The True Philadelphia Podcast with Matt O'Donnell

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Latest Episodes:

Yannick Nézet-Séguin Talks to Matt O'Donnell Ahead of Special Frontline Workers Performance Jun 28, 2021

The music director and conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra since 2012 has been starved of performing live music since the shutdowns began in March of 2020. And he knows classical music lovers are starved for its return. Yannick Nézet-Séguin sat down with Matt O'Donnell at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts ahead of the special "Hail to the Heroes" performance, the Orchestra's first before a live audience in 14 months. "Hail to the Heroes" airs on 6abc Saturday, July 3 at 7pm. Matt also talked shop and received some tips on the timpanis with famous Philadelphia Orchestra percussionist Don Liuzzi and heard about his thoughts on the return to the real stage. Recorded at Mann Center for Performing Arts, May 2021 and at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, June 2021 In this podcast: 1:50 How Yannick has maintained his energy and positivity throughout the pandemic 2:49 The importance of putting his isolation second in his role as music director 4:20 How the special Orchestra performance is very much like a feast, and a move from "takeout" to real dining (plus dessert) 5:30 Yannick's message to the frontline workers, many of whom would be in attendance at the concert 6:38 Choosing the music in the program, from Beethoven to the "Rocky" Theme, a song he always dreamed of performing in Philadelphia 8:15 How COVID-19 has touched him in Philadelphia and New York, where he is also music director of the Metropolitan Opera 10:50 How the Philadelphia Orchestra used the time off during the pandemic to consider changes, including perhaps new uniforms and an expansion of the music selections 14:07 Yannick discusses his famously animated performance style and what he is thinking at the conductor's stage 16:16 Philadelphia Orchestra timpani player and percussionist Don Liuzzi riffs on the famous "Thus Spoke Tharathustra" piece from "2001: A Space Odyssey" 17:00 Matt gives the timpanis a try 17:33 Don explains how his love of the Beatles led to his career in percussion 18:10 The Great Finale!

S3 E22: "Director of Fun" Keith Stewart on Tiger Woods, The Masters, Golf in a Pandemic & Becoming a Podcaster Nov 10, 2020

Yes, calling oneself the "Director of Fun" is a boastful exercise but Springdale Golf Club professional Keith Stewart lives the title every day. His early career brought him to Isleworth Country Club in Florida while Tiger Woods was destroying PGA fields and golf courses in the late 90s and early 00s and has great insight ahead of the best time of year for golf: Masters Week! Tiger will be defending his 2019 title and we talk about his chances. We also discuss how the pandemic has only made the game of golf stronger, how Keith was able to reinvent himself as a podcast host (like me!), what every golfer should do to get better and if Bryson DeChambeau is growing the game of golf - or destroying it. Recorded at Springdale Golf Club, Princeton, NJ on October 14, 2020. In this podcast: we talk about how this strange year of 2020 has been going at one of New Jersey's most historic golf clubs (2:18), why Keith says golf proved to be "pandemic proof" (3:20), if he thinks golf's "pandemic boom" is better and more sustainable than the "Tiger boom" more than 20 years ago (3:50), what the pandemic has taught him about the pro-golfer's relationship with the golfing consumer (5:10), why golf has proven to have a need to be personal, even with social distancing in place (7:30), Keith's moniker as "director of fun" and how he makes such a frustrating game enjoyable for others (9:10), we riff on Caddyshack for a few seconds, wondering why it took us so long (10:30), how the infusion of youth into the sport has been so important and beneficial (12:10), how and why a golf professional like him became a podcaster (13:15), what his efforts to expand his range of abilities can teach others, especially those forced to reinvent themselves during this pandemic (16:06), why doing something for yourself is so important (17:00), if he is able to text Tiger Woods and how Keith describes the legendary golfer's abilities (18:40), what Tiger was like while Keith worked at Isleworth (20:30), the necessity of creating a shell when you are one of the most recognizable people on Earth and how becoming the world's greatest golfer required so much sacrifice (22:30), seeing one's grip on the world as it relates to the grip on a golf club (23:50), If Tiger will defend his 2019 Masters championship (25:00), if he will surpass Jack Nicklaus' 18 major titles (27:26), we discuss how Bryson DeChambeau has changed golf and whether it is for the better (27:50), if DeChambeau will pay a price in the future for his physical transformation and performance on the golf course (30:50), the first thing any golfer can do to improve their game immediately (32:10), the surprising percentage of golfers who actually take lessons (33:00), the second thing golfers need to do to improve (and why) - work on the short game (35:20), why Keith's favorite club is his putter (and why mine is the driver) (38:15), we hit the golf course! (44:00).

S3 E21 Dr. Jonathan Epstein on How We'll Know the Pandemic is Over, the Greatest Mystery of COVID-19 and His Great Disappointment in Our Response Oct 28, 2020

Dr. Jonathan Epstein leads an institution that is researching just about every angle you can think of when it comes to COVID-19: vaccines, treatments, contact tracing, the long-term effects of an infection, the mystery of being asymptomatic and who should be vaccinated first. Dr. Epstein is the Chief Scientific Officer at Penn's Perelman School of Medicine. He has been leading this pivotal institution from his home in Wayne, PA since COVID-19 restrictions began back in the spring. Dr. Epstein shared with us why he is so hopeful and encouraged by the tireless work being done in the medical community, but also why he is disappointed with how our country has handled our worst pandemic in 100 years. Dr. Epstein also offers his prediction on when the pandemic will end and how we will even know it. Recorded via Zoom, October 26, 2020 In this podcast: Dr. Epstein provides an overview on what his scientists at the Perelman School of Medicine are working on, coronavirus-related (1:50), what he believes is the biggest mystery of COVID-19 (3:40), what has been most surprising (and frustrating) about the pandemic (4:15), what it means to have pandemic fatigue not only in the general public but also for health care workers (4:50), what past pandemics tell us about what we should expect over the winter and next year (6:35), shutdowns, vaccines, herd immunity and our "toolbox" in reaching an end to the pandemic (8:30), Dr. Epstein's hopes on a vaccine(s) and treatments (11:30), what we know about the rarity of getting reinfected by COVID-19 and how treatments could play a role (13:15), if this coronavirus is mutating (14:40), the "long-termers" of COVID-19 and how worrying it is that even asymptomatic people have shown organ damage (16:20), how the medical community pivoted so quickly to fill the void of getting a handle on the pandemic early on (18:55), where the virus came from (20:10), how he personally gets through the darkest moments of this year (21:50), how we need to address potential competition between nations when it comes to vaccine development and distribution (23:20), how we will know we have reached the finish line of the pandemic and when that might be (25:30), an assessment of how this country handled the pandemic and how we might handle the next one (26:40), some of the silver linings of the pandemic, including increased connectivity in business and relationships and the better collaboration in medicine (28:25), how historians might look back at the year of 2020 and what the chapter would be called.

S3 E20 South Philadelphia's Adam Weiner on Live Streaming, Surviving Depression, Anxiety and the Pandemic Oct 12, 2020

Back in the spring, Adam Weiner decided he had to do something. The pandemic suddenly prevented his band, Low Cut Connie, from their lifeblood - performing live music. While in the spare room of his South Philadelphia home, he started broadcasting what would become the "Tough Cookies" series. He sings, he dances, he bangs on his stand-up piano, he offers words of enlightenment and hope. Originally a vehicle to simply entertain those watching on Instagram and Facebook, the episodes have gone so far as to uplift his fans during a public health crisis and sustain the LCC brand. Adam's music now has a solid worldwide fanbase thanks to the live streaming success. He is riding that wave into the release of the band's sixth album, a double LP called "Private Lives", in October of 2020. What the world didn't know was that while Adam was helping so many others cope with this public health crisis, he was hurting too. Numerous physical injuries from performing live night after night caught up with him. And he became massively depressed. Adam wants to share what helped bring him happiness and wellness again with anyone and everyone because it fits in with the Low Cut Connie mission statement: you are tougher than you know. Recorded October 6, 2020 Featured at the end of the podcast: "Help Me", Low Cut Connie, from the 2020 double LP "Private Lives" In this podcast: Adam shares the story behind his spare bedroom becoming a worldwide stage (2:28), how he branded his live stream performances "Tough Cookies" (4:20), the personal mission statement: people are tougher than they know (6:00), Adam discusses the future of the music recording industry and how livestream will remain a huge part (7:50), talks about the many physical injuries that mounted over many years of live performances (14:00), likens his role as the lead singer and pianist of a rock band to a "short-order cook" (15:00), the difference between him and a professional athlete (16:15), Adam then shares his mental struggles that became a serious concern during the recording of his new album (18:31), how his depression began in his childhood (19:25), what advice he gives to others who have similar mental health issues (21:00), how he was bullied as a child (21:50), his new album, a double LP called "Private Lives" and what he thinks about people saying his music is "retro" (25:31), a new routine he picked up since the beginning of the pandemic (29:47), what he would tell a fan who came up to him and asked "Are we going to be okay?" (33:00), how the song "Help Me" needed to, in his words, cook in the oven a little longer before he could record and release it (36:25), we play the single "Help Me" from Low Cut Connie's "Private Lives" (38:50).

S3 E19: Romeo Delight's Buddy Blanchard Honors the Legacy of Eddie Van Halen Oct 08, 2020

Buddy Blanchard fronts the world's greatest Van Halen tribute band: Philadelphia's own Romeo Delight. Buddy, as you might have guessed, plays the part of David Lee Roth. We first met several years ago when I started this podcast. I thought it was great that we had such an authentic representation of the great music of Van Halen right in our backyard. I played with the band in their practice space in Huntingdon Valley and I had the honor of performing as a guest drummer with Romeo Delight at Musikfest and the Running of the Santas. We share a deep admiration for Van Halen, the world's ultimate hard rock party band. No one was better. And Eddie Van Halen was a genius among us. Every time he would innovate a sound coming from his guitar, people would try to copy it. And when they'd figure it out, Eddie had already moved on to something else jaw-dropping. Buddy and I talk about what we initially felt when we learned Eddie had lost his battle with cancer at the age of 65. We discuss why Van Halen's music was so popular. Buddy talks about meeting Eddie and David Lee Roth during a tour stop in Philadelphia. We offer our favorite Van Halen albums, songs and we select our own personal favorite Eddie guitar solo of all time. Plus, we look ahead: if Chuck Berry came first, if Jimi Hendrix took the rock guitar template and twisted it into something unique and fascinating and if Eddie Van Halen blew our minds, who is "the next one"? Maybe you have some ideas. My thanks to Buddy Blanchard and our best wishes for Romeo Delight to continue to warm our hearts with Van Halen nostalgia. May live music return to this country soon. Recorded on Zoom October 7, 2020.

S3 E18: Dr. Argie Allen-Wilson Helps Us "Get Our Heads Back in the Game" (From 6abc's Inside Story) Sep 10, 2020

Dr. Argie Allen-Wilson is a mental health and relationship therapist based in Montgomery County. My conversation with her on this episode of Inside Story was such a positive experience, I wanted to share it with you. So much negativity is converging as we speak: the pandemic, a new and frustrating school year, the nastiness of the presidential campaign, joblessness, poverty, systemic racism and uncertainty for our future. Dr. Argie helps guide us through these issues, helps us make sense of our problems/worries and leads us on a path of personal growth. Recorded September 4, 2020.

