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Grapple From small towns to big cities — Grapple gives voice to people living and working in distressed communities. Through personal narratives and long-form storytelling, you hear conversations that tell the story of America’s profound economic and social changes — including how distressed communities have changed over time, what they’re grappling with today, and how they’re redefining themselves. Grapple’s first season takes you to a series of communities across Pennsylvania that were once vibrant but struggle today. The season also features breakout episodes — to dig deeper into the big issues you’re hearing about — with leading economists, sociologists, writers and more. Grapple is produced by Kouvenda Media and Keystone Crossroads — a public media initiative covering both challenges and solutions for distressed cities. Keystone Crossroads is a collaborative reporting project of partner public media stations: WHYY, WITF, WESA and WPSU.
Grapple

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Grapple

Grapple

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From small towns to big cities — Grapple gives voice to people living and working in distressed communities. Through personal narratives and long-form storytelling, you hear conversations that tell the story of America’s profound economic and social changes — including how distressed communities have changed over time, what they’re grappling with today, and how they’re redefining themselves. Grapple’s first season takes you to a series of communities across Pennsylvania that were once vibrant but struggle today. The season also features breakout episodes — to dig deeper into the big issues you’re hearing about — with leading economists, sociologists, writers and more. Grapple is produced by Kouvenda Media and Keystone Crossroads — a public media initiative covering both challenges and solutions for distressed cities. Keystone Crossroads is a collaborative reporting project of partner public media stations: WHYY, WITF, WESA and WPSU.

Most Recent Episodes

Episode 12: Breaking Down a Changing America with Maria Hinojosa and Dan Hopkins

On this episode of Grapple, we'll talk about immigration and our country's changing demographics with journalist Maria Hinojosa. We'll also hear from University of Pennsylvania political scientist Dan Hopkins about what contributes to the rise of anti-immigration politics and how it played out in the 2016 presidential election.

Episode 12: Breaking Down a Changing America with Maria Hinojosa and Dan Hopkins

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Episode 11: Millbourne, Getting Back on Track

On this episode of Grapple, we head to a tiny inner-ring suburb outside of Philadelphia called Millbourne. It's home to around 1,200 people. You'll hear about how the closure of a Sears store in 1988 rocked this borough. Today, nearly three decades later, officials are grappling with what to do about the old Sears lot that's still vacant. At the same time, immigrants primarily from Southeast Asia have increasingly moved into Millbourne over the years because of its affordable housing and convenient public transportation. Check out the photo essay: http://bit.ly/2fv7eve

Episode 11: Millbourne, Getting Back on Track

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Episode 10: Breaking Down Gentrification with Jackelyn Hwang

Gentrification is a controversial issue playing out in cities across America. What happens when wealthier residents begin to move into a lower-income neighborhood? Who gets to stay, and who doesn't? In episode 09 of Grapple, we heard about how the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Hazelwood is on the cusp of change. Residents there are hopeful about a major new development and the potential job opportunities; but they're also concerned the development could push them out of their community. On this episode, Jackelyn Hwang joins us to discuss some of the latest trends and research around gentrification. Hwang is a postdoctoral research fellow at Princeton University, and will join the faculty of Stanford University as an assistant professor of sociology in the fall of 2017.

Episode 10: Breaking Down Gentrification with Jackelyn Hwang

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Episode 09: Hazelwood, A Pittsburgh Neighborhood on the Cusp of Change

Episode 09 of Grapple takes you to Hazelwood. It's a neighborhood in Southeast Pittsburgh that's only four miles from downtown but hard to get to by public transportation. Besides feeling physically isolated from the rest of the city, residents in Hazelwood have watched other neighborhoods redevelop and cash in on Pittsburgh's renaissance. But a big change is finally underway in Hazelwood, where a former coke and steel mill site is being turned into a huge site for tech research, commercial use and housing. Check out the photo essay: http://bit.ly/2f7q7EJ

Episode 09: Hazelwood, A Pittsburgh Neighborhood on the Cusp of Change

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What Are You Grappling With in Your Community?

We're taking a short break, but will be back with two new episodes of Grapple on Nov. 2. In the meantime, we want to hear from you. Tell us about what issues your community is grappling with. Tweet us at #Grapple, or record a voice memo and email it to us at thegrapplepodcast@gmail.com. You might end up on the show! And help us get better at what we do. We love when you send feedback.

What Are You Grappling With in Your Community?

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Episode 08: How American Cities are Making a Comeback with James and Deborah Fallows

We hear a lot of stories about the challenges people in distressed communities are facing, but we also want to hear stories about what communities are doing to come back. On this episode of Grapple, we discuss these ideas with longtime Atlantic magazine writers Deborah and James Fallows. The couple has been traveling around the Unites States for the last three years on a single-engine propeller plane to find out how American cities and towns have been putting themselves back together. Their project is called American Futures.

Episode 08: How American Cities are Making a Comeback with James and Deborah Fallows

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Episode 07: Clairton, Hometown Pride Still Alive in a Declining Steel Town

On this episode of Grapple, you'll hear reflections from a steel town in the Pittsburgh region. Back in the 1950s, the city of Clairton was booming with about 20,000 residents. But today there are far fewer people living there and fewer job opportunities than before. You'll hear from someone who used to work at the mill and also from someone who had to leave Clairton to find work elsewhere. Lastly, you'll hear about the first settler of Clairton and how the family he was part of was woven into Clairton's history. Check out the photo essay: http://bit.ly/2diQben

Episode 07: Clairton, Hometown Pride Still Alive in a Declining Steel Town

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Episode 06 : Breaking Down the American Dream with Robert Putnam

Is the American Dream still possible? In this episode, we'll talk with leading American political scientist Robert Putnam about why he thinks the American Dream is in crisis. In his most recent work, Putnam examines our nation's growing income inequality and opportunity gap compared to the 1950s when he was a kid in an Ohio town along Lake Erie. Putnam is a political scientist at Harvard University and the author of the best-seller, "Bowling Alone."

Episode 06 : Breaking Down the American Dream with Robert Putnam

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Episode 05: Scranton, A City That's Seen Many Come and Go

On this episode of Grapple, we follow a thread of narratives about leaving and staying in Scranton with one of our reporters who's got a personal connection to the city. Conversations include the ups and downs of business in the area, whether Scranton's newest immigrants are fitting in, and how cheap housing and little crime could help Scranton grow again. At its peak, this northeastern Pennsylvania city had 140,000 people. Today there are about half that number of people. Historically, Scranton attracted various waves of European immigrants who came to be coal miners, as well as iron and steel workers. But by the 1930s, Scranton started experiencing major economic decline to the point where many left. Including Jane Jacobs who grew up there and went on to become one of the most influential urbanists ever, as we'll hear. Check out our photo essay: http://bit.ly/2dCvafG

Episode 05: Scranton, A City That's Seen Many Come and Go

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Episode 04: Breaking Down Deindustrialization and Urban Distress with Elijah Anderson and Amy Liu

Last time on Grapple, you heard about Chester: a city near Philadelphia that's struggling with high crime, failing schools and a poor economy. In this episode, you'll hear from Yale University sociologist Elijah Anderson about the impact of deindustrialization and racism on cities like Chester. You'll also hear from Amy Liu of the Brookings Institution about what Chester and other similar cities can do to boost their economic health and move forward.

Episode 04: Breaking Down Deindustrialization and Urban Distress with Elijah Anderson and Amy Liu

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