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
December 8, 2023 • 20 mins
We all know Houston has terrible traffic, but you won’t believe how many hours we waste on the road. Plus, there’s some major drama going down in Fort Bend ISD with the retirement of their superintendent. Pulitzer Prize finalist Evan Mintz joins host Raheel Ramzanali to recap these stories and more to end the week here on City Cast Houston.
Featured stories:
Find your polling place for tomorrow’s election
Pervez Agwan lawsuit
...
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December 7, 2023 • 27 mins
We’re ending 2023 with a bang by putting together our guide for things to do in December around H-Town. From restaurants to experiences, host Raheel Ramzanali, executive producer Dina Kesbeh, and producer Carlignon Jones are getting you ready to take full advantage of the final month of the year!
Spots to check out this December!
Houston Holiday Lights episode
Grace’s on Kirby
Santa’s Wonderland
Wonder Bar
Chocolatzeina ...
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December 6, 2023 • 23 mins
Finding the perfect date night dinner spot can be hard, but host Raheel Ramzanali is making it a bit easier by picking the top spots from Houston Chronicle food reporter Erica Cheng. From casual spots to upscale eateries, the duo are picking places for everyone!
Pop Stroke
Ebi Ebi Shrimp
Roka Akor
Bori Korean BBQ
Mico’s Chicken
Aga’s Restaurant
Nancy’s Hustle
Kim Shabu
Bistro Menil
Aladdin’s
Read all of Eri...
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December 5, 2023 • 26 mins
A group that stole more than $30k in donations has finally been caught and convicted, but you won’t believe how they did it. Plus, a local city council candidate is under fire from Houston’s LGBTQ+ community for a flyer she put out. And, Texas teachers are underpaid, but will anything change? Host Raheel Ramzanali and producer Carlignon Jones recap the biggest stories impacting Houston to start the week!
Featured stories:
El Pana...
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December 4, 2023 • 17 mins
For more than a year we’ve been hearing about residents being sent incorrect water bills and being stuck paying them. Now, there’s finally some reform in the works, but was it because of KPRC’s investigative reporter Amy Davis’ viral clip with Mayor Turner? Host Raheel Ramzanali is joined by Amy Davis and Houston Landing’s Matt Sledge to talk about why these incorrect water bills are creating a shift in power in our local governmen...
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December 1, 2023 • 34 mins
Social media is flooded with the most streamed musicians of the year, but who did we love as a city? Plus, an anchor in midtown is closing and that could mean good things for the rest of downtown. Houston Landing’s education reporter Asher Lehrer-Small and Pulitzer Prize finalist Evan Mintz join host Raheel Ramzanali to recap those stories and more.
Featured stories:
Houston’s most streamed artists
HISD’s enrollment numbers cou...
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November 30, 2023 • 24 mins
From extravagant displays to decade old neighborhood traditions, Houston has some of the best holiday lights in the state. Host Raheel Ramzanali is bringing on Justin Lacey from the Houston Botanic Garden to get you ready to check out the best holiday lights around Houston.
Links:
Radiant Nature at the Houston Botanic Garden
Locations of all the places we talked about
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November 29, 2023 • 26 mins
What’s your favorite style of pizza, New York, deep dish, pan style, Italian? How do you like your pizza, stone oven, baked, round or square? Do you know what Detroit style is? Well Houston has got you covered, there is a pizza style for any taste palate. Even for you pizza haters out there like our very own producer Carlignon Jones, we bet that after listening to lead producer Dina Kesbeh, producer AK Al-Moumen, and newsletter edi...
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November 28, 2023 • 25 mins
Early voting has started for the runoff elections on December 9th and we have some early poll numbers regarding who the next mayor will be in Houston. Plus, there was a major oil spill in the region, but nobody talked about it. And you won’t believe how much damage a pack of stray dogs caused in Cypress! Host Raheel Ramzanali and executive producer Dina Kesbeh recap these stories and more on today’s episode of City Cast Houston.
F...
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November 27, 2023 • 20 mins
If you’ve been to a big grocery store in the last month or so then you’ve noticed the thousands of black birds all around you. So, what are these black birds and why are they taking over?! Rice professor Cin-Ty Lee joins host Raheel Ramzanali to answer all of our questions about those loud black birds we see everywhere across Houston.
