Streets Dept Podcast

To kick off the 5th year of the Streets Dept Podcast, host Conrad Benner talks with a very special guest who's making a big announcement. That guest is Terrill Haigler, but there's a chance you know him better as “Ya Fav Trashman.” Over the last few years, Terrill has turned a much-beloved Instagram account that he created to help Philadelphians better understand the challenges of sanitation work at the start of the pandemic into a movement for better streets. Now, he's hoping to take that energy to local government.  

On today’s episode host Conrad Benner is joined by Rick Krajewski. Krajewski is a State Representative running for his second term serving PA’s 188th District. He is a progressive Democrat in a PA Congress which has Republicans in control of both chambers of the state legislature. As he comes to the end of his first two-year term and runs for his second, we discuss the obstacles and opportunities of working in this congress, especially over the last two years with the added challenges created by Covid. And we talk about his goals for a second term, one he'll likely serve if he beats his Primary challenger in the coming May 17th elections. 

On today’s episode host Conrad Benner is joined by Elijah Crawford and Zach Miscavage, Co-Owners of Ugly Art Films. In just over a year after Ugly Art's conception, the company has produced over 18 projects with artists nationally, including music videos, a not-yet-released interview series, commercial work, and more. Together we talk about how the pair met to start a filmmaking effort, how they've developed their signature style, and what's on deck as they plan their first short film, "The Cure for Depression"!

On today’s episode host Conrad Benner is joined by Philly-based artist Josh Pellegrini. Josh talks about finding an artistic community through his sobriety. Leaving his nursing career to become a full-time photographer. And what he's learned with his newfound success in NFTs. 

Today on the podcast host Conrad Benner talks with artist-on-the-rise, Kah Yangni about their burgeoning art career, their take on muralism, and their latest mural in the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia that celebrates Philadelphians from the trans, gender non-conforming, and non-binary communities!

In this special anniversary episode, StreetsDept.com Founder Conrad Benner opens up about 10 years of blogging about Philly art and public space! For the conversation, Conrad is interviewed by Streets Dept Contributor, Eric Dale. 

In today's final Sidebar: A New View – Camden episode we talk with one of the final groups who built an installation for this project, Amanda Schachter and Alexander Levi of SLO Architecture and contemplate the cycles of Camden’s history and potential energy ahead! 

In today's final Sidebar: A New View – Camden episode we talk with one of the final groups who built an installation for this project, Amanda Schachter and Alexander Levi of SLO Architecture and contemplate the cycles of Camden’s history and potential energy ahead! 

In this third episode of the Streets Dept Podcast Sidebar series, "Sidebar: A New View – Camden," we’ll talk with two of the artist groups that built installations for the project whose work not only called attention to illegal dumping but created public resources for the surrounding communities to use and share: Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein (aka The Myth Makers) and their outdoor amphitheater; then, Athena Steen and Josh Sarantitis and their public oven!

Earlier this month, a new work of public art from Philly-based artist Miguel Antonio Horn titled “Contrafuerte" went viral and earned international attention. On this episode, we talk with the artist about the work, its wild reception, and the possibility of public art in the 21st Century. 

In this second episode of the Streets Dept Podcast Sidebar series, "Sidebar: A New View – Camden," we talk with artists Tyler Fuqua and Jason Hutchinson about their giant roadside robot and Associate Director for Education at Rutgers-Camden Center for the Arts Noreen Scott Garrity to learn more about the curatorial process and need for a project that combines temporary public art and public space to advocate for a crucial municipal issue.  

Welcome to the first Streets Dept Podcast "Sidebar" series, where we’ll explore different topics and issues with multiple people over several episodes. For this first Sidebar series, we’ll be talking with artists Don Kennell and Lisa Adler, along with the Vice President of Cooper’s Ferry Partnership Meishka Mitchell, to begin a conversation about public art, public space, and the $4 million problem of illegal dumping in Camden, NJ. 

Anna Shipp is the Executive Director of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia! In today's episode, we chat about building a just, green, and thriving economy centered by local, independent businesses. We also discuss the challenges that systemic racism and COVID-19 present in creating that  economy.

Kris Henderson (pronouns: they/them) is a movement lawyer and organizer. They are the executive director of the Amistad Law Project, a West Philadelphia-based organization that provides direct representation to people in prison, advocates for just criminal legal policies, and organizes against mass incarceration and for alternatives to imprisonment. Today we talk about ending mass incarceration in the US. 

Fabiola Cineas is a race reporter at Vox where she covers politics, policy, and culture. Today we dive into some of her recent reporting, including how popular opinion is shifting with the momentum of the Black Lives Matter movement, finding justice for Breonna Taylor, and the coming Presidential Election. As well, we talk about her viral tweet thread that became a resulting factor in the resignation of her former editor at Philly Mag. 

Michael O'Bryan is an expert practitioner and budding researcher in the fields of community development, organizational culture, and human wellbeing. He's currently an Innovation Fellow at Drexel University’s Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation and serves as Director of Learning at The Village of Arts and Humanities in North Philadelphia. Today we talk about defunding the police, generational resilience after decades of chaos-creating policy, and why Philly's Mayor Kenney must resign now. 

Today, we’ll be chatting with Tayyib Smith! Tayyib is Principle of Meta Global, parent company to Little Giant Creative. Dedicated to cultural competency and the ability to engage multicultural audiences, Tayyib has long been a successful conduit of professional and cultural ecosystems.