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PODCAST

The Spark

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, host Asia Tabb starts conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.

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All Episodes

44:22

From Ephraim Slaughter to Cursive Literacy:...

The Spark ·

2026/03/03

(00:00:00) We look back atEphraim Slaughter: Freedom’s Witness, the one-act production created for the Annual Dauphin County Black History Celebration by Sankofa African American Theatre Company and Gamut Theatre, in partnership with the National Civil War Museum. Actors Marcus McGhee and Melinda Anderson help us revisit the life of Ephraim Slaughter—a man born enslaved who became a Union Army veteran, community leader, and witness to a century of American change. Through their

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44:20

Community, Accountability, and Information: ICE...

The Spark ·

2026/03/02

(00:00:00) Sydney and Emily report on how immigration enforcement is unfolding across Pennsylvania — from a State College man taken into ICE custody immediately after his decades‑old conviction was vacated, to the rapid spread of ICE 287(g) agreements that let local police perform federal immigration functions. Their coverage looks at why these agreements are expanding, why they’re controversial, and how they’re driving community backlash and political fallout. (00:22:30)The

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44:16

The Spark Weekly | March 1st | Teaching Media...

The Spark ·

2026/02/28

First, we head into the classroom at Harrisburg Academy, where IB English students—guided by teacher Peter Frengel—are analyzing how media bias, algorithms, and online communities shape our understanding of current events. The episode then turns to the future of public broadcasting. Steven Bass of Oregon Public Media and Matias Vernegno of the Bucknell Institute for Public Policy discuss the pressures facing public media, the shift toward more locally focused models, and why the

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44:40

Growing Smarter: Spring Gardening Advice and a Deep...

The Spark ·

2026/02/27

(00:00:00) We start with Penn State Extension Master Gardeners Heather Freeland and Shirley Halk, who share practical, research‑backed tips for spring planting. (00:22:33) Then we head into the classroom at Harrisburg Academy, where IB English students—guided by teacher Peter Frengel—are analyzing how media bias, algorithms, and online communities shape our understanding of current events.Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy

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45:36

Protein Hype or Healthy Habit, Heart Health Insights,...

The Spark ·

2026/02/26

(00:00:00) Clinical Nutrition Manager Angelina Sickora and Clinical Operations Manager and registered dietitian Janelle Barnett from Penn State Health break down the booming world of protein—what it actually does in the body, how much we really need, whether “protein‑packed” products are worth the hype, and how to read labels beyond the marketing. (00:12:08) Then, as Heart Month continues, Devon Sprenkle, Executive Director for the American Heart Association in South Central

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51:46

Protecting Pennsylvania’s Trails—and Women’s Health:...

The Spark ·

2026/02/25

(00:00:00) This episode explores two stories of protection—one for Pennsylvania’s landscapes, and one for women’s health. Conservation leaders Karen Lutz and Cameron Weiser break down the Scott Farm–Peters Mountain land swap, a partnership that preserves trail access, safeguards the Kittatinny Ridge, and strengthens stewardship of the Appalachian Trail. (00:36:43) In our second segment, Dr. Sharon Fitzgerald sheds light on fallopian tube cancer, why awareness is low, and how

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22:23

Inside Encore! Home School Productions: Celebrating...

The Spark ·

2026/02/24

Encore! Home School Productions—along with its Theatre Academy—provides homeschooled and cyber‑schooled students across Central Pennsylvania with rich, hands‑on theatre education through fall plays, spring musicals, camps, and workshops. This season, the team is preparing for their upcoming production of Seussical, guided by a powerhouse group of educators and artists. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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33:42

Mayor Williams–City Council Rift Deepens; Broad...

The Spark ·

2026/02/23

(00:00:00) Jonathan Bergmueller and Tirzah Christopher of Pennlive discuss their reporting on the rift between Mayor Williams and City Council. (00:12:14) Historic Harrisburg Association Has announced its 2026 Preservation Priority List. Broad Street Market at the top of the list.Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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44:38

The Spark Weekly | Feb. 22 | Electronic Waste and...

The Spark ·

2026/02/21

The rise in the everyday use of electronic items has also contributed to an increase of electronic waste, filling already crowded landfills and increasing risks to the environment. How can electronic items be safely disposed of, and how can the public play a part in cutting down on e-waste? also on the program: The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) formally released its State of Fair Housing in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The report examines current housing conditions, patterns of

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44:31

Fair Housing Gaps in Pennsylvania and Early Detection...

The Spark ·

2026/02/20

(00:00:00) The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) formally released its State of Fair Housing in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The report examines current housing conditions, patterns of discrimination, and structural challenges impacting access and affordability. It also advances key policy and enforcement recommendations, including strengthening protections against source-of-income discrimination, addressing disparate impact and segregation, improving code enforcement and

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45:06

How to Reduce Electronic Waste — Plus the Medieval...

