Extreme Global Heat and the Impact of Climate Change on the Planet

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, questions@townsquaretalk.org or @townsquaretalk.

Today, August 11, 2023, is the final episode of Town Square with Ernie Manouse.

For the full hour, we’re joined by a panel consisting of psychologist Dr. Jeff Temple, epidemiologist Dr. Catherine Troisi, and local author and teacher Jennifer Mathieu to reminisce and celebrate this show for all it set out to do during its time on the air.

Plus, we hear from many of our most frequent and impactful guests who have helped this show achieve its mission over its run as they share their recollections and discuss what made it special.

Special thanks to Andrew Schneider, Charles “Rocky” Rhodes, Cissy Segall Davis, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Lauren Anderson, Dr. William Haseltine, Dr. James McDeavitt, Dietrich von Biedenfeld, Dr. Melanye Price, Dr. Peter Hotez, Sen. Paul Bettencourt, Dr. Susan McLellan, Pete Makopoulos-Senftleber, Vanessa Gilmore, Dr. Chris Bronk, and Rep. Sylvia Garcia for joining and writing to us on our final episode.

Staff and crew at Town Square are all moving on to new projects at Houston Public Media and look forward to sharing with you again soon.

Guests:                                                                               

Dr. Jeff Temple

• Psychologist
• Vice Dean for Research and Scholarship at the School of Nursing, UTMB Health
• The John Sealy Distinguished Chair in Community Health, UTMB Health
• Director of the Center for Violence Prevention, UTMB Health

Dr. Catherine Troisi

• Infectious Disease Epidemiologist, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health

Jennifer Mathieu

• Local Teacher
• Local Author of Seven YA Novels and an Upcoming Adult Novel (set in Houston)

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day’s most important and pressing issues.

We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, questions@townsquaretalk.org or @townsquaretalk.

As the school year begins, there is much to do to get students ready for a new year, which includes making sure they’re up to date on their wellness exams.

First, we’re joined by Dr. Kate King, President of the National Association of School Nurses, who shares the essential things that parents should keep in mind when sending their kids back to school, including having the right immunizations, maintaining hydration, and proper nutrition.

Then, General Ophthalmologist Dr. John Anderson joins the conversation to share insight on the importance of student eye exams, as clear vision can ensure students’ success in the classroom. Dr. Anderson also weighs in on signs to be aware of for vision problems for adults, and he takes listeners calls to answer their various eye health questions.

Guests:

Kate King, DNP, MS, RN, LSN

• President, National Association of School Nurses
• School Nurse in Columbus, Ohio

Dr. John Anderson

• General Ophthalmologist, Anderson Eye

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day's most important and pressing issues.

We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, questions@townsquaretalk.org or @townsquaretalk.

Dreams do come true. Harrell Holmes Jr., grew up wanting to be a Temptation, and today, he is making that a reality as he stars as Melvin Franklin in the national tour of the high energy musical Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations, which tells the story of the music group’s rise to fame.

Holmes Jr. talks with us about how his love of The Temptations began, his career from being featured on Star Search and American Idol to performing on stage in Ain’t Too Proud, as well as what audiences can expect from the show.

Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations is playing at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts in Houston until Sunday, August 13, 2023. For more information, click here.

Then, we discuss the science of sleep with neurologist and sleep specialist Dr. Chris Winter. He explains the importance of bedtime rituals to remain consistent in the time you wake up and go to bed, the amount of sleep we need as adults, better habits for falling asleep for those who are having difficulties or experiencing insomnia, and more.

Guests:

Harrell Holmes Jr.

• Singer, Dancer, Actor
• Plays Melvin Franklin in Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations

Dr. Chris Winter

• Neurologist & Sleep Specialist
• Author, The Rested Child: Why Your Tired, Wired, or Irritable Child May Have a Sleep Disorder and How To Help and The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep is Broken and How To Fix It
• Host, Sleep Unplugged Podcast

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day’s most important and pressing issues.

We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, questions@townsquaretalk.org or @townsquaretalk.

For the full hour, we talk with author Lynn Melnick about her memoir I've Had to Think Up a Way to Survive: On Trauma, Persistence, and Dolly Parton, which details her journey of survival and recovery in the wake of loss and trauma guided by the songs of country music icon Dolly Parton.

Melnick explains what motivated her to write the book, how she found inspiration in the music of Dolly Parton to overcome the struggles in her own life, and how every chapter explores the cultural issues at the heart of Parton’s songs and how they relate to Melnick’s life.

Plus, Melnick weighs in on the issues plaguing women today, how she views healing from trauma, and how creativity and storytelling can be pivotal to our survival and growth.

I've Had to Think Up a Way to Survive: On Trauma, Persistence, and Dolly Parton is available now in paperback wherever books are sold.

Guest:

Lynn Melnick

• Author, I've Had to Think Up a Way to Survive: On Trauma, Persistence, and Dolly Parton
• Assistant Professor of Poetry, Columbia University

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day's most important and pressing issues.

We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, questions@townsquaretalk.org or @townsquaretalk.

For the full hour, we’re joined by Brad Mahlof, Leanna Pierre, and Salmah Hack, the three finalists of the 8-part PBS cooking competition The Great American Recipe, to discuss their culinary journeys in advance of the second season finale where a winner will be crowned.

The finalists also share how their personal backgrounds have influenced and inspired the dishes they’ve made for the show, details about the show and getting to know the other contestants, how food has an everlasting impact on our lives, particularly for culture and family, and more.

