From the Newsroom: Akron Beacon Journal Podcast

In this episode of the Now You Know Akron podcast, host Craig Webb speaks with Akron Beacon Journal reporter Tawney Beans and special guest Jamie Keaton to discuss retirement and his current situation regarding this topic. Next, we discuss what a panel of others said about retirement, how likely they are to do so, and what it means for their long-term plans.

In this episode of the Now You Know Akron podcast, host Craig Webb speaks with Akron Beacon Journal reporter Tawney Beans and special guest Chris Harvey to discuss beginning or switching careers. Chris shares his experiences as a freelance graphic designer, talks about freelancing vs. a full-time 40-hour workweek, and his time so far spent in the military.

In this episode of the Now You Know Akron podcast, host Craig Webb speaks with Akron Beacon Journal reporter Tawney Beans and special guest Jennifer Ash to discuss the pros and cons of raising children. Jennifer shares her experience with raising her kids as a single mother, provides insight into tough times and shares advice for new parents.

In this episode of the Now You Know Akron podcast, host Craig Webb speaks with ABJ reporter Tawney Beans and special guest Erin Bushea-Chapman on the topic of marriage. During this edition they discuss a medical condition that Erin was diagnosed with 4 months after getting married, why Erin choose to get married in the first place, and talk what the general conclusion on marriage is for residents...

Akron Beacon Journal reporter Betty Lin-Fisher sat down with colleague Marla Ridenour to talk about her career, the reason she decided to unveil a 47-year-old secret about being sexually assaulted and the "staggering" responses she's received from around the country.

In this edition of the Now You Know Akron podcast, host Craig Webb speaks with ABJ reporter Tawney Beans and special guest Jo Bayer, who is a current resident of Cuyahoga Falls. During this episode we discuss the pros and cons of homeownership, Jo’s outlook on life, and some advice she shares with us about what to do if you unhappy in your current situation.

In this edition of the Now You Know Akron podcast, reporter Craig Webb speaks with guest Dan Flowers who is head of the Akron-Canton Foodbank to discuss what services and campaigns the foodbank provides and how the concept of foodbanking got its start.

In this edition of the Now You Know Akron podcast, reporter Kerry Clawson interviews actress and Copley native, Carrie Coon. Coon stars in the HBO period drama, "The Gilded Age," which has gotten a lot of buzz since its Jan. 24 premiere. It was renewed Feb. 14 by HBO for a second season, and Coon expects to be filming again by April or May. Coon discusses playing the role of the ruthless Bertha Ru...

On this edition of the Now You Know Akron podcast, Beacon Journal reporter Betty Lin-Fischer talks with Eva Velasquez, the CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center, about the effect the war in Ukraine could have on cyberattacks in Akron and the surrounding region.

In this edition of the Now You Know Akron podcast, host Craig Webb and Beacon Journal reporter Stephanie Warsmith are joined by Ashley Kline, director of services for the Rape Crisis Center. Many people might think of stalking as something that happens to celebrities with crazed fans who take their adoration too far. But local victim advocates say stalking happens to regular folks who are targeted...

In this special edition of the Now You Know Akron podcast, Beacon Journal reporter Jennifer Pignolet is joined by University of Akron professor and political and security expert Dr. Karl Kaltenthaler to discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He also serves on an advisory group of academics and other experts, consulting for the U.S. government on national security issues. “This is a big...

In this special edition of the Now You Know Akron podcast, host Craig Webb catches up with Dion Stentz, owner of Uniquely Inspired Gift Baskets in Fairlawn. “All of our gift baskets are customized or personalized,” Stentz said. “None of our gifts are sitting on the shelves waiting to be purchased by a random recepiete who wants a gift.” Uniquely Inspired Gift Baskets was fe...

In this edition of the Now You Know Akron podcast, host Craig Webb and Beacon Journal reporter Tawney Beans talk with Jim Brandenburg, a tax partner at accounting and professional services firm Sikich LLP. Brandenburg discussed change in tax law that could affect users of Venmo, PayPal and other cash apps. 

In this edition of the Now You Know Akron podcast, host Craig Webb and Beacon Journal reporter Seyma Bayram are joined by Pastor Gregory Harrison. Harrison, a retired Akron police officer and reverend of Antioch Baptist Church, tells the story of his family being displaced by construction of the Akron Innerbelt when he was just a child.  “It really shook my sense of security,” Har...

In this edition of the Now You Know Akron podcast, host Craig Webb is joined by reporter Stephanie Warsmith to discuss the latest episode in the Unresolved series. The latest installment looks at the 1980 stabbing death of Jeffrey Sauber at a drive-in theater in Coventry Township.  Sauber, an 18-year-old Marine from Lawrence Township, was stabbed by a stranger in a long black trench coat who...

In this edition of the Now You Know Akron podcast, host Craig Webb and Beacon Journal reporter Krista Kano are joined by Tallmadge city employee Kelli Funk, who talks about her experience working through the pandemic as an administrative assistant in the planning and zoning department and cemetery department. Funk and fellow Tallmadge city employee Tara Ripple advocated to city council for hazard...

In this edition of the Now You Know Akron podcast, reporter Krista Kano sits down with Copley’s own Michael Allio to talk in depth about his memorable appearance on “The Bachelorette.” Allio, who became a fan favorite, joined the show two years after his wife, Laura died, of breast cancer, but self-eliminated right before the “hometown” d...

In this special edition of the Now You Know Akron podcast, we catch up with Brent Wesley, owner of Akron Honey. “I wasn’t intending on it being a business,” Wesley said of getting his business started. “But then folks started figuring out what we were doing and saying, ‘Hey, can we get some of that honey? How much you selling it for?’” Akron Honey was...

In this edition of the Now You Know Akron podcast, host Craig Webb is joined by recent record-setting Jeopardy champion Matt Amodio. They talk about Matt's historic run on the popular game show and what's next for the Medina native. 

In this edition of the Now You Know Akron podcast, sports reporter George Thomas sits down with new University of Akron football coach, Joe Moorhead. The university introduced the soon-to-be former offensive coordinator of the Oregon Ducks earlier this month. Moorhead inherits a team that’s gone 3-28 in its past three seasons and is looking to improve its fortunes in the Mid-American Co...

In this edition of the Now You Know Akron podcast, host Craig Webb and Beacon Journal reporter Jen Pignolet are joined by Olyvia Raber, a senior at Akron Public Schools' Firestone Community Learning Center. They talk about discipline and behavior issues at public schools since districts have returned to in-person instruction. They also highlight the importance of mental health awareness and care a...

In this edition of the Now You Know Akron podcast, reporter Kerry Clawson shares her exclusive interview with Canton native and Broadway dancer Amanda Kloots. Kloots talks about her journey of healing on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” following the death of her husband, Broadway star Nick Cordero, to COVID in 2020.

In this edition of the Now You Know Akron podcast, host Craig Webb is joined by reporter Amanda Garrett to discuss the Beacon Journal’s comprehensive look at employee and supply shortages across the Akron area. On Nov. 18, an editor, four photographers and 18 reporters visited numerous area businesses to discuss employee and supply shortages among a wide variety of establishments including h...

In this edition of the Now You Know Akron podcast, Craig Webb is joined by Stan Hywet Hall & Garden’s “Queen of Christmas,” Chloe Wingard. The curatorial projects specialist talks about the historic home’s Hollywood-based holiday theme, “Lights, Camera, Christmas.” “Throughout the whole tour route, all of our visitors are going to see nods to old Holly...

In this special edition of the Now You Know Akron podcast, we catch up with Savannah Griggs, owner of Sweet and Savvy, a home-based baking business that specializes in custom cakes, cupcakes and chocolate-dipped items. The business also has a new storefront on the way in downtown Akron with plans to open in the summer of next year. Sweet and Savvy was featured earlier this year as part of the Beac...