Poet, recording artist and native Philadelphian Ursula Rucker has created a legacy for herself in print, in the studio and even in augmented reality. Whether she’s leading vocals for DJ King Britt, collaborating with The Roots or releasing her own book of haikus, Rucker is always advancing the city’s arts and culture scene. She’s now the virtual reality host of OverTime, an augmented reality app from public art and history studio Monument Lab, which allows users to tour portions of Philadelphia ...
Apr 22, 2021•23 min•Season 2Ep. 6
If there’s one thing you need to know about Philly’s food scene it’s that the space is full of people who use their culinary talents to give back. Look no further than Michael Carter and Muhammad Abdul-Hadid of Down North Pizza. Their North Philadelphia pizza-and-wings joint serves delicious, inventive pies and exclusively employs formerly incarcerated individuals as part of its mission to reduce recidivism rates in Black communities. Dustin Vitale also knows a thing or two about using food for ...
Apr 08, 2021•23 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Debra Powell-Wright has a long history in Philadelphia of elevating Black, Brown and African-descended women’s voices. As the founder of the city’s first female spoken word ensemble, a published essayist and social justice artist, Powell-Wright is credited with building a sisterhood. She joins the Love + Grit hosts to talk about her career and her latest work, For Women: In Tribute to Nina Simone , a collection of short stories and poems. In keeping with the theme of community and healing, hosts...
Mar 25, 2021•27 min•Season 2Ep. 4
On this episode of Love + Grit, meet two women making a monumental impact on the arts and education. Kimberly McGlonn’s sustainable clothing line and West Philadelphia storefront Grant Blvd sources reclaimed fabrics manufactured exclusively in Philadelphia and supports people who were previously incarcerated — one of the social issues this doctor of philosophy (and Jenkintown Borough council member) is most passionate about. Hosts Laiya, Rachel and Justin also welcome Dyymond Whipper-Young, a Te...
Mar 11, 2021•29 min•Season 2Ep. 3
This episode kicks off with Hakim’s Bookstore owner Yvonne Blake and a discussion about community building. She runs the shop — one of the oldest African American bookstores in the country — that her father opened in West Philadelphia in 1959. Then, the hosts catch up with Will Toms and Dave Silver, two multi-talented Philadelphians making names for themselves and making space for Black creators. The pair, who made Forbes’ 2021 30 Under 30 list , founded studio/shop/production house/event space ...
Feb 25, 2021•26 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Season 2 of Love + Grit kicks off with love and positive energy. Hosts Laiya, Rachel and Justin welcome Tommy and Codie Elaine Oliver, the power couple behind Black Love Inc . After Philly native Tommy met Codie Elaine at a film festival, the two poured their passion for storytelling into a multimedia company and digital platform that’s worked with Viola Davis, Tia Mowry and other celebrities to tell dynamic stories of love that often go overlooked, including their Doula Dads series featuring St...
Feb 11, 2021•36 min•Season 2Ep. 1
On this episode of Love + Grit, meet two of the women drawing the world’s attention to Philadelphia. Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon is racking up accolades for her South Philly restaurant, Kalaya Thai Kitchen. Most recently: a 2020 James Beard Award nomination for Best New Restaurant and Esquire’s Best Restaurant in America. Nok talks to hosts Laiya, Rachel and Justin about what brought her to Philly, how business has changed during the pandemic and, of course, her delicious food. Next up, Delaware C...
Dec 17, 2020•23 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Harriett’s Bookshop has been open less than a year, but owner Jeannine A. Cook has already turned the space into a community hub elevating and celebrating Black women’s voices. Her independent Fishtown bookstore is thriving — even though it opened just as COVID-19 safety precautions closed some Philadelphia storefronts — thanks to Cook’s focus on activism and empowerment. She joins hosts Laiya, Justin and Rachel on this episode of Love + Grit, along with author Cheldin Barlatt Rumer, CEO and hos...
Dec 03, 2020•24 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Philly chefs have a way of weaving their experiences into their culinary creations so the result is irresistible, unforgettable food. In this episode of Love + Grit, hosts Laiya, Rachel and Justin welcome two talented people who’ve recently returned to the City of Brotherly Love with incredible stories and the food to match. Germantown native Chef Omar Tate worked his way up from Philadelphia hotel kitchens to private chef life and even the Smithsonian before returning to his hometown, where he’...
Nov 19, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Philly brings it on the big screen and on the stage, and the guests on this episode of Love + Grit work behind the scenes to make it all happen, proving that the heart and soul of a travel destination are the people we meet. Shawn Finnie’s journey is an incredible example of our city’s resilience and grit. His career path brought him from Philly to experiencing homelessness in New York City to Los Angeles, where he now works for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, ensuring that divers...
Nov 05, 2020•30 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Two Philadelphia powerhouses talk creativity and hospitality in this episode of Love + Grit. Hosts Laiya, Rachel and Justin welcome YOWIE founder Shannon Maldonado to discuss how her background working with top fashion brands led to the development of her popular storefront, creative brand and design studio. While Maldonado keeps Philly stylish, Jezabel Careaga keeps the city fed. The entrepreneur and cook runs the beloved Jezabel’s Cafe in West Philadelphia, where she serves up traditional food...
