Texas just doesn’t do sweet tea the way other Southern states do. Why is that? Host Lisa Gray and lead producer Dina Kesbeh and producer Ferrill Gibbs break down this cultural difference and talk about their own experiences and preferences with iced tea, sweetened and unsweetened. Want more Houston news and culture in your life? Then sign up for our morning newsletter ! We’re also on Twitter! Join the conversation @CityCastHouston And don't forget to let us know how you're staying cool this summ...
Jul 07, 2022•19 min
The Supreme Court is evaluating the scope of the Clean Water Act and its protections of wetlands, with oral arguments scheduled for this fall. Depending on the outcome, it might get easier for developers to build on sites that cause flooding ... so what does this mean for Houstonians? To help answer that question and others, host Lisa Gray speaks with Kristen Schlemmer , the legal director at Bayou City Waterkeeper, who is filing a brief in the case. Here's an article Kristen recommended with mo...
Jul 06, 2022•12 min
The issues mount as November’s election closes in. Recent decisions by the Supreme Court have sent shockwaves across the country – and particularly here in Texas. In Houston, the threat of a shaky electric grid is an omnipresent source of concern, with heat records falling constantly. As these issues heat up, so has the rhetoric, and it all leads to one simple question: Does Beto O’Rourke have what it takes unseat Governor Abbott, whose war chest is perhaps more lucrative than the Republican Nat...
Jul 05, 2022•22 min
It’s Friday, which means we are diving into a weeks worth of news in Houston. This week, host Lisa Gray and lead producer Dina Kesbeh chat with City Cast Contributor Shiyam Galyon about the temporary ban on abortions in Texas, how HEB’s donation is helping rebuild Robb Elementary School in Uvalde and so much more! Catch up on the temporary ban on abortions here More on HEB's donation here Bug-A-Salt Want more Houston news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here We’re also on T...
Jul 01, 2022•23 min
From motoring around the Port of Houston to rolling your own sushi, strolling the arid scrublands of Hempstead, and getting great burgers and beer, there's a million things to do in (and around) Houston before you die. Thankfully, we at City Cast Houston (on a team chat Thursday!) whittle it down to nine for you. So many wonderful places/things were mentioned on today's show! Check them out: The kayak/painting tour by Artist Boat in Galveston that Lisa mentioned Here's the great sausage Ferrill ...
Jun 30, 2022•20 min
The Twilight Epiphany Skyspace at Rice University is one of Houston's most peaceful places. The structure is among more than 85 Skypaces that sculpture James Turrell has designed and built across the world. Today, host Lisa Gray and City Cast Houston contributor Olivia Flores Alvarez talk about how this design is the first to be engineered for acoustics and what it means to have this structure in our city. Learn more about the Twilight Epiphany Skyspace here . Want more Houston news? Then make s...
Jun 29, 2022•17 min
Texans continues to grapple with the most influential Supreme Court decision of our lifetimes, but the overturning of Roe V. Wade is not the only case that could change the landscape of Texas – and everywhere else. A case involving gun licensure and one regarding prayer at school has all eyes on the land’s highest court, as everyone’s left to comb through the nuances of this new world, post-Roe. Have thoughts on today’s episode? Leave us a voicemail or text us at +1 713-489-6972 ! Stay connected...
Jun 28, 2022•20 min
The Supreme Court overturned Roe V. Wade, and abortion became illegal in Texas. (Even though the “Trigger law” has yet to go into effect, older Texas laws may now be enforceable. So, clinics have begun to close their doors.) In this episode, Lisa Gray addresses the post-Roe world in Texas, and also breaks down how people in search of an abortion must now navigate the landscape. Also, regarding the endless stream of brutal temps in Houston – what does it mean for our city, long term? Can we find ...
Jun 27, 2022•17 min
Today, we kick off an occasional series about Houston neighborhoods, and we're talking about West U. It's a small, upscale town entirely surrounded by Houston. Two proud, West U. residents join the show today! City Cast contributor Evan Mintz, along with Houston writer Chris Candor, who has some spot-on descriptions of West U. in her brand new book, A Gracious Neighbor. Got a little extra cash in your linens drawer? Buy the "Darth Vader House" – it's for sale... you should definitely check this ...
Jun 26, 2022•23 min
It's Friday, which means it's time to round out the week with some news! This week Host Lisa Gray and Producer Ferrill Gibbs are with City Cast Contributor Evan Mintz talking about everything from the Texas GOP to Houston's first ever brick and mortar marijuana shop! Want to stay in the loop? Follow us on Twitter at @CityCastHouston Have something to say about today’s episode? Leave us a voicemail or text us at +1 713-489-6972 to let us know! Looking to find more Houston news like this? Sign up ...
