H-Town Progressive
84 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 21 ratingsH-Town Progressive is a podcast about big, progressive ideas, viewed through the lens of local Houston issues. Please join us as we talk about the issues that matter to Houston's Progressive community.
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Episodes
Ep. 34 Oni Blair - Transportation Equity in Houston
July 17, 2019 10:00 - 46 minutes - 63.8 MBToo many people struggle to safely move about our great city to do the things that people need to do in modern society. Join us this week as we discuss transportation equity in Houston with Oni Blair.
Ep. 33 Dr. Bakeyah Nelson - Environmental Resilience in Houston
July 10, 2019 10:00 - 42 minutes - 58.8 MBThis year in the Houston area we’ve suffered terrible environmental disasters, perpetrated by the corporate recklessness of first, ITC, and then, KMCO. What are we doing and what should be done to fight this and other threats to our environment? Join us this week as we discuss Houston’s environmental resilience with Dr. Bakeyah Nelson.
Ep. 32 Rep. Jon Rosenthal - 2019 Legislative Recap
July 03, 2019 10:00 - 48 minutes - 66.4 MBThe 86th Texas Legislative Session has come and gone, and well, we’re ready for a recap! What did they fix? What did they break? What did they kick down the road to 2021? Join us this week as we recap this year’s Lege with Representative Jon Rosenthal!
Ep. 31 Mo Cortez - Houston's Intersex Community
June 26, 2019 10:00 - 49 minutes - 68 MBMuch like our trans siblings, our intersex siblings are regularly the victims of terrible violence. If your natural body does not reflect the culturally defined sex binary, then your body, often at a very young age, is likely to be mutilated and forced into that binary without your consent. Join us this week as we discuss Houston's intersex community with Mo Cortez.
Ep. 30 Dr. William T. Hoston - Toxic Silence
June 19, 2019 10:00 - 46 minutes - 63.9 MBWe have a crisis in this country: transgender women of color are regularly held victim to violence and murder, and it seems that hardly anyone is talking about it - there is a silence, a toxic silence. Join us this week as we discuss with Dr. William T. Hoston, author of the book, "Toxic Silence: Race, Black Gender Identity, and Addressing the Violence against Black Transgender Women in Houston."
Ep. 29 Lou Weaver - Respect, Dignity & Access for Houston's Transgender & Non-Binary Community
June 12, 2019 10:00 - 49 minutes - 67.8 MBMuch progress has been made in the battle to ensure dignity, respect and equality for the LGBTQIA+ community. But there is still much work to be done. In particular, often left out of the equation is those who identify as transgender or non-binary. So join us as we focus this episode on the interests of Houston’s trans and non-binary community with Lou Weaver.
Ep. 28 Eric Edward Schell - Advocacy Through Art: Pride Portraits
June 05, 2019 10:00 - 50 minutes - 46.4 MBAdvocacy through Art is powerful and personal. And so in our first episode this Pride Month focusing on LGBTQIA+ issues, Eric Edward Schell, the founder and sole photographer of Pride Portraits, shares with us his very personal story of how he came to create the treasure that is Pride Portraits.
Ep. 27 Ann Johnson - Houston’s Human Trafficking Problem
May 29, 2019 10:00 - 44 minutes - 41.1 MBIt is an unbelievable shame that slavery, in the form of human trafficking, not only exists, but thrives in Houston. Right under our noses, children are being bought and sold for sex. As they say, sunlight is the best disinfectant. So join us as we talk in detail with anti-human trafficking attorney, Ann Johnson, about this horrible problem in our great city.
Ep. 26 Ruby Powers - A Houston Immigration Lawyer's Perspective on Current Immigration Issues
May 22, 2019 10:00 - 41 minutes - 57.3 MBThis week we look again at the broken US immigration system, this time from the perspective of local Houston immigration attorney, Ruby Powers. From the shameful policy of family separation to the endless backlog on naturalization, please join us as we go in-depth on immigration and how it has affected and continues to affect Houstonians.
Ep. 25 Dr. Cedric Dark - Public Health in Houston: Gun Violence
May 15, 2019 10:00 - 39 minutes - 53.9 MBGun violence is everywhere in our society. From our schools to our places of worship, the blood keeps spilling. It has become a matter of public health. And like any matter of public health, we must listen first to those who serve on the front lines, those who see the epidemic every day for what it is. They’ve been told to stay “in their lane,” but doctors around the country are speaking up. Our guest this week is Dr. Cedric Dark, one of those doctors who refuses to be silenced.
Ep. 24 Dr. Bich-May Nguyen - Public Health in Houston: Vaccinations
May 08, 2019 10:00 - 43 minutes - 59.2 MBMEASLES! DIPHTHERIA! POLIO! RUBELLA! MUMPS! SMALLPOX! TUBERCULOSIS! WHOOPING COUGH! There’s a reason you probably have not had any of these diseases: Vaccines. Communicable disease is a public health issue that requires collective action through public policy. Join us this week as we discuss the importance of vaccinations in public health policy with family physician Dr. Bich-May Nguyen.
