Michael Hagerty

Senior Producer, Houston Matters

Michael Hagerty is the senior producer for Houston Matters. He’s spent more than 20 years in public radio and television and dabbled in minor league baseball, spending four seasons as the public address announcer for the Reno Aces, the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Houston Matters

Why the new Texas social media censorship law was halted — for now (Dec. 3, 2021)

Posted on December 3, 2021 · On Friday's show: Why a new state law related to social media was temporarily halted from taking effect, and The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.

Houston Matters

Another Hurricane Season In The Books: The Good, Bad, And Ugly Of The Week

Posted on December 3, 2021 · The Houston Matters panel of non-experts weighs in on stories from the week’s news and decides if they’re good, bad, or ugly.

Houston Matters

Here are Houston’s best new restaurants of 2021

Posted on December 2, 2021 · Houston food writers discuss their favorite places to eat that opened during 2021 in this month's installment of The Full Menu.

Houston Matters

The job forecast for Houston, and Enron 20 years later (Dec. 2, 2021)

Posted on December 2, 2021 · On Thursday's show: The job forecast for the region in 2022, lessons from the collapse of Enron, a conversation with the late Stephen Sondheim, and the best new restaurants from the past year.

Houston Matters

The omicron variant’s threat to Houston (Nov. 30, 2021)

Posted on November 30, 2021 · On Tuesday's show: We find out what we know -- and what we don't -- about the omicron variant of COVID-19 and the threat it poses to Houston.

Houston Matters

HISD board runoffs, and how Houston changed sports (Nov. 29, 2021)

Posted on November 29, 2021 · On Monday's show: We take a closer look at the runoff election for four seats on the HISD Board of Trustees, and a recent book examines how Houston and Texas helped change the sports landscape across the nation.

Houston Matters

The week in politics, and the World Table Tennis Championships (Nov. 24, 2021)

Posted on November 24, 2021 · On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest political news, and the World Table Tennis Championships come to Houston.

Houston Matters

A chef’s advice for preparing your Thanksgiving feast (Nov. 23, 2021)

Posted on November 23, 2021 · On Tuesday's show: Peter Petro, executive chef at Bosscat Kitchen & Libations, answers your last-minute questions about preparing your Thanksgiving meal.

Houston Matters

Interviews we’re thankful for (Nov. 22, 2021)

Posted on November 22, 2021 · On Monday's show: We revisit some of our favorite interviews from the past year, including Jim Parsons, Patrick Kennedy, and Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn.

Good, Bad and Ugly

Whataburger Opens in Missouri With Supersized Hype: The Good, Bad, And Ugly Of The Week

Posted on November 19, 2021 · The Houston Matters panel of non-experts weighs in on stories from the week’s news and decides if they’re good, bad, or ugly.

Houston Matters

HISD Superintendent Millard House (Nov. 19, 2021)

Posted on November 19, 2021 · On Friday's show: The new head of the state's largest school district discusses issues affecting students, educators, and parents and answers your questions.

Houston Matters

COVID and the holidays, & the importance of being uncomfortable (Nov. 18, 2021)

Posted on November 18, 2021 · On Thursday's show: How holiday travel and gatherings might affect the pandemic, and the importance of sometimes leaving our comfort zones.

Houston Matters

Brent Spiner on learning to act in Houston and becoming Data

Posted on November 17, 2021 · Spiner tells Houston Matters producer Michael Hagerty about growing up in Houston and discusses his new memoir of sorts, Fan Fiction.

Houston Matters

The week in politics, and actor Brent Spiner (Nov. 17, 2021)

Posted on November 17, 2021 · Local experts discuss the week in politics, and actor Brent Spiner talks about his career, Star Trek, and his new book.

Houston Matters

Certifying the municipal election, and Council Member Letitia Plummer (Nov. 16, 2021)

Posted on November 16, 2021 · On Tuesday's show: Why one county commissioner voted against certifying the recent municipal election, and a conversation with City Council Member Letitia Plummer.