Hello Houston – The Commuter Cut (July 1, 2026)

Hello Houston – The Commuter Cut (July 1, 2026)

In today's edition of "The Commuter Cut," Ernie and guest host Katharine Shilcutt [https://profiles.rice.edu/staff/katharine-shilcutt] talk with Gina Plata-Nino, the SNAP Director at the Food Research and Action Center [https://frac.org/], who discusses a new report that examines how changes to SNAP policies are impacting recipients. Next, we learn about the Bayou Bend exhibition “George Washington: America’s Enduring Icon [https://www.mfah.org/art/exhibitions/george-washington-americas-enduring-icon],” with Daniel Kurt Ackermann, the Director of Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens [https://www.mfah.org/visit/bayou-bend], who also discusses how Americans view the nation’s first president today. Also, we hear from Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu, the chefs behind the Houston-area restaurant JŪN, who both share the story of how they went from being ambitious newcomers to the top of Texas' culinary world, having also recently earned one of the restaurant industry's highest honors, the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Texas.

Hello Houston – The Commuter Cut (June 30, 2026)

In today’s edition of “The Commuter Cut,” Ernie and guest host Chau Nguyen [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chau_Nguyen] talk with Dr. Stephen Sherman [https://profiles.rice.edu/staff/stephen-averill-sherman], a research scientist with the Kinder Institute for Urban Research, who explains the findings of their 2026 State of Housing in Harris County and Houston report. Then, Claudia de Vasco, the Managing Director of Miller Outdoor Theatre [https://www.milleroutdoortheatre.com/], tells us about all the upcoming performances that will be available at the outdoor theater this summer. Also, we hear from Sandra Guerra Thompson [https://www.law.uh.edu/faculty/main.asp?PID=15], a professor of law and former director of the Criminal Justice Institute at the University of Houston Law Center, who discusses the history of the insanity defense, how psychological defenses are used in criminal cases, and how public perception of this defense has changed over the years.

Hello Houston – The Commuter Cut (June 29, 2026)

In today's edition of "The Commuter Cut," Ernie and guest host Raheel Ramzanali [https://x.com/The_Raheel?lang=en] talk with Kavita Self, Executive Director of the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land [https://sugarland.hmns.org/], who tells us all about the museum’s Science of Soccer event. Next, we hear from Betsy Mayotte, President of The Institute of Student Loan Advisors [https://freestudentloanadvice.org/], who helps us break down the upcoming changes affecting student loans beginning on July 1, and what borrowers and families need to know before these changes take effect. Plus, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston [https://www.mfah.org/] curator of modern and contemporary art, Brittany Webb, talks to us about Hew Locke: Passages [https://www.mfah.org/art/exhibitions/hew-locke-passages], a new exhibition featuring more than three decades of the Guyanese-British artist’s sculptures, collages, and assemblages.

Hello Houston – The Commuter Cut (June 26, 2026)

In today’s edition of “The Commuter Cut,” Ernie and guest host Doris Childress [https://tsu.edu/academics/colleges-and-schools/school-of-communication/pdfs/bio-doris-childress.pdf] talk with Gary Joiner, the Communications Director of the Texas Farm Bureau [https://texasfarmbureau.org/], who gives us the latest information on the spread of the New World screwworm. Next, we hear from Vanessa Gilmore [https://www.txs.uscourts.gov/page/vanessa-gilmore], a former U.S. district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, who breaks down the Supreme Court’s most recent decisions, what we can expect from these rulings, and which decisions have yet to be made.

Hello Houston – The Commuter Cut (June 25, 2026)

In today's edition of "The Commuter Cut," Ernie and guest host Doris Childress [https://tsu.edu/academics/colleges-and-schools/school-of-communication/pdfs/bio-doris-childress.pdf] talk with Dr. Hilary Fairbrother [https://med.uth.edu/emergencymedicine/2022/11/18/hilary-fairbrother-md-mph/], a professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at UTHealth Houston’s McGovern Medical School, who shares tips on how people can stay safe during the summer. Then, director Noely Mendoza [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10962082/] talks with us, along with Houston filmmaker Greg Carter [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0141646/], to tell us all about her award-winning coming-of-age film Sugar Beach [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14451086/?ref_=nm_ov_bio_lk], and how it explores an unconventional romantic relationship. Plus, we hear from Houston area relationship and intimacy expert Dr. Viviana Coles [https://www.doctorviviana.com/about], who joins us again on the show to give us advice on what leads to the loss of a romantic spark in relationships, and what couples can do to recapture it.