City Cast Philly

Content warning: this episode has descriptions of gun violence. This is our weekly Wednesday politics episode. City Council is in the middle of hearings over the mayor’s proposed budget, and Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, who represents the 3rd District, says there’s a lot of things she’s excited about. Host Trenae Nuri sat down with her in her City Hall office to discuss why she’s excited about th...

The spring rain is turning Philly's outdoor spaces green! So we're revisiting an episode from last year that was recorded in West Philadelphia at the Woodlands, which is one of the oldest gardens in the country. Host Trenae Nuri sat down with Nicole Juday, author of Private Gardens of Philadelphia, to talk about Philly's many gardens, what makes this city a vibrant horticultural hotspot, and the p...

The Philadelphia Parking Authority has two new initiatives that could get you a ticket: Parking in loading zones beyond three minutes will cost money, and the law against stopping in bus lanes will be policed by cameras mounted on buses. Some Philadelphians are thrilled by this – they say the initiatives will keep traffic moving and people safe. Everyone else? Well they complained. To us. We sort...

It's the Friday News Roundup! The team is breaking down the latest on the pending city budget, including why the police department says they need more officers. Meanwhile, Trump Administration policies mean layoffs and higher coffee prices. And: Are the Sixers bad enough to get a first round pick in the draft? Host Trenae Nuri is joined by executive producer Matt Katz to chat about all that and mo...

It was 108 years ago this week when the United States declared war on Germany for what became World War I. Thousands of Philadelphians ultimately lost their lives. So for the last decade, researcher Chris Gibbons has worked to identify the dead in one hard-hit community – the alumni of storied Roman Catholic High School. Host Trenae Nuri talks with Gibbons about these young men who fought and died...

This is our weekly Wednesday politics episode. Councilmember Cindy Bass represents the 8th District. For nearly a decade she’s been fighting nuisance businesses that cause disturbances, sell illegal products like loosies, create noise, and generally flout the law. Bass and many of her constituents are fed up. So host Trenae Nuri sat down with her in her City Hall office to discuss how she’s workin...

We know money is tight these days! If you’re dating or trying to keep the romance in your love life going, this episode will guide you through some super cheap Philly date ideas – all under $25. Host Trenae Nuri is joined by Abby Fritz, City Cast Philly producer, to talk about ways to impress your date for a low price.   Find more ways to save with a SEPTA Key or an EBT Card. Get Philly news & eve...

Bread is the essential element of Philly hoagies, cheesesteaks, and breakfast sandwiches. But what goes into baking and selling it daily? Host Trenae Nuri sits down with Chris DiPiazza, owner of Mighty Bread Company, a 2023 James Beard Awards semifinalist, to talk about his two careers, new products he’s rolling out, and Philly’s booming bread scene.  Get Philly news & events in your inbox with ou...

It's the Friday News Roundup! The team is talking about a historic drop in crime, with the lowest murder rate in almost 60 years. And the Sheriff’s office is back in the news – this time for its connection to a four-car crash that was kept under the radar for months. Host Trenae Nuri also shares some good news with executive producer Matt Katz and Hey Philly newsletter editor Siani Colon – there’s...

Opera Philadelphia announces on our show its new season that seeks to broaden the genre of opera. Host Trenae Nuri talks with Anthony Roth Costanzo, general director and president of Opera Philadelphia, about the new shows and the extraordinary success of its Pick Your Price ticketing model – or what many now know as the $11 (!) opera tickets.  Learn more about this season’s programming here.  Fin...

This is our weekly Wednesday politics episode. John Fetterman was elected to the U.S. Senate as a darling of Pennsylvania’s progressive Democrats. But recently, those politics have appeared to shift: Fetterman was the first Senate Democrat to visit Donald Trump after the November election. He has voted to confirm 10 of Trump’s nominees – including Attorney General Pam Bondi, who challenged the 202...

There is absolutely nothing to do in Philly this month…April Fools! The weather is heating up, and so are our calendars. The team is taking you to some live music events for national jazz month. Also we’re getting outside with four food festivals. But this month isn’t just all fun and games – don’t forget to file your taxes before April 15th. And check out these local free tax resources for some h...

The Eagles got their championship. Is it now the Phillies’ turn? Trenae catches up with City Cast Philly contributors O.J. Spivey, sports columnist at The Philadelphia Tribune, and Johnny Goodtimes, owner of Shibe Sports to talk about what to expect for the Phillies this season and how best to experience a game at Citizens Bank Park, which opens for baseball today.  What will the Phillies’ record...