Oct 15, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Hospitality can change a neighborhood and nurture its culture. Just ask Valerie Safran and Marcie Turney, whose Safran Turney Hospitality has transformed 13th Street in Philly’s Gayborhood with top restaurants like Barbuzzo and beloved shops like Open House. After catching up with the power duo, hosts Laiya, Rachel and Justin chat with self-taught photographer Antoino Johnson, whose new book, You Next: Reflections in Black Barber Shops, captures the sacred spaces where Black male identity is fos...
Sep 29, 2020•23 min•Season 1Ep. 20
This episode of Love + Grit is all about delicious beverages of the fermented variety —no surprise, since Philly is a city that takes beer seriously. Jamaar Julal of Philly-headquartered JamBrü kicks things off as he breaks down the mystery of kombucha —that delicious, trendy, good-for-you fermented tea. And hosts Laiya, Justin and Rachel also welcome Love City Brewing owners Kevin and Melissa Walter to discuss innovation and activism in the beer community, which has a deep history in Philadelph...
Sep 15, 2020•24 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Kenny Gambleis a true Philadelphia treasure. The “Sound of Philadelphia” he created with his partner Leon Huff has put Philly on the music map. Almost 50 years and tons of gold and platinum albums later, Gamble continues his legacy by reinvesting in the South Philly community where he grew up. We'll hear how he has evolved his “Message in the Music” motto into a video podcast. Rob Wassrman proudly helms Rouge, Rittenhouse Square’s see-and-be-seen restaurant for more than 20years now, along with ...
Sep 01, 2020•24 min•Season 1Ep. 18
In this episode, our podcast hosts chat with two Philadelphians who are a cut above the rest: one cuts meat, the other cuts hair. Since she founded Primal Supply Meats in 2016, Heather Marold Thomason has continually taken the business to new heights. She started by providing meats to notable Philly chefs. Now she supports more than a dozen regional farmers and a family-owned slaughterhouse, and runs neighborhood butcher shops inSouth Philly and Brewerytown. People often ask, “Who’s the barber t...
Aug 18, 2020•25 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Our hosts chat with an actor (Nakia Dillard) and an MC (Chill Moody) this week. First up: Nakia Dillard, who takes his role of Philadelphia actor very seriously. Dillard developed his acting chops here in the City of Brotherly Love. And although he’s appeared in numerous productions (Black Lightning, The Wire)—at least 80 and counting—he has never left Philadelphia physically. Learn how and why he does it, and get the scoop on his favorite place to chill in Philly. Next up is arguably Philly’s h...
Aug 04, 2020•25 min•Season 1Ep. 16
In this episode, our hosts talk to two dope Philly ladies: one who feeds our bellies in all kinds of delicious ways and another who feeds our souls through the characters she plays. Philly foodies know Talula’s. There’s Talula’s Table in Kennett Square and Talula’s Garden and Talula’s Daily in Philadelphia’s Washington Square neighborhood. That’s all thanks to West Chester’s own Aimee Olexy, who brings the deliciousness to each one ofthese places. Next up: a conversation with a Lancaster-born, P...
Jul 21, 2020•33 min•Season 1Ep. 15
We talk to two of our favorite folks from the local sports scene: Tom McCarthy, voice of The Phillies, and Jazmine Smith, leading the charge to diversify field hockey and lacrosse. With baseball about to return, our hosts check in with the man who knows everything about the Phillies. Tom McCarthy speaks to us about life in and out of Citizens Bank Park. For the last 18 years, Jasmine Smith has been a force to get girls of color to play lacrosse and field hockey. She updates us on how her athlete...
Jul 07, 2020•39 min•Season 1Ep. 14
To get to the root of festival life, we called in the big bosses! This episode begins with Shawn Gee, who honed his management skills with legendary Roots manager Rich Nichols. Over the years, Gee has managed the Roots and Jill Scott and served as business manager for Drake, Nicki Minaj, Meek Mill, Lil Wayne and a slew of others. He's also the president of Live Nation Urban. Gee gives us the lowdown on this year’s virtual Roots Picnic, which he has produced in Philly for over a decade now. Also ...
Jun 23, 2020•32 min•Season 1Ep. 13
While the country is going through a cycle of change, Philadelphia offers some hope. Rachel, Laiya and Justin dive into a couple of remarkable Philadelphia stories for a special edition of Love + Grit. The mother of Black Music Month, media personality and strategist, Dyana Williams, has been a Philly tastemaker for over 40 years. She’s the person celebrities call when their mouths get them in trouble. She’s also the inspiration behind some of your favorite love songs and the reason Black Music ...
