City Cast Houston
Food, culture, news and nature in the sweaty Bayou City. Join Host Raheel Ramzanali and the City Cast Houston team as we celebrate and interrogate this sprawling place with our favorite journalists, thinkers, leaders, neighbors and gadflies. Learn more and subscribe to our daily morning newsletter, Hey Houston, at houston.citycast.fm.
Episodes
July 26, 2024 • 23 mins
Another week is in the books, so that means it’s time to recap the local news stories you need to know. City Cast Houston producer Carlignon Jones is filling in for Raheel Ramzanali this week and is joined by Pulitzer Prize Finalist Evan Mintz to discuss a massive bust on bail bond fraud, why COVID is on the rise, the growing list of politicians vying for Shelia Jackson Lee’s spot, and much more!
Dive deeper into the stories we tal...
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July 25, 2024 • 26 mins
The opening ceremonies for the Olympics go down tomorrow and Houston is going to reppin’ big time with so many athletes and coaches competing for Team USA and other countries. So, to learn more about our local Olympians, host Raheel Ramzanali is talking to Danielle Lerner, sports enterprise reporter at the Houston Chronicle, about Houstonians competing in Paris, just how much it costs to be an Olympian, and under-the-radar events t...
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July 24, 2024 • 26 mins
It’s been a long month in Houston since Hurricane Beryl hit. And one of the best ways to recover is with your favorite comfort food. Luckily, here in H-town we have so many options, from Tex-Mex to Viet Cajun! So today, host Raheel Raheel Ramzanali is revisiting this conversation with Abbas Dhanani, owner of Burger Bodega and the guy behind @HoustonEatz, where they try to pick the official food of Houston.
Learn more about the spo...
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July 23, 2024 • 26 mins
President Biden dropping out of the presidential race has caused major ripples in the political world, but how will it impact Houston? Plus, we remember Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and all the work she did for Houston. And, you won’t believe why traffic on the Hardy Toll Road came to a stop over the weekend. Host Raheel Ramzanali is joined by Joy Sewing, Houston Chronicle columnist, and Jim Kovacik, executive producer at Houst...
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July 22, 2024 • 23 mins
The last two weeks since Hurricane Beryl have been physically and emotionally draining. So much that a lot of Houstonians are questioning their relationship to the city. Host Raheel Ramzanali is talking with Houston’s Poet Laureate Aris Kian about the emotional aftermath of Beryl, and also hearing from listeners about their frustrations.
Read Aris’ poem “Tired of #HoustonStrong.” And check out more of her work here.
And if you wan...
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July 19, 2024 • 29 mins
It’s Friday so host Raheel Ramzanali recapping all of the big news from the week. Monique Welch, Houston Landing’s diverse communities reporter, and Marco Torres, Houston Chronicle taco columnist, are joining him to talk about CenterPoint’s new resiliency plan (and who will pay for it!), a new survey about some Houstonians wanting to leave the city, the Michelin Guide finally coming to H-town, and so much more!
Dive deeper into the...
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July 18, 2024 • 16 mins
It’s been over a week since Hurricane Beryl ripped through our region, and while we’ve been talking about how it impacted Houston, what was it like for our friends in Galveston? From slowing down their tourism season to what we can do as Houstonians to help out the island, Mary Beth Bassett of Visit Galveston is talking to host Raheel Ramzanali about how Galveston is doing after Beryl.
Here’s more about the stories we talked about...
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July 17, 2024 • 20 mins
It’s been a tough time for millions of Houstonians since Hurricane Beryl left widespread damage and power outages. Some folks are still without power, and even if you have the lights back on, a lot of us are feeling tired, even traumatized. So for today’s City Cast Houston podcast, host Raheel Ramzanali is teaming up with Houstonia Magazine’s editor-in-chief Emma Balter to bring you some ideas and recommendations to bring a little ...
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July 16, 2024 • 27 mins
It’s been over a week since Beryl hit H-Town, but we’re just starting to learn about the short and long-term impacts on businesses that have been without power. Host Raheel Ramzanali is talking ABC13 reporter Pooja Lodhia about that story, how utility workers are being threatened, a new class action case against CenterPoint, and some fond memories about columnist Ken Hoffman.
Here's more about the stories from today's episode.
'A...
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July 15, 2024 • 27 mins
Hurricane Beryl’s strong winds knocked out Houston’s power, but that was not its only impact. Neighborhoods in Northeast Houston also suffered flooding, even though Beryl wasn’t considered a major rain event. To find out why and how that could have been prevented, host Raheel Ramzanali talks with Elena Bruess, environmental reporter at the Houston Landing, and Alice Liu, with West Street Recovery.
Here are links about the stories ...
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July 12, 2024 • 29 mins
To say it’s been a week is an understatement! Host Raheel Ramzanali is calling on Antre’chelle Nova and Evan Mintz to help recap the week since Hurricane Beryl hit Houston. They cover the politics of recovery, how long it will take to clean up the debris, and CenterPoint’s latest timeline for restoring power. They also remember some of the victims of the deadly storm and how the power outage at traffic lights is turning Houstonians...
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July 11, 2024 • 24 mins
It’s been an exhausting week as the city rebuilds after Hurricane Beryl. So, host Raheel Ramzanali is decompressing a bit by talking to executive producer Laura Isensee and Hey Houston newsletter editor Brooke Lewis about what they’ll remember from the hurricane from their personal experience, tips on recovering from the storm, why we’re all so tired of being #HoustonStrong, and more!
Here’s more about the resources and stories me...
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July 10, 2024 • 19 mins
As the city recovers from Hurricane Beryl, one of the hardest parts has been the lack of power for millions of Houstonians. So, how long will we be without power? Host Raheel Ramzanali is talking to Houston Landing reporter Paul Cobler about CenterPoint’s timeline to restore electricity for Houstonians, why it could take a while, how to stay cool, and more.
Here are the stories and resources we mentioned in the show:
Houston’s wi...
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July 9, 2024 • 22 mins
Hurricane Beryl battered Houston when it made landfall as a Category 1 storm, leaving millions without power, including most of the City Cast Houston team. But we have you covered! Executive Producer Laura Isensee talks with Justin Ballard, newsroom meteorologist at the Houston Chronicle, about how Beryl broke records, what recovery will look like, and what this all means for hurricane season.
For storm updates, check out Space Ci...
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July 8, 2024 • 28 mins
A former Houston cop is facing felony charges for tampering with a government document. It’s just the latest in a major investigation and fallout from corruption on a small Texas city police force. We’re revisiting a conversation between host Raheel Ramzanali and KHOU investigative reporter Jeremy Rogalski to learn how it all began and why it should matter to Houstonians.
Stories we mentioned in today's episode:
Two more former Co...
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July 5, 2024 • 22 mins
Need a new summer activity? You’ve probably heard about pickleball, but getting started can be confusing. So, host Raheel Ramzanali and is talking to pickleball enthusiast Johnny Lee on how every beginner in Houston can jump into their new addiction this summer…pickleball! From the courts you should play at to the delicious eats at the many facilities, the duo will get you ready to go from beginner to pro in no time!
Try these spo...
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July 3, 2024 • 49 mins
City Cast CEO David Plotz sits down with hosts from all 13 City Cast daily local podcast hubs to talk about what stories they’re watching in their hometowns that are likely to impact yours too. Listen in for how Raheel Ramzanali’s story stacks up against the rest.
Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston
Follow us on Instagram @CityCastHouston
Don’t have social media? Then leave us a voic...
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July 2, 2024 • 20 mins
It may be a holiday week with the Fourth of July, but the news in Houston is not slowing down. Executive Producer Laura Isensee is filling in as host and teaming up with Hey Houston Newsletter Editor Brooke Lewis to break down the biggest stories of the week so far. From the latest in the murder of Jocelyn Nungaray to new libraries for two Houston neighborhoods, we have the news that Houston’s talking about.
Stories we mentioned in...
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July 1, 2024 • 27 mins
If you're new here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast Houston community.
July is all about freedom, but even after Independence Day, there are so many things to do in Houston all month long. From fun (and cool!) indoor activities to summer traditions like going to the beach, our guide to July will help you beat the heat and make the most of this month in ...
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June 28, 2024 • 24 mins
It’s Friday so you know we’re breaking down all of the stories that impacted the city this week. Host Raheel Ramzanali and Houston Public Media news producer Lucio Vasquez are talking about the new drama between Mayor Whitmire and Judge Hidalgo, the latest Medical Center scandal where doctors were literally leaving heart surgeries, why an inmate has been inside Harris County Jail for 18 years, and more!
Featured stories:
Baylor s...
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