Rephonic
Artwork for Houston Matters

Houston Matters

Houston Public Media
Houston
Severe Storms
Houston Independent School District
Thornton Wilder
Houston Police Department
The Emporium
Hurricane
Storm Recovery
Mental Health
Immigration Reform
Mosquito-Borne Diseases
Alley Theatre
Emergency Services
FEMA
Centerpoint Energy
Memorial Day Weekend
Harris County
Texas A&M University
Virtual Reality
Bureaucracy

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 wh... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes129Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Daily NewsSociety & CultureNews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Houston Matters

Latest Episodes

On Wednesday's show: From last-minute jockeying in races for the U.S Senate and Congress, to some calls to end investigations into a military strike that killed survivors of an attack on an alleged drug running boat, we discuss the latest development... more

On Tuesday's show: As Houstonians prepare for the holidays, new data shows they're planning to cut spending by 11 percent compared to last year, with the average person expecting to spend around $1,600. Yet, despite this local pessimism, online sales... more

On Monday's show: Colin Allred is dropping out of next year’s U.S. Senate race and is running for Congress instead. That is just the latest move ahead of today’s filing deadline, and after Supreme Court approval of the new Texas Congressional maps. W... more

On Friday's show: We consider the implications of a recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on redistricting.

Plus: We look at the future of trash pickup in Houston.

And, we get an update on some major road closures from TxDOT.

Also this hour: Peo... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Michael Atkinson
Reporter at Houston Public Media
Episode: Houston trash and traffic woes (Dec. 5, 2025)
Derek Charles Livingston
Director of Stages Houston's alt-rodio production of It's a Wonderful Life
Stages Houston
Episode: Houston trash and traffic woes (Dec. 5, 2025)
Josh Alvarez
Senior writer at Texas Monthly
Texas Monthly
Episode: Houston trash and traffic woes (Dec. 5, 2025)
Chris Hadley
Public Information Officer with TxDOT
Texas Department of Transportation
Episode: Houston trash and traffic woes (Dec. 5, 2025)
Dr. Sean Savitz
Director of the UT Health Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases
UT Health
Episode: Young people and Houston’s economy (Dec. 4, 2025)
Alex Powers
Associate Director of Measure of America
Measure of America
Episode: Young people and Houston’s economy (Dec. 4, 2025)
Adriana Wilson
Managing Director of the Greater Houston Opportunity Youth Collaborative
Greater Houston Opportunity Youth Collaborative
Episode: Young people and Houston’s economy (Dec. 4, 2025)
Jay Jurden
Comedian and writer
Stand-up Comedy
Episode: Young people and Houston’s economy (Dec. 4, 2025)
Bayless Wagner
State politics reporter for the San Antonio Express News and the Hearst Network.
San Antonio Express News
Episode: New restrictions on vehicle registration (Dec. 2, 2025)

Hosts

Craig Cohen
Host of Houston Matters, known for his engaging style and focus on local issues.
Michael Haggerty
Filling in for Craig Cohen; routinely covers local news topics.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 120 ratings
  • Extreme political bias

    It’s so unfortunate that so many great shows have been ruined by their obsession with partisan politics with no attempt at neutrality. Any deviation from the narrow minded, bigoted opinions of the producers is heresy because their tribe lose an election 2 1/2 years ago. I would have rated zero stars if not for the excellent content pre TDS. Hopefully rationality and openness to diversity of opinion will return eventually but I couldn’t justify donating to HPM anymore. I still listen occasionall... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Nostrathomas.
    United States3 years ago
  • Special Edition

    I am typically a fan of this show when it’s led by Craig Cohen & I have appreciated the local doctors and scientists that have contributed, but Ernie Manouse is insufferable and the way he treated a guest today by inserting his own political views (the guest had covid - his family got it & he said he’s a moderate, he asked for feedback on the media’s role in where we’re at, and the guy answered and he said he didn’t agree and just was patronizing) - if you don’t want politics inserted, then stic... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Ehodges05
    United States5 years ago
  • Give it a rest

    I used to listen to this show for daily local news. In recent months the fear mongering and aggrandizement of COVID related issues is insufferable. There’s a way of reporting the facts without sensationalizing it, Houston Matters should aim for that goal. Even the tone of the reporting is overkill. Every time I try to listen I hear myself saying “give it a rest!”

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Ayjayrose
    United States5 years ago
  • Partisan

    If you enjoy one-sided, bias discussions, you will enjoy this dumpster fire.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    htx2020!
    United States5 years ago
  • Giving Houston a bad name

    Before Trump, this was a 4 star show. Downhill ever since.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    El De Smith
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

There are mixed feelings about the balance of political views, with some expressing concerns about biases. However, many find the content informative and relevant to daily life in Houston.
Overall, it is regarded as a valuable source for understanding community dynamics and current events in Houston.
Listeners appreciate the in-depth coverage of local issues and the engaging style of the hosts.
The interactions with various guests add depth, but some wish for a more diverse range of perspectives to avoid echo chambers.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#190
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#211
Mexico/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Young people and Houston’s economy (Dec. 4, 2025)
Q: What steps are being taken to address youth disconnection?
Adriana Wilson talks about partnerships with organizations to target engagement towards young people in areas with high disconnection rates.
Young people and Houston’s economy (Dec. 4, 2025)
Q: What are some of the factors that might contribute to why so many can't or won't access either education or work?
Adriana Wilson highlights barriers such as transportation, childcare challenges, and a lack of knowledge about available resources.
Young people and Houston’s economy (Dec. 4, 2025)
Q: Why does Greater Houston have the highest rate of young people not working, training, or going to school?
Alex Powers suggests that both educational attainment rates are low and young women face greater disconnection than young men.
Impact of political scandals (Dec. 3 2025)
Q: Is it different in politics than it is in other walks of life?
Politicians can often survive scandals without significant career damage, which is an increasingly common trend across various fields, including celebrity culture.
Impact of political scandals (Dec. 3 2025)
Q: Why don't political scandals seem to matter quite the way they once did?
Scandals don't impact politicians as much due to factors like hyperpartisanship, a siloed media environment, and a rapid news cycle that leads to a short attention span.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Houston Matters

What is Houston Matters about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The episodes feature a blend of local news coverage, community stories, and expert discussions that focus on pressing issues facing the Houston area. Topics range from environmental challenges, such as waste management and sustainability, to socio-economic issues affecting youth disconnection and health care access. There's a notable emphasis on local politics, featuring insights from scholars and journalists on the implications of political decisions on the community. What sets this podcast apart is its commitment to engaging with a diverse range of voices, from local artists to educators and political analysts, promoting a well-rounded understanding of Houston's landscape and culture. This format likely provides a platform for connecting ... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Houston Matters?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Houston Matters. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Houston Matters and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Houston Matters get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Houston Matters, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Houston Matters?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Houston Matters, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Houston Matters have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Houston Matters has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Houston Matters?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Houston Matters:

1. Texas Take
2. Texas Standard
3. Today, Explained
4. Code Switch
5. Here & Now Anytime

How many episodes of Houston Matters are there?

Houston Matters launched 13 years ago and published 129 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Houston Matters?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Houston Matters?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Houston Matters from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Houston Matters?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Houston Matters. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Houston Matters?

Recent guests on Houston Matters include:

1. Michael Atkinson
2. Derek Charles Livingston
3. Josh Alvarez
4. Chris Hadley
5. Dr. Sean Savitz
6. Alex Powers
7. Adriana Wilson
8. Jay Jurden

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days