It's Friday, which means it's time to round out the week with some news! This week Host Lisa Gray and... more

It’s chat time! And this week, the City Cast Houston team is talking about some of the most prestigious universities... more

The new Texas Republican platform is only the latest reason why trans people in Houston feel that their rights --... more

The novel, 'The Last Queen' takes readers on a historical journey by telling the fascinating story of Rani Jindan. This... more

It's that time of the week y'all! We're looking back at a weeks worth of news. Lisa is joined by... more

It's blazing hot – with no relief in sight! As all-time temp records drop like flies, so does the morale... more

Summer is upon us! So you know what that means: constantly swatting at mosquitos, declaring war on fire ants, and... more

Have you ever wondered what your neighborhood looked like before there were buildings on the land? What was Uptown like... more

The current proposal for the Ike Dike - a barrier to protect the Houston/Galveston area from hurricanes - is making... more

It’s News Roundup Friday! Lisa is joined by producer Ferrill Gibbs and the City Cast culture contributor Olivia Flores Alvarez.... more

How do you like yours? Stuffed with cottage cheese? Maybe with meat and jalapeno? Or, perhaps you like an old-school... more

It's summertime, you're walking around barefoot running through the grass and you get bit by a snake, what should you... more

Welcome back to Part II of Keri Blakinger's story: a top-level ice skater who, after her skating career fell apart,... more

At 17, Keri Blakinger was a top-level ice skater. But after her skating career fell apart, so did she. She... more

Hey City Cast Houston listeners, today we have something different for you. For today’s show, we’ve teamed up with The... more

Today we're looking back at a weeks worth of news around Houston. Freelance producer AK Al Moumen joins Lead Producer... more

Yesterday was the first day of hurricane season, and already "Alex" threatens to form from the remnants of Agatha. The... more

It's officially hurricane season. We continue our weeklong hurricane coverage by breaking down what an actual hurricane is. To tell... more

Tomorrow is June 1st, which means it's hurricane season. So! We will be covering all things "hurricane" this week on... more

The weekend following the elementary-school shooting Uvalde, the NRA shamelessly holds its convention in Houston. Host Lisa Gray, City Cast contributor Shiyam... more

Roller coasters? Funnel cakes? Ferris wheels? What exactly defines an amusement park, and do we have any now near Houston?... more

Ancient people dealt with sea levels that changed even faster than they are now. What does geology and archeology tell... more

Magnolias are a symbol of the Old South — but they’re also so much more. Lisa Gray talks with City Cast... more

Chris Clarke explains high-level economics on a social platform more often used for dance trends. In 60 seconds or less,... more

Instead of bringing the news to life, in this bonus episode, we're leaning into the sleep-inducing qualities of the rules... more

On this episode of City Cast Houston’s Friday Round-Up: Texas Tribune’s Zach Despart joins Lisa and Ferrill to discuss the... more

Is there one main Texas accent, or are there many? How differently do Texans speak from other Southerners? And what... more

From time to time, the City of Houston's sewage overflows and spews poo and other undesirable waste into our city.... more

It’s time to get past the cliché. Who are the people that make Houston great? We put out the call... more

LyondellBasell, in a recent announcement, said it would shutter its Houston refinery at the end of 2023 — a site... more

It's Friday — and the City Cast Houston gang rounds up the week! This week's coverage: the Roe V. Wade... more

It’s hot, y’all! With temperatures already in the 90s, we figured it wasn’t too early to talk about how to... more

City Cast lead producer Dina Kesbeh has been in the market for a house for a while now, in Houston.... more

Houston is changing. It's getting hotter here, and summer lasts longer. We're getting bigger storms. Energy is way more expensive.... more

4.7 million people live in Harris County, making it the third-most populous county in the country … and one run... more

On this week's news round-up, contributor Olivia Flores Alvarez joins producer Ferrill Gibbs and host Lisa Gray. They dive into... more

You’ve probably seen the meme: Texas cities as depicted by different versions of Matthew McConaughey. Dallas: the Tuxedoed McConaughey. San... more

