Town Square with Ernie Manouse

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, [email protected] or @townsquaretalk.

According to the Anxiety Depression Association of America (ADAA), around 12 million adults in the U.S. have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during a given year. The month of June is recognized as National PTSD Awareness Month to increase awareness of the disorder.

Veterans are more likely to develop PTSD given their continuous exposure to traumatic and extreme experiences. We’re joined by Dr. Erin Fletcher, Director of the Warrior Care Network for Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), to discuss the latest research and effects of PTSD on veterans.

Then, we’re joined by Dr. Andrea Taylor, Licensed Clinical Psychologist at UTHealth Science Center’s Trauma & Resilience Center, who shares insight on what trauma looks like and how it can develop into Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Plus, Mental Health Advocate Brad Gage joins the conversation to discuss men’s mental health, the stigmas around asking for help, as well as his work as an Ambassador for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

If you are in crisis call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you are a veteran in crisis dial 988 and then press 1 to be connected to the Veterans Crisis Line. 

To reach the NAMI HelpLine, call 800-950-6264 or text "Helpline" to 62640. 

Guests:

Dr. Erin Fletcher

• Director of Warrior Care Network for Wounded Warrior Project

Dr. Andrea Taylor

• Licensed Clinical Psychologist, UTHealth Science Center’s Trauma & Resilience Center

Brad Gage

• Mental Health Advocate
• Ambassador, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day’s most important and pressing issues.

We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, [email protected] or @townsquaretalk.

More than 1.2 million people in the U.S. live with HIV and fourteen percent are unaware of their infection. Allies in Hope, formerly known as AIDS Foundation Houston, is on a mission to end the HIV epidemic in the greater Houston area.

We talk with Jeffrey Campbell, CEO of Allies in Hope, about the services they provide, the reason behind their recent name change, and their partnership with Walgreens to provide free HIV test screenings for National HIV Testing Day.

Free HIV test screenings will be available Tuesday, June 27, 2023, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. CT, at the following Houston locations: 7929 Kirby Drive (at Old Spanish Trail) and 2612 Smith Street (between McGowan & Dennis Streets).

Then, following the loss of five passengers on the Titan submersible that was part of an expedition to view the wreckage of the RMS Titanic that occurred last week, we discuss the legacy of the famous ship and its devastating shipwreck that has captured the public’s fascination.

We’re joined by Michael Findlay, co-founder and former president of the Titanic International Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history of the Titanic. He discusses the story behind the Titanic as well as why people continue to be intrigued by it 111 years after its sinking.

Plus, Ronan O’Malley, Chief Programs Officer for World Affairs Council of Greater Houston, shares insight on the recent short-lived rebellion from Russian private military company Wagner Group, as well as whether it will have an impact on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Guests:

Jeffrey Campbell

• CEO, Allies In Hope

Ronan O’Malley

• Chief Programs Officer, World Affairs Council of Greater Houston

Michael Findlay

• Co-founder, Trustee and Former President, Titanic International Society

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day's most important and pressing issues.

We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, [email protected] or @townsquaretalk.

First, we talk with John Dankosky, the Director of News and Audio of Science Friday, who joins us to discuss the exciting stories featured on Science Friday, including the show’s Cephalopod Week, which shows appreciation for underwater animals like squid and octopus.

Also, Dankosky discusses a special event dedicated to cephalopods and understanding what marine invertebrate research has in common with space exploration. This event will take place on Saturday, June 24, 2023, at 6:30pm, at Space Center Houston. For more information, visit ScienceFriday.com

Then, we shift to “Talk of the Town” for a very special Pride Month edition of our weekly series. Today’s panel consists of Shawn Kuehn, Vice President of University of Houston LGBTQ Alumni Association, Violinist & Drag Artist Queen Angelina, and Catastrophic Theatre Producing Artistic Director, Tamarie Cooper.

This panel weighs in on recently covered Town Square with Ernie Manouse topics, such as gender identity, as well as recently trending topics such as the Titan submersible that was lost at the site of the Titanic wreckage. They also share their thoughts on Pride Month and how they’re celebrating this weekend’s celebration in Houston.