S3 E17 Philadelphia's Health Commissioner on COVID-19 Response, Vaccines and "The Next One" Sep 04, 2020

Dr. Thomas Farley spent much of his adult life preparing for this moment: leading a large US city through a worldwide pandemic. The health commissioner of Philadelphia is a North Jersey native, a pediatrician and an epidemiologist with a deep background in studying infectious diseases, particularly with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Farley and I spoke via Zoom and went back to those early days of the pandemic to discuss what worked, what didn't and whether it was tough to get people on board early on. He also offers optimism about an end to the pandemic and the chance of developing an effective vaccine. Recorded August 28, 2020. In this podcast: Dr. Farley addresses why he seems so calm despite the chaotic nature a pandemic can bring (1:58), offers thoughts on how some people form opinions not based on science and how some even shun advice from medical professionals (2:51), talks about his time with the CDC, what he learned and how it prepared him for this job (3:32), if he feared "the big one" when it came to a fast-spreading virus (4:45), we talk about his comments on February 25, 2020, the day before the United States had its first official case of "local transmission" of the coronavirus (5:45), if he received pushback from his early, stern comments and warnings (6:31), what the most important decision was after Philadelphia saw its first official cases in March (7:07), what he would have done differently with nursing homes, which saw half of the overall deaths early on (8:04), how states that reopened too early impacted Philadelphia (9:30), handling the H1N1 pandemic as health commissioner in New York City (10:50), his reaction to comments from some people that suggest older people are "expendable" when getting life back to normal (12:27), the extended benefits we might see from the social distancing, the mask wearing and better hygiene and the upcoming flu season (14:05) what our chances are in developing treatments or vaccines for COVID-19 (15:25), how he will handle an announcement that a vaccine has been developed (16:12), if he thinks the coronavirus will become endemic in the US (17:25), our speed round begins (18:47), we discuss the economic impact of the shutdown orders (19:47), what Dr. Farley thinks about shaking hands in the future (20:50), if he's received hate mail/email/social media messages (22:10), his vision of the future for Philadelphia, a city hit hard by the pandemic and the shutdowns (22:50), how we might handle the next pandemic (24:53), using South Korea as a model, given its experience with SARS ahead of COVID-19 (24:48), if we will be wearing masks forever (25:19), why he thinks it's still important to focus on general health matters like smoking, salt intake and obesity (25:41), if he is hopeful about the NFL starting its season in September (27:12).

S3 E16: Ad Man Brian Tierney on Why Philadelphia Has the Grit to Endure the Pandemic, the Mysteries of Marketing and Smart Risk-Taking Aug 04, 2020

TRUE PHILADELPHIA PODCAST: Brian Tierney is Philadelphia's ultimate "Ad Man." The list of companies he's represented in strategizing, marketing and crisis management is long and diverse: Independence Blue Cross, Uber, Aramark, IBM, Verizon to name a few. He's the former owner and publisher of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Daily News and (what was then known as) Philly.com. He has a deep resume in campaign politics: Sam Katz and George H.W. Bush are among the names who have listened to Brian's advice. And he shares his traditional conservative viewpoints as a panelist on 6abc's Inside Story, of which I am a frequent host. My conservation with Brian comes at a time when uncertainty is the only certain thing. A major company like Hertz can suddenly disappear. A trip to a nearby state like North Carolina may require you to quarantine for two weeks upon your return. You may not get exact change back at a Wawa if you pay in cash and coins. Your neighbor may believe in a laughably absurd conspiracy theory surrounding a shadowy character named Q'Anon who may or may not exist. You may not even be able to bid a personal goodbye to a dying relative. Despite the feeling that a crazy, Black Swan-event is now always around the corner, Brian offers a measured, thoughtful and optimistic view of our new future. During this pandemic, I have been seeking voices like his to find comfort in our ultimate goal as humans; to make our tomorrows better. Brian believes we will make it out of this. I do too. Recorded via Zoom on July 28, 2020. In this podcast: Brian talks about being a panelist on Inside Story since 1988 and how he was selected (1:11), running for class president in the first grade and why he didn't even vote for himself (2:57), why he never ended up as a career, elected politician (3:52), his journey back to "Bal-uh Sinwood" for a career in public relations (6:54), I ask Brian the simple but complex question: How do you successfully marketing something? (8:16), why immediately loving an idea could be a bad sign (10:28), as someone who has built and sold three advertising firms, what he believes is the secret to his success (11:30), we look back at the "recent peak" of Philadelphia with the Papal Visit in 2015 and where the city is headed now (12:35), what "Philadelphia Grit" means to him (13:50), why we should be handling the coronavirus pandemic like we would an incoming blizzard (14:50), how to save the journalism industry (18:04), social media's early impact on the newspaper industry (20:05), why Facebook needs to change its attitude on addressing its many negative impacts on society (21:58), Brian's worry about the emerging political threat of China (23:30), how the ad industry is the key to forcing change with Big Tech (24:55), what kind of boss Brian is (26:15), what he thinks about employees who like to tell him why something can't happen (27:30), taking risks (27:55), why he insisted that one of his earlier companies needed to charge $15 more than any other competitor (31:25), what the "2025 Education Cliff" is all about and why it worries him (34:35), his successful campaign to find a new slogan for Philadelphia, which ended up being "Philadelphia: The Place That Loves You Back" (38:09), bringing U2 singer Bono to Philadelphia and why it proves "everyone is a human being" (41:00), why despite everything that is going on, Brian remains optimistic (43:10), why people who are struggling with their mental health should not be embarrassed (45:20).

S3 E15: Maribel Aber on Doing the Little Things, Pandemic TV and Meeting Susan Lucci Jul 20, 2020

Maribel Aber of CNN Newsource has been providing Action News with early morning financial reports for eight years. Typically she reports live from the NASDAQ Marketsite in Times Square, New York. She moved her broadcast operation to a home in Florida when the pandemic began to set in and has been there ever since. Maribel's deep knowledge of Wall Street, business and stocks is apparent. So is her positive, uplifting personality. We had always talked about meeting in-person for a podcast interview. But since doing Zoom calls has become the norm these days, we decided a virtual interview would suffice. Maribel gives us insight on reporting from her remote location, her background and earlier career dreams, what helped her succeed, her financial advice and making remote learning work better for students, teachers and parents. Plus, I try a brand new concept (for this podcast, at least): the "Speed Round." Recorded July 10, 2020. In this podcast: Maribel talks about leaving New York in the spring (2:00), setting up her remote broadcast operation (2:28), her background and original career plan (4:27), how she ended up meeting "All My Children" star Susan Lucci and why it meant so much to Maribel's mom (7:00), the day CNN called with interest in hiring her (8:26), how the Tom Hanks movie "Splash" mirrors how Maribel's mom (who is from the Philippines) learned English (8:48), Maribel's key to early career success (9:30), what financial advice she would give to a novice (11:20), her investment philosophy: buy what you know (12:30), why the stock market recovered much of its pandemic losses so quickly (14:30), what advice she would give people who have struggled financially during the pandemic (17:25), her great idea on how to make virtual learning better: making teaching more like a Peloton class (19:40), our "Speed Round" starts (22:10), Maribel's worries about how New York City will emerge from the pandemic (25:15), "Speed Round" continues.

S3 E14 Philadelphia Criminal Defense Attorney Michael Coard on Why "The Angriest Black Man in America" is More Hopeful Now Jul 09, 2020

When you ask Michael Coard what he thinks about anything, he will give you an answer - unfiltered. The longtime Philadelphia criminal defense lawyer has been talking for decades about racial issues that we now see at the forefront today: inequities in how African-Americans are treated in the judicial system, by police, in the workplace and with history. Coard joked that as fewer and fewer people see him as a "radical" maybe he needs to start acting crazier. Throughout our conversation, he gave thoughtful answers and powerful metaphors to express what it is like to be a Black man in America and why everyone needs to work together to reform our society. Not only a veteran lawyer and civil rights activist, Coard is also a journalist, a radio host and a teacher. We spoke via Zoom on July 6, 2020. In this podcast: Coard reveals what he would have told himself if he could go back to December of last year (1:25), what he thinks lit the spark among Americans to take an honest look at our country's race relations (2:00), if he was a radical before, what is he now? (2:45), why he "plays the race card" when fighting for equal rights (4:03), Coard presents a hypothetical situation that brings clarity to the struggles of African-Americans in the criminal justice system (4:25), if the "Angriest Black Man in America" is still angry (5:30), the story behind acknowledging the fact that President George Washington kept slaves at his house in Philadelphia (7:50), the poignant speech Coard gave at the opening of the President's House Memorial at Independence Mall in 2010 (11:10), why Coard is hopeful but also not naive about the growth of the Black Lives Matter movement (13:10), if a re-examining of the Founding Fathers, particularly those who owned slaves (which includes 10 of the first 12 presidents) is next (14:30), when America will be ready to move forward and put our dark history of slavery behind us (17:30), what Coard wants from Philadelphia's mayor and police commissioner over the tear-gassing of protesters on the Vine Street Expressway (18:10), how to balance police reform with protecting citizens from crime (20:00), the story of why Coard believes he became a successful man and how luck plays into our success (20:56), the commonalities he sees in the thousands of Black men accused of crimes he has represented over the years (22:14), how Coard wants to reimagine the Martin Luther King Day of Service (24:50), his response to the phrase "All Lives Matter" (27:30), where he thinks this country will be in a few years (30:05), how we can get people to listen to each other (32:10), the problem with echo chambers (36:00), why he thinks it's ridiculous when people tell protestors to stop "yelling and screaming" (37:55), what he has learned during the pandemic (39:45).

S3 E13: Historian Garrett Graff on Pennsylvania's Mysterious Mountain Bunker and Planning for Armageddon Jun 03, 2020

The idea of the US government spending several decades preparing to ride out an apocalypse by building an entire city in a hollowed-out mountain is fascinating - and terrifying, all the same. This city is contained within a massive bunker carved out of an Appalachian mountain known as Raven Rock. Historian, author and journalist Garrett Graff wrote the definitive book about it. I spoke to Garrett via a Zoom connection from his home in Vermont about the analogies he's seeing between preparing for a nuclear holocaust and enduring a viral pandemic. We also talked about 9/11 and what similarities and differences he is seeing there. We talked about anticipating the craziest election in American history (Garrett worked on Howard Dean's 2004 presidential campaign). And yes, we talked a lot about the mountain, Raven Rock. Recorded on Zoom on May 26, 2020. In this podcast: I asked Garrett if writing a book about the US preparing for Armageddon helped him prepare for this ongoing pandemic (1:45), why it is so hard to anticipate "low probability, high consequence" events (2:40), Garrett describes Raven Rock and its two mountain counterparts in Colorado and Virginia (5:15), how Raven Rock has changed over many decades and what is happening there right now (7:25), why it is so hard for the US government to prepare for the End of Times (8:42), what the inside of Raven Rock would look like (10:42), what Garrett thinks should be our government's greatest fears: massive grid and power failures along with catastrophic earthquakes (13:45), what similarities and differences he's noticed by living through 9/11 and this current pandemic (21:30), what the pandemic will mean for our country in the near, middle and long term (23:45), thoughts on the upcoming 2020 presidential election (30:10), if the pandemic is hurting or helping Joe Biden politically (31:20), the chances either President Trump or the former vice president would not appear on the ballot in November (32:00), if he finds social media a useful tool or a hindrance when it comes to unexpected events (32:27), we riff on our home states Pennsylvania and Vermont (35:06).

