Hello Houston

On today’s Hello Houston, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s Chairman Wesley Sinor discusses the rodeo's record investment in Texas students through millions of dollars in scholarships, his vision for leading the rodeo, and what's already in the works for next year's event.

Then, Houston artist Tay Butler tells us about his journey from the military to becoming an artist, why he views art as a form of resistance, and how today's social and political climate continues to shape his work.

In the second hour, we talk with freelance journalist Jennifer Swann, who explains how Houston-native singer D4vd's devoted fan base evolved into a crowdsourced search for the truth after he was accused of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

Plus, Dr. Yolanda Becker, the Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of the organ procurement organization LifeGift, joins us to clarify common misconceptions about organ donation and what’s at stake for the thousands of Texans waiting for a transplant.

And, as always, Ernie Manouse and guest host Craig Hlavaty talk about today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including a new Texas U.S. Senate race poll showing James Talarico leading over Ken Paxton, the Trump administration asking the Supreme Court to clear the way for an executive order on mail-in voting, and Dr. Anthony Fauci declining to answer any questions before a Senate committee focused on the coronavirus pandemic.

On today’s Hello Houston, Ernie Manouse and guest host Doug Miller begin the show by discussing today’s top stories, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick asking state lawmakers to find ways to further instill religion into public life and singer Ella Langley's song "Choosin' Texas" making chart history.

Then, Dr. Jonathan McCullers, Dean of the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine at the University of Houston, talks to us about UH Health, a new cross-disciplinary academic health enterprise to help advance the school’s medical program and Houston’s medical industry.

In the second hour of the show, U.S. Representative Sylvia Garcia joins us to discuss a federal judge ordering the release of one of the witnesses to the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by a federal immigration agent, and other issues surrounding this case.

Next, we discuss how ongoing conflicts in the Middle East are creating displacement and humanitarian challenges in the region with Kelsey Norman, a Fellow for the Middle East at Rice University's Baker Institute, who also shares her thoughts on what this could mean for the future of the region.

And finally, we hear from Houston radio personality, Madd Hatta, who talks to us about touring libraries across the Houston area to share his newly released children's book, Kase’s Little Adventures, what it teaches young readers, and where the idea for the book came from. 

On today’s Hello Houston, newly elected Houston City Council Member Joe Panzarella shares his vision for the future of Freedmen’s Town, which focuses on balancing growth and preserving its history while simultaneously giving its residents a stronger voice. 

Next, we talk with Ignacio “Nacho” Torras, co-founder of the Genuine Cup, who tells us all about this international soccer tournament and how it empowers athletes with intellectual disabilities and autism from all over the world.

In the second hour of the show, we learn about Combined Arms, a Houston-based referral network for veterans, service members, and military families with Mia Garcia, Executive Director of the organization’s Texas Veterans Network.

Plus, Sean Tajipour, the founder and editor of Nerdtropolis, calls in to talk to us about what was announced at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con and which upcoming projects he’s most excited about.

And, as always, Ernie Manouse and guest host Michael Adkison discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including Congressional Democrats vowing to investigate ICE if they regain control of Congress, Katy ISD putting new limits on how students use AI in the classroom, protesters calling for the release of the witnesses in the fatal ICE shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, and more.

On today’s Hello Houston, David A. Gantz, the Will Clayton Fellow in Trade and International Economics at Rice University's Baker Institute, discusses recent talks to revise the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement and what this could mean for businesses and consumers.

Next, Gabriela Torres of the Sickle Cell Association of Texas MTF joins us to tell us about Camp Cell-A-Bration, a week-long camp event that allows children living with sickle cell disease to have their own camp experience.

In the show's second hour, we’re joined by J’Maine Chubb, the new Chief Financial Officer of Texas Southern University, who shares his vision for the university and how he plans to ensure that one of the nation's largest historically Black universities is positioned for a stronger future.

Plus, 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.

And, as always, Ernie Manouse and guest host Deborah Hope talk about today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including Houston officials bidding to host the Women’s World Cup in 2031, the box-office success of Christopher Nolan's film The Odyssey, and President Trump considering a massive escalation in the war with Iran.

On today’s Hello Houston, Houston City Council Member Alejandra Salinas joins us to discuss the "Right to Air Conditioning" ordinance she introduced that would require rental properties to provide and maintain air conditioning in all rental units.  

Then, Judge David Fleischer of the Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 5 joins us to talk about why he continues to livestream his courtroom proceedings and his tough but fair approach to interacting with defendants.

In the second hour of the show, we talk with Bill King, a Fellow in Public Finance at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, who breaks down the financial challenges ahead for Harris County as the county prepares to adopt its next budget.

Plus, our hosts and listeners share the latest things that are taking over all their free time as part of our regular Thursday feature, Current Obsessions. You can send us your Current Obsessions anytime by emailing us at [email protected].

And, as always, Ernie Manouse and guest host Bob Ford talk about today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including the latest on Tropical Storm Bertha, the planned “No Business As Usual” protest in Houston, Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare moving forward with his investigation into the fatal ICE shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, and more.

On today’s Hello Houston, Fort Bend County Commissioner Dexter McCoy joins us to share his perspective on the ongoing dispute over Daniel Wong's appointment as the county's interim judge and what this leadership fight could mean for county government.

