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.
CNN's Michael Smerconish moderated a panel at the Promise of Democracy 250th Summit recently. It focused on how the country can overcome the widening divisions shaping American public life, and the cultural and community tensions that have resulted.
We consider our animals to be part of the family. Then why, asks a former pet insurance professional, don't we plan ahead for their medical care?
One restaurant in Kensington is participating in the Pay-What-You-Can movement that lets customers decide how much they want to pay for their meal. It's a no-judgment way of making finer dining accessible to anyone.
Donald Trump keeps telling Americans we're in a "golden age" of economic prosperity. Ali Velshi breaks down the reality.
The highly contagious disease is sweeping the United States. Philly currently has zero confirmed cases — a stark difference from the city's major outbreak 30 years ago. Are we more prepared this time around?
A long-time university president calls for a constitutional convention on higher education in the city known for revolutions. Penn, et al, are you listening?
Thirty percent of all breast cancer patients experience a potentially deadly recurrence. Scientists at Penn are finding ways to prevent dormant cells from waking up.
This time, we take a lightning look at takeaways from Governor Shapiro's FY27 budget
In this episode of Guest Commentary, a local political activist has an idea we should steal to bring power back to the people
Take in the most notable changes to Mayor Parker's FY27 budget in this lightning episode.
In court documents, the Trump administration admitted to terminating federal clean energy grants "to states that awarded electoral votes to Kamala Harris in the 2024 election." Ali Velshi weighs in.
"The problems we have as a country don't go away because the federal government leaves the stage," says Mary Ellen Wiederwohl, CEO of Accelerator for America, on the latest episode of How To Really Run A City. "All this stuff lands on the front steps of City Hall." And then what? That's what hosts Kasim Reed (former mayor of Atlanta) and Michael Nutter (former mayor of Philadelphia), along with Citizen Co-founder Larry Platt, explore with Brown University Professor Marc Dunkelman, author of the new book, Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress — and How to Bring It Back. "We need to rethink the balance between our impulse to empower central authority and the attempts to ensure that power doesn't do damage," says Dunkelman. Dunkelman highlights the push and pull of centralized power in U.S. politics, tracing a line from the Progressive Era of the late 19th century to the destructive anger of modern MAGAism. Reed weighed in with his experience. "Fair is harder," he says. "I believe in action-oriented leadership. Move faster. Be decisive. Be more inclusive, yes, but by god, do something." Join us for an unvarnished discussion about why trust in both politics and infrastructure continues to be broken in this country, along with steps we can take to actually make things work. As Dunkelman says, "There's a fantasy that if you just get everyone around a table, they will eventually come to an agreement. The truth is, we need deciders. That's why we have elections." As cities go, so goes the nation!
Research shows Americans are spending less time with the folks next door than just a decade ago. Roxanne Patel Shepelavy joined the hosts of WHYY's Studio Two to discuss ways we can turn this trend around.
What the LeBron James' era says about a city finally learning to believe in itself
On this episode of Big Rube's Philly, the city's favorite entrepreneur, brand marketer, chef and photographer caught up with fashion and artistic icon Bariq Cobbs who's dressed the Fresh Prince, TLC and LeBron James. Cobbs collabed with Nike and Nordstrom and toured the world exhibiting his paintings.
Donald Trump's ICE crackdown is increasingly violent, provoking widespread backlash after two traffic stop killings in one month. This is how a president with a private police force and "acting with total impunity" behaves.
The City's former Litter Czar bemoans a missed opportunity for real environmental and sanitation changes in Philly. Here's how we can do better.
Police can legally question citizens without reasonable suspicion or probable cause in what are called "mere encounters." Do citizens know they're free to just walk away? If you've experienced a mere encounter with Philadelphia police, CPOC would like to hear about it. You can access a survey here.
On this episode of Guest Commentary, one former Philadelphia Mayor pulled a few political and life lessons from the NBA Finals
On this episode of Citizen Recommends, we all know Philadelphia is the mural capital of the world, but did you know we're also a Playful Learning capital?
Sandra Shachar Scotch-taped a sign to the area surrounding the President's House, where the Trump administration controversially replaced a slavery exhibit. She's been threatened with arrest if she does it again.
On a very special episode of How To Really Run A City, our hosts soak up the wisdom of renowned 92-year-old former California Speaker of the House and San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, a player still at the top of his political game. From jelly bean power plays in front of Ronald Reagan to pressure campaigns to free Nelson Mandela to candid thoughts on how to navigate the Trumpian circus in Washington, D.C., Brown is a well of bipartisan optimism and moral clarity. "I was the guy," Brown told former Atlanta mayor and mentee Kasim Reed, "who could tell you what your bill would do if enacted. And I would support it because it was the right thing to do. And in government, you must always do what is right." "You've laid out so many different examples of doing the right thing," said former Philly Mayor Michael Nutter. "We seem to be somewhat, nationally, dysfunctional these days." "But when you think about Willie Brown," said Citizen Co-Founder Larry Platt, "you think of a happy warrior … someone who fights with a smile on their face. That's what people want." "There's no question, that is my approach," Brown said with a smile. "And besides that, I like to party. No matter where I am, if a party can happen, I'm a participant in that effort." Join us for one of the most memorable and smile-inducing episodes of the podcast, a true masterclass in the art of politics. As cities go, so goes the nation!