S3 E12: Former Philadelphia FBI Agent on Post-Truth, Bad Guys and Reinventing Yourself May 15, 2020

Jerri Williams spent 26 years as an FBI agent, mostly in the Philadelphia division. You might remember seeing her on Action News as the spokeswoman for the FBI and later on SEPTA before her retirement. Williams was able to remold herself post-retirnement as a successful author of fiction and non-fiction and as a podcaster. How did she figure out how to do this? She just learned, worked hard and did it. I spoke to Williams through a Zoom connection from her Gloucester County, New Jersey home about creating that "second act" in life, her days investigating white collar crime with the FBI, how some criminals clearly underestimated her, plus what the idea of a "Deep State" and an age of post-truth means for the FBI and the criminal justice system. Recorded on Zoom on May 18, 2020. In this podcast: Why her "FBI Retired Case File Review" podcast has become so popular, now with more than three million downloads (1:25), why she joined the FBI in the first place (2:45), how rare it was for a black woman to work in the FBI (4:00), why she thinks it is rare for women in general to join the bureau (4:30), the craziest case she ever worked on with the FBI - the New Era Philanthropy Ponzi scheme (5:30), if it was ever boring to be constantly working on complex white collar crimes (6:45), the criminal suspect who tried to charm her by saying she looked like singer Gladys Knight (8:00), how she became a successful author (9:10), how she became a successful podcaster and what the secret is to a great podcast (11:00), the skill of listening (12:10), if it was scary to have to figure out her life post-retirement (12:45), what she thinks about the conspiracy theories that the country is run by a "Deep State" that exists in the FBI (14:40), what she thinks about a post-truth world and the technology to create "deep fakes" to fool the public (16:20) her optimism that detection technology will help (17:20), if people are born evil or become evil (19:10), why she sees an increase in scams during this pandemic (21:15), why she is hopeful about coming out of this crisis (22:25), her favorite things about Philadelphia (23:10).

S3 E11: NYT Best-Selling Sports Journalist Jeff Pearlman on How the Pandemic May Change Sports Apr 27, 2020

Jeff Pearlman and I were classmates at the University of Delaware and colleagues at the independent campus newspaper The Review. Jeff was the editor-in-chief our senior year and let's just say, that was a pretty crazy year. We explain why during this podcast. Jeff is a New York Times best-selling author. His latest book coming out this fall details the Kobe Bryant-led era of the Los Angeles Lakers. That begins our discussion, which then leads into a breakdown of what amateur and professional sports may look like in the near future. Jeff now lives in Southern California with his family. We spoke during a Zoom call on April 21, 2020. In this podcast: How the death of Kobe Bryant impacted Jeff and the release of his book on that Lakers dynasty (2:50), our time working together at the campus newspaper at the University of Delaware (4:30), how important it was to make mistakes early in a journalism career (7:10), how the internet has made it so much more difficult to survive one's mistakes on television these days (8:40), the time Jeff was a newspaper reporter in Tennessee and walked into a murder scene (9:50), how a sports journalist deals with a sports shutdown and what it means for the sportswriting industry (10:50), the chances of seeing professional sports being played anytime soon (12:50), if PGA Tour golf, as a sport with the least amount of contact between players, has a chance to resume (15:10), why Jeff says the NBA and the MLB seem to have different ideas about risk (16:30), what a baseball game without fans might be like (18:50), which major professional sports will have the most difficulty recovering (20:15), what he thinks about the prospects for pro soccer and hockey (22:00), the impact on college athletes and the NCAA (23:00), the chances of high school football games being played in the fall (23:45), if he would buy a ticket to next year's Super Bowl (25:00), if major sports will have to rework their broadcast contracts (26:40), how excitement over The Last Dance ESPN documentary is somewhat of a prelude to the return of professional sports (28:00), Jeff's favorite athlete as a player and as a person (30:45), his least favorites (he has three) (32:47), if he's working on his next book (33:45).

S3 E10: 6abc Health Reporter and Registered Nurse Ali Gorman on the Many Unknowns of COVID-19 Apr 22, 2020

Ali Gorman has been our go-to for all things health, medical and wellness for more than 12 years. The South Jersey native's expertise has never been more needed or valued now. The registered nurse started her medical career with the Navy as a Nurse Corps officer. She knows what people on the front lines are dealing with right now. Ali opens up her knowledge bank to offer her thoughts on the whole host of uncertainties about this novel coronavirus. Recorded through Zoom on April 20, 2020 In this podcast: We talk about Ali's background in growing up, education and her career (1:10), why she joined the Navy (2:05), why she became one of the first at Action News to work from home (3:12), how being at home can actually make you do more work (4:20), what her health care worker colleagues are going through on the front lines (5:15), how nursing to her is a not just a profession, it is a "calling" (6:05), what Ali thought and feared back in January, before the United States had its first confirmed COVID-19 case (7:30), the teleconference call she was on with the CDC in mid-February that had a "change in tone" (8:25), if she ever thought she would live to see a full-on, world pandemic (9:50), if Ali worries the country could be "stuck" where we are going back and forth between stay-at-home orders (10:55), her thoughts on some of the conspiracy theories floating around (12:50), if she thinks we'll ever find "patient zero" (13:20), how the virus might have been around much earlier, with more community spread, than we had earlier thought (13:50), why it impacts people in a variety of ways from being asymptomatic to being fatal (14:20), the "cytokine storm" (15:15), why the coronavirus is a truly odd one (16:20), why the virus is so effective when it comes to its fatality rate and its symptoms (17:25), why this pandemic is so different from SARS, MERS, H1N1 and West Nile (18:30), what would have happened if we didn't apply social distancing and stay-at-home orders (19:50), if Ali fears large portions of the public will reach a breaking point and begin violating the distancing requirements (20:40), what she is most hopeful about with a vaccine, with a treatment and with increased testing (22:05), what the picture of the woman diving behind her at home is all about (24:00).

S3 E9: Why Is My Dog Bailey Acting Strange? - With Dr. Carlo Siracusa of Penn's Ryan Veterinary Hospital Apr 11, 2020

When concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated and the stay-at-home orders went into place in March of 2020, my entire family was suddenly at home a lot more than usual. My dog Bailey, a generally happy-go-lucky eight-year-old Shichon, immediately knew something was wrong. He seemed spooked, he acted stressed and he watched us more closely. Bailey might have even picked up on our general concern as parents - I mean, remember the early days of the pandemic when everything seemed to happen all at once and confusion was rampant? I became curious about Bailey's response and wanted to know more. Dr. Carlo Siracusa is a veterinarian and associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Ryan Veterinary Hospital. He studies animal behavior and seeks to understand our pets' stress level and why certain animals can turn aggressive. The Society Hill resident owns a cat Elsa and yes, Elsa also noticed a drastic change in her owner's work life and even became confused. Bailey and I spoke to Dr. Siracusa through a Zoom connection on April 8, 2020. I asked most of the questions while Bailey sat on my lap and occasionally ate treats. In this podcast: Dr. Siracusa introduces himself and explains his research at Ryan Veterinary Hospital (1:30), I introduce him to my dog Bailey (2:35), Dr. Siracusa asks about my experience with Bailey when our family observed the stay-at-home order (2:55), he explains why Bailey began acting different (4:45), how changes in the outdoor environment can also trigger stress in pets (6:40), why some pets may not like a sudden boost in attention from their owners (7:00), why it is important for pets to have their safe spaces and not be in a constant "state of activation" (9:15), how a drastic change in the home environment can kick in a pet's "survival mode" (9:45), how pets need quiet time at the end of the day, just like humans (11:15), why a dog or cat's resting time can be very different from their owners' (13:15), best advice: make sure you give your pet some space (14:00), Dr. Siracusa explains how his cat Elsa responded to a change in his routines (16:35), Bailey and I bid farewell and thank Dr. Siracusa for his time (18:20).

S3 E8: Archbishop Nelson Perez on Coming Home, God, Heaven, COVID-19 and Whether He Texts Pope Francis Apr 06, 2020

Archbishop Nelson Perez was all set to bring new leadership to the Philadelphia Archdiocese - until all of his plans changed. The coronavirus pandemic has eliminated gatherings and kept 1.4 million Catholics in our region at home. Archbishop Perez talks about his very strange and unexpected start in his new job with the church. Our conversation also veers off the COVID-19 course to get his views on God, heaven, leadership and Pope Francis. Recorded at the rectory at Archdiocesan headquarters in Center City, Philadelphia on March 30th, 2020. In this podcast: How the Archbishop is coping during the coronavirus pandemic (1:10), Going back to the day in January 2020 when the church announced his appointment in Philadelphia (3:05), what he says to people whose faith is being tested by the pandemic (3:50), using religion to try to understand horrible events (4:55), using this time to reorganize our priorities (5:25), how he found out he was leaving Cleveland as Archbishop and going back to Philadelphia (5:55), the phone call he received during Martin Luther King weekend and the "are you alone?" question (6:40), his background and how it lead him to Philadelphia twice (8:35), how he used to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame while serving in Cleveland and his favorite rock bands (9:50), if he considers himself a "Philly guy" and what that even means to him (10:45), what it means to be Philadelphia's first Hispanic Archbishop (11:50), how he apologized for the priest sex abuse scandal within the Catholic Church during his introductory news conference (13:30), what Pope Francis is like (15:10), the different views between himself and his predecessor, Archbishop Charles Chaput (17:05), how he supports the teachings of the church and if he believes women should ever be priests (19:00), his leadership style (19:50), what his vision of God looks like (21:45), if he ever has moments where he wishes he would be able to marry and have children (23:45), how he views the concepts of heaven, hell and purgatory (25:05), what he plans to address during his homily on Easter (26:35), what changes we might see at the other side of this pandemic (29:25), if social distancing might create new, less-desired habits (31:20), what he would say to someone with the simple question: "Will I be okay?" (32:15).

S3 E7: Dr. Susan Weiss and Working on the Front Lines of Coronavirus Research at Penn Mar 29, 2020

Dr. Susan Weiss works in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine. She is also the co-director of Penn's newly-founded Center for Research on Coronaviruses and Other Emerging Pathogens. Penn's lab, which is considered a Biosafety Level 3 lab, obtained actual samples of the coronavirus that is sweeping across the world. Dr. Weiss is working from her home in Montgomery County to protect herself from getting infected; she is part of the known high-risk population. From her kitchen, she helps lead her special Penn research team to learn more about what this coronavirus is, what it can do and how it can be destroyed. Dr. Weiss may very well be one of the people who will lead us out of this pandemic. She has been conducting research on the group of viruses known as coronaviruses for 40 years. Her research has taken her to Wuhan, the city in China where the pandemic began. Dr. Weiss explains what she has learned so far during her career and what she hopes to know very soon. Recorded on March 27, 2020 in Merion Station, PA. In this podcast: Dr. Weiss talks about what it has been like working from home (1:45), how her lab obtained coronavirus samples and what a BSL-3 lab is all about (2:14), how she is a scientist and not a clinician and what that means (3:45), explains her background in coronavirus research (5:00), why the field was wide open when she selected it in the beginning of her career (6:45), why she has been studying the coronavirus in mice (7:45), why there could be many more coronaviruses that we don't know about (8:55), she explains why viruses need a host and why they are not considered living organisms (10:30), why the SARS outbreak in 2002, now known as "SARS 1," featured a virus that was far more deadly than this one (11:30), how this latest coronavirus, which is referred to as "SARS 2," kind of got lucky (13:08), her visit to Wuhan, China (13:45), the mystery of why SARS 1 seemed to suddenly disappear (14:15), how a virus jumps from animals to humans and why bats carry coronaviruses (15:40), whether the pangolin may have been the animal that allowed SARS 2 to jump to humans (18:10), how she took part in a study that was published this year that disproved the conspiracy theory that SARS 2 was created in a lab (19:50), what the coronavirus does to humans who get infected (21:20), what happens when the body experiences a "cytokine storm," when the immune system goes haywire (22:30), upper respiratory infections versus lower ones (22:55), what she hopes to learn from the coronavirus during this crucial stage of her research (24:10), the coincidence that the recent virus outbreaks have generally been about 10 years apart (27:20), the pressure of quickening the pace of her research (27:45), what she thinks about the world's response to the pandemic (28:40), how the pandemic will change our lives (29:30), the possibility of the coronavirus jumping seasons and "herd immunity" (30:05).

