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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

45:28

Shapiro’s 2026 Budget, ICE and Constitutional Rights,...

The Spark ·

2026/02/07

(00:00:00) WITF’sJaxon White breaks down Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2026 budget address, delivered to the Pennsylvania legislature on Tuesday, Feb. 3. He explains the administration’s key priorities, proposed spending, and what the plan could mean for communities across the Commonwealth. WITF reporter Jordan Wilkie also joins us to discuss his recent reporting on efforts by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to reinterpret or narrow long‑standing constitutional protections. He

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49:21

How to Live Abundantly, Prepare for Winter Storms,...

The Spark ·

2026/02/06

(00:00:00) AuthorLinda Gottfried joins us to share insights from her new book How to Live Your Life Like You’ve Already Won the Lottery, a guide to shifting perspective, embracing abundance, and finding purpose beyond financial luck. She invites readers to rethink what it means to “win” and to cultivate joy in everyday life. (00:16:00) Then, with a grateful heart, Dan Tomaso returns to walk us through last week’s powerful winter storm — what drove its intensity, how it

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44:39

Hidden Lives, Recovered Histories: Renate Wildermuth...

The Spark ·

2026/02/05

(00:00:00) We begin withRenate Wildermuth, author of Gone Before You Knew Me, a debut novel already earning international attention. Named a “Most Anticipated Book” by Indigo, reviewed by Booklist, and soon to be featured in Teach Magazine and on North Country Public Radio, the novel blends emotional depth with a gripping sense of mystery. It will even appear in the shop of the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. Wildermuth joins us to talk about the book’s themes, the

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44:47

Earth’s Echoes, Women’s Power: Two Stories of Sound...

The Spark ·

2026/02/04

(00:00:00) We begin withDr. Brett McLaurin, Professor of Environmental, Geographical, and Geological Sciences at Commonwealth University, who helps us understand why certain rocks can sing. Using the famous ringing rocks of Bucks County as a starting point, Dr. McLaurin explains how mineral composition, cooling rates, and internal stress create boulders that chime like bells when struck. From Pennsylvania to sites around the world, these “lithophonic” rocks reveal surprising truths

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48:03

Forgotten Patriots & Weather Prophets: Pennsylvania...

The Spark ·

2026/02/03

(00:00:00) First, we speak withElizabeth Zucker of the Dauphin County Historical Society and Noah Lewis, the living historian who portrays Edward “Ned” Hector, a Black Revolutionary War soldier whose bravery at the Battle of Brandywine challenges the incomplete narratives many Americans learned in school. We explore why the John Harris–Simon Cameron Mansion is an essential site for telling stories of underrepresented patriots, how living history deepens public understanding, and

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43:25

The Spark Weekly | 2.1.26: Social Isolation and...

The Spark ·

2026/02/02

Then we turn to a different kind of deficit: America’s growing social isolation. The Barnes Family Foundation, based in Bethlehem, has released its first Social Connection in America report — a sweeping look at how connected (or disconnected) people feel today. The findings are stark: disengagement is widespread, and certain groups — including people with lower incomes, less education, those who have never married, LGBTQ+ individuals, and some racial and ethnic communities —

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44:32

News from the Commonwealth, Stories from the Yard

The Spark ·

2026/01/31

(00:00:00) On today’s The Spark, we start with the news shaping communities across Pennsylvania.Carmen Russell-Sluchansky of WHYY brings us the latest on Philadelphia’s cleanup efforts after last weekend’s snowstorm and explains the growing controversy over the removal of a slavery exhibit at Independence National Historical Park.Then Sydney Roach of WPSU joins us with an update on the ongoing debate over Pennsylvania’s rifle deer season, where proposed changes to the start

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44:09

Scanning Prices, Measuring Belonging: A Look at PA...

The Spark ·

2026/01/30

(00:00:00) We begin with thePennsylvania Attorney General’s recent settlement with Dollar General, following allegations that prices listed on shelves didn’t match what customers were charged at checkout. We break down what the settlement means for shoppers across the Commonwealth, why price‑accuracy violations matter, and what consumers can do to protect themselves from overcharges in an era of rising costs and shrinking margins. (00:22:11) Then we turn to a different kind of deficit:

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44:23

Nature’s Surprises: The Coudersport Ice Mine and...

The Spark ·

2026/01/29

(00:00:00) We begin in Potter County withGary M. Buchsen, whose family owns and operates the Coudersport Ice Mine — a geological anomaly that has fascinated visitors for more than a century. Discovered in 1894 by silver prospector Billy O’Neill, the Ice Mine produces ice in the spring and summer, then melts in the fall and winter, thanks to a rare rock formation that traps and releases cold air. After decades of closure and disrepair, Gary’s parents, Gary and Diana Buchsen,

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44:41

Evolution, Identity, and the Spaces We Create

The Spark ·

2026/01/27

(00:00:00) First, we visit theCenter for Post Natural History, a one‑of‑a‑kind museum dedicated to documenting the living organisms that have been intentionally altered by humans, from early agricultural domestication to cutting‑edge genetic engineering. Since 2008, the Center has sparked public dialogue about our growing role as evolutionary agents, using exhibitions, workshops, and multimedia storytelling to illuminate the profound entanglement between human culture and the natural world

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44:36

The Spark Weekly | Trailblazers in Pennsylvania:...

