Love + Grit

Roberto Lugo & Questlove (Best of Love + Grit)

We’re listening back at some of our favorite episodes and this week we have Questlove and Roberto Lugo! Did you know Roberto Lugo, born in the Kensington neighborhood of Philly, has been featured in museums across the country including the Metropolitan Museum of Art? He’s also behind the Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter mural right outside the Clay Studio building. Yes, Black Thought from the Legendary Roots Crew who Questlove is also a member of. And just in case you needed a reminder of who Questlove is: musical director of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon; cofounder of digital music and media platforms Okayplayer and OkayAfrica; a James Beard Award-nominated cookbook author; plant-based cheesesteak maker and more.  

Black Men Run Philadelphia & James Jones

James Jones, Lawrence Harrington and George Morse are representing Philly locally and nationally. First up, Harrington and Morse, both captains of the local Black Men Run chapter, explain the ins and outs of one of Philly's favorite running clubs which has been making its mark on the streets and communities of Philadelphia for over a decade. However, their mission goes beyond running, taking their core values of Brotherhood, Unity, and Health into the communities they run through. Next up, Jones was planning events in Philly before becoming a contestant on CBS's Survivor season 43. Spoiler alert: Although he didn’t win the $1 million cash prize, he is now curating vibes for all in our city.  

Kimberly McGlonn & Jill Scott

Kimberly McGlonn and Jill Scott are two Philly queens making great moves in the “City of Sisterly Affection.” Black Ivy Thrift Store is an innovative shoppable museum that honors our past. You may remember McGlonn from her activism work and especially for her super dope store, Grant Blvd. McGlonn returns to the Love + Grit podcast to talk about her new project. Next up, Laiya has a one-on-one session with Philly’s own Grammy-award winning Jill Scott! She recently kicked off her anniversary tour in Philly, is putting the finishing touches on her upcoming album, and dedicates time to her almost two-decade old Blues Babe Foundation - a launch pad for Philly’s young brilliance. 

Victor Tejada & Samantha Smith

Do what you love...that’s what Victor Tejada and Samantha Smith do. Tejada is improving small businesses through Delivery Guys, his food-delivery business. Launched during the pandemic, Tejada and his start-up have since been able to offer drivers significantly more opportunities, help small business owners keep more profit and employ drivers in the communities where they live. Next up, Samantha Smith is a young Philly actress who stole our hearts in the Peacock Original limited series, The Best Man: Final Chapters. Working in the industry for half of her life, Smith has booked national commercials, many voiceover gigs and a supporting role on The Last O.G. 

DJ Jazzy Jeff

Although he needs no introduction, DJ Jazzy Jeff “The Magnificent” is one of the most legendary artists to come out of Philadelphia becoming the first hip-hop recording to win a Grammy for best rap performance. DJ Jazzy Jeff is also one of the first hip-hop artists to take over our television screens. But there’s so much more to one of our favorite DJs, making history today during a groundbreaking performance celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. And yes, you’ll find out why the Philadelphia Eagles NFC Championship was Jeff’s first Eagles’ game he ever attended.  

King Saladeen & Tiffani Barbour

King Saladeen and Tiffani Barbour are taking Philadelphia’s arts & culture scene to the screen and Broadway! Self-taught and world-renowned visual artist King Saladeen not only recently worked on artwork for Netflix's ‘You People,’ but has also collaborated with the New York Stock Exchange, Neiman Marcus and much more! Also, the 1776 musical is launching its national tour in Philadelphia at the Forrest Theatre. Tiffani Barbour discusses the importance of having an all-female, transgender, and non-binary cast in a musical about the founding fathers discussing the declaration of independence.  

Adam Blackstone

Love + Grit is celebrating 50 Years of Hip Hop and continuing to tell Philly's most phenomenal stories. Musical mastermind Adam Blackstone joins the Love + Grit family for many reasons. To name a few: he is the reason many performers (Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, among others) are your favorite live show artist, he is the reason that you are still thinking about many Super Bowl Halftime shows, and most importantly he is Philly. And now after releasing his first studio album Legacy, he’s on the verge of winning a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B. Should we go on? 

Kevin Parker & Dope Botanicals

Kevin Parker and Nakia and Taahirah Stith are three incredible Philadelphians walking the runway on this episode. Parker, a model turned designer, tells his story of how he created one of the country’s biggest fashion movements, Philly Fashion Week. The goal of the event, which has featured over 75 international brands and 1,000 local designers, was to develop the reputation of Philadelphia’s fashion industry, improving the local economy with jobs and educational opportunities in fashion. Next up Nakia and Taahirah, two dope sisters are celebrating one year at Dope Botanicals! The Rittenhouse shop has these healthy streets buzzing and offers visitors food, juice and other items to help you live a holistic lifestyle.

If you’re still looking for gift ideas, the hosts share their favorite Black-owned businesses around Philly! 

Rich Medina & Chef Kurt Evans

We’re thankful for Rich Medina and Chef Kurt Evans promoting Philly’s most celebrated traits: arts and activism. International and legendary DJ Rich Medina shares with us his history expressing his heart, soul and activism through music for the last 30 years. Medina also provides the details surrounding Art Basel in Miami, why it’s important for the Black arts community and details about Love + Grit On The Road during Miami Art Week. Next up, Evans discusses bringing together food and activism to raise criminal justice reform awareness in America. Featured in major publications like Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, Good Morning America, and Eater, Evans also created the ground-breaking End Mass Incarceration (EMI) dining series which orchestrates dinners themed around the criminal justice system. 

And if you’re looking for something to do in Philly other than drinking, the hosts provide their top things to do. 

Chef Tonii Hicks & Steven CW Taylor

Chef Tonii Hicks and Steven CW Taylor are innovators and history makers. Hicks has worked in some of Philly’s most prestigious kitchens such as SOUTH and High Street Philly, and she’s also an activist, advocating for farm-fresh food in low-income communities. Most recently, Hicks was named a James Beard Foundation Fellow, enabling her to participate in 10 weeks of training in financial and legal matters, public relations, policy and advocacy, brand development and more. Taylor, owner of Ubuntu Fine Art, traded in his software-engineering job to pursue fine art photography. While doing this, he made history as the first Black photographer in the country to open his own gallery featuring exclusively his own works.  

As always, the hosts discuss their favorite Philly things. This time around, the focus is on their must-do November activities.