On today’s Hello Houston, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and Houston native Benjamin Moser discusses his new book, Anti-Zionism: A Jewish History, which uncovers the history of Jewish thinkers who became known for their opposition to Zionism.

Then, we hear the newest edition of Tessa’s regular Friday feature, Tessa Takes On, which spotlights Houston Dash midfielder KiKi Van Zanten, who discusses her latest season with the team and her journey to the world of professional soccer.

In the show’s second hour, we talk with Keturah Wilson, the founder and CEO of The Boss Factory, who tells us about her book And Don’t Forget to Pray, which explores surviving domestic violence, healing through faith, and finding purpose after trauma.

Plus, our hosts do our regular weekly features, Current Obsessions and Last Minute Plans, by sharing the latest things that have been taking over their free time, while they also share a comprehensive rundown of events happening this weekend in the Houston area.

And, as always, our hosts Tessa Barrera and Ernie Manouse discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including the passing of former State Rep. Garnet Coleman, which they discuss with Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, several voter registration applications found to have not been processed due to an error by Texas DPS, and James Talarico challenging Ken Paxton to a debate on Fox News.

On today’s Hello Houston, former Houston Astros TV play-by-play broadcaster Bill Brown talks about his nearly thirty years with the team, his memories of calling Astros games, and his thoughts on whether they can make the playoffs this season.

Then, we do our Thursday feature, HPM in Focus, in which Houston Public Media reporter Bianca Seward helps us understand where Houston ISD stands as the district moves closer to a possible end of state control.

In the second hour of the show, we shift to food and talk with Houston-area food and travel content creator Shawn Singh, also known as shawnthefoodsheep, who rejoins us on the show to share some of his recommendations for the best food spots for Fall dining in Houston.

Plus, United Airlines pilot Captain Nia Gilliam spotlights her memoir Cleared for Takeoff, which tells the powerful story of her journey in aviation and how she found her way back to the cockpit after witnessing the tragic events of September 11, 2001.

And, as always, our hosts Tessa Barrera and Ernie Manouse discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including the recently approved Harris County budget, which they discuss with Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey, who explains why he voted against the property tax hike, a federal judge ordering the Trump administration to restore access to banned news outlets, the plans to redevelop Greenspoint Mall, and more.

On today’s Hello Houston, New York Times Texas bureau chief David Goodman breaks down the state’s governor's race, the U.S. Senate race, and the controversy over the thousands of voter registration applications that went unprocessed due to an error at the Texas DPS.

Then, in this week’s Producer Spotlight, Hello Houston producer Laura Walker talks with the founder and owner of Houston's Upstream Fitness and its coaches to find out how they’re using fitness to empower its participants.

In the second hour, Harel Shapira, a sociologist at the University of Texas, discusses his new book, Basic Pistol: Living and Dying by the Gun in America, which looks at how gun owners are taught to think about risk and safety and the role a “good guy with a gun” should play in our society.

And finally, Adam Fetterman, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Houston, talks about a new study that examines how the proximity of food can influence our everyday eating habits.

And, as always, our hosts Tessa Barrera and Ernie Manouse discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including gas prices becoming a major talking point ahead of the midterms, Harris County election officials processing more than 75,000 additional voter registrations after a DPS error, the Paxton-Talarico contest possibly breaking a record for campaign spending in a U.S. Senate election, and more.

On today’s Hello Houston, we talk with Andrew Rothman, the Wildlife Campaigns Director for Environment America, who discusses the Trump administration’s major changes to the Endangered Species Act and how these changes could impact us in the state of Texas.

Then, we hear from the winner of the 2026 Houston Blues Challenge, Sara Van Buskirk, who sits down with Hello Houston executive producer Jim Kovacik for this week’s Five Simple Questions, where she shares the experiences and influences behind her music.

In the second hour, we learn about the University of Houston’s Institute for Housing, Homelessness, and Health, with its founding director Ben King, who explains how it brings together researchers, experts, and community groups to better understand the causes of homelessness and find solutions for long-term housing stability.

And finally, we close the show with a special performance by singer, songwriter, and Houston Blues Challenge winner Sara Van Buskirk, featuring music from her upcoming self-titled album and her debut album.

And, as always, our hosts Tessa Barrera and Ernie Manouse talk about today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including former Houston Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Persse's passing, which they discuss with Dr. Catherine Troisi, Harris County receiving a one-year extension to use federal funds for post-Hurricane Harvey flood bond projects, and New York prosecutors reopening an investigation into an alleged gang rape at Cornell University.

