Money Talks and Bullshit Walks: Philadelphia Politics from 1980 to the Present.

Hal Rosner is a certified arborist in Philadelphia active on civic projects to help grow the city's tree canopy. He discusses the Philadelphia Tree Plan, the debacle of the FDR Park development, strategies for homeowners interested in trees for their neighborhood, the politics of including trees in development, and much more. He is a co-host of the award winning "Plant a Trillion Tree" podcast tha...

Money Talks Bullshit Walks Talks With Bill Epstein about Politics In Northwest Philadelphia. Bill Epstein is a forty  +  year veteran of  Northwest Philadelphia Politics and the current editor and publisher of East Falls Now, a community newspaper. Bill has had a seat at the table of Northwest politics since the late 1970's when he began to work for the late Congressman William Gray. Bill disc...

Since 1984, more than 1,000 murals have made Philadelphia the 'City of Murals.' Known worldwide, the Mural Arts Project and its energetic leader Jane Golden have helped Philly become a community arts city. More than just art, the work has created leadership roles for thousands of young people and community leaders to improve their neighborhoods. This episode is one of our most thoughtful a...

Tom Casetta is the general manager of G'Town Radio. He sat down with us to explain the evolution of community radio, several telecommunications acts that came out of Congress, and how community folks come together to offer creative and unique radio programming. As Elvis Costello sang, 'radio, radio is the sound salvation, radio is cleaning up the nation...'

Pedro Rodriguez is a long-time Philadelphia community leader who worked both inside and outside of city government for more than 40 years. He was Executive Director of Action Alliance of Senior Citizens, Board Chair of G-Town Radio, former Director for the City of Philadelphia, Office of Human Resources, Field Organizer for Enroll America, Commissioner of the Civil Service Commission, a teacher, a...

Brett Mandel is the author of "Philadelphia: Corrupt And Consenting," which explores Philadelphia’s struggle with corruption and promotes reform policies to end the city’s legacy as “corrupt and contented. Brett uses his considerable knowledge from his frontline and leadership experience in Philly politics to dive deeply into why Philadelphia has a reputation for corruption. Check out ou...

MTBW takes a break from yakking about politics to talk to the rising young star comedian, Sean Mulholland. Sean shares his unique view on the business of breaking into comedy and working his way up the ladder of fame. For the last eleven years, Sean has managed the comedy show at the Grape Pub in Manayunk and he shares his insight into the business.

Deb Weiner has been an advocate for public education Since the 1960s. Come listen to a unique history of the School District of Philadelphia's development since the 1960s.

MTBW talks with David Koppisch, a community organizer who left his mark on the city. Starting out with the Greater Philadelphia Federation of Settlements and finishing up with POWER, David work on getting stop signs in Manayunk, affordable housing via the Housing Trust Fund, to good paying jobs for neighborhood residents at the airport. Join for a unique story of Philadelphia. 

David Fineman is a Philadelphia attorney who started his career in the anti-war movement in the 60s and transitioned to working inside the system to make positive changes. His worked as a Public Defender, with the Green Administration and others, from administrative duties to fundraising. He reveals some very interesting history of how fundraising existed in the 70s and 80s, so different from toda...

Tom Ferrick reported on politics from Harrisburg and Philadelphia for more than 25 years. He shares tales of many of Philadelphia's politicians from the 80s on up, from Ed Rendell to Mayor Jim Kenney. Guess who covered their office in tin foil so no one could eavesdrop? How much money is needed to be the next Philadelphia Mayor? What is the meaning of charter schools? MTBW learns a lot from Tom Fe...

Joe Grace has deep experience in communications, advocacy, politics and public affairs with outstanding service to some of Philadelphia's and Pennsylvania's leading politicians. He has worked inside government and externally to advance agendas to help government and nonprofit organizations effectively deliver services to citizens and serve their members. Currently serving as Director Of Communicat...

John Kromer was the City's Director for the Office of Housing and Community Development for Mayor Ed Rendell in the 1990s. He shares insight into affordable housing, the North Philadelphia housing plan, and related topics that provide a foundation for understanding today's housing trends. John is the author of Philadelphia Battlefields: Disruptive Campaigns and Upset Elections in a Changing City;...

Angel Ortiz is a formal legal services attorney who because a Philadelphia City Council member. In his tenure, he helped secure power for the Puerto Rican community that remains to this day, launched the careers of future leaders that included Michael Nutter, Scott Wilds, Kevin Vaughan and current City Council member Maria Quinones-Sanchez. He also led on numerous civil rights issues that included...

"The model of how we learn and work is all wrong; we have to do this democratically and realize everyone has knowledge and value," Ira Harkavy tells our listeners. Podsters Pete and Joe talk to Harkavy, the Associate Vice President and Founding Director of the Barbara and Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships at the University of Pennsylvania. An historian with extensive experience build...

Fred Dedrick has spent a lifetime improving Philadelphia. From his start in community organizing in the 70s to economic development that took Philadelphia to China, Japan and Europe, Fred was involved in a part of Philly history that you won't find in the history books, but had a profound affect on the lives of its citizens and the vitality of the region. 

David Fair has been a leading activist in Philadelphia since the early 1970s . He provides a rich history of the human rights campaigns that focused on the City's response to the AIDS/HIV epidemic from the '70s through to the '90s. One of the leading organizers at that time, he talks about the struggles and the victories that helped the city eventually build a citywide human services network that...

Tony Ross talks to MTBW about the early 90s, sharing his 20+ years of experience in Harrisburg. He was as a staffer for the PA House Democratic Communications Office, then serving in a research capacity and then director of the Black Caucus. He eventually switched gears to become the United Way of Pennsylvania's Policy Director, and then its President.  We start off with two Eagles stories (w...

Podsters, this is our last episode, #32!, for season 2. Podster Pete recalls what he can remember of the Fightin' Phils of '93, a most magical season. Join us! 

Since election law is being debated nationally and locally, we thought a visit to the Stinson case of 1993 would update us on real fraud. The Stinson-Marks elections for PA State Senate had tons of drama for anyone interested in electioneering. Absentee ballots and more get discussed. Tune in.  

This is a short (10 mn) discussion on everyone's favority governmental entity - the PPA! 

Podsters Pete and Joe get even less serious by producing a whole episode on the alphabet as used by government. What is HUD? What is PICA? DRPA? We explain much, but certainly not all. Its a bit of fun we are having. And, we make no claim to history or journalism with this episode. This episode marks our 31th! Thank you all for staying with us.  

Welcome to our final segment of our discussion with Phil Goldsmith. Phil was one of Philadelphia's most experienced and talent public servants. We start Part 3 with a discussion about Philadelphia's corporate leadership. 

Part 2 starts by asking Phil about his time in corporate Philadelphia, transitioning to working in the Street Administration, and concluding with a question that will be answered in Part 3. Part 2 includes a very interesting talk of the birth of the SRC, the School Reform Commission. 

MTBW talks with Phil Goldsmith, a legendary public servant for Philadelphia. Journalist, Deputy Mayor, Managing Director, CEO of the School District, Director of the Fairmount Park Commission - job titles all held by Phil Goldsmith. His contribution to our City has been enormous.  We talked to Phil for two hours. We are splitting up the discussion into multiple episodes and will release them...