Philly Under Fire is a podcast of stories and solutions.

Philadelphia experienced a tragic surge in gun violence in 2020, with 499 of our fellow residents killed and another 2,200 shot. Like other cities across the country, there were several factors for the uptick in violence, including the Covid-19 pandemic, which devastated some neighborhoods and many residents physically and economically. But Philadelphia was already experiencing an uptick in shootings, even before the pandemic hit. That violence continues unabated today. Philly Under Fire attempts to understand the causes, effects and fixes for gun violence in Philadelphia and around the country.

Hear the stories of Philadelphians intimately affected by the city’s gun violence, those working to end it, those who have found solutions here and elsewhere—and those who have failed to step up to this moment when we most need them.

ALL EPISODES

Roadmap To Nowhere

What's actually being done to address gun violence in Philadelphia?

Get a look behind the scenes of the city meetings, learn about the Philadelphia Obituary Project that memorializes the lives of Philadelphians killed by gun violence, and hear from Kimberly Kamara who published a children’s book called “Where’s My Daddy?” to explain her son’s death by gun violence to the little boy he left behind.

The Other Epidemic

Gun violence and Covid trauma

Hear from Philadelphia health officials, who equate Philly’s gun violence trauma to something we can all understand: the Covid epidemic.

Get in Front of the Beef

What other cities are doing to reduce shootings

Get introduced to organizations in Philly and elsewhere — Chicago, Oakland — that have made meaningful progress to reduce shootings, even if it hasn’t been easy. Can we bring these ideas here?

A Fresh 24

Workforce development's impact on gun violence

A key part of driving down gun violence is increasing job opportunities for the men most likely to fall into the illegal economy. Learn how one Philadelphia organization is trying to do exactly that.

Killadelphia

Youth demands mentorship, out of school activities, and support

Meet some of the players trying to meet the needs of Philly’s youth, from Councilman Isaiah Thomas to nonprofits like Mighty Writers and Philadelphia Youth Basketball.

The Golden Hour

Local gun violence survivors - then and now

Get introduced to a handful of local survivors of gun violence — from a former history teacher who’s now devoting his life to uplifting youth before they have a chance to engage in violence, to men whose primary source of support comes from spending time with other survivors. How is Philadelphia working to help victims and their families?

Detective Mode

Mothers on a mission to solve their children's murders

In the final and arguably most heartbreaking episode of Philly Under Fire, we’re introduced to the women who go from “mourning mothers” forced to identify their children at the city morgue to “women on a mission, detectives intent on solving their children’s murders,” because they don’t believe anyone else will.