Bridging Philly

Latest Episodes:

Where work, play, and learning meet | A social experiment on a landline phone Jul 25, 2026

Show notes

When people talk about teens on the street in the summer, they’re often talking about some kind of trouble. But Fab Youth Philly is flipping that stereotype by sending teens out to the streets…to play. Their Play Captain initiative hires and trains teenagers to lead games and activities on the city’s Playstreets, playgrounds, and other play spaces. The teens gain work experience, develop leadership skills, and bring joy to kids around the city. Racquel Williams talks with Fab Youth Philly’s Executive Director, Rebecca Fabiano, and three Play Captains, Faith Cardona, Diego Jose Batista, and Guber Rodriguez. Learn more about Fab Youth Philly at www.fabyouthphilly.org. Then, on Shara in the City: you come across an old fashioned house phone in the middle of Love Park. Do you pick it up? Tons of people have, and the messages they’ve left are powerful - calls to lost loved ones, to God, or to the world. Shara Dae Howard gets a look at the social experiment gone viral called “Let’s Talk”. See the phone messages on Instagram: @realfallrisk.

How to talk to kids about race and LGBTQ+ identities | Philly Freeway previews Free Fest Jul 18, 2026

Show notes

Kids will come across depictions of race, gender, and sexuality whether we talk to them about it or not. Brandee Blocker Anderson created The Antiracism Academy to help parents and educators teach kids about these topics in a supportive way that they can understand, using rhyming books and short videos. She recently released the “Teach Me Antiracism: Allyship” series, explaining words and concepts around LGBTQ+ identity from A to Z. Racquel Williams talks with her about the series, her work in DEI, and why it’s important to have these conversations with children. Check out the series at www.teachmeallyship.com. Then, rapper Philadelphia Freeway joins us on Shara in the City, fresh off his performance at the 4th of July One Philly: Unity concert. He’s gearing up for his annual Free Fest at the Navy Yard on August 1, and he gives Shara Dae Howard the inside scoop. Find out more about Free Fest at www.phillyfreefest.org.

Best of Bridging Philly: Healing veterans through gardening | The House of Magic’s vault secrets Jul 11, 2026

Show notes

Being in nature can be both physically and mentally rejuvenating. Collie Turner, founder of Heroic Gardens, grew up around plants and chose horticulture as a way to give back to veterans. Racquel Williams talks with her and Salome Hall, a Navy veteran and founder of Sisters Affirming Sisterhood who has found community and healing through Heroic Gardens' programs. Then, Shara Dae Howard explores the mysteries of The House of Magic, a theater/museum/library dedicated to the wonder magicians have brought us throughout history. Learn more about the organizations in this episode: www.heroicgardens.org www.sasproject.org www.houseofmagicpa.com This episode originally aired on April 4, 2026.

250 years in the birthplace of America Jul 04, 2026

Show notes

It’s the 250th anniversary of the founding of America, and there’s no better place to celebrate than America’s birthplace, Philadelphia. This week, Shara Dae Howard is taking over for an all Shara in the City special edition, exploring some of the city’s hidden historical treasures. We start at Elfreth’s Alley, one of the country’s oldest continuously inhabited residential streets, with a peek at modern life inside the 16th and 17th century homes. Then, we visit the site of one of America’s first taverns in Philadelphia, where the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps got their start. The Tun tavern was torn down centuries ago, but sailors and Marines still come to Philadelphia looking for it - so two veterans have decided to rebuild it. We end our journey at the American Philosophical Society library, home to some of the rarest historical documents and artifacts in American history, as well as Benjamin Franklin's personal library.

Sending books to prisons | Wyck rose garden’s aromatic history Jun 27, 2026

Show notes

Books are a great way for people in prison to improve their literacy, expand their options for when they get out, or simply pass the time . But prison libraries are often limited, if they have libraries at all. Books Through Bars was started to address this problem by sending books to people who request them in prisons. Racquel Williams talks with three volunteers about the history of the organization and why books are valuable for people who are incarcerated. Learn more or get involved at www.booksthroughbars.org. Then - you can smell the Wyck house and grounds from down the street. It’s home to one of the nation’s oldest original rose gardens, plus a wide variety of historic artifacts from nine generations of one of Philly’s most impactful families. Shara Dae Howard visits to discover the stories hidden in the attic and to see what’s in bloom. Learn more or plan a visit at www.wyck.org.

