Episode 132: Travel Back to 1836 at the San Jacinto Battlefield
What really happened during the 18-minute Battle of San Jacinto? In this episode of Spotlight Houston, host Blanca Quezada talks with David Avila, Director of Museum Operations at the San Jacinto Museum and Battlefield Association, to uncover the true story behind the battle that changed Texas forever. They explore how General Sam Houston’s Texian army […]
Episode 129: Trailblazing Women of Houston’s History
Did you know that Houston has a “Mother”—not just the Allen Brothers? Or that a woman was behind Houston’s first fully air-conditioned office building? In this special Women’s History Month episode, historian Mister McKinney joins host Blanca Quezada to share the untold stories of 158 women who shaped Houston in business, law, medicine, arts, philanthropy, […]
Episode 123: Exploring Houston’s Black History with The Heritage Society
Step back in time and uncover Houston’s rich Black history with The Heritage Society! In this episode, host Blanca Quezada talks with Martha Whiting-Goddard, Kijana Wiseman, and Dr. Ron Williams—three remarkable individuals dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories of Houston’s African American pioneers. Meet Martha Whiting-Goddard, a descendant of Reverend Jack Yates, one of […]
Episode 110: Houston’s Haunted Secrets – Ghost Tours and Paranormal Encounters
Get ready for spine-tingling chills in this haunted Houston adventure! In this episode of Spotlight Houston, host Blanca Quezada chats with U.S. Ghost Adventures, who share thrilling ghost stories from some of the city’s most haunted spots. Explore Houston’s paranormal side as they recount eerie tales from downtown Market Square, including haunted bars, mysterious orbs, […]
Episode 106: [REPLAY] Explore Houston’s History with Mister McKinney
In this special replay episode, we take a deep dive into Houston’s rich past with Mister McKinney, marketing director of The Heritage Society. Join host Blanca Quezada as they uncover stories about Houston’s historic homes at Sam Houston Park and the city’s efforts to preserve its heritage. Key Highlights Visit The Heritage Society Plan your […]
Episode 105: [REPLAY] Preserving Hispanic History with Mikaela Selley
This week, Spotlight Houston replays one of our most fascinating episodes, originally aired as Episode 25 on January 29, 2023. Host Blanca Quezada sits down with Mikaela Selley, program manager for the Periodicals in the US-Mexico Region Project at Arte Público Press. Mikaela talks about her work with the Recovering the US Hispanic Literary Heritage […]
Episode 89: Preserving Houston’s Hispanic History
To understand our present, we must learn about our past. It can be a personal journey, or it can be about learning how our cultural ancestors’ diverse contributions helped to build and develop our grand cities and countries. In Houston, many people from different cultural backgrounds have in many ways had a hand in the […]
Episode 61: How Texas won its independence at the San Jacinto Museum & Battlefield
In just 18 minutes, Texas won a battle that changed its history forever. After the devastating loss of The Alamo, Sam Houston led his troops to victory at the Battle of San Jacinto, securing Texas’s independence from Mexico and creating the Republic of Texas. In this episode, we sit down with David Avila Jr., the […]
Episode 48: Discover the new Eternal Gandhi Museum Houston
Understanding the Legacy of Mahatma Gandhi at The New Eternal Gandhi Museum Houston is set to open a new museum, Eternal Gandhi Museum Houston, to honor the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, a civil rights leader, as well as highlight other worldwide leaders who embraced peaceful means to make social changes. Even though the museum has […]
Episode 28: Honoring the Legacy of Buffalo Soldiers
Get ready for an informative and inspiring episode of the Spotlight Houston Show, where host Blanca sits down with Dr. Michelle Tovar, the director of education at the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in Houston. Join them as they delve into the fascinating history of the Buffalo Soldiers, Black military men and women who served their […]