HOUSTON, TX— Just five months ago, the Cultural Capital of the South welcomed its newest voice in conservative talk radio, family-run 920 Patriot Talk Radio.
This hot and emerging station fearlessly engages in open dialogue about faith, family and freedom values— values precious to its Houston-Galveston radio market. Listeners will dive into critical conservative perspectives with big radio names and personalities like Dan Bongino, Todd Starnes, Rob Carson, Wendy Bell and Rich Valdez, and important Fox News updates.
920 AM owner Matthew Velasquez during their launch party held on Tuesday, April 30 at Houston Christian University
The Origin Story
The station previously hosted KYST, also known as “La Nueve Veinte,” a Spanish news and talk radio station. Under the same family, the station transitioned to a conservative talk show platform at the beginning of this year.
“Our family has owned KYST 920 AM since 1983 when my father, Cruz Velasquez, purchased it to start Houston’s first Tejano radio station,” Patriot Talk Radio owner and founder, Matthew Velasquez, told Katy Christian Magazine.
“Over the years, we evolved our format into more talk programming, but it was always in Spanish.”
Then, in 2022, Cruz Velasquez passed away. His son, Matthew Velasquez, took over ownership of the company and was faced with a crucial decision.
“I had to decide on what I wanted to do with the company. The two obvious options were either to sell the company or to keep operating it as a Spanish radio station,” Velasquez recalled.
Little did he know, he would soon be called by God to transform the station in a different direction. The next summer, Velasquez was in the midst of a road trip with his family when the epiphany struck him.
Matt Velasquez with members of The Angela Box Show
“Several things were happening at the radio station that were causing me some headaches. In a joking way, I told my wife, ‘I’m done with this format. I’m just going to switch to English conservative talk.’”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Velasquez paused. The idea intrigued him. Conservative talk radio was a starkly different format, but it was something he and his father had often enjoyed together. Additionally, the U.S. was entering a major election year, so the timing would be ideal.
Invigorated by the idea, Velasquez constructed a list of all aspects that he needed to organize in order to seriously consider conservative talk radio as a viable option. He began to make phone calls from the road and found himself rapidly checking items off of his list.
“It felt almost as if God had intentionally closed some doors to open new options,” he remarked. “After much prayer and discernment, I decided it was time for me to go ahead and make the change.”
“I was tired of seeing the direction our country was going and I felt a calling to take the risk, so after 40 years of operating a successful Spanish radio station, I gutted all [of] our sponsors and audience and started over with a brand-new format.”
Patriot Talk Radio has been up and running for five months now. These past several months have been fun, rewarding, frustrating and challenging, all at the same time, just like any other startup would be, Velasquez described.
In October of last year, Velasquez officially decided to change format at the start of the new year, on January 1, 2024.
“That gave us only three months to get ready for a brand-new business model,” he exclaimed. “We had to update equipment and software and change our staff. Little did I know, we were still facing supply chain issues [from COVID]!”
By the time January rolled around, station upgrades were not complete, but Velasquez still needed to get the all-new Patriot Talk Radio on air. The situation was dire, and it forced the founder to get creative.
“We have grown very quickly despite our challenges, and we continue to connect with our community at a very grassroots level. While we still have a lot to do, I am very pleased with the progress we continue to make and how fast our name is spreading within the conservative world here in Houston.”
The Hot Lineup of True Conservative Radio Personalities
Patriot Talk Radio is proud to host an impressive lineup of genuinely conservative radio personalities with both local and national name recognition.
The station’s live and local morning drive is “The Angela Box Show,” airing Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. – 8 a.m., featuring Angela Box and Michael Wilson. Box and Wilson are highly engaging and energized morning show hosts with great chemistry. They play off each other’s strengths and offer unique analysis of current events both locally and nationally.
Listeners will drive home from work enthralled by the equally fascinating “The Dan Bongino Show,” which airs weekdays from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Preceding The Dan Bongino Show, in the afternoon, is former Fox News personality Todd Starnes.
Other station programs include Chris Plante Show, Rob Carson Show, Wendy Bell Radio, and America at Night with Rich Valdes. Each host openly and honestly speaks to the everyday American and offers a bit of hope through discussions about effective ways to save the country.
“All of our programs fall in line with our three pillars of family, faith and freedom. Our mission is to bring Pro-American discussions to a mainstream platform that focuses on the nuclear family, Judeo-Christian morals and the freedom to live our lives based on our God-given rights and the constitution of our great country,” Velasquez proclaimed.
Community Impact
Family-owned and independently operated, Patriot Talk Radio is soon to become a trusted gem among the Houston conservative community.
“I am not a large media network, but instead, I am a native Houstonian who is looking to save my city. Our hands are not tied in what we can and cannot say on air by a network executive. My staff have the opportunity to share the truth with our listeners.”
“I am also very open about my Christian faith and how I use it to lead our company and decision making. We don’t have to hide our faith in fear of offending others.”
Todd Starnes was the Keynote speaker of the 920 AM launch party held at HCU.
Velasquez’s favorite aspect of Patriot Talk Radio is attending community events to promote the station. In particular, he likes visiting different gun shows around Houston on weekends.
“We set up our display and tent, and my staff actively hand out Patriot Talk 920 merchandise while interacting with those in attendance. So far, I have attended each gun show we have been present at, for at least part of the weekend. I feel like I am able to build authentic relationships with our listeners, and I am grateful for those opportunities.”
Recently, Velasquez, his family and Patriot Talk Radio staff attended a gun show in Pasadena, where he had a touching interaction with an elderly man.
“An elderly gentleman was dropped off by the entrance to the show with his walker while his son went to park their car,” Velasquez illustrated. “I helped the gentleman out of the car, and we had a great conversation.”
“He was a veteran, so naturally, I thanked him for his service to our country. He asked me about the radio station. After sharing my story, this wonderful man pulled out his wallet and handed me a $20 bill.”
The veteran told Velasquez the bill was to support his radio station and what it was providing for the country. Velasquez politely turned it down, but in a stunning turn of events, the elderly man ended up handing it to his 10-year-old son, who was helping Velasquez work the event that day.
Matt Velasquez with Dan Simons, who is the Republican nominee for Harris County District Attorney
“This really moved me, to see someone who I respected and admired for his service to our country turn around and thank me for what we were doing with our radio station. I think this goes to the root of how we fix our country and get back on track.”
“It’s the everyday person looking out for each other and supporting each other in all we do.”
Patriot Talk Radio strives to become the most dominant voice for Christian conservative values in the Houston area. It exists to provide an alternate discourse to the values being pushed in mainstream culture, including in media, schools and other influential areas and institutions.
“We have turned away from God in the name of self-gratification and woke liberal agendas, and it is time to stand up for what is right. We must lead by faith and common sense,” Velasquez asserted.
Following his father’s death, Velasquez approached a forked road. He had the option to sell the station, pocket the profit and start a new career, but he chose to stay and join the fight to shift the direction of America.
Making the format switch to Patriot Talk Radio has been a huge financial risk for him and his family, but he assumed the risk to give Houston Christians and conservatives a voice.
“It was time for me to use my platform to draw a line in the sand and speak up for what is right. I’m not sure what the future looks like for us, but I do know God will always open and close doors for me so that I can follow His path.”
And for Houstonians, it’s time to rally behind the Velasquez family and Patriot Talk Radio to show them that we share their mission. Tune in at 920 AM today, or download the app.