The Spark ·

2026/02/19

(00:00:00) The rise in the everyday use of electronic items has alco contributed in an increase of electronic waste, filling already crowded landfills and increasing risks to the environment. How can electronic items be safely disposed of, and how can the public play a part in cutting down on e-waste? (00:23:53) Historian Chrissie Senecal going to go through the stories of several of Medieval Europe’s most famous couples. As usual, all these stories are bizarre and/or tragic or have some

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42:45

CHD Survivor’s Lifelong Fight for Repair — and the...

The Spark ·

2026/02/18

(00:00:00) Men are often celebrated for passionately supporting sports teams—spending money, getting emotional, and “fangirling” over players—while women are frequently mocked for showing the same level of enthusiasm for musicians, makeup, athletes, or concerts. The double standard treats identical behaviors differently depending on gender, even though both are simply forms of fandom and joy. We take a deep dive into this idea and stigma with Professor Mary Zaborskis from

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44:39

From Invention to Inspiration: William Chester Ruth’s...

The Spark ·

2026/02/17

(00:00:00) Gwendolyn Ruth Dickinson talks about her grandfather William Chester Ruth (1882–1971) who was an African American machinist, inventor, and business owner from Pennsylvania. Born in Ercildoun to parents who overcame slavery, Ruth developed a passion for machinery early on, leading him to establish Ruth's Ironworks Shop in Gap, PA, in 1922. Over his career, he secured more than 50 patents for agricultural innovations, including the Combination Baler Feeder and a self-lifting farm

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45:31

Berks County ICE Controversy, Spring Prep Tips, and a...

The Spark ·

2026/02/16

(00:00:00) Gabriel Martinez and Manada Fries of Spotlight PA, discuss an Ice detention facility planned for Berks County. (00:23:14) When Perry County musician Zachariah King wanted to record a cover of the 1844 song “Blue Juniata”, it led him down a rabbit hole of discovery about the song’s writer, Marion Dix Sullivan. Sullivan was from a town near Boston but had once travelled through Perry County around the time of its founding. She was inspired to write Blue Juniata while

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44:30

The Spark Weekly 2.15.2026: The Declaration of...

The Spark ·

2026/02/14

A standing-room-only crowd filled the room at Gettysburg College as businessman, philanthropist, and historian David Rubenstein took the stage for this year’sBlavatt Lecture,an annual event hosted by the Eisenhower Institute that brings in speakers with distinctive perspectives on American democracy. and Veteran journalist David Greene and Pennon interim President and CEO Tom Baldrige discussed Greene’s new nonprofit, Always Lancaster, which will assume ownership of LNP | LancasterOnline

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44:08

How the League of Women Voters Shaped Democracy; and...

The Spark ·

2026/02/13

(00:00:00) We begin with the remarkable history of theLeague of Women Voters, born in 1920 from the women’s suffrage movement and led by NAWSA president Carrie Chapman Catt. Created six months before the ratification of the 19th Amendment, the League set out to help newly enfranchised women learn how to register, how to vote, and how their government worked. In Pennsylvania, LWV chapters in cities like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia mobilized quickly, registering thousands of women and building

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45:06

How Colleges Are Preparing Students for an AI Future...

The Spark ·

2026/02/12

(00:00:00) In this episode, we sit down withDr. Leamor Kahanov, higher‑education leader with 25+ years of experience as a provost, dean, and academic strategist. She joins us to discuss the same topic originally planned for Dr. Gaetan Giannini: how colleges can responsibly integrate AI into existing majors—and why an AI major isn’t always the smartest path. Drawing on comparisons to the early internet era, we explore why AI works best when embedded across disciplines,

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44:38

Inside Lincoln Caverns’ Hidden History + VisionCorps’...

The Spark ·

2026/02/11

(00:00:00) A farmer’s accidental 1930 discovery beneath U.S. Route 22 became Lincoln Caverns, a destination that has fascinated visitors for nearly a century. (00:22:28) This episode also honors VisionCorps’ 100 years of impact, spotlighting its mission and its call for the public to help preserve and uplift its history.Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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44:34

Recovering Forgotten Stories: Lancaster’s African...

The Spark ·

2026/02/10

(00:00:00) First, we look at the work of Dr. Louis S. Hopkins, whose forty years of research into Lancaster’s African American past blends rigorous scholarship with lived experience. Growing up in segregated southeast Lancaster City, Dr. Hopkins developed a deep awareness of how geography, access, and memory inform the historical record. His ongoing efforts to recover stories long pushed to the margins challenge us to reconsider how communities understand their own past. (00:22:24) We then

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44:39

The Spark Weekly 2/5/2026: Artist Dionn Reneé and The...

The Spark ·

2026/02/09

If you’ve walked through Harrisburg, you’ve likely encountered the bold, vibrant work of artistDionn Reneé— murals that don’t just brighten walls but tell stories, honor neighborhoods, and reflect the city’s spirit. A painter, photographer, designer, and community builder, Reneé is shaping the capital city’s visual identity while expanding her reach far beyond it. and A rare and disturbing story from CumberlandCounty’spast is reaching a global

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1,108 results

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