Will PA ever legalize weed?
Citizen writer Malcolm Burnley explores the burning question of whether or not legal use of recreational marijuana really is in our future.
Apr 09, 2025•8 min•Season 1Ep. 1615
CitizenCast
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
Winners write the history
Let’s ensure it's the American people who are the winners by preserving and teaching the stories that form our democracy
Apr 08, 2025•8 min•Season 1Ep. 1614
There's no good or bad government, the power is the problem
Journalist Melissa Chan and cartoonist Badiucao created a highly accessible dystopian graphic novel that takes place in 2035. America has become proto-fascist and is at war with a techno-authoritarian regime in China. Chan and Badiucao join Ali Velshi for his latest installment of the Velshi Banned Book Club. "Serious topics about human rights and social issues needs to break into gamers, the geeks and the readers of comics," says Badiucao.
Apr 07, 2025•12 min•Season 1Ep. 1613
U.S. Rep Brendan Boyle, the Eagles and Trump
U.S. Representative Brendan Boyle recently expressed his outrage over Trump inviting the Kansas City Chiefs to the White House. Lauren McCutcheon asked him why.
Apr 04, 2025•8 min•Season 1Ep. 1612
Giving small and minority businesses a real chance
On this episode of Evening WURDs, James Peterson is joined by Kenyatta James, executive director of the Economy League. They discuss how small and minority-owned businesses can get ahead in Philly and what "human-centered design" means.
Apr 03, 2025•18 min•Season 1Ep. 1611
Literacy is never neutral
There is a literary crisis in Philadelphia. Percival Everett’s National Book Award-winning novel James might just be the way forward.
Apr 02, 2025•7 min•Season 1Ep. 1610
An ode to ... the Fashion District?
The remade Gallery is constantly roasted for its lack of personality. But maybe that's just what makes our Fashion District a hidden gem. Maybe.
Apr 01, 2025•7 min•Season 1Ep. 1609
The tragedy on the 57 Bus
In 2013, a teenage boy lit the skirt of an agender teen asleep nearby on fire. They sustained major burns to their legs and the offending teen was charged as an adult -- over the wishes of the victim and their family. This true story is detailed in The 57 Bus by journalist Dashka Slater. With discrimination against trans persons becoming openly accepted in the U.S., Ali Velshi sits down with Slater in this episode of Velshi Banned Book Club.
Mar 31, 2025•11 min•Season 1Ep. 1608
Krasner versus ... Trump?
DA Larry Krasner says he’s a “democracy advocate” and his real opponent is Donald Trump. Is there actually something to it?
Mar 28, 2025•8 min•Season 1Ep. 1607
The "elusive wizard" of housing
In our latest episode of How To Really Run A City, our hosts invite an “elusive wizard” onto the show. Bruce Katz is the Founding Director of the Nowak Metro Finance Lab at Drexel University, and an architect of the National Housing Crisis Task Force at Accelerator For America. “Bruce has forgotten more about cities than I’ll ever know,” Larry tells our mayors before referencing the Trump Administration’s gutting of federal agencies and funding. “Given your experience, Bruce, how scared should w...
Mar 27, 2025•51 min•Season 1Ep. 1606
The steward of FDR park
In this episode of Citizen of the Week, we highlight FDR Park volunteer coordinator Tara Anastasi. From reclaiming lakes from "phrags" to organizing an army of volunteers, Anastasi gets stuff done.
Mar 26, 2025•6 min•Season 1Ep. 1605
Shark Tank ... for housing
The Economy League’s latest pitch competition is looking for ideas on how to close the racial wealth gap, with $50,000 going to the winner
Mar 25, 2025•6 min•Season 1Ep. 1604
The Red Scare and MAGA
During the red scare of the Cold War, American politicians discriminated against and began deporting Chinese-Americans. This included the scientist who would become the father of China's ballistic missile program. Ali Velshi explains why the overreactions to immigrant scares only ends up hurting the country.
Mar 24, 2025•8 min•Season 1Ep. 1603
Why we can't go car-free
A Philadelphia urbanist and working parent tried to go car free. She learned how that's a hard thing to do, even in a 15-minute neighborhood.
Mar 21, 2025•6 min•Season 1Ep. 1602
Get touchy feely with TOUCHY/FEELY
On this episode of Big Rube's Philly, Rube visits with Candace Johnson, the Philly creator of TOUCHY/FEELY, the card game of intimate connection.
