The Jawncast from KYW Newsradio

Anyone who has had medical debt could tell you how unexpected and crippling it can be. What's worse, that debt can even follow your family after you die. But a group of queer activists in Philadelphia found a loophole in the system. With the help of Undue Medical Debt, they bought and forgave $2 million of medical debt, and they celebrated it in a symbolic burning. Sabrina Boyd-Surka finds out exactly how this was possible, talking with the local organizers, Undue Medical Debt’s CEO, and a patient whose life was changed when her debt was relieved.

We're about to have a golden opportunity to see Philadelphians shine on a global scale: at the 2024 Academy Awards. Colman Domingo, born in West Philly, is nominated for Best Actor for his performance in "Rustin", and Da'Vine Joy Randolph, from Mount Airy, is nominated for Best Supporting Actress for "The Holdovers". Both are Temple University graduates. Sabrina Boyd-Surka digs into their Philadelphia origin stories and how the city has shaped who they are today, with help from KYW's Nigel Thompson. Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for IMDb.

The biggest event in professional wrestling is coming to Philadelphia in just a few weeks. Join super fans and KYW Newsradio staffers Andre Bennett and Tim Jimenez for this ode to the audacious; a love letter to legends of the squared circle; an appreciation for how Philly became the home of hardcore wrestling and left an indelible mark and legacy on a multibillion dollar industry that continues to grow. Featuring commentary and stories from WWE superstar Drew Gulak, former ECW and WWE superstar the Blue Meanie, and more. Links: Drew Gulak Blue Meanie Bryce Remsburg Bill Apter Shea McCoy Suplex Vintage The Collective Labor of Love

Introducing a new project from another KYW Newsradio Original Podcast - "Ricochet" is a mini-series from Gone Cold: Philadelphia Unsolved Murders that examines the gun violence crisis in our country through stories of unsolved shootings in Philadelphia. In the first episode, we talk with Joan Ortiz, whose 2-year-old daughter Nikolette was shot and killed in her arms. It was at the hands of a man named Tayvon Thomas, who grew up abused and neglected, and turned to drugs. We dig into both sides of this tragedy, examine the systemic failures that contributed, and ask why the most vulnerable feel the least protected. To hear more of "Ricochet", follow Gone Cold: Philadelphia Unsolved Murders wherever you get your podcasts.

Recreational adult use of marijuana has been legal for over a year and a half in New Jersey, but small businesses still struggle to break into the industry, even if they were operating underground before. Sabrina Boyd-Surka visits the first Black, woman-owned cannabis manufacturing business in Delaware and the first independent edibles brand on shelves in New Jersey, ButACake, to find out how they established themselves legally after years as a legacy operator in New Jersey. And KYW South Jersey reporter Mike Dougherty joins us for a look inside the grow house of a multi-state operator, The Cannabist Company, where the team is trying to use their funding and resources to help smaller companies like ButACake get off the ground. For pictures of ButACake’s kitchen and The Cannabist Company’s grow house, follow us on X @TheJawncast. Check out Matha Figaro’s other business, CannPowerment, here.

When Bec Richman started out in rabbinical school, she felt lost. What was she going to do with herself? Then, her vision became clear: she wanted to learn how to scribe. The only problem was, tradition stood in her way. According to Jewish law, only men could be scribes, but Rabbi Bec and other non-male aspiring scribes like her worked around the rules. In a time when so much attention is being paid to religion and how it affects the world, join Brian Seltzer as he explores a growing movement within progressive Judaism, how a congregation in Philadelphia is pushing the movement forward, and the transcendent themes from this story that can be applied to people of all walks of life, regardless of how they worship. Follow The Jawncast on X. Links to organizations referenced in this story: Congregation Rodeph Shalom Stam Scribes Songs performed in this episode by Rodeph Shalom cantor Bradley Hyman: "Eitz Chayim Hi" (Robbie Solomon) "Tri-Faith Nigun" (Jacob "Spike" Kraus)

In honor of Veterans Day, we’re revisiting the story of Michael Crescenz, a man who gave his life to save his fellow soldiers in the Vietnam War. He was the only Philadelphian to receive a Medal of Honor for that war, and his family and friends have done everything they could to make sure he’s remembered - from putting up a statue to renaming the VA Hospital - because his story represents so many others who don’t have anyone left to pass on their legacy. Sabrina Boyd-Surka talks with Michael’s brother and fellow veterans about who he was, how he became a hero, and how a whole generation had their lives shaped by this war. You can get a copy of Michael’s biography here: “No Greater Love: The Story of Michael Crescenz, Philadelphia's Only Medal of Honor Recipient of the Vietnam War” by John A Siegfried and Kevin Ferris. Photo courtesy of the Crescenz family. Follow us on Twitter: @TheJawncast.