It’s the Friday News Roundup. Today we’re digging into Mayor Cherelle Parker’s budget proposal – including her plans to eliminate free rides for low-income Philadelphians, build thousands of housing units, and cut a tax on businesses. We also wonder why the Portal art installation keeps getting vandalized and where it should be moved to keep it safer. And we talk about two Philebrities – Will Smit...

Do you ever wonder if grandma was right about drinking cranberry juice to combat a UTI? And how do you find credible health sources as federal agencies take down their online resources? For Women’s History Month, Trenae Nuri sat down with two Philly doctors – twin sisters and podcasters – who aim to bring reliable medical information to the public. Dr. Delana Wardlaw is a family medicine physician...

It’s our weekly politics episode. Did you know your car can be towed in Philly, even if it’s parked legally? “Courtesy towing” is a longtime – and uniquely Philly – practice where a car is moved without notice to an unknown location in order to accommodate construction or events. And it has left some Philadelphians wondering where the heck their car went. Host Trenae Nuri sits down with Bill Bende...

Natasha Camy, who grew up in West Philly, is a NCAA Division 1 women’s basketball referee who keeps things cool on the court – and leans on her Bible for support as she criss-crosses the country. She’s also a childhood friend of our host, Trenae Nuri, and so just before March Madness the two old friends sat down to talk about Natasha’s journey to the height of her profession – and her venture as t...

Triple Bottom Brewing on Spring Garden Street has the perfect beers (and perfect beer names) for the spring – there’s Tumbling Sun, the New Zealand Style Pilsner, and Sunny, the Zwickelbier. But what makes this brewery particularly unique is its apprenticeship program for Philadelphians who need a second chance after incarceration or periods of homelessness. The 16-week program leads to jobs – and...

Content warning: mentions of sexual assault and sex trafficking. Welcome back to our Friday News Roundup. We’re talking about how there’s new calls to eliminate two troubled city departments – the Sheriff’s Office and Register of Wills; why Community College of Philadelphia staff and faculty might go on strike; and how three elderly retired Philly cops ended up on trial this week because of their...

When Greyhound shuttered its 35-year-old bus station on Filbert Street in 2023, inter-city buses shifted to curbside service on the corner of Sixth and Market Streets. But that location had no bathrooms, places to sit, or shelter. So the city opened what was supposed to be a temporary location along Spring Garden Street near Front Street in Northern Liberties. But more than a year later, the tempo...

It’s our Wednesday politics episode. Councilmember Nicolas O’Rourke is a minister and one of the two members of the Working Families Party on City Council. In a wide-ranging interview with host Trenae Nuri from his candle-lit office in City Hall, O’Rourke spoke about his opposition to Mayor Parker’s proposed tax cuts, his proposed bills to keep tenants in their rental homes, his experience as an e...

People often ask us, what’s a good coffee shop to work out of, eat lunch, or just meet people? Well, friends, we got you! We’re listening back to a conversation that host Trenae Nuri had at Mr. Rabbit Coffee in Fitler Square with executive producer Matt Katz and producer Abby Fritz about some of their favorite places to get caffeinated in the city.   Coffee shops mentioned in the episode:  Mr. Rab...

Nikki Graziano, owner and bartender at Bar Palmina, is shaking up incredible tasting zero-proof drinks. Her bar sits under the L train in Fishtown, actually surrounded by other bars and restaurants that serve alcohol. But Nikki shares with host Trenae Nuri about the near death experience she faced which turned her life around, and how she’s working to mix up cocktail culture here in Philly.  This...

It’s the Friday News Roundup! We’re talking about Mayor Cherelle Parker’s budget proposal, how federal cuts are impacting Philadelphians, and where former Mayor/Governor Ed Rendell wants to build a national monument in the city. Host Trenae Nuri is joined by Matt Katz, City Cast Philly executive producer, and Siani Colon, Hey Philly newsletter editor.  Our Friday news roundups are powered by great...

National Potato Chip Day is this Friday! And Pennsylvania is the potato chip capital of the world. Host Trenae Nuri and executive producer Matt Katz are joined by our friends at City Cast Pittsburgh – host Megan Harris and Hey Pittsburgh newsletter editor Francesca Dabecco. We’re digging into our state’s potato chip roots and taste-testing salty snacks from across the Commonwealth. Get a full rund...