austin

Austin

chicago

Chicago

denver

Denver

lasvegas

Las Vegas

madison

Madison

nashville

Nashville

philly

Philly

pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

portland

Portland

saltlake

Salt Lake

seattle

Seattle

twincities

Twin Cities

We make podcasts and newsletters that connect people with the cities they love.

City Cast Philly

We ask local movers and shakers the essential questions.

 as district attorney for Philadelphia. In the lead up to the May 20 Democratic primary, when Krasner faces a challenge from former Judge Pat Dugan, Krasner visited City Cast Philly to make his case for why he deserves another term as Philly’s chief prosecutor.

He touted the lowest murder rate in a half-century, defended himself from criticism that he doesn’t work well with other elements of law enforcement, and sought to compare his opponent to President Trump.

There are no Republican candidates in the race; the winner of the primary will likely be the city’s next D.A. Here’s a preview of City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri’s conversation with Krasner:

Eight years ago, you were a symbol of the so-called progressive D.A. movement … Eight years later, what’s different?

“ I got up this morning, I checked my crime statistics as I do every day … we have the lowest number of homicides by far in the last 50 years. That is remarkable …

"There's been a deep investment in prevention through community-based organizations. I think city council and the mayors have been part of that. There has also been an effort to use really modern law enforcement. In other words, forensics [analysts] use science to solve crimes that were never getting solved. And we've gotten some tremendous results that include things like shutting down certain shooting groups …

"So a lot safer, but it's a lot fairer as a system. We've gotten almost 45 people outta jail who were exonerated. Why? Because nearly all of them were completely innocent of the crimes for which they were wrongfully convicted. We are looking at what may be the lowest county jail population during my lifetime, certainly during my career. We’re at 3,600 – [former District Attorney] Lynne Abraham was almost at 10,000.”

You're often criticized for not having good relationships with other parts of law enforcement … So I'm wondering, are you getting along better with the police union head Roosevelt Poplar?

“Well you know Roosevelt Poplar has been a real breath of fresh air compared to [former police union head] John McNesby. John McNesby pretty much told everybody the truth, which is that he was very comfortable in a world where police officers were wearing Nazi tattoos that were visible. He 

 that as the head of the union… He had no problem 

 that Black Lives Matter was a ‘pack of rabid animals’ in 2017. That is not Roosevelt Poplar. Roosevelt Poplar is a genuine human being who was much more interested in public safety than he is in politics, and is a benefit and asset to the city.”

 City & State PA that you're “the worst thing that has ever happened to Philadelphia and that you're the worst person to ever be elected in Philly.” He said: “You're a guy from the suburbs who has no clue what it's like to go to Overbrook High School or Lincoln High School or ride the L.” But at the same time, Dugan appears to be promising similar progressive policies against mass incarceration if he's elected. So what do you make of this criticism and what do you think Philly looks like under Pat Dugan as D.A.?

“Once again, we're getting back to Trump-ville. I am from inner-city St. Louis. I repeat: inner-city, St. Louis, Missouri, Pat Dugan. I went to public school in inner-city St. Louis, Missouri. I went to public school in the Philadelphia area in different locations. Pat Dugan went to St. Joe's Prep. Did you hear the word ‘Prep’? I heard the word ‘Prep.’ That is not a public school. You know, I mean, do you want a chief prosecutor who is so willing to trade in untruths?... Is that what you want? Do you want a liar? We already have one in the White House.”

➕ Former Judge Pat Dugan will be on City Cast Philly and in this Hey Philly newsletter next Wednesday, so 

. He has plenty to say about Krasner’s criticisms and prosecutorial record.

🎧 Plus, will there will be a debate?

3 Questions With District Attorney Larry Krasner

What Philadelphia celebrities, public figures and key citizens have to say about living here.