S3 E6: Delaware Man Runs 50 Marathons in 50 States Then Summits Mount Everest Mar 20, 2020

Ricky Singh is an amazing man. He climbed Mount Everest and made it back alive on May 21, 2019. Before even considering attempting this feat, Singh went and ran a marathon in every single state. Fifty of them! Doing both of these is a first. Singh says he is also the first American Sikh and second Indian-American to reach the top of the planet. He is also the first Everest summiter I've ever met, which is a far more insignificant accomplishment. Singh is an extremely spiritual man whose outlook on life needs to be shared during these difficult times. I spoke to him at his home in northern Delaware, a few weeks before the coronavirus outbreak in the US. It is fascinating to hear him take us up the mountain step by step by step. Recorded on March 5, 2020 in Greenville, Delaware. In this podcast: If Singh gets bored easily (1:35), what it is like to be on top of Mount Everest, an area about the size of "three or four ping pong tables" (1:50), some of the many dangers when on top (2:50), the spirituality of being on top of the world (3:30), if he was afraid he would fall off (4:10), the conditions the day he climbed (4:50), why he became such an avid runner and why he decided to complete 50 marathons in 50 states, beginning in 2005 and finishing in 2016 (5:00), the best and worst marathons he ran (7:20), why he stayed away from the bigger races, like the Boston Marathon (8:30), how he keeps in shape (8:45), how he prepared for climbing Everest (9:00), how he dealt with the realization that he might not make it back alive (10:30), his early visits to Nepal to become acquainted with the climate, culture and altitude (11:10), we begin talking about Singh's ascent to Everest in 2019 (14:25), Base Camp - 17,600 feet (14:35), the Khumbu Icefall leading to Camp I (16:12), the Western Cwm leading to Camp II - 21,300 feet - and why it is so hot (16:45), the Lhotse Face to Camp III - 24,500 feet (17:35), arriving at Camp IV - 26,000 feet - and entering the "Death Zone" (18:30), deciding when to leave Camp IV and attempt a summit (20:35), witnessing a dead body on the mountain for the first time and why bodies or trash are not removed (20:55), the Balcony - 27,700 feet - a place of rest (22:15), the Cornice Traverse (23:15), breathing near the summit (23:50), the Hillary Step and why Mother Nature made this part of the climb easier (24:15), how it is one person at a time through this point (25:20), if he would ever look down during his ascent (26:10), why he chose to go up on a day that had poor weather (27:10), what he thought about when he was about to reach the top (28:35), why he only spent about 15 minutes on the summit (29:25), if he took a selfie (30:00), achieving his second goal: making it back down alive (31:00), his injuries from frostbite: the loss of three fingertips (31:48), why we were both surprised that Singh is the first American Sikh and second Indian-American to summit Everest (33:05), what those facts mean to him (33:45), 11 people died while climbing Everest in 2019, does he think there should be more restrictions? (36:00), what's next for Singh, including mentoring other climbers and organizing "ultra-marathons" (27:45), what he learned about himself after his accomplishment (38:53).

S3 E5: Ajay Raju on How We Will Emerge From the Coronavirus Pandemic as a Stronger People Mar 19, 2020

We need a little hope right now, don't you agree? I called my colleague and friend Ajay Raju to help me convey some positive thinking on this crisis. Please know that both of us truly understand people are suffering out there. Lives are being lost, people are getting sick, incomes have diminished to nothing, hopes and dreams have been erased. But in times of crises, human beings always adapt and survive. It is our nature. Ajay is a panelist on Inside Story, the host of Overheard at Tredici and the CEO and chairman of the powerful law firm Dilworth Paxson. He is involved in so many other projects that it would require a secondary podcast to describe. Ajay is plugged in, he is brilliant, he is a forward thinker and he is already planning for beyond this pandemic. We discuss how this uncertain experience might impact how we view and use technology, how we will tend to the environment, how we will act as a truly "global species" and how we will treat each other. Ajay and I wish that this discussion will bring you hope. Because both of us, in the face of the largest crisis either of us have ever seen, remain extremely hopeful for the human race. Anyone who has bet against us has lost every time. Recorded at Dilworth Paxson LLP at 1500 Market Street, Philadelphia on March 19, 2020.

S3 E4: "Coronavirus 101" with Dr. Judd Hollander at Jefferson University Hospital Mar 18, 2020

Let's get back to the basics on this pandemic. What is a virus? What is a coronavirus? How long have they been around? Why aren't young people getting infected as much? Dr. Judd Hollander answers all of these questions and more, and tells us which questions we cannot answer yet. Dr. Hollander is an associate dean at Jefferson's medical college, an emergency room doctor and has been working on a project to expand "telemedicine" which he also explains in this podcast. Recorded on March 17, 2020 at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Center City, Philadelphia. In this podcast: We break down what a virus is (2:17), what a coronavirus is (3:34), how COVID-19 began (4:40), how it jumped from animal to human and "wet markets" in China (5:10), the conspiracy that COVID-19 is a bioweapon (6:24), how the virus spreads from person to person (7:35), how this forced us to change our habits and hygiene (8:48), the changing notion of "playing hurt" and going to work sick (9:20), why it is so important to be mindful of those who aren't equipped to fight the infection (10:55), why the infection rates with children is so low (11:40), if you can give the coronavirus to a pet and vice-versa (12:38), what we know about the overall rates of infection (13:48), what we know about the death rate (15:05), the biggest difference between COVID-19 and the flu (16:10), if the coronavirus could become season like the flu (16:30), the unpublished study that finds the coronavirus outbreaks tend to occur in countries that have temperatures ranging between 40-50 degrees fahrenheit (17:05), our worst case scenario (18:15), our best case scenario (19:38), what Dr. Hollander would do if he could go back in time one month (20:40), how this pandemic will change us as a people (21:49), the importance of growing telemedicine, a specialty of Dr. Hollander's (22:25), how we should reassess public gatherings in the future (26:19), the ongoing battle between humans and viruses (27:00), the expected growth in research on anti-viral medicine (27:36), what Dr. Hollander is most hopeful about (28:05).

S3 E3: Tina Halladay of Philadelphia Hard Rock Band "Sheer Mag" Talks About On-Stage Stereotypes, Proving Yourself and "Acid Jazz" Mar 16, 2020

Tina Halladay looks like the modern-day rock star, which like so many other things in our society, destroys the stereotypes of old. She is the lead vocalist of Sheer Mag, which formed in Philadelphia right after all of the members left college in New York and decided to move here. The band is a hard rock time machine that updates the stadium rock of the 1970s and 1980s without sounding outdated or artificial. Tina invited me to the Sheer Mag practice space in Southwest Philadelphia, which is a rectangular-shaped storage room filled with musical instruments, merchandise, personal belongings and a can of Coors Light or two. We talked about what drew the band to Philadelphia, how people react to her appearance and how she deals with it, her musical tastes growing up and the realization that other girls in the audience sometimes look just like her. Recorded in Southwest Philadelphia on March 9, 2020. In this podcast: Excerpt of the Sheer Mag song "The Killer" (00:05), how I first heard about her band (3:50), being a throwback band with sincerity (4:55), if being a female lead singer is a big deal anymore (6:29), why employees at venues mistake her for a "merch" person (7:00), what it's like proving yourself over and over again (8:15), the stereotypes of the music industry (8:55), how a Long Island girl ended up in Philadelphia (9:53), why she's glad she ended up in Philadelphia (11:10), trying to categorize her band and "acid jazz" (11:55), what I hear when I listen to Sheer Mag (12:55), where Tina's musical tastes began (14:30), how she ended up becoming a vocalist (15:50), growing up hanging out with a "pack of weirdos" (16:30), her looks (17:10), the difficulty of finding clothes (17:45), seeing other girls dressed just like her (18:29), if she feels she is putting a dent in stereotypes (19:45), the band's connection to presidential candidate Bernie Sanders (20:25), the importance of "DIY" culture with the band (23:31), why they want to own their music (25:09), releasing their music on vinyl (25:45), her vocal style (27:17), singing about her turbulent history with her late father (29:17), why it was important to seek therapy (30:30), the art of coming up with stage banter (32:30), winning over the crowd (35:35), other Philadelphia bands she listens to (39:15), where she hangs out in the city (40:15), the track "Steel Sharpens Steel" from the latest Sheer Mag album "A Distant Call" (42:37).

S3 E2: Deep Dive into the True Crime Episode "The Disappearance of Imbo and Petrone" Feb 24, 2020

Anchor Sarah Bloomquist and producer Jessica Gonzalez spent an entire month researching this baffling missing persons case from South Philadelphia. Watch their report on the 6abc True Crime YouTube page and then listen to this podcast extra. Sarah, Jess and I go even deeper into what is known about the night of February 19, 2005, the events leading up to it and some of the things the FBI has learned in the 15 years it has been investigating the couple's disappearance. The Main Players: Sarah Bloomquist, Jessica Gonzalez - reporters/producers Danielle Imbo, Richard Petrone - missing since 2/19/2005 Vito Roselli - FBI investigator Joe Imbo - Danielle's former husband John Ottobre - Danielle's brother Robert Carey - arrested in pill ring investigation in Kensington; hanged himself in prison Anthony Rodesky - convicted murderer of two people in South Jersey; still in jail Recorded in the 6abc studios on February 20, 2020 In this podcast: Sarah and Jess explain why it was so important to do this story (2:10), they reconstruct the night of the couple's disappearance (3:55), what the FBI means when they say "people" know things about this case (8:35), some background on the couple, their families and what their lives were like before they vanished (10:49), what it was like for Sarah and Jess to visit the bar where they were last seen and to speak to the building's owner (16:35), why the events that took place that night in 2005 would have been so much different in 2020 (19:13), some of the events that took place after their disappearance, including the discovery of a truck in the Delaware River (19:49), some other rumors, including the Kensington pill ring suspect who hanged himself after his arrest (21:28), what is known about Joe Imbo, who was Danielle's estranged husband at the time (22:20), what is known about Anthony Rodesky, a convicted murderer who has not been ruled out in this case (24:50), how the FBI thinks the truck was disposed of (28:10), what it was like to speak to John Ottobre, Danielle's brother (29:30), why it is so hard for Sarah and Jess to speculate (30:00), if the FBI ever considered a case of mistaken identity as a theory (31:09), reaction to their True Crime piece from the FBI and the families (32:52), why authorities may never bring this case to a prosecution (33:50), how changes in technology might help the FBI solve this once and for all (34:40).

