Hello Houston – The Commuter Cut (June 17, 2026)

Hello Houston – The Commuter Cut (June 18, 2026)

In today’s edition of “The Commuter Cut,” historian and author Blair LM Kelley [https://www.profblmkelley.com/bio] and Prairie View A&M’s Dr. Melanye Price [https://www.pvamu.edu/blog/melanyeprice/] join us to discuss what Juneteenth means to us in the modern day and how the holiday continues to shape conversations about social justice in the U.S. Then, we hear from the Texas State Director for Save the Children [https://www.savethechildren.org/], Militza Mezquita, who shares advice on how parents can keep their children learning during summer vacation. Plus, Ernie and guest host Chau Nguyen [https://www.instagram.com/chaunguyenhouston/?hl=en] share the latest things that have been taking over all their free time as part of our regular Thursday feature, Current Obsessions, while also sharing obsessions from Hello Houston listeners. You can send your Current Obsessions to us anytime by emailing us at talk@hellohouston.org.

Hello Houston – The Commuter Cut (June 17, 2026)

In today's edition of "The Commuter Cut," Ernie and guest host Chau Nguyen [https://www.instagram.com/chaunguyenhouston/?hl=en] talk with University of Houston Energy Fellow Ed Hirs [https://www.uh.edu/uh-energy-innovation/uh-energy/about-uh-energy/faculty-engagement/energy-fellows/ed-hirs/], who shares his thoughts on the memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran, and what we can expect to see with oil prices. Next, we learn about the importance of organ, eye and tissue donations, with Kevin Myer [https://www.organdonationalliance.org/profile/kevin-myer/], CEO and President of LifeGift [https://www.lifegift.org/], the organ procurement organization for North, Southeast and West Texas, who also explains how Texans can register to become donors. And finally, we hear from Sally Bradford, Executive Director of the North Houston Development Corporation, who joins us to tell us all about the area skate park, North Houston Skate Park [https://www.northhouston.org/parks-and-trails/north-houston-skate-park/], and the inclusive public park, Dylan Park [https://www.northhouston.org/parks-and-trails/dylan-park/], which has features that benefit children of all abilities, including the sight and hearing impaired, as well as wheelchair-bound children.

Hello Houston – The Commuter Cut (June 16, 2026)

In today’s edition of “The Commuter Cut,” Ernie and guest host Chau Nguyen [https://www.instagram.com/chaunguyenhouston/?hl=en] receive an update on the effort to relocate the Space Shuttle Discovery to Houston from Kelly Crow [https://www.wsj.com/news/author/kelly-crow], a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, who’s been covering this story. Then, Ryan Hyatt, host of the Texas Tech-focused radio show and podcast “Raiderland” in Lubbock, joins us to help us unpack the legal fight over former Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby and the future of NCAA authority and college sports governance. Plus, The Catastrophic Theatre [https://catastrophictheatre.com/]’s Producing Artistic Director, Tamarie Cooper [https://catastrophictheatre.com/personnel/tamarie-cooper/], and her onstage "partner in crime," Kyle Sturdivant, join us to tell us all about Tamarie’s Greatest Hits Volume 3 [https://catastrophictheatre.com/production/tamaries-greatest-hits-volume-3/], which features the best moments of her shows from the past decade.

Hello Houston – The Commuter Cut (June 15, 2026)

In today's edition of "The Commuter Cut," Ernie and guest host Michael Adkison [https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/author/michael-adkison/] talk with Houston Chronicle reporter John Lomax V [https://www.houstonchronicle.com/author/john-lomax/], who helps us understand the resignation of the Harris County Flood Control District’s director and what's happening with their flood control projects. Then, we receive a recap of last week’s 2026 Texas Republican Convention from University of Houston political science professor and Party Politics [https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/shows/party-politics/] co-host Brandon Rottinghaus [https://www.uh.edu/class/political-science/faculty-and-staff/professors/rottinghaus/], who also discusses what these events could mean for November's election. Also, Tyce Green [https://www.tyceofficial.com/about], president and founder of Houston Broadway Theatre [https://www.houstonbroadwaytheatre.org/], joins us to tell us all about their production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame [https://www.houstonbroadwaytheatre.org/shows/the-hunchback-of-notre-dame], based on the 1996 Disney adaptation of the same name, which will run in Houston starting tomorrow, June 16, through July 5.

Hello Houston – The Commuter Cut (June 12, 2026)

In today’s edition of “The Commuter Cut,” Ernie and guest host Tessa Barerra [https://www.instagram.com/tess1tess2/?hl=en] talk with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa [https://house.texas.gov/members/3210], who explains why she decided to run for Texas governor, her priorities, and what she would do differently if elected. Then, we hear from Logan Vaden, the founding artistic director of the Garden Theatre [https://www.thegardentheatre.org/] and Houston-based vocalist Wendy Taylor, who both tell us all about the "Musical Theatre Extravaganza,” which is running tonight through Sunday at the MATCH. Plus, former professional soccer player with the Houston Dynamo, Mike Chabala [https://www.houstondynamofc.com/players/mike-chabala/], joins us to give us a primer on the FIFA World Cup, the significance of this massive event, and which matchups he thinks soccer fans are most looking forward to seeing.