WURD Radio

Christin Kinman works with Allegion Services Group, a global security products and solutions provider with a portfolio of brands serving homes, businesses, schools and institutions. Christin helps schools, parishes, and community organizations turn safety concerns into practical solutions. Christin is one of the organizers for the Education to Action School Security Summit. Presented by Allegion,...

Jeff Coby is a former professional basketball player who is the publisher of the book, “The Cure”, a book that offers a family-supported exploration of the life and teachings of Dr. Sebi. Born Alfredo Bowman, was a Honduran herbalist and self-taught practitioner who promoted a plant-based, alkaline-focused approach to health. Saama Bowman is the daughter of Dr. Sebi, who passed away in 2016. The C...

Can You Trust That Website? - Life & Tech w/ Tech Life Steph - 9.27.26 by WURD Radio

Ernest Thoughts | On The Record s2 - 9.27.26 by WURD Radio

Flora Cardoni is the Deputy Director of PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center, about new research on energy efficiency standards in Pennsylvania. She discussed how more efficient appliances and equipment could reduce electricity, gas and water use, lower utility bills, cut pollution and potentially provide savings for households and businesses across Philadelphia.

Alisa Shargorodsky is the Director of ECHO Systems. She joins the show to talk about Philadelphia’s growing conversation around single-use plastics, recycling, and reusable packaging. She discussed a September 29 demonstration outside Starbucks, concerns raised about plastic cups marketed as “widely recyclable,” and what reducing waste could look like for Philadelphia residents, businesses, and wo...

The Rev. Alisa Lasater Wailoo serves as the senior pastor at the First United Methodist Church of Germantown (FUMCOG) in Philadelphia and Sen. Art Haywood, who represents the fourth senatorial district. They join the show to talk about Lawmakers and Faith Leaders, who demand ICE accountability outside of the Philadelphia field office

US Senator Cory Booker joins the show. He talks to us about the state of America, the fallout from the Iran war, and what needs to be done next as we move towards the midterm elections.

Councilman Ronald DeAbreu serves as a Councilman in Lawnside, NJ. He joined Dr. Peterson to discuss the Lawnside Fire Department Centennial Celebration happening September 26 - 27 in Lawnside, NJ.

Evening WURDs launching a new segment called Joyful Reading partnered with Book Trust, which explores what it takes to nurture joyful, motivated readers. For this first segment of Joyful Reading, Evening WURDs host Dr. James Peterson is joined by Alli Lee and Alicia Mole. Alli Lee is the Vice President of Programming at Book Trust, who leads national work to put joyful reading at the center of Pre...

Chantay Love is the Co-Founder and President of EMIR Healing Center, where their dedicated team upholds the mission to provide services and support to family members and friends who have been affected by homicide because Every Murder Is Real! She joined Dr. Peterson to discuss EMIR’s Philadelphia Day Of Hope Saturday, September 26, which will be a space for healing, remembrance, joy, connection an...

Deborah Roberts joins the show. She is an award-winning American television journalist and author, best known as a senior national affairs correspondent for ABC News and co-anchor of 20/20. Deborah talks to us about the 49th season of 20/20, as well as her views on President Trumps media ban

Linn Washington Jr., is a Professor of Journalism at Temple, where he is a co-founder of the award-winning Multimedia Urban Reporting Lab. In addition to his Temple degrees, Washington holds a law degree from Yale University. He joins us to talk about The Nolan Wells case. Another grand jury finds no cause to indict anyone in a suspicious Black death. What does history tell us about cases like thi...

Dr. Brandon Frame is professor of Social Emotional Learning at Sacred Heart University; and Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of TheBlackManCan. TheBlackManCan is an award-winning nonprofit organization and digital media platform dedicated to celebrating, educating, and inspiring Black boys and men; and has impacted over 15,000 black men and boys through their programs and events. He joined Dr....

Raina León is the 2026 - 2028 Philadelphia Poet Laureate, writer, teacher educator, community-rooted artist and Black and Afro-Boricua born and raised in Southwest Philadelphia on Lenni Lenape ancestral lands. She joined Dr. Peterson to discuss her work as the 2026 - 2028 Philadelphia Poet Laureate.

Dr. LaToya Parker is the Senior Researcher at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, and co-author of the new policy brief series, “The Tax Codes and Black Wealth”. She joined Dr. Peterson to discuss tax policy and the racial wealth gap, the next tax debate, and the policy series, “The Tax Codes and Black Wealth”.

Chantel “POPChanny” Reid Peterson is a multi-hyphenate creative, journalist, and culture storyteller hailing from Pittsburgh, PA. With a decade+ long career spanning journalism, digital strategy, content curation, and creative direction, she’s created content for millions and helped grow culturally focused brands and communities. She is the founder and creative force behind The Black Art Expo, Bla...

Earl Hopkins & Dr. Jeremy McCool are the authors of Raps of Resistance: How Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole Reignited a Hip-Hop Tradition. This book explores the history of conscious rap and how Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole revived the subgenre. McCool and Hopkins argue that Kendrick Lamar (from Compton) and J. Cole (from North Carolina) kept the revolutionary spirit of hip-hop alive by turning deep soci...

Dr. Darrin Anderson is the president and CEO of The Urban League of Greater Philadelphia, an organization that empowers Black Americans and other historically underserved communities to achieve social equity, economic independence, civic power, and full civil rights. Dr. Anderson joins the show to talk about how the Urban League is assisting young men and women entering the workforce.

Tafari Robertson is a Philadelphia-based multidisciplinary artist, cultural producer, and speculative historian with expertise in event programming, graphic design, and multimedia. His work investigates the dynamics of Black cultural production and sovereignty through a Pan-Africanist lens. Robertson’s work is found through site specific media installations and community engagements. Will Michael...

Nafees Norris is the first Black student accepted into Thomas Jefferson University’s Biopharmaceutical Process Engineering Master’s Program, former cell culture scientist, and the founder of Nafees Innovations. Nafees Innovations is an education nonprofit that was founded in 2024 and has since partnered with schools and organizations like University City Science Center, B+ Labs to offer more than...

E. Bernard Alexander is the author of Rise Above Anything, and serves as Program Coordinator with Black Men Heal and host of Kings Corner. Ihsan Hines is the Founder and President of My Brother's Keeper Cares, motivational speaker and performing artist. They joined Dr. Peterson to discuss September being Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and the collaborative live podcast supporting event with A...

Kirk Whalum is a Saxophonist, and Grammy Award winner. Gerald Veasley is a West Philadelphia born and raised bass guitarist and U.S. Billboard top contemporary jazz album artist. They joined Dr. Peterson to discuss the life and legacy of John Coltrane, who turns 100 on September 23rd, and their “Jazz Under the Stars” event in celebration of Coltrane 100.

Dr. Melissa Nelson is the Assistant Professor of Practice in the School of Education at the University of Pittsburgh. Her professional work focuses on Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM), suicide prevention and postvention, and school-based behavioral health systems. She joined Dr. Peterson for this week's Tuesday Teach-in segment to discuss National Suicide Prevention Month.

Laura Dunn is a Highway Safety Specialist for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Laura is an accomplished state and federal program manager with extensive work in program development, management, and implementation, with over 15 years of experience. Laura joins the show to talk about some of the mistakes parents make in regard to putting their children in car seats.