CitizenCast

First-term governor Josh Shapiro is rumored to be on the shortlist for VP candidate on a Kamala Harris ticket. Here's how he could help or hurt.

Governor Shapiro joined us at the Citizen's Ideas We Should Steal Festival and spoke about personal lessons in leadership. Joining him on the stage were LaSalle University basketball coach Fran Dunphy and the Citizen's Larry Platt. Here, part one of that inspiring conversation.

In this latest episode of How To Really Run A City, former Philly Mayor Michael Nutter and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed talk to education reformer and former Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza on what students really need … now. Once upon a time, Democrats were the party trusted with directing education in America. But, as Democrats for Education Reform Executive Director Jorge Elorza says, that ended in t...

On this episode of Citizen of the Week, every neighborhood should be as lucky to have a "non-leader" like Steve Stroiman, who serves Cresheim Valley Neighbors in Mount Airy. He is a shining example of how to bring a neighborhood together and how to get things done.

On this episode of #velshibannedbooks, MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi sits down with the authors of "And Tango Makes Three," to discuss why their children's book has been banned in 32 states. 

Philly is lagging behind peer cities in adjusting to work from home. Is now the time to invest in a broad economic revival plan?

What does the conservative Project 2025 call for when it comes to abortion and reproductive rights? MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi breaks it down.

In this episode of Ideas We Should Steal, Philly has a great candidate to replace our shuttered bus station with a transportation hub. We even have a model for how to make that happen.

A national retail expert and futurist visited Philadelphia's premier shopping district. This is what he learned

The Poet X is a National Book Award-winner about a tenth-grader growing up in Harlem. It was banned for not being Christian enough, and therefore, against the Constitution. "Wow," says MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi. He interviews Poet Laureate Elizabeth Acevedo on this episode of #velshibannedbooks. 

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.