Usually we think of coral reefs — the oceans’ most thrilling displays of life — near exotic vacation destinations, such... more

What do the latest COVID numbers show? What’s the situation at Houston children’s hospitals? Houston Chronicle medical reporter Julian Gill... more

The real-estate firm Concept Neighborhood aims to make The Plant/Second Ward, an area just east of downtown Houston, far more... more

What happened this week in Houston? Host Lisa Gray and University of Houston historian Raúl Ramos hash out the news. Conflict... more

Could you, in a pinch, buy your holiday gifts at Texas’ biggest, beaver-iest roadtrip stop? The City Cast crew gives... more

Montrose — Houston’s most walkable neighborhood, full of interesting places to eat, drink, and hang out — remains the center of LGBTQ life in... more

Why buy your holiday gifts from Amazon or big-box stores? You’ll find cooler stuff at locally owned businesses — and... more

Houston has one of the fastest-growing Black populations in the U.S., and it’s among the leading cities for Black businesses.... more

Anita Jaisinghani, the owner/chef behind Pondicheri, one of Houston’s favorite restaurants, has just published a cookbook: “Masala: Recipes from India,... more

From 1960s “brown-eyed soul” to present-day cumbia, Houston’s Chicano music reflects our Gulf Coast multicultural meltdown. Guests Nick Gaitan, Isaac... more

For decades we’ve heard that shopping malls are withering away. So why is the Galleria packed? In this rebroadcast of... more

Time to wrap up the week’s Houston news! Host Lisa Gray hashes it out with producer Carlignon Jones and cultural... more

The City Cast crew has your back. Plus, producer AK AL-Mouman asks what so many of Houston’s immigrants wonder: What’s... more

Got overdue Houston speeding tickets? Through Saturday, you can pay them off at a discount, and without getting arrested. But... more

Ever thought about getting a tattoo, but the “permanent” part held you back? Ephemeral, a small chain that recently opened... more

The Alley Theatre — Houston’s oldest and biggest theater — turned 75 this year. For several of those decades, the... more

Yow, what a week for Houston news this has been! Scott Braddock, of the Quorum Report and Texas Take, joins... more

Though Republicans swept statewide offices (same as it ever was), Democrats overwhelmingly won in Harris County. Do those skinny margins... more

Election update from host Lisa Gray. Plus, producer AK AL-Moumen interviews Rafael Struve and Eliot Carter about the GOP push to attract... more

Producers Carlignon Jones and AK AL-Moumen capture the sounds Astros’ World Series championship parade. Plus: City Cast Philly makes good... more

Politics contributor Evan Mintz and host Lisa Gray discuss tomorrow’s mid-term election. What do we know from early voting? How... more

Political analyst Scott Braddock joins host Lisa Gray and producer AK AL-Moumen to unpack the week’s news. Want more Houston news?... more

We're talking food trucks today, and producers Carlignon Jones and AK AL-Moumen reveal their top three — plus a bunch... more

Sprawling, spread-out Houston is a different kind of city than Chicago or New York, so we need to think differently... more

Fall means that the weather perfect for exploring Houston neighborhoods. Today we’re revisiting one of our favorite “neighborhood guide” episodes.... more

When playwright Brendan Bourque-Sheil was 18, he and his mom lived in an apartment in The Woodlands. One night, they... more

With the World Series about to start, City Cast Philly’s Trenae Nuri challenges host Lisa Gray to a bet that... more

Obviously Houston is better. But why? Dallas partisan Angelica “Jelly” Walker bravely makes the case for the wrong city. Host... more

Independence Heights, now in northwest Houston, was originally its own town — and in fact, was Texas’ first municipality registered... more

What does Beto have to do with the Alamo? Why are people screaming at school boards? And what’s the deeper... more

When did bike paths become the stuff of attack ads? And was that Pride Ride hit-and-run an accident or an... more

What happened this week in Houston? Host Lisa Gray, producer Carlignon Jones, and journalist and podcaster Donnie Houston recap it... more

Outdoor horror movies, costume ideas, and other suggestions from the City Cast crew — host Lisa Gray, producers Carlignon Jones... more

What does the poet laureate of Houston do? Can poetry be a day job? Emmanuel Outspoken Bean, Houston’s poet laureate, talks... more

