Host Pedro Rodriguez sits down with author and tennis professional Gabriel Allen to discuss his groundbreaking new book, Tennis Tensions: Class, Race, and Gender in the Evolution of the Sport.
In this compelling conversation, Allen breaks down
the hidden history of tennis — a sport long associated with privilege and exclusivity — and reveals how class barriers, racial bias, and misogyny have shaped its evolution from country club pastime to global phenomenon. With the insight of a scholar and the passion of a player, Allen examines the struggles and triumphs of those who challenged the sport’s traditions and helped redefine who belongs on the court.
Rodriguez asks the big questions about power, access, and identity in one of the world’s most elite games — and what it will take to make tennis truly inclusive.
Ladan Mehranvar, Senior Legal Researcher at the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (Columbia University Climate School), continues the conversation about the ongoing conflict between the people and government of Honduras and a private billionaire investors’ firm over control of Roatán, an island 40 miles off the country’s Caribbean coast.
This case raises profound global questions: What happens when the super tech-rich try to carve out enclaves where they can be immune from national laws and establish their own rules — often at the exclusion of local populations?
Join host Pedro Rodriguez to explore the hemispheric and international repercussions of this conflict, how it could impact the application of justice in the United States, and the rest of the world.
If you haven't yet, check Part I to understand the historical framework of this issue.
Ladan Mehranvar, Senior Legal Researcher at the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (Columbia University Climate School), New York, discusses the conflict between the people and government of Honduras and a private billionaire investors’ firm over control of Roatán, an island 40 miles off the country’s Caribbean coast.
This case raises profound global questions: What happens when the super tech-rich try to carve out enclaves where they can be immune from national laws and establish their own rules — often at the exclusion of local populations?
Join host Pedro Rodriguez for an in-depth conversation that connects Honduras to wider struggles for sovereignty, equity, and accountability around the world.
Also check Part II -
In this episode, host Pedro Rodriguez explores the importance of language justice with two community leaders who know it firsthand.
Irene Osorio, a young mother from Colombia now rooted in Philadelphia, is a textile artist, graphic designer, and language justice worker who loves to cook and build mutual aid networks with her neighbors. She is also a founding member of COMPA Philly Language Justice Cooperative.
Gina Engst, also a mother and co-founder of COMPA Philly, has been a community interpreter and language justice worker for over two decades. She finds grounding in the woods and strength in social justice movements.
Together, Irene and Gina share why culturally appropriate and language-justice–oriented translations are essential—not just for accuracy, but to ensure real communication and connection for those not proficient in English.
Native to southeastern China, the loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) has traveled far beyond its origins, carried across oceans and cultures through trade, migration, and empire. Its journey is a story not just of agriculture but of diplomacy, cultural exchange, and adaptation. From its cultivation in East Asia to its spread into the Mediterranean through Europe’s colonial ventures, and later its arrival in Latin America, the loquat has served as a living bridge between worlds. What might seem like a humble fruit is, in fact, a lens into global history and the many ways food connects people across borders.
Our guest for this episode is Ningyi Xi, research fellow at the Department of Cultural Heritage at the University of Padova in Italy. Ms. Xi brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective to the study of mobility and cultural transmission. She holds an MA in Mobility Studies from the University of Padova and a BA in Art History and Classical Studies from Wellesley College. Born and raised in Hangzhou, China, she has lived, studied, and worked across four continents. Her personal history of movement informs her research, which often explores how objects, plants, and cultural practices travel and acquire new meanings as they cross borders.
Host Pedro Rodriguez talks with historian Bennett Parten about his groundbreaking book Somewhere Toward Freedom: Sherman’s March and the Story of America’s Largest Emancipation. Parten reframes Sherman’s March to the Sea in 1864 not just as a military campaign, but as a mass movement of self-emancipated people who sought out Union lines, turning the march into a liberation on a scale unmatched in American history. Their courage and determination helped lay the foundation for Reconstruction and redefined the meaning of freedom in the United States. The book challenges the picture of the South portrayed in the movie Gone With the Wind and brings to life how free slaves actively assisted Union forces in beating the Confederacy and brought and to the war in Georgia.
