Philadelphia Community Podcast

There are many books about relationships, but I was impressed by Dr. Diana Kirschner’s book “Sealing the Deal: the Love Mentors Guide to Lasting Love.” For those looking for love I think you’ll find her helpful – plus she’s a hoot. https://lovein90days.com/diana-kirschner/ There’s a growing number of people who’ve decided not to have kids. I speak to John Seager President of the Population Connect...

We love spreading positivity and that’s why I’m sharing this interview with members of a group called Children of Adam, a 14-member New World Music band performing its own original PMB Music: Positive Message Bearing Music. https://childrenofadamband.com/ First from the archives an interview with Dr. Yaba Blay Author of “One Drop - Shifting the Lens on Race.” https://www.yabablay.com/

From the archives an interview with Donald Bogle, author of “Hollywood Black - The Stars, the Films, the Filmmakers.”

I’m devoting the show to an interview with someone I’ve known for many years and consider to be a very special human being. He’s a husband, a devoted father, an activist and eloquent and outspoken speaker on the subject of “death by incarceration”. He also just happens to be a returning citizen. Kempis “Ghani” Songster was a juvenile lifer, sentence to spend the rest of his life behind the walls o...

I’m devoting the show to an interview with someone I’ve known for many years and consider to be a very special human being. He’s a husband, a devoted father, an activist and eloquent and outspoken speaker on the subject of “death by incarceration”. He also just happens to be a returning citizen. Kempis “Ghani” Songster was a juvenile lifer, sentence to spend the rest of his life behind the walls o...

So many events happenings around the greater Philadelphia area but let me shout out the Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Monday they’re doing a virtual jobs fair with real jobs and on site at Girard College there will be free COVID Vaccinations and screening along with flu shots from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm 2101 S. College Ave. For more info go to www.mlkdayofservice.org The...

Despite intense peer pressure from my close friends who in previous years have jumped into the Atlantic for the Polar Plunge - I've managed to avoid joining in because I'm just not a big fan of freezing cold water. But this year - I am moved to set aside my fears and participate in the 2022 Philly Polar Plunge to benefit a dear cause - Special Olympics PA. I speak to Jon Blitzer, Events Director E...

Monday January 17th marks the 27th Annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service - the largest service event marking the King Holiday in the Nation. I speak with its founder and the Executive Director of Global Citizen, Todd Bernstein. Bernstein fills us in on the events of the day including thousands of service projects, a virtual job fair with real jobs and a COVID 19 Vaccine...

Despite intense peer pressure from my close friends who in previous years have jumped into the Atlantic for the Polar Plunge - I've managed to avoid joining in because I'm just not a big fan of freezing cold water. But this year - I am moved to set aside my fears and participate in the 2022 Philly Polar Plunge to benefit a dear cause - Special Olympics PA. I speak to Jon Blitzer, Events Director E...

Guest host Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati speak with best selling young adult author Torrey Maldonado about an upcoming celebration of the late Children's book author Floyd Cooper January 7th https://www.facebook.com/HighlightsFound/photos/a.4970743582942998/5332339080116778 Vanesse also speaks with Ivan Henderson, Vice President of Programming for the African American Museum in Philadelphia about the man...

The Opioid epidemic is taking a record number of lives and – stigma keeps people living with substance use disorder from seeking help and families silent because of shame. We spotlight a major effort sponsored by the Independence Blue Cross Foundation that aims to reduce stigma. I. I speak to Rev. Dr. Lorina Marshall-Blake President, Independence Blue Cross Foundation and Vice President of Communi...

For this end of the year program I’m reairing two interviews. One is with the fabulous cat whisperer Jackson Galaxy. I meet a lot of celebrities in my job but as the devoted owner of a 21 year old devon rex kitty I admit I totally geeked out https://www.jacksongalaxy.com/ It’s been an incredibly stressful time with the pandemic but I’m here to tell you that what’s helped me navigate these trying t...