Most Houstonians know Crime Stoppers as that nonpartisan, nonprofit group who pays rewards for tips that help police solve crimes.... more

In the early 90's, Houston hip-hop artist DJ Screw developed a sound called "chopped and screwed." It drew from artists... more

The pandemic forced many Houstonians to work from home, and it left vacant office buildings in the lurch. It's still... more

It's Friday, and we're talking news. This week advocates for asylum seekers are calling for an investigation into Houston’s Asylum... more

People who are not Houstonians have no clue how full this city is of incredible sights to see, foods to... more

This weekend, hundreds of Houstonians will play along with the city nature challenge. They’ll take photos of the wild things... more

Gaby Diaz is a teacher at Bellaire High School who recently penned an op/ed for the Houston Chronicle called, "Texas... more

With hurricane season just over a month away - a season forecast to be 130% more active than last year... more

It's Friday! And on Fridays, Lisa Gray recaps the week in Houston news, like when Lizzo appeared on SNL. She... more

It's Thursday, and this week the team chats about the best coffee in Houston: from Minuti Coffee to Koffeteria to... more

Did you ever wonder what Houston was like, before there were freeways and concrete? What was the land like before... more

Should you get solar panels? Wouldn’t Houston be the perfect place for them to soak up so much glorious sunshine... more

On April 29, to protest the latest wave of banned books, caravans from Houston and San Antonio will converge on... more

Today, we look back at the week in news. Host Lisa Gray, Lead Producer Dina Kesbeh and La Opinion reporter... more

When the Galleria opened just before Thanksgiving in 1970, it changed how the country viewed shopping malls. It was massive,... more

In 2018 Lina Hidalgo shocked pretty much everyone in the world by winning an upset election to become Harris County's... more

It was once the Barbara Jordan Post Office, but Houston’s new downtown spot POST Houston has become a galleria-type oasis,... more

We’re approaching the peak of birds’ spring migration, which means that soon, thousands of birds will pass over your head... more

It’s a Friday round up! On this week’s episode, we discuss the ongoing conflict between Kim Ogg and Lina Hidalgo.... more

Art Car Weekend peaks Saturday when the 35th Annual Houston Art Car Parade rolls through downtown. The giant rolling chicken... more

Boozy groups pedaling party bikes are a fixtures of Washington Ave. and Eado, but Trill on Wheels is different: It’s a... more

A lawsuit forced Harris County to release most people accused of misdemeanors while they await trial, rather than keep them... more

Is Trump with Ted Cruz or against him these days? Is Tucker Carlson an ally or an enemy now? And... more

On today’s episode of City Cast Houston, it’s a Friday news round up! Todays topics include whether there’s much of... more

Ramadan begins this weekend in Houston, and it means a time of fasting, prayer and self-reflection for Houston's Muslim Community.... more

We think of Houston as a city of skyscrapers, sprawl and freeways — but it's also a surprisingly natural place.... more

Recreational weed has been available in Illinois since 2020. Meanwhile, in Texas, Beto O'Rourke will be stomping for weed legalization... more

What should Houston do? The sanctions against Russia sent the world scrambling to make up for hundreds of thousands of... more

First-time guest and journalist Claudia Kolker joins City Cast Host Lisa Gray and Lead Producer Dina Kesbeh to talk about... more

Two years after the start of the pandemic, Hermann Park is coming back to life, and Houstonians are there for... more

Let’s just say it: Houston’s art scene is way whiter and more Anglo than the rest of the city. But... more

Houston's Dr. Peter Hotez is having an extremely busy year. In February, he was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize,... more

After a two-year hiatus, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo came back in full force at the end of February,... more

Today we'll dive into the most important stories of the week and the ones that weren't in the headlines enough.... more

Blue Bell lovers, today's sweet treat is for you! Blue Bell just dropped a new flavor called Peachy Peach, and... more

They say you can find anything on Harwin Drive: Clothing, party supplies, jewelry, furniture, and the list goes on and... more