3 Questions With Philly Public Figures

3 Questions With

Charlie Hall, drummer for Philly’s own 

, is the producer behind some of the hottest Christmas music in the country over the last three years. “

” is his latest (and last) album from the group known as The Philly Specials, which stars Eagles greats Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata, and the recently retired Jason Kelce (plus his brother, Travis, and wife, Kelcie) alongside musical legends like Boyz II Men and Stevie Nicks. 

 with City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri, Hall talked about why Philly is the perfect inspiration for Christmas music and how a song about a stoned Santa driving down Broad and Pattison is both climbing the holiday charts 

 raising money for Philly kids. You can listen to the full conversation in the podcast linked below. After the interview, Hall answered Hey Philly’s “3 Questions”:

,” George Michael — I think that's a masterpiece. Ron Sexsmith, “

." -- that's one that I really was hoping would resonate with the guys. That's the 

” — we always listened to the John Denver and the Muppets Christmas record when I was little. The way John Denver sings that song is one of the greatest recorded vocals of all time in my opinion. I also love a Christmas song by a band called Low – “

.” It's another favorite of mine. We always put that on when we start decorating the tree every year.

What are some of your holiday traditions?

I have an older brother and an older sister. The tradition used to be that I'd sleep in my brother's room on Christmas Eve, but I think that was kind of so that he could contain me from, you know, running downstairs and tearing open presents.

Other traditions … Lobster chowder that my wife makes, and biscuits. We always do that on Christmas Eve. I mean, Lobster Chowder, John Denver. What else is there, you know?

Would The War on Drugs ever make a Christmas song or album?

Charlie Hall, drummer for Philly’s own The War on Drugs, is the producer behind some of the hottest Christmas music in the country over the last three years. “A Philly Special Christmas Party” is the latest (and last) album from the group known as The Philly Specials, which stars Eagles greats Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata, and the recently retired Jason Kelce (plus his brother, Travis, and wife, Kelcie) alongside musical legends like Boyz II Men and Stevie Nicks.

3 Questions With Charlie Hall

3 Questions With The War On Drugs' Charlie Hall

, the soulful Nashville singer-songwriter originally from Morton, Delaware County, is set to return to Philadelphia for the 

. He’ll be taking the stage Saturday at Underground Arts. I had the chance to chat with him about his upcoming performance, his thoughts on Philly, and more.

This interview has been condensed for length and clarity.

Ava: How does it feel to be coming back for the Philly Music Fest?

Devon: “It feels amazing. I miss it, I miss home. My parents, they moved down to Tennessee recently, so I don't have them pulling me up to Philly as often.”

“I definitely have to find some good food hours before the show. If I'm home, we are going to Ishkabibble’s or Charlie's Hamburgers in Ridley … Right before we go on stage, I huddle with everybody and take a moment to take in the gratitude of getting to play music for a living.”

What’s your favorite thing about Philly?

“You’ve got to earn people's trust. Once you do that, you have their loyalty.”

“I’m all over the place. I would say Jimi Hendrix is my North Star for sure.”

What is your cheesesteak order and where do you like to go in Philly?

“I'm a weirdo, so I actually get a buffalo chicken cheese steak. I'll go to Ishkabibble’s … I don’t know why I’m a buffalo chicken guy.”

Devon Gilfillian, the soulful Nashville singer-songwriter originally from Morton, Delaware County, is set to return to Philadelphia for the Philly Music Fest. He’ll be taking the stage Saturday at Underground Arts. I had the chance to chat with him about his upcoming performance, his thoughts on Philly, and more.

5 Questions with Devon Gilfillian

City Cast Philly has a new leader, and he’s ready to spend his time here “thinking about, complaining about, reading about, talking about, gossiping about the greatest city in the world.”

A seasoned journalist and longtime Philadelphian, Matt Katz will be directing the City Cast Philly podcast and editing the Hey Philly newsletter. He moved to Philly 22 years ago, when he started reporting for The Courier-Post in South Jersey. He later reported for The Philadelphia Inquirer, covered immigration and criminal justice for WNYC and NPR, wrote a book about former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and produced a podcast about his search for his biological father, “

As our executive producer, Matt’s focus now will be on all things Philly, so I sat down with him to get his perspective on the city and what makes it so special to him.

Asha: If you had to pick one thing you love most about Philly, what would it be, and why?

