City Cast Houston

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 beginne...

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...

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 tal...

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...

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...

From a quick one hour trip to long haul adventures, Houston has so many fun road trip options. So, host Raheel Ramzanali and Sofia Gonzalez, Houstonia Magazine’s travel editor, are creating a list of the best road trips to take this summer with your friends, family, and even solo! Check out these spots for your next summer road trip! Check out Sofia’s work in Houstonia Magazine  Galveston Surfside...

This year, Houston racked up nearly a dozen semifinalists in the James Beards Awards, known as the Oscars of the food scene. But then only one made it to the final round — chef Emmanuel Chavez of Tatemó — where they were shut out. Why did Houston go home empty handed? And does this mean Space City’s food scene is on the decline? City Cast Houston host Raheel Ramzanali breaks it down with Bao Ong,...

Host Raheel Ramzanali and ABC13 reporter Shannon Ryan are helping you learn about the stories everybody is talking about to start the week. The duo are breaking down why corruption charges were filed against a Midtown Redevelopment Authority official, how an inmate just walked away from a unit, why an HISD admin was taunting parents, why Mayor Whitmire is calling out the Houston Zoo, and more! Fea...

Nationally, San Francisco and Stonewall in New York City get a lot of attention in the history for gay rights. But Houston actually was at the center of a movement for radical acceptance, through the power of community radio. To learn more, host Raheel Ramzanali is talking with Emily Vinson, an archivist at the University of Houston and Timmy Martinez with Legacy Community Health. DISCOVER MORE: C...

We’re recapping a wet and soggy week in Houston with some of the hottest news. Host Raheel Ramzanali, Monique Welch, Houston Landing’s diverse communities reporter, and Pulitzer Prize finalist Evan Mintz are breaking down why METRO is shutting down a major project, how a community activist got an important report on a popular street safety project, why some people are facing a barrier in our court...

Leaving your comfort zone and breaking routine can be challenging. That’s why host Raheel Ramzanali, executive producer Laura Isensee, Hey Houston newsletter editor Brooke Lewis, and producer Carlignon Jones are laying out new ways to leave your comfort zone around H-Town with adventures, activities, and more! Try out these recommendations! Well Done cooking classes  Camping spots around the Houst...

It’s a wet start to the week, but the news isn’t slowing down. Host Raheel Ramzanali and producer Carlignon Jones are talking about how HPD put a man in jail for mistaken identity and how he eventually got out, why there’s tension within HISD, why the Texas Supreme Court is blocking Harris County’s guaranteed income program, how George Strait set a new record, and more! Featured stories: Where to...

As we get ready to celebrate Juneteenth this week, we want to revisit how the historic holiday became one of the most important days of our region. Houston artist Reginald Adams and his team have painted at least 10 Juneteenth murals across the country and he joins City Cast Houston Host Raheel Ramzanali to explain why Juneteenth is so important to him, why it should matter to every Houstonian, an...

City budget drama, HISD test results, and the Museum District’s very own Batman..well, kinda. Host Raheel Ramzanali is recapping a busy week in H-Town with media personality Antre’chelle Nova and Pulitzer Prize finalist Evan Mintz. The trio are talking about those stories plus the threat level of bird flu, The Woodlands getting some love for their job market, the new Texas Renaissance Festival doc...

It’s career day at City Cast Houston! Host Raheel Ramzanali is learning about three interesting Houston careers and how we can find inspiration in our own lives from these unique jobs. Just like career day in school, you’ll hear from a range of guests who work at NASA, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and a full-time content creator on YouTube. Learn more about our guest and their careers below!...

International Sushi Day is right around the corner and we’re also wrapping up AAPI Restaurant Weeks so we wanted to find out the best places to grab sushi in Houston. Host Raheel Ramzanali is joined by local food blogger Anthony Vu aka TheEatingAnt on Instagram to get his recommendations for the best sushi spots in Houston. Try out these sushi spots! Hokkaido Sushi  Ginza Kura Revolving Sushi Bar ...

There’s a lot going on in the city so host Raheel Ramzanali is calling on Houston Press reporter Faith Bugenhagen to help him break down some of the biggest stories. They start by talking about a new trend in offices where some workers don’t feel comfortable performing a simple task. Then they get to ERCOT’s latest report on summer energy usage and how budget season is impacting Harris County. The...

It’s June 10th aka 610 day! Host Raheel Ramzanali, TxDOT’s public information officer Danny Perez, and other surprise guests share their favorite memories of loop 610 in honor of 610 day. Plus, we learn about the history of the loop and what the future holds for one of the most important freeways in our city.  Learn more: 610/69 project updates  610 and Cambridge project updates  Looking for more...

It’s Friday and that means we’re recapping the biggest stories from the week. From the latest on the firefighters settlement to our first look at standardized testing results at HISD after the state takeover, host Raheel Ramzanali is breaking down those stories and more with Shafaq Patel, Axios’ Houston reporter, and Houston Landing’s diverse communities reporter Monique Welch. Learn more: Mom goe...

How Houston are you? Host Raheel Ramzanali is chatting with producer Carlignon Jones and Hey Houston newsletter editor Brooke Lewis about things you have to experience to make you a REAL Houstonian. From honking in traffic to waiting in lines, you’re not a real Houstonian until you’ve… Learn more: Magic Island  City Cast Houston’s Taco Guide Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morn...

Sigh, the Houston heat is here and we need to find a way to cool down! So, host Raheel Ramzanali is talking to Josh De Leon, head ice cream slinger at Underground Creamery, about the best cold treats we need to try to fight the summer temps. To change things up a bit, Raheel and Josh are picking their frozen treats in a sports style draft going back and forth for five rounds! Featured spots: Learn...

From a city employee accused of stealing millions from city projects to a local celebrity helping lead efforts for Houston Independent School District’s $4.5 billion bond proposal, a lot is happening in Houston to start the week. So, host Raheel Ramzanali and Hey Houston newsletter editor Brooke Lewis are breaking down the stories you should know for the week. Learn more here: Former Houston publi...

We’re all on edge right now with the recent storms that have hit our city and with hurricane season officially here, it’s important we get a hype-free look at the upcoming months. That’s why host Raheel Ramzanali is bringing on Matt Lanza, meteorologist at Space City Weather, to help breakdown the latest hurricane season forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and how it...

It’s time to recap the news from the week! Host Raheel Ramzanali and Pulitzer Prize finalist Evan Mintz start by talking about the impacts from this week’s primary runoff election. Then, they’re talking about a new fee that could be showing up on our electric bills because of the historic derecho from earlier this month. After that, they’re recapping why Mayor Whitmire is under fire for his commen...

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.  There are so many things to do in June around H-Town, but trying to figure out the best of the best is really hard! That’s why we’re talking about events for Juneteenth, Pride Month, Father’s Day, and more in our guide for June. Do you love celebrat...