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Episode Best & Worst Places to Pee, Our Philly Bucket List & Can the Academy of Natural Sciences Be Saved?

Best & Worst Places to Pee, Our Philly Bucket List & Can the Academy of Natural Sciences Be Saved?

30 minSep 29, 2026

When you gotta go, you gotta go! Host Trenae Nuri is joined by senior creative producer Abby Fritz and Santiago Ortiz, founder of No Shorts , to talk about some of the best, worst, and confusing bathrooms in the city. They also talk about the Academy of Natural Sciences closure and the Philly experiences still on their bucket lists.  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: citycast.fm/advertise

Blank Street Coffee is Just the Latest NYC Business in Philly – Why?

31 minSep 28, 2026

In recent weeks there’s been online chatter about whether Philadelphians should patronize Blank Street, a New York coffee chain that opened this month in Rittenhouse Square. There are actually a lot of out-of-town businesses coming to Philly, especially when it comes to food. Why are they attracted to Philly? Host Trenae Nuri is talking with creative producers Abby Fritz and Siani Colón about some of their favorite out-of-town spots and if they conflict with Philly's culinary culture. This episode originally aired on May 18, 2026.  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: citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: AACR  

‘Your City Could Be Better’: How One Oregon City is Lowering Energy Costs — Presented By City Cast Philly

17 minSep 27, 2026

What’s a seemingly small project in Philly that’s made a big difference? In the Oregon suburb of Tualatin, a drinking water pipe has just been fitted with a seamless electrical turbine, so that an existing utility can now have a dual purpose. David is joined by Nic Westendorf, Tualatin’s deputy public works director, to talk about the power of thinking local, using existing tools, and looking ahead to a sustainable future to inform what we do today. Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!  We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options .

Teen Meet-Ups, Thousands of Homes Under Construction & a New Museum That’s All About Us

28 minSep 25, 2026

We’re talking about teen meet-ups stirring public safety concerns — where are the spaces for youth to hang out across the city? Plus, the Parker administration highlights hitting a milestone in the mayor’s H.O.M.E. initiative. And for our Neighbors-only segment, we walk through the new Museum of The Philadelphian in Fishtown and chat with one of the colorful Philadelphians highlighted inside — The Chicken Man.  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: citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: AACR GPHCC Dine Latino Chase   Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: citycast.fm/advertise

Voting Republican in Philly, Finding Use for the Roundhouse & Staycationing on the Delaware River

29 minSep 24, 2026

The Republican party faces an uphill battle as they try to win support in a hugely Democratic city. Host Trenae Nuri is joined by creative producer Siani Colón and reporter Claudia Vargas . They also talk about the four years of vacancy at the former police headquarters known as the Roundhouse, and a unique Air BNB listing for a houseboat on the Delaware River. 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: citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: AACR GPHCC Dine Latino Chase

Drag Shows, Science Museum Closure & Mayoral Candidates. Plus: Our Favorite Bar Food

33 minSep 23, 2026

City Council held its first session last week introducing nearly 50 bills and resolutions ranging from keeping life affordable in the city to making updates to the city’s zoning code on drag shows. Host Trenae Nuri talks with our political contributor Lauren Vidas and creative producer Abby Fritz about some of the other happenings in City Hall, including a hearing on the closure of the Academy of Natural Sciences. Plus, we dig into the best bar food in Philly.  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: citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: AACR GPHCC Dine Latino Chase

Why is PA Fighting the CDC? Plus: City Trash Contracts & Will Roosevelt Blvd Get a Subway

31 minSep 22, 2026

Pennsylvania has reported four measles deaths in the past month, marking the first deaths in the Commonwealth related to once-eradicated disease in 35 years. But state health officials haven’t provided many details to the public. Host Trenae Nuri is joined by contributors Nic Esposito and Cassidy Leyendecker to discuss how information about the measles outbreak is being handled on local, state, and national levels. They also break down the city’s soon-to-be-expiring waste disposal contracts and share ways to improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety on one of Philly's most dangerous roads, Roosevelt Boulevard.  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: citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: AACR GPHCC Dine Latino Chase

