H-Town Progressive

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H-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 t…

Rob Icsezen


    • May 16, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 47m AVG DURATION
    • 82 EPISODES

    5 from 21 ratings Listeners of H-Town Progressive that love the show mention: great.



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    Latest episodes from H-Town Progressive

    Ep. 82 Pete Makopoulos-Senftleber - A Profile in Transgender Life

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2022 25:07


    Trans stories should be told by trans people. So this week transgender Houstonian Pete Makopoulos-Senftleber shares his story with guest host Lou Weaver.

    Ep. 81 Brian Klosterboer - Defending Transgender Children

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2022 47:12


    Attorney General Ken Paxton and Governor Greg Abbott have opened up their party's anti-trans reign of terror to the executive branch of Texas government and focused their cruel sights on transgender children. This week we talk to one of the attorneys fighting to defend Texas transgender children.

    Ep 80 Tracy Daniel - Whitewashing Texas History

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2022 52:22


    Texas Republicans have caricatured critical race theory into a boogie man in order to give them the political justification to change the narrative of history itself. Join us this week as we discuss  the GOP attempt to whitewash Texas history.

    Ep 79 Delilah Agho Otoghile - What Should Texas Learn from Georgia?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2022 50:44


    Georgia progressives are clearly doing something right.  So what should Texas learn from Georgia? Our guest this week, Delilah Agho-Otoghile, is uniquely situated to provide an answer, as a Houston organizer and Democratic strategist who played a leading role in Georgia's success!

    Ep. 78 Bejnamin Hernandez - The State of Digital for Progressives

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2022 51:40


    Progressives must embrace the indispensable digital tools of our age.  So join us this week as we discuss the State of Digital for Progressives in 2022 with Benjamin Hernandez!

    Ep. 77 Ruby Powers - Immigration Update

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2021 48:29


    Join us this week as we check in on the status of US immigration under the new administration with Houston immigration attorney, Ruby Powers.

    Ep. 76 Neil Aquino - A Mass Movement for Democracy

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2021 58:31


    Democracy is fragile during any time. But during times like this, when it is directly under assault, it cannot survive without a Mass Movement. We must fight for it. And that “we,” must be literally everyone.

    Ep. 75 Dr. Earthea Nance & Iris Gonzalez - Climate Justice Part 1: Flooding Justice

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2021 52:51


    Join us this week as we revisit the topic of our community and governmental response to flooding in the first of a series of episodes on climate justice.

    Ep. 74 Andrea Greer - 2021 Ballot Propositions

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2021 57:02


    It's that time of year again, election season! In what is becoming an H-Town Progressive tradition, this week we cover the eight ballot propositions that will appear on this November's ballot, with the great Andrea Greer!

    Ep. 73 Sasha Legette - Building Bridges During The Great Unraveling

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2021 49:38


    It feels like we're experiencing a Great Unraveling right now, with facts, science, decency, and humanity itself giving way to hatred, greed & bigotry. So how do you build bridges amid all this? With creative, thoughtful, resilient, and tough progressives, like our guest today, Sasha  Legette.

    Ep. 72 Ana Rodriguez & Nneka Iheanacho - The Texas Assault on Abortion

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2021 55:32


    The Texas GOP anti-abortion law is now in effect. It employs an insidious strategy, to destroy the entire community around the person seeking care.  What can we do? What are the facts, and who do we turn to now? A good start is with our guests today, who are on the front lines, fighting the fight every day.

    Ep. 71 Sarah Syed - International Crisis and Houston's Muslim Community

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2021 51:53


    As the story of America's longest war slowly finds its way into the history books, we must be vigilant to make sure the perspective and unique experience of American Muslims during all of this is not forgotten or ignored. Join us this week as we discuss the international crises through the lens of Houston's Muslim Community with our guest, Sarah Syed.

    Ep. 70 Shayna Schlosberg - Grassroots Arts Advocacy in Houston

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2021 49:59


    The art a community elevates can be one of the truest reflections of that community's identity. But if art must first be filtered through the whims of the rich and powerful, then the story it tells will be, at best, incomplete. And so, if we are to embrace our collective humanity, treat with dignity the unique lived experiences that we each bring to the table, honor with humility and curiosity the perspective of the other, so we can appreciate a more complete story of our community, we must develop mechanisms to elevate art that do not rely primarily on the rich and the powerful. So today we talk about the effort to do so through grassroots arts advocacy, right here in Houston.