On today’s Hello Houston, we discuss Prairie View A&M’s 150th anniversary with the university’s president, Dr. Tomikia LeGrande, who also tells us about its remarkable journey becoming a nationally recognized HBCU, what its legacy means today, and what's ahead in its future.

Then, in this week’s On the Marquee, Ernie talks with Kevin Earley, who’s playing Captain Georg Von Trapp in the national tour of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music, which is running at the Hobby Center through Sunday, October 4.

In the second hour of the show, we turn to the economy and talk with University of Houston Energy Fellow Ed Hirs, who helps us understand what record-high diesel prices could mean for consumers, truckers, farmers, and supply chains.

Plus, we talk with six-time Grammy-winning musician, producer, and composer Don Was, who tells us about his new album, the Detroit sound that inspired it, and what audiences can expect when he hits the stage at his upcoming show in Houston tomorrow night.

And, as always, our hosts Tessa Barrera and Ernie Manouse talk about today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including the Austin man shot by ICE earlier this month getting charged with assaulting and resisting a federal officer, Sen. Ted Cruz’s college sports bill passing in the Senate, Ken Paxton saying President Trump's convention hurt his polling numbers, and more.

On today’s Hello Houston, writer-director Bassam Tariq, who grew up in the Houston area, joins us to discuss his new film, Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother, what inspired it, and its connection to Houston, with the film being set in the Bayou City.

Then, we talk with Houston Public Media reporter Michael Adkison, who helps us make sense of an unusually busy week in space exploration, from Starship's latest milestone to NASA's plans for Boeing's Starliner, for this week’s HPM in Focus.

In the second hour, we turn to a personal conversation and speak with Kay Matthews, founder of The Shades of Blue Project, and Houstonian Morgan McCord, who both talk about infant loss, the grief that follows, and how families can find the support they need to move forward.

And finally, our hosts and listeners share the latest things that have been taking over all their free time as part of our regular Thursday feature, Current Obsessions. Share your Current Obsessions with us anytime by emailing us at talk@hellohouston.org.

And, as always, our hosts Tessa Barrera and Ernie Manouse discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including Mayor Whitmire’s financial integrity advisor defending his value amid scrutiny over his pay, Cornell University not sharing the victim report from an alleged 2024 gang rape, and the Governor of Tennessee calling off the execution of Christa Pike.

On today’s Hello Houston, we're LIVE at the 60th Original Greek Festival on the grounds of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral to explore what keeps this decades-long tradition thriving with festival leader Dana Kantalis.

Also, we hear the newest edition of Tessa’s regular feature, Tessa Takes On, in which she sits down with author and podcaster Princella Clark for a conversation about relationships, feminism, and personal growth that has sparked a devoted following and plenty of debate.

In the second hour, we turn to the spiritual side of Greek culture and talk with Fr. Efstratios Magoulias, who talks to us about the remarkable iconography inside the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral and how it tells the Christian story through images rather than words. To learn more about the Cathedral's iconography, click here.

Plus, we wrap up the week with our regular Friday feature, Last Minute Plans, in which our hosts share a comprehensive rundown of events going down in the Houston area this weekend, while they, and Hello Houston listeners, share their own plans for the weekend.

And, as always, our hosts Tessa Barrera and Ernie Manouse talk about today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including the City of Houston “not taking any action” on an application for the DOJ’s model cities imitative, the METRO board approving a $1.7 billion budget for 2027, and the family of Renee Good filing a lawsuit against the federal government over her death.

On today’s Hello Houston, Houston Public Media reporter Bianca Seward joins us to discuss her story on Barbers Hill ISD and the controversy surrounding their superintendent’s unconventional strategy to grow the district’s finances.

Then, we hear this week’s Producer Spotlight, in which Hello Houston producer Laura Walker talks with Asia Society Texas curator Owen Duffy about Yoshitaka Amano: Big Bang, a new exhibition that highlights the celebrated animator’s work.

In the second hour of the show, we’re joined by Houston City Councilmember Tiffany Thomas, who tells us all about the upcoming third annual Faith and Affordable Housing Summit that she’s hosting, and how Houston is turning faith into action.

And finally, University of Houston political science professor and Party Politics co-host Brandon Rottinghaus explores the history of the State Fair of Texas and its origins in the Houston area in the latest episode of his recurring feature, Texperts.

And, as always, our hosts Tessa Barrera and Ernie Manouse discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including President Trump heading to San Antonio to rally for Ken Paxton, Harris County Commissioner Leslie Briones spending more than $220,000 on billboards, and more. Plus, Tessa talks with former Hells Angels enforcer Joby Walters about his book Cut Free: A Hells Angel’s Ride to Redemption.