Henry Ossawa Tanner became one of the most accomplished American artists of the 19th century—but his story begins with family, sacrifice, and freedom.

From a mother who escaped slavery to a son who painted Black interior life with dignity and care, Tanner’s work carries an inheritance of struggle, faith, and resilience.

This is his Freedom Journeys story.

Cecil B. Moore didn’t lead from a distance—he organized, showed up, and fought alongside the people.

A civil rights attorney, veteran, and relentless advocate, he challenged segregation, police abuse, and inequality in North Philadelphia, not for recognition, but for community power.

This is his Freedom Journeys story.

From a childhood curiosity about animals to leading one of the nation’s oldest zoos, Dr. Joe-Elle Mogerman followed her wonder—and never let anyone define her limits.

As the first Black woman CEO of the Philadelphia Zoo, she’s redefining leadership, community engagement, and what it means for people and animals to thrive together.

This is her Freedom Journeys story.

Ernest Owens is an award-winning journalist, professor, and author of The Case for Cancel Culture: How This Democratic Tool Works to Liberate Us All.

He announced the deal of his second adult-nonfiction book, Divided We Stan: How Stan Culture Evolved into Sociopolitical Chaos, slated for release in 2027 from Beacon Press. This thought-provoking book details the origins and impact of stan culture (a social media phenomenon driven by obsessive fans which got its start from the hype around celebrities) in the 2010s and how it transcended into the polarizing political device it is now. Divided We Stan will also explore how politicians and ambitious candidates embrace their own stan groups, the harm caused by said stans, and how society morphed into battling teams.

He joined Dr. Peterson to discuss his second book deal, and his thoughts on American city mayors not speaking up about safety and profession against ICE.

When Black dancers weren’t being hired, Joan Myers Brown built her own institution.

In 1970, she founded Philadanco to train, pay, and showcase Black dancers—on their own terms. More than five decades later, the company has performed across five continents, while still fighting the same inequities in arts funding.

This is her Freedom Journeys story.

Before WURD Radio gave Philadelphia a Black-owned voice, Dr. Walter P. Lomax, Jr., was building something just as radical: culturally competent, community-centered healthcare—under one roof, in the neighborhoods that needed it most.

That same belief—that Black people deserve institutions they own and control—led to Dr. Lomax’s founding of WURD Radio.

This is his Freedom Journey as told by WURD Radio President and CEO Sara M. Lomax.

#freedomjourneys #America250 #Philadelphia250 #WURDRadio #blackmedia

Dr. DeLisha Tapscott and Dr. Nardos Ghebreab are co-founders of Black Girl Narrative, a research-driven storytelling collective reimagining how Black women experience safety, joy, and power online.

They both join the show to further discuss Black Girl Narrative, digital safe havens for Black Women, and how digital exclusion can affect the economic futures of Black women.

Michelle Mancuso serves as the Principal, Wastewater Operations Advisor at American Water, the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the U.S., supporting operational excellence across wastewater facilities through hands‑on guidance, process optimization, and operator mentorship.

Michelle joins the show to break down the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to dumping food down the drain and give people the easy fixes that save money and prevent major headaches.

Christina Basilio is a Google Tech & Trends Expert, as well as a Internal & External Communications Manager at Google. Christina joins the show to further talk about how AI can help people stick to their New Year’s resolutions.

Noah Felder joins the show. He is the owner of Delhi St Bakery. Noah talks shop with Kiea Hutty of Bank of America and Iola Harper of the Women’s Opportunities Resource Center, on this edition of "WURD on Business"