Learn more about Professor Lee
Learn more about grackles
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November 22, 2023 • 28 mins
What Thanksgiving traditions do you have? Host Raheel Ramzanali is chatting with producer Carlignon Jones and Hey Houston newsletter editor Brooke Lewis about their favorite traditions, sides, and much more in our pre-Thanksgiving day chat!
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November 21, 2023 • 26 mins
It might be a slower week in the city with people taking off from work, but the big stories are still working! Host Raheel Ramzanali and Hey Houston newsletter editor Brooke Lewis recap the latest like why state leaders are focused on school vouchers instead of uninsured kids, Houston getting labeled as the “cockroachiest” city, a local meteorologist retiring changing our perspective on time, and much more!
Featured stories:
Mayo...
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November 20, 2023 • 23 mins
As we all hit the Texas roadways this week, we can help end the deadly streak of at least one death a day on Texas roadways. Danny Perez, public information officer for the Texas Department of Transportation, joins host Raheel Ramzanali to talk about ways we can drive safer and a look at the new I-45 expansion project set to start in 2024.
Learn more about TxDOT’s #EndTheSteakTX campaign
North Houston Highway Improvement Projec...
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November 17, 2023 • 20 mins
Is host Raheel Ramzanali too old for a grill? Pulitzer Prize finalist Evan Mintz gives his opinion on this pressing question to start the show and then the duo jump into the news. From a public condemnation of the DA to a watchdog stepping down for criticizing ERCOT, here are the biggest stories from the week that impacted H-Town.
Featured stories:
Sean Teare out raises Kim Ogg
Harris County Jail to send inmates to Mississippi ...
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November 16, 2023 • 15 mins
As we make our way to big stores with big parking lots, we need to take steps to prevent becoming victims of jugging and slider crimes. Houston Police Department Sergeant Jeremy Lahar joins host Raheel Ramzanali to explain the steps you can take to protect yourself and what to do if you’re a victim of these crimes.
Learn more about Jeremy Lahar
HPD safety tips
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November 15, 2023 • 17 mins
More and more restaurants are starting to stay open on Thanksgiving, but where should you go if you don’t want to cook? Host Raheel Ramzanali is bringing on Eric Sandler, food editor at CultureMap, to get his recommendations of the best restaurants in Houston that are open on Thanksgiving. From best traditional spot to an epic splurge, the duo are picking some delicious spots for you.
Full list of restaurants open on Thanksgiving...
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November 14, 2023 • 22 mins
From a new expansion project that will make traffic a nightmare in downtown to a major ruling over a century later, host Raheel Ramzanali and producer Carlignon Jones catch you up on the biggest stories impacting our city. Plus, Raheel talks about his biggest gym fear that will for sure make you laugh.
Featured stories:
I-45 expansion project
Jimbo Fisher fired
Camp Logan soldiers receive justice
Houston is a warm winter des...
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November 13, 2023 • 25 mins
Health insurance renewal season is here and we all have questions! Host Raheel Ramzanali is going to help answer those questions by talking to Emily Trevino, managing partner at Wise Insurance, about the different types of insurances, common mistakes to avoid, and a free tool we should all be using when comparing health insurances before renewal season.
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November 10, 2023 • 24 mins
Election week is over, but the runoff races are just starting. Host Raheel Ramzanali is joined by Houston Landing’s civic engagement reporter Tim Carlin to recap the biggest stories from election night and observations heading into the runoff for key races. Plus, the duo recap some overlooked stories and find some joy in the news cycle.
Featured stories:
Election Returns
Tim Carlin’s work
The Q-Patrol is back
HISD’s new pla...
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November 9, 2023 • 24 mins
From incredible parks to stunning views of downtown, there are so many cool places to propose at in Houston. So, host Raheel Ramzanali is bringing on longtime Houston photographer Zia Ahmed, owner of Aventography, and Hey Houston newsletter editor Brooke Lewis to get their picks of the best spots in H-Town to pop the big question.
Thinking about popping the big question? Check out these spots!
McGovern Centennial Gardens
The Po...
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