21-WFMJ News Podcast

In today's 21 News podcast, managing editor of news J. Breen Mitchell speaks with former and possibly future Presidential candidate and Transportation Secretary in the Biden administration, Pete Buttigieg. Buttigieg talks about the American Jobs Plan and what would qualify as infrastructure in places like the Mahoning Valley. He says unlike the American Rescue Plan, which brought tens of mill...

In today's 21 News podcast, anchor Jennifer Brindisi speaks with Dr. Ben Neuman, Niles native and world-renowned virologist from Texas A&M about herd immunity. That often-talked about goal of getting enough people vaccinated that Covid-19 goes away is now looking like something we may never achieve. But what does that mean and if we don't achieve it, can we still get back to regular...

In today's 21 News podcast, reporter Matt Stone talks about the COVID vaccine with Mercy Health's chief clinical officer for the Valley, Dr. James Kravec — about misinformation surrounding the vaccines and discuss some people's reluctancy to get vaccinated. Matt also asks what age should you get children vaccinated and how long until herd immunity will happen? If you had COVID, do y...

In today's 21 News podcast, we speak with Dr. Jill Haltigan, Family Medicine Physician at Salem Primary Care about seasonal allergies.  More than 60 million people suffer from these air born irritants, but there are some simple things you can do to help relieve the congestion (including watching your weather forecast on 21 News). Listen up for some relief!

In today's 21 News Podcast, midday anchor Jennifer Brindisi talks with  Donna DeBlasio, a professor of history, and discuss Walter Mondale, the former Vice President to Jimmy Carter, and Presidential candidate, who died April 19. Listen up!

In this WFMJ Community Connection Podcast, host Madonna Chism Pinkard speaks with Dale Peskin, a native Youngstowner and former Vindicator reporter who wrote a fiction mystery/thriller novel about Youngstown, entitled, "The Timekeepers Daughter." The book picks up in the midst of the closing of the steel mills and the death of the timekeeper of one of the mills. Peskin shares the story b...

In this 21 News podcast, WFMJ sports director Dana Balash talks with former MLB outfielder and World Series champion Coco Crisp, who will manage the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in the inaugural MLB Draft League announced Monday. Hear what Crisp's plans and vision is for the Scrapper's going forward. Listen up!

In this 21 News podcast,  sports director Dana Balash talks with the President of the Cleveland Sports Commission, David Gilbert, about the upcoming NFL Draft in Cleveland. Gilbert discusses how to register to attend the event next month, and what there will be for fans to see and do safely — with the NFL working with the CDC on pandemic guidelines for the event. For all updated information on thi...

In today's 21 News podcast, anchor Jennifer Brindisi discusses the effects the pandemic has had on education over the past year with Karyn Lewis, a senior research scientist with the Center for School and Student Progress of NWEA. Scientific data shows that the 'worst case' scenario actually didn't come true, and students are still making progress in reading.  However, the pict...

In this 21 News podcast, anchor Erin Simonek speaks with Kent State economics associate professor, Dr. Lockwood Reynolds about the nation's economy that's been substantially hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Reynolds how businesses and society can recover and what more needs to be done to save our economy going forward.  Listen up!

In today's special edition of the 21 News Podcast – we continue to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic, one year later. 21 News Anchor Madison Tromler down with Dr. Cynda Rushton, a bunting professor of Clinical Ethics and Nursing of Johns Hopkins University. Rushton walks through the challenges nurses have faced on the front lines of the pandemic, how this will impact them, and how this could affe...

In this 21 News Podcast, WFMJ anchor Derek Steyer speaks with coronavirus expert and Niles native, Dr. Ben Neuman, about the history of the COVID-19 virus on the one-year anniversary and what needs to happen to prevent a repeat of 2020.  Listen up!

It's the crown jewel of summertime in the Mahoning Valley.  Thousands of people come from far and wide every year to the Canfield Fair.  Last year was more than a little different, though, due to the coronavirus pandemic making it impossible for large groups to gather.  But now, the light may be at the end of the tunnel. Vaccines are kicking into high gear, cases and hospitalizations are head...

In this 21 News podcast, Chris Cerenelli talks with orthopedic trauma surgeon Dr. Tyson Schrickel from Mercy Health about pro golfer Tiger Woods' recent injuries from a serious car crash and the road to recovery he has ahead. 

In this 21 News podcast, Chris Cerenelli talks with professional golfer Tre' Craig,  an up-and-coming mini-tour player who discusses Tiger Woods's contributions to the game and the impact he's had for minorities in  professional golfing organizations. Listen up!

In our continuing series of Black History Month podcasts, 21 News reporter Sydney Canty speaks with Gloris Griffin, a licensed professional counselor, discussing the decline of mental health in African Americans since the pandemic, stigmas in the black community that prevent people from seeking help, and ways individuals can cope with those issues through therapy.  Listen up!

From history to the future: Less than three years since General Motors shuttered it's Lordstown plant, the Valley has gone from left in the dust to ground zero for the future of the auto industry. In this episode of the 21 News podcast, Derek Steyer speaks with John McElroy of Autoline about the new Ultium battery plant in Lordstown.

In this 21 News podcast, reporter Corey McCrea speaks with Reverend Dr. Jamie Washington about the importance of black history and helping educators understand what is missing from the  curriculum they teach. Dr. Washington is the President & Founder of the Washington Consulting Group, which specializes in helping organizations.  For more than 36 years, Dr. Washington has served as an educator...

In the continuing coverage for Black History Month with WFMJ News, Madonna Pinkard talks with Dr. Kwame Williams in this podcast about foot disease and deformities and offers healthcare solutions in the African American community. Listen up!

In today's 21 News podcast, reporter Malaynia Spiva speaks with Dr. Patrick Spearman, YSU's Director of Africana Studies about The History and Impact of Black Culture. African Americans are a considerable source of growth for many industries and brands, and with a spending power of over $1.2 trillion dollars in the United States, advertisers use black culture and influence to win over th...

In today's Community Connection podcast, which is the first of four in honor of Black History Month, host Madonna Pinkard speaks with Social Security Administration public relations specialist, Robert Fenn about the 2021 Social Security Administration updates that will affect all families.

In today's 21 News podcast, anchor Derek Steyer speaks with White House Deputy Press Secretary TJ Ducklo on plans to move forward, potentially along party lines, with a new stimulus package. What can the average person expect to see and when; and could going this route lead to unintended consequences that could hurt in the long run? Listen up!

In today's 21 News podcast, anchor Derek Steyer questions Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, the chief medical officer for the Ohio Department of Health, just how far are we from returning to our normal lives? Will herd immunnity speed up the return? Dr. Vanderhoff also shares some vital information about the vaccine and its effectiveness against the UK variant and South African variant. Dr. Vanderhoff al...

In this edition of the 21 News podcast, Jennifer Brindisi speaks with our coronavirus expert and Niles native, Dr. Ben Neuman, about the latest developments.  Neuman talks about his confidence that the vaccines will hold up against new variants, the hope that the Johnson and Johnson vaccine may make a big difference in picking up speed in the rollout, and whether he thinks we are beginning the lon...

It's almost hard to believe all that has transpired in the United States since last Wednesday, when domestic terrorists supporting the sitting President of the United States, Donald Trump, stormed into the United States Capitol in an attempt to overthrow the certification of the 2020 election in an effort to keep Trump in power.  Is there any historic parallel we can look to figure out where...