This episode’s guest is Dr. Castel V. Sweet, professor at the University of Mississippi, who discusses her short documentary, Sites of Memory. This powerful film explores overlooked sites of racial violence in the Deep South and how remembering these histories can open the door to healing, justice, and deeper conversations today.
Watch the trailer here: http://sweetsoilnarratives.com/sites-of-memory/
Don’t miss this important conversation on memory, truth, and the pursuit of justice.
Host Pedro Rodriguez sits down with the Fordham University graduate and Harvard Law School alum to unpack a five‑decade career spent wielding the law on behalf of everyday people. From securing life‑changing benefits for children with disabilities in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Sullivan v. Zebley to prevailing before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Weishaupt’s litigation record reads like a blueprint for public‑interest advocacy. Yet courtroom victories are only part of his legacy. A longtime Northwest Philadelphia resident, he has mentored generations—lecturing at universities, training paralegals, and empowering community members to transform legal knowledge into action. In this candid conversation, Weishaupt reflects on the New York City upbringing and Jesuit values that guided him toward social justice, the mentors who honed his craft, and the clients whose stories still fuel his passion. He also offers a clear‑eyed assessment of today’s polarized political climate: What threats—and opportunities—face low‑income Pennsylvanians seeking counsel? How can lawyers, organizers, and citizens collectively safeguard access to justice in the years ahead? His thoughtful answers illuminate both the struggles and the possibilities that lie before us.
The legendary drummer for Philadelphia's quintessential music group Philly Gumbo, talks about his youth as an organizer for the Black Panther Party in Atlanta, his chance encounter with Malcolm X, a lifetime of activism and his passion for music.
In this episode of Neglected Stories, host Pedro Rodriguez is joined by acclaimed historian Peter Cole for a look into the extraordinary but overlooked life of Ben Fletcher — one of the most dynamic labor leaders in Philadelphia’s history.
Fletcher, a Black union organizer and member of the Industrial Workers of the World (the Wobblies), led a 1913 strike of over 4,000 multiracial dock workers in Philadelphia’s bustling ports. His courage and leadership broke barriers in an era of legalized segregation and labor exclusion. Despite his achievements, Fletcher's story has been largely erased from mainstream labor history.
Professor Cole, author of Ben Fletcher: The Life and Times of a Black Wobbly, will unpack the racism Fletcher faced, the interracial solidarity he built, and the federal persecution that landed him in prison—all while inspiring a new generation to rethink what labor organizing can and should be in 2025.
On this episode of Neglected Stories: People, History, Movements, host Pedro Rodriguez sits down with Dr. Cheryl Bettigole, former Philadelphia Health Commissioner, to talk about her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. From vaccine equity to navigating political pressure and public fear, this conversation explores the difficult decisions made behind the scenes—and how a team of dedicated public servants led a city through one of the most consequential crises in modern Philadelphia history.
A Conversation with Author Mark Torres about his latest book: Long Island and the Legacy of Eugenics: Station of Intolerance.
Join us for a powerful and eye-opening conversation with acclaimed author Mark Torres, whose new book uncovers the hidden history of eugenics in the United States — a chapter too often omitted from our national memory.
We explore:
What eugenics was and how it shaped public policy in America.
The widespread impact of forced sterilizations and racial “science” across states.
How American eugenics influenced Nazi ideology and policy in Germany.
Why this history is critical to understand today, as we face rising rhetoric around “purity,” genetic superiority, and exclusion.
What lessons we must learn to protect civil rights and human dignity in the present and future.
📚 Mark’s research is as compelling as it is sobering — connecting past injustices to urgent contemporary concerns. If you care about history, justice, and the fight against systemic harm, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
In this episode, Pedro sits down with veteran labor reporter Tim Wheeler, whose decades of experience covering labor, civil rights, and grassroots movements make him a living archive of American people’s history. The episode focuses on the history of May Day — its origins as an international day of workers' resistance, and how it has been remembered (and often erased) in the U.S.
Tim also shares stories from his new book, which highlights the remarkable life of George Meyers, a longtime labor organizer and working-class hero. Meyer spent decades organizing shipyard workers, defending union democracy, and challenging corporate power — often in the face of political repression and personal risk. In the booK "No Greater Power: The Life and Times of George A. Meyers"
Join host Pedro Rodriguez for a powerful conversation with Judith Bernstein-Baker, M.S.W., Esq., former Executive Director of HIAS Pennsylvania and a veteran in the field of immigration law and advocacy.
