The Week in Philly from KYW Newsradio

Latest Episodes:

Why is filing taxes so hard? Is there a better way to do it? Mar 24, 2022

Show notes

Everyone is getting their taxes done (or at least thinking about starting) ahead of next month's deadline, which is April 18th this year. In the United States, filing taxes can be tough, especially if you file them yourself. Are they too hard? Could we be doing it in a different, or even a better way? Robert Sagedy Jr., CPA and Lecturer at Rowan University's Rohrer College of Business is on the podcast to talk about why taxes are so hard, what we get wrong and right in this country, and a few common sense suggestions to make filing taxes a better experience for regular people.

From West Philly to Winning Time: Paul Westhead's big break featured in new HBO show Mar 23, 2022

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How in the heck did Paul Westhead go from coaching Cheltenham High School to leading Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers to the 1980 NBA title?! The story is symbolic of the strength of Philadelphia's deep-rooted basketball fraternity. And while Westhead's stint with the Lakers was relatively short, in many ways it was only the beginning of a long coaching career highlighted by stops at Loyola-Marymount, where he implemented an innovative system with Philadelphia natives Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble, and a WNBA championship run with the Phoenix Mercury. A few weeks removed from his 83rd birthday, Westhead reflects on a lifetime in hoops, and discusses the new HBO show 'Winning Time,' in which he's portrayed by actor Jason Segel.

China's role in Russia's invasion of Ukraine Mar 23, 2022

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As Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine, there has been more attention than ever on one of Russia's allies, China. China also has a relationship with Ukraine -- so what does China think about the invasion of that country? How much influence could China have on the actions that Russia takes from here on out? And how much pressure is China feeling right now to help or temper Vladimir Putin? We asked these questions to Dr. Rudra Sil, Professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania and School of Arts and Sciences Faculty Director of the Huntsman Program in International Studies & Business.

Is Russia committing war crimes in Ukraine? Mar 22, 2022

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We are seeing some awful scenes in Ukraine during Russia’s invasion, including the deaths of civilians and the bombings of buildings leading to civilian casualties. US officials including President Biden have referred to Vladimir Putin as a war criminal. Are we watching Russia commit war crimes, in real time? What constitutes a war crime, and who investigates them? And will there be any consequences? Rachel López, Associate Professor of Law at Drexel University's Kline School of Law is on the podcast to explain what is happening right now in Ukraine, if the war is 'legal' or not, and whether Russia or Putin can face legal repercussions.

What changes do we want to keep from the COVID era? Mar 21, 2022

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We’ve all made major changes to deal with COVID-19, but now that things are opening up again, will any of those changes stick around long-term? 10 years from now, are there some things we might actually want to keep? Dr. Laura A. Siminoff is the Dean at Temple’s College of Public Health and a professor of social and behavioral sciences. After two full years of this pandemic, we ask her to think about what might have changed permanently - in how we work and learn, in health care, and in how we connect with each other - and what might still need to change. She also explains how we as humans adapt our routines so quickly and why it’s hard to go back.

Creepy flying spiders are friends, put down the flamethrower Mar 21, 2022

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There's been a lot of talk about the Joro spider. It's creepy looking, it looks like it flies, it's here on the East Coast, and it's generally considered a big bag of nope. But before you arm the nuclear football, we wanted to find out the truth about this spider. Is it dangerous? Invasive? Will we even see it here in the Philadelphia area? Dr. Christopher Tipping, Professor of Biology at Delaware Valley University in Doylestown joins the podcast to separate fact from fiction about the Joro spider.

Gas price breakdown, and how many interest rate hikes should you expect? Pandemic economy update Mar 18, 2022

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One day it's up, the next day it's down -- why is the price of gas all over the place? Also, the federal reserve is turning its eye on interest rates. How many rate hikes are we likely to see? Every week on KYW Newsradio In Depth, Philadelphia economist David Fiorenza breaks down the biggest stories of the week and how they apply to you and me.

Race on Broadway: Can revivals fix old problems? Mar 18, 2022

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The revival of Oklahoma! is on tour, playing at the Forrest Theater this month. The original, which premiered on Broadway in 1943, had an all-white cast and didn't acknowledge the fact that it's set on Native American land (before Oklahoma became a state). This revival has a diverse cast and is a stripped-down, grittier performance - but does that do enough to make up for the show's flaws? How can we present problematic but classic shows today - or should we still produce them at all? Warren Hoffman, author of The Great White Way: Race and the Broadway Musical, tells us his thoughts on Oklahoma! and how Broadway handles race in general. We discuss how the portrayal of race in musicals has evolved over time, and whether or not it's come far enough.

'Books should be uncomfortable:' Why banning books invites unintended consequences Mar 17, 2022

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While the cries to ban books have grown louder recently, especially in political circles, it's nothing new in the context of American history. In fact, according to Dr. Miah Daughtery, past attempts to ban books have often had the opposite effect! Daughtery, the literacy director at the non-profit NWEA, believes that narrative text serves an important function in a diverse society, and is a critical tool for developing empathy within children. And when it comes to alternatives to banning books, she definitely has some thoughts...

'Horrifyingly bad' humanitarian crisis is creating millions of Ukrainian refugees Mar 17, 2022

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We are seeing a tragic humanitarian crisis unfold because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Millions of people are displaced and fleeing the country. So how can the world address this? What can be done? Dr. Lynne Hartnett, Associate Professor of History at Villanova University is on the podcast to talk about the staggering crisis in Ukraine, the reality for people fleeing the country, and the ripple effects that Russia's invasion will cause for years and decades to come.