Would Houstonians ever eat insects, not just as a fear factor kind of dare, but because they are delicious? Chef... more

The Houston hustle is real, and knows no bounds as far as age is concerned. At least, that’s been 17-year-old... more

On Fridays, we discuss the most important stories of the week (and the most under-reported ones, too). Today, author and... more

Houstonians are passionate about their doughnuts: Is it light and crispy? Is it too heavy? Is it just a chunk... more

This months Harris County primary elections were a wreck, a total disaster. And now, Harris County's Elections Administrator Isabel Longoria has... more

The proposed megaproject to widen I-45 has been controversial for loads of reasons – including that it would displace many... more

Houston has begun to rethink many of its streets. It's making them friendlier to pedestrians, bicyclists and other people not... more

Hey City Cast Houston listeners, today we have something different for you. On March first, Texas voters schlepped to their... more

It's Friday! And on Fridays, we talk about all the latest news! Raj Mankad, the op-ed for the Houston Chronicle,... more

As America tuned in to one of the most momentous State of the Union Addresses in modern time – one... more

An hour north of downtown Houston, on I-45, is Huntsville. The home base of Texas' enormous prison system. Keri Blakinger,... more

The day Bravo’s Top Chef asked Evelyn Garcia – the chef behind Kin HTX – to appear on its 19th... more

A few weeks ago, a glowing op-ed appeared in the LA Times: “What Can Houston Teach Los Angeles About Solving... more

It’s been an eventful week – and not just here in Houston. Our planet felt the tremors of war on... more

I'm sure you had a lot of epiphanies during the pandemic. That was definitely the case for Ivy Walls, who... more

Some Houston neighborhoods seem to flood every time it rains. So why do people keep rebuilding there? After Hurricane Harvey,... more

You would not believe why fire ants, who only recently arrived in Houston (probably in the 1930’s when stowaways docked... more

The day Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale donned a costume mattress and shouted “Gallery Saves You Money!” he became a Houston... more

The Houston growing seasons are not so very Texan. Our climate is humid subtropical – it has extremely mild winters... more

For half a century, Rothko Chapel has been the stillest place in Houston. We’re a city where too much is... more

Smack at the center of Rice's main quad is a bronze statue of Rice's slave-holding founder, William Marsh Rice. For... more

Last time we opened up the phone lines for caller submissions, Houstonians regaled us with inspiring stories from the 610... more

Since 1982, Buc-ee's has been THE road-trip stop favorite among many Texans. Their reign over being the top gas station... more

When host Lisa Gray walked her dog on Monday, she saw a gnarly dark plume billowing over Southeast Houston. Turns... more

Have you ever wondered what your neighborhood looked like before there were buildings on the land? What was uptown like... more

Once upon a time, Robert Thomas was a nightclub owner: District 1960 in Northwest Houston. (Acts such as Megan Thee... more

According to The Marshall Project’s Keri Blakinger, Texas youth prisons are a complete and total mess. They’re places of tortuous... more

It’s crawfish season! (You heard that right … even in early February!) Although 90% of the country’s crawfish come from... more

The River Oaks Theatre - Houston’s oldest and most beloved spot to catch a flick - has been shuttered since... more

Exxon Mobil announced this week that it's moving its headquarters to the Houston area -- which will make it the... more

Primary season is here! In these parts, we have roughly 90 races to vote on, which is a lot of... more

Loop 610 is the city’s Mother Loop, its inner ring - the circle that defines Houston. (Either you’re in, or... more

Whataburger is a Texas favorite but the invasion of the shiny West-Coast chain In-n-Out has sparked a debate: is In-n-Out... more

Chester Chambers, the bright-eyed owner of the Bloom Foods food truck, also holds a degree in chemical engineering from MIT.... more

Usually, when Houstonians talk about insects, it's about the ones that we want to kill. Mosquitoes, fleas, fire ants, but... more

Something that every Houstonian can agree on is that potholes are the worst. Good thing we have Walter Hambrick on... more

