Baltimore: The Rise of Charm City

Baltimore: The Rise of Charm City

A radio show and podcast telling intergenerational stories of place and memory in Baltimore City. Produced in partnership with WEAA 88.9 and AIR's Localore: Finding America project.

Episodes

Episode 19: Rise + Shine Waverly

April 16, 2018 • 30 mins
Have you ever wished that a band of roving podcasters would visit your community to collect stories of uplift, history, and hope, then broadcast those stories for you and your neighbors in a space right near your block? For months, the Rise of Charm City team did just that in Baltimore’s storied neighborhood of Waverly, one of the city’s hubs of 1960s and ‘70s activism and counterculture. Episode 19, “Rise + Shine Waverly,” was pro...
Mark as Played

Episode 18: Beach Your Bottom Dollar

September 22, 2017 • 29 mins
Episode 18, "Beach Your Bottom Dollar," tells the story of three of Maryland's historically Black beaches, Carr's and Sparrow's Beaches and Highland Beach. Hear all about the heyday of beachside concerts at Carr's Beach and the enduring civil rights legacies of Frederick Douglass, Mary Church Terrell, and their descendants and Highland Beach. Voices include Dr. Andrew Kahrl, author of The Land was Ours: How Black Beaches Became Whi...
Mark as Played

Bonus Episode: Never Monument to Hurt You

August 24, 2017 • 17 mins
In the middle of an August night, the City of Baltimore removed four Confederate monuments from parks and public squares. A few people bore witness, and almost everyone in town had an opinion. In this bonus mini-episode, we talk to a few of them, not just about the statues but also about the quiet removal of the city's African American landmarks and resources.
Mark as Played

Episode 17: A Series Of Burial Plot Twists

June 2, 2017 • 36 mins
Episode 17 of the Rise of Charm City takes listeners to two of the city's most historically significant cemeteries: Mount Auburn, the oldest Black cemetery in the city, and Green Mount Cemetery, final resting place of many of Baltimore's 19th and early 20th century philanthropists. We also hear from Mr. Victor March Sr., President and CEO of March Funeral Homes, the largest independent funeral home on the East Coast, which celebrat...
Mark as Played

Episode 16: Lacrosse My Heart and Hope to Slide

May 12, 2017 • 32 mins
Episode 16 of the Rise of Charm City features the history of lacrosse in Baltimore city's various communities. Hear indigenous lacrosse history professor Dr. Allan Downey; Dr. Miles G. Harrison Jr, author of Ten Bears, the story of Morgan State's historic 1970s lacrosse team; and voices from The Boys' Latin School of Maryland, Charm City Youth Lacrosse, and more.
Mark as Played

Episode 15: Queer's Looking at You, Cis

April 14, 2017 • 37 mins
Episode 15 of the Rise of Charm City explores the history of Baltimore's LGBTQ+ communities. Hear historians, activists, and artists talk about their memories of clubs, bookstores, bars, and resource centers around the city and how they're dealing with the disappearance of those queer-friendly spaces.
Mark as Played

EpIsode 14: A Modern Study of Morganic Chemistry

March 17, 2017 • 29 mins
Part 2 of The Rise of Charm City's exploration of Morgan State University's 150-year history continues in Episode 14: "A Modern Study of Morganic Chemistry." You'll hear the familiar voices of University President Dr. David Wilson and University Chairman Kweisi Mfume, as well as new memories and insights from students, alumni, and administrators. We cover the founding history of the university's radio station, WEAA 88.9 FM, as well...
Mark as Played

Episode 13: Protect Your Vital Morgan

March 3, 2017 • 30 mins
Celebrating its sesquicentennial celebration in 2017, Morgan State is the oldest and largest African American college in Maryland. This week we explore the founding of the institution, its long legacy of social activism, and the fond memories of alumni and administrators.
Mark as Played

Bonus Episode: Dressed and Highly Favored

January 20, 2017 • 27 mins
The Rise of Charm City's new, bonus episode, "Dressed and Highly Favored," provides listeners with a brief window into Black Baltimore's history of fashion merchandising and design. You'll hear from local designers Jody Davis and Carlous Palmer, as well about Pauline Brooks, one of the first Black women in the nation to open a dress shop in a major shopping mall. Produced with thanks to our generous listenership who contributed to ...
Mark as Played

Episode Twelve: Glow in the Park

August 5, 2016 • 29 mins
The 12th — and final — episode of our first season, "Glow in the Park," presents a history of Druid Hill Park, the third oldest public urban park in the country. Hear from Kalman "Buzzy" Hettleman and Mitzi Swan, local tennis players who made strides to desegregate the park's tennis courts; renowned artist Joyce Scott, who designed a monument to Pool No. 2, the long-closed "colored pool" at the park; and various Druid Hill commun...
Mark as Played

Episode 11: The Rise of Charm City - LIVE!

