Raheel Ramzanali, the host of City Cast Houston, first immigrated with his parents to Houston from Pakistan in 1990. Now, Ramzanali lives in Richmond with his wife and two daughters. He is a sports lover who enjoys rooting for his Texas Longhorns and the Astros. My only problem with Raheel: He insists that casseroles are one of the best parts of Thanksgiving.
What excites you the most about audio storytelling?
“Radio and audio storytelling have always been part of my life. From prank calling radio stations as a teenager to creating one of the first podcasts at the University of Texas in 2005, what's always excited me about audio storytelling is that I can be as creative as I want. I can also tap into the listener's imagination with my words.”
What’s one of your favorite interviews you’ve ever done? Why?
“I started my career in sports radio and one of the biggest reasons was so I could interview athletes who I grew up watching. Kobe Bryant was one of those athletes. So, I was over the moon when I finally got to interview him in 2008 after the Lakers played the Rockets at Toyota Center. It was by far my favorite interview because he was so candid and he also called me ‘bro’!”
If you had to eat at the same restaurant every weekend for the rest of your life, which one would you choose?
“This one is easy! I would choose Aga's. It's my favorite Houston restaurant because it captures all the flavors of Indo-Pak cooking. My go-to dishes are the paneer makhani, chicken kabab white karahi, and the halwa puri breakfast on the weekends!”
If you would like to say hello to Raheel or argue with him on the importance of Thanksgiving casseroles, feel free to email him or follow him on Instagram.
