Audio Olney is a podcast dedicated to sharing the stories of the diverse ethnic and socio-economic neighborhood of Olney in Philadelphia. Launched in 2021 by Olney Culture Lab, in collaboration with Amber Art & Design, the six episodes that comprise the first season featured guests who highlighted the history of Olney, explored public spaces like Tacony Creek Park, celebrated the arts and music scene, reflected on spirituality and enjoyed delicious food that connects all of us together.
Hosted by Amber’s Linda Fernandez and Keir Johnston with sound design by June Lopez and writing by Malcolm Burnley, the first season of Audio Olney established how vital it was to bring different local voices to the table and examine what makes the neighborhood so unique in its current beauty and complexity.
The podcast is available on Apple, Google (on Android only), Spotify, PocketCasts, RadioPublic, Breaker and Olney Culture Lab’s YouTube Channel.
Interview Sample with Melissa Chen
Audio PlayerInterviewer: Linda Fernandez
Sound Design: June Lopez
Melissa Chen is a Teochew-American visual artist and arts administrator who grew up near Olney. Though ethnically Chinese, her parents came to Philadelphia as refugees from Southeast Asia. Her favorite place in Olney is Gold Star Bakery (which makes the best birthday cakes), and her favorite memories of the neighborhood include that one time she almost learned how to ride a bike in the schoolyard of Lowell Elementary. Drawing inspiration from urban legends, horror aesthetics, and her own family history, Melissa’s art uses digital collage and animation to explore the interactions between the past and the future as they exist within a hyphenated identity.