Standing sewage, gang extortion, and guards who carry knives to protect themselves: Keri Blakinger, of the Marshall Project, recently reported... more

Last week Joe Biden pardoned people for federal marijuana possession. Does that change anything in Houston or Texas? What’s the... more

What happened this week in Houston? Scott Braddock, of “Texas Take” and “The Quorum Report,” joins host Lisa Gray and... more

If you could designate four great people who represent this city, who would they be? Barbara Jordan? Beyoncé? The City... more

Why was Houston picked to play a dystopian, crime-ridden Detroit in “RoboCop 2”? What did that wretched movie have to say... more

In Harris County, early voting starts October 23. What’s at stake this year? Will Beto have coattails? How is a... more

Can the Astros win the World Series? What do roller-coaster oil prices mean for Houston’s economy? And can police find... more

How should we savor this glorious weather? The City Cast crew — Lisa Gray, Carlignon Jones and Brooke Lewis — weigh... more

Rodeo Goat, in EaDo, serves great burgers. But what really wows its guest is the welcoming spirit and the wildly... more

The City of Houston already buys more renewable energy “than any other place,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner told us when... more

In the wake of Hurricane Ian, we thought you might be wondering: How do hurricanes work? And what's the best... more

It’s that time of the week y’all! We’re diving into a weeks worth of news from around Houston with producer... more

What are this city’s best places to relax with friends? To meet them for a night of drinks? Or after... more

ChopnBlok serves up smoky jollof rice with a side of West African culture, and in less than a year, it’s... more

Houston is the most diverse city in America, but one thing that makes us even more unique is the deep... more

Hispanics, Latinos, Latinx people. However you define this overlapping set of groups, whatever you call it. It is clearly the... more

It’s been a long week, which means we have a lot of news to roundup! Don’t worry, Lead Producer Dina... more

Today the team chats all things museums in Houston. In addition to producer Carlignon Jones and newsletter writer Brooke Lewis,... more

Houston Chronicle columnist Joy Sewing grew up in Third Ward and is raising her own kids there now. Today she... more

With cooler temperatures on the horizon, City Cast contributor Evan Mintz can’t wait for Houston’s best season to grow veggies. Year-Round... more

Today, host Lisa Gray sits down with Phyllis Frye. She's dubbed the grandmother of transgender rights who pioneered transgender law.... more

It’s that time of the week y’all where we dive into a weeks worth of news. Today, producer Carlignon Jones is... more

Today, in our weekly team chat, we’re tackling our favorite things to do this Fall season. Lead producer Dina Kesbeh... more

Joshua Martin is the Youngest SGA President in history at the University of Houston after winning his freshman year on... more

Today, DJ, producer, journalist, and podcast host Donnie Houston is here to chat with producer Carlignon Jones about how he... more

American alligators, the kind that live in the Houston area came off the endangered species list in the 1990s. But... more

It's that time of the week where we look back at a weeks worth of news! Today, you'll hear a... more

Houston spawns talent. (You’re welcome, world.) Today lead producer Dina Kesbeh will rave about Mo Amer, producer Carlignon Jones talks... more

Today, we're bringing back one of our favorite episodes. The one where we talk about DJ Screw. In the early 90's,... more

Hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, and floods: Thinking about Houston's natural world can be stressful. But investing in nature not only... more

It’s that time of the week where we dive into a weeks worth of news. Today, host Lisa Gray is... more

If you’re looking to thrift on a budget or hunt for the latest designer items for half the cost, we’ve... more

The iconic Shamrock hotel was torn down decades ago, but its presence still looms large in Houston legend. It was... more

Today, Beekeeper Nicole Buergers, from Bee2Bee Honey Collective, responds to an episode we aired earlier this month called Why Houston’s... more

Charter schools, private schools, public schools and more! Houston, has so many options when it comes to schooling.. possibly more... more

It’s that time of the week where we dive into a weeks worth of news from around Houston. Today host... more

This week, we dive into the best date night spots from around the city. Producer Carlignon Jones is a thrill... more

Lead producer Dina Kesbeh, who grew up in Alief, discusses the neighborhood with two of her high school classmates, Firas... more

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

Texas teachers are leaving the profession in droves, and to get a grip on the problem, the governor has appointed... more