Mar 20, 2025•5 min•Season 1Ep. 1601
Talking tax reforms ...
... with Dr. James Peterson of Evening WURDs. This week, Larry Platt calls into the show to discuss his recent Citizen article and throw around ideas for a set of truly progressive tax reforms Philly could enact.
Mar 19, 2025•18 min•Season 1Ep. 1600
The neighborhood dad
Inspired by his own journey as a father, a Temple University police officer has become a vital support for hundreds of students in North Philadelphia
Mar 18, 2025•9 min•Season 1Ep. 1599
Losing abortion rights, losing gay marriage
MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi focuses on a recent arrest in Louisiana for abortion and connects it to other rights directly threatened: contraception, consensual gay sexual relationships, and same-sex marriage.
Mar 17, 2025•5 min•Season 1Ep. 1598
Three Philly profiles in courage
Congressmembers Chrissy Houlahan, Brendan Boyle and Brian Fitzpatrick all recently exhibited something voters rarely reward: Integrity
Mar 14, 2025•9 min•Season 1Ep. 1597
Move to Philly. Invite a friend.
A new nonprofit called Live Work Philadelphia thinks that by diversifying our middle-income earners, we can create a path to prosperity for all Philadelphians. Hear Malcolm's conversation with executive director Javier Suarez.
Mar 13, 2025•15 min•Season 1Ep. 1596
It's our market
Michelle Angela Ortiz doubles down on Our Market — a public art project honoring the diverse stories of the S. 9th Street Market. The sense of community Ortiz's art inspires is helping residents and businesses stand against the twin threats of gentrification and anti-immigrant sentiment.
Mar 12, 2025•7 min•Season 1Ep. 1595
Diversifying ... the construction industry?
Louis King, the CEO of OIC of America, ran a successful program to open high-paying construction jobs to more people in Minnesota. Now, he’s doing the same in Pennsylvania.
Mar 11, 2025•6 min•Season 1Ep. 1594
Building boldly
Larry recently sat down with teacher and author Kimberly McGlonn to talk about her upbringing, her struggles against racial injustice and about her new book, Build It Boldly: How Daring Business Leaders Can Gain Influence and Create Impact. McGlonn's message was an inspirational clarion call to the citizen leaders in our midst.
Mar 10, 2025•38 min•Season 1Ep. 1593
A tax reform plan even progressives can love?
The Philadelphia Tax Reform Commission just released a new report. What are they proposing? Is this plan something even a progressive could get behind?
Mar 07, 2025•6 min•Season 1Ep. 1592
How people create real wealth. And keep it.
Mical Jeanlys-White, creator of the app WealthMore, is the latest Citizen guest on Evening WURDs. Dr. James Peterson explores the reasoning behind the app and how it helps people build their financial futures.
Mar 06, 2025•14 min•Season 1Ep. 1591
Legit TikTok medical advice
Main Line OB-GYN Karen Tang has almost 700,000 followers for her science-based and hilarious TikToks and IG posts on reproductive health. Roxanne sat down with Tang to discuss her social media rise and what it means.
Mar 05, 2025•13 min•Season 1Ep. 1590
Black zombies ... in Philly!
David Dylan Thomas explores what would happen if enslaved people in Washington Square rose from the dead in the upcoming zombie film, White Meat
Mar 04, 2025•8 min•Season 1Ep. 1589
Hear Jalen Hurts accept Citizen of the Year
Governor Josh Shapiro introduced Superbowl MVP Jalen Hurts to receive his 2025 Citizen of the Year award. Hear what Shapiro and Hurts had to say.
Mar 03, 2025•10 min•Season 1Ep. 1588
Hey Philly, let's tell Bezos to suck it
Jeff Bezos may own the Washington Post, but attacks on Enlightenment values know no borders. This is how we can stand against media surrender.
Feb 28, 2025•6 min•Season 1Ep. 1587
Will civility save us?
Years of acrimony and conflict in our national politics has unfortunately trickled down to cities, where disdain for civil servants — and each other — has had a chilling effect on the work needed to get things done. So what can we do about it? On this episode of How To Really Run A City , former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and former Philly Mayor Michael Nutter sat down with Diane Kalen-Sukra, a former city manager, current evangelist for political civility and author of Save Your City: How Toxic C...
Feb 27, 2025•50 min•Season 1Ep. 1586
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