817 Podcast - Fort Worth's Monday Morning Show
Fort Worth Weekly Critic's Choice Podcast of the Year
"Fort Worth's Monday morning meeting." - Bud Kennedy
Do you love Fort Worth and care about what goes on in our amazing city? Well, welcome to the 817 Podcast, a weekly Monday morning show hosted by two Fort Worthians who banter and dissect the biggest stories in local culture, politics, and business. EJ Carrion is a local tech entrepreneur, and Ann Zadeh is a former city council member and the current Director of Community Design Fort Worth.
Ann and EJ will host a diverse guest list of local leaders that drive Fort Worth’s future. We believe Fort Worth can be a nationally known destination for innovation, creativity, and economic opportunity. However, the climate in the city today is polarizing between an evolving community that deals with historic Cowtown roots and a wave of progressive newcomers. What we do today and in the next decade is crucial to the future of the Funk. How we respond to political friction, wealth inequality, and social injustice in our communities can make or break our national reputation.
Join us weekly as we do our part to keep either from happening. Have a story you want us to highlight? DM us @817pod on Instagram or email us at ejspeaks@gmail.com.
Episodes
214 episodes
The Rise of the Fort Worth African American Roots Music Festival with Brandi Waller-Pace
Brandi Waller-Pace, the organizer and visionary behind Fort Worth's African American Roots Festival, joins us in the studio. She shares her motive for bringing such a curated experience to the city and h...
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1:26:40
FWISD Teachers Speak Out Against Abbott's Voucher Bill and What We Know About School Closures
Ale Checka, an award-winning public school teacher with 17 years of experience in FWISD, organized an opinion piece in the Star-Telegram to oppose Governor Abbott's Voucher Program. This voucher program aims to defund public schools while subsi...
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59:57
Fort Worth Wants Infrastructure Now: Jason Ballmann for City Council District 3
Ann and EJ sit down with Jason Ballmann, who is running for city council District 3. Jason was a former council member in Marfa, Texas, and is currently a brand strategist at Texas Instruments. Fo...
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1:19:19
Keller ISD Students Share Their Voice: Why Will the School Board Not Listen?
Today, the 817 Pod community hears from Lara and Zephyr, two students at Keller High School who are part of the Keller Student Activism Organization. This grassroots movement was initiated by a...
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47:16
Anti-DEI and The Fort Worth Way's Impact on Black Success with Carpenter's Cafe
Ann and EJ sit down with a friend of the podcast, Katrina Carpenter, with Carpenter's Cafe. EJ and Ann riff on short stories, giving you all updates on election filers, federal executive orders, and the shen...
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1:27:47
The Bigger Story Behind School Vouchers in Texas with Chris and Mendi Tackett
This week, the big story is a sit down with Chris and Mendi Tackett from See It. Name It. Fight It. Chris was a forme...
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2:14:52
What You Need to Know about Keller ISD and How It Can Impact Your Schools and Children
Today, we have a conversation with Laney Hawes, a mother of four children who attends schools at Keller ISD. She is also the co-founder of the TX Freedom to Read Pro...
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53:36
Interview with Mayoral Candidate Josh Lucas plus Keller ISD and More Deaths in our Jail
Ann and EJ sit down with Josh Lucas, an emerging star in Fort Worth who is running for Mayor in this election cycle. In this episode, we discuss the deaths occurring in the Ta...
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1:22:49
Considering Running for Local Office? What to know with Tara Maldonado
This week, filing starts to put your name on the ballot in a local Texas election. We sit down with Tara Maldonado, a progressive candidat...
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1:40:01
Fort Worth passes Austin as 4th Largest City, Granger's Health Exposed, and O'Hare Speaks to the Media
Ann and EJ come back from the holidays, bursting into the new year with many new takes and concerns! Recent census data show Fort Worth is now the 4th largest city in Texas, surpassing Austin. The duo proceeds the show discussing ageism in poli...