Together, they trace the legal foundations of immigrant and refugee due process protections, explore how those have evolved, and examine the ongoing impact of Trump-era policies that continue to reshape the immigration landscape.
Judith’s deep expertise—as an author, educator, and activist—offers a unique lens on the past, present, and future of justice for immigrants.
This week, we sit down with Peggy Mastroianni, former Legal Counsel at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), for a powerful conversation on the history, impact, and effectiveness of the Commission in addressing workplace discrimination.Ms. Mastroianni reflects on the hard-won gains secured through the Civil Rights Act of 1964—and sounds the alarm on the current Trump Administration’s efforts to roll back those protections. From threats to enforcement to the targeting of African Americans, women, immigrants, people of color, and individuals with disabilities, she outlines what’s at stake and why we must stay vigilant.
Neglected Stories: People, History, Movements, a production of Germantown Community Radio, welcomes writer and urban historian Nathaniel Popkin for a powerful conversation about Philadelphia’s layered history and its resilient communities.
Popkin, known for his deep explorations of the city’s cultural and political landscapes, discusses his acclaimed work The Possible City and other projects that highlight how Philadelphia’s neighborhoods have resisted and adapted to ongoing change. His books—including Finding the Hidden City, The Possible City, The Year of the Return, and Song of the City—have redefined how we view urban transformation. He also co-wrote the Emmy-winning documentary Sisters in Freedom and is the writer of the upcoming series American Experiment: The Struggle for Philadelphia.
A conversation apt for many other urban areas in the United States and around the world.
Join us for a deep dive into the history and impact of tariffs on the latest episode of Neglected Stories: People, History, Movements, hosted by Pedro Rodriguez. Our guest, Ed Gribbin, a trade policy advocate and native Philadelphian, breaks down how tariffs work, their historical role, and what proposed changes could mean for U.S. consumers, businesses, the nation, and the global economy.As trade tensions rise and policies shift, understanding tariffs is more important than ever. Will they protect American jobs or drive up costs for consumers? How will businesses and international partners react? Tune in as we uncover the real impact of tariffs on our daily lives and the global economy.Ed Gribbin is the founder and CEO of Gribbin Strategic LLC, a consultancy specializing in growth strategy, product development, fit and sizing, supply chain optimization, and sustainability for the apparel and fashion sector. With 46 years of industry experience, he has held leadership roles at Alvanon and Intellifit, where he co-invented the Intellifit body scanner. He serves on global boards, including AAFA, IAF, AAPN, and SPESA, and actively participates in trade policy advocacy. His career began in the uniform industry, culminating as SVP at Angelica Uniform Group, the largest U.S. uniform company at the time.
This is a compelling discussion with Rev. Renaldo McKenzie, a scholar who has spent the past 15 years studying the devastating effects of neoliberal policies in both the Global South and the United States.
In this episode, host Pedro Rodriguez and Rev. McKenzie explore the themes of his book, Neoliberalism, Globalization, Income Inequality, Poverty, and Resistance. The conversation dives into the intricate connections between neoliberal economic policies and globalization, revealing how they fuel growing income inequality and deepen poverty worldwide. McKenzie unpacks how neoliberalism—a revival of 19th-century laissez-faire economic liberalism—has shaped global economic structures, often to the detriment of marginalized communities.
What does this mean for working-class people, especially in cities like Philadelphia? How can communities organize and resist these policies that favor the wealthy while leaving everyday people behind? Join us as we discuss the history, impact, and strategies for change.
Guest Jimmy Duran, Executive Director of Vincent Homes and a banker serving minority, women, and small businesses in Philadelphia, joins us to discuss the history, impact, and future of the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). Since its enactment in 1977, the CRA has driven nearly $2 trillion in investments into underserved communities. Now, with the Trump administration systematically dismantling its protections, what’s at stake? And what can communities do to fight back? Tune in to learn more.
Women's rights and community activist Pat Albright talks about the work her organization has been doing to get the work done by women at home recognized as part of the gross national product while challenging the judicial system's attack on poor women raising children.
