B Inspired

Artist & teacher Beth Wagner had a vision to establish a fine art gallery and teaching studio in her community but found that dream beyond her own reach as full-time teacher and mother. The seeds of her dream blossomed however; Studio B Fine Art Gallery was established and continues to offer art & culture to the community. Now retired from teaching, Beth reflects on her career, her own art...

When Maddie Bowman saw a need to assist in creating (finally-- after 20 years) a Facebook page for Boyertown's community art project Bear Fever, she made herself immediately available. Her skills have resulted in attracting hundreds of followers within days. Bear Fever fans are grateful as are the many others she serves as volunteer in American Legion's baseball world and in her social wor...

Erin Wade, artist for "Chip T," sponsored by Harry's Tattoo Parlor and Bear Fever, knew early on she wanted to spend her life doing art and helping people in some way. And so, today, she's fulfilling her mission as an art teacher in a private school setting, teaching kindergarten and watching those same kids she knew as kindergartens graduate from high school. "Chip T"--a name for the community wo...

"Coach Jena is a coordinator for the Healthy Kid's running series in Boyertown which has grown to be THE largest running series in the country! In addition, Jena and her husband Jeff have owned Bear's Den Fitness for three years, but the untold story is her role with the foreign exchange program "Academic Year in America" (AYA) that  Jena and her father have been with AYA fo...

Keith Kopicki, owner of Grind restaurant in Boyertown, shares his entrepreneurial journey from an early decision to practice orthodontia to his present project maintaining a healthy work culture for over the 54 employees serving quality food. His creative, collaborative, problem-solving spirit has generated ecological and compassionate efforts in partnership with non-profits and other local busine...

Inspired by her artistic and "crafty" mother, Deborah Meehan spent her career in New York designing advertisements for others. Now retired with a bit more time to create her own art, she finds the time available and resources handy. Collage is her chosen medium; it allows patterns and type...those details she appreciated throughout her career.

Donna Usavage and Jane continue their series of podcast episodes featuring inspiring individuals who understand the importance of reciprocity. Conserving and protecting land and water resources that ultimately connect our local rivers and streams to the ocean is the mission of Ryan Beltz as executive director of the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy. Ryan manages the Conservancy that provides hundre...

Debbie Spleen credits her mentors--Sandy Wood and her mother Sue--for encouraging her love of making art, the freedom to experiment, and the courage to follow her own creative paths. Following her teaching career, Debbie has taken up repurposing furniture she finds at flea markets in colorful whimsical designs. Most recently, she's devoted hours to a fundraising cause to benefit the senior communi...

Since the days when fine artist Rhonda Counts showed her childhood friends how to mix paints from berries and ground stones, she has been passionate about creating art. Along the way, she’s had a unique and rewarding art education that included a 30-year magical career with the Walt Disney World in Florida and, in her “retirement,” several years developing a mammoth theme park in China even though...

Michael Frederick is certain that every young boy and girl dreams of driving a big red firetruck. His own childhood dream has come true as a volunteer firefighter where he has been determined to serve his community. Michael urges others to consider volunteering, assuring us that not all volunteers run into burning buildings, but that every firehouse welcomes volunteers who want to serve.

Jeff Graber started his work as an artist at 13.  Recalling his journey as an artist and as a businessman, he recognizes that for him being part of a team, taking pride as a team in the work that they do is the fulfilling part of his business. And then there are the bears of Bear Fever.  The project debuted 30+ sculptures in 2005; it celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2025 with over 90 sculptures....

In this episode from 2020, Jane shares Lawrence Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development as a way to understand and negotiate relationships in the midst of the current global crises. But beware: Jane offers precautions and a warning  "People are complicated and evolving. We can get stuck, but there's always hope for growth."  Find more information about Studio B Fine Art Gallery on...

Advertising prodigy early on, Jenna Armato built an advertising agency connected to her Barbie McDonald's house, and she hasn't stopped helping businesses and individuals enhance their image, leadership and communications skills since!

Donna Usavage invites Dolores Shank-Samiec, volunteer at the Boyertown Area Multi-Service's Preston Pantry, to share how the donations of food are collected and distributed along with her personal history of making a difference to make the world a better, healthier place. There's no doubt that the efforts are a win-win-win for everyone; love in action abounds.

Krista Gross and Ellen Martignetti, Events Planner and Main Street Manager for Building a Better Boyertown, celebrate the success of the first annual "Making HERstory" event held recently by sharing their impressions of the event, their motivations, their own journeys, future plans, and advice to women.

Donna Usavage invites Anita Zuber, founder and force behind the annual event "Once Upon a Prom," to share her life experiences and stories from the annual event that offers prom and special event dresses and accessories free to young women. Quoting from "Braiding Sweetgrass," the book that inspired the series, Donna finds the spirit of the event an example of a community ceremo...

Quinn Jamison took advantage of a disappointment in her life. Journaling to understand the painful event has led to a new passion: writing and publishing a series of romance novels with a time traveling twist.  The Art of Time  and  The Art of Bending Time are currently available with a third novel “on the way.” “Never give up” is the inspiration she offers through her life experience and her arti...

"If unbridled greed is accepted as success, freedom isn't working. If the earth is poisoned and its resources depleted, freedom isn't working. If people are treated as sex objects...if racial and ethnic hatreds are countenanced...if people turn to drugs and alcohol...if people cheat 'because everyone cheats,' freedom isn't working." In this episode Jane Stahl shares a...

They said it wouldn't last. Our marriage, that is. That was 57 years ago. Yet, our long distance love affair's sketchy beginning and a stubborn determination to prove them wrong suggests that maybe, to our own surprise, we knew what we were doing after all. "We won't...and didn't...let go."

Happy Valentine's Day! While technical difficulties prevented the full conversation with Chris Karver to be shared, Chris reads the "love story" she submitted to The Boyertown Area Expression, a story underlining the real meaning of love found in the stories of Snow White and Cinderella. Hint: real love is not found in the charming princes!

I’m inspired by elderly bees. I learned to recognize them and appreciate their gifts through a Facebook post. I can relate to them!

Pastor Amy Smith Joins Jane & Donna to explore further aspects of the reciprocal arrangement found in nature and indigenous cultures and more foreign to our own. Searching for the roots of fear, offering support to those who struggle, providing "Here's How" simple ideas to tweak our culture--one mind at a time--to a win-win way of living.

Lisa Cellini, owner of The Swamp Door, shares her journey and challenges from media maven--journalist, broadcaster, promotions consultant, and motivational speaker--to the force behind a growing retail store and community in itself featuring treasures from over 70 vendors in over 7,000 square feet. From humble beginnings, trauma, and the nightmare of addiction, Lisa's success showcases uncommo...

Reading "Braiding Sweetgrass" by Robin Wall Kimmerer has inspired Donna Usavage's quest to showcase in future episodes the efforts of folks in the community who practice the Golden Rule through a faith perspective that fosters the collaboration and reciprocity found in indigenous communities .

Mandy Lobaugh took a leap of faith 16 years ago and opened Creative Minds, a school modeled on Maria Montessori's method of learning where children are encouraged to learn in their own way, in their own time. Assisted by BFF (and her devoted mom) Judy Hunter, Mandy has created a supportive "family" among staff and students where learning comes naturally.