Houston Matters Full Episode - January 8, 2026

Today on Houston Matters, Wade Morehead, Executive Director of the Houston Marathon Committee, talks about this weekend’s Chevron Houston Marathon. Houston Public Media reporter Dominic Anthony Walsh discusses the latest from Houston City Council including their approval of a proposal to use $30 million in stormwater mitigation funds to demolish blighted buildings. We look at Houston’s greatest speeches and speakers throughout history with Ronan O’Malley, Chief Programs Officer for the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston, and Jack Young, University of Houston acting professor and Artistic Director of the Houston Shakespeare Festival. Dr. Ruchi Gaba, Associate Professor of Endocrinology at Baylor College of Medicine, discusses GLP-1 medications. Plus, Grammy Award-winning reggae musician Shaggy talks with us ahead of his performance with the Houston Symphony.

Houston Matters is an essential daily guide to the people, places, issues, and ideas that define Greater Houston. Hosted by Craig Cohen.

Houston Matters streams live on YouTube weekdays from 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. CT, and airs live on Houston Public Media’s News 88.7.

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Timestamps:
00:00 Pre-show news
06:54 Intro
07:25 Wade Morehead on Houston Marathon
15:59 Dominic Anthony Walsh on City Council’s stormwater fund vote
23:39 Jack Young & Ronan O’Malley on great speeches & speakers
43:07 Dr. Ruchi Gaba on GLP-1 medications
49:49 Reggae musician Shaggy