    Ep. 69 Ashton P. Woods - Black Lives Still Matter

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2021 54:48


    Black Lives Matter is more than just words, it's a simple and short, yet powerful and complex verbal manifestation of American history. It rings true always, not just when our screens are filled with the blood of Black bodies. So today, a day when our media is distracted by other problems - and there are many -  we take a moment to remind ourselves that the work must continue, especially on a day like this, because Black Lives Still Matter.

    Ep. 68 Judge Genesis Draper, Natalia Cornelio, and Te’iva Bell - The Harris County Criminal Bench

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2020 58:10


    Our criminal justice system is broken.  But with the next election approaching quickly, we have a real opportunity to bring meaningful change to our community. Join us this week as we discuss the Harris County criminal bench with three of Harris County's top criminal law experts and criminal judicial candidates, Judge Genesis Draper, Nata Cornelio and Te'iva Bell!

    Ep. 67 Donato Clay and Rep. Gene Wu - Challenging Racist Institutions: St. Thomas' Episcopal School

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2020 62:06


    One way to stop the perpetuation of racism in America is to publicly call out and hold racist institutions responsible. Houston's St. Thomas' Episcopal School is one such institution, and Donato Clay, a Black alum of the school, has lead a recent movement to demand atonement.  Join us this week as three STE alums, including our host, State Rep. Gene Wu, and Mr. Clay, discuss one Houston example of challenging a racist institution.

    Ep. 66 Odus Evbagharu - Trust in Government

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2020 99:11


    Protests are good, but they are not enough. Non-black Americans need to act. And those actions need to be informed by understanding. So we must listen. And that’s what we’re going to do today, listen. This week Odus Evbagharu shares his thoughts about the ongoing racist American police state.

    Ep. 65 Dr. Dona Kim Murphey - COVID 19 & Houston's Immigrant Community

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2020 54:02


    This administration has been targeting and ruthlessly persecuting the immigrant community literally from the day it took power. And unfortunately, as is the case with pretty much all of our structural inequities, the pandemic has made the situation worse. Join us this week as we discuss COVID-19 and Houston’s immigrant community with Dr. Dona Kim Murphey.

    Ep. 64 Dr. Bich-May Nguyen - Covid-19 Phase 2 of the Texas Reopening

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2020 58:05


    Months now into the COVID-19 pandemic, Texas has entered the second phase of the Governor’s plan for reopening. Yet key benchmarks in his own plan have not been met. Join us this week as we discuss Phase 2 of the Reopening of Texas with Houston physician Dr. Bich-May Nguyen.

    Ep. 63 Dr. Bhavik Kumar - COVID 19 and Abortion Care in Houston

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2020 50:10


    It seems that abortion care is always politically charged and under attack. That’s true now more than ever, as political fanatics use the pandemic to serve their brutal interests. Today we talk to Dr. Bhavik Kumar, a family physician with Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast about the state of abortion care in Houston amid the COVID-19 Pandemic.

    Ep. 62 Dr. Cedric Dark - Covid-19 and Baylor College of Medicine

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2020 52:47


    Dr. Cedric Dark is a professor at the Department of Emergency Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine who works in the ER at Ben Taub Hospital, which is part of the Harris County Health System. Join us this week as Dr. Dark shares his experience on the front lines of Houston’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Ep. 61 Dr. Vian Nguyen - Houston's Response to Covid-19: Legacy Community Health

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2020 29:17


    Dr. Vian Nguyen is a doctor with Legacy Community Health, a critical wraparound health services provider in Houston. Join us this week as she shares her experience working on the front lines of Houston's response to Covid-19.

    Ep. 60 Raj Salhotra - Houston's Education Infrastructure

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2020 51:19


    So many things outside the classroom affect the possibility of success inside the classroom. Join us this week as we discuss Houston's education infrastructure with education advocate Raj Salhotra.

    Ep. 59 Council Member Abbie Kamin - Houston's Response to Covid-19

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2020 44:04


    Join us this week for an important discussion with Houston City Council Member Abbie Kamin, covering the Houston City government response to Covid-19.

