Bridging Philly

Bridging Philly

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Bridging Philly episodes

  • Why “Black people don’t swim” and how we can change that | Building the FIFA Fan Festival
    Throughout history, barriers have been put up between African Americans and water. Segregated swimming pools, violence and discrimination against Black folks who try to swim in public pools - all of this was documented in the “POOL” exhibit that was on display at Fairmount Water Works from 2022-2023 and has now been transformed into a mobile exhibit. Racquel Williams sits down with a few of the folks behind the exhibit and a legendary Philadelphia swim coach to discuss the history, as well as how to overcome a fear of water and learn to swim.
    Then, Shara Dae Howard gets a behind-the-scenes golf cart tour of the FIFA Fan Festival at Lemon Hill, where up to 15,000 people per day are expected to watch the World Cup games from now through July 19.
    Learn more about:
    Habithèque - www.habitheque.com
    Diversity in Aquatics - www.diversityinaquatics.org
    PDR Swimming for Success - www.instagram.com/pdrswimming
    FIFA Fan Festival - www.phillyfwc26.com/fifa-fan-fest
    40 min
  • Weight loss meds: trend or medical advancement? | Pride and Patti LaBelle on the Parkway
    GLP-1s like Ozempic and Wegovy are all over the news and TV ads lately. Are they really a safe way to lose weight? Racquel Williams talks with medical professionals from Penn Medicine’s Center for Weight and Eating Disorders about the benefits and risks of GLP-1s, plus how social media impacts body image and how mental health is connected to food.
    Then, Philly Pride is bigger than ever this year! Shara Dae Howard hits up the kickoff event at Sofitel Philadelphia to find out what’s going on all month - including a performance by Patti LaBelle - and how the LGBTQ+ community feels about the Pride festival moving from the Gayborhood to the Ben Franklin Parkway.
    42 min
  • Respite for cancer patients and caretakers | New tech to help with vision loss
    A cancer diagnosis is the beginning of a scary, overwhelming journey that takes a toll on the patient as well as their loved ones. For Pete's Sake Cancer Respite Foundation gives cancer patients and their families time to breathe and heal together through travel and “staycation” respite experiences. Founder Marci Schankweiler joins Racquel Williams to talk about the power of respite and their new respite center, Pete’s Dream - a vision of Marci’s husband, Pete, who died of cancer when he was 30.
    Learn more about For Pete’s Sake at www.fpsrespite.org.
    Then, Shara Dae Howard checks in at VisionLink to hear about their latest efforts to help people with vision loss find independence and community, and to try out some of their new gadgets, like Meta AI glasses.
    Learn more about VisionLink at www.visionlinkphl.org.
    33 min
  • Preserving personal and cultural history | Philadelphia’s music Walk of Fame inductees
    As we look back on 250 years of American history, you might be inspired to look into your own history. Monica O. Montgomery believes it’s important to preserve your family’s legacy, as she did after her parents passed away. Out of her grief and healing journey grew the DiasporaDNA Story Center, an “un-museum” and cultural center offering workshops, talks, bus tours, and more experiences centered around discovering ancestral history on both a personal and cultural level. Learn more or book an experience at www.diasporadna.org.
    Then, Shara Dae Howard heads to Philly’s Avenue of the Arts, as the Philadelphia Music Alliance celebrates their 2026 Walk of Fame inductees, including Sun Ra Arkestra, Lady B, Pablo Batista, and Earl Young receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award. She meets some of the honorees and their family, friends, and collaborators.
    37 min
  • Biking for lung cancer | Under the big top
    Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths, yet funding to support patients can be hard to come by because of the stigma attached to it. While smoking is associated with lung cancer, many people who have never smoked are diagnosed with the disease. Racquel Williams talks with Ride Hard Breathe Easy, an organization that raises funds and awareness for lung cancer patients through community bike rides, as well as a social worker at Fox Chase Cancer Center and a woman who is on her fourth battle with the disease, to understand how we can support lung cancer patients and how to get screened.
    Get involved or learn more about Ride Hard Breathe Easy at www.rhbe.org.
    Then, on Shara in the City, Shara is heading out of the city to join the circus! She gets a behind-the-scenes sneak peek at the Philly-area premiere of Cirque du Soleil's “Luzia,” at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks now through June 7.
    Tickets to “Luzia” are available at www.cirquedusoleil.com.
    39 min
  • Ladies, take control of your finances | Philly’s 2026 poet laureate
    For decades, women have been taught that they don’t need to understand money - their fathers or husbands will handle that. But women, whether single, married, divorced, or widowed, should feel confident taking control of their own financial present and future. Regina McCann Hess is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, President of Forge Wealth Management, and author of "Super Woman Wealth: How to Become Your Own Financial Hero". She sits down with Racquel Williams to share some financial tips and inspiration.
    Connect with Regina or get her book at www.reginamccannhess.com or www.forgewealth.com.
    Then, Shara Dae Howard heads to Chestnut Hill to hang out with Philadelphia’s 2026 poet laureate, Raina Leon, who’s promising to bring Philly’s many communities together through poetry and presence.
    40 min
  • Hitting the streets with a message of peace | Racing for a second chance at life
    Philly Truce formed in response to the rise in homicides in 2020, with a mission to stop the violence and support sustainable Black manhood. Five years later, they’ve made tremendous progress with efforts like their Peace Patrol, and they’re celebrating with a gala on May 8. Racquel Williams talks with their co-founder Mazzie Casher and Executive Director Kelly Greene.
    Learn more about Philly Truce at www.phillytruce.com.
    Then, Shara Dae Howard visits our Bridging Philly sponsors, Gift of Life, for their annual Donor Dash at the Navy Yard. She talks with organ donors, recipients, and West Chester University students there to honor their friend, Garrett Nicholas, who was hit by a car and killed, but whose organ and tissue donation saved lives.
    Learn more about Gift of Life at www.donors1.org.
    38 min
  • Autism on screen and in the workplace | Rebuilding a legendary 17th century tavern

