Life Grooves: Recent Episodes
Suzanne Biemiller
We all have our list of favorite songs, but what do they say about us? Life Grooves explores Philadelphians’ lives through their favorite music. During each episode, host Suzanne Biemiller interviews someone who lives or works in Philadelphia. By listening to the person's favorite songs, we discover how the music reflects who they are and how they live their lives. Episodes are first broadcast on GTown Radio, WGGT-FM, The Voice of Germantown.
This Life Grooves interview with Jennifer Kolker, Associate Dean for Public Health at Drexel University's School of Public Health, features great songs by the Decemberists, Helen Reddy, Waxahatchee, Jason Isbell and Nick Lowe. And she reminds us of what it felt like to be a teenager watching Simon & Garfunkel play to her (and thousands of other fans) on a late summer evening in 1981.
This interview orginally aired on GTown Radio on October 23, 2020. (Unfortunately, the sound quality is not ideal given a bad phone connection.)
This Life Grooves interview with Debra Wolf Goldstein features songs by Traffic, the Rolling Stones, Gillian Welch. It also includes a song written by Debra herself called "Yard Sale."
This interview initially aired on GTown Radio, WGGT-FM, Philadelphia on September 14, 2018.
In this interview with Harris Steinberg, executive director of Drexel University's Lindy School of Urban Innovation, he describes key moments in his life and the music that accompanied them. You'll hear excerpts from Peter and the Wolf and Firebird, as well as classic songs by Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, the Jayhawks, Jason Isbell and Leonard Cohen.
This show originally aired on August 21, 2020 on GTown Radio, Germantown, Philadelphia.
Ronni Rothman, owner of WomenWise Midwifery, shares her favorite songs and stories in this Life Grooves interview, while she bakes bread. Children's television specials, a Long Island crooner, and powerful women generate a great hour of music. There's even a song about bilirubin (you read that right) and a tale about meeting Elvis Costello.
This interview initially aired on GTown Radio, Philadephia, on July 10, 2020.
Joanna Wikander, programming manager at GTown Radio, shares her favorite music including songs by Liz Phair, Lucero, Big Star, Guns & Roses and the Dead Kennedys.
This Life Grooves show originally aired on GTown Radio, Germantown, on May 7, 2020.
Life Grooves returns with an interview of Meg Wise, executive director of the Philadelphia Outward Bound School. Meg's favorite music includes songs by The Clash, Phoenix, Kevin Abstract, Frankie Cosmos, The Killers and a beautiful ballad by Tom Waits.
This show first aired on GTown Radio, Philadelphia, on April 24, 2020. It is dedicated to Sally Gendler, a Life Grooves fan who left us far too soon.
What happens when your beloved husband has a music collection with more than 10,000 titles? If you're Sharmain Matlock-Turner, leader of Philadelphia's Urban Affairs Coalition, you curate a memorable Life Grooves show. Her favorite music features songs by Luther Vandross, The Gap Band, Michael McDonald and the memorable Isaac Hayes version of "By the Time I get to Pittsburgh."
This memorable interview was first broadcast on GTown Radio on October 26, 2018.
British pop and rock classics fill this hour of song and conversation with Anna Wallace Adams and Luke Butler. Anna was the former budget director for the City of Philadelphia (she is now back in her native Wales serving the government there) and Luke works at Comcast as senior director for LIFT Labs.
Artists played include Take Five (if you watch Derry Girls, you will know why this song made Anna's list), Oasis, the Spice Girls and Amy Winehouse and more.
This show originally aired on GTown Radio, Germantown. February 22, 2019.
Montgomery County (PA) comissioner, Ken Lawrence, shares his favorite songs and stories in this Life Grooves interview.
This show originally aired on GTown Radio on January 10, 2020.
Caroline MacRae, a student at Middlebury College, shares her favorite songs by artists that include Sufjian Stevens, Joni Mitchell, Fleetwood Mac and Lou Reed. You'll also hear a song by Susanne Sundfor.
