City Cast Philly

It’s Election Day. So what’s at stake? While Pennsylvania has a Democratic governor and control of the state House, Republicans maintain control of the state Senate. Could that change today? Dems are hoping to get a “trifecta.” Contributors Cassidy Leyendecker, a Democratic committee person, and Santiago Ortiz, founder of NoShorts Media, join host Trenae Nuri to talk about how voters are feeling and what you need to know on Election. Plus, there’s a new City Council proposal to tax robots and autonomous vehicles. And we dish on our favorite holiday traditions — is it too early to set up holiday decorations?

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• Four Seasons Philadelphia
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We’re sitting down with State Sen. Joe Picozzi, who represents the Northeast. Host Trenae Nuri and executive producer Matt Katz talk to Picozzi, the only Republican state senator from Philly, about his positions on increasing the minimum wage, establishing a state revenue source for SEPTA, and legalizing cannabis. He also dishes on his relationships with Democrats. Then, we give you a quick rundown on what you should know before heading to the polls for the general election on Tuesday – you can find a guide to help you prepare for election at http://philly.citycast.fm/ under “Local Civics.”

To hear the rest of the conversation with Picozzi that we didn’t have time to include in this episode, join our membership program and tune in to Friday’s show. By becoming a City Cast Philly Neighbor, you get members-only segments on Fridays (plus a load of other perks). Sign up here.

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• Four Seasons Philadelphia
• Visit Williamsburg
• Laurel Hill

When you think of Waymo, you might not yet think of Philly. But you should definitely be thinking of Austin, Texas. State law governing autonomous vehicles (AVs) supersedes city authority and prevents local governments from regulating AVs, creating areas that have become increasingly attractive to AV companies. City Cast Austin host Miles Bloxson joins Your City Could Better to talk about if this loose regulation is good for Texas, particularly its dense capital city, whether local benefit is a priority for manufacturers at all, and how cities can learn from Austin if a similar influx hits their streets.

Mentioned on the show:

• City Cast Austin’s episode on AVs regulation: https://austin.citycast.fm/podcasts/are-texas-schools-using-ai-to-ban-books-plus-driverless-cars-in-austin-and-new-michelin-stars
• Waymo blocking emergency response to Austin shooting: https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/03/02/waymo-vehicle-blocks-ems-austin-mass-shooting
• The city of Austin’s public dashboard tracking incidents involving AVs: https://austin.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/dbd59d9b20634de1afad32a8267b739b#

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This is the time of the year when we crave cozy dinners, cherish time with family and friends, and choose to spend extra time volunteering in the community. In this episode you’ll hear our best tips for enjoying November, including lots of recommendations you won’t find elsewhere.

And if you love Siani’s knit-a-thon pick in this episode, don’t miss our list ofhttps://philly.citycast.fm/food-drink/philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-restaurants-bars-openingsother hobbies you can pick up in Philly.

For even more tips on how to make the most of November in Philly, check out our newsletter.

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Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

Penn Live Arts

BalletX

Penn Museum

GPHCC

AirMaster

Four Seasons Philadelphia

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We’re talking about why the Philadelphia Citizens Police Oversight Commission chair was arrested on bribery charges this week and toxic restaurant work culture in Philly’s food industry. Contributors Claudia Vargas and Alisha Miranda join host Trenae Nuri to discuss those stories. Plus, we play This or That (Philly Halloween edition), and we take turns guessing menu items from popular restaurants.

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Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

• Penn Live Arts
• BalletX
• Penn Museum
• GPHCC
• AirMaster

Happy Birthday, Philadelphia! As the city celebrates its 344th anniversary, what gift would you give the city? Contributors Conrad Benner and Lauden Vidas join host Trenae Nuri to discuss some gift ideas. Plus, they talk about what was said and what was not said in City Council’s hearing on the closure of the Academy of Natural Sciences. And they break down a question on next week’s Election Day ballot about rolling back the city’s focus on diversity in awarding city contracts. For more on what’s coming to your ballot, check our guide to election guides, here.

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Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

• Four Seasons Philadelphia
• Laurel Hill
• Center City Open Streets
• Fitler Club
• BalletX

We’re saying goodbye to the Portal this week. For two years, the art installation gave Philly a connection to other countries around the world. Host Trenae Nuri talks with contributors Nic Esposito and Jay Vereen about why the Portal is leaving and its best moments in the city. Plus, would you live in a Mount Airy home with 10 fireplaces? We play a game of real estate roulette. We also try to spell some Philly words in preparation for next month's adult spelling bee. And listeners, note: The Tomb of the Pharoah Haunted House at the Emerald Street Community Farm is open 5 pm to 9 pm on Halloween.

