Hello Houston

Hello Houston (June 12, 2026)

On today’s Hello Houston, we talk with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa [https://house.texas.gov/members/3210] in the show’s first hour, who explains why she believes Texas voters are ready for a change in leadership and what she would do differently if elected governor. Then, the Garden Theatre [https://www.thegardentheatre.org/]’s founding artistic director, Logan Vaden and Houston-based vocalist Wendy Taylor join us to tell us all about the "Musical Theatre Extravaganza,” running tonight through Sunday at the MATCH. In the second hour, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup now upon us, we’re joined by former Houston Dynamo soccer star Mike Chabala [https://www.houstondynamofc.com/players/mike-chabala/], who gives us his thoughts on the massive global event and which match-ups he thinks soccer fans are most looking forward to seeing. Plus, we have our regular Friday feature “Last Minute Plans,” in which our hosts share a comprehensive rundown of events going on this weekend in H-town, in addition to sharing their own weekend plans. And, as always, Ernie Manouse and guest host Tessa Barerra [https://www.instagram.com/tess1tess2/?hl=en] discuss today's top stories at the top of each hour, including the “UFC Freedom 250” event that will take place on the White House’s South Lawn this weekend, Texas Republicans gathering in Houston for the party's state convention, and a new super PAC launched in support of Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico.

Hello Houston (June 11, 2026)

On today’s Hello Houston, Thomas A. Saenz [https://www.maldef.org/about/thomas-a-saenz/], President and General Counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, who recently argued before the Fifth Circuit in support of students' right to defend the Texas Dream Act, discusses the future of the law and the court battles ahead for it. Next, we’re joined by Jennifer Agbu and Alana Scott, the Artistic Director and Assistant Artistic Director of Houston Show Choir [https://houstonshowchoir.org/], who tell us about the choir's upcoming summer show and their mission to bring music, movement, and community together. In the show's second hour, Christine Ruiz Hopkins [https://reedypress.com/author/hopkins/christine-hopkins/] and Heidi Lutz [https://reedypress.com/author/lutz/heidi-lutz/], the authors of Secret Galveston: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure, join us to educate us on the lesser-known facts and folklore of the city of Galveston, as well as its African American history, ahead of Juneteenth next week. Plus, composer and pianist Alfredo Rodriguez [https://www.alfredomusic.com/band] of the Alfredo Rodriguez trio joins us to discuss his Live at the Founders Club concert, Havana Grooves [https://www.thehobbycenter.org/events/havana-grooves/], which he will be performing in with the trio for the next two nights at the Hobby Center. And, as always, Ernie Manouse and guest host Nicole Ellis [https://www.pbs.org/newshour/author/nicole-ellis] discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo proposing a paid mental health leave policy [https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/harris-county/2026/06/10/554019/harris-county-employee-mental-health-leave-policy-lina-hidalgo/] for all full-time employees of the county government and the Houston City Council approving Mayor Whitmire's proposed $7.5 billion budget [https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/city-of-houston/2026/06/10/554231/city-of-houston-passes-whitmires-7-5-billion-budget-for-fiscal-year-2027/] for the next fiscal year.

Hello Houston (June 10, 2026)

On today’s Hello Houston, we talk with The Texas Tribune’s health reporter Terri Langford [https://www.texastribune.org/author/terri-langford/], who joins us to discuss Texas Children’s Hospital’s planned detransition clinic [https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/lgbtq/2026/05/15/552010/texas-childrens-settlement-ken-paxton-gender-affirming-care/], why the hospital was required to create it, and what it could mean for patients. Then, we turn to the arts and chat with actor Adam Brett, who talks to us about playing the character Wadsworth in the national tour of CLUE [https://www.thehobbycenter.org/events/clue/], which is currently running at the Hobby Center through Sunday, June 14th. In the second hour, we’re joined by Nikolas Guggenberger [https://www.law.uh.edu/faculty/main.asp?PID=7475], Assistant Professor of Law at the University of Houston Law Center, who discusses the state of Florida’s lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, for allegedly concealing serious risks associated with ChatGPT, and what this lawsuit means for the future of AI regulation. Plus, documentarian Gordon S. Williams [https://www.gordonswilliams.com/biography] and Dr. Michelle Tovar [https://buffalosoldiersmuseum.org/2023/09/meet-our-director-of-education-dr-michelle-tovar/], Director of Education and Outreach at the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum [https://buffalosoldiersmuseum.org/], talk to us about Juneteenth on Screen [https://www.posthtx.com/event/juneteenth-on-screen-stories-of-freedom], an upcoming film screening that highlights the stories of Black communities across Texas. And, as always, Ernie Manouse and guest host Nicole Ellis [https://www.nicoleellis.co/aboutme] discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including a Texas teen being sentenced to 35 years for fatally stabbing another athlete at a high school track meet and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launching an investigation into FIFA over allegations that buyers were misled about World Cup tickets.

