CitizenCast

The Philadelphia Citizen podcast offers spoken versions of articles, deeper dives into the political, social and cultural workings of our city, explainers on the issues of our day, interviews, conversations and solutions. Lots of solutions. All to help you become a better citizen of your city.

"To be on someone's mind is to be loved"

It's hard to serve others these days. That's why the United Way's Bill Golderer, along with former Big Brothers CEO Marcus Allen, is giving thanks this week to Philly's nonprofit leaders.

11-25
12:29

"Every single order from the president is lawful"

"This is, in a sentence, the authoritarian mindset," Ali Velshi says, addressing inflammatory statements made by Trump that critical members of Congress should be arrested, tried, and even executed. 

11-24
09:15

Why we bought Philly mag

The Citizen bought storied Philadelphia magazine. Here's why.

11-21
13:48

The Michelin Guide is a good thing for Philly ...

... and the world. There's been a lot of talk about why Michelin would be bad for Philly's food scene. But it's not the existential threat you think it is. 

11-20
06:07

The war on drugs ... fundraiser

The Philly fave band will be back at Johnny Brenda's in December for a three-night-only fundraiser to benefit Philly schools. "It seems like a no-brainer to support educating our youth," says frontman Adam Granduciel.  Visit this story on the web for ticket information.

11-19
05:00

What Mamdani taught us about housing

New York's Mayor-elect proved that affordability is a top priority for voters. Can American cities make rents lower and also build more housing?

11-18
05:52

This is why housing affordability is so bad

"Housing isn't unaffordable because of low supply and high demand, it's unaffordable by design." Ali Velshi breaks down the real causes of the housing crisis.

11-17
11:19

The Blue Wave and the midterms

On this episode of CitizenCast, we're bringing you an episode of The Signal, a podcast about insight, solutions and sanity produced by The Bucks County Beacon. The Citizen's own Malcolm Burnley joins host Cyril Mychalejko to discuss the Blue Wave that washed away so many Republican officeholders in Bucks County on Election Day, and what this may signal for the midterms in 2026.

11-14
48:22

Could a national health plan finally be good politics?

A local politician lays out the reasons why it might be the right time to reconsider an old argument

11-13
04:35

A modern day Rosie the Riveter

Trailblazer Elaine McGuire is leading the charge to attract and train more electricians like her: Black women.  

11-12
06:02

Amy Gutmann's American story

Last week at the Weitzman Museum of Jewish History, the former Penn president and US Ambassador to Germany reminded us what it takes to repair the breach in our country today.

11-11
18:42

In a democracy, you run because you can ...

... especially when they tell you that you can't. Ali Velshi reflects on the importance of civic engagement, even when the chances of success are slim.

11-10
11:32

Hello? Board leadership? Are you there?

The Art Museum sacking of Sasha Suda is the latest story to raise questions about nonprofit governance in Philly

11-07
06:47

Living inside a museum

Caryn Kunkle lives in a "micro-museum" on South Broad. Legendary photographer and chef, Big Rube, caught up with this born-and-bred Philly gal who works behind the scenes to help our local art scene thrive.

11-06
14:00

The trash can can

Terrill Haigler, aka Ya Fav Trashman, has given North Philly residents new and easy places to put their litter. Sometimes it's the little things that make all the difference.  

11-05
06:56

Race and gender don't have to predetermine wealth

On this episode of Citizen WURD, Jason Ray joins James Peterson on the show. Ray is President and CIO of Zenith Wealth Partners, who founded his company "on the vision of creating a society where race and gender don't predetermine wealth." 

11-04
15:32

Will judges hold the line in the Trump era?

"The day that the federal courts of the United States of America acquiesce to the rewriting of truth, is the day America falls." Ali Velshi explains.

11-03
12:20

What a Bucks Co sheriff's race really tells us

Can a challenger in a Bucks County's election have the formula for how Democrats can win on public safety?

10-31
08:00

A job, a hospital, a park — all within 15 minutes

"I don't care if you live in urban America or rural America, everyone wants the same thing," Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb said on the latest episode of How To Really Run A City. "They want a job they can get to in 15 minutes, they want a hospital or pharmacy within 15 minutes, they want a park or a grocery store or bars or restaurants, all within 15 minutes." Bibb went on to explain to our hosts, former Philly mayor Michael Nutter and former Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed, how he is turning his Ohio city into a convenient, accessible, bona fide 15-minute city — and what is needed to sustain that work. "People really want walkability," Bibb said. "They want safety and thriving neighborhoods and overall thriving cities. But we as mayors can't do this by ourselves. We need a federal government that's actually working. It has to be working with our governors and mayors." Bibb, a charismatic 38-year-old (and cousin to the first Black primetime newscaster in Ohio), will almost certainly be reelected next week, and both Reed and Nutter quickly picked up on his "get sh*t done" vibe. "A mayor is a reflection of their city," Reed said, "how it feels and how it will be there [for its people]."  Join us for an episode about a mayor who is laser-focused on making the lives of his constituents better in ways that anyone taking a stroll to the park can feel. As cities go, so goes the nation!

10-30
47:50

The support Philly kids need right now

On this episode of Lane Johnson's Season of Strong Mental Health, the two-time Super Bowl champ checks in on CHOP's Behavioral Health and Crisis Center, which is meeting the overwhelming demand for mental health support for young people 

10-29
04:34

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