Audio Olney

This episode is the finale to our second season and as the title “Full Circle” implies, it is a look back in order to move forward. Two of the series guests from early on in Season One – Mama Carla Wiley and Marquise Lindsey-Bradley – return to share with us what has been going on with them since we last spoke to them two years ago. They also receive the baton from outgoing hosts Linda Fernandez and Keir Johnston of Amber Art & Design, who reflect on the amazing journey of launching Audio Olney.

This episode features two Black-owned businesses in Olney, each one with their unique stories that capture the ups and downs of establishing a business and brand and what it takes to build a successful enterprise despite the challenges that face minority business owners. We profile Michael Crawford of Holla Athletics & Sporting Goods and Ed Hipp of Ed Hipp Foods Inc.

This episode features our good friends and neighbors - the Olney Eagles Youth Sports Organization - a group of tireless volunteers who have served the children and youth of the neighborhood and beyond for decades and have shepherded generations of boys and girls through athletics. Their journey as an organization has not been without its challenges, including the rocky inception of its current leadership in 1998 to the difficulties serving Philadelphia's young people today. Yet, the Eagles volunteers remain dedicated to their mission and continue to make a difference.

This episode features Olney residents – Ellen Somekawa and Reverend Roger Zepernick – two lions of social justice who have fought and continue to fight the good fight for the rights of immigrant communities and the working poor in the city of Philadelphia. Part One of Two covers Ellen and Reverend Roger’s separate arrivals to Philadelphia from the Midwest and traces their evolution as activists as they begin raising their voices for the Asian and Latino immigrant communities respectively.

This episode features two home chefs from the neighborhood (one Cambodian-American and one Haitian-American) and how their love of cooking is intertwined with their family’s heritage. The preservation of their culinary traditions is also a testament to the influence of their mothers.

This episode features some of the vegetable gardeners and food growers in the neighborhood and how their gardening practice plays a role in community restoration and connecting with the traditions of their ancestors. We also explore food gardening in Olney within the context of the large city-wide movement of urban farming.

Today, Olney is a linguistic, multicultural melting pot; its evolution reveals the multi-layered narratives of its residents who bring their diverse lived experiences and resilience to this mostly blue-collar neighborhood.  

In this second season of our podcast, we will highlight some of those stories; from garden growers to at-home chefs, community activists to youth mentors, small business owners to entrepreneurial artists and more. You’ll hear their voices and witness their journeys as they continue to make Olney the dynamic place that it is. 

Episode Six of Audio Olney debuts on July 30, 2021.  This episode celebrates one of Olney’s biggest calling cards and that is the diverse food culture that permeates the neighborhood with its variety of eateries and bakeries that line the North 5th Street business corridor to the recipes that people bring with them from their home countries of origin.  We also touch on the deep food insecurity that was brought on by the pandemic and how a church food pantry stays committed to meeting the needs of the community.

This episode focuses on the topic of spirituality in Olney, featuring a profile of a local pastor and how the pandemic impacted his church. Plus, Audio Olney shines a spotlight on the often misunderstood and maligned practice of the Voodoo religion and a group of pioneers in the neighborhood who break down what it really means to follow that spiritual path.

Episode Four of Audio Olney debuts on May 28, 2021.  This episode focuses on the topic of public spaces in Olney from the built environment to the green spaces that define the neighborhood. Listeners will hear from those who are staunch advocates who are fighting for a better quality of life for the residents and visitors alike who encounter these spaces.

Episode Three of Audio Olney debuts on April 30, 2021.  This episode focuses on Olney’s rich artistic community, featuring 8 individuals that span a wide variety of mediums. It features interviews with the founder (Tony Rocco) and members (Dayanara Rodriguez, Mirielis Almodovar-Alamo) of Photography Without Borders, Tim Nesmith (silkscreening), Sam Rodriguez (visual art/muralist), Elizabeth McCorkle (painter), Emily Coleman (glass) and Nakia Dillard (acting).

Episode Two of Audio Olney debuted on March 26, 2021.  This episode focuses on some of Olney’s music makers, featuring four distinct voices that span several generations of music practice. It features interviews with rapper/MC Darien Fripps aka Mighty Flipside Esq., Professor Randy J. Gibson of Gibson School of Music & Arts, Bassist Timothy Ragsdale and Clarinetist Marquise Bradley.

Episode One of Audio Olney debuted on February 26, 2021.  This episode focuses on why we started the podcast and on a brief history of the Olney section of Philadelphia. It features interviews with Oral Historian/Quilter Mama Carla Wiley, Historian Catherine Holochwist, Writer Aja Beech and Artist Dave Kyu.

Audio Olney is a podcast envisioned to share the stories of the diverse ethnic and socio-economic neighborhood of Olney in Philadelphia. It is being launched by Olney Culture Lab, in collaboration with Amber Art & Design, who are the lead producers of the six episodes that comprise the first season.

Audio Olney aims to bring community voices to the table, highlight cultural expressions and examine what makes the neighborhood unique in its history and current beauty and complexity. Listeners will hear about the history of Olney, music, the arts, food, spirituality, and public spaces.