Ep. 23 Dr. Bhavik Kumar: Abortion, A Houston Physician’s Perspective
May 01, 2019 10:00 - 34 minutes - 47.7 MBThis week we continue our discussion around abortion. As the fight to shape and reshape the law rages on in state legislatures and federal courts across the land, the day-to-day work of actually providing healthcare in this climate continues. Today we talk to someone providing this crucial care, Houston family physician Dr. Bhavik Kumar of Planned Parenthood, for his perspective on this incredibly important public policy issue.
Ep. 22 Katie Sullivan: Access to Abortion in the Houston Area
April 24, 2019 10:00 - 37 minutes - 51.4 MBThe constitutionally protected right to an abortion in the US was established in 1973. But since then, pro government-in-your-healthcare / anti-choice fanatics have employed numerous nefarious tactics to diminish that right. In the Texas Legislature they've made access to abortion in this state as difficult as possible. This week we talk with Katie Sullivan of the Clinic Access Support Network about CASN's work to provide much needed support to the would be victims of the Texas Legislature.
Ep. 21 Nisha Randle - Harris County as “Political Battleground”
April 17, 2019 10:00 - 39 minutes - 53.8 MBTexas has become a political battleground for national politics, and Harris County is set to lead Texas Progressives in the fight of a generation! But we’re all going to have to do our part to seize that political power. And this week, Nisha Randle of the Harris County Democratic Party and Indivisible Houston is going to tell us how to get there!
Ep. 20 SPECIAL - Houston's Advocacy Day at the Capitol
April 10, 2019 10:00 - 56 minutes - 78.3 MBThis week we’re doing something a little different. We talk a lot about advocacy on this program, so we thought it would be a good idea to give you a peek into some advocates in action! Step into the halls of the Texas Legislature with us this week as we join the coalition led by the Houston GLBT Political Caucus in Houston’s Day of Advocacy at the Capitol!
Ep. 19 Maya Ford - The Standard of Love
April 03, 2019 10:00 - 45 minutes - 62 MBWe talk a lot about advocacy on this program. But advocacy cannot be fully effective without true communication. This week we go in-depth with Maya Ford as we look inward with honesty and deliberation, employing a method of communication that she founded, called The Standard of Love.
Ep. 18 Daniel J. Cohen - Indivisible Houston and the Coming 2019 Local Elections
March 27, 2019 17:35 - 43 minutes - 40.2 MBTired of national politics? We've got the cure, FOCUS LOCALLY! This week we're discussing the coming 2019 local elections (there are more than you might think!) with Daniel J. Cohen, President of Indivisible Houston, the folks who literally wrote a guide (The Indivisible Guide) for the #progressive #resistance! Hope you'll join us!
Ep. 17 Kate Vickery - The Challenges Facing Houston's Immigrant Community
March 20, 2019 10:00 - 43 minutes - 59.2 MBOver 1.5 Million Houstonians are immigrants, which underscores the fact that immigrants are NOT “they,” immigrants are “US”! So we hope you’ll join us as we discuss with Kate Vickery, Executive Director of the Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative, some of the many challenges facing Houston’s Immigrant Community.
Ep. 16 Dr. Blake Ellis - Houston’s Progressive History and Future
March 13, 2019 10:00 - 45 minutes - 62.7 MBHouston is now positioned to play a starring role in our country’s move to the left. But how did we get here? This week we go in-depth with historian Blake Ellis about Houston’s progressive history and how it has laid the groundwork for the coming bold progressive power shift.
Ep. 15 Iris Gonzalez - Equity in Flood Control Projects
March 06, 2019 11:00 - 42 minutes - 58.6 MBIn 2018 Harris County authorized $2.5 Billion in flood control projects. Now, as those projects start to get moving, we must decide which ones go first and what principles should be used in that prioritization. This week we discuss the importance of equity in that prioritization process with the Coalition Director at the Coalition for Environment, Equity and Resilience (CEER), Iris Gonzalez.
Ep. 14 Frances Valdez - Civic Engagement
February 27, 2019 12:47 - 47 minutes - 65.3 MBDEMOCRACY DOESN’T BEGIN AND END ON ELECTION DAY! While it’s necessary that we vote, voting is not sufficient! So what should “civic life” entail for us? Join us this week as we discuss the importance of promoting a culture of civic engagement with Frances Valdez.
Ep. 13 Isabel Longoria - Affordable Housing
February 20, 2019 11:00 - 44 minutes - 61.5 MBHouston is a large, growing, prosperous and constantly evolving city. And as that growth and evolution has occurred, an absence of affordable housing in the city’s core has emerged. How can we manage these changes in a way that respects, among other things: communities, culture and the environment? Join us this week as we discuss the challenge of affordable housing in Houston with progressive leader, Isabel Longoria!
