We Can Be podcast - The Heinz Endowments
Society & Culture
For the past 24 years, renowned Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist and book review editor Tony Norman has written about the most pressing issues of the day, proving to be an important and eloquent voice of truth.
Tony began his journalism career covering pop culture, eventually serving as the Post-Gazette’s Pop Music and Culture Editor. He is a former editorial board member at the Post-Gazette, and is the current vice president of the board of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists.
He has modestly described himself as “a distracted former political science major,” but he is so much more than that.
Tony shares stories of his early days as a pop culture writer in the ‘90s, including the David Bowie/Nine Inch Nails show that changed his career; his reception as the Post-Gazette’s first Black columnist; and the column he wrote that most moved him – and cemented his decision to “always be on the side of the underdogs.”
The era we are living in “feels different than any other I’ve lived through, like positive change is possible,” Tony tells host Grant Oliphant. “We are seeing a revolution in attitudes.”
He is writer in a time when there is no shortage of things to write about, and his words are trying to help fuel the revolution toward justice.
“We Can Be” is hosted by Heinz Endowments President Grant Oliphant, and produced by the Endowments and Treehouse Media. Theme & incidental music by Josh Slifkin. Guest image by Kurt Weber/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Guest inquiries can be made to Scott Roller at sroller@heinz.org.
The joy & complexity of giving w/ Giving Done Right author Phil Buchanan S02EP17
Poet, soldier, author & father Tim O’Brien on the extraordinary, beautiful power of maybe S02EP16
Building an army of support for refugees: Hello Neighbor’s Sloane Davidson S02EP15
Blindsided by the Taliban: Journalist & Postindustrial media co-founder Carmen Gentile S02EP14
From homelessness to Emmy Award winning composer & director: the shining light of Emmai Alaquiva S02EP13
Dr. Cornel West & Bikari Kitwana 2: the revolution in priorities our society needs S02EP12
Dr. Cornel West & Bikari Kitwana on the joy & struggle of today’s freedom fighters S02EP11
Different but united: the palpable positivity of 24-hours-a-day bridge-builder Wasi Mohamed S2EP10
From Parkland to Pittsburgh, student activists are forever altering the social change landscape S2E9
From Air Force plane nosedive to university president: Dr. Chris Howard & the power of mentoring S2EP8
Art is making souls soar in this rapidly changing neighborhood S02EP07
As environmental stakes rise, Emily Collins helps the underserved get a fair shake S02EP06
Trayvon Martin's activism legacy: mother Sybrina Fulton, Jasiri X & Black Lives Matter stand strong S2E5
Very Smart Brothas' Damon Young: the hyper-cognizance & beauty of being black in America S2E04
Archeology, family & fantasy: the fantastic Afrofuturist art of Alisha Wormsley S2E03
Tree of Life leaders: "We didn't think about courage; we thought about doing the right thing" S2E02
In aftermath of tragedy at Tree of Life synagogue, random acts of beauty & unity are the new normal (S02EP01)
Lifting the arc: Hazelwood’s Tim Smith & grassroots energy bring a new future to this riverfront community S01EP20
San Juan, PR Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz: speaking truth to power, green energy & her grandmother’s enduring impact. (S01EP19)
Truthful Art: Jasiri X on Trayvon Martin, Antwon Rose Jr. & the cross-section of unity that gives him hope. (S01EP18)
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