Real Life with Toni Reece

Joining us in the first hour of FEEDBACK is Gary Hawkins, Owner and Executive Director, Griswold Home Care.  Gary’s work supporting seniors and families has given him a front row view into the emotional realities many older adults face, including loneliness, isolation, grief, cognitive decline and the importance of meaningful human connection.  Gary has made it his mission to provide resources and...

Today’s conversation is on that many women and families may deeply relate to, but one that too often remains hidden behind shame, silence and unrealistic expectations around motherhood.  Join us in the first hour of FEEDBACK are author Crystal Lynette Rance whose book Mom Truths: The S#!t No One Talks About opens honest conversations about the realities many mothers experience, and Allison Maynard...

Today’s conversation spans over the full two hours of FEEDBACK.  It is one of the most difficult and important stories we have ever had on this program.  Joining us is Mary McHale, who has courageously spoken publicly about surviving sexual abuse by a priest within the Catholic Church and the lifelong trauma that followed.  Mary’s willingness to speak publicly has helped bring visibility to surviv...

Our first conversation is about one of the most emotional and difficult decisions many families will ever face, how to care for aging loved ones and navigate senior living options with compassion, dignity, and clarity.  Joining us is Kirk Campfield, owner of CarePatrol of Reading and Berks County, an organization dedicated to helping families navigate senior care options and placement decisions du...

In our first hour of FEEDBACK we are talking about food, culture, and the kind of hospitality that turns a restaurant into something much more than a place to eat.  Joining us is Giovanni Giannotti, owner of Salute Ristorante Italiano, this interview reflects Giovanni’s passion and perseverance behind building something authentic and meaningful, while also preserving culture and connection through...

The first hour of FEEDBACK is a conversation about love, loss, resilience, and what it means to carry light forward even after unimaginable heartbreak.  Joining us is Lauren Conrad, Founder and Executive Director of the C the Light Foundation, created in honor of her husband Kyle, who passed away from cancer in September 2022 at just 39 years old.   Through grief, motherhood and building a mission...

Joining us on FEEDBACK in the first hour is Chloe Ciferri, Executive Director of the Adalyn Rose Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting families experiencing pregnancy loss, infant loss, and child loss through emotional support, financial assistance, hospital partnerships, and compassionate bereavement care.  Chloe’s interview is about compassion, community, healing, and understanding...

Today on our first hour of FEEDBACK, we talked to Cathy Brenner, Secretary, College Manor Swimming Association and Santo Marabella, College Heights Community Council Member about a grassroots initiative to save a community pool.  This story matters because it’s about far more than maintaining a pool, it’s about connection, tradition, and access to something healthy and meaningful during the summer...

Batter up!  We are talking baseball in this first hour of FEEDBACK.  Matt Hoffmaster, Assistant General Manager, Reading Fightin Phils and Tonya Petrunak, Executive Director of Marketing and Baseballtown Charities, join us in this first hour to talk about how the Fightin Phils are more than baseball.  They are part of the fabric of this community.  Our second hour is an interview about public heal...

The Polka Party on WEEU Gold is more than just a radio show, it a connection point for community, culture and the kind of music that makes you smile the moment you hear it.  In our first hour of FEEDBACK we talk to Ellen Rohrbach, George Kazmierczak and Cindy Koretsky, the hosts of the Polka Party!  They talk about how they celebrate polka music, share memories and talk about the tradition of polk...

Joining us in the first hour is Mallory Deck, a mom of two, business owner, and now children’s book author, who took a personal experience and turned it into something meaningful for families navigating similar situations.  Mallory’s story highlights how one parent chose to lead with empathy, creativity, and intention.  Next up in the second hour we highlight experiences happening right here in ou...

Identify, community and the places that hold our memories, that’s the story that is shared by Mike Leifer, President and CEO of the Peanut Bar in Reading as he joins us for the first hour of FEEDBACK.  In a time when so much is changing and many long-standing businesses are disappearing, the Peanut Bar represents continuity, a place where generations have gathered, stories have been shared and tra...

Today on FEEDBACK we are talking about higher education, but not just degrees and classrooms, but what its role is today, how it is changing and what it means for students, families, and our communities.  Dr. Gaetan Giannini, Chief Enrollment and Strategic Communications Office at Alvernia University joins us to talk about how Alvernia University is addressing all those issues.  Our second hour is...