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1:33:43
Predatory Churches, Flying Taxis, and Endless Sprawl: Who Controls the Connectedness of Fort Worth?
Ann and EJ finish out the year talking about an important topic that brings together all the recent local news into one big question -- Who controls the connectedness of Fort Worth? The show includes updates on Mercy Culture and recent updates ...
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1:23:54
🚨 BONUS POD: Mayor Parker Champions Mercy Culture Preying on Sex Trafficked Victims
We've created a unique bonus pod to help you cope with yesterday's shenanigans. So many people inspired us yesterday, and we hope you hear allyship and frustration from your favorite Fort Worth podcast. For context, the city council approved Ja...
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51:53
Behind Closed Doors: Chris Nettles Speaks Out on Fort Worth’s City Manager Search
Did you miss us?!? We are back with a full episode, including a conversation with councilmember Chris Nettles, who shares his authentic concerns about how the Mayor and council have hired the city's next CEO.December 10th is going to be...
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1:30:16
Conservative Media Loves Tarrant and Why Texas Isn’t Turning Blue
Ann and EJ record the last episode of the month as we enter into Thanksgiving break. Before the recording, they had an in-person experience with listeners and friends called 817 Gather. In this episode, they talk about Elon Musk, Dr. Phil, and ...
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59:32
Analyzing the Election Results: Where Do We Go From Here?
Ann and EJ share their thoughts about the election results. They discuss what stood out, where they are concerned, and what we can do from here.ELECTION REFERENCES
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1:14:39
Tarrant County’s True Colors: The Lost Script of Transportation, Housing, and Democracy
The election is tomorrow. Ann and EJ analyze early voting data while also discussing important topics such as transportation and housing.SHORT STORY #1:
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1:24:15
County Jail and Leaders Get National Coverage: Time to Vote Out Extremism
Ann and EJ introduce 817 Gather, a new opportunity for listeners to come together to create capacity and community so that we can create a more inclusive city.
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1:12:36
Colin Allred and Ted Cruz Hosted Events in Tarrant County: Who will win?
Ann and EJ record early in the week due to some travel. They share updates about Mercy Culture, FWISD's Supt Payments, and Anthony Johnson's Lawsuit. The big story is Colin Allred's and Ted Cruz's visits to Tarrant County, and national progress...
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55:29
AI Data Centers Expand in DFW, Mercy Culture Attacks the Mayor, and Commissioners Defund JPS
This week we hit an array of topics. Do not forget today is the last day to register to vote! Enjoy!SHORTY STOR...
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56:44
Land Of The Free-For-All: Fort Worth Wants No Rules!
Short Story #1: Fort Worth ISD school board accepts voluntary resignation of Superintendent ...
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1:01:30
Are We Winning the War Against Extremism? A Conversation with Tarrant 4 Change
This is our second conversation with Alexander Montalvo, the CEO of the Catalyst Project and co-founder of Tarrant 4 Change. Alex is a community organizer who works with grassroots organizations to make...
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1:18:18
TIME FOR NEW LEADERSHIP: FWISD Teacher of 17 Years Speaks Up (Part Two)
The second conversation of this series is with Ale Checka, a former district teacher of the year and FWISD student herself. She has taught in the district for seventeen years and loves students and books. You truly get to hear from one of the c...
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52:39
RELEASE THE TAPE: A Conversation with Anthony Johnson's Sisters (Part One)
We break this week's episode into two crucial conversations. The first one is with Janell and Chanell Johnson to hear their experience as they mourn the loss of their brother and
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48:56
Voter Suppression in Tarrant County: No Voting Locations on College Campuses
Ann and EJ record early because they are out of town this week. They discuss the lack of early voting locations on college campuses.Short Story #1: Ann meeting at Texas A&M
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54:00
How Do We Fund Fort Worth's Future with Less Taxes?
Ann and EJ give the people of Fort Worth extended episodes, including spicy takes and intellectual dialogue about the city. The dynamic duo starts with David Cooke retiring and then navigates into transportation, where much progress was made. T...
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1:24:24