The Spark ·

2026/01/26

When Matthew Wolfe walks through the Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona, he isn’t just surrounded by locomotives and artifacts, he’s surrounded by the lives of the people who built them. and In September 1982, that problem surfaced on a small network of computers at Carnegie Mellon University, where a few dozen computer scientists were using early electronic message boards—primitive by today’s standards, but revolutionary at the time. Messages were text-only, stripped of

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47:17

Lost Mail, Late Budgets, and the Legacy of Mt. Tabor

The Spark ·

2026/01/24

(00:00:00) We begin withGillian McGoldrick of The Philadelphia Inquirer, who details her reporting on the Shapiro Administration’s lawsuit against a vendor accused of failing to deliver more than 3 million pieces of mail from state agencies. The missing documents, everything from benefits notices to tax information, raise serious questions about oversight, transparency, and the impact on Pennsylvanians who depend on timely communication from their government.WITF’s Jaxon White then

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44:26

Growing Things: In the Garden and Online

The Spark ·

2026/01/23

(00:00:00) Winter may still have its grip, but we’re already dreaming of green. In this episode, we finally dig into the houseplant care we didn’t get to last time. From keeping indoor plants thriving to refreshing bird feeders and bird baths during the coldest stretch of the year. We’ll talk about what’s blooming right now, the seeds you can start early, and the small rituals that help us look toward spring. (00:22:30)Then we shift to a very different kind of ecosystem: the

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44:29

From Railroads to Renaissance: How PA Built and...

The Spark ·

2026/01/22

(00:00:00) First, we meetMatthew Wolff, Curator at the Railroaders Memorial Museum, whose passion for railroad history fuels his work preserving the legacy of the people who built Altoona into a powerhouse of American industry. Matthew guides us through the astonishing story of the Horseshoe Curve,an engineering marvel blasted, dug, and carved through the Allegheny Mountains in the 1850s by Irish immigrant laborers. The Curve became a vital artery for the nation, a target of wartime espionage, and

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44:11

Past, Present, and the Pictures We Make: Celebrating...

The Spark ·

2026/01/21

(00:00:00) We begin with theArt Association of Harrisburg, founded in 1926 by visionary civic leader Gertrude Olmsted McCormick. What began during the Coolidge presidency in a world shaped by world wars, the Great Depression, and seismic cultural change has grown into a 100‑year artistic anchor for the region. Through shifting art movements, evolving technology, and nearly twenty presidential administrations, the Association has remained a beacon for artists, students, teachers, and patrons. We

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66:26

The Spark Weekly: The 2026 Farm Show

The Spark ·

2026/01/19

This episode includes all of our segments from Wednesday and Thursday this week from the 2026 Farm Show. All you need to know all in one place! Featured this year is: Dairymen's Executive Director Dave Smith Committee Member of The Mushroom Farmers of PA, managing the Farm Show booth Gale Ferranto President of PA alpaca owners and breeders' association- owner Crimson Skye Farm Karen Nace Northwest Maple Association Member Laura Dengler Bradford County Dairy Princess Sophia Tice and finally

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44:22

From Hidden Harm to Hidden Meanings: Journalist...

The Spark ·

2026/01/17

(00:00:00) First, Mi Xian and Mark Fazollah of Spotlight PA join us to discuss their reporting on undercounted and misreported rapes in the State College area. Their investigation reveals how gaps in data, institutional practices, and reporting systems can obscure the reality of sexual violence. They walk us through what they uncovered, why these discrepancies matter, and how communities are affected when the numbers meant to protect them fall short. (00:22:21) Then, we shift from modern reporting

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45:00

Milk, Management, and Mitigating Disease:...

The Spark ·

2026/01/16

(00:00:00) That uncertainty became real last fall, when cases ofEquine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) were confirmed in horses across Northumberland, Columbia, and Lancaster counties. With the virus spreading easily through direct contact, airborne droplets, and contaminated equipment, officials made the difficult call to cancel all equine‑related events at this year’s show. While EHM is serious, the Equine Disease Communication Center notes that 60–70% of affected horses recover

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46:00

The Spark Takes on The 2026 Farm Show

The Spark ·

2026/01/15

The Spark went on a field trip to the 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show! In this episode, you will hear the first half of interviews from our time at the farm show, with more to come tomorrow. Featured in today's episode is: (00:00:00) Dairymen's Executive Director Dave Smith (00:13:18) Committee Member of The Mushroom Farmers of PA Gale Ferranto (00:23:11) President of PA Alpaca Owners and Breeders' Association and Owner Crimson Skye Farm Karen Nace (00:32:37) and Northwest Maple Association Member Laura

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48:10

On the Air & At the Altar: Stories of Craft, Change,...

The Spark ·

2026/01/14

(00:00:00) In honor ofPublic Radio Broadcasting Day, this episode opens with a special “actors‑on‑actors” style conversation between Scott LaMar, former host of The Spark, and Asia Tabb, the show’s current host. In a rare dual‑interview format, Scott and Asia turn the microphones toward each other to explore their shared legacy, their different approaches to storytelling, the surprises of hosting live radio, and the moments that shaped their time behind the mic. It’s a warm,

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1,108 results

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