On this episode of Ideas We Should Steal, a partnership of organizations has made Baltimore Harbor swimmable again. Could Philly do the same with the Delaware and the Schuylkill?
"Big Rube" Reuben Harley grabbed a microphone and headed to Dough Heads Pizza on iconic 9th Street. He chatted with owners Joe Betzala and Justin Camardo about their genre-busting flavors and what its like to operate a modern classic pizza shop in the heart of cheesesteak land.
What's worse than getting your fender blown off by a distracted driver? Trying to get your car back from the company that towed it. (And, a NE Philly Senator has just pulled off a solution)
Remembering the life and activism of the artist Danny Simmons Jr. He was an advocate for creatives across Philadelphia and a voice for the underrepresented.
Across nearly half a million service requests, residents in lower-income ZIP codes wait roughly twice as long for routine 311 service. The pattern is too clear to be an accident. Find the full 311 Research Series here.
On this episode of Guest Commentary, a Southwest Philadelphia educator offers a most patriotic defense of birthright citizenship
Malcolm Burnley joined WURD host James Peterson to talk about the research and interviews that went into his recent article about why Rochelle Bilal enjoys such high levels of support in the city despite missing firearms, a no-bid contract and a slate of stalled reforms.
Former Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham devolved his city to greatness, and would like to do the same for the whole U.K. Should Philly defy other U.S. cities to do the same?
Because Donald Trump was never held responsible for his attempts to illegally overturn the 2020 elections, his administration has been preparing for another attempt -- this time to alter the upcoming midterms. Is this a traitorous act against American democracy? Ali Velshi takes on the question.
Thomas Paine. He came. He wrote. And the world was changed forever.
Celebrating the founding of our country when it feels like everything is falling apart? Really hard. Celebrating the Philadelphia that's been hosting the World Cup? Easy!
On this episode of Guest Commentary, one Columbia University vice president argues that to properly celebrate the 250th, we must be like Hungary and do our duty on November 3 in order to save a democracy on the brink.
In a special interview edition, Olivia Kram checks in with Media's own Auston Trusty, Team USA's newest World Cup superstar, on bringing his Philly-ness to the world stage.
Ali Velshi breaks down the attempts by the Trump administration to undermine the upcoming midterm elections, and the forces within our democracy that have blocked their subversions. So far.
The re-opening of a new rail bridge in Southwest Philadelphia will connect one of the city's poorest neighborhoods to jobs and green space downtown. Will local residents be the ones who benefit?
A year from reelection, the mayor has taken big swings, sustained political losses, and faces progressive backlash. Here, a job performance review — and a challenge.
... including cities. One urbanist believes the recent successes of FIFA Fan Fests, the NBA Finals, even Toy Story 5 prove synchronous watching is the new placemaking.
Reporting from The Trace revealed first-responder relatives whose health insurance and benefits were cut when their family member died by suicide. A new City Council bill aims to remedy this. Mayor Parker's administration opposes the cost.
Lesbian bars are on the decline, but the fact that two have popped up in this South Street's micro-hood is not only bold, but feels like a phoenix rising from the ashes.
Dr. James Peterson says the miracle of Black life — despite centuries of alienation from our American experiment — is our insistence on finding kinship with each other. That is what we celebrate this weekend.
A recent report by Harvard University's Opportunity Insights revealed a sorry statistic for Philadelphia: We are last in the nation for economic mobility. In other words, we have a lot to learn from other American cities. On this special episode of How To Really Run A City, Citizen Co-Founder Larry Platt and former Philly Mayor Michael Nutter and former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed pull out their favorite moments from the last year of the podcast that take on just this issue. From housing availability in Detroit to help for small business owners in Scranton, PA to 15-minute cities and unexpected employment programs in Cleveland, the mayors and changemakers from this episode are demonstrating how cities can unlock their immense power, and how city leaders can become facilitators while spreading goodwill along the way. As cities go, so goes the nation!
On this episode of Evening WURDs with Dr. James Peterson, Emily Rizzo is invited onto the Citizen segment of the show to discuss her Citizen article about South Philly's Sharswood K-8 that saw a dramatic rise in reading scores
On this episode of Big Rube's Philly, Reuben Harley catches up with friend Jamele Ransom, who became a viral sensation for saving kids and eating Mr. Softees.
As Ali Velshi moves on to The 11th Hour, he looks back at the last six years of American book bans and has some final thoughts.
What does Pat Croce--Zen guru, Philly cheerleader, rabid pirate enthusiast and former Sixers owner--do when diagnosed with terminal cancer? Climb the world's most famous mountain in order to conquer his mind and spirit.
A Northern Liberties-based refillery and a city-wide door-to-door composting service are teaming up to bring Philly one step close to sustainability
On this episode of Guest Commentary, an advocate for people with disabilities sees Pennsylvanians losing their independence because of PA's gaunt reimbursement rates
This year we heralded city workers in fields ranging from sanitation to violence prevention. Hundreds of attendees left the night's celebration feeling inspired and empowered to uplift our beloved Philadelphia. Hear it for yourself. You can read up on all these award-winning public servants here.
Ali Velshi is taking over The 11th Hour on MS Now. After six years on Velshi, he gives a final word on the vitally important role of journalists bearing witness to the people.
© 2020-2026 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