Edgar Allan Poe is one of the most classic horror and mystery writers of all time. We see countless re-creations of his stories around Halloween - like the new Netflix series “The Fall of the House of Usher”. Poe lived in Philadelphia for six years, which are said to be the happiest and most productive time of his life. He published 31 stories in that time. What was it that made Poe’s Philadelphia years so great? Sabrina Boyd-Surka visits the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site - one of the houses where Poe lived in Philadelphia - to get a glimpse into the life and mind behind these timeless, spooky tales, and to hear how this house may have influenced Poe’s writing. For pictures of the Poe house, follow us @TheJawncast.

For many Philadelphians, the Painted Bride mosaic that covers an entire building on Vine St. has become a piece of the city’s identity, embedded with images and memories of the local art community. But as of October 2023, it’s being taken apart, and the building will soon be demolished to make way for a new mixed-use building. The artist, Isaiah Zagar, is now 84 years old, and he spent nine years making this mural. Sabrina Boyd-Surka and KYW’s Shara Dae Howard dig into the history of this mural, what it has meant to Philadelphia, why it couldn’t be saved, and whether or not public art is really meant to last forever. Photo by Sarah Bloom. Read more about the mural from Shara Dae Howard here. Check out pictures of the mosaic here, and follow us on X (formerly Twitter) for more: @TheJawncast.

During two weeks in September, the Philadelphia area was gripped by a dramatic, unpredictable, and unnerving manhunt for a convicted killer. Residents impacted by the search wanted answers: how did Danilo Cavalcante escape from Chester County Prison, and where did he go? For nearly 150 years, one of Philadelphia’s most popular neighborhoods lived under the steady specter of incarcerated people breaking out of a maximum security prison in their backyard. What parallels can be found between escape stories from famed Eastern State Penitentiary and the Danilo Cavalcante manhunt? How did the presence of Eastern State affect the community that grew around it? Why is studying lessons from the past vital to thinking critically about the criminal justice system in the present? Brian Seltzer visited Eastern State Penitentiary to learn some history, get answers, and connect some dots. For all the twists, turns, and takeaways from escape to capture in the Cavalcante manhunt, check out Manhunt: Catching a killer in Chesco, an original podcast from KYW Newsradio.

Do ghosts exist? It’s a question that’s been asked over and over again throughout modern history. But as impossible as it is to pin down an answer, that doesn’t stop people like John Levy from trying. When he’s on the clock, John is a Philadelphia police officer. In his spare time, he’s a paranormal investigator. Brian Seltzer, John McDevitt, and Holli Stephens join John on a spooky season ghost hunt at a national historic landmark in Horsham, PA that's supposedly...haunted. What do they find? How does the adventure shape their beliefs in the afterlife? Listen to find out. Links referenced in episode: Olde City Paranormal Graeme Park And be sure to follow us on X: @TheJawncast.

A recent study named Philadelphia the best city in the U.S. for naked biking - and the city’s annual Naked Bike Ride makes a good case. With over 1,000 riders, it’s part of the World Naked Bike Ride, and the largest one on the east coast. But…why do people do this? There’s more to it than novelty - the Philly Naked Bike Ride makes a statement about body positivity and fuel reduction. Sabrina Boyd-Surka talks with some of the organizers and gets a glimpse at the “protest party” on wheels. Photo courtesy of the Philly Naked Bike Ride. See more photos of the ride here. Follow us on Twitter @TheJawncast.

The Commodore Barry Irish Center was established as a gathering place for Irish immigrants in 1958 - but by 2014, the center was both literally and figuratively starting to crumble. The waves of Irish immigration had slowed to a trickle…so why was it so important to some people to save the center? KYW Newsradio’s City Hall Bureau Chief, Pat Loeb, guest hosts this week to share the story of how a few passionate Irish descendants started a movement to bring the Irish Center back from the brink of eviction and turned it into a place where you can experience the many cultures of Philadelphia today. Check out pictures of the Irish Center here. Follow us on Twitter @TheJawncast.

Philly Flags Part III: Philadelphia has an official flag. You knew that, right? Well, if you didn’t, you’re probably not alone. Contrary to the city’s DNA, the Philadelphia flag is somewhat subdued, lowkey. It doesn’t really stand out. But even if the flag tends to hide in plain sight, it’s been around a while -- since 1895. Brenda Exon, for one, loves the Philadelphia flag so much she’s created an alter ego and non-profit organization devoted to celebrating it. Not everyone, however, shares her same passion for the original. In fact, more and more, the call for a new Philadelphia flag seems like it’s getting louder and louder. In the third and final installment of our Philly Flags miniseries, hear from supporters and critics of Philadelphia’s official flag, and find out whether it might be possible for the city to adopt a new one. Follow The Jawncast on Twitter. Click here to read more about The Philadelphia Inquirer's flag redesign contest and its winner.

Philly Flags Part II: Did you know that everywhere the president or vice president of the United States goes, they take a little piece of Northeast Philadelphia with them? True fact! The Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support Flag Room, located at the Naval Support Activity base in Oxford Circle, is the only place in the world authorized to make the official hand-embroidered presidential and vice presidential Flags used at press conferences, state visits, and other public and private functions. The Flag Room is also responsible for creating flags for the military and other branches of government. How did this prestigious task from nearly two centuries ago become a uniquely Philadelphia tradition? What inspires the Flag Room’s 13 embroidery artists to do their jobs with such painstaking care, even if their handiwork goes widely underrecognized? In the second installment of The Jawncast’s Philly Flags mini-series, Brian Seltzer toured the Flag Room to find out. Follow The Jawncast on Twitter, and be sure to check out some awesome photos and videos from our visit to the DLA Troop Support Flag Room.

Philly Flags Part I: Even if you’re not intimately familiar with the history of Betsy Ross, you probably know the highlights of the story, right? The South Jersey native, at the request of George Washington and other leaders of the Revolution, made the first American flag, right there in her home in the Old City section of Philadelphia! But is that really what happened? Maybe so, maybe not. Some historians have their doubts. In the first installment of a three-part miniseries on The Jawncast about the links between Philly and flags, Brian Seltzer heads to the Betsy Ross House to examine the truths and myths surrounding her life, and how much, in respect to her legacy, it even matters if she did or didn’t create the first American flag. For more information about the Betsy Ross House, click here. The entirety of Marc Leepson's talk about his book, Flag: An American Biography, can be seen here. Follow us on Twitter @TheJawncast.

This episode is a follow-up to a story on The Jawncast titled 'Young, Black, Philly fathers, united' that was originally released June 16th, 2022. It has been republished, and should appear as the preceding episode in your feed. Fatherhood can be challenging for anyone, especially members of at-risk, violent communities in big cities like Philadelphia. Enter Young Fathers United, a weekly program created by the Institute for the Development of African-American Youth that helps fathers and fathers-to-be navigate issues like money, security, and custody. Brian Seltzer first sat in on a meeting of the North Philly-based Young Fathers United last year ahead of Father’s Day. A year later, Brian went back, and followed up with two of the program's participants, brothers Quinn and Jihad Wesley, to hear how fatherhood has only made the bond between them stronger. Follow @TheJawncast on Twitter for every new episode.

This story was originally published June 17th, 2022. To hear an update, listen to The Jawncast episode released June 16th, 2023 titled, 'A brothers' bond, through fatherhood.' Philadelphia’s 19132 zip code sees a lot of violence. It’s also home to the Institute for the Development of African American Youth, where each week, fathers, fathers-to-be, and aspiring fathers come to talk about fatherhood and everything that comes with it. Money. Security. Custody. Snitching. No topic is off limits. Join Brian Seltzer as a fly on the wall at one of IDAAY’s Young Fathers United meetings, and hear from members of the group. Plus, we’ll meet IDAAY’s co-founder, Archye Leacock, whose organization has been helping young, Black men navigate fatherhood for over three decades.

Kimberly McGlonn owns two clothing stores that stand out in a sea of fast fashion. Grant Blvd sells sustainable, ethical, locally-made clothes, and Blk Ivy is a thrift store based on the fashion of the Civil Rights Era. Sabrina Boyd-Surka visits the stores to learn more about Kimberly’s mission, why it’s so needed in the fashion industry, how historical struggles have impacted Black fashion, and how we can all work towards change through what we wear. Other links referenced in this episode: Made InstituteB LabTriple Bottom Brewing and fair chance hiringThomas Jefferson University fashion programsThe Narativ House Follow us on Twitter @TheJawncast.

Pickleball has exploded in popularity over the last few years, but it’s actually been around since the 1960s. You might think of it as an old people’s game, but most of the players in Philadelphia now are actually in their 20s and 30s. What’s drawing this new crowd to play a sport with such a silly name? (And where did that name come from?) Sabrina Boyd-Surka talks with pickleball players and organizers, and takes the court herself to find out what all the racket is about. Turns out, pickleball could actually do a lot of good for our city. Join the Philadelphia Pickleball Facebook group to find out when and where you can play in the city. Follow us on Twitter @TheJawncast.