City Cast Houston

Nov 21 2024 749 ep. 22 mins 88
City Cast Houston Podcast artwork

Food, culture, news and nature in the sweaty Bayou City. Join Host Raheel Ramzanali and the City Cast Houston team as we celebrate and interrogate this sprawling place with our favorite journalists, thinkers, leaders, neighbors and gadflies. Learn more and subscribe to our daily morning newsletter, Hey Houston, at houston.citycast.fm.

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What’s Up With All Blackbirds Around H-E-B?

Nov 21 2024 20 mins  
If you’ve been to a big grocery store in the last month or looked up at a power line then you’ve noticed tons of blackbirds all around you. So, what are these birds, and why are they taking over?! Host Raheel Ramzanali spoke to Rice University professor Cin-Ty Lee last year about this annual fall phenomena, so we’re playing back our conversation to answer all your blackbird q

The Best Houston Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving

Nov 20 2024 17 mins  
Thanksgiving is almost here and if you don’t want to cook and clean, but still enjoy great food, we have you covered! Host Raheel Ramzanali is talking to Eric Sandler, CultureMap Houston’s city editor, about the best restaurants open on Thanksgiving. From traditional turkey plates to extravagant buffets, there’s something for everyone around Houston on Thanksgiving. Restaura

More HISD Drama, Record-Breaking Tourism, & a Very Beyonce Xmas

Nov 19 2024 36 mins  
The week is off to a busy start, and host Raheel Ramzanali is getting you caught up with the stories you need to know. Today, he’s joined by executive producer Laura Isensee to learn about what’s next for HISD and state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles after voters rejected its historic $4.4 billion bond. Plus, Beyoncé is performing on Christmas, but will we will be able to

Houston Airport Hacks You Need For Holiday Travel

Nov 18 2024 29 mins  
It’s almost time for the holiday travel season, and we want to help you make it less stressful! So, today host Raheel Ramzanali is speaking with Jim Szczesniak, director of aviation at the Houston Airport System, about essential travel hacks, the latest on construction projects at Bush International Airport, and his insider tips on picking up passengers at Hobby or Bush. Learn m

Unfinished Ballots Impact Election, Slow Police, and Astrodome’s Billion-Dollar Makeover

Nov 15 2024 30 mins  
Happy Friday! Host Raheel Ramzanali is back with the biggest stories you need to know about H-town. He’s joined by Houston Landing’s diverse communities reporter Monique Welch. Raheel and Monique start with breaking down the new billion-dollar plan to revive the Astrodome, but Raheel’s not convinced anything will come of it. Then, they unpack why voters skipped so many local

Why This Houstonian Is Stuck in Outer Space

Nov 14 2024 21 mins  
Houston astronaut Butch Wilmore had an eight-day mission that has turned into months, after a Boeing Starliner aircraft malfunctioned and left him and his fellow test pilot Suni Williams stranded on the International Space Station. So, what’s it like being stuck in space? Well, today, Butch shares his thoughts on that, plus what he’s going to eat when he’s back on Earth, and

Houston Got 6 Michelin Stars. Now, Where to Eat?

Nov 13 2024 31 mins  
We already knew Houston is one of the best foodie cities in the country (and world!), but now it’s official. The Michelin Guide just announced its first-ever awards for restaurants in Houston and the rest of Texas. Host Raheel Ramzanali and Chron.com food reporter Erica Cheng are breaking down which Michelin-starred restaurants you need to try first and why the Bib Gourmand recs

Whitmire’s New Homeless Camp, Honoring Vets, & More Hate Speech?

Nov 12 2024 26 mins  
It’s been another busy weekend for Houstonians with lots of news to unpack. Producer Carlignon Jones is chatting with ABC 13 reporter Shannon Ryan to talk about the latest in the investigation into the beleaguered Houston Housing Authority, the surge in racist texts across the country — including right here in Humble ISD — and Mayor John Whitmire’s new plan to reduce homele

What Trump 2.0 Means for Houston

Nov 11 2024 33 mins  
In about 70 days, President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn in for his second term. Here at City Cast Houston, we wanted to know what does Trump 2.0 mean for Houston? Executive Producer Laura Isensee begins to answer that question with Pulitzer Prize finalist Evan Mintz, from tariffs to immigration, and a lot in between. Dig deeper into the issues we talked about here: What Trump

Moms vs. HISD Bond, Trump Latinos & Is Harris County Still Blue?

Nov 08 2024 29 mins  
What a week it has been! Host Raheel Ramzanali and political analyst Rafael Lemaitre are recapping the big takeaways from the election. From local grassroots efforts to fight against the historic HISD bond to why there was such a huge shift amongst Texas Latinos to the Republican party, and why your taxes will be going up in Harris County. Plus, after such a heavy week, we get our