This show originally aired on GTown Radio, Germantown, on December 28, 2018.
This interview with Lori Shorr, Associate Professor of Urban Education at Temple University, features love songs by The Spinners, Bonnie Raitt, Dinah Washington and The Magnetic Fields.
The show originally aired on GTown Radio, Philadelphia on December 13, 2019.
Scott Gordon, CEO of Philadelphia's Mastery School network, talks about his favorite songs. His electic list includes music by the Clash, Bruce Springsteen, Biggy Smalls, Vickie Winans and the Beau Jocque & the Zydeco Hi-Rollers.
This interview originally aired on GTown Radio, WGGT-FM, Philadelphia, on November 8, 2019.
Philadelphia's Mayor Michael Nutter (2008-2016) shares his favorite songs in this episode of Life Grooves. You'll hear great stories and songs by Marvin Gaye, Donna Summer, and Philly's own Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes and The Roots, among others.
The interview originally aired on GTown Radio on October 25, 2019.
This Life Grooves interview with Hillel Hoffman will rouse your inner rebel.
Hillel Hoffman's favorite music list includes songs from the Clash, My Bloody Valentine, Slaeter-Kinney and Reuters, plus a classic from the Beatles, Bob Dylan and Ronnie Spector.
If you're not mad, you're not paying attention.
The episode originally aired on GTown Radio on August 10, 2018.
Richard Greenwald, President & CEO of the Soulsville Foundation in Memphis, talks about the legacy of Stax Records as we listen to some of his favorite songs. The hour is filled with great stories and great music.
This September 13, 2019 interview first aired on GTown Radio.
Stefanie Seldin, Executive Director of Rebuilding Together Philadelphia, shares her favorite songs on this August 9, 2019 episode of Life Grooves. The show originally aired on GTown Radio, Philadelphia.
Margaret Berger Bradley, Director of Strategic Initiatives for Philadelphia's Ben Franklin Technology Partners, includes classics by Marshall Crenshaw, Elton John and Carole King on her list of favorite songs. Her list also includes live versions of Bonnie Raitt's "Angels from Montgomery" and a song by Susan Werner recorded at Philadelphia's Tin Angel.
This Life Grooves interview originally aired on GTown Radio, Philadelphia on July 26, 2019.
Jean Sachs, CEO of Living Beyond Breast Cancer, shares her favorite songs, which include music by David Bowie, The Grateful Dead and The Roches.
This interview first aired on GTown Radio, Philadelphia, on July 12, 2019.
Dwyane Wharton, director of external affairs at the Food Trust, shares his favorite songs and talks about his life and his passion for helping Philadelphians lead healthier lives. Listen in for songs by Nuyorican Soul, Public Enemy and Peter Gabriel, among other great artists.
This interview first aired on GTown Radio, Germantown, on June 29, 2018.
Karen Heller, National General Features Writer for the Washington Post, shares her favorite music and some great stories.
Valarie Allen, partner at Ballard Spahr and public finance expert, shares her list of favorite music, including songs by Prince, Pink Floyd, Stevie Wonder and Barry Manilow.
This Life Grooves interview originally aired on GTown Radio, Philadelphia in April 2019.
Interview with George Jackson, communications director for the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. His favorite song list includes hits by KISS, Rush, Grandmaster Flash, RUN-DMC, Oddisee and Kendrick Lamar.
First broadcast on GTown Radio, March 9, 2018.
Interview with Brian Abernathy, Managing Director for the City of Philadelphia. His favorite song list includes tunes by Tim McGraw, Sugarland and Harry Chapin.
This Life Grooves interview originally aired on GTown Radio, Philadelphia on April 13, 2018.
Interview with David Thornburgh, leader of Philadelphia's Committee of 70. His song list includes well- and little-known songs by the Allman Brothers, B.B. King, Otis Redding, Paul Simon, Ralph Sutton and Emmylou Harris.
First broadcast on GTown Radio, March 23, 2018.