Philly Who?

Latest Episodes:

Gabriel Escobar: From Paperboy to Editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer Nov 16, 2021

Show notes

When Gabriel Escobar was a young boy, he immigrated from Colombia to America without knowing a word of English.

What follows is the story of how Gabriel went from working as a local paperboy to becoming one of Philadelphia's most seasoned journalists, He has been involved in the coverage of some of the most challenging news stories of the 21st century, including the September 11th terrorist attacks, the Washington D.C. snipers, and COVID-19.

Most recently, Gabriel was given the Philadelphia Inquirer, where it is his job to lead the newsroom into a new era.

Chris Hytha: Using NFTs to Shed a New Light on Philadelphia's Architecture Nov 02, 2021

Show notes

Chris Hytha is a digital artist and photographer whose work focuses on architecture and the built environment.

Before that, he was an aspiring architect at Drexel University. While he was a student, Chris began urban exploring, which led him to discover his passion for photography.

What follows is the story of how Chris's photos have sold for thousands of dollars online after he became one of the first local artists to get in on the NFT craze. You'll also learn how he's using his platform to advocate for historic building preservation in Philadelphia.

Eli Kulp: The Chef Who Survived a Train Derailment Oct 19, 2021

Show notes

Eli Kulp is an award-winning Philly chef and podcaster who has overseen local restaurants such as Fork, and a.kitchen.

One night, while he was, was at the top of his game, Eli was in an Amtrak derailment that led them that left him unable to walk, unable to use his hands, and unable to cook.

What follows is the story of how, despite his severe injury, Eli fought to recover and was able to revitalize his career as a chef and hospitality industry thought-leader.

Want to hear the complete, unedited interview with Kevin and Terrill? Subscribe to Philly Who? on Supercast for access to that, to the Philly Who? Community Discord, for free event tickets, and more!

Due Quach: From Refugee to Harvard-Educated CEO and Entrepreneur Oct 05, 2021

Show notes

Due Quach is the founder and CEO of Calm Clarity, a social impact organization that helps people overcome adversity through nurturing a mindset of growth, leadership, and resilience. She's also the founder of Collective Success Network, a nonprofit that provides support to low-income first-generation students.

When Due was a toddler, her parents moved her family from a Vietnamese refugee camp to an impoverished Philadelphia neighborhood.

She overcame adversity and went on to graduate from Harvard and pursue a successful corporate career. However, she soon learned the high-flying corporate life wasn't for her.

After going on a journey to discover her life's purpose, she decided to return to Philadelphia to help people from underserved neighborhoods recognize their potential.

Want to hear the complete, unedited interview with Kevin and Due? Subscribe to Philly Who? on Supercast for access to that, to the Philly Who? Community Discord, for free event tickets, and more!

Terrill Haigler: How Ya Fav Trashman is Solving Philadelphia’s Litter Problem Sep 21, 2021

Show notes

Terrill Haigler is the Founder and face of Ya Fav Trashman, which is an online brand and Instagram account with over 30,000 followers. However, Terrill's story begins when he was working as a Philadelphia sanitation worker at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He originally created the Instagram account in 2020 when trash was piling up in the city due to the Coronavirus, and people were taking it out on him and his colleagues. Terrill wanted the account to show people how strenuous the job is so that they might have more patience with their trash collectors.

What follows is the story of how Ya Fav Trashman has exploded in popularity, leading Terrill to organize neighborhood cleanups, start a nonprofit, and even develop an app.

He's done all of this with one goal in mind. Terrill is working to make Philadelphia litter-free by the year 2025.

Want to hear the complete, unedited interview with Kevin and Terrill? Subscribe to Philly Who? on Supercast for access to that, to the Philly Who? Community Discord, for free event tickets, and more!

Jeannine A. Cook: How Harriett's Bookshop Survived Prejudice, Protests and a Pandemic Sep 07, 2021

Show notes

Jeannine A. Cook is the Founder and Shopkeeper at Harriett's Bookshop, named after Harriett Tubman.