Matt: “The scale of the city. I can walk to five different neighborhoods from my house within a half hour. On rowhouse blocks, neighbors are close enough that they can have full conversations from across the street. You hear the sounds of your community constantly.

“The narrowness of so many of the blocks feels like a throwback — not just to the horse-drawn carriage days, but to when people spent more time outside and with their neighbors. We do that here better than other places.”

Say you’re talking to someone who’s thinking about moving to Philly, but isn’t quite convinced yet. And assume you like them. What’s your elevator pitch for the city?

“Compared to all those other cities in the Northeast, we run on a different economy. It is much cheaper to live a normal life in a normal-sized space and enjoy going out.

“Also, pound for pound, you have a much better chance of getting a life-changing meal at any random-ass place that you walk into in Philadelphia than you do in any other city in the world.”

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever witnessed in Philly?

“When I lived in the Gayborhood, there was this guy 

who would stand over various air vents on the street

 with, like, silk pajamas, silk robes, sometimes shorts and no shirt — and he'd let the breeze fly up his drawers. And he would stand there for hours, expressionless, talk to nobody, and just chill.

“I think it's a testament to this town that he felt comfortable to do this very strange but legal thing almost every day because he enjoyed it, and a testament to this town because no one said shit to him about it.”

🎧 Want to hear more of Matt’s take on Vent Guy, and some of Philly’s other top viral moments? 

today’s episode of the City Cast Philly podcast

Q&A With Matt Katz, City Cast Philly Executive Producer

Meet Matt Katz, City Cast Philly’s New Executive Producer

This summer, City Cast Philly podcast host Trenae Nuri embarked on 

 (sponsored by our friends at Tecovas), where she tried a bunch of cheesesteaks around the city to zero in on the best of the best. Now, it’s finally time to share her findings.

In the process of trying all these restaurants, Trenae didn’t just come away with strong opinions about where to find the best cheesesteak; she came to learn more about the nuances of the sandwich, its history, and what it means to Philadelphia.

We’re not going to give away her top picks here — you’ll have to 

 for the big reveal! Keep reading, though, for some of Trenae’s reflections on her cheesesteak journey and how it went for her.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

City Cast Content Director Wil Fulton: What does the word “best” even mean to you when it comes to cheesesteak spots?

Nuri: “It's having a great sandwich, but also, I'm really big [on] customer service too. How did you make me feel when I ordered this sandwich? How easy was it for me to park at your restaurant? Did you have places for me to sit down and eat the cheesesteak? Just like the nostalgia too, because I was raised in the city. You talked about a sandwich that kind of brings a tear to your eye — and I definitely feel like, in this journey, there was one sandwich that did that.”

For cheeses, is it OK to venture outside of the classic whiz, provolone, or American options?

“I'm going to have to put my foot down and say no. Do not try any other cheese other than the three main cheeses. American cheese or Cooper Sharp, which really blew my mind because I did not have that growing up. So when I ate the Cooper Sharp American cheese on my cheesesteaks, that was like, ‘Ooh, damn, this is good.’ The whiz — that's not my preference, but I understand and I can respect that. And then provolone is something that I grew up with, and I feel like that cheese also melts really well in a cheesesteak, and I say go for it.”

What do you think cheesesteaks mean to Philadelphia right now?

“So, first and foremost, it's in our blood. No one can take this experience and this sandwich from us. Even if you go to a different region in the country, it's just not going to be the same.

“Despite all the ways people have remixed the original steak sandwich, it's still Philly's signature food. It's a Philly thing. And really, it's the true meaning of brotherly love and sisterly affection. I want you to think of a cheesesteak as tasting what Philly's supposed to taste. It's where you'll find the true heart and soul of the city. This is a really good sandwich, and I will keep eating them because I'm a forever Philadelphian.”

🧀🥩 Want to know Trenae’s top three cheesesteaks, plus her favorite spots for taking visitors, hanging out, and curing a hangover? Tune in to today’s episode of the City Cast Philly podcast 

City Cast Philly podcast host Trenae Nuri embarked on an ambitious quest, where she tried a bunch of cheesesteaks around the city to find the best. Now, it’s time to share her findings.