Rocky’s Final Run Up the Art Museum Steps

24 minSep 21, 2026

The Rocky statue has been playing musical chairs between the top, bottom, and inside of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It’s now taking its permanent spot at the top of the Art Museum steps. It’s been 50 years since the first “Rocky” movie debuted, and the statue of the fictional boxer is still a place of pilgrimage and a symbol of pride for Philadelphians. As the statue gets comfortable in its new home, we’re revisiting a conversation between host Trenae Nuri and Paul Farber , co-founder of Monument Lab , host of WHYY's The Statue , and the curator of Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments , who explains why people are so fixated on Rocky and why monuments continue to matter in our culture. This episode originally aired on April 23, 2026.  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: membership.citycast.fm Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: AACR GPHCC Dine Latino Chase

‘Your City Could Be Better’: How Philly Is Reducing Violence With Parks

26 minSep 20, 2026

Did you know that Philly neighborhoods have seen drops in depression and crime, all because vacant lots were revitalized? Thanks to the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), this could continue to be a reality. David is joined by Trenae Nuri and special guest Matt Rader, PHS president, to talk about a unique Philly program called LandCare, whose team steps in to fix blighted properties when no one else can. They discuss what’s stopping other cities from adopting these practices, and how, with the right knowledge and tools, that could potentially change. Mentioned on the show: Study showing 29% decrease in gun violence near transformed lots: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1718503115 Study showing 41% decrease in reported depression: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2688343 Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!  We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options .

House of Horrors in Olney, Judge Wants Krasner Investigated & an Evacuation at City Hall

22 minSep 18, 2026

City Hall was evacuated Thursday morning during City Council’s first meeting of the season after a suspicious package was found. Host Trenae Nuri is joined by executive producer Matt Katz to discuss new details in the investigation at a home in Olney that’s linked to the disappearance of at least seven women. They also discuss why a federal judge wants District Attorney Larry Krasner investigated. Plus, for our City Cast Philly Neighbors, a ton of free classes that you can take in the city this fall. Our Friday news roundups are powered by great local journalism:  5 missing women now linked to massive investigation at Philadelphia home Police find more photos of women who appear dead in pornographer R.C. Horsch’s home, bringing the number of missing to 7   Federal judge refers Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner to U.S. Attorney’s Office over possible crimes   Who is the federal judge overseeing the case roiling Philly DA Larry Krasner’s office? And what will he do next? A former prosecutor said DA Larry Krasner’s Office colluded with defense attorneys to try to overturn a murder conviction 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: citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Penn Live Arts CraftNation Campus Philly - CollegeFest Fitler Club

Should PPA Rent Parking Spots to ICE? Plus: Job Search Tips & Pay-What-You-Can Dining

33 minSep 17, 2026

A couple of Philadelphia restaurants are bringing back the pay-what-you-can model of customers ordering what they want and then just paying what they think their meal and experience were worth. Host Trenae Nuri, contributor Alisha Miranda, and creative producer Abby Fritz dig into this model. They also discuss the one-year contract between the Philadelphia Parking Authority and the Department of Homeland Security, and the creative ways that job seekers are getting hired beyond LinkedIn.  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: citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about the sponsors of this Thursday, September 17th episode: Penn Live Arts CraftNation Campus Philly - CollegeFest Fitler Club

Stopping Data Centers, Preserving Murals & Welcoming … Polo?

34 minSep 16, 2026

Data centers are everywhere, but it’s a booming industry that’s created contentious conversations in communities – Philly included. This week activists held a rally outside of City Hall urging councilmembers to pass a moratorium on data centers. Mayor Cherelle Parker promised to create a task force to establish unspecified “guardrails” on data centers. Host Trenae Nuri is joined by contributors Jay Vereen, content creator, and Nic Esposito, tech founder and urban farmer, to talk about what a task force could do when AI technology continues to change at such a fast pace. They also discuss the public meeting to hear comments on whether the Keith Haring mural “We The Youth” should be added to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. Plus, they explain which non traditional sports are growing in popularity in Philly.    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: citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Penn Live Arts CraftNation Campus Philly - CollegeFest Fitler Club