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Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

• Penn Live Arts
• BalletX
• Penn Museum
• GPHCC
• AirMaster
• Four Seasons Philadelphia

Daylight saving time ends next weekend when clocks fall back one hour — giving us any extra hour of sleep that day. What this also means is that this week we will experience the latest sunrises of the year — the sun won’t rise until almost 7:30 am. That makes it a great time to check out a sunrise over our beautiful skyline and rivers without having to wake up at an ungodly hour. So where are the best places to catch the fall sky views as the sun rises and sets? Host Trenae Nuri and executive producer Matt Katz take us around the city to some of their favorite places to view sunrises and sunsets.

The original episode aired on June 25, 2026

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Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

• Penn Live Arts
• BalletX
• Penn Museum
• GPHCC
• AirMaster

How prepared is Philadelphia to deal with the effects of climate change? In a recent report, Chicago was ranked as the most climate resilient city in the world — the only U.S. city to make it into the top 10. What’s Chicago doing right? City Cast Chicago host Jacoby Cochran is joining David this week to talk about how the city is adapting to face climate risks, its work in renewable energy, and other projects in the works.

Mentioned on the show:

• New York Times article about climate resilience: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/03/realestate/is-your-city-prepared-for-climate-disaster.html
• AlphaGeo's report: https://alphageo.ai/how-climate-resilient-are-the-worlds-largest-cities/
• City Cast Chicago's episode about their climate resilience ranking: https://chicago.citycast.fm/podcasts/loop-restaurants-resurging-chicagos-climate-resilience-and-meet-us-at-lit-fest
• Previous episode about Jacoby visiting all of Chicago's libraries: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytx9DWibpQc

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We’re talking about what’s been happening in Harrisburg: Lawmakers banned cell phones in all Pennsylvania schools and preliminarily approved a bill to protect our ears when we’re streaming our shows. Host Trenae Nuri and executive producer Matt Katz also talk about the best Philly-related content they saw on the internet this week including a Streets Department worker on TikTok and a festival centered around people with the name Rachel. For our members-only segment, we dive into Philly coffee roasters.

Get that members-only segment, support our show, join us at a bar crawl, and get great perks as a City Cast Philly Neighbor. Sign up here.

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Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

• Four Seasons Philadelphia
• Laurel Hill
• Center City Open Streets
• Fitler Club
• BalletX

Where can you get a cheap meal these days? Contributors Fae Ehsan (a community organizer who serves on the board of 5th Square Advocacy) and Conrad Benner (an art curator and storyteller who founded the Streets Dept blog and podcast) joins host Trenae Nuri to chat about their recommendations for budget-friendly meals. Text us about where we should be getting lunch: 215-259-8170

Plus, we’re talking about ways to make Philly streets safer as we inch closer to Vision Zero’s goal. And given federal and local money is being pulled back from the arts, we talk about how organizations, big and small, are keeping the lights on.

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• Support our show and get great perks as a City Cast Philly Neighbor. Sign up here.
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• Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

• Four Seasons Philadelphia
• Laurel Hill
• Center City Open Streets
• Fitler Club
• BalletX

Everyone’s talking about the health and wellness of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. This week, the organization announced that their franchise player will be out for the remainder of the season because of life-threatening blood clots. This has left more questions than answers. Contributors Nic Esposito and Lauren Vidas join host Trenae Nuri to discuss. Plus, they talk about what’s at stake for Pennsylvania Democrats as they go for a trifecta of control in the state House, Senate, and governorship in next month’s election. And we say goodbye to World Stage, formerly World Cafe Live. It’s shutting down at the end of this month. Listen back to our conversation with Inquirer music critic, Dan DeLuca, about the turmoil surrounding this West Philly music venue.

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Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

• Four Seasons Philadelphia
• Laurel Hill
• Center City Open Streets
• Fitler Club
• GPHCC Sponsored Interview
• BalletX

With news that Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is out for the season, the LeBron James era begins tonight as the 76ers start their season against the New York Knicks. Can he save our city? Contributors Eric Marsh and Conrad Benner also talk with City Cast Philly’s executive producer Matt Katz about a new law that bans most vapes in Pennsylvania and the woman who was arrested for blocking a robot’s path in Center City.

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Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

• Four Seasons Philadelphia
• Laurel Hill
• Center City Open Streets
• Fitler Club
• GPHCC Sponsored Interview
• BalletX

Earlier this month officials issued a “Do Not Eat” advisory for fish in the Wissahickon Creek after PFOS “forever chemicals” were found in a sample. And last week, a report was released that revealed that forever chemicals are actually present in all of Philly’s waterways. Yet there’s still a lot of activity in our city’s rivers. Host Trenae Nuri speaks with Erin Mooney, executive director at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, about how essential the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers are to Philly. For more on this, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will hold a public meeting on Nov. 5 at 6 p.m. at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education.