July 22, 2016 • 57 mins
Episode 11, "The Rise of Charm City: LIVE!" is a broadcast of our very first live performance event, held on July 14 at the historic Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Museum. Sound engineering by Mark Gunnery for the Center for Emerging Media. Introduction by Marc Steiner. Panelists: Dr. Joanne Martin (The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum), Mr. Joseph Haskins (Harbor Bank of Maryland), and Mr. Anthony Williams (Shake and B...
Mark as Played

Ep 10: Can't We All Just Get Islam?

July 1, 2016 • 28 mins
"Can't We All Just Get Islam?" explores the history of Muslim presence in Baltimore City and the relationship of the city's predominantly black Muslim population and South Asian Muslims in suburbs outside the city. Featured voices in this episode include Imam Earl El-Amin, Islamic Community School principal Zakia Amin, and poet/activist Tariq Touré.
Mark as Played

Episode 9: Banks for the Memories

May 27, 2016 • 31 mins
Episode 9: "Banks for the Memories" tells the story of black banking -- both traditional and nontraditional -- in Baltimore City. With the presence of pawn shops, private lenders, and the city's last black-owned bank left standing, Baltimore City's black communities has been a hotbed of financial activity for over a century. Featured voices include antiques appraiser and historian Philip J Merrill, Harbor Bank Chairman, President, ...
Mark as Played

Episode 8: Where There's a Mill, There's a Way

May 6, 2016 • 31 mins
This episode takes us to one of Baltimore City's last remaining predominantly white communities: Hampden. We visit Hampden's milling history, its 1950s thriving business district, and its current gentrification.
Mark as Played

Episode 7: Mall's Fair in Love and War (or Mall's Well That Ends Well)

April 22, 2016 • 30 mins
Episode 7: Mall's Fair in Love and War (or Mall's Well that Ends Well!) tells the story of Mondawmin Mall, the first enclosed mall in the country and one of the first presumably black, inner city malls in the U.S. We talk to developers, longtime residents of the community around the mall, some of the oldest remaining business owners at the mall, and students who remember last year's unrest there.
Mark as Played

Episode 6: Whistlestop in the Name of Love

April 8, 2016 • 31 mins
This episode takes us first to Baltimore Penn Station, where we talk to some Amtrak and station employees about the unique features of one of the city’s most vital transportation hubs. Then, we wander out to the streets around the train station to explore the rapidly redeveloping community of Station North. Appearances by Impact Hub Baltimore co-founders Michelle Geiss and Pres Adams, Nancy by SNAC co-founder Kevin Brown, renowned...
Mark as Played

Episode 5: Livin' on a Mayor

March 18, 2016 • 26 mins
This week's episode of "Baltimore: The Rise of Charm City" takes listeners to City Hall where we take a look at mayoral administrations past and what's at stake for the future mayor of Baltimore.
Mark as Played

Episode 4: Don't Start Nuns, Won't Be None

March 4, 2016 • 30 mins
This week, Baltimore: The Rise of Charm City visits a 188-year-old order of African American nuns, the Oblate Sisters of Providence, and St. Frances Academy, the still-thriving school they founded in 1828.
Mark as Played

Episode 3: Be Real Black (in Wax) for Me

February 19, 2016 • 30 mins
This week's episode of "Baltimore: The Rise of Charm City" takes listeners to The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum. You'll hear from its co-founder Dr. Joanne Martin and longtime workers from and visitors to the museum.
Mark as Played

Episode 2: Eddie-AFRO!

February 5, 2016 • 28 mins
Baltimore: The Rise of Charm City takes you to the offices of the legendary Afro-American Newspapers at 2519 N. Charles Street. We talk to current and former employees of the paper and explore nearly 125 years of black press history.
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

    Crime Junkie

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

    Ridiculous History

    Ridiculous History

    History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.

    The Bobby Bones Show

    The Bobby Bones Show

    Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

Explore

iHeart

Live Radio

Podcasts

Artist Radio

Exclusives

News

Features

Events

Contests

Photos

Information

About

Advertise

Blog

Brand Guidelines

Contest Guidelines

Subscription Offers

Jobs

Get the App

Automotive

Home

Mobile

Wearables

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.