    Ep. 58 Monica Roberts - Trans Rights are Human Rights

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2020 54:00


    Trans rights are human rights, period. And we all need to be doing everything we can to support, uplift and embrace with love, our trans siblings. Join us this week as we discuss the condition of the trans community with human rights activist, Monica Roberts. 

    Ep. 57 Natalia Cornelio - Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice System

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2020 44:38


    Justice for all is an ever-elusive goal that we have yet to achieve. And this is no more evident than in our criminal justice system among communities of color. Join us this week as we discuss racial disparities in the criminal justice system with civil rights attorney, Natalia Cornelio.  

    Ep. 56 Te’Iva Bell and Christian Menefee - Bail Reform in Harris County

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2020 56:24


    Excessive bail, even though prohibited by our Constitution, has been used as a tool for generations to propagate the existing power structure and suppress marginalized people. Join us this week as we discuss bail reform in Harris County with lawyers Te’Iva Bell and Christian Menefee!

    Ep. 55 Vince Pryor - Queer Questions in Houston: The 2081 Project

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2020 45:17


    Our LGBTQIA+ siblings have a unique perspective and a lived experience that is valid.  Queer voices are worthy of being heard, and so queer questions must be asked. The 2081 Project is a new podcast that does just this. Join us this week as we discuss queer questions in Houston and The 2081 Project with co-host Vince Pryor!

    Ep. 54 John Abodeely & Deidre Thomas - Advocacy through Art: Equity in the Arts

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2020 46:26


    Advocacy through art can take many forms. If we want art to flourish in a way that encourages and facilitates the creation and experience of art across boundaries, we must actively advocate for equity in the arts. H-Town Progressive is back! So join us this week as we discuss equity in the arts with Deidre Thomas and John Abodeely of the Houston Arts Alliance!

    Ep. 53 Marjorie Joseph - Combating Hate in Houston

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2019 46:13


    Hate is an ever present human infection that demands constant vigilance. Join us this week as we discuss the Houston Coalition Against Hate's systematic and analytical approach to this vigilance with their Coordinator, Marjorie Joseph. 

    Ep. 52 Kam Franklin - Advocacy Through Art: The Suffers

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2019 51:16


    Art is a uniquely human thing. It's also progressive at its core, as it connects communities and ignores boundaries. Join us this week as we discuss advocacy through art with lead singer of The Suffers, Kam Franklin!

    Ep. 51 Courtney Sellers - Youth Homelessness in Houston

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2019 54:51


    Justice for our youth homeless population is yet another strand of the broader issues of racial justice and justice with sex and gender identity. It’s all connected. And it cannot stand, as justice for some is justice for none. Join us as we discuss youth homelessness in Houston with Courtney Sellers,  Executive Director of Montrose Grace Place.

    Ep. 50 H-Town Progressive Anniversary + The Road to 2020!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2019 52:14


    H-Town Progressive celebrates our 1 Year Anniversary with Lillie Schechter and Nisha Randle as we discuss The Road to the 2020 Election!

    Ep. 49 Patrick McIlvain - Mental Health Awareness in Houston

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2019 44:43


    Even though our brains are very much a part of our bodies, for some reason our culture does not regard the health of the stuff that happens in your brain, with the same level of understanding as it does the health of the stuff that happens in the rest of your body!  Join us this week as we discuss the importance of mental health awareness with Patrick McIlvain, founder of The Walk for Mental Health Awareness - Houston.

    Ep. 48 Chrishelle Palay - Equity in Disaster Relief: HOME Coalition

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2019 50:02


    The burden of trauma inflicted by disaster, may be suffered by everyone, but it is not borne equally by everyone. Rather, the already immense inequalities that we see and experience everyday are ripped open and made worse by disaster. So our challenge is to make sure we put our labor and the power of our industry into a recovery that acknowledges these facts and is guided not by the means of the few, but by the needs of the many. Join us as we discuss equity in disaster relief with Chrishelle Palay of the HOME Coalition.

    Ep. 47 Andrea Greer - 2019 Ballot Propositions

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2019 53:17


    It's election season ya'll, so get ready to put on your Democracy Pants and vote! Join us this week as we discuss the 11 ballot propositions on this year's ballot with friend of the podcast, Andrea Greer!

    Ep. 46 Alan Dettlaff - Racial Justice in Houston

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2019 48:34


    In a society infused throughout its history with white supremacy, it is not enough to be not racist. We must be anti-racist. Join us this week as we discuss racial justice in Houston with Alan Dettlaff, Dean of the Graduate College of Social Work at the University of Houston.

