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CitizenCast

The Philadelphia Citizenthephiladelphiacitizen.org
The Philadelphia Citizen podcast offers spoken versions of articles, deeper dives into the political, social and cultural workings of our city, explainers on the issues of our day, interviews, conversations and solutions. Lots of solutions. All to help you become a better citizen of your city.
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Episodes

Josh Shapiro on getting shit done

Answering for his ambition, Shapiro told Larry Platt, "I'm ambitious to get shit done every day. Why would you hire me if you didn't want me to get stuff done for you?" Part two of Shapiro's discussion with Platt and LaSalle University basketball coach Fran Dunphy digs deep into the motivations of a governor suddenly thrust into the national spotlight.

Jul 31, 202419 minSeason 1Ep. 1435

Stop hitting people with cars

In the wake of several high-profile pedestrian and cycling deaths, Roxanne joins WURD's Tonya Pendleton for a special episode of Reality Check that explores what ideas we can steal to stop these needless fatalities

Jul 30, 202419 minSeason 1Ep. 1434

Project 2025 & the independent press

What designs on the free press do conservative minds in America have? The same minds who hope to influence a Trump second term? Citizen board member and MSNBC host Ali Velshi exposes this important section of Project 2025.

Jul 29, 20244 minSeason 1Ep. 1433

Josh Shapiro for VP?

First-term governor Josh Shapiro is rumored to be on the shortlist for VP candidate on a Kamala Harris ticket. Here’s how he could help or hurt.

Jul 26, 20247 minSeason 1Ep. 1432

Josh Shapiro on leadership

Governor Shapiro joined us at the Citizen's Ideas We Should Steal Festival and spoke about personal lessons in leadership. Joining him on the stage were LaSalle University basketball coach Fran Dunphy and the Citizen's Larry Platt. Here, part one of that inspiring conversation.

Jul 25, 202419 minSeason 1Ep. 1431

What Democrats get wrong on education

In this latest episode of How To Really Run A City, former Philly Mayor Michael Nutter and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed talk to education reformer and former Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza on what students really need … now. Once upon a time, Democrats were the party trusted with directing education in America. But, as Democrats for Education Reform Executive Director Jorge Elorza says, that ended in the waning days of the Obama administration. Now? Democrats have lost the language, ideas, policy and...

Jul 24, 202442 minSeason 1Ep. 1430

Getting a Philly pothole fixed in three hours

On this episode of Citizen of the Week, every neighborhood should be as lucky to have a “non-leader” like Steve Stroiman, who serves Cresheim Valley Neighbors in Mount Airy. He is a shining example of how to bring a neighborhood together and how to get things done.

Jul 23, 20245 minSeason 1Ep. 1429

Gay penguins and book bans

On this episode of #velshibannedbooks, MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi sits down with the authors of "And Tango Makes Three," to discuss why their children's book has been banned in 32 states.

Jul 22, 202414 minSeason 1Ep. 1428

What's the plan, Cherelle?

Philly is lagging behind peer cities in adjusting to work from home. Is now the time to invest in a broad economic revival plan?

Jul 19, 20247 minSeason 1Ep. 1427

Project 2025 & abortion

What does the conservative Project 2025 call for when it comes to abortion and reproductive rights? MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi breaks it down.

Jul 18, 20245 minSeason 1Ep. 1426

30th Street as the new intermodal transportation hub?

In this episode of Ideas We Should Steal, Philly has a great candidate to replace our shuttered bus station with a transportation hub. We even have a model for how to make that happen.

Jul 17, 20246 minSeason 1Ep. 1425

Banning The Poet X

The Poet X is a National Book Award-winner about a tenth-grader growing up in Harlem. It was banned for not being Christian enough, and therefore, against the Constitution. "Wow," says MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi. He interviews Poet Laureate Elizabeth Acevedo on this episode of #velshibannedbooks.

Jul 15, 202412 minSeason 1Ep. 1423

John Fry and the City

The appointment of John Fry, preeminent change maker, to lead Temple University has the potential to disrupt Philadelphia’s status quo. Listen to find out how.

