City Cast Philly

It’s the Friday News Roundup. This week, we’re talking about the city agreeing to pay $3 million to the family of Thomas “TJ” Siderio, the 12-year-old boy fatally shot in the back by a Philly cop, why artists canceled their performances at World Cafe Live and several Center City bars pull out of SIPS. Plus, after two years, there still isn’t a Greyhound bus station. Host Trenae Nuri, producer Abby...

We head over to Sharswood—just off Ridge Avenue and Master Street—to explore a new affordable housing development prioritizing its youngest neighbors. Play is no longer limited to parks and playgrounds. That’s because of a collaboration between community members and the Playful Learning Landscapes Action Network to design interactive spaces that are opportunities for learning. Host Trenae Nuri joi...

In our weekly politics episode, we discuss how with major funding sources like the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities facing cuts, many cultural organizations around the region are feeling the strain. City Council recently approved $5 million for the Philadelphia Cultural Fund in the 2026 fiscal year budget – a big win for the arts and cultural sector. In Harrisburg, Pennsylvania state...

Summer in Philly brings some of the best weekly deals on your favorite cocktails. SIPS in Center City is a popular Wednesday happy hour. There's also Passyunk Passegiata on Thursdays in East Passyunk, and Fishtown Taps offers drink discounts on Tuesdays. But you don’t have to drink alcohol to have fun. We’re bringing back this conversation with Nikki Graziano, Bar Palmina's owner and bartender, ab...

Philly loves its dogs, but there’s a plan to make some parks, playgrounds and rec centers  “animal-free zones.” City Council passed a bill that would fine owners $2,000 if their dog is in a public park – whether on a leash or not. Host Trenae Nuri, who isn’t a dog owner, speaks with Johnny Goodtimes, a Philly dog owner and City Cast Philly contributor, about city canines, dog parks, and whether po...

City Cast hosts are on the pulse of what’s happening in our communities. So Trenae Nuri and all 12 other hosts sat down with City Cast CEO David Plotz to talk about creative local problem solving that might work in your hometown too and to commiserate about stressors affecting most of our cities, from unaffordable housing to bike lanes. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 20th episode: Babb...

In our weekly politics episode, we’re talking about the near unanimous passing of the $6.8 billion city budget that includes eliminating a tax break for small businesses and green-lighting new housing initiatives. Host Trenae Nuri and City Cast Philly political contributor Lauren Vidas break down the winners and losers in this budget and the political relationships that Mayor Cherelle Parker is na...

When you think of ice cream innovation, 19th-century Philadelphians might not come to mind—but they should. We listen back to the sweet and surprising history of Philadelphia-style ice cream with host Trenae Nuri and food historian Sarah Lohman, who is host of City Cast Las Vegas. They dig into how women and Black culinary professionals revolutionized the ice cream-making process—and why their con...

SEPTA  is in trouble. The transit agency faces a $213 million budget deficit, and without an infusion of funds from the state in the next two weeks, service will be cut by 45% and fares will increase more than 20%. Host Trenae Nuri and executive producer Matt Katz break down what’s at stake for our region if SEPTA has massive cuts, what lawmakers are saying, and what you can do right now to make y...

It's the Friday news roundup! We’re talking about the $6.8 billion city budget approved by Council, the anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ rally this weekend, a new poll taking the pulse of Philly, and a slumlord’s vacant West Philly apartment building that was deliberately set on fire. Host Trenae Nuri and executive producer Matt Katz dig into all this (and into our weekend plans, of course). Our Friday news...

Happy Father’s Day, Philadelphia! On today’s show we have a roundtable with three Philly dads talking about fatherhood in 2025 and how to be a great dad in Philadelphia. City Cast Philly Executive Producer Matt Katz, father of two and creator of the Inconceivable Truth podcast, is joined by Joel Austin, father of seven and founder of Daddy University, and Joe Gidjunis, father of one and host of Gr...

City council will vote tomorrow on Mayor Cherelle Parker’s plan to borrow $800 million to create and preserve housing in Philly. This is one of her biggest priorities for the city. Host Trenae Nuri and executive producer Matt Katz break down a conversation with Jon Geeting, the engagement director at the political action committee Philadelphia 3.0, about the challenges of maintaining and building...

The City Cast Philly team spent a day at the Art Star Craft Bazaar at the Cherry Street Pier on Mother’s Day weekend talking to Philadelphians about Philly.  We asked what you love about Philly – and what you don’t. In today’s show we’re sharing some of the smart, funny, and real feelings you all have about this city. Philly, you are raw and beautiful and eloquent and thought-provoking and good! G...