S3 E1: Joe Conklin on the Anatomy of a Great Impression, Doing Comedy in a Hyper-Sensitive World and Why Philadelphia Sports Fans Have Changed Feb 14, 2020

Joe Conklin, A.K.A. "The Man of a Thousand Voices," is a Philadelphia institution. There is no one like him around here, and perhaps no one like him anywhere else. He can look and sound like anyone he wants: Andy Reid, Allen Iverson, Charles Barkley, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Joel Embiid, Merrill Reese, Rich Kotite...the list truly goes all the way to 1,000 and maybe beyond. I grabbed a table with Conklin at the New Wave Cafe in South Philadelphia to talk about where his abilities and comedy and impressions came from, what makes a good joke, whether his industry has become a landmine field because of society's hypersensitivity...oh, and he offers an impression. Or two. Or three. Recorded at the New Wave Cafe in South Philadelphia, February 11, 2020. In this podcast: Conklin talks about how comedy has changed (2:00), how he scripts most of his material on the radio (2:30), what the Janet Jackson Super Bowl incident has to do with that (3:00), how modern attitudes have impacted his standup routine (3:40), how he deals with hecklers (5:40), why doing comedy at luncheons can be...interesting (7:20), why his President Obama impression led to the end of one of his acts (8:00), growing up in Olney and attending Temple University (9:00) how the people he grew up with became many of the impressions in his routines (10:15), when he realized he had a gift of doing impressions (11:55), the idea of looking like the person he is doing an impression of (13:20), Joel Embiid (13:55), how he starts from scratch when developing an impression (14:10), why the idea of "recognition" is so important (15:05), John Madden, the most difficult impression he's ever worked on (15:50), how cadence factors into an impression with the example of Merrill Reese (16:40), if anyone ever gets upset with an impression (17:50), when Andy Reid became a little "sensitive" (19:40), why the Philadelphia sports fan has changed (20:50), the idea behind having "celebrity" fans in Philadelphia (22:30), Sixers fans' relationship with Joel Embiid (23:00), generational changes in sports fans (24:05), what is most important with Philadelphia sports fans (25:10), Mike Schmidt (25:30), why social media seems like doubling his work (26:30), being cautious on social media (28:30), his thoughts on Bill Cosby (30:10), if politics have unnecessarily invaded comedy (31:20), being cautious with his impression of President Trump (31:50), Bernie Sanders (33:40), Elizabeth Warren (33:55), favorite Philadelphia athlete (35:33), favorite Philadelphia coach (36:50), favorite comedians (38:20), what is not funny (39:45).

S2 E15: Kendra Brooks, Philadelphia's Ultimate 'Party' Crasher, on What She Plans to Change in the City, What Songs She Sings at Karaoke Jan 17, 2020

City Councilwoman At-Large Kendra Brooks did something that essentially hadn't been done in 100 years in Philadelphia - win her seat while not being a member of the two major political parties. I met Brooks at her new office during her first week at City Hall. The Working Families Party member was asking staff to fix a light bulb in the hallway. It mattered because Brooks plans to make it a habit of arriving early and staying late at her office, when most other lights are out. We spent nearly an hour talking about what needs to be changed about Philadelphia, what has changed about Philadelphia and about her background as a mother, a life-long Philadelphia resident and working woman. Recorded at Philadelphia City Hall, Room 411, on January 9, 2020. In this podcast: The history behind Brooks' new office (1:46), how she was able to win her election against all odds (2:15), if she ever believed she would actually win (2:42), how she managed to earn more votes than the GOP candidate for mayor (3:30), what the Working Families Party stands for (4:20), if WFP might have had its beginnings with the Occupy Wall Street movement (5:20), how she still lives in Nicetown, the neighborhood she grew up in (6:05), juggling single motherhood with a professional and political career (6:35), what songs she likes to sing on Karaoke night (7:45), how she makes tough choices in balancing her family and career (9:00), when she decided to enter politics and how Facebook played a part (10:30), how to reverse the city's ongoing problem with violence, especially against children (11:24), why she is shocked to ride the subway these days (14:00), how to convince people to invest in struggling communities for the long term (15:07), why she thinks Philadelphia can still be choosy when trying to attract new businesses, courting Amazon (17:20), if the city should have used public funds to help build new sports stadiums (19:00), why ending tax abatements is number one on her priorities list (20:30), if it is healthy for a city to be controlled by only one political party (23:20), what she thought when party chairman Bob Brady threatened people to not support her candidacy (24:40), if WFP can win broader appeal (26:04), why she favors rent control even though it has seen negative effects in New York City (27:45), if public schools are better off without the School Reform Commission (30:18), why she wants a moratorium on charter schools (33:50), how to avoid having to raise real estate taxes to fully fund public schools (35:05), if she has 'super' wealthy friends and if it is okay to amass millions upon millions of dollars (35:25), why she believes the capital gains tax gives the wealthy an advantage (36:45), why she believes wealth should be redistributed (37:10), if everyone should make the same amount of money (37:48), the idea of a living wage (38:45), her days as a nursing assistant and working long hours (39:20), raising the minimum wage (40:15), what Philadelphia is currently doing right (41:30), her experience at the Pennsylvania Society gathering in New York City (42:34), if she believes we are getting better at respecting other people's differences (46:07), how social media and young people have impacted acceptance (47:20), how Generation X paved the way to more acceptance (48:10), the best things about living in Philadelphia (49:10), her favorite places to visit in the city and the food (50:44), if the cheesesteak gets too much hype (51:40)

S2 E14: G. Love on Keeping the Philadelphonic Alive, Using His Music to Empower People and Ordering a Hamburger Jan 14, 2020

G. Love & Special Sauce is one of the pioneers of the blues and hip hop style of music that is so prevalent these days. Their self-titled debut album was released in 1994 and made G. Love famous. With their latest album "The Juice" (2020), G. Love is out to prove that his "Philadelphonic" sound still has relevance and in fact can be empowering to his listeners. The man whose real name is Garrett Dutton is convinced: the world needs more G. Love, now more than ever. The Philadelphia native and I talked in an empty radio studio at WXPN-FM in University City, right before his soundcheck ahead of an album release party at World Cafe Live. He reached back into the early days of Special Sauce, talked about why he knows "The Juice" is about to be freshly squeezed on his adoring fans and even enjoys a surprise I brought with me. Recorded on December 13, 2019 at WXPN-FM in University City. Podcast includes the album's lead track "The Juice" at the end. In this podcast: G. Love tells us what he is loving these days (2:00), how he is empowering people through his music (2:58), why he knows "The Juice" is a great record (3:52), being careful with "actually" as a descriptor (4:55), why using Keb' Mo' as his producer was such a perfect fit (5:40), why G. Love is not meticulous at all, which goes into a discussion of how to decide if he should eat Burger King or McDonald's (7:55), takes us back to 1993-1994 when G. Love & Special Sauce released their debut album and were renting a loft in Old City (8:40), that legendary New Year's Eve party at said loft that led to 869 cigarette burns on the carpet (9:40), when G. Love & Special Sauce finally made it big (10:45), how he reacted when he walked into Tower Records on South Street and first saw himself on his album cover (11:50), why he at first didn't like his picture on that debut album (12:15), how people initially reacted to a white kid playing "garage rock and roll while rapping" (12:45), my surprise begins! (14:20), G. Love and I hum the Action News theme (14:42), the story behind how G. Love bought the guitar that became his signature instrument - the Crucianelli Elite (15:50), how G. Love became his nickname (18:10), going back to the days of street performing in Philadelphia (20:40), why he ran into problems and took his street performing to Boston - and which town made him more money (22:20) and finally the lead track off his new album "The Juice" (22:55).

S2 E13: John Baizley of Baroness on Why He Chose Philadelphia as Home Base for His Band, His Fascination With Colors and the "DIY" Ethic Dec 21, 2019

Baroness is one of the most critically-acclaimed and internationally successful bands that fall into the "extreme" metal category (even though they are much more complex than that) and yet few people seem to realize they are based in the Philadelphia area, not Georgia where the band started in 2002. John Baizley, the founder, lead singer, guitarist, composer and album cover artist for Baroness prefers that anonymity. John invited me to his home in Montgomery County where he lives with his wife and daughter, a few weeks after he returned from a European tour to promote Baroness' fifth studio album "Gold & Grey" - my personal favorite of 2019. John's home is the same place where he practices and records with his band, plus paints his many portraits for Baroness and other bands. We spent two hours (one hour of which was recorded for this podcast) talking about his continued love affair with the Philadelphia region, his obsession with colors, his desire to make his band different in every way and his steadfast resolve to live the "DIY" ethic. Recorded in Bala Cynwyd, PA on December 13, 2019. In this podcast: An excerpt of "Front Toward Enemy," the lead track from "Gold & Grey" (0:10); Matt reveals what album he played on Spotify more than any other in 2019 (2:10); why John chose to call the Philadelphia area as his home and a home base for Baroness several years ago (2:36); how Philadelphia was like a tractor beam as it was the birthplace of his parents and where John went to elementary school before his move to Virginia (5:20); Baroness' recent European tour and surviving on the road (7:20); how fantastic musicians sometimes have mediocre touring abilities (8:04); the ingredient that has been the constant to Baroness' success (8:58); how touring the world to play music is such an adventure (11:44); how the stress of touring has led to seven lineup changes with the band (14:00); the complexity and variance of writing a new record (15:02); their performance at The Fillmore Philadelphia and how confident they were onstage (16:06); the new album "Gold & Grey" and why recording it kept the band up at night (18:54); trying to evolve with Baroness' fifth studio album (22:10); shutting out the noise of critics, whether positive or negative feedback (22:50); making the traditional format of a regular band with vocals, guitars, bass and drums different (23:30); how he's endured 16 years in the same band (26:20); if John has a favorite color (28:40); why colors interest him so much (29:25); where the idea of naming each Baroness album after a color (or colors) came from (31:30); why the colors motif and the feminine-themed name and artwork for the band has always been a response to the outer music scene (33:30); why the explosion of Nirvana on the music scene meant so much to him (35:51); why "Nevermind" was "that" album for him (36:35); learning to always apply the "DIY" ethic (37:45); how the legendary band Fugazi taught everyone how to respect an audience (40:15); how Baroness acts "communally" on the road (43:10); living with ethics and a moral code (44:05); the tour bus crash in England in 2012 and how he's returned to the accident site (44:28); if he believes the crash was fate for him and his band and if it strengthened his resolve to live (48:30); the oddity of still being able to play guitar with his left hand (which was horribly injured in the crash) but not being able to open a jar with the same hand (50:30); where John likes to hang out in Philadelphia, with shout-outs to Union Transfer and the Philadelphia Museum of Art (53:05); why you can't "cruise" in Philadelphia as opposed to other big cities (55:10); his choice for the best band out there right now, plus the best bands from the Philadelphia scene (with shout-outs to Nothing, Sheer Mag and Woe) (58:00); how the goal of forming a band you cannot categorize can become complicated (1:00:26); excerpt of "Cold-Blooded Angels" from "Gold & Grey" (1:02:40).