Jun 24, 2022•20 min
It’s chat time! And this week, the City Cast Houston team is talking about some of the most prestigious universities in the state of Texas. Tune in as we take a trip down memory lane and discuss the good, the bad, and surprising sides of our alma maters. Want a further look into Rice's past? Check out our episode: A Reckoning With History at the Heart of Rice Have thoughts about today’s episode? Leave us a voicemail or text us at +1 713-489-6972 to let us know! Stay connected with us by followin...
Jun 23, 2022•22 min
The new Texas Republican platform is only the latest reason why trans people in Houston feel that their rights -- and maybe their lives -- are in danger. On today's show host Lisa Gray is joined with longtime trans activist Lou Weaver, of the Trans Legal Aid Clinic of Texas, to talk about how the anti-trans rhetoric has progressed and impacted the community. Lou also talks about what people could, and should do to be more supportive of the trans community. Check out this resource for trans youth...
Jun 22, 2022•15 min
The novel, 'The Last Queen' takes readers on a historical journey by telling the fascinating story of Rani Jindan. This romantic yet game of thrones like story is the 20th novel for award winning author and professor of writing at UofH, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni but she isn’t done yet; a movie and a new book are also on the way! Host Lisa Gray, sits down to talk to Chitra about her creative process and what influences her work. Want to dive into some of Chitra’s mystifying stories? Check out Th...
Jun 21, 2022•17 min
It's that time of the week y'all! We're looking back at a weeks worth of news. Lisa is joined by lead producer Dina Kesbeh and contributor Antrechelle Dorsey. Today, they'll talk about the spike in COVID cases; the price hike that many Houstonians will face when they renew their electric contracts; and the heat raining in on Texas Children's Hospital following a lawsuit from a family that says their 4-year-old received an "unintentional vasectomy" during a hernia surgery. Tune in to hear what ot...
Jun 17, 2022•23 min
It's blazing hot – with no relief in sight! As all-time temp records drop like flies, so does the morale of Houstonians sweltering in this unreasonable, unseasonable heat. So! What can we eat - or drink - to bring us back to life? Something sweet? Perhaps something cold? Or, maybe something nostalgic, to remind us of summers past? It's team chat Thursday! And with an extra Houstonian in the house (Roving producer Carlignon Jones!) we discuss all the wonderful refreshments that Houston has to off...
Jun 16, 2022•22 min
Summer is upon us! So you know what that means: constantly swatting at mosquitos, declaring war on fire ants, and slamming doors to keep all the flies out. It's true: Bugs can be a nuisance! But, on today's episode, Scott Solomon - Biology professor at Rice University - attempts to convince lead producer Dina Kesbeh that we should embrace insects, because we really, really need them. Check out Scott's page at Rice, @ him on Twitter, he's super active and is constantly teaching what he loves, ill...
Jun 15, 2022•19 min
Have you ever wondered what your neighborhood looked like before there were buildings on the land? What was Uptown like before freeways and the Galleria? What about the Astrodome area and Alief and West University? On today's episode, environmental expert, Jaime Gonzales may blow your mind. Houston before development was probably not what you imagined. If you're as curious as where, here's where you can download Google Earth to look into your own neighborhood's history! Wake up to a nice cup of ...
Jun 14, 2022•20 min
The current proposal for the Ike Dike - a barrier to protect the Houston/Galveston area from hurricanes - is making its way through Congress. If passed, it would be the largest proposed piece of engineering in US history. However! Just because it's proposed, does that make it a good idea? Not entirely, says Bayou City Waterkeeper's legal director, Kristen Schlemmer. Kristen joins the show today and campaigns for Houstonians to be a partial answer to our storm-vulnerability problem, not a beefed-...
Jun 13, 2022•19 min
It’s News Roundup Friday! Lisa is joined by producer Ferrill Gibbs and the City Cast culture contributor Olivia Flores Alvarez. Some of today’s topics include: Texas’ war on trans people; the Uvalde shooting sparks a note of Texas partisanship; the new musical “Noir” opens at the Alley Theatre; a 42-year-old Houston cold case takes a wonderful turn, and a few moments of genuine Houston joy… join us! Here is a link to Noir, the new show at the Alley Theatre: Get show info Here! Also! Check out th...
Jun 10, 2022•19 min
How do you like yours? Stuffed with cottage cheese? Maybe with meat and jalapeno? Or, perhaps you like an old-school flavor, like apricot, or with poppy seeds? Today, the City Cast crew breaks down kolaches in its Thursday's team chat – the food that burst on the scene generations ago and has shown no signs of slowing down...particularly in Texas. Some of the flavors we mentioned! Kolache Shoppe is where Lisa's favorite kolache is! Koffeteria - the "bougie" joint that Dina mentioned. The Kolache...
Jun 09, 2022•19 min
It's summertime, you're walking around barefoot running through the grass and you get bit by a snake, what should you do? Today, Producer Ferrill Gibbs sits down with snakebite expert Dr. Spencer Greene. He's the director of the annual Houston Venom Conference and director of toxicology at HCA Kingwood. Dr. Greene dives into the fear we all have of snakes, but he also explains that fear is irrational, especially in Houston. Want more Houston news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsle...
Jun 08, 2022•14 min
Welcome back to Part II of Keri Blakinger's story: a top-level ice skater who, after her skating career fell apart, fell apart herself. Keri ended up living on the streets shooting and selling heroin until 2010 when she was busted carrying Tupperware full of it. Now, after two and a half years in prison, she lives in Houston covering prisons herself as a top-level journalist for the Marshall Project . Tonight, Keri will be celebrating the release of her new book at Brazos Bookstore . The locatio...
Jun 07, 2022•17 min
At 17, Keri Blakinger was a top-level ice skater. But after her skating career fell apart, so did she. She ended up living on the streets shooting and selling heroin. In 2010, she was busted carrying a Tupperware full of it. Now, after two and a half years in prison, she lives in Houston and covers prisons herself as a top-level journalist for the Marshall Project. Her memoir Corrections In Ink will be released June 7th. You can find it here: Corrections In Ink: A Memoir Also, if you would like ...
Jun 06, 2022•19 min
Hey City Cast Houston listeners, today we have something different for you. For today’s show, we’ve teamed up with The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news org that covers politics and policy, to bring you the latest from their show, TribCast, a weekly podcast full of water-cooler talk on political news. Click here to learn more about TribCast
Jun 04, 2022•37 min
Today we're looking back at a weeks worth of news around Houston. Freelance producer AK Al Moumen joins Lead Producer Dina Kesbeh and Host Lisa Gray to discuss how Texas Governor Greg Abbott requested school officials to conduct safety inspections. Abbott said he wants a through study into what actions could be taken to prevent any future school shootings. COVID has been detected yet again in the city's wastewater, but it's not as bad as we think. And the trio talks about Squable, the European e...
Jun 03, 2022•23 min
Yesterday was the first day of hurricane season, and already "Alex" threatens to form from the remnants of Agatha. The good news? If Alex does form, it will surely steer clear of Houston (and Texas). But the even better news is, it will give Houstonians more time to prepare for what's sure to be a busy hurricane season. Join the City Cast Houston gang as they talk about their own hurricane experiences, and what items are essential in their own hurricane kits. Speaking of! Here are a few of their...
Jun 02, 2022•22 min
It's officially hurricane season. We continue our weeklong hurricane coverage by breaking down what an actual hurricane is. To tell us more about the ins and outs of a hurricane, we invited none other than Meteorologist Eric Berger. He's one of the founders of Space City Weather, Houston's hype-free weather website. Want more Houston news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here . We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @CityCastHouston Not on social media? Then leave us a voicemai...
Jun 01, 2022•17 min
Tomorrow is June 1st, which means it's hurricane season. So! We will be covering all things "hurricane" this week on City Cast Houston, starting with today's guest: KPRC Chief Meteorologist Frank Billingsley. Frank explains how hurricanes are not all born equal, and what you should watch for as news outlets cover tropical storms and hurricanes this season. You can find KPRC’s Flood Survival Guide at 7 p.m. tomorrow night on TV , and Click2Houston.com . Get even more Houston news and events by si...
May 31, 2022•17 min
The weekend following the elementary-school shooting Uvalde, the NRA shamelessly holds its convention in Houston. Host Lisa Gray , City Cast contributor Shiyam Galyon and Evan Mintz , discuss Texas and guns: Why didn’t the city send the NRA packing? Was Beto right to make a scene? Could an upcoming Supreme Court decision mean that all the U.S. will soon be as wide-open to guns as Texas? Want to join in on todays protest? Here is a link to all the times and locations where they will be held. Have...
May 27, 2022•23 min
Roller coasters? Funnel cakes? Ferris wheels? What exactly defines an amusement park, and do we have any now near Houston? The City Cast crew — host Lisa Gray, lead producer Dina Kesbeh and roving producer Carlignon Jones — discuss childhood memories and current thrills. Follow us on Twitter at @CityCastHouston Not big on social media? Leave us a voicemail or text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts! Looking for more Houston news? Sign up for our morning newsletter here Learn more about you...
May 26, 2022•16 min
