'Hello Houston' debuts on Monday, March 31, 2025, on Houston Public Media's News 88.7 KUHF weekdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with the slogan, "Your connection to the heart of the Bayou City."
The new radio show and podcast is hosted by former KPRC 2 chief meteorologist Frank Billingsley, Ernie Manouse, and Celeste Schurman, with former 97.9 The Box KBXX Madd Hatta Morning Show producer James Kovacik, also known as Jim Beazy, serving as executive producer. The hosts will also take on executive producing. William Menjivar and Garrett Bohlmann will also serve as producers.
'Hello Houston' promises to take a dive deep into the stories that matter to Houstonians, from breaking local news to cultural happenings, community voices, and the everyday joys and challenges of H-Town life, which includes everything from local politics and city events to Houston’s ever-changing food scene to feel-good stories from your neighborhood.
"Of course, I'll still get to talk about the weather, but Celeste, Ernie and I will have fun and fascinating discussions about politics, arts, concerts, restaurants, clubs, people: everything that makes this city so great," Billingsley said when the show was announced in November 2024. "We have a great team behind us, and I'm really looking forward to the challenge!"
'Hello Houston' takes over the mid-day slots held by "1A" and "Here and Now," which will be shifted to after the new local show (1:00 pm: Here and Now and 2:00 pm: 1A).
With the new show starting to air, "Town Square with Ernie Manouse" appears to have been replaced by NPR's "All Things Considered" in the 3 p.m. hour.
