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Houston Matters is a radio program airing weekdays at 9 am on Houston Public Media News 88.7 FM in Houston. During each hour, we’ll investigate the issues and ideas, people and places that make Houston…well…Houston! We’ll talk about current events, politics, education, health care, the environment, business, transportation, arts and culture, literature, sports and leisure. But we also hope that what we do each day on Houston Matters serves as the beginning of a conversation — one we hope you’ll continue here, at home, at work, with family, with friends and neighbors. We hope to introduce Houstonians to one another, to celebrate our diversity, and to engage one another through stories and conversations that demonstrate depth and context. Just the sort of thing you count on from public media.
441 Episodes
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On Friday's show: Meteorologist Eric Berger of Space City Weather will fill us in on the very latest on this weekend’s freezing weather. And we talk with reporters about how officials around Greater Houston and the state are preparing for the demands a weather event like this puts on the power grid and local infrastructure.Also this hour: We break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.Watch
On Thursday's show: A freeze is headed to much of Texas this weekend and could bring freezing rain, sleet, or ice to parts of Greater Houston. We check the latest forecast with Houston Chronicle meteorologist Justin Ballard and discuss how to prepare.Also this hour: On this month’s installment of our film segment, The Bigger Picture, we consider what the new movie Is This Thing On? has to say about separation and divorce and what Houstonians going through those challenges can glean from it.And, as Artemis II prepares to launch in the coming weeks, signaling the next stage in America’s return to the moon, we recall one quirky moment during the Apollo missions that involved a Houston barber, an astronaut, and a golf ball.Watch
On Wednesday's show: We dig into the politics surrounding President Donald Trump’s foreign policy pursuits in Greenland and Venezuela and share other observations a year into his second term as we discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: NPR reporter Frank Langfitt talks about recent reporting he's been doing in Houston, talking with Venezuelans living here and others about the United States seizing that country's President Nicolás Maduro.And entomologist Erin Mills with Enchanted Forest Nursery in Richmond answers your questions about Houston bugs and insects. Send yours now to talk@houstonmatters.org.Watch
On Tuesday's show: We discuss the latest public health trends, including what we’re seeing this flu season, with Dr. Janeana White with the Houston Health Department.Also this hour: What makes us click with some people better than others? And why is connecting with other people so important for humans? We discuss the science behind human connection with Houston-area journalist Kate Murphy, who's latest book is Why We Click. Murphy will discuss the book on Jan. 26 at Blue Willow Bookshop and on Feb. 11 at Brazos Bookstore.Then, a local doctor offers safety reminders for household poisons.And we visit Nuestro Ambiente, an exhibit at Architecture Center Houston telling the story of Latinos who have helped shape Houston’s built environment, from taco trucks to transit lines.Watch
On Monday's show: We mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a conversation about the state of civil rights here in Houston and across the country with the help of Christa Stoneham, president of the Houston Land Bank, Dr. Melanye Price from Prairie View A&M University, and Ian Haddock of The Normal Anomaly Initiative.Also this hour: Veterinarian Dr. Lori Teller answers listener questions about their pets.And we recap the Texans' season after a playoff loss Sunday to the Patriots.Watch
On Friday's show: More than 160 Texas faith leaders are urging school boards to reject a new state-organized prayer law. Rabbi Joshua Fixler of Houston's Congregation Emanu El explains why he and the other faith leaders say SB 11, which carves out time for prayer and Bible readings in public schools, threatens religious freedom.Also this hour: We conclude our week-long Houston 2026 series with a look at the year ahead in transportation.Then, from a unified Martin Luther King Day parade, to Matthew McConaughey trademarking catchphrases, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.And we learn how a singing group of teenage girls from southeast Texas called The Melody Maids traveled the world to perform for troops from World War II to Vietnam. A new documentary tells their story, and a pair of screenings will be held on Saturday in Beaumont.Watch
On Thursday's show: The Houston Chronicle reports that HISD Superintendent Mike Miles helped connect a consulting firm with a Texas charter school network to complete a nearly $1 million contract. While the parties involved say Miles was not paid for his role, some experts say the arrangement raises some concerns. Reporter Nusaiba Mizan explains.Also this hour: We continue our series looking at the year ahead with a discussion about education in Greater Houston.Then, on the 25th anniversary of Wikipedia, we learn about Houston-area Wikipedia edit-a-thons.And FIFA officials say the World Cup could bring $1.5 billion in economic activity to Houston. But who sees that money?Watch
On Wednesday's show: Early voting starts in a week for the 18th district Congressional runoff election. We discuss that and other developments in politics in our weekly roundup, from news in Washington surrounding the economy, Iran, and a Justice Department investigation into that fatal shooting by an ICE officer in Minnesota.Also this hour: We continue our series looking at the year ahead with a discussion about the issues in health care facing Greater Houston.And an upcoming series of performances called Free Rein from the contemporary music organization Musiqa and NobleMotion Dance combines music and dance with bioengineering to explore how creativity works in the human brain.Watch
On Tuesday's show: The Texans are moving on to face the New England Patriots after a decisive 30-6 victory over the Steelers Monday night. We recap the game and look ahead to the next round.Also this hour: We continue our series looking at the year ahead with a discussion about the issues in energy and the environment facing Greater Houston.Then, a new study explores links between sports betting and crime rates. It turns out, once a game starts, those crime rates go up -- even in some states, like Texas, that technically don’t allow sports betting. We learn more.And, ahead of the My 15 Expo at NRG Center on Sunday, we learn about how quinceañeras have developed and grown over the years.Watch
On Monday's show: We talk with writer Salman Rushdie about his latest book, The Eleventh Hour. He speaks at an event tonight with Inprint Houston.Also this hour: We begin a weeklong series looking ahead at issues facing Houston in 2026, beginning with immigration.Then, Meg Tapp from the Garden Club of Houston answers questions about how to maintain the plants in your home or garden.And we preview the Texans’ Monday night AFC Wild Card playoff game against the Steelers.