Ep. 12 Brandon Mack - Confederate Monuments in Houston
February 06, 2019 21:00 - 45 minutes - 41.4 MB“The Spirit of the Confederacy” statue still stands in Sam Houston Park today. It and many other Confederate monuments litter our nation and our city. These shrines to white nationalism must be removed from our public spaces. Please join us as we discuss with Brandon Mack of Black Lives Matter Houston
Ep. 11 Jay Aiyer - Texas Public School Finance Reform
January 30, 2019 11:00 - 52 minutes - 71.8 MBThe way we fund public schools in Texas has been declared constitutional yet “Byzantine” by the Texas Supreme Court. Nobody likes it, and only a few people understand it. Luckily one of those few people, Professor Jay Aiyer, is with us this week to guide us through the clear as mud system of public school finance in Texas and what the Texas Legislature might be doing to try to improve things this Session. Hope you’ll come jump in the weeds with us!
Ep. 10 Melanie Pang - The Audacity of Three Meals a Day
January 23, 2019 11:00 - 42 minutes - 57.7 MBDo YOU “have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality, and freedom for their spirits”? This week we use the inspiration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to talk to social worker and community leader Melanie Pang about food assistance programs in Houston. We cover the effects of the government shutdown, the proposed changes to the “public charge” policy, and the moral imperative of u...
Ep. 9 Laura Moser - Being Boldly Progressive
January 16, 2019 11:00 - 40 minutes - 55.8 MBWe Americans are fundamentally conservative, right? That’s what we’ve been told for as long as anyone can remember. You can’t express or advocate for honest progressive values, you must pander to the mythical “right of center” middle. But this idea has failed us and lead to the current disaster in Washington. So please join us as we discuss the value of being boldly progressive in Houston, with Laura Moser.
Ep. 8 Jeff Reichman - 2020 Census
January 09, 2019 11:00 - 52 minutes - 71.4 MBIn a representative democracy before you can have an election, you need to draw districts, and before you draw districts, you need to know WHERE and HOW MANY people there are in your country. This is why the US Constitution requires a Census every ten years, to ensure an accurate count of the people, a first building block in the process of constructing full and fair representation. But the Houston Area has some particular challenges looming over the next Census coming in 2020. Join us as we...
Ep. 7 Mike Webb - Drag Queen Storytime
December 19, 2018 10:30 - 35 minutes - 49.3 MBDrag Queen Storytime is a literacy program found in libraries and bookstores across the country, and now in the Houston Public Library system. It's a wonderful program that promotes personal expression and celebrates the multiplicity of identities that have always existed in our society. This week Mike Webb, president of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus, discusses the importance of Drag Queen Storytime and the progressive project of fostering greater acceptance in our community.
Ep. 6 Andrea Greer - Robot Brothels
December 12, 2018 14:00 - 42 minutes - 58.6 MBIn a very non-controversial move, our local government has ensured, at least for now, that robot brothels won't be coming to Houston. As progressives we might, and probably do, agree with this result. But it's extremely important that we clearly understand the justification, which, as it turns out, isn't as obvious as it might seem upon first glance. Join us this week as we navigate these tricky waters with Houston feminist and progressive leader Andrea Greer.
Ep. 5 Fran Watson - Privilege and Poverty in Houston
December 05, 2018 14:00 - 39 minutes - 53.9 MBHouston is a world class city with world class wealth disparities. We've come a long way, but there is so much more to be done. And much of that work starts with peeling back and checking our privilege so we can see the world for what it really is. Join us this week as we go deep with community leader and activist Fran Watson on "Privilege and Poverty in Houston."
Ep. 4 Rep. Gene Wu - 2019 Texas Legislative Session
November 28, 2018 01:22 - 43 minutes - 59.4 MBThe 2019 Texas Legislative Session is quickly approaching. What can revved up Houston progressives do to keep the momentum going? From school finance to effective activism, we discuss with Rep. Gene Wu what to expect during the Texas Lege and how you can make a difference!
Ep. 3 Lillie Schechter - After the Blue Wave Midterm Election, What's Next?
November 21, 2018 03:04 - 27 minutes - 38 MBHouston progressives won big in the 2018 midterm elections. So what's next? Join us as we discuss with Lillie Schechter, Chair of the Harris County Democratic Party, how progressives have finally gained power in Harris County, and how we must fight to make sure that power translates into progressive policy. The #BlueWork that caused the #BlueWave must continue!
Ep. 2 Who the Hell is Rob?
November 02, 2018 16:45 - 6 minutes - 9.26 MBMeet Rob Icsezen, the host of H-Town Progressive.
Ep. 1 Introduction
October 23, 2018 16:30 - 4 minutes - 5.98 MBH-Town Progressive is a podcast about big, progressive ideas, viewed through the lens of local Houston issues. Please join us every week as we talk about the issues that matter to Houstonians with local politicians, educators, activists and all kinds of members of this beautiful, diverse community that we call home.