S2 E12: Adam Weiner of Low Cut Connie Sings the Action News Theme, Reminisces on Meeting President Obama and Explains Why He Destroys Pianos Dec 12, 2019

Adam Weiner is the heart and soul of South Philadelphia-based rock 'n' roll boogie band Low Cut Connie and may be one of the most charismatic performers in music today. He graduated from Cherry Hill East High School and admits he didn't have a "plan B" - he was going to be a rock star. With a hugely talented voice and a ceremonious devotion to being the best piano player he can be, Adam can be found in rock venues across the country jumping around the stage, rolling around his piano and undressing the crowd with his mind. He is flamboyant, sensual, unpredictable - and a Philadelphia treasure to behold. Low Cut Connie's latest album, "Dirty Pictures (Part 2)" was released in 2018. It boasts great tracks like "Beverly" (which is featured in this podcast) "All These Kids Are Way Too High" and "Master Tapes." Adam's band has received accolades from Elton John, Bruce Springsteen and President Obama, whom Adam met personally. Join us as we descend into Adam's lair, the Low Cut Connie Studios in South Philadelphia and capture a glimpse of what is going on in the mind of a Philadelphia rock star who is currently on the top of his game. Recorded December 10, 2019 in South Philadelphia. In this podcast: Excerpt of "Beverly" by Low Cut Connie (0:22); Adam offering his spontaneous rendition of the Action News Theme and his thoughts on the iconic song (3:07); on why hard work is an essential component to being a successful band (4:10); Low Cut Connie's mission statement and why the world needs more boogie (4:37); how he describes Low Cut Connie's sound to new listeners (5:28); on the band's latest album "Dirty Pictures (Part 2)" and how Philadelphia seeped into the music (6:38); Adam channeling his inner Bruce Springsteen in songwriting (7:43); why "Born in the U.S.A." and "Purple Rain" were such important albums during his childhood (8:40); how an early version of the song "Beverly" first came together during his years performing in New York City, with Adam demonstrating on his piano "Nellie" (9:27); who "Beverly" might actually be (12:20); Adam's live stage antics and how Iggy Pop provided influence (13:02); why he considers himself an "advanced amateur" on the piano and how he learned how to play (15:17); why Professor Longhair of New Orleans is his favorite piano player of all time (16:35); famous people who love his band, including Bruce Springsteen, Elton John and President Obama (who put Low Cut Connie on his summer playlist of 2015) (20:50); on meeting President Obama and whether the new attention did anything for Low Cut Connie (22:05); why the Philadelphia music scene is "fabulous" and why it is such a great home for Low Cut Connie (23:39); why he named his favorite piano "Shondra" (24:50); Adam invites me to meet "Shondra," which is now being stored in a studio basement (25:58); Adam breaks out into a rendition of Sea of Love (27:35); if Jim Gardner will listen to this podcast (27:52); a slow rendition of "Beverly" (28:25); why the song offers sadness and hope at the same time (29:35); his favorite artists of all time (30:45); a song from Toots and the Maytals (31:31); why AC/DC was right when they sang "It's a Long Way to the Top If You Wanna Rock and Roll (32:20); why his favorite Philadelphia spots are greasy delis (33:20); Adam plays an excerpt of his hit song "Boozophilia" (36:07)

S2 E11: Rep. Martina White (R-PA) on Making the City's GOP Great Again, Reaching Out to Millennials and Why Northeast Philadelphia Wants to Secede Dec 04, 2019

Philadelphia's Republican City Committee is putting its hopes on Rep. Martina White (R-PA) to help it maintain relevance - and maybe even survive. The party was embarrassed again in the 2019 mayoral race - Mayor Jim Kenney didn't even campaign against GOP opponent Billy Ciancaglini and ended up winning with 80% of the vote. Plus, an independent candidate snatched a city council at-large seat from Republican Al Taubenberger, reducing the GOP's already slim role in city politics even more. Enter White, who took over the party's chair after the November election, right after the sudden resignation of Mike Meehan. She is young (only 31 years old), a longtime Northeast Philadelphia resident, the first in her immediate family to go to college (Elizabethtown) and the first new Republican to be elected in Philadelphia in 25 years. She has represented a 2-1 Democratic district for only four years and already promises to begin rebuilding the city's GOP from scratch. Political insiders from both sides of the aisle say they are already impressed. Listen to this episode to see if you are. Recorded at Rep. White's Northeast Philadelphia office on December 3, 2019. In this episode: Why Rep. White would want to lead the GOP in a city that is 7-1 Democrat (1:50), how she plans to attract younger voters to the GOP (2:35), why she became a Republican (3:50), how she feels about the politics of Republicans in Washington (4:25), why it took so long for a new Republican to be elected in Philadelphia (6:10), how she plans to compete in a city that has more registered Independents than Republicans (7:28), if it's a problem that voters have a love/hate relationship with President Trump (8:28), if she has any dream candidates to run for mayor of Philadelphia in 2023 (9:57), her disagreements with City Hall (11:14), the last five Republicans to run for mayor (12:00), why she opposes "sanctuary city" policy (13:20), if she thinks Republicans are secretly culpable in keeping Democrats in power in Philadelphia (15:30), fixing the roads in her Northeast Philadelphia district and the difficulty of simply cutting the grass on the Roosevelt Boulevard (17:05), why some of the state's transportation funds don't actually go towards improving the roads, bridges and rails (19:00), the feasibility of building a subway beneath the Boulevard (22:35), what she thinks about the wishes of some Northeast Philadelphia residents to secede from the city and become their own, separate county (22:45), what she thinks about the 2017 Philly Mag article titled "Martina White: The It Girl of Red Philadelphia" (27:04), why she won't tell anyone who she voted for in the 2016 presidential election (28:40), her background as a financial adviser (31:10), being the first member of her immediate family to go to college (32:47), how to make college more affordable for everyone and how state grants may do the opposite of their intent (33:40), how to reverse the climbing homicide rate in Philadelphia and reduce violence against children (35:11), how she, as a teenager, was impacted by the September 11th attacks (38:40), what she might be doing in 2, 4, 6 or 8 years (41:20).

S2 E10: The "Three Really, Really, REALLY Big Ideas for Philadelphia" Episode with Nia Meeks Oct 30, 2019

Nia Meeks, a communications strategist in Philadelphia, is a frequent panelist on Inside Story (Sundays at 11:30am on 6abc). She always arrives with well-informed ideas about the issues facing Philadelphia and the surrounding region. So I thought it would be enlightening (and also entertaining) to ask her to take part in this special True Philadelphia Podcast episode. Both of us came up with three HUGE ideas, without worry about feasibility or cost, that we think should happen now or in the near future. We came up with some really good ones - and maybe some really impossible ones. Recorded at the Center City offices of Greenberg Traurig, LLP on Monday, October 28, 2019. 2:05 Nia introduces herself, 3:17 We explain the idea behind this podcast, 5:39 We flip a coin to see who goes first, 5:59 I try again SPOILERS REVEALED BELOW THIS LINE - DO NOT READ IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE SURPRISED! 6:10 Matt's 1st idea - Eliminate political parties in Philadelphia 13:30 Nia's 1st idea - Add a service year for every public high school student in Philadelphia, whether it be carried out during high school or right after graduation 19:58 Matt's 2nd idea - Embark on Philadelphia's "Big Dig" in three phases: build two upper decks to the Schuylkill Expressway to carry four additional lanes of traffic and a solar-powered mass transit line; use the Blue Route, I-295 and bridges over the Delaware River to create Philadelphia's official Beltway (just like in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore); and split domestic and international flights at Philadelphia International Airport to two sites (one remains at the existing airport and another relocates to either South Jersey, the Lehigh Valley or Delaware) 26:12 Nia's 2nd idea - Develop different "creative corridors" in every single Philadelphia neighborhood featuring the arts, animation, architecture, filmmaking, fashion, tech, music and with a public/private partnership 32:40 Matt's 3rd idea - With inspiration from comedian Chris Rock, tax bullets so that they are ridiculously expensive but exempt the tax for anyone using them at a gun range 39:36 Nia's 3rd idea - A "Park in a Truck" program where trucks will dump topsoil in empty city lots to create green spaces, whether they are made to be parks, gardens, planters or recreational spots.

S2 E9: Fran Dunphy on Quakers, Owls, Leaving Coaching and Why His Worst Loss Ever Became His Most Important Game Sep 26, 2019

Fran Dunphy is a Philadelphia basketball coaching legend. He led the Penn Quakers from 1989-2006 and the Temple Owls from 2006 until his retirement this last season, winning multiple league championships and coaching awards throughout. Dunphy teaches a business management class at Temple. We spent some time in his office after class to talk about his career, how basketball has changed, how players have changed, how he has changed and why his worst loss was his most important game as a coach. In this podcast: what it was like that first day after his coaching retirement (2:20), what he might do at Temple's first basketball game this season (3:50), how the game changed from his first coaching experience in 1971 to his final season in 2018-2019 (4:20), if he put together a plan or a set of principles early on in his career (6:30), how he has influenced so many people through the years and how those people influenced him (8:00), how today's athlete has changed (9:50), if he sees himself as a player's coach or a disciplinarian (11:10), why being a "mean" coach doesn't always work (12:20), if there is too much money in NCAA sports (13:40), how NCAA athletes may be compensated differently, but not with a salary (14:20), how tough recruiting was in the Ivy League (16:25), how he would seal the deal on a recruit (18:17), if there is an "X factor" in analyzing a player (19:10), what former Temple coach John Chaney told Dunphy when he took the Temple job (20:50), why Dunphy thinks Aaron McKie will be successful as the new Temple coach (23:00), what he thinks of a poll that ranked him as the most underrated coach in all of NCAA basketball (24:05), his thoughts on Jay Wright's "ridiculous" run at Villanova (24:55), how a coach faces doubt (25:40), how the game of basketball needs to be revised to remain competitive and relevant (26:55), his thoughts on Sixers stars Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid (27:57), how difficult it is for a pro player to learn a new skill (29:00), how his business management class offers parallels between the business world and college coaching (29:55), how one learns from their darkest moments (32:22), how his most difficult loss at Penn was the most important game he had ever coached (32:47), if "moneyballing" and analytics is overused (35:37), when anyone should start thinking about legacy (36:45) and who is the better mascot: the Quaker or the Owl (37:12). Recorded at Sullivan Hall at Temple University on September 17, 2019.

S2 E8: Community College of Philadelphia President Donald Generals on Why Some Colleges Should Be Free, the "Disneyland Experience," and How the Late Tupac Shakur May Factor into Future Learning Sep 16, 2019

Dr. Generals has been running the Community College of Philadelphia for five years now. It is the largest institution of higher learning in the city. We gathered in his office in the historic Mint Building (which was the home of the Third Philadelphia Mint) to brainstorm about: why college continues to be so expensive and outpace inflation (2:45), if the wide availability of college loans has anything to do with the inflationary price (4:40), how this generation of student is starting to seek more value in education (6:00), a real example of comparing the cost of one year at Drexel University to an associate's degree at CCoP (6:45), if the "bumper sticker" mentality drives parents to choose their child's school (8:37), why CCoP and other community colleges should be free (10:09), how education is the latest industry to be disrupted by technology (12:45), the importance of writing as a skill (16:50), why the next stage of disruption in education will be virtual reality and maybe even Tupac Shakur (17:50), if we are forcing ourselves to entertain the current student generation too much (19:40), the dangers of wasting your first two years in college (21:00), snowplow parenting (22:25), are teachers giving out too many A's (27:05), how society should change the way it pays for public schools (28:05), the greatest skill needed to succeed (31:10), if we are starting to weigh analytics too much in any industry (33:20), if Ivy League schools should eliminate the legacy admission (35:20), the story of Temple University's first Rhodes Scholar, Hazim Hardeman (37:45), How to motivate people to do something they may not necessarily want to do (39:30), if it truly is lonely at the top and how to deal with that as a leader (41:50) and the story of Dr. Generals' favorite teacher(s) (44:00). Recorded on September 12, 2019 in the President's Office, Mint Building at the Community College of Philadelphia.