Finding Philadelphia’s Best Cheesesteak: Q&A With Trenae Nuri

Finding the Best Cheesesteak in Philly

 is back for its second year this Saturday, and it’s slated to be even bigger than last year.

The late-summer literary extravaganza encourages bibliophiles to hit up many of the Philly region’s indie bookstores for a day of special deals, book signings, giveaways, and more. Hey Philly chatted with Eric Smith — a local author, literary agent, and the organizer of the annual event — to learn more about the crawl, its origins, and what to expect.

This conversation has been condensed and edited for length and clarity.

Hey Philly: This is the second year for the Philly Bookstore Crawl. How did this event get started in the first place?

Smith: “A couple years ago, my wife and I moved away from Philadelphia. While we were away, we lived in Richmond, Virginia, and Ann Arbor, Michigan, and both of those towns had a bookstore crawl. I kept telling my wife every time those bookstore crawls came around, ‘You know, if we ever move back to Philadelphia, we should do it there.’

“So 2019 comes around, we move back to Philly. I'm thinking about it, I'm gearing up for it, I registered the domain name, and then 2020 happens. But once people started to sort of come out again — and I saw my friend's bookstore, A Novel Idea, had put up a GoFundMe because they were sort of having a hard time over the course of the pandemic — I was like, ‘This is the time for this.’ We have this amazing independent bookstore community. We want to keep them here, so let's get people to show up and go to them.

“So that's how it got together last year. I sent out some awkward emails to say like, ‘Hey, I know a lot of you don't know me, but can I organize this thing?’ And, and off we went.”

How does this year's lineup of events and participating stores compare to last year's?

“There must be at least a dozen more [participating stores]. We have a comic book shop involved this year, 

 in Old City. We have previews of a new bookstore that's opening up soon, 

, a cookbook shop in the Italian Market. And there are new bookstores that just opened last year that are participating, like 

 out in Chestnut Hill. It’s a lot of new stuff, which is really fun.”

In the process of organizing this event, is there anything new you've learned?

“I feel like I learned a little bit more about just how many authors are in Philadelphia. I felt like I was pretty close to the writing scene as somebody who also writes books, but when I launched the bookstore crawl, I heard from people that I had no idea lived here. I heard from all these memoirists, I heard from cookbook authors, I heard from poets that I had never spoken to before.

out there's a lot more writers out there who are very excited at the prospect of working with their indie bookstores. Some of them didn't necessarily know how to do that, so it was a really great experience in community building and trying to bring more people together.”

there is a map of participating locations

, there isn’t a specific trail or route that you need to follow. You can 

 for blog posts detailing many of Saturday’s giveaways, special events, activities, and author signings.

… you’re looking for a really great deal

 in the Italian Market will have a big discount bin outside the shop, Smith said, and Brave New Worlds and Multiverse both plan to offer “some deep discounts of science fiction and fantasy and comics.”

… you want a bookstore crawl exclusive item: 

“Hot People Read Books” exclusive tote bag

. “I think those are gonna go really fast,” Smith said.

… you want to hit a neighborhood with lots of participating stores: 

Quite a few neighborhoods have clusters of participating stores, like Chestnut Hill, the Fishtown/Kensington area, and the Queen Village/Bella Vista area. In Chestnut Hill, two cafes in the neighborhood will also be 

offering “Booklovers Breakfast” specials

, and the three participating bookshops will be opening their doors at 9 a.m.

The late-summer literary extravaganza encourages bibliophiles to hit up many of the Philly region’s indie bookstores for a day of special deals, book signings, giveaways, and more.

2024 Philadelphia Bookstore Crawl: What To Know

3 Questions About Philly’s Most Exciting New Event for Booklovers

When it comes to gun laws in Pennsylvania, there’s a lot to unpack.

For example, there are fewer barriers to buying an assault rifle than to buying a handgun, and cities like Philly largely can’t make local gun regulations that are stricter than our statewide laws.

Here’s an overview of a few of the Keystone State’s gun laws and loopholes, as explained by 

 with City Cast Pittsburgh’s Mallory Falk.

