Hello Houston (May 29, 2026)

Hello Houston (May 29, 2026)

On today’s Hello Houston, Jim Szczesniak [https://www.fly2houston.com/airport-business/about/leadership/jim-szczesniak/], the Director of Aviation for the Houston Airport System [https://www.fly2houston.com/], joins us in the show’s first hour to discuss changes happening at the airports and what travelers can expect from this year’s busy summer travel season. Then, we’re joined again by Nerdtropolis founder and editor Sean Tajipour [https://nerdtropolis.com/author/seantajipour/], who breaks down the 2026 summer movie season and shares his thoughts on which releases he thinks should be on everyone’s radar. In the show’s second hour, as we come off another election cycle, we revisit a past episode of Texperts [https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/tag/texperts/], in which 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/] explores the role County Attorneys play in local elections [https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/shows/hello-houston/2026/05/26/544491/texperts-county-attorneys-and-voting-rights/]. And finally, our hosts share a rundown of events happening this weekend in the Houston area for our regular Friday feature, Last Minute Plans, while Hello Houston listeners share their own plans for the weekend. And, as always, Ernie Manouse and guest host Brenda Valdivia [https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/staff/brenda-valdivia/] talk about today's top stories at the top of each hour, including Fertitta Entertainment acquiring major Las Vegas strip operator Caesars Entertainment, President Trump calling for a gas tax holiday, Houston-area students rescued from a stuck rollercoaster at Galveston's Pleasure Pier, and more.

Hello Houston (May 28, 2026)

On today’s Hello Houston, we hear from Texas State Representative and Texas Senate candidate James Talarico, who shares his reaction to now facing off against Republican nominee and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in November’s general election. Then, we’re joined by Houston-based author Kalyani Adusumilli [https://www.kalyaniadusumilli.com/], who tells us all about her newly released debut novel, The Invisible Canvas [https://www.kalyaniadusumilli.com/books], and how it explores mental health, trauma, and personal identity. In the second hour of the show, we hear the latest installment in Ernie Manouse’s InnerVIEWS series, in which he talks with actress Eve Plumb [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000589/], best known for playing Jan Brady on The Brady Bunch, about her life, career, and artwork. Plus, our hosts and listeners talk about the things that have been taking over all their free time for our regular Thursday feature, Current Obsessions. You can send Hello Houston your Current Obsessions anytime by emailing us at talk@hellohouston.org. And, as always, Ernie Manouse and guest host Courtney Zubowski [https://www.instagram.com/courtzubowski/] discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including the Houston City Council approving a measure [https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/city-of-houston/2026/05/20/552468/online-registration-houston-city-council-meeting-public-comment/] that makes it easier for residents to speak before the council, Pope Leo XIV’s warnings about artificial intelligence, and the early stages of the Texas U.S. Senate race.

Hello Houston (May 27, 2026)

On today’s Hello Houston, we talk with Houston Business Journal reporter Chandler France [https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/bio/43113/Chandler+France], who discusses the uncertain future of the Astrodome with the landmark possibly facing either demolition or redevelopment as part of a master plan for NRG Park. Then, we chat with José R. Ralat [https://www.texasmonthly.com/contributors/jose-r-ralat/], the James Beard award-winning taco editor for Texas Monthly, who breaks down his report on the best taquerias in Texas, and what trends he’s noticed about the state’s taco scene. In the second hour of the show, we hear from The Texas Tribune’s economy and industry reporter, Paul Cobler [https://www.texastribune.org/author/paul-cobler/], who explains why many major companies are moving their legal homes to Texas, and whether these moves are generating jobs for the state. Also, Derek Charles Livingston, artistic director of Stages Houston [https://stageshouston.com/], joins us to tell us all about their 2026 – 27 season and their upcoming production of Spamilton [https://stageshouston.com/event/spamilton-an-american-parody/], a musical parody of the hit Broadway musical Hamilton. Plus, Ernie Manouse and Houston Public Media politics and government reporter Andrew Schneider [https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/staff/andrew-schneider/] break down the results [https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/election-2026/2026/05/26/552640/texas-primary-election-runoff-results-2026/] of yesterday’s 2026 Texas primary runoff election at the top of each hour.

Hello Houston (May 26, 2026)

On today’s Hello Houston, we talk with Houston Public Media’s politics and government reporter, Andrew Schneider [https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/staff/andrew-schneider/], in the show's first hour, who helps guide us through the key races in the Texas primary runoff election, with today being Election Day. Next, Houston-based actress Teresa Zimmermann [https://www.teresaz.net/] joins us to talk about her role in Theatre Under the Stars’ production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical [https://www.tuts.org/beautiful-the-carole-king-musical-2026/], which is currently running at the Hobby Center through May 31. In the second hour, we’re joined by 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 analyzes the latest developments in the Iran War, while also giving us his perspective on the global energy picture and what it could mean for Texas.  Plus, Nicole Temple, the Vice President of Education at the Houston Museum of Natural Science [https://www.hmns.org/], tells us all about their new exhibition, Clickbait: A Digital Obsession [https://www.hmns.org/exhibits/clickbait/], and how it brings the systems and mechanics of the internet to life. Also, Ernie Manouse and guest host 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/] talk with Houston Public Media reporters at the top of each hour, who give us live reports on what they’re seeing at various voting locations across the Houston region.

Hello Houston (May 21, 2026)

On today’s Hello Houston, we celebrate Ernie Manouse’s 30 years at Houston Public Media by chatting with actress Amy Sedaris [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0781238/] and Representative Sylvia Garcia [https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/about], who presents Ernie with a congressional record from the U.S. House of Representatives honoring this milestone. Next, we revisit Ernie’s 2016 interview with award-winning actress Pam Grier [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000427/] for his series InnerVIEWS with Ernie Manouse, ahead of her upcoming appearance at Comicpalooza this weekend. To watch the full episode, click here [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VHDzn69zp4]. In the second hour, we continue celebrating Ernie’s 30th anniversary with a recap of his time at Houston Public Media, in which we also hear from several special guests, including Suze Orman, Lyle Lovett, Annise Parker, Nana Mouskouri, Lynn Wyatt, Joanne King Herring, and more. Then, Congressman Al Green [https://algreen.house.gov/about] joins us to discuss his campaign for the upcoming runoff election for Texas's 18th Congressional District, the issues he’s focused on, and why he believes he’s the right person for this seat. And finally, Ernie and guest host Matt Harab [https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/staff/matthew-harab/] share the latest things that have been taking over all their free time for our regular Thursday feature, Current Obsessions. You can send your Current Obsessions to us anytime by emailing us at talk@hellohouston.org.