Guests:

John Dankosky

• Director of News and Audio, Science Friday

Shawn Kuehn

• Vice President, University of Houston LGBTQ Alumni Association
• Board Member, UH Foundation

Queen Angelina

• Violinist & Drag Artist

Tamarie Cooper

• Producing Artistic Director, Catastrophic Theatre

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day’s most important and pressing issues.

We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, [email protected] or @townsquaretalk.

First, we are joined by Allison Hay, the Executive Director for Houston Habitat for Humanity, who discusses the work the non-profit organization does to help empower people to fully realize home ownership.  She also shared exciting news about their new project, Robins Landing, which is Habitat’s first master-planned community.

If you would like to learn more about Houston Habitat for Humanity, visit HoustonHabitat.org.

Then, June is National Homeownership Month. We are joined by Realtor Jennifer Wauhob and Senior Loan Officer at Gold Star Mortgage Charles Christmas, who discuss the housing market right now, what we can expect in the near future, whether or not now is a good time to purchase a home, and what to know about obtaining a loan.

Guests:

Allison Hay

• Executive Director, Houston Habitat for Humanity

Jennifer Wauhob

• Realtor
• Immediate Past Chair, Houston Association of Realtors

Charles Christmas

• Senior Loan Officer, Gold Star Mortgage

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day's most important and pressing issues.

We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, [email protected] or @townsquaretalk.

While many of us know male and female, they are not the only terms used to describe a person’s gender. With identities such as cisgender, nonbinary, and agender to name a few, there are now more than seventy ways to describe a person’s gender.

For the full hour, we are joined by Dr. Fay Guarraci, Professor of Psychology at Southwestern University, to discuss gender and the science behind gender and different gender identities.

Dr. Guarraci also explains how a person’s sex is biological, while gender is more socially constructed, how situations arise when the brain, internal organs, and external organs aren't on the same page, which can lead to individuals being intersex, as well as the differences between the different gender identities.

Guest:

Dr. Fay Guarraci

• Professor of Psychology, Southwestern University Georgetown Texas

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day’s most important and pressing issues.

We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, [email protected] or @townsquaretalk.

According to the CDC, up to ten percent of the U.S. population has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The disorder causes difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior. While the disorder is most often found in children, it can appear in adults too, making their daily lives more challenging.

For the full hour, we are joined by KC Davis, a licensed professional counselor and author of the book How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing. Davis shares her insight on ADHD and how it can cause many to feel overwhelmed and avoid self-care.

We’re also joined by Dr. Asim Shah, Executive Vice Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine, who explains how ADHD is tested, what the signs are for ADHD in adults, and the differences between medications used to treat the disorder.

Guests:

KC Davis

• Licensed Professional Counselor
• Author, How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing
• Host of the podcast Struggle Care

Dr. Asim Shah

• Professor and Executive Vice Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day's most important and pressing issues.

We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, [email protected] or @townsquaretalk.

First, we are joined by actresses Olivia Valli and Celia Hottenstein, who discuss their gravity defying roles as Elphaba and Glinda in the current national Broadway tour of Wicked: The Untold True Story of the Witches of Oz, the acclaimed musical based on the novel of the same name.

Valli and Hottenstein discuss stepping into their iconic roles, what fans of the musical can expect in this current national tour, and how audiences in Houston have been responding to the show so far.

Wicked is currently playing at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts in Houston through July 2, 2023. For more information, click here.

Then, we shift to Talk of the Town, for a special Father’s Day edition of our new series. Today’s show features a panel made up of fathers, including, Houston Public Media’s I See U host Eddie Robinson, psychologist Dr. Jeff Temple, and former Straight No Chaser member and voice over actor Charlie Mechling.

The panel discusses topics recently covered on Town Square with Ernie Manouse, such as the Sugar Land 95 and how America’s past is being taught to students, celebration of Pride month, and favorite songs of summer. Plus, the panel also weighs in on Father’s Day and shares their thoughts on how the roles of fatherhood has changed.

Guests:

Olivia Valli

• Plays Elphaba in Wicked

Celia Hottenstein

• Plays Glinda in Wicked

Eddie Robinson

• Executive Producer & Host, I See U

Dr. Jeff Temple

• Psychologist
• Vice Dean for Research and Scholarship at the School for Nursing, UTMB Health
• John Sealy Distinguished Chair in Community Health, UTMB Health
• Director, Center for Violence Prevention, UTMB Health

Charlie Mechling

• Former Member, Straight No Chaser
• Musician, Voice Over Actor, Emcee

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day’s most important and pressing issues.