    Ep. 45 Dr. Kyle Shelton - The Infrastructure Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2019 52:38


    In our ever-expanding city, as we contemplate new infrastructure decisions, like the I-45 expansion, and whether to create more light rail or build an “Ike Dike”, it is incumbent upon us all to understand how we got where we are today, so that we can infuse our major projects with values that better reflect the community that we are, and the community that we want to become. Join us as we talk infrastructure with Dr. Kyle Shelton of Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research!   

    Ep. 44 Januari Fox - Fundraising for Houston's Progressive Community

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2019 52:12


    Money may indeed be the root of all evil, but it’s also a precondition for quite a bit of good. From non-profits, to educational institutions, to politicians, they all need money to be able to do good. So join us this week as we discuss fundraising for Houston’s progressive community with Januari Fox, Director of Advancement for the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work.

    Ep. 43 Bob Rapfogel - Can Houston Kick its Meat Addiction?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2019 51:15


    Are you vegan? No? Have you thought, seriously, about the meat products you consume? If you call yourself a progressive, then you should definitely be doing this. Join us this week as we talk about Houston’s addiction to meat with vegan activist and co-founder of non-profit, Meat Your Future, Bob Rapfogel.

    Ep. 42 Tamara Siler - Diversity, Access & Inclusion in Higher Education

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2019 55:49


    Universities once were a tool for the perpetuation of an entrenched power structure. That has changed. These days universities are incredibly diverse places that are much more accessible than ever before. But diversity, by itself, isn’t enough. Institutions need to evolve into truly inclusive and accessible places. Our guest today, Tamara Siler, Deputy Director of Admissions at Rice University, has spent her career working to make this a reality.

    Ep. 41 Angie Razo - Politically Engaging Houston's Latinx Community

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2019 48:52


    The Latinx community in politics is often referred to as a “Sleeping Giant” because of its large size and low participation. Any supporter of democracy should want to change this, but sadly, there is strong political opposition to maintain the status quo through often insidious tactics. People like our guest today, Angie Razo of Mi Familia Vota, are on the front lines of our democracy, working hard every day to try to enfranchise and civically engage our strong and vibrant Latinx community.

    Ep. 40 Dr. Jace Valcore - Police Oversight in Houston

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2019 52:42


    Many communities have a complex relationship with law enforcement. The path to transforming that into an unequivocally positive relationship starts with oversight, accountability, and honest assessment. Join us this week as we talk to Dr. Jace Valcore about how Houston is doing this with its Independent Police Oversight Board.

    Ep. 39 Odus Evbagharu - A Houston Millenial Goes to Austin

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2019 52:24


    Institutional knowledge is important, but breaking unjust institutions can be much more important. So when a young black millennial walks through the halls of the Texas State Capitol, it’s a big deal that the proper way to address that young man is Chief of Staff! Join us this week as we talk to Odus Evbagharu, a Houston millennial who went to Austin!

    Ep. 38 Best of Episode 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2019 52:19


    This is the second of a couple of compilation episodes where, while we’re taking a short summer break, we’re going to look back at past episodes and highlight some of the incredible progressive leaders we’ve had on our show over the almost one year since we started. We're back next week with all new episodes!

    Ep. 37 Best of Episode 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2019 44:21


    This is the first of a couple of compilation episodes where, while we’re taking a short summer break, we’re going to look back at past episodes and highlight some of the incredible progressive leaders we’ve had on our show over the almost one year since we started.

    Ep. 36 Judge Kristen Hawkins - Democratically Engaging the Judiciary

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2019 44:04


    Every one of us,  at some point, will absolutely end up in a courtroom, sitting in front of a judge. So it should be a pretty important piece of our civic life to do what we can to engage the judiciary. This week we talk to Judge Kristen Hawkins about just that!

    Ep. 35 Dr. Stephen Chao - Medicare for All in Houston?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2019 53:56


    What would Medicare for All mean for Houston, a city where the healthcare economy drives things almost as much as the oil and gas industry? Join us as we discuss with Dr. Stephen Chao.

    Ep. 34 Oni Blair - Transportation Equity in Houston

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2019 46:07


    Too 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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2019 42:28


    This 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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2019 48:01


    The 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!

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