Jul 12, 20247 minSeason 1Ep. 1422

A special episode on citizenship

As hand wringing over the state of our democracy has become a national pastime, we here at How To Really Run A City decided to air a special edition of our podcast. We highlight moments from previous episodes which demonstrate that high-minded civic virtues like tolerance and pluralism and communitarianism don’t only belong to the past. From Mayor Libby Schaaf’s guide to public action – “Mayors belong to one party–the party of getting shit done,” to Mayor Nutter’s stirring recounting of the Athe...

Jul 11, 202439 minSeason 1Ep. 1421

"When you're writing about war, you have to be honest..."

"...about the fundamental evil of people killing other people," Tim O'Brien, author of the banned book "The Things They Carried," said to MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi on #velshibannedbookclub. O'Brien's banning came from his realistic depictions of war (including the language soldiers use) which contrasts strongly with romantic fantasies of the nobility of soldiers some Americans hold.

Jul 10, 202413 minSeason 1Ep. 1420

How could we salvage the UArts debacle?

Turning the University of the Arts' Center City buildings into an arts community would make the city a destination for practicing artists. Elaine Maimon lays out how this could be done.

Jul 09, 20247 minSeason 1Ep. 1419

Whatever you think of Biden, the stakes are clear

Whether you believe President Biden should stay in the race or step aside, any Democratic candidate would be better than Donald Trump, explains MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi.

Jul 08, 20247 minSeason 1Ep. 1418

What is ethical A.I.?

Vilas Dahr (Patrick J. McGovern Foundation), Beth Simone Noveck (Northeastern University) and Dalila Wilson Scott (Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation) come together at our Ideas We Should Steal Festival for a blunt talk about A.I. in the workplace and how companies can use this powerful new technology ethically.

Jul 05, 202418 minSeason 1Ep. 1417

PA workers deserve a living wage

Champions of workplace justice and sustainability argue it’s high time for our state to raise the minimum wage -- something that hasn't been done in 15 years.

Jul 04, 20244 minSeason 1Ep. 1416

Is Philly's nonprofit sector imploding?

The recent collapse of several local nonprofit organizations like UArts, leaves us with questions about whether we're in a "nonprofit bubble" and whether that bubble is popping.

Jul 03, 20247 minSeason 1Ep. 1415

We DO know how to curb gun violence

On this episode of Guest Commentary, the co-founder of PHILLY TRUCE expresses no surprise at the recent drop in gun violence. He attributes it to the work of concerned citizens and marvels at why there isn't more support from the city.

Jul 02, 20247 minSeason 1Ep. 1414

The Supreme Court is like Tinkerbell ...

... when the public stops believing in its legitimacy, it will cease to legitimately function, argues MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi.

Jul 01, 20245 minSeason 1Ep. 1413

The reparations trap

Is there a better way to address our racially-driven wealth gap? Larry spoke to one social entrepreneur who says yes. And has a plan.

Jun 28, 20247 minSeason 1Ep. 1412

"If you think you're lonely now ..."

In part two of our latest episode of How to Really Run a City podcast, former Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed and former Philly mayor Michael Nutter hear more rhetorical gems from bestselling author and public intellectual Michael Eric Dyson ... who has some, uh, soulful theories about how to win elections and govern cities. Let's call it the Bobby Womack school of governance.

Jun 27, 202432 minSeason 1Ep. 1411

Revisiting the UArts mystery

Elaine Maimon joins Dr. James Peterson, host of Evening WURDs, to discuss her recent Citizen article about the head-scratching closing of UArts.

Jun 26, 202422 minSeason 1Ep. 1410

Is Philly's minimum wage still $7.25?

On this episode of Guest Commentary, the director of Drexel’s Wealth and Work Futures Lab explains why minimum wage hasn’t budged in fifteen years and what needs to happen

Jun 25, 20246 minSeason 1Ep. 1409

State courts step in to save democracy

Where can the country look when federal courts begin to falter? We've been here before, explains MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi. It is no surprise that state courts held Donald Trump accountable and preserved rights that SCOTUS stripped away.

Jun 20, 20245 minSeason 1Ep. 1406
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