In this week’s Houston news: The Farmer’s Almanac chilling prediction; new developments in a 50-year-old serial-killer case; and how Megan... more

Do you brunch? Even if you don't after you hear this episode we promise you'll walk away with a robust... more

Rice University biologists Scott Egan and Scott Solomon describe the gorgeous, disgusting, and supremely weird lives of insects that grow... more

Houston is changing before our eyes — and nowhere more than downtown. Joining host Lisa Gray to discuss the radically... more

Divorce has never been an easy subject, but now with factors like the pandemic and new abortion rights laws in... more

On Fridays, we look back at a weeks worth of news in Houston. Host Lisa Gray, lead producer Dina Kesbeh... more

How, in just a day, can you make your out-of-town friend understand what’s great about this place? The City Cast... more

Wasn’t e-commerce supposed to kill malls? Or the recession? Or COVID? Why do those havens for Auntie Anne’s Pretzels and... more

Even before the pandemic, anxiety was rising among kids and teens — and now the Uvalde shooting is causing many... more

Today on City Cast Houston, host Lisa Gray speaks with Houstonian, Don Hartsell, founder and 1st Commissioner for the World... more

It's Friday, which means it's that time of the week where we round up the news! One of Sylvester Turner’s... more

Alligators, ships, and water the color of chocolate milk: Can we talk about Buffalo Bayou? Happy Thursday everyone! On team chat... more

It's been 60 years since the Rice Stadium speech when John F. Kennedy announced the creation of NASA. And, it's... more

Like pollinators everywhere, the bees native to the Houston area are struggling. Environmentalists say that’s in part due to honeybees,... more

Today, we are bringing back one of our favorite episodes. City Cast's velvet voice CEO David Plotz has a list... more

It’s that time of the week where we look back at a weeks worth of news. Today, host Lisa Gray,... more

It’s team-chat Thursday! Today, we are talking about all the great spots you can take your dog in Houston. Also! We... more

Today, we're passing the mic on to you, our listeners. We have been asking y'all to call in and give... more

Today, we kick off an occasional series about Houston neighborhoods – this time, we're talking about West U. It's a small,... more

The oil companies' favorite option to fight global warming appears less and less viable. So, what now? Is carbon capture... more

Today, City Cast Houston features a bonus episode – it's our friends at the Houston Chronicle's podcast Texas Take! It's hosted... more

It’s Friday again! That means we’ve got a week’s worth of news to catch up on. Host Lisa Gray, Producer... more

In its annual “Top States for Business” ranking, CNBC gave Texas an F for “Life, Health and Inclusion.” Join host... more

Houston we have a PROBLEM, and this time it's more than just the heat! A drought has started causing some... more

This is not your average hot dog. Jacob Irving is a 16-year-old who started his own hot dog food trailer... more

Houston’s record-breaking heat has been the talk of the town for months, and it seems there’s no end in sight.... more

It's FRIDAY! Which means it's time to round out the week with some of Houston hottest news stories [weather pun... more

This is the time of year for a good road trip. However, the temps have been so blistering, is it... more

In a master planned community in Cypress, a couple named Kathleen and George Rowe have been feeding the ducks behind... more

Houston has one of the best food scenes in America, but inflation is hitting prices hard. Still, there are deals... more

Since the overturn of Roe v. Wade, not many smaller companies seem willing to announce public support for their employees... more

It’s a Friday News Roundup! Each Friday, we talk about the most important Houston news stories of the week. Today,... more

Texas just doesn’t do sweet tea the way other Southern states do. Why is that? Host Lisa Gray and lead... more

The Supreme Court is evaluating the scope of the Clean Water Act and its protections of wetlands, with oral arguments... more

The issues mount as November’s election closes in. Recent decisions by the Supreme Court have sent shockwaves across the country... more

It’s Friday, which means we are diving into a weeks worth of news in Houston. This week, host Lisa Gray... more

From motoring around the Port of Houston to rolling your own sushi, strolling the arid scrublands of Hempstead, and getting... more

The Twilight Epiphany Skyspace at Rice University is one of Houston's most peaceful places. The structure is among more than... more

Texans continues to grapple with the most influential Supreme Court decision of our lifetimes, but the overturning of Roe V.... more

The Supreme Court overturned Roe V. Wade, and abortion became illegal in Texas. (Even though the “Trigger law” has yet... more

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