The final episode of The Great American Recipe Season 2 will air August 7, 2023, at 8pm CT/9pm ET on PBS.

To watch previous episodes of The Great American Recipe Season 2, click here.

Guests:

Brad Mahlof

• Finalist, The Great American Recipe

Leanna Pierre

• Finalist, The Great American Recipe

Salmah Hack

• Finalist, The Great American Recipe

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day’s most important and pressing issues.

We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, questions@townsquaretalk.org or @townsquaretalk.

Dine out and do good: Houston Restaurant Weeks is the city's most anticipated foodie event of the year. Since it was founded in 2003, it has become the largest event of its kind in the U.S. and raised 18.8 million dollars to date.

First, we speak with Katie Stone, President of The Cleverly Stone Foundation, who explains what diners can expect for this year’s 20th anniversary of the annual fundraiser, including top Houston restaurants, award-winning chefs, and a variety of cuisines.  

Then, chefs and restaurateurs David Cordúa, owner of The Lymbar, and MasterChef season three winner Christine Ha, owner of The Blind Goat, Xin Chao, Stuffed Belly, joined the conversation.

The panel weighs in on the importance of Houston Restaurant Weeks, what they will be serving up to patrons from their respective restaurants, the economics of restaurants today, the food culture of Houston, and more.

To watch The Houston Cookbook special, hosted by David Cordúa, click here. 

To watch the Arts Insight package, featuring Christine Ha, click here. 

Guests:

Katie Stone

• President, The Cleverley Stone Foundation
• Houston Restaurant Weeks

David Cordúa

• Owner, The Lymbar

Christine Ha

• Chef & Owner, The Blind Goat, Xin Chao, and Stuffed Belly
• Winner of MasterChef Season 3

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day's most important and pressing issues.

We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, questions@townsquaretalk.org or @townsquaretalk.

On August 1, 2023, former President Donald Trump was indicted on felony charges in connection with his efforts to overturn the outcome of the 2020 Election, making this his third indictment.

For the full hour, we talk to retired U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore and Dr. Frank Sorrentino, author of Presidential Power and the American Political System, about this latest indictment, what the charges mean, and what we can expect going forward.

Plus, our guests discuss how his supporters view this latest indictment, whether their support for him will change, and the impact this indictment will have on his presidential run in the upcoming 2024 Election.

Guests:

Vanessa Gilmore

• Retired U.S. District Judge

Dr. Frank Sorrentino

• Author, Presidential Power and the American Political System

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day’s most important and pressing issues.

We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, questions@townsquaretalk.org or @townsquaretalk.

The month of July 2023 has shattered multiple temperature records with many climate scientists expecting it to be the world’s hottest month on record and possibly the warmest in 120,000 years.

For the full hour, we speak with climate scientist Dr. Noah Diffenbaugh of Stanford University, and Dr. Rachel Cleetus of the Union of Concerned Scientists, to discuss how climate change is causing these record-breaking heat waves and other extreme weather events.

Both guests also share insight on what these extreme weather events mean for the future of the planet and people’s daily lives, and how climate change will affect aspects of our society, including communities, business, agriculture, and more.

Guests:

Dr. Noah Diffenbaugh

• Professor of Earth System Science at the Doerr School of Sustainability, Stanford University

Dr. Rachel Cleetus

• Policy Director for the Climate and Energy Program, Union of Concerned Scientists

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day's most important and pressing issues.

We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, questions@townsquaretalk.org or @townsquaretalk.

For the full hour, we’re joined by physician and scientist Dr. Peter Hotez, to discuss the latest research on vaccines, the latest on COVID-19 following an uptick in cases across the U.S. and what people should know as we approach the beginning of the Fall season and the school year.

Dr. Hotez also shares why he’s dedicated his life to the advancement of science, the importance of ensuring that children get vaccinated, the rise of the anti-vaccine movement following the recent harassment he received, and much more.

Dr. Hotez's Important Adult Vaccines List: 

• XBB Booster
• Annual Flu Immunization
• RSV Vaccine
• PREVNAR 20 Vaccine
• SHINGRIX Vaccine

Guest:

Dr. Peter Hotez

• Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine
• Co-Director, Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day’s most important and pressing issues.

We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, questions@townsquaretalk.org or @townsquaretalk.

First, we speak with film director and Houston native Justin Simien who discusses his new film Haunted Mansion, a new film adaptation based on the Walt Disney theme park attraction of the same name. Simien discusses his approach to helming a film based on a theme park ride.

Haunted Mansion is available now, only in theaters.

Then, we shift to “Talk of the Town” where our panel of guests weigh in on trending headlines of the week. Today’s panel consists of singer and semi-finalist on America’s Got Talent Christina Wells, Fashion and Lifestyle Blogger of MyRedGlasses Roz Pactor, and writer and activist Tony Diaz.

Our guests share their thoughts on ageism amidst health concerns over Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell suddenly freezing during a press briefing this week, how we see ourselves as a nation in today’s age of political divisiveness, cultural appropriation vs. inspiration, and more.

Guests:

Justin Simien  

• Director, Haunted Mansion (2023)

Christina Wells

• Singer, Actor, and Motivational Speaker
• 2018 Semi-Finalist on “America’s Got Talent”

Roz Pactor

• Fashion and Marketing Consultant
• Fashion and Lifestyle Blogger, “My Red Glasses”

Tony Diaz

• Writer
• Director of Nuestra Palabra, Latino Writers Having Their Say

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day's most important and pressing issues.

We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps