The Philadelphia Citizen

CitizenCast

News EN ↓ 1986 episodes

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.

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: thephiladelphiacitizen.org

Author

The Philadelphia Citizen

Category

News

Podcast website

thephiladelphiacitizen.org

Latest episode

Oct 21, 2026

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Episodes

Overheard at Fitler: On the political frontlines with Rep. Chrissy Houlahan 08.07.2025

What is your representative in Congress up to? One of Congress' most bipartisan problem-solvers is Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, who joins Citizen co-founder Larry Platt on the latest episode of Overheard at Fitler. The four-term Chester County incumbent gets into her iconoclastic background, her record of service, her efforts to resist autocracy while still getting stuff done, and just how the country c...

The zombie story that reveals our weaknesses 07.07.2025

"[World War Z] shows the cracks in our society and our government. It remains more relevant than ever," says Ali Velshi in this episode of Velshi Banned Books Club. Max Brooks' novel was first banned in China, and then in Florida and Wisconsin. Velshi invites Brooks onto the show to discuss why.

Mister Softee, please shut up 04.07.2025

A local resident has had it with the constant, torturous ice cream truck jingle in her neighborhood, not to mention the lack of food safety licenses. Hear her story for yourself.

The redemption of an American neo-Nazi 03.07.2025

On this episode of Guest Commentary, the former director of the local Anti-Defamation League talks about his experience meeting a neo-Nazi moving toward redemption. Here's why Tom Martinez, who died last month after years spent in hiding, mattered.

Sam Wood rules the world 02.07.2025

On this episode of Big Rube's Philly, Reuben Harley meets up at the gym with Sam Wood, CEO of the creative marketing agency, Inzpire. Hear why this body-building chief executive says, "You can do anything you want, as long as you don't let your mind get in the way."

Music that breaks the cycle of youth violence 01.07.2025

The second annual Philly Youth Music Fest is on July 15. It's  organized by youth, features youth bands and is geared towards a youth audience--all to provide mentorship and true connection. Visit this story for free tickets.

We thought SCOTUS would save us from authoritarianism ... 30.06.2025

... but not anymore. Ali Velshi breaks down the monumental ruling to undermine "nationwide injunctions" and explains why we now need to look elsewhere for checks and balances on presidents.

Hey Philly, how's Mayor Parker actually doing? 27.06.2025

Ahead of the 2023 mayoral election, we asked citizens to play the role of employer. Now we're once again inviting Mayor Parker to appear before you, her employers. Here's how you can participate.

Can AI make cities more effective? 26.06.2025

The AI revolution is upon us, and it will certainly have an impact on local governance. "Let's have an open conversation about its use," says this week's podcast guest, Rochelle Haynes, Managing Director of Bloomberg Philanthropies' What Works Cities initiative at Results for America.  "A lot of fears out there are about losing jobs," she continued. "But we need to show people that this is about m...

RFK Jr.'s conflicts of interest 25.06.2025

On this episode of Guest Commentary, we look at Trump's health secretary purging the CDC's vaccine advisory committee (including a renowned CHOP immunologist). He claimed they were in the pocket of the pharmaceutical industry. But who is really conflicted?

This is why science matters 24.06.2025

On this episode of Guest Commentary, a Philly-born scientist explains what is actually at stake for the town she loves

Cancer research or tax breaks for the top .001%? 23.06.2025

The US makes up 80% of the entire world's biomedical research. Donald Trump's slashing of NIH funding is setting the country on track for a "lost generation of scientists." The amount of money being taken from cancer research alone, is 18x smaller than the proposed tax breaks for the top .001% in Trump's budget bill. Ali Velshi explains. 

Why Philly should care about the NYC mayor's race 20.06.2025

The winds of Philadelphia politics often follow those of the Big Apple. Will the showdown between the old pol Cuomo and the socialist Mamdani foreshadow change here?

Juneteenth for all? 19.06.2025

Almost no Black people on No Kings Day. Almost no White people on Juneteenth. Citizen writer Malcolm Burnley asks, can we show up together before it's too late?

Call your senators, Philly, we need SNAP 18.06.2025

On this episode of Guest Commentary, we hear from the president of The Community Grocer, who says the fed's proposed $300 billion SNAP rollback would hurt hungry Pennsylvanians and erase $5.3 billion in economic benefit

The opposite of the Philly Shrug 17.06.2025

Crime and poverty have plagued Philadelphia since William Penn's day. Philly gun violence interrupter Mazzie Casher has historic yet modern solutions. He visits with Citizen writer Malcolm Burnley to discuss some of them.

Being accused of murder for having a miscarriage 16.06.2025

A South Carolina woman is held in jail without bond for 22 days following a natural miscarriage. It took 13 months for her to finally be cleared by a jury. Ali Velshi breaks down why this moment is "the most dangerous chapter of the post-Roe era."

Was this mayoral misdiagnosis? 13.06.2025

Cherelle Parker's budget boiled down to jobs versus housing. Did she and City Council make the right bet?

An amazing experiment in school safety 12.06.2025

Philadelphia's first "school street" pilot closed its dropoff and pickup street to vehicular traffic. It was as great as you might imagine. Diana Lind tells us why.

The only African-American street festival left in Philly 11.06.2025

On a special interview edition of Big Rube's Philly, Reuben Harley visits with the iconic Bumi Fernandez-West about the event that has started summer in the city for the last fifty years: Odunde.

A former dean of Temple's law school on the flood of executive orders coming from D.C. 10.06.2025

Legendary law professor, Temple dean and First Deputy City Solicitor Carl Singley joins James Peterson for a special CitizenWURD episode about the enormous amount of executive orders coming from Donald Trump.

What is happening in L.A. right now? 09.06.2025

Ali Velshi breaks down the escalating situation in Los Angeles and details the dangers of federalizing a state's National Guard.

About that missing $700k ... 06.06.2025

For the second time in three years, the School District of Philadelphia was defrauded out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. What's really going on?

The next green tech hub in America 05.06.2025

While Washington implodes and other cities resist, Riverside, CA Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson is moving ahead with an ambitious tech agenda — and battling youth homelessness in her city. "I feel positive about the direction California is taking," says Riverside, CA Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson, our guest this week on How To Really Run A City. In the wake of reduced support from Washington, D.C., she o...

The Philly guitarist behind the blues in Sinners 04.06.2025

Grammy award-winning Philadelphia guitarist Randy Bowland shaped Hollywood's next breakout star in his iconic Sinners role

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