CitizenCast

The appointment of John Fry, preeminent change maker, to lead Temple University has the potential to disrupt Philadelphia's status quo. Listen to find out how.

As hand wringing over the state of our democracy has become a national pastime, we here at How To Really Run A City decided to air a special edition of our podcast. We highlight moments from previous episodes which demonstrate that high-minded civic virtues like tolerance and pluralism and communitarianism don't only belong to the past. From Mayor Libby Schaaf's guide to public action – "Mayors be...

"...about the fundamental evil of people killing other people," Tim O'Brien, author of the banned book "The Things They Carried," said to MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi on #velshibannedbookclub. O'Brien's banning came from his realistic depictions of war (including the language soldiers use) which contrasts strongly with romantic fantasies of the nobility of soldiers some Americans...

Turning the University of the Arts' Center City buildings into an arts community would make the city a destination for practicing artists. Elaine Maimon lays out how this could be done.

Whether you believe President Biden should stay in the race or step aside, any Democratic candidate would be better than Donald Trump, explains MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi.

Vilas Dahr (Patrick J. McGovern Foundation), Beth Simone Noveck (Northeastern University) and Dalila Wilson Scott (Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation) come together at our Ideas We Should Steal Festival for a blunt talk about A.I. in the workplace and how companies can use this powerful new technology ethically.

Champions of workplace justice and sustainability argue it's high time for our state to raise the minimum wage -- something that hasn't been done in 15 years.

The recent collapse of several local nonprofit organizations like UArts, leaves us with questions about whether we're in a "nonprofit bubble" and whether that bubble is popping.

On this episode of Guest Commentary, the co-founder of PHILLY TRUCE expresses no surprise at the recent drop in gun violence. He attributes it to the work of concerned citizens and marvels at why there isn't more support from the city.

... when the public stops believing in its legitimacy, it will cease to legitimately function, argues MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi.

Is there a better way to address our racially-driven wealth gap? Larry spoke to one social entrepreneur who says yes. And has a plan.

In part two of our latest episode of  How to  Really  Run a City podcast, former Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed and former Philly mayor Michael Nutter hear more rhetorical gems from bestselling author and public intellectual Michael Eric Dyson ... who has some, uh, soulful theories about how to win elections and govern cities. Let's call it the Bobby Womack school of governance.

Elaine Maimon joins Dr. James Peterson, host of Evening WURDs, to discuss her recent Citizen article about the head-scratching closing of UArts.

On this episode of Guest Commentary, the director of Drexel's Wealth and Work Futures Lab explains why minimum wage hasn't budged in fifteen years and what needs to happen

... it did not go well. MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi breaks down the 1924 National Origins Act and explains the long-term damage that resulted.

In advance of the presidential debate, former mayor Michael Nutter shares some thoughts on the answers we really need to hear from the candidates

Where can the country look when federal courts begin to falter? We've been here before, explains MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi. It is no surprise that state courts held Donald Trump accountable and preserved rights that SCOTUS stripped away.

Two deep canvassers from "Changing the Conversation Together" joined Solomon Jones on "Wake Up with WURD" to discuss one of the most effective techniques for getting reluctant voters to the polls. 

University of the Arts' former CFO wants answers about the suddenly-closed school's $40 million funding gap

On this episode of #velshibannedbookclub, MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi brings Laurence Yep onto the show to talk about his banned book: Dragonwings. Critics have scoured Yep's book about Chinese immigrants for evidence of "anti-American sentiments." This is a dangerous practice.

Progressive members of City Council protested them. Jay-Z supported them. Mayor Parker tried to unite everyone. You have entered the frontlines of school choice.

What is behind the surprising levels of Black support for (now felon) Donald J. Trump? According to bestselling author, public intellectual and "hip hop" professor Michael Eric Dyson, it's the result of a slew of misconceptions, as well as folks not understanding how government actually works in our lives. "It's an indictment of our side," Dyson said.  On this episode, Dyson and our mayors have a...

On this episode of Citizen WURD, Dr. James Peterson, host of "Evening WURDs" speaks with Citizen writer Courtney DuChene about her Ideas We Should Steal article: "Free Childcare for Women's Health."

The legendary Reuben Harley meets up with Black Dragon's Kurt Evans, a chef after his own heart who supports the community through an inspiring fusion of Black and Chinese cuisine.

A longtime university president calls for an independent investigation into what happened at the 150-year-old University of the Arts / UArts