Jun 09, 2020•31 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Philadelphia native Angela Nissel, one of Hollywood’s most in-demand writers, gained popularity with her blockbuster memoir “The Broke Diaries: The Completely True and Hilarious Misadventures of a Good Girl Gone Broke” and as a producer and writer on hit television shows “Mixed-ish,” “Scrubs,” “The Boondocks” and more. She joins Laiya, Rachel and Justin to discuss her journey in entertainment. Then, NBC10’s Philly Live host Aunyea Lachelle tells us about her conversations with Philadelphia Phill...
May 26, 2020•36 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Nicole Marquis, owner of HipCityVeg, Charlie was a sinner and Bar Bombón, has always kept a dizzying pace at the office. This week, she gives listeners an insider's view of her life during the COVID-19 pandemic, which includes keeping her restaurants open for takeout and delivery and working to help the city’s restaurant industry recover. Then, NBC10Philly Live host Aunyea Lachelle joins to tell the stories of Dolaine Benjamin ‒ a licensed nail technician now making press-on nail kits for her cl...
May 19, 2020•31 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Rachel, Justin and Laiya talk to a 2020 James Beard Awards nominee and Top Chef winner: chef Nick Elmi (owner of Philadelphia’s Laurel, ITV and Royal Boucherie). In this episode, he shares his theories about the current bread-baking craze and his ingredient-foraging adventures with his son. Then, our hosts check in with DJ Diamond Kuts, the first female mixer on Philadelphia radio. The Philadelphia native, born Tina Dunham, has worked with former President Barack Obama, Nicki Minaj and Lil Uzi V...
May 12, 2020•20 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Laiya, Rachel and Justin talk to Philadelphia’s own Eugene “Man-Man” Roberts about being John Legend’s musical director, Instagram Live etiquette and Twitch, the leading live-streaming platform. Next, NBC10 Philly Live’s Auynea Lachelle introduces us to three West Chester University students thanking first responders and other heroes for their work during the COVID-19 crisis. And finally, our hosts speak with John Fazio, founder and CEO of Nerd Street Gamers, about how gaming provides important ...
May 05, 2020•35 min•Season 1Ep. 8
On this week’s Love + Grit, Rachel, Justin and Laiya spend time with James Beard Award nominee Eli Kulp, the chef behind Fork, High Street On Market and High Street Hospitality Group and host of The CHEF Radio Podcast. They talk with Kulp about how he reinvented his life following a 2015 Amtrak crash that left him paralyzed and his new podcast, which explores all aspects of the food and restaurant industry. Next, Aunyea Lachelle, host of NBC10’s Philly Live, shares black hair care tips from some...
Apr 28, 2020•23 min•Season 1Ep. 7
While spending time at home and talking about the region they love so much, the Love + Grit hosts kick off this episode by sharing their favorite regional craft breweries offering delivery before discussing vegetarian cuisine and the future of the restaurant industry with Vedge owners and James Beard Award honorees Rich Landau and Kate Jacoby. Then, Laiya, Rachel and Justin catch up with NBC10 Philly Live host Aunyea Lachelle, who shares the story of 11-year-old boxing twins Steven and Daniel Gr...
Apr 21, 2020•28 min•Season 1Ep. 6
In another episode that finds our hosts heeding Mayor Kenney’s advice to stay at home and keep each other safe, Laiya, Rachel and Justin talk to Charlie Mack about his unofficial roles as Philadelphia’s Big Brother and star-maker (Will Smith, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Bryshere Gray). Next, they have a conversation with Aunyea Lachelle, host of NBC10’s Philly Live, about the importance of fostering pets during this time – before providing an update on her postponed wedding plans. The episode wraps with tips...
Apr 14, 2020•28 min•Season 1Ep. 5
In this special episode of Love + Grit, designed to help all of us get through COVID-19, we embrace the importance of laughter, as we listen to our guests tell us about how they’re navigating through these uncertain times. First, Temple University and Cardinal Dougherty High School alum and Philadelphia comic TuRae Gordon talks to Rachel, Laiya and Justin about writing new material and really getting to really know his wife during this extended stay at home. Then, Aunyea Lachelle, host of NBC’s ...
Apr 07, 2020•29 min•Season 1Ep. 4
On this week’s episode of Love + Grit, our hosts begin to emphasize the people of Greater Philadelphia and their stories of positivity, ingenuity and compassion in response to the impact of COVID-19 on our region. First, Jennifer Carroll, Top Chef finalist, Philadelphia native and Spice Finch executive chef, joins the hosts to share easy make-at-home recipes, talk about how to best support restaurant employees ( Spice Finch Relief Fund ; Save Philly Restaurants petition ) and show off her bunnie...
Mar 31, 2020•20 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Note: Love + Grit is here to inform and bring the fun, but we want you to know that this episode was recorded before COVID-19. Going forward, we’ll focus on sharing stories of the region’s vibrancy and the fun we’ll have when Philly is Philly again. As always, we stand with you, and thank you for standing with us. P.S.: Wash your hands! There is light at the end of the tunnel! - LSC, RF & JP This week on Love + Grit, Laiya St. Clair, Rachel Ferguson and Justin Pizzi meet West Philadelphia-born D...
Mar 24, 2020•25 min•Season 1Ep. 2