S2 E7: Larry Krasner on Whether His Election as Philadelphia DA Caused a Homicide Spike, His Relationship With Police, Vengeance For Crime Victims and Beating President Trump in 2020 Jul 19, 2019

Larry Krasner is unlike any district attorney Philadelphia has ever seen. He campaigned on reducing mass incarceration and revolutionizing criminal justice. His critics predicted he would never win the job and are furious that he has followed through with his promises. Some believe Krasner's policies have led to a sense of lawlessness across the city. Krasner and I spoke at length in his Center City office about: being "America's most radical district attorney (1:53), if his election has led to a rise in murders in Philadelphia (2:52), how the opioid epidemic has contributed to violent crime (4:43), how the nation's "deadliest DA" Lynne Abraham is so different from Krasner, a DA who is trying to get the death penalty off the books (6:50), if he believes the last man to be executed in Pennsylvania, Gary Heidnik, deserved execution (8:45), if his opposition to capital punishment is about fairness or morality (9:58), his ongoing battle with Philadelphia's Fraternal Order of Police (10:40), if his views and actions discourage police officers from doing their jobs (13:28), if he has allowed too many criminals out of prison and hasn't put enough in (14:50), if he would have still won the election without the George Soros donation to a PAC supporting his candidacy (16:14), if his lack of prosecuting experience led to a learning curve in office (18:27), if he believes Police Commissioner Richard Ross called him out after a particularly violent weekend in the city (20:05), the criticism coming from Philadelphia's US Attorney William McSwain (22:12), Krasner's own experience as a crime victim when he was mugged and cut in the face after work (23:58), his views on vengeance for crime victims (26:40), the notion that he cares more about criminal defendants than victims of crime (27:00), his experiences and views on social media (29:06), if he has ambitions beyond district attorney (30:15), why Philadelphia is so much more violent, per capita, than New York City (30:44), how the Democrats can beat President Trump in 2020 (32:32), what keeps him up at night (33:50) and the best thing Philadelphia has going right now (35:33). Recorded in Krasner's office in Center City on July 16, 2019.

S2 E6: ESPN's Sal Paolantonio on "Philly Special," the "Mystery Man" and Wentz's Future with Eagles Jun 05, 2019

"Sal Pal" as he is known is a legend when it comes to reporting on the Philadelphia Eagles. Sal recently recently a book called "Philly Special: The Inside Story of How the Philadelphia Eagles Won Their First Super Bowl Championship." It of course covers the most famous play ever pulled off in the SB but also chronicles that entire dream season from the summer of 2017 to the winter of 2018. The first question for Sal was a doozy, which he says he has never been asked: Would the Eagles have won Super Bowl 52 if Carson Wentz had not been injured? (3:25). Also, Wentz's future (5:40), how "wobbly" that dream season actually was (6:05), the Gamblin' Coach Pederson and Sal's reaction to that famous play (7:30), the "mystery man" who might have tried to steal the play (8:50), the turning point of that season (10:17), if the Patriots underestimated the Eagles (12:47), the anthem controversy and NFL ratings (13:40), the safety of the sport of football (15:40), how the Eagles recovered so quickly from the wreckage of coach Chip Kelly (16:50), Sal's military background (17:55), his book on the late Mayor Frank Rizzo (19:15), his book on overrated NFL players (25:00), if other cities lack respect for Eagles fans (25:40), if part of the team's soul died the day Veterans Stadium was imploded (26:35), if the Linc is the toughest place to play in the league (27:00), if the Patriots cheated in their victory over the Eagles in SB 39 (27:38), why Andy Reid hasn't won a SB (28:43) and where Sal finds time to write books (31:40). Recorded at NFL Films in Mount Laurel, NJ on February 11, 2019.

S2 E5: Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head on Strong Beer, Leadership and Working With Your Spouse Jun 04, 2019

Sam Calagione and his wife Mariah started Dogfish Head Craft Brewery from scratch. Today, the Delaware brewer is recognized as one of the finest craft beer companies in the nation - as it prepares to merge with fellow craft brewer Boston Beer. The couple joined me ahead of their annual strategy meetings to discuss: how they chill out and fight off being overwhelmed (2:12), how they make a husband/wife partnership work at home and the office (3:56), if the industry has hit 'peak craft beer' (5:30), if we have desensitized our taste buds (6:45), Sam's aversion to 'good beer' until during grad school (11:00), breaking the law in Rehoboth Beach (12:59), paddling across the Delaware Bay (15:13), how the couple books family time with their teenagers (18:15), if some of their selections are too high in ABV (19:42), how Sam's writing skills apply to his job (21:41), his favorite novel (23:49), what their expectations were at 'the ground floor' (25:13), leadership (28:25), when working too hard is too much (34:00) and what Sam would have done if he were alive during Prohibition (36:10). Recorded at the Philadelphia Marriott on February 28, 2019. NOTE: We spoke three months before Boston Beer acquired Dogfish Head.

S2 E4: Ray Murray on the Early Days of Reality Television, Why "The Real World" Hardly Was Real and If We Have Reached 'Peak TV' Mar 24, 2019

Ray Murray was there when reality TV really took off. He founded Banyan Productions in 1992 when The Real World first aired on MTV. But Murray took a different approach with his creations. Rather than seeking conflict, he sought authenticity in the shows he produced. "Trading Spaces" is his most famous one, following by "A Wedding Story," "A Baby Story." These were shows that showed "real" people doing "real" things, rather than the manufactured scenes we now see in the "Houswives Of..." series, "Dance Moms," and "The Bachelor." We open our discussion about Murray's new venture "The WorkShop" and then head right into the reality TV discussion. Hear his thoughts on: binge TV viewing (3:30), being there when cable TV and then reality TV started to expand exponentially (6:20), "The Real World" (6:54), why he sought to produce more positive reality shows (8:14), why he kind of wishes he came up with "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" (10:11), why shows branded as reality TV are rarely real at all (11:30), creating Trading Spaces (12:05), why it is so hard to predict if a show will be a hit (13:30), his favorite reality TV show of the moment (16:10), how social media enhances his job (17:27), if we have reached "peak TV" (19:17), what our next big idea should be in the reality space (22:35) and if we are amusing ourselves to death (23:14). Recorded in the lunch room of a corporate office building in Radnor, PA on February 20, 2019.

S2 E3: Pete Ciarrocchi on Protecting His Prized Crab Fries, Being a Soul Man and If the US Has Hit "Peak Restaurant" Apr 11, 2019

He is the man behind the Chickie's and Pete's restaurant franchise and more recently, an investor in the Philadelphia Soul. Pete Ciarrocchi talks about everything from my tryout with the Soul (no joke) (1:20), meeting Jon Bon Jovi the first time (2:00), why the Soul was never a pure business investment (3:00), how the AFL can be relevant in Philadelphia (4:16), being so protective of his secret recipe for his Crab Fries (7:00), the day his restaurant beat the maker of a Boston "clam roll" 90-1 in a Super Bowl taste test competition (10:58), Pete's Tips for Success (13:28), if the US is in a "restaurant bubble" (15:42), if home food delivery is a friend or foe (17:18), if he would support a hike in the minimum wage (19:29), if the tipping model for waitstaff should be changed (20:00) and why if you're not a Philadelphian, you're a "second-class citizen" (21:09). Recorded at Chickie's and Pete's on Packer Avenue in South Philadelphia on February 18, 2019.

S2 E2: CHOP CEO Madeline Bell on Women, Leadership and Killing It on Mondays Feb 24, 2019

Madeline Bell started her career as a nurse at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Today, she is one of the most powerful female executives in the Philadelphia area, overseeing 16,000 CHOP employees and a budget of $3 billion. Bell also talks about: Obstacles women face in their careers (3:53), the lack of women on corporate boards in the region (4:41), female heads of state and the Democratic presidential field (7:48), the "impostor syndrome" (10:19), how much sleep she gets per night (11:24), how she deals with Mondays (12:34), the massive growth of CHOP (14:06), the possibility of curing different forms of pediatric cancer (15:24), organizing treatments at hospitals like restaurants do on menus for customers (16:44), how to bridge the user-payer separation in healthcare (18:11), why so many children are obese (20:05), her opinion on the effects of social media and smartphones on young people (21:50), why boredom is healthy (23:49) and when robots will take over hospitals (24:27). Recorded at Bell's office on the 14th floor of the CHOP executive tower in University City (2/18/19).

S2 E1: Ask Me Anything With Governor Tom Wolf (D-PA) Feb 12, 2019

Every year I have the pleasure of moderating the Conversation With the Governor event for the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. Governor Wolf was my guest for the fifth straight year, having easily won reelection back in November 2018. We discuss: that odd gubernatorial debate hosted by Jeopardy!'s Alex Trebek, his opponent Scott Wagner, whether being a lame duck will lead to an "unshackled" style of governing, dealing with what may be an even more conservative legislature, his proposed budget and fee for natural gas extraction, losing out on Amazon, forcing communities to pay for state police protection, Philadelphia's new school board, the dire state of Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman's suit at inauguration, recreational marijuana, raising the state's minimum wage, tightening gun control measures, running for higher office, Howard Schultz, the indictments of union boss John Dougherty and City Councilman Bobby Henon, and whether the Phillies will come up with Manny Machado, Bryce Harper - or both. Recorded at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia in front of a packed audience.

Launching in 2019: "The True Philadelphia Podcast with Matt O'Donnell" Jan 02, 2019

Formerly the Travel Mug Podcast, Matt is re-launching this series to focus on the people who are "True" to Philadelphia and the surrounding region. What does it mean to be "True Philadelphia"? It's one of those things where you know it when you see it, right? But generally it involves someone with grit and toughness, someone who is frank and honest beyond all costs, someone who has a "true" sense of belonging to the wonderful place we live in. All of the previous episodes of the Travel Mug Podcast will still be available for you to enjoy. And prepare for the brand new True Philadelphia Podcast in 2019!

E23: The Original Phillie Phanatic on Whether He Dreams in Costume, If He Loves Gritty and If He Ever Feared Someone Would Kill Him at a Game Nov 09, 2018

David Raymond helped create and performed as the first Phillie Phanatic between 1978 and 1993. This at times hilarious conversation with the fellow University of Delaware Blue Hen includes: How people react to him when they realize he was the Phanatic (2:10), how he helped create Gritty, the new Flyers mascot (4:00), the Phanatic backstory (8:30), if it was hot in that suit (11:45), why he retired as the Phillies mascot (13:40), why he can immediately tell the difference between the old and new Phanatic, performed by Tom Burgoyne (15:35), if he ever felt in immense danger during a Phanatic appearance (17:45), what it was like growing up with a father who happened to be the legendary Delaware football coach Tubby Raymond (20:00), if he misses being the Phanatic and ever dreams about being in the costume (27:07) and what great life lessons he's learned from the Phanatic character (31:15). Recorded in Raymond's "Phanatic Man Cave" at his home in the Philadelphia suburbs.

E22: "American Woman" Lauren Hart on Nailing the National Anthem Every Time Oct 29, 2018

Lauren Hart thinks she has sung the Star Spangled Banner 1,000 times. Easily. It started as something neat to try at a Flyers game. Decades later and she's still performing it just as gracefully as the last time. Lauren explains why the song is so difficult to sing, how her father (the late Flyers broadcaster Gene Hart) influenced how she performs it, why it was so hard doing a duet version of "God Bless America" with the late Kate Smith, if she is scared of Gritty (the Flyers' new mascot) and why she is getting political with her upcoming new album "American Woman." Oh, and what about Fergie's version of the Star Spangled Banner?