In February 2020, Harriett's was born to celebrate women authors, artists, and activists. The space was immediately beloved, but when the Coronavirus pandemic hit in March 2020, everything Jeannine had worked for was in jeopardy.

What follows is the story of how her incredible grit and intuition helped Harriett's survive and thrive during one of the most tumultuous years our country has ever seen.

Want to hear the complete, unedited interview with Kevin and Jeannine? Subscribe to Philly Who? on Supercast for access to that, to the Philly Who? Community Discord, for free event tickets, and more!

[2019] Madeline Bell: How an Overnight Pediatric Nurse Became CEO of CHOP Aug 17, 2021

Show notes

Madeline Bell is the President & CEO of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The Children’s Hospital-- more commonly known as CHOP-- receives more than 1 million visits every year. And Madeline is the one making many of the big decisions: like whether to try and complete the world’s first double hand transplant.

But when she first walked into CHOP as an employee, Madeline was a pediatric nurse, fresh out of college, who had just scored her dream job. 35 years and many different roles later, she's the captain of the ship.

And while the journey wasn’t always glamorous, for Madeline, it was a way to make life better for kids.

[2018] Chill Moody: HipHop Artist, Philly Music Ambassador, The Reason We Have Nice Things Aug 10, 2021

Show notes

Chill Moody (@chillmoody) is a HipHop artist, entrepreneur, and activist. Born and raised in West Philadelphia, he started by making beats in his parents' basements and quickly rose to the top of the Philly hip hop scene. He was named 'Best Rapper' by PhillyMag and is the official Philadelphia Music Ambassador as named by City Council.

He also founded lifestyle brand "nicethings," which includes a consulting firm, clothing line, record label, and even an IPA.

In this discussion, we hear stories of his beginnings in the rap scene, we dive into his decision to build his music career in Philly rather than locating to LA or NY, and we talk about the challenges that Philly Artists face today.

[2019] Rakia Reynolds: Helping Serena Williams & Other Celebrities Share Their Stories Aug 03, 2021

Show notes

Rakia Reynolds is the Founder & CEO of Skai Blue Media, a public relations agency that's worked with clients such as Serena Williams, Ashley Graham, and M. Night Shyamalan.

In the mid 2000s Rakia was a TV producer whose life was turned upside down when she was unexpectedly laid off. With a child on the way and the economy in recession, she decided to bet on herself and start her own firm.

Today, she's one of the most sought after communications specialists in the country.

[2019] Tony Luke, Jr.: The Rise and Fall of a Cheesesteak Empire Jul 27, 2021

Show notes

Tony Luke, Jr. is a cofounder of Tony Luke's, a cheesesteak franchise with multiple locations. He's also an actor, TV personality, musician, and an anti-addiction-stigma activist.

In the early 90s, Tony, his brother, and his father built and opened a small sandwich shop in South Philly. Back then, Pat’s, Geno’s, and Jim’s were the only names synonymous with Philly Cheesesteaks. But pretty soon, everyone was talking about Tony Luke’s.

Tony Luke’s would turn into a household name, and Tony Luke Jr would become the face of the franchise: starring in TV and radio commercials, and even getting his own show on Spike TV.

But, before his father even had the thought to build a sandwich shop, Tony Luke Jr’s story had already taken several shapes: from being a rough-and-tumble South Philly kid, to a budding Hollywood movie star rubbing shoulders with the cast of Rocky, to scoring a record deal as the crooner of an R&B band.

In this episode, you’ll hear how a small sandwich shop on a random corner in South Philly - that didn’t even sell cheesesteaks when it first opened - became the Philly cheesesteak sensation of the 90s.

But, the highest of highs would soon become the lowest of lows. Tony’s family would have a falling out about the direction of the franchise, which would be followed by a devastating lawsuit, the end of Tony’s TV show, and the heart-wrenching accidental overdose death of his son, Tony Lucidonio III.

Tony, Jr. now serves as an anti-addiction-stigma activist, educating and guiding addicts and their families towards better times.