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Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

• Four Seasons Philadelphia
• Penn Live Arts
• Laurel Hill
• Center City Open Streets
• Fitler Club

How much ownership or responsibility do you feel as a resident of Philadelphia? In Salt Lake City, people are being asked to “adopt a storm drain” to help keep city streets free of floods and trash — and to possibly slow the drying and pollution of the Great Salt Lake. City Cast Salt Lake host Ali Vallarta says it’s worth a shot. This week, she joins David to discuss how quick, periodic cleaning of a neighborhood sewer grate can be part of a much bigger solution.

Listeners, it’s that time again! Send us the dilemmas you’re facing living in a city, and we might debate them on our upcoming call-in show. Email us or submit using this Google Form.

Mentioned on the show:

• SLC’s Adopt A Storm Drain map: https://www.slc.gov/utilities/adoptastormdrain/
• Ali’s past Your City Could Be Better episode on making a park census: https://yccbb.citycast.fm/podcasts/why-every-region-needs-a-park-map-tool-like-salt-lakes-plus-dry-heat-vs-humidity

Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!

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Could last weekend’s shooting death of a Philadelphia police officer have been prevented? We discuss whether police misconduct allowed a killer to go free in a 2019 case that preceded the shooting of the officer. Plus, we chat about colorful and vivid photography in Philadelphia in Color 1950-1990 – a new book that explores life in Philly. And for our members-only segment, there’s several scary and ghostly tours to take in the city right now. To that end, we’re doing our fall membership campaign right now — if you rely on this show to know about all the things that happened in the week (and the things coming up, like Open Studios at Village of Industry & Art and the Philly Coffee Festival), join us as a City Cast Philly Neighbor. And, for a limited time only, get a sweet dad hat. Sign up here.

Our newsletter has Philly news & events in your inbox every weekday morning.

Call or text us: 215-259-8170

Instagram: @citycastphilly

Support our show and get great perks as a City Cast Philly Neighbor. Sign up here.

Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: https://citycast.fm/advertise

Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

• Penn Live Arts
• uTest
• BalletX

Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: https://citycast.fm/advertise

Contributors Conrad Benner and Alisha Miranda join Trenae Nuri to play three rounds of trivia and learn about some interesting Philly inventions and creations. Plus, with food prices continuing to go up, are Philly restaurants kinda mid these days? And we have some ideas of free and cheap places to hang out in the city.

Support our show and get great perks as a City Cast Philly Neighbor. If you sign up now, you can snag an adorable Philly dad hat and come to our next free event – a Philly History Dive Bar Crawl.

Our newsletter has Philly news & events in your inbox every weekday morning.

Call or text us: 215-259-8170

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Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: https://citycast.fm/advertise

Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

Penn Live Arts

uTest

Contributor Fae Ehsan and Audience Development Manager Spencer Morris join Trenae Nuri to share the circumstances behind the shooting death of a 40-year-old police officer in West Philly last weekend. Plus, City Council is considering opening a city-supported grocery store (cc: Mayor Mamdani). And we have some ideas for how to save some cash and cook at home.

Support our show and get great perks as a City Cast Philly Neighbor. If you sign up now, you can snag an adorable Philly dad hat and come to our next free event – a Philly History Dive Bar Crawl.

Our newsletter has Philly news & events in your inbox every weekday morning.

Call or text us: 215-259-8170

Instagram: @citycastphilly

Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: https://citycast.fm/advertise

Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

• Penn Live Arts
• uTest

We’re talking about interesting furniture finds on Facebook Marketplace in Philly. Host Trenae Nuri is joined by contributors Kamal Marell and Claudia Vargas to talk about how to spot quality items over the knockoffs. Plus, City Council unanimously passes a resolution to address the rat infestation in Mayfair. We also discuss the streets we’d never want a Waymo to take us on as the city waits for the rollout of the autonomous driving taxis.

And we’re doing our fall membership campaign right now! If you rely on this show to know what’s happening in the city – and what to do in the city – become a City Cast Philly Neighbor. Sign up here. And get this sweet dad hat. Our newsletter has Philly news & events in your inbox every weekday morning.

Call or text us: 215-259-8170

Instagram: @citycastphilly

Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: https://citycast.fm/advertise

Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

• Penn Live Arts
• uTest

Another Philly school year has begun — how are cell phones being handled? In Minnesota, one high school is demonstrating that a strict no-phone school day can work, and they’ve got the (mostly) positive feedback to show for it. City Cast Twin Cities host Sean McPherson joins David to talk about how St. Paul Central High School is succeeding at enforcing a phone-free school environment, the surprising ways that some students approach it, and how these kinds of bans can even affect adults like Sean.

Listeners, it’s that time again! Send us the dilemmas you’re facing living in a city, and we might debate them on our upcoming call-in show. Email us or submit using this Google Form.

Mentioned on the show:

• Kids using public radio comment sections as ad hoc communication

Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!

We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter

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