Last year, Houston police responded to 470 deaths. It was one of the worst homicide rates we’ve seen in the... more

Recently, H-E-B was ranked #2 on a national survey - just behind Amazon. Today, the City Cast crew breaks down... more

Today we continue with Raj Mankad’s bicycle journey around 610 — his personal quest, after pandemic isolation, to reconnect with... more

Raj Mankad, the Houston Chronicle's op-Ed editor and Houston's resident utopian, has made a project of riding his bike around... more

Seismique, in far west Houston, bills itself as both an “art museum” and an “intergalactic playground.” Inside a former Bed... more

As Covid 19 has raged on, Independence Heights in Northwest Houston has suffered a loss of some historic housing -... more

This March, on Black Heritage day, Lil’ Keke will join Bun B’s H-Town Takeover at the Houston Rodeo. Alongside some... more

With Houston's crime rate on the rise and gun violence wreaking havoc on the city, finding a solution is on... more

Back in the day, Houston was flush with charming weirdos. People made strange stuff here: We had the Orange Show,... more

Scott Solomon - biologist, professor, and science communicator – takes producer Ferrill Gibbs to a portion of the shallow, muddy... more

The Great Resignation has been happening all over – but not like in Texas. Antréchelle Dorsey, contributor for City Cast... more

In February 2021, after Winter Storm Uri rolled into Texas, the state’s power grid went down. Millions of homes and... more

Nelly, Hannah, and Laura of the band “Babes In Betoland” gear up to stump (although musically) for Beto O’Rourke’s gubernatorial... more

The Tank, 106.5 FM, isn’t an ordinary radio station. It’s run by prisoners, for prisoners, at the maximum-security Allan B.... more

What better way to know that you *know* a city than to have an outsider ask “dumb” questions about it?... more

Need a cool, thoughtful gift two days out from Christmas Eve? Dina and Lisa have you covered! From hyper-local honey... more

Houston Methodist’s Omicron cases have topped 80% in December. It only took three weeks to dominate all other variants. Dr.... more

Ricardo Molina, second-generation owner of the Tex-Mex staple “Molina’s Cantina,” has never experienced such difficulties staffing and maintaining inventory as... more

“Hell yes, we’re going to take your AR-15!“: That declaration was the high point of Beto O’Rourke’s 2019 campaign for... more

When plumber Justin Cauley (aka “Justin the Plumber”) found envelopes full of cash and checks spilling forth from the bathroom... more

Do you have a long list of people you need to buy gifts for? Have you been racking your brain... more

After a Christmas spent hunkering down last year, correspondent Antre’chelle Dorsey presents listeners with a variety of options to keep... more

Raz Halili, a second-generation oysterman in Dickinson, Texas, has developed the reputation for being a good steward of his corner... more

Last week, City Cast Houston's Senior Producer Dina Kesbeh came down with what she believed was the flu. Fully vaccinated,... more

City Cast Houston contributor Marcus Carter is utterly in love with the restaurant Bludorn -- so much so that he... more

Tahmina Ghoori was forced to flee Afghanistan last summer along with her family. After two stops at refugee camps in... more

In this episode, meditation expert Alejandro Chaoul offers ways to survive the holiday season — even if your relatives keep... more

Dr. Peter Hotez, Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine, is fresh off... more

Olivewood Cemetery is believed to be Houston’s first black cemetery. It had been neglected for a while before a group... more

In this episode, political contributor/Pulitzer finalist Evan Mintz discusses with Lisa the possible rationale behind the Woodlands’ continued resistance to... more

Lisa hosts producers Dina Kesbeh and Ferrill Gibbs on the last podcast offering before Thanksgiving. What culinary disasters have the... more

Photographer Geoff Winningham has been shooting Buffalo Bayou for decades. His photos are up on display at cafe Brasil for... more

The Ion building, Rice University's new high-tech hub for all things shiny and entrepreneurial, anchors a 16-acre innovation district-to-be. Does... more

Join City Cast Houston twice a week (for now) as we plunge into conversations about food, economy, history, and all... more