For my end of the year show I decided to focus on re-airing interivews around music. My first is with Ashley Dubose who is a performing and recording artist from Philly but based in Minneapolis. I had the chance to check in with Ashley whose music is both beautiful and socially conscious. https://www.ashleydubose.com/home I had some fun with a very cool acapella group devoted to music and diversit...

I’m re-airing an interview with Kahran and Regis Bethencourt, authors of GLORY: Magical Visions of Black Beauty, a spectacular book with stunning images children with natural hair and gorgeous, inventive visual storytelling, GLORY has more than 100 breathtaking photographs and a collection of powerful essays about the children. http://creativesoulphoto.com/glory/

The pandemic has disproportionately impacted women it comes to employment with women losing nearly 5 and a half million jobs. I speak to Cheryl Brubaker, Executive Director of the Women’s Resource Center which provides resources, tools and support to help women survive and thrive during this “shesession.” www.womensresourcecenter.net WRC Helpline 701-314-HELP There are good contractors and develop...

The pandemic has disproportionately impacted women when it comes to employment with women losing nearly 5 and a half million jobs. I speak to Cheryl Brubaker, Executive Director of the Women’s Resource Center which provides resources, tools and support to help women survive and thrive during this “shesession.” www.womensresourcecenter.net WRC Helpline 701-314-HELP I chat with Paula Chase, a young...

There are good contractors and developers but the housing boom in Philadelphia has attracted plenty of shady practitioners who are working without permits and using subpar demolition and construction practices. I speak to Jason Sherman who’s produced a documentary on the topic called "Cutting Corners" which shines a light on how these practices impact a community with a focus on neighborhoods in P...

The Independence Blue Cross Foundation’s “Someone You Know,” is a multimedia campaign and outreach program addressing the stigma associated with opioid dependency - inspiring hope in those seeking help with addiction and recovery. In this week’s excerpt from a recent town hall on the campaign, I speak with Roland Lamb, Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Di...

Are you at risk of losing your home or car because you’re behind in your payments? There’s help and its free. I talk with Joan Reading, President of the Credit Counseling Center, which offers a HUD certified Foreclosure Prevention Program and a host of other supports to help deal with credit and debt issues. Call 215-348-8003 or go to www.creditcounselingcenter.org . Twitter @counselcredit Faceboo...

The Independence Blue Cross Foundation’s “Someone You Know,” is a multimedia campaign and outreach program addressing the stigma associated with opioid dependency - inspiring hope in those seeking help with addiction and recovery. In this week’s excerpt from a recent town hall on the campaign, I speak with Roland Lamb, Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Di...

Urban renewal in the sixties and seventies was supposed to revitalize neighborhoods living in poverty. Instead, this government funded program erased many black communities including a neighborhood in Athens, Georgia called Linnentown. I speak to author and activist Hattie Thomas Whitehead who chronicled efforts to seek justice on behalf of Linnentown and it’s first descendants in her book “Giving...

During my years in public-school there have been teachers who truly made an impact on my life. In Philadelphia you can honor an outstanding teacher or principal by nominating them for the Lindback Award. I speak Angela Crawford, who received the 2021 Lindback Award for Distinguished Teachers and Brian Johnson, recipient of a 2021 Lindback Award for Distinguished Principals. Monica Lewis, School Di...

Whether you’re a senior or there is a beloved elder you care about, know that the deadline is fast approaching for Medicare and Medicare Advantage Programs. We’ll be talking with Courtney Cruz from Independence Blue Cross on what you need to know. https://www.ibx.com/medicare or call 800-303-0656. During my years in public-school there have been teachers who truly made an impact on my life. In Phi...

Guest Host Vanesse Lloyd Sgambati speaks with James Jackson, Executive Producer at Light Thief Productions about ways to capture family history through video and advice on video production. Jackson is also the guest for the monthly feature “What is Philadelphia Reading?” https://lightthiefproductions.com/ 347-735-6762

This holiday season there will be too many family gatherings with an empty chair or two because of Covid or Philadelphia’s record gun violence deaths. Just one of the many factors impacting our mental health. I speak with Dr. Jill Bowen, Philadelphia Commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectually DisAbility Services about their “Boost Your Mood” which offers access to free...