Falk: Right now, if you want to buy a gun in Pennsylvania, what does that process actually look like?

Siriwardane: “You have to be 21 to buy a handgun in Pennsylvania. But the minimum age to buy a long gun here is lower, at 18, and the law doesn't distinguish between types of long guns. So you can buy both a manually operated hunting rifle and a semiautomatic weapon, such as an AR-15, which is capable of inflicting much more damage.

“If you buy any gun from a licensed gun dealer, you would have to go through a rigorous background check. But gun safety advocates say there's a pretty gaping loophole in that system, which is the private sale of long guns. [To] privately sell a handgun here, you'd have to go through a licensed gun dealer or your county sheriff's office to complete the sale, which would include a background check on the buyer. But an individual seller doesn't need to perform a background check if they're selling a long gun.”

How does Pennsylvania compare to other states in terms of how strict our gun laws are?

“Gun safety advocates say Pennsylvania isn't a national leader on gun safety. But Pennsylvania has made progress with some important laws. The state does require background checks in most cases, except of course for the private sale of long guns. It requires a concealed carry permit.

“But the state doesn't have what's known as an extreme risk law, which allows law enforcement or family members to petition for a court order to keep a person in crisis from accessing guns. It also doesn't have a secure storage law, which would require gun owners to store their guns locked, unloaded, and possibly kept separate from ammunition.

“I also want to point out that the state doesn't require gun owners to report when their firearm is lost or stolen. About 21 guns go missing every day in Pennsylvania. Those guns could be illegally trafficked to people who aren't allowed to own a gun.”

Cities like Pittsburgh and Philly have tried to create their own gun safety measures. What, if any, role can local governments play when it comes to strengthening our gun laws?

“Preemption is the use of state law to nullify a municipal ordinance. The statewide preemption law is very broad and strong, and it does prevent all types of local gun safety ordinances that may be more robust than state gun safety laws.

“But there is an exception. A Commonwealth Court decision gave Philadelphia and other cities in the state the right to enact ordinances to restrict ghost guns. A ghost gun is a kind of do-it-yourself firearm, made from building blocks that are easier to get. Unlike guns made by a federally licensed manufacturer, they don't have serial numbers and are very difficult to trace. Gun safety advocates have called them the fastest-growing gun safety problem in this country.

“That Commonwealth Court ruling might be challenged. But as of right now, there is no injunction in place, so Philadelphia's ghost guns ordinance has moved forward.”

🎧 Hear more about our state’s gun laws — including changes that some advocates and politicians are pushing for — on 

Here’s an overview of a few of the Keystone State’s gun laws and loopholes, as explained by Venuri Siriwardane, a health reporter at PublicSource.

Unpacking Some of Pennsylvania’s Gun Laws

3 Questions About the State of Pennsylvania’s Gun Laws (and Loopholes)

In 2022, the Philadelphia Department of Commerce created a new position to help make Philly’s nightlife 

: the Night Mayor. City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri 

 about the role and the needs of the businesses and people who keep our city going from 5 p.m. to 6 a.m.

How would you grade our nightlife in Philly?

“We are on track to be an amazing destination city for nightlife. And I think we have a lot of great infrastructure and a lot of great bones. We need to turn it up a notch so that we are a globally competitive hub for nightlife and arts culture and tourism. [...] If we want to continue to grow and be this true 24-hour city, and we want to compete with our neighbors to the north and to the south and across seas, we have a couple other things that we need to change and we need to kind of get together to get there.”

What have you learned from other cities and their Night Mayors that you would like to incorporate in Philly?

“You hear a lot of the New York stuff, because there are longer operating hours, and that's something we're exploring here in the city. If you’ve been over to Europe, they party til the sun rises. And that’s, like, a standard in a lot of parts of the world. So if we want to attract people from those places, where they come to Philly and have a great time, we have to [...] have that option.”

What are some of the needs of Philadelphians who work at night?

“A lot of third shift workers, especially those in healthcare, if they don’t pack their lunch and they forget, their options for eating are very limited. So where do they go to get a quality meal before going home? So, access to city services, but also additional support services that those of us that work during the day take for granted.”