Hello Houston (June 9, 2026)

On today’s Hello Houston, we discuss a new study from the Hobby School of Public Affairs that takes a closer look at how Houston residents view their communities, with the University of Houston’s Gail Buttorff [https://www.uh.edu/hobby/about/faculty/gail-buttorff/index.php] and Maria Perez Arguelles [https://www.uh.edu/hobby/about/faculty/maria-perez-arguelles/index.php], who both break down its findings. Then, Seetha Kulandaisamy, the Director of Development at ISHIDA Dance Company [https://www.ishidadance.org/] and Texas-born dancer Helen Clare Kinney, tell us about waiting/REX [https://asiasociety.org/texas/events/ishida-dance-company-waiting-rex], a contemporary dance double bill that will run from June 11–14 at the Asia Society Texas Center. In the second hour of the show, we’re joined by Deandre Prescott [https://www.colliers.com/en/experts/deandre-prescott], the Research Director for Colliers in Houston, who breaks down what's happening with Houston's growing apartment market and what falling rents, new construction, and changing development patterns could mean for renters. Plus, we discuss the challenges Texans face in accessing mental health care with Andrea Usanga, the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at Mental Health America of Greater Houston [https://mhahouston.org/], who also tells us about their new program, which aims to make it easier to connect people with the care they need. And, as always, Ernie Manouse and guest host Donna Reed [https://www.instagram.com/donnareedvo/] talk about today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including Texas General Land Office Commissioner Dawn Buckingham saying Harris County will likely not meet important flood project deadlines [https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/harris-county/2026/06/08/553879/shovels-not-scapegoats-texas-glo-says-harris-county-may-have-no-chance-of-meeting-flood-project-deadlines/], NASA announcing the new Artemis III crew, which they discuss with Houston Public Media reporter Michael Adkison [https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/author/michael-adkison/], and more.

Hello Houston (June 8, 2026)

On today’s Hello Houston, we’re joined by Alice Liu and Felix Kapoor of the Houston People’s Budget Campaign in the show's first hour, who both break down the organization’s proposed amendments to Mayor Whitmire’s city budget plan as city leaders prepare to vote on it.   In the second hour, Jonathan Friedman [https://pen.org/profile/jonathan-friedman/], the Sy Syms Managing Director of U.S. Free Expression Programs at PEN America [https://pen.org/], discusses House Resolution 2616, which would place new restrictions on how certain topics related to gender and LGBTQ+ identities are addressed in schools, and why PEN America is urging the Senate to vote against it. Also, former U.S. ambassador Chase Untermeyer [https://www.untermeyer.com/resume/] joins us, along with Nicholas Sawicki, executive director of the Houston Public Library Foundation, to tell us all about his new role as Diplomat-in-Residence at Houston Public Library [https://houstonlibrary.org/home], the first role of its kind at any public library in the country. And, as always, Ernie Manouse and guest host Houston Public Media reporter Michael Adkison [https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/author/michael-adkison/] discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including the city of Houston launching a new anti-human trafficking public awareness campaign [https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/public-safety/2026/06/05/553785/world-cup-houston-human-trafficking-awareness-campaign/] ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Texas experiencing a large influx of planned data center projects, and more.