    Autism and neurodiversity are becoming better represented in media - like the HBO medical drama “The Pitt”, which features a neurodivergent character, Dr. Mel King. A Philadelphia doctor actually helped create that character and has made major contributions to autism research nationally and internationally. As we close out Autism Acceptance Month, Racquel Williams talks with Dr. Wendy Ross, director of Jefferson Health's Center for Autism and Neurodiversity, along with her student, Kelly Ryan. Together they discuss “The Pitt”, how autistic individuals can thrive in a real-life work environment, and how their medical school is helping to change the culture around autism from the ground up.


    Then, Shara Dae Howard visits the site of one of America’s first taverns in Philadelphia, where the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps got their start. The Tun was torn down centuries ago, but sailors and Marines still come to Philadelphia looking for it - so two veterans have decided to rebuild it for America’s 250th anniversary.

    41 min
  • Pads, tampons, and breast pumps for all | Jill Scott comes home to Philly

    Millions of menstruating people worldwide experience period poverty and have trouble accessing the products they need. Many people skip work or school during their cycles, or have to choose between paying for pads or food. It’s a large-scale problem, but one woman is trying to help the Philadelphia community on the ground. Shelley Aragoncillo created sheds full of free menstrual and postpartum products in several locations around Philly. She calls her grassroots effort "Grab N’ Flow". Racquel Williams visits one of the sheds to find out how serious this need is and how Shelley is drawing on mutual aid to help.

    Then, in celebration of Jill Scott’s new album “To Whom This May Concern”, Shara Dae Howard looks back on the time Jilly from Philly returned to her hometown and was honored with a mural at her alma mater, Girls High.

    31 min
  • Local theater making an impact: drawing attention to child sexual abuse, and celebrating America’s history

    Theater has the power to move people to make change, and Jay Sefton is hoping to draw on that with his one-man play, “Unreconciled,” which tells his story of being sexually assaulted by a parish priest as a 13-year-old. The play is touring Pennsylvania ahead of potential action in the State Senate on two bills that would revise the state’s statute of limitations for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Racquel Williams talks with Sefton and Rep. Nate Davidson, who introduced the legislation. 

    Then, Shara Dae Howard gets a backstage tour of the Walnut Street Theatre, hailed as America's oldest theatre. Their upcoming production of the musical “1776” looks back at the signing of the Declaration of Independence, right before its 250th anniversary.

    39 min

About Bridging Philly

From the publisher's feed

From KYW Newsradio 103.9 FM in Philadelphia, Bridging Philly connects our communities to the issues that matter to you. Host Racquel Williams examines the most critical issues facing underserved…