On Friday's show: We learn what took place at Houston protests in connection with the fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis.Also this hour: We find out why the state teacher's union is suing the TEA following investigations into teachers’ social media posts last fall.Then, our non-experts consider The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.And the series Movies Houstonians Love returns this weekend to the MFAH with a documentary decades in the making. The 2023 film Omar and Cedric: If This Ever Gets Weird focuses on Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Cedric Bixler Zavala, the duo behind the El Paso progressive rock band The Mars Volta. It’s culled from hundreds of hours of footage filmed across decades. Houston DJ and producer Gracie Chavez talks about why this film means so much to her.Watch
On Thursday's show: The Chevron Houston Marathon is this Sunday. That means a lot of runners, a lot of spectators, and a lot of traffic. We talk with one of the organizers about what Houstonians need to know ahead of this weekend's events.And we find out why the mayor and the city controller are clashing again, this time over how flood mitigation funds are being used.Also this hour: We recall great speakers and speeches in Houston’s history.Then, we discuss the long term impact of GLP-1 medications on Houstonians’ health.And we chat with reggae musician Shaggy ahead of his performance with the Houston Symphony on Sunday.Watch
On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: In this month's installment of The Full Menu, Houston food writers discuss their favorite new restaurants that opened in 2025.And we chat with Puerto Rican composer and saxophonist Miguel Zenón about his upcoming performance with Kinetic Ensemble.Watchhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3yBFRAOI_M
On Tuesday's show: We hear from a local immigration attorney about questions that may be arising for Venezuelan immigrants after the U.S. takeover of the country.Also this hour: We answer questions about sleep and sleep disorders with a pulmonologist and sleep expert.Then, producer Brenda Valdivia takes us to a world where cats rule and humans happily comply at the Houston Cat Expo.Watchhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRMdXLLCc0A
On Monday's show: We discuss the implications of the takeover of Venezuela on Houston's oil and gas industry.Also this hour: We start the year off with some gripes and grievances in our regular segment called Houstonian Pet Peeves.Then, we preview the upcoming Wild Card playoff matchup between the Texans and the Steelers.Watchhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjMcB1BP_Iw
On Tuesday's show: We learn about problems with group homes for elderly or disabled people across the state, which is the subject of an investigation from the Texas Observer.Also this hour: The holidays may bring realizations about the health of aging family members in your life. We get some advice on how to handle that situation with care.Then, in this month’s installment of The Bigger Picture, we consider what the new Knives Out movie, Wake Up Dead Man, has to say about religious leadership and guidance.And listeners share some of their favorite holiday songs in the Houston Matters Holiday Mixtape.Watch
On Monday's show: Civil rights organizations are seeking to block parts of Senate Bill 12, a sweeping Texas law that prohibits discussions about gender identity in public schools as well as student clubs based on sexual orientation. We take a closer look at these lawsuits, the arguments they’re making, and confusion about a key question at the heart of it all.Also this hour: What is the top news story in Greater Houston from 2025? From snow, to flooding, to almost winning an NCAA championship in men's basketball, we count down the top ten stories from the past year.And how close is Houston to having a WNBA team again? We get an update on Houston sports.Watch
On Friday's show: Every Houstonian has something they miss, but should we still be missing it? As the year wraps up, we’re asking which beloved parts of the city deserve remembrance and which might be holding us back.Then, our non-experts weigh in on The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week’s news.And for 40 years, Houston chef Courtney Lindsay didn't know his biological father. Then the two found each other and formed a close relationship. We revisit a conversation with Lindsay about that experience and the documentary he made about it, which will be screened tonight at the MATCH.Watch
On Thursday's show: When an elected official leaves office, what happens to their campaign funds? Well, it turns out many Texas politicians are using those funds on everything from luxury hotels, to steakhouse dinners, to salaries for political operatives. Taylor Goldenstein of the Houston Chronicle tells us what her reporting uncovered.Also this hour: We get a better understanding of municipal utility districts, or MUDs, which are entities formed for handling water services and other utilities in unincorporated areas across the state. People are often lured to buy homes in them for affordable prices but then are surprised by high costs for property taxes or for basic services, like trash collection.Then, we discuss what makes a good workplace these days.And we visit an annual gingerbread house building contest.Watch
On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: As DEI programs roll back nationwide, one Houston leader is doubling down on inclusion -- starting with kids as young as nine. Shevann Steuben of the NAACP Houston Branch discusses what it takes to build a generation that shows up to vote.And singer/soprano Sarah Brightman is known for originating the role of Christine in The Phantom of the Opera and for her many PBS fundraising specials. But she explains the role disco played in getting her there ahead of a holiday concert in Sugar Land on Dec. 19.Watch
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