Free therapy for Black men | The “Queen of the Ring” at Blue Horizon boxing gym Jun 20, 2026

Show notes

Black men often find it hard to be vulnerable - they’re taught to be tough and not to show their feelings. But they struggle just as much as the rest of us. When two Black female clinicians noticed a high demand from Black men seeking therapy and facing barriers to access, they started Black Men Heal to offer free individual and group therapy programs for Black men. Racquel Williams talks with one of the co-founders, Zakia S. Williams. Learn more about their programs at www.blackmenheal.org. Note: after this episode was released, the job fair event was postponed to August. Then, Shara Dae Howard celebrates Juneteenth by diving into Philly’s Black history with the “Queen of the Ring”, Vernoka Michael - owner of the Blue Horizon boxing gym, where legends like Joe Frazier trained. The gym closed in 2010, but Vernoka is making sure its legacy lives on.

Why “Black people don’t swim” and how we can change that | Building the FIFA Fan Festival Jun 13, 2026

Show notes

Throughout history, barriers have been put up between African Americans and water. Segregated swimming pools, violence and discrimination against Black folks who try to swim in public pools - all of this was documented in the “POOL” exhibit that was on display at Fairmount Water Works from 2022-2023 and has now been transformed into a mobile exhibit. Racquel Williams sits down with a few of the folks behind the exhibit and a legendary Philadelphia swim coach to discuss the history, as well as how to overcome a fear of water and learn to swim. Then, Shara Dae Howard gets a behind-the-scenes golf cart tour of the FIFA Fan Festival at Lemon Hill, where up to 15,000 people per day are expected to watch the World Cup games from now through July 19. Learn more about: Habithèque - www.habitheque.com Diversity in Aquatics - www.diversityinaquatics.org PDR Swimming for Success - www.instagram.com/pdrswimming FIFA Fan Festival - www.phillyfwc26.com/fifa-fan-fest

Weight loss meds: trend or medical advancement? | Pride and Patti LaBelle on the Parkway Jun 06, 2026

Show notes

GLP-1s like Ozempic and Wegovy are all over the news and TV ads lately. Are they really a safe way to lose weight? Racquel Williams talks with medical professionals from Penn Medicine’s Center for Weight and Eating Disorders about the benefits and risks of GLP-1s, plus how social media impacts body image and how mental health is connected to food. Then, Philly Pride is bigger than ever this year! Shara Dae Howard hits up the kickoff event at Sofitel Philadelphia to find out what’s going on all month - including a performance by Patti LaBelle - and how the LGBTQ+ community feels about the Pride festival moving from the Gayborhood to the Ben Franklin Parkway.

Respite for cancer patients and caretakers | New tech to help with vision loss May 30, 2026

Show notes

A cancer diagnosis is the beginning of a scary, overwhelming journey that takes a toll on the patient as well as their loved ones. For Pete's Sake Cancer Respite Foundation gives cancer patients and their families time to breathe and heal together through travel and “staycation” respite experiences. Founder Marci Schankweiler joins Racquel Williams to talk about the power of respite and their new respite center, Pete’s Dream - a vision of Marci’s husband, Pete, who died of cancer when he was 30. Learn more about For Pete’s Sake at www.fpsrespite.org. Then, Shara Dae Howard checks in at VisionLink to hear about their latest efforts to help people with vision loss find independence and community, and to try out some of their new gadgets, like Meta AI glasses. Learn more about VisionLink at www.visionlinkphl.org.

Preserving personal and cultural history | Philadelphia’s music Walk of Fame inductees May 23, 2026

Show notes

As we look back on 250 years of American history, you might be inspired to look into your own history. Monica O. Montgomery believes it’s important to preserve your family’s legacy, as she did after her parents passed away. Out of her grief and healing journey grew the DiasporaDNA Story Center, an “un-museum” and cultural center offering workshops, talks, bus tours, and more experiences centered around discovering ancestral history on both a personal and cultural level. Learn more or book an experience at www.diasporadna.org. Then, Shara Dae Howard heads to Philly’s Avenue of the Arts, as the Philadelphia Music Alliance celebrates their 2026 Walk of Fame inductees, including Sun Ra Arkestra, Lady B, Pablo Batista, and Earl Young receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award. She meets some of the honorees and their family, friends, and collaborators.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected