The Philly Blunt: The Podcast That Celebrates Philly

Chick Goodroe is a former burglar and influential member of Philly’s infamous K&A Gang. Now, a man who has done his time and moved on to more a more legal lifestyle, Chick joins The Philly Blunt—with K&A Gang author Allen Hornblum—Chick joined us to talk about his entrance into the world of burglary, some of... The post Chick Goodroe: Former Burglar & Influential Member of the K&A Gang appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

Gabby Ortiz stands five feet tall. She grew up near 2nd & Somerset in Philly. She was raised in a household of wrestling fans and now she is a champion professional wrestler. Gabby joins The Philly Blunt to talk about how her career began, life as a female in professional wrestling, and her future plans.... The post Professional Female Wrestler Gabby Ortiz appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

Conrad Benner is the person and energy behind Streets Dept. Streets Dept is a “Best of” Philly podcast as well as widely popular street-art blog. The blog is celebrating its 10th year in existence in 2021.  Born and raised in Fishtown, Conrad has always had an interest in the arts. We talked about the early... The post Streets Dept’s CONRAD BENNER: Blogger, Podcaster, Activist appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

Allen Hornblum is an activist, writer, lecturer, and investigative journalist who has tackled some of Philadelphia’s more intense stories. As a worker in the Philly Prison systems, Allen noticed prisoners with bandages all over their skin. He inquired what was going on, which led him to uncover one of the more egregious experiments in Philadelphia... The post Allen Hornblum – Prison Experiments, Gangs, and other Philly Tales appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

Judy Ni is of Taiwanese decent. She started out in the corporate world, but decided to follow food obsession and enter the restaurant world. Starting at the bottom, Judy worked her way to the top at fine dining establishments in the New York City and Philadelphia area. After some years in Philly at Farm &... The post Judy Ni – Sharing Love Through Food and Mentoring appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

He’s written over 130 songs about the video game Mega Man, which earned him a Guinness World Record, rapped a Comic-Con, taught middle-school kids, and recently wrote a memoir. He is Mega Ran and he’s our guest on this episode of The Philly Blunt. Mega Ran grew up in West Oak Lane and graduated from... The post Mega Ran – Nerdcore Rapper, Writer, Teacher, Hero appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

WALLIS, A 15-year-old from the Philly suburbs has released the perfect 2020 Christmas song called, Lonely Christmas. The song has gone viral with over 600K views in less than two weeks and on has garnered mentions on The Today Show’s website Ellen DeGeneres on social media and massive sharing. WALLIS joins us with her father on... The post WALLIS – The 15-year-old behind the Viral Holiday Song Lonely Christmas appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

Sarah McAnulty, Ph.D. is squid crazy, owns the Squidmobile, determined to bridge the gap between scientists and the general public through Skype-A-Scientist, and a resident of Fishtown. She’s also our guest on this episode of The Philly Blunt. McAnulty wasn’t your normal kid. She found joy in digging in the backyard and observing nature and... The post Sarah McAnulty, Ph.D. – The Squidmobile, Cephalopods, and Science appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

Jeffrey McNeill, or as he’s better known Thee Phantom, is a Philly native who is the leader of the Illharmonic Orchestra, where he combines the world of hip-hop and classical music. McNeill started on his journey at the age of eight when he mashed up the Beastie Boys with Beethoven. McNeill has traveled the world... The post Jeffrey McNeill – Merging the Worlds of Hip-Hop and Classical Music appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

Season 5 Episode 4 of Queer Eye in Philadelphia featured Tyreek Wanamaker from Philadelphia. Queer Eye is a fun, inspiring show and the episode with Tyreek may be the most inspirational. Tyreek is our guest on this episode. Tyreek overcame a variety of obstacles in his life including having a brother doing life in prison... The post Queer Eye’s Tyreek Wanamaker Talks Show and Life appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

Alex Tewfik is a restaurant veteran, who loves both restaurants and writing. He currently covers the Philly restaurant and drink scene for Philly Mag. He joins us to talk about his perspective and experiences in an industry that’s struggling to survive. Ambience was always a major factor into the success of most restaurants. We discuss... The post Alex Tewfik – Inside Philly’s Food & Drink Scene appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

Antonio “Tone” Johnson is a photographer who grew up in the West Philly and Overbrook sections of Philly. He’s got a new book out called “You Next: Reflections in Black Barbershops and he’s our guest on this episode of The Philly Blunt. Johnson’s most recent project, You Next, focuses on barber shops as sites for... The post Antonio “Tone” Johnson: Inside the World of Black Barbershops appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

Trumpeter Arnetta Johnson has performed on the world’s stage, she’s only 26 with a bright future, and she’s our guest on this episode of The Philly Blunt. At 13, Arnetta Johnson decided to take up trumpet at Camden, New Jersey’s High School for the Creative & Performing Arts in an effort to get out of... The post Arnetta Johnson – The Jazz Disrupter appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

He’s a CPA, mergers & acquisitions attorney, author, and founder of the Philly Music Fest. He is Greg Seltzer and he’s our guest on this episode of The Philly Blunt. By day, Greg Seltzer is a major player in the world of mergers and acquisition law. By night, he’s an author of two books The... The post Greg Seltzer – The Man Behind Philly Music Fest appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

Inga Saffron came to Philadelphia in 1985 to work as the Philadelphia Inquirer as a Suburban Reporter. She spent five years as the Inquirer’s Eastern European correspondent and eventually became their architecture critic in 1999. Since then, she’s been writing about Philadelphia’s changing skyline and neighborhoods. In 2014 she won the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism... The post Inga Saffron – Pulitzer Prize-Winning Architecture Critic appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

BAMM ROSE, a retired stripper, is the founder and CEO of Stilettos, Inc, a non-profit that works for improved and safer working conditions for strippers and sex workers in the Philly area. She has also organizes the Philly Stripper Strike to bring awareness to the racism and colorism in gentlemen’s clubs and to the harassment... The post BAMM ROSE – Fighting for Sex-Workers’ Rights and More appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

Dr. Steven Klasko is the CEO of Jefferson Health, named the #2 Most Influential Person in Healthcare, and probably the most honest healthcare executive in the country. In this interview he spills the dirt on the issues of government, healthcare providers, insurance companies, and pharmaceuticals and how to make the country better and healthier for... The post Dr. Stephen Klasko – The Most Honest Man in Healthcare appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

Philly’s favorite trash man, Terrill Haigler, joins us to talk Philly trash. In a city that prides itself on being blue collar, it should come as no surprise that its latest viral sensation is a sanitation worker. Terrill Haigler saw that a storm was brewing Philly, people angry at the trash department without understanding why... The post Terrill Haigler – Philly’s Favorite Trash Man appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

A. Charles “Chuck” Peruto, Jr. may be the biggest name in Philly criminal defense work. He wasted no time in making a name for himself in his 20s, taking the case of the Whitman Park Sniper. A few years later, he represented Joey Coyle, an unemployed longshoreman who stumbled across a bag filled with $1.2... The post A. Charles Peruto, Jr. – Legendary Criminal Defense Attorney appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

We sit down with Damon C. Williams. Damon is an award-winning journalist having written for the Daily News for a decade and then at Philadelphia Tribune. A bulk of his work focused on local politics. Damon has also released a memoir available on Amazon called Soul in Ink, the memoirs of a journalist. Maybe more... The post DAMON C. WILLIAMS – Philly’s First Rap Columnist appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

Philadelphia LGBTQ media star and poker shark Butch Cordora joins The Philly Blunt for a Live Bluntcast via Facebook Live. Butch created and starred in the cable interview show In Bed with Butch. He produced a line of annual calendars posing naked alongside straight naked guys called Straight & Butch, and he recently released a... The post BUTCH CORDORA – Philly LGBTQ Media Star & Poker Shark appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

Former Sr. Editor at Philly Mag and currently a race reporter for Vox (dot) com, Fabiola Cineas, joined us for Bluntcast #19. Fabiola wrote a great piece about the history of Juneteenth of Vox, which they published on Juneteenth (June 19th). She discussed the history of the day and its celebrations, what the learned doing... The post FABIOLA CINEAS – Vox Journalist appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

Feminista Jones is one of the most unapologetically brilliant people in Philadelphia and we guarantee that you will leave this interview with a different perspective on the world than you went into it with. Hear her message to people who have just joined the movement, her thoughts on black gun ownership, and what her thoughts... The post FEMINISTA JONES RETURNS appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

Nikki Allen Poe is a local activist and sandwich shop owner. He recently made headlines when he refused to send sandwiches during the Philly protests and later declared that he would not service police officers in uniform. Poe is also Philly’s leading cannabis activist and played a pivotal role in Philly’s decriminalization of cannabis.  We... The post NIKKI ALLEN POE – Pot, Police, and Sandwiches appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

Activist, journalist, defense attorney, and self-proclaimed “Angriest Black Man in America!”, Michael Coard joins us for Bluntcast #16. We discuss the George Floyd protests here in Philly and around the world. Michael also gave us his opinion on the Rizzo Statue. He actually wanted the statue to remain in place with a few additions to... The post MICHAEL COARD – “Angriest Black Man in America” appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

Kate Nyx is a folk-rock musician in Philly as well as a nationally recognized costume and luchador mask creator. She is our guest for BLUNTCAST #14. These Bluntcasts air live on Friday nights on our Facebook page.  Kate creates honest, grass-roots folks rock that has been garnering local and national attention. From originals to covers,... The post Kate Nyx – Musician & Wrestling Costume Maker appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

Nikil Saval is Philadelphia’s Democratic Ward Leader of the 2nd Ward and is currently a Pennsylvania Senatorial candidate for the 1st District. He’s also our guest for our pandemic quarantine Bluntcast #13. Nikil was born in Los Angeles, went to school in New York City, and now lives in Philly, where he plans to stay.... The post Nikil Saval – PA 1st District Senatorial Candidate appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

Joe Gunn owns Jose Pistola’s, Sancho Pistola’s, and Pistolas Del Sur. He’s also one of the funniest people in the area. He joined us for Bluntcast #12. Joe Gunn went from bartender at Fergie’s to successful restaurateur now owning three restaurants across Philly with locations in Fishtown, Center City, and South Philadelphia. He’s also one... The post Joe Gunn – Co-Owner of Pistola’s Empire appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

For BLUNTCAST 11 we are joined by burlesque dancers Honeytree EvilEye and Kitana Kedavra to celebrate the 4th Anniversary of Slutchurch, Philly’s very own heavy metal/BDSM monthly burlesque event. Slutchurch is normally held on the last Tuesday of every month at Raven Lounge at 17th and Sansom. As Honeytree professes, it is an actual church... The post SLUTCHURCH Performers Honeytree EvilEye & Kitana Kedavra appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

Undertaker John joined us for the LIVE BLUNTCAST #10 to discuss what life in general is like as a Last Responder (Undertaker) during a pandemic and raising a family while living in a funeral home. Undertaker John, known better as John Barnes of McCafferty Sweeney Slabinski Barnes Funerals and Cremations has been in the funeral... The post Undertaker John – Inside the Mortuary World appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

Philly restaurateur and sandwich icon, Tony Luke, Jr joins us for our LIVE QUARANTINE BLUNTCAST #9. We all know Tony Luke sandwiches. It’s a brand that is known nationwide as Tony has been on numerous food shows. We guarantee there is a whole other world of Tony Luke, Jr’s life that you may have had... The post Sandwich King TONY LUKE, JR appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

For Quarantine BLUNTCAST #7 we talked with Philadelphia Police Detective, MC, Comedian, podcast host Lawrence Arnell. This originally aired as part of our LIVE BLUNTCASTS series via Zoom every Friday night on The Philly Blunt Facebook Live page. Lawrence Arnell was born and raised in North Philly. Music was always important to him and he... The post Philly Detective, Rapper, Actor, Comedian Lawrence Arnell appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

West-Philly photographer Kyle Cassidy, who is currently working on photo-documenting essential workers and first responders during COVID-19, joins us for a LIVE BLUNTCAST. Our live Bluntcasts air regularly on Friday evenings via our Facebook page. Kyle has authored numerous photo books and photo essays documenting the lives of roller derby players, gun owners, librarians, those... The post Photographer Kyle Cassidy appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

We talk to Timaree Leigh for BLUNTCAST #5. Timaree is Philly’s Queen of burlesque and sexuality, as well as the host of the popular podcast Sex with Timaree. She talks about how the porn industry is affected by COVID and how the history of burlesque has prepared it for this moment. We cover how gig-economy workers,... The post Timaree Leigh – Philly’s Burlesque & Sexuality Queen appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

For Bluntcast #4 we zoomed with Pastor Rachel Sensenig of the Circle of Hope church on South Broad Street. Rachel joined us to discuss the impact of the current COVID-19 situation on the church and her congregation. Are people flocking to the church? We also discussed how Churches interact with their members in times of... The post Circle of Hope Pastor Rachel Sensenig appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

Tonight’s Philly Blunt LIVE (aka the Bluntcast) is going to be fascinating. We’ll be chatting with George Miller, a former Philadelphian who is currently living in Tokyo. Miller, previously a journalist at the Inquirer and Philadelphia Weekly, is now the Associate Dean at Temple’s Japan campus. We’ll discuss the move from Philly to Tokyo, how... The post JUMP Magazine Founder George Miller From Tokyo appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

For the second BLUNTCAST, Victor Fiorillo of Philly Mag sat with us, drank a cocktail, and provided fascinating insight into how the city is dealing with the current COVID19 conditions from bars staying open to gun sales in Northeast Philly. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for the live shows via Facebook Live on... The post Victor Fiorillo – Philly’s Most Controversial Writer Returns appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

COVID-19 and social-distancing has changed our collective worlds for the near future. To help us all get by, we’ve decided to do some live Philly Blunt “podcasts” via Zoom, which we are calling BLUNTCASTS. It’s pretty much Philly’s only live, prime-time late-night television show during these unique times as we have decided to go live... The post Kenn Kweder – Philly’s Local Rock Star appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

George Martorana is our guest for this episode of the Philly Blunt. In the 1970’s and early 1980’s George was selling marijuana in the Philly area. Some reports say that he was moving upwards of $75 million dollars a year of the stuff. He caught the attention of the FBI and they ended up busting... The post George Martorano – The Longest-Serving First-Time Non-Violent Offender in Federal History appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

Philadelphia is a city of firsts. The first public library. The first Fire Department. And, the first person anywhere to graffiti or tag their own name—not a gang name. That person is Darryl McCray, better known as Cornbread and he’s our guest on this episode of The Philly Blunt. Cornbread sat with us at new... The post Cornbread the Legend – The World’s First Tagger appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

In this episode we sit down with a professional, certified, cuddler named Cecelia. Cecelia is a student who pays her bills cuddling people. Yes, cuddling. We have become an isolated society with the help of electronic devices, headphones, in-home entertainment options like Netflix and Hulu, and online gaming. Human touch has become harder for many... The post Cecelia The Cuddler: Inside the World of Professional Cuddling appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

Joan Myers Brown is a Philadelphia icon. She has done more for the world of dance in Philadelphia than anyone and she’s our guest on this episode. Ms. Brown was born in Southwest Philly during the 1930’s. She’s a self-proclaimed “Woodland Avenue Girl.” A high school gym teacher saw her natural talent for dance and... The post Joan Myers Brown: The Mother of Philadelphia Dance appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

Anthony Moore has been doing comedy for less than a decade, but his resume is better than plenty of veterans on the Philly comedy scene. The St Joe’s graduate has appeared on Kevin Hart’s show Hart of the City, become a regular at the Comedy Cellar, and traveled throughout Europe entertaining the armed forces.  The... The post Anthony Moore: West Philly Comedian Making it in NYC appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

Philadelphia is not a city of celebrities. It’s a city of legends. And we were lucky enough to sit down with one of the biggest legends of all. Jerry Blavat grew up in South Philly, and by age 13 he was a star dancer on the original (pre Dick Clark) American Bandstand. A few years later,... The post Jerry Blavat: Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, Geator with the Heater, Boss with the Hot Sauce appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

Working a lucrative but soul-sucking corporate job in Philadelphia in the mid-90s, Rich Medina knew he wanted more from his life. He had been moonlighting as a DJ, and decided to go all in. It was a risky proposition. But it was one that ultimately paid off, as 25 years later is one of the... The post Rich Medina: Philly’s World Renown DJ & Producer appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

There are few bars in Philadelphia that are as universally beloved as Dirty Frank’s. Located on the corner of 13th and Pine since 1933, it is a veritable Philadelphia institution. No-one understands that better than current co-owner Jody Sweitzer, who has worked at Frank’s since 1992 and owned it for the eight years. We talked... The post Dirty Frank’s: The Bar, The Myth, The Legend appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

This episode is tailor-made for any fan of true crime. George Anastasia probably knows more about the Philly Mafia than any other civilian. He covered the Philly Mob and local organized crime for over thirty years for the Philadelphia Inquirer and is currently doing video updates with Dave Schratwieser for PhillyVoice.com. George discussed how a... The post George Anastasia Tells All About the Philly Mob appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

This Episode we sit with Ange Branca owner-chef of Sate Kampar on East Passyunk. Ange tells her story of growing up in a small village in Malaysia and coming to the states to pursue a career in business. Unable to find any authentic Mayalsian restaurants in the area and growing disinterested in the corporate world,... The post Ange Branca – Bringing Malaysian Food and Tradition to South Philly appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

It’s not often that we interview a guest a few hours after their arrest, but then again, Cheri Honkala is the only guest we’ve had who’s been arrested over 200 times. Quite possibly Philly’s biggest badass, Honkala simply refuses to take no for an answer from our largely ineffectual local government, which has done nothing... The post Cheri Honkala: Homelessness, Heroin, and Helicopters appeared first on The Philly Blunt.

This episode we bring you a little culture and coolness. Alexandra Cutler-Fetkewicz was a bit of a child prodigy on the violin. She landed at the prestigious Eastman School of Music in Rochester where she eventually earned a Masters degree. A drunk driver almost ended her career. Ironically, it was a grandchild of the founder... The post Alexandra Cutler-Fetkewicz: Culture and Coolness with the Strings Diva appeared first on The Philly Blunt.