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, 2024•19 min•Season 1Ep. 1435
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, 2024•19 min•Season 1Ep. 1434
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, 2024•4 min•Season 1Ep. 1433
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, 2024•7 min•Season 1Ep. 1432
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, 2024•19 min•Season 1Ep. 1431
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, 2024•42 min•Season 1Ep. 1430
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, 2024•5 min•Season 1Ep. 1429
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, 2024•14 min•Season 1Ep. 1428
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, 2024•7 min•Season 1Ep. 1427
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, 2024•5 min•Season 1Ep. 1426
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, 2024•6 min•Season 1Ep. 1425
A national retail expert and futurist visited Philadelphia's premier shopping district. This is what he learned
Jul 16, 2024•5 min•Season 1Ep. 1424
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, 2024•12 min•Season 1Ep. 1423
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, 2024•7 min•Season 1Ep. 1422
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, 2024•39 min•Season 1Ep. 1421
"...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, 2024•13 min•Season 1Ep. 1420
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, 2024•7 min•Season 1Ep. 1419
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, 2024•7 min•Season 1Ep. 1418
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, 2024•18 min•Season 1Ep. 1417
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, 2024•4 min•Season 1Ep. 1416
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, 2024•7 min•Season 1Ep. 1415
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, 2024•7 min•Season 1Ep. 1414
... 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, 2024•5 min•Season 1Ep. 1413
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, 2024•7 min•Season 1Ep. 1412
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, 2024•32 min•Season 1Ep. 1411
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, 2024•22 min•Season 1Ep. 1410
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, 2024•6 min•Season 1Ep. 1409
... it did not go well. MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi breaks down the 1924 National Origins Act and explains the long-term damage that resulted.
Jun 24, 2024•4 min•Season 1Ep. 1408
In advance of the presidential debate, former mayor Michael Nutter shares some thoughts on the answers we really need to hear from the candidates
Jun 21, 2024•9 min•Season 1Ep. 1407
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, 2024•5 min•Season 1Ep. 1406