E21: Former Congressman Charlie Dent (R-PA) on Moderates in Washington (Or Lack Thereof), Plus Why Everyone Is Fighting With Everyone Else Oct 18, 2018

Charlie Dent left Congress eight months before his term expired, explaining to some he was "exhausted." The Republican joins me on the podcast to talk about how moderates are dying off in Washington, why it is dangerous to build a party around a person rather than issues, who is on the GOP bench in a post-Trump world, if Democrats ever asked him to switch parties, and why other countries are experiencing the same things as the US: polarizing politics, tribalism and extreme views on immigration. Dent, now a fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, speaks to Matt at his office at the Perry World House on campus.

E20: Villanova Coach Jay Wright Joins Matt O'Donnell on the Travel Mug Podcast Oct 02, 2018

Villanova Coach Jay Wright is preparing for another college basketball season with sky-high expectations. That's just what happens when you win two of the last three NCAA championships. I joined Wright in his office at the Davis Center to ask him about the things anyone would: Do you love the three-pointer? (he didn't always) Do you want to coach in the NBA? (yes, absolutely) Are athletes of the past tougher than today's? (yes - but that's not the whole answer) What do you think of tanking in professional sports? (he hates it) Should NCAA athletes be paid? (never) What about "one-and-dones"? The Travel Mug Podcast packs even more into a 20-minute interview with the legendary coach. I even snuck in a question about the one thing people obsess about: Jay Wright's exquisite sense of fashion. Wildcat or not, you'll find Jay Wright a fascinating coach, a fascinating parent, a fascinating person. And given that he is a Bucks County native, Wright is one of ours. Listen now!

E19: The Fear of Failure and Its Unexpected By-Product - Success! Sep 11, 2018

Back in 2010, Chris Coons was the Democratic county executive of New Castle County, Delaware and preparing for what he thought would be the underdog fight of his career. Just about anyone who knew anything about Delaware politics predicted Coons would face Rep. Michael Castle (R-Delaware) in the battle for a US Senate seat that November - and would lose really badly. But something crazy happened: Castle, a widely respected, long-time moderate Republican with huge name recognition, lost the GOP primary to political upstart Christine O'Donnell. Suddenly, Coons went from being a Democratic sacrificial lamb to the overwhelming favorite to win the senate seat once held by Joe Biden. This podcast is simply an exercise in analyzing a decision we all sometimes face: whether or not to go for something that seems out of reach. As with the case of now-Senator Chris Coons (D-Delaware), sometimes you just never know what is going to happen in the future. Recorded in the Inside Story studio at 6abc in Philadelphia.

E18: WNBA Superstar Elena Delle Donne on Michael Jordan vs. Lebron James, Hitting 300-Yard Drives, Being Really Tall (She's 6'5") and 'Burnout' Aug 20, 2018

The University of Delaware grad is building a phenomenal career with the Washington Mystics as one of the world's best female basketball players. Delle Donne also reminisces about her time as the leader of the Blue Hens' women's basketball team, how she broke the news to UConn that she was leaving the school and returning to Delaware, playing multiple sports, if the Sixers have the talent to win a title, how surprising Carson Wentz has been in recovering from knee surgery, kneeling in the NFL and the perception of women's sports. Our thanks to Elena for squeezing us in between her charity golf tournament and a road game for her WNBA team.

E17: Phillies Manager Gabe Kapler on Baseball Analytics, Charles Barkley, Tough Fans and More Aug 05, 2018

Gabe Kapler is having an outstanding first season as Phillies manager. Kapler joined me for coffee at his favorite cafe to talk about why he loves living in the Northern Liberties neighborhood, what brought him to play baseball in the first place, if a baseball manager can get too analytical...plus, Kapler reveals his all-time favorite player in any sport. Yes, he is a huge fan of the "Round Mound of Rebound!"

E16: "The Reset" - A special episode of the Travel Mug Podcast Jul 30, 2018

More American workers are required to "reset" their careers than ever before. Fewer people go to work out of school and expect to retire from the same company they started with. "The Reset" is about what to do if this happens to you. Former Philadelphia mayoral candidate Sam Katz and former Delaware news anchor Nancy Karibjanian recall how they "reset" their careers with loads of great advice like: "New chapters are usually unexpected but unexpectedly rewarding," and "Give laser like attention to what you are going to do next. And it's not to be feared, it's to be embraced." This special podcast will help inspire you to get back on your feet.

E15: Preston Elliot's Life Drumming in a Popular Cover Band and What It Did to His Hearing Jul 15, 2018

Preston Elliot of the popular Preston and Steve Show on 93.3 WMMR had the time of his life drumming in a successful cover band as he finished high school. Decades later, he discovered just how much of a price he paid for having so much fun. Preston tells Matt what led him to become a musician, relives his days playing glam rock tunes in beer-soaked bars and explains how he lives his life with hearing loss and deals with the ringing sensation known as tinnitus. Plus, Matt and Preston engage in a drum off (and Preston wears his ear plugs, of course).

E14: Action News Fitness Expert on Why You Need to be Selfish Sometimes Jun 27, 2018

Shoshana Vitale, who provides Action News Mornings with fitness tips twice a week, immediately comes across as purely motivated - and a pure motivator. She tells us how she got into fitness, how the mother of four boys prioritizes her super-busy life, how there can be an obesity epidemic when so many people seem to be living healthy, and why you don't need expensive equipment to stay in shape. Prepare to sweat with The Travel Mug!

E13: Going Too Far Out With Philadelphia's "Cool Astronomer" Jun 18, 2018

Prepare to blow your mind, or at least bend it really far! Derrick Pitts, chief astronomer at the Franklin Institute, tells us why he's always looking up, updates us on what will be the world's largest land telescope, why he thinks conspiracy theory groups like "Flat Earthers" gain traction these days, if he's worried we're living in a computer simulation, if time travel is possible, his favorite science fiction movie and whether he'd agree to go to Mars. There's far out, and then there's going too far out - which is why we have Derrick Pitts on the Travel Mug Podcast!

E12: Inside Story 'Deep Dive' with Philadelphia City Council President Darrell Clarke Jun 08, 2018

We ask Council President Clarke what stopped him from running for mayor in 2015 (he is very candid about this), if the Democrats need to 'break the glass' when it comes to the 2020 presidential election (he says they do), why he doesn't like the term "millennial," and if the city is too hyper-focused on attracting Amazon's second headquarters. This Inside Story 'Deep Dive' takes a newsmaker from the program and goes deeper into the conversation. We spoke to Council President Clarke in our "green room" at the 6abc studios ahead of an Inside Story broadcast.

E11: The Movie Matriarch of the Delaware Valley May 24, 2018

What is your favorite movie shot in/around Philadelphia? Sharon Pinkenson almost definitely played a huge part in attracting the film to town. As the first, and only, executive director of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office, Pinkenson has so many stories to tell. Did you know "Philadelphia" wasn't the original title of that Tom Hanks/Denzel Washington film? Also: Why the filming of "Creed II" seems different from other Rocky films, how Sharon sells our region to film producers, our favorite movies filmed in Philadelphia, the worst movie filmed in Philadelphia, if people will still go to theaters years from now, and whether the "Me Too" movement has hit its peak. Our podcast with Sharon Pinkenson is overloaded with films facts like a large, heaping order of buttered popcorn! We spoke to her at her office in Center City.

E10: Action News Morning Team Trivia! May 13, 2018

Tam Edwards, David Murphy and Karen Rogers join Matt for a round of Action News Morning Team Trivia. They find out how much they really know about each other after working together for more than 13 years! Plus, the Morning Team answers three very important questions about their careers.

E9: Black Lives Matter Activist Defends His Provocative Tactics Apr 30, 2018

Asa Khalif, who now heads Coalition for Black Lives, talks about how his aggressive and sometimes profane behavior has caused him to get arrested (several times) and created discomfort even amongst other Black Lives Matter supporters. You will recognize Khalif for his protests after the controversial arrests at a Center City Starbucks. He also discusses being raised by a white father, how racism persists in an American society that obsesses over black culture, whether he is anti-police and if black-on-black crime is a more important issue than police aggression. Music provided by A Pregnant Light.

E8: Geeking Out on Van Halen Apr 17, 2018

Matt hangs with Van Halen tribute band Romeo Delight, which has been playing in the Philadelphia area for a decade now. Members Buddy Blanchard, Mike Beck, Ron Jones and Joby Parendier talk about their roles as David, Eddie, Alex and Michael, why they formed, their favorite VH albums and songs... And then Matt jams one of his favorite Van Halen songs with Romeo Delight. Recorded at Junction Music in Huntingdon Valley, PA. Watch Matt's performance with Romeo Delight on facebook.com/mattodonnelltv or twitter.com/matt_odonnell

E7: Dirty Harry Shows His Soft Side Apr 05, 2018

Michael Chitwood, who leads the Upper Darby Police Department, talks to Matt O'Donnell about the heartbreaking incident that convinced him to temporarily stop carrying a gun on the job, plus Black Lives Matter, "emotional intelligence" in policing, the opioid epidemic, Ira Einhorn, the Ferguson Effect, school shootings, and of course the Clint Eastwood movies that inspired his nickname. A wide-ranging interview.

E6: Is It Time to Delete Your Facebook? Mar 23, 2018

As this huge data-sharing scandal plays out at the social network, Matt talks to Professor Geoffrey Baym, head of Temple University's School of Media and Communications. Issues discussed: are we better off without Facebook, Twitter, etc? Are we as users being responsible enough? What would happen if social networks existed during the 9/11 attacks? And is reality fracturing before our eyes?

E5: Inside Story Extra! Overtime with Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney Mar 15, 2018

Mayor Kenney was a guest on Inside Story on 6abc (Sunday, March 18) to defend his tax hike plan to fund public schools. We had some extra questions for the mayor, including if the city is fighting the opioid epidemic the right way, where the Rizzo statue is going, if Kenney is thinking about re-election and whether the Eagles' Super Bowl win will truly change Philadelphia culture.

E4: The Man Who Woke Up From a Coma To Hate on 'Diner en Blanc' Mar 13, 2018

Brian Hickey from Philly Voice joins Matt to talk about one of his most controversial columns, the hit and run accident 10 years ago that nearly claimed his life, plus their time as budding journalists at the University of Delaware.

E3: Why is Golf So Hard? (with top area golf teacher John Dunigan) Mar 06, 2018

John Dunigan, Pennsylvania's top golf teacher according to Golf Digest, tries to help us figure out why golf is so hard, why we play it anyway, if Tiger Woods has a shot at greatness again, how he fixed the world's worst golf swing, and why he's so good at playing classical guitar.

E2: Is Generation X Getting Crushed? Feb 21, 2018

Matt talks to Ashley Primis, editor at Philadelphia Magazine, about her thought-provoking article "Whatever Happened to Generation X?" Ashley, a Gen Xer herself, feels Baby Boomers and Millennials are squeezing Xers out. Plus, Matt discusses what he believes was the seminal moment for Xers in the 1980s.

E1: Going Long with Ron Jaworski Feb 14, 2018

The first Eagles quarterback to play in a Super Bowl talks about "Lombardi Gras," the possible future for Eagles quarterback Nick Foles, the NFL's next potential dynasty, multi-sport athletes, his favorite golf course ever, the true meaning behind his nickname "Jaws," and whether the Birds beat THE GOAT.

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