This first hour of FEEDBACK is about more than one person’s story—it’s about how we all think about the people we love and the impact they leave behind. At some point, every one of us faces loss, and the question becomes: what do we do with that grief, and how do we honor it?   Chuck Holder joins us to talk about Terry's Legacy Foundation;  a project rooted in honoring a life and turning that stor...

Do you want to learn about how to prepare, honor and support loved ones during some of life’s most difficult moments?  The first conversation on FEEDBACK is with Gethsemane Cemetery.  Larry Sacco, Gethsemane Advisor and Jacqueline Grauert, Assistant Director, share important information about Gethsemane’s approach to helping you deal with the most difficult time in your life.  In our second hour o...

Our first hour of FEEDBACK is about what happens when people are expected to succeed in systems that were never designed for them and what changes when someone decides to fix that. Claire Malfaro, Founder of the Positively Produced Foundation joins us to describe the work that is being done to help young people with autism recognize their potential and prepare for real-world opportunities. In our...

On our first hour of FEEDBACK we are talking about housing, not just housing but opportunity, stability, and what it really takes to build stronger communities. Joining us is Tim Daley, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Berks County, an organization that’s working to make homeownership possible for working families while also addressing larger challenges like workforce housing and neig...

First up on FEEDBACK, we are talking about the power of the arts, not just as performance, but to explore ideas, connect communities, and spark meaningful conversations. Joining us is Joel Gori, Artistic Director of the Metamorphosis Performing Company, a longtime teaching Artist and a key creative force behind the Reading Theater Project. In our second hour we speak to Commissioner Leinbach. The...

First up on FEEDBACK today is a story about legacy, and the power of local art to reflect who we are as a community.  Joining us are Adam Richter, playwright of Banshee, Jody Reppert, Artistic Director of Reading Theater Project and director of the production, Andrea Keck, an actress in the show and our very own Eric Weiss, Creative Director here at WEEU whose sole role today is avid fan!  Our sec...

Today’s conversation on FEEDBACK is about something we don’t always stop to recognize, the people in our community who quietly make a difference every single day.  This describes our first guest,  Wendy Kershner, someone who is known by many as a connector, a volunteer, and someone who shows up for others without hesitation.  This is her opportunity in the spotlight, her story, and her passion for...

On this first episode of FEEDBACK we are joined by Dr. Ankit Shah talking about Berks County Medical Society’s Prescription Drug Take Back Event.  The program exists to protect health and safety.  Keeping unused medications at home increases the risk of accidental poisoning, misuse and addiction, especially among children and teens.  Proper disposal helps reduce those risks and al prevents medicat...

Today on FEEDBACK we are talking about opportunity, creating pathways, building skills, and helping people move forward in their lives and careers.  Joining us today on FEEDBACK is Zaida Guadalupe-Sanchez, co-owner of Optimist CDL Coaching School, an organization focused on helping individuals gain the training and confidence they need to enter the trucking industry.  Our second hour on FEEDBACK i...

Today on FEEDBACK we are talking about music, tradition, and the power of community.  Joining us in our first hour is Cynthia Miller-Aungst of the Ringgold Band, one of the oldest continuously operating bands in the country, with a rich history here in Berks County.  Our second hour is all about your teeth.  Another edition of Tooth Talk with Dr. Eric Angstadt of Angstadt Family Dental.  The topic...

We are talking about carrying on tradition and legacy in our first hour of FEEDBACK.  Kristi Gage-Linderman, CEO of Gage Talent & Business Solutions, joins us to talk about how she handles being a leader who is not only carrying forward a multi-generational business, but also making her mark as a community connector and advocate.  Kristi shares what it takes to be a woman leader and how she ne...

Today on FEEDBACK we are talking about connection, care and people doing work that matters.  First up we are joined by two NICU nurses from Tower Health, Reading, PA, Samantha Hensel and Lindsey Graeff, here to talk about a very special first-time event Footprints on My Heart.  A NICU reunion that brings together graduates, families and the caregivers who were part of their journey.  Sam and Linds...