We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, [email protected] or @townsquaretalk.

First, we talk with Daresha Kyi, the Director & Producer of the documentary Mama Bears, who discusses the film and its exploration of a group of moms, or “Mama Bears”, who are fighting for the rights of their LGBTQIA+ children. The documentary follows two mothers from conservative Christian backgrounds who reconcile their faith with their children’s identity, learn to love them unconditionally, and advocate for their rights and wellbeing. It also follows a young lesbian who struggles with her own self-acceptance and illustrates why the support of the Mama Bears is so important.

Then, we’re joined by Liz Dyer, the founder of Mama Bears who shares her personal story, from initially having trouble understanding when her son came out, to fully supporting her son, and eventually creating a private Facebook group for mothers of LGBTQIA+ kids to share resources and offer support.

We’re also joined by Clinical Psychologist Dr. Tyson Reuter who discusses the importance of family acceptance on a child’s mental health, what to tell families who are having a difficult time understanding when their child comes out, and how coming out is not a one-time thing.  

Mama Bears the documentary is set to air on PBS’s Independent Lens on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, at 9:00 p.m. CT.  It will also be available to stream on the PBS app.

Guests:

Daresha Kyi

• Director & Producer, Mama Bears

Liz Dyer

• Founder of “Mama Bears”

Dr. Tyson Reuter

• Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day's most important and pressing issues.

We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, [email protected] or @townsquaretalk.

First, Sarah Rothenberg, Artistic Director of DACAMERA, joins us with a preview of the upcoming 2023-2024 season of the arts organization, which includes a new suite from jazz trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard from his history-making opera “Fire Shut Up in My Bones”, two world premieres from Etienne Charles and composer Matthew Aucoin and director Peter Sellars, and a celebration of composer Fanny Mendelssohn in concert and film. To learn more about DACAMERA’S 2023-2024 Season, click here.

Plus, June 16 – 23, DACAMERA is offering a free virtual streaming event of its recent production of Kendrick Scott’s “Unearthed”, which is a memorialization of the Sugar Land 95 through original music, poetry, and visual art. For more information, click here.

The Sugar Land 95 refers to 95 African-American individuals whose remains were uncovered during construction of a new school in Fort Bend Independent School District in 2018.

Our conversation on The Sugar Land 95 continues with the co-hosts of a new Texas Newsroom podcast Sugar Land, Journalist Brittney Martin and Southwestern University Assistant Professor of Anthropology Dr. Naomi Reed.  Their podcast explores details about who The Sugar Land 95 were, the systemic issues around them, and what progress has been made in the five years since they were discovered.

The first two episodes of the Sugar Land podcast will be released Friday, June 16, 2023, on HoustonPublicMedia.org and all major podcast platforms. The remainder of the 8 episodes will be released weekly, every Thursday.

Guests:

Sarah Rothenberg 

• Artistic Director, DACAMERA

Brittney Martin 

• Independent Journalist
• Co-Host & Executive Producer, Sugar Land podcast

Dr. Naomi Reed

• Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Southwestern University
• Co-Host & Senior Producer, Sugar Land podcast

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day’s most important and pressing issues.

We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, [email protected] or @townsquaretalk.

Today, June 13, 2023, former President Donald Trump was arraigned in a federal court on charges related to the classified documents found at his Florida Mar-A-Lago estate. This is the first time in U.S. history where a former President has been indicted in a state or federal court.

For the full hour, we’re joined by retired U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore and Presidential Historian and author Dr. Lindsay M. Chervinsky to share their perspectives on the legal issues faced by former President Trump.

Former Judge Gilmore shares insight on what occurred during Trump’s arraignment, the legal process of this indictment, and what we can expect for the former President as this legal process unfolds.

Dr. Chervinsky explains how this case is historically unprecedented for a former or current president, how this indictment compares to past political scandals such as Watergate, and how these federal charges will affect Trump's run for president.

Guests:

Vanessa Gilmore

• Retired U.S. District Judge

Dr. Lindsay M. Chervinsky

• Presidential Historian
• Author, The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution
• Senior Fellow at the Center for Presidential History, Southern Methodist University

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day's most important and pressing issues.

We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps