Doug's Front Porch

I welcome colleague and friend, Ashley Bowes, up on the Front Porch. We discuss her childhood, her time spent in public education as a Special Education English Teacher and Facilitator. We also so discuss her big move from education to owning her own berry and produce farm. She tells us why she made this career move and the joy that working the earth brings her. We close out with our 10 quick ques...

This month I continue the tradition of sitting down with some of my graduating seniors. This year I welcome Derek Shope, Christiana Gladden, Glenn Hough, and Callie Cella onto the Front Porch. They discuss what they did in high school, what they are feeling as they prepare to graduate, what they are afraid of, what they are proud of, and what their future plans are.  Get your Front Porch Merch! Be...

We're going international again here on the Front Porch as I welcome my dear friend from Germany, André Poschadel. We discuss his love of photography, his time in the German military as well as his years of service in the police force. We look back on the time that we have spent together filming three documentaries and we close our conversation out with our 10 quick questions.  Get your Front...

In this episode I welcome to the front porch a dear friend that I've known since middle school, Nate Stimmel. We reminisce about the environment that we grew up in and how we were constantly allowed to be creative. We discuss his work as an art therapist and his current job where he works researching suicide. We also discuss his involvement with the "The Pittsburgh Beer Choir." We c...

In this episode I welcome my family doctor, Dr. Kit Heron, on to the Front Porch. We discuss his long desire to become a doctor, his unique bedside manner, working through the pandemic, how AI is changing medicine, and his new role as a teacher of future doctors. We close out with our usual ten quick questions.  Get your Front Porch merch! Become a Patron !  Support the show

In this episode I welcome Jason Craig up on the Front Porch. We discuss his experiences as a young EMT, his transition to emergency planning, and his current role as an educator of future medical personnel at West Virginia University's Simulation Training and Education for Patient Safety. We end the discussion looking back at his term as the head of a statewide fraternal organization. Leaders...

In this episode we welcome 2026 in by taking a short journey through The Old Farmer's Almanac. We take a look at long range forecasts for the year, major anniversaries happening, and important dates. I offer my thoughts on the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States to close the episode out.  "Auld Lang Syne" performed by Elise Soldberg via Soundstripe. Support the sh...

In this episode we welcome former student and dear friend, Merit Patterson, onto the front porch. We discuss his high school cross country days, his transition to becoming a "rat" at the Virginia Military Institute, to fulfilling his lifelong dream of becoming a United States Marine. Merit tells us what service means to him and what the attributes of a good leader are.  Get your Front Po...

In this episode we welcome former colleague and friend, Angela Harding, onto the Front Porch. Ang is currently serving as one of the County Commissioners for Clinton County, PA. We get a civics lesson on just what do County Commissioners do and the importance of following and understanding local government. We also discuss Ang's son, Von, and his success on the Penn State football field and w...

In this episode I welcome Steven Perrin on to the front porch. We discuss his epiphany that led him to the Emergency Medical Services life. He tells us about his time as a Critical Care Flight Paramedic to his new role as the manager of a local EMS center. We also learn how he deals with the stress that accompanies his line of work.  Support the show

This month we welcome Chelsea Grieb on to the front porch. Chelsea is currently the Health Occupations teacher at the school where I teach. We discuss her journey to becoming a nurse and then her transition from nursing to teaching future nurses and health care workers. We discuss the shared skills between the two professions and close out with our 10 quick questions.  Support the show

In this episode I welcome Tyler Barth, Principal of Robb Elementary School in Lock Haven, PA, on to the front porch. We discuss his childhood that was heavily influenced by both his parents and his grandparents. We also discuss why he went into education, his transition from the classroom to the principal's office, and how he builds and maintains a culture of caring and excellence in his buil...

In this episode we welcome Kevin Macomber on to the front porch. Kevin is the author of the book: Walking from the Shadows: My Journey with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. We discuss his long battle with PTSD and what drove him to write his book. We also discuss his advocacy for all people suffering with PTSD.  Get Kevin's Book ! Get your Front Porch Merch ! Support the show

Yahoo! Throw your straw hats up in the air because we are celebrating. This episode marks the 100th episode of Doug's Front Porch. For such an event, I felt obliged to turn the interview table around and instead of asking the questions, I would answer them. A special thanks goes out to Kevin Shock for interviewing me and Dustin Shirk for asking me my 10 quick questions. Here's to the nex...

This month I continue the tradition of sitting down with some of my graduating seniors. This year I welcome Avah Rafter, Michael Britten, Victoria Guthrie, and Ricky Fantaski onto the Front Porch. They discuss what they did in high school, what they are feeling as they prepare to graduate, what they are afraid of, what they are proud of, and what their future plans are.  Get your Front Porch merch...

In this episode I welcome Lara Thomas on to the Front Porch. We discuss Lara's childhood, being the daughter of two educators and a mother who instilled a love of genealogy in her. We also discuss Lara's work with the Berks County Association for Graveyard Preservation. Lara tells us about the great things that they do and what she has learned and experienced helping to take care of cent...

In this episode we welcome Dr. Francis (Frank) Redmon on to the Front Porch. Frank is currently the superintendent of schools for the Keystone Central School District in Mill Hall, PA...and my boss. We discuss his childhood growing up the son of a Marine father and all of the many places that he moved to and lived in. We also discuss his path to becoming a teacher, a principal and finally to the r...

In this episode I welcome Scott Reagan onto the Front Porch. We discuss his childhood that was immersed in all kinds of music, his undergrad work in German and his graduate work in ethnomusicology. We also discuss his current work at Martin Guitar and writing and performing traditional and original PA Dutch language folk music. We close the interview out with our 10 quick questions. Listen to Scot...

In this episode we welcome 2025 in by taking a short journey through my trusty Baer's Agricultural Almanac. We take a look at long range forecasts for the year, major anniversaries happening, and some humorous stories as well. Get your own copy of Baer's Almanac ! Get your Front Porch Merch ! Become a Patron ! Support the show

In this episode I welcome Eve Allen on to the front porch. Eve is the program director for the Northeast Bioregion at the Ecological Health Network. We discuss her work on improving the supply of native seeds and plants to support ecological restoration, her travels, and the importance of the human connection to our ecosystem. To learn more: Ecological Health Network Cultivate the Wild Follow Eve...

We go international this month as we welcome my good friend, Norman Jung, from Steinbach am Glan, Germany, on to the Front Porch. We discuss the wisdom and life lessons instilled in Norman by his grandparents, his study abroad in Arizona, and his work with the Pennsylvania Dutch culture from his side of the Atlantic. We end with our classic 10 quick questions. Get your Front Porch Swag ! Become a...

In this episode I invite award winning chef, Jeremy Nolen onto the front porch. We discuss his lifelong affair with food and his particular love of German cuisine. We also discuss his newest endeavor of offering tours to germanic Europe that are all food and drink focused. He also offers some advice for all of you foodies and home cooks out there! Get Jeremy's book: New German Cuisine Check o...

In this episode I welcome Tyler Barth, Principal of Robb Elementary School in Lock Haven, PA, on to the front porch. We discuss his childhood that was heavily influenced by both his parents and his grandparents. We also discuss why he went into education, his transition from the classroom to the principal's office, and how he builds and maintains a culture of caring and excellence in his buil...

In this episode I welcome friend and colleague, Len Rutecki, onto the front porch. Len is the autism teacher at my school and we discuss all things autism from what it is to how he works with his students. We also discuss how Len uses his gifts and abilities to raise money and awareness for autism outside of school. Throughout his life he has learned one thing that he continues to challenge us all...

In this episode I welcome fellow PA Dutch instructor and friend, Ethan Rode, up on the front porch. We discuss his childhood growing up on a farm, his move to Canada to study linguistics and his recent work as an online instructor of the PA Dutch language. Get your Front Porch Merch ! Become a Patron !  Support the show