Philadelphia Rugby Football Club has been hitting the pitch since the 1970s, making it one of the oldest teams in the country. It is now championing the push to make rugby a welcoming space for all. When producer Abby Fritz isn’t helping make City Cast Philly, she plays for PRFC. She sat down with teammates May Shuter, Rachel Miller, and Linnae Allen to discuss how current federal policies targeti...

It's the Friday news roundup! We’re talking about SEPTA buses on fire in the Nicetown-Tioga neighborhood, more details on the transit agency’s funding troubles, and Center City residents who filed a bike lane lawsuit. Host Trenae Nuri and executive producer Matt Katz dig into all this (and our weekend plans).  Our Friday news roundups are powered by great local journalism:  Josh Shapiro and top De...

We’re chatting about how we shop in (and maybe out of) the city for the best deals on groceries. Some on the City Cast Philly team are bargain hunters and others just love niche markets and farm-to-table products. Host Trenae Nuri is joined by executive producer Matt Katz, producer Abby Fritz and Hey Philly newsletter editor Siani Colon to let you in on grocery shopping hacks – like where to find...

This week’s politics episode takes you into the Pen & Pencil Club, Philadelphia’s press club since 1892. Host Trenae Nuri is joined by NBC10’s Lauren Mayk, KYW Newsradio’s Pat Loeb, The Inquirer’s Ellie Rushing, and Cherri Gregg, co-host of WHYY’s Studio 2. They break down last month's primary election for district attorney, what incumbent Larry Krasner’s landslide win in the Democratic primary me...

June marks the start of wedding season, and what better place to kick things off than at McGillin’s Olde Ale House — Philly’s oldest bar and maybe the best place to find love. Tucked down an alleyway in Center City, this historic pub has been the backdrop for countless love stories – 200 couples and counting. We’re revisiting a conversation our host, Trenae Nuri, had with Chris Mullins Jr., the ow...

On Sunday, June 8, hundreds of thousands are expected to gather for the milestone celebration of the Odunde Festival. It turns 50 this year – a testament to the years of work from its founder, the late Lois Fernandez. Now, Oshunbumi Fernandez-West spearheads the festival. She tells host Trenae Nuri about how a simple idea morphed into the largest African American street festival in the continent,...

It's the Friday news roundup! This week host Trenae Nuri and executive producer Matt Katz are discussing the gun laws, or lack thereof, that may have been a factor in the Memorial Day shooting in Fairmount Park. They also cover a new workers’ rights bill signed by Mayor Cherelle Parker and the possible SEPTA funding cuts that could make your commute longer. Plus, a Pride event at the Philadelphia...

It's summer in the city of Brotherly Love, and if you’re like us, you’re looking to get out and enjoy the warm weather before the heat really sets in. So we’ve got the best tips for enjoying June in and around Philly, from where to meet The Famous River Hot Dog Man to which street festivals and movies-under-the-stars to check out. For even more tips on how to make the most of June in Philly, check...

There’s no other elected official in Philly getting more scrutiny right now than Sheriff Rochelle Bilal. Some even want her office abolished. Just this week, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s editorial board called for her fellow elected Democrats to take her to task for a range of alleged mismanagement, corruption, and security problems uncovered by reporters. So on today’s show host Trenae Nuri goes d...

A year ago this week, the University of the Arts in Center City announced that it was suddenly closing its doors, forever, due to financial problems. The decision shocked its students, faculty, and the city at large. But there was one bright spot: The UArts dance program was saved by a tiny college in Vermont. And now we’re told that the dance program is expected to return to Philadelphia from its...

It’s the Friday News Round Up. Host Trenae Nuri and executive producer Matt Katz are talking about Larry Krasner’s landslide win in the Democratic primary for District Attorney. Plus, Mark Dial, former Philly police officer, was convicted of manslaughter for the killing of Eddie Irizarry, a man he pulled over and shot in 2023. And the Tush Push survives a vote to ban it.  Our Friday news roundups...

City Cast Philly contributor O.J. Spivey joins host Trenae Nuri to talk about his recent column in The Philadelphia Tribune about how sports radio call-in shows in Philly – a powerful and important medium in this town – don’t have any full-time hosts who are Black and not former professional athletes. How does this affect our understanding of sports in this very sports oriented town?  Get Philly n...