🎧 Public safety, business challenges, and more

In 2022, the Philadelphia Department of Commerce created a new position to help make Philly’s nightlife even better: the Night Mayor. City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri spoke with Night Mayor Raheem Manning about the role and the needs of the businesses and people who keep our city going from 5 p.m. to 6 a.m. 

Philadelphia’s Night Mayor on Nightlife, Late-Night Workers, and the 'New York' Comparisons

3 Questions with Philadelphia’s Night Mayor

Our city is home to all kinds of historic sites and records. Here’s a fun one: Our zoo was the first in the country.

The Philadelphia Zoo is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, so City Cast Philly podcast host Trenae Nuri sat down with Dr. Jo-Elle Mogerman, the zoo’s president and CEO, to discuss 

the local institution’s past, present, and future

Mogerman, a Chicago native, has worked in leadership roles at zoos and aquariums for about two decades, and she’s 

 of the nation’s oldest zoo for more than eight months. Here’s a quick glimpse into what she had to say about Philly, its people, and its zoo.

These questions and answers have been edited for length and clarity.

Nuri: What have you learned about Philadelphia since you moved here?

Mogerman: “Philadelphia loves its firsts. Philadelphians take pride in [having] the first of many things. I've also learned that the Philadelphia Zoo is part of what it means to be Philadelphian, which is really cool, I think.”

Speaking of firsts, you are the first woman and first African American to serve in this role. What does that mean for you?

“It’s kind of funny and humbling and honoring to think that the nation's oldest zoo, 150 years later, just got its first female president. It’s kind of a weight to carry, but a good one, right? There are not a lot of African American directors — I knew that, because I know most of them — so it's a real honor to be African American in the City of Brotherly Love, and in a really rich and diverse city. I have built my career on being inclusive and leaning into who I am as a woman and as an African American to make me a better leader for wildlife.”

What's something you wish more people knew about the zoo?

“I wish that more people knew that we are, in fact, a place for everyone. You can come in as an adult … and just enjoy it. You don't have to feel weird about coming. We are really, truly a place for everyone engaged in, I call it, serious fun.”

 on the City Cast Philly podcast, Mogerman discusses the zoo’s storied history and innovations, how the institution hopes to connect with families, the exhibits that are her personal favorites, and a funny story that involves the Rocky Steps.

Click here to hear the rest 🐢

Ahead of the 150th anniversary of the Philly Zoo, we sat down with Dr. Mogerman to discuss the local institution’s past, present, and future.

Q&A With Philadelphia Zoo President Jo-Elle Mogerman

3 Questions With the President of the Philadelphia Zoo

Signe Wilkinson has been cartooning her commentary about Philly (and beyond) for nearly 40 years.

The award-winning editorial cartoonist’s work 

 in local publications — first the Daily News, then The Inquirer — between 1985 and 2020, and she continues to 

 in editorial cartooning — the first woman to ever do so.

 at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania alongside centuries-old political cartoons from throughout the state’s history. Hey Philly spoke with Wilkinson ahead of the exhibit’s opening.

Hey Philly: What do you think you have in common with the cartoonists who've come before you?

Wilkinson: “We're malcontents. We can see things that are wrong and want to right them. We are not the kind of people who go out and start a nonprofit to educate children, but we can do cartoons saying schools should be educating children, that children need to be educated and people need to be fed, and wars need to be stopped. It’s a different way of addressing questions that other people actually do something about, and we complain about.”

Do you ever have a really strong feeling about something, but then you're not sure how to put it in an image?

“Well, if I'm that unsure, I just move on to something else and come back to it. But generally speaking, if it's a big question that people are talking about, there's some way in. Usually when I read the paper, images come to me, and I can use that image to make a point.”

How does being a Philadelphian influence your work?

“There are lots of people and lots of issues, so it's a great place to do cartooning — unfortunately, in some ways, because there's much to draw about. But I love the city. I want to see it get better.

Wilkinson has been cartooning her commentary about Philadelphia — and the world — for nearly 40 years. We spoke to her ahead of the opening of an exhibit that features her work.