety and how food contamination is prevented.

Then, Brandon Johnson, a professional athlete, impact speaker, and founder of The AWAKE Program and The No Script Nonprofit, shares his story of turning his own experiences into a way to help Houston’s youth make better choices and see what’s possible for their future.

In the second hour, Darcie Wells, President and CEO of the Houston-based non-profit CanCare tells us about the organization’s work pairing cancer patients with cancer survivors, while Keith Saathoff shares how he became a CanCare volunteer after surviving stage 4 lymphoma.

Plus, our hosts Tessa Barrera and Ernie Manouse give us a combination of our regular weekly features “Current Obsessions” and “Last Minute Plans,” by sharing the latest things that have been taking over all their free time, while they also share a comprehensive rundown of events happening this Labor Day weekend in the Houston area.

And, as always, our hosts talk about today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including Texas’s comptroller asking state legislators to increase the budget of the school voucher program, Texas health experts calling on state leaders to restrict prediction market platforms, the judge in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial saying he’ll declare a mistrial, and more.

On today’s Hello Houston, Ronaldo and Lorenzo Salgado join us to discuss the emotional impact of the death of their father, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, who was shot and killed by an ICE agent on July 7 in Houston, and what they’re looking for when it comes to justice.

Then, we turn to medicine and talk with Dr. Vipal Durkal, a medical oncologist with Texas Oncology-Houston Medical Center, who tells us about a possible breakthrough in the treatment of pancreatic cancer and what this advancement could mean for patients. 

In the second hour, as Harris County commissioners prepare to vote on a proposed budget that would include the highest property tax rate in 20 years, Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones joins us to discuss what’s driving the proposed increase.

Plus, Tony and Grammy-nominated actress, singer, and songwriter Orfeh and Houston native music director Steven Jamail, talk about their upcoming Live at the Founder’s Club concert, which will run at the Hobby Center for two nights next week.

On today’s Hello Houston, retired NASA astronaut, engineer, and NFL football player Leland Melvin tells us how he went from the football field to the stars, his experiences in space, and his post-NASA career ahead of his upcoming event at Space Center Houston.

Next, director Tyler Mann, actress Rachel DeRouen and actor Eric Roberts discuss their film I Voted, which takes a real-life experience and turns it into a dark, political thriller. The film opens in select theaters on September 4th.  

In the second hour, we discuss restoring the oyster population along the Texas coast with Justin Woody, vice president of Jeri’s Seafood Inc., who’s worked alongside Palacios Marine Agricultural Research on a new method for oyster restoration.

And finally, we talk with Kathryn Tart, dean of the Gessner College of Nursing at the University of Houston, who breaks down the growing shortage of nurses in Texas and how the University of Houston is working to train the nurses of the future.

And, as always, our hosts Tessa Barrera and Ernie Manouse discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including the Texas State Board of Education preliminarily approving a rewrite of high school social studies curriculum, the city of Houston approving an anti-annexation deal with The Woodlands, and the autonomous vehicle company Zoox coming soon to Houston.

On today’s Hello Houston, the University of Houston Law Center’s David Froomkin joins us to help us make sense of what’s happening with mail-in voting after a federal judge temporarily blocked President Trump’s executive order imposing restrictions on mail-in voting.

Then, we discuss why childhood vaccination rates are declining and what this means for children and communities with Dr. Michael Burgess, a physician and former U.S. Congressman, who represented Texas’s 26th district.

In the second hour of the show, we talk with Jackie Anderson, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers, who explains what’s driving Houston ISD’s teacher exodus with public records showing significant teacher departures at dozens of campuses last year.  

Also, internationally acclaimed artist Jitish Kallat joins us to tell us all about his new art installation at the Menil Drawing Center and what inspired it ahead of its opening on Thursday, September 10th.

Plus, our hosts Tessa Barrera and Ernie Manouse get the latest on Tropical Storm Edouard at the top of each hour by talking with Space City Weather meteorologist Eric Berger and Houston Public Media reporter Julianna Washburn, who reports live from Galveston to tell us what we're currently seeing on the island.

On today’s Hello Houston, with today marking International Overdose Awareness Day, Dr. Doug Thornton, Director of the Prescription Drug Misuse Education and Research Center, explains why overdose deaths are declining across the country and what we’re seeing in Texas. 

Next, Dr. Megan Covington, a Canine Behavior Specialist and founder of The Pit Bull Doctor, breaks down what dogs can teach us about emotional regulation, relationships, and meaningful change.

In the second hour, we're joined by Harrison Guy, the founder and artistic director of Urban Souls Dance Company, who talks to us about how he’s honoring the legacy of Prairie View A&M University through performance as the university celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, and why telling these stories through art matters.

Plus, we also talk with Matthew Tabor, the art director and owner of the Houston-based design studio Letterset, who tells us about his work designing logos for several Houston area restaurants and small businesses.

And, as always, our hosts Tessa Barrera and Ernie Manouse discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including the latest on the developing tropical disturbance in the Gulf, which they discuss with Houston Chronicle newsroom meteorologist Justin Ballard, Gov. Abbot ordering state agencies to pause the funding of Flock cameras, President Trump announcing plans to create a space-focused academy, and more.

On today’s Hello Houston, Dr. Peter Bahr, Vice President for the Institute for the Future of Work at the Strada Education Foundation, discusses a new report that looks at where college-educated workers are staying, where they’re moving, and how retaining native workers impacts a state’s workforce and economy.

Then, we’re joined by comedian, actor, and former Saturday Night Live cast member Jay Pharoah, who talks to us about his comedy career, his impressions, and his upcoming shows at Houston Improv this entire weekend.

In the second hour of the show, Dr. Sarah Nadeem, an endocrinologist and associate professor at Baylor College of Medicine, joins us to discuss the growing use of medications for weight management and what patients should know before taking them.

And finally, Grammy Award-winner and lead singer of The Suffers, Kam Franklin, sits down with Hello Houston Executive Producer Jim Kovacik for his new recurring feature Five Simple Questions, to give us an intimate glimpse into her world. Five Simple Questions will officially premiere on Hello Houston, Tuesday, September 8.

And, as always, our hosts Tessa Barrera and Ernie Manouse discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including deliberations resuming in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial today, President Trump signing an executive order to rename Lake Ontario to “Lake America,” the City of Houston disconnecting water for thousands of customers with overdue balances, and more.