Next, we talk with Nicole Buergers, owner of the Houston-area business Bee2Bee Honey Collective, who tells us all about the services they provide and how Houstonians can help preserve local bee populations.

In the second hour of the show, we’re joined by Houston actor Michael Vincent Berry, who talks with us about the deeply personal new film project he’s working on, which explores masculinity, addiction, fatherhood, and the search for redemption.

Plus, Houston’s own food and travel content creator Shawn Singh, also known as “shawnthefoodsheep,” joins us to talk about Houston’s diverse food scene, food trends he's been noticing lately, and Houston-area restaurants he recommends.

And, as always, Ernie Manouse and guest host Donna Reed discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including two key witnesses in the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo seeking to be released from immigration detention, the U.S. Mint producing a commemorative coin with President Trump’s likeness on it, and Gov. Abbott issuing an executive order to crack down on "birth tourism."

On today’s Hello Houston, we talk with the Senior Director of Operations at the Houston Humane Society, Greg Evans, who discusses how they’re addressing the city’s stray animal crisis, and how Houstonians can help lower these rates and save these animals.

Next, we hear from Kevin Anderson, the Founder and CEO of the Houston area non-profit The T.R.U.T.H. Project, who tells us about their upcoming third annual “A Vibe Called Rest Fest,” and how it celebrates community wellness and healing.

In the second hour, Eileen Dong, a former UN Global Goals Ambassador and Executive Director of Hope Pyx Global, and Houston City Council Member Julian Ramirez, discuss the upcoming United Nations World Day Against Trafficking, how this particular issue affects us in Houston, and how we can address trafficking in our area.

Plus, Houston native Corey Ross, who will be appearing in tonight's episode of NBC’s Password, joins us to tell us all about his experience as a contestant on the game show and what it was like to interact with its celebrity guests.

Also, Ernie Manouse and Houston Public Media reporter Michael Adkison talk about today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including the latest on Tropical Storm Bertha, which they discuss with Houston Chronicle meteorologist Justin Ballard, and James Talarico pledging to spend $25 million to mobilize Black voters on behalf of his U.S. Senate campaign.

On today’s Hello Houston, we speak with Dallas-based writer Diana Spechler, who gives us the latest on plans to build a series of border walls across the Big Bend region of West Texas and how Texans on both sides of the political aisle are fighting against it.

Then, State Senator Carol Alvarado, who represents Texas Senate District 6, joins us to discuss the fallout from the death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and the growing response across Houston.

In the second hour, Ernie Manouse and guest host Houston Public Media reporter Michael Adkison talk about the hundreds of protestors that gathered in Houston on Sunday, July 19, to demand transparency and accountability for the killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo. 

Next, Dr. Catherine Troisi, an epidemiologist with the UTHealth School of Public Health, joins us to discuss the rise in cyclosporiasis cases across Houston, and to help us better understand what the illness is and how we can prevent getting it.

Plus, Sam Lopez, the co-founder of Conscious Consumer Collective, a Houston-area non-profit that’s dedicated to promoting clothing sustainability, tells us all about their work and the local clothing swap events they host throughout the year.

On today’s Hello Houston, we talk with board-certified divorce coach Christy Mendelow, who tells us about her work guiding individuals through the uncertainty of divorce and her thoughts on when couples should consider getting a divorce.

Then, we speak with Houston Public Media reporter Dominic Anthony Walsh and KUT reporter Kailey Hunt, who both discuss the fourth episode of the new podcast series, After the Flood, which delves into the major flood that hit the community of Sandy Creek a day after the deadly floods in Kerr County.

In the second hour, we listen to an excerpt of the newest episode of Ernie Manouse’s series InnerVIEWS, in which he sits down with Baylor College of Medicine’s now-former Executive Vice President and Dean of Clinical Affairs, Dr. James McDeavitt, to discuss what the future of medicine looks like, and more.

Plus, 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.

And, as always, Ernie and guest host Haley Hernandez discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including James Talarico challenging Ken Paxton to three debates in the Fall, a White House teleprompter operator being investigated for bets on President Trump’s speeches, and hundreds gathering for a public visitation honoring Lorenzo Salgado Araujo.

On today’s Hello Houston, Adrian Torres, a recent James Beard Award winner and Executive Chef of the Houston area restaurant Maximo, joins us to tell us about receiving this prestigious award, his culinary journey, and his immigration story.

Next, Ricky Sanchez, the co-chair of the Houston Democratic Socialists of America, joins us to discuss the organization's mission, the democratic socialist movement, and his thoughts on the criticism that the movement could potentially splinter the Democratic Party.

In the second hour of the show, we’re rejoined by Maureen McNamara, the co-founder of Arthouse Houston, who gives us an update on the effort to save the historic Garden Oaks Theater and tells us about a special event featuring acclaimed Houston-born filmmaker Wes Anderson.

Plus, our hosts and listeners share the latest things that are taking over all their free time as part of our regular Thursday feature, Current Obsessions. You can send us your Current Obsessions anytime by emailing us at [email protected].

And, as always, Ernie Manouse and guest host Deborah Hope talk about today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including Mayor Whitmire saying HPD is investigating the fatal ICE shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, the FBI searching for evidence of drugs in the van involved in the Houston ICE shooting, the return of rainbows to Montrose streets in the form of banners, and more.