HarmonyTALK

All’s Well That Ends Well: Michael Bradshaw Flynn On Bringing Back the Bard Fifteen years ago, staging Shakespeare in Scranton sounded improbable to plenty of people, especially to some New York theater types. The original production was intended as a one-time public performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Nay Aug Park. Organizers hoped a modest audience would turn out for the celebrated Bard....

From the Black Forest to Honesdale: A Story Grown by Hand What does it look like to build a life slowly, intentionally, and with your hands in the soil? In this episode of HarmonyTALK, host Lisa Champeau sits down with Gudrun Feigl, founder of Mount Pleasant Herbary, whose journey from Germany’s Black Forest to Northeastern Pennsylvania is rooted in memory, creativity, and quiet persistence. Gudru...

Scranton: The City Fans Thought They Knew How did an architect end up reshaping a city’s pop culture identity? In this episode of HarmonyTALK, host Todd Stephens sits down with Michele Dempsey, architect, entrepreneur, single mom, and one of the creative forces who helped turn Scranton’s connection to ‘The Office’ into something no one expected: pride, tourism and a renewed identity. Set as the ba...

Following a Different Beat: From State Trooper to Global Travel Guide What happens when the thing you’ve always loved becomes the center of your life? In this episode of HarmonyTALK, host Greg Frigoletto sits down with Matt Kizis, whose journey reflects a powerful shift toward alignment and possibility. After years of service as a dedicated Pennsylvania State Trooper, Matt traded in his badge for...

Inside George Magazine: Lisa DePaulo on JFK Jr., Journalism, and Getting the Story Right That second call brought the Dunmore, Pennsylvania, native into one of the most influential media spaces of the 1990s. DePaulo shares what it was like to work with JFK Jr. as an editor, how he shaped her approach to reporting, and what he understood about the balance between access and restraint. She reflects...

What happens when a story you love becomes the life you choose? In this powerful episode of HarmonyTALK, host Todd Stephens sits down with Scranton native Mike Kunda, founder of the Yo, Philly! Rocky Film Tour and one of the most recognized Rocky impersonators in the world. As a child, Mike faced bullying, insecurity, and a deep sense of not belonging. Then he discovered Rocky . What began as esca...

How many ceilings can one woman break? Pat Mitchell stopped counting. In this episode of HarmonyTALK, host Lisa Champeau sits down with a true original. A woman who did not just rise through the ranks of media, she reshaped them. Pat Mitchell is a serial ceiling smasher. The first female president of PBS and CNN. The first woman to own and host a nationally syndicated daily talk show. And long bef...

Chef Von on Hustle, Reinvention and Building Something Real What does it take to bet on yourself when there’s no backup plan? In this episode of HarmonyTALK, host Greg Frigoletto sits down with Chef Ryan Von Smith, known as Chef Von, a self-taught chef whose journey spans Los Angeles, New York, Las Vegas, and Macau. After leaving Scranton, Pennsylvania, in search of something bigger, Chef Von work...

Beyond the Tank: When the Real Entrepreneurial Journey Begins Many entrepreneurs dream of appearing on Shark Tank. But what happens after the cameras turn off? In this episode of HarmonyTALK, host Lisa Champeau sits down with Scranton native and inventor Kim Meckwood , founder of Click & Carry , the simple but ingenious device designed to make carrying grocery bags, paint cans, sports equipmen...

What happens when the people you are studying ask you to stand beside them instead? In this powerful episode of HarmonyTALK, host Lisa Champeau interviews Judy Frater, a Pennsylvania-born Fulbright Scholar, Ashoka Fellow, design educator, author and founder of India’s first design school for traditional textile artisans. After moving to Kutch, India, more than 30 years ago, Judy’s academic researc...

How do you choreograph change when life shifts beneath your feet? On this episode of HarmonyTALK, host Greg Frigoletto sits down with internationally acclaimed choreographer, creative director, educator and podcast host Cherice Barton to explore what it means to move through evolving seasons with grace, humor, and purpose. With a career spanning Broadway, Cirque, television, ballet and global imme...

Jeff Braverman joins HarmonyTALK to reflect on 30 years of leadership at Camp Nesher and the unexpected decisions that helped shape one of its most meaningful legacies. What began as a dream to create a vibrant summer camp experience centered on community and faith took an unexpected turn when he was approached by a parent who asked if their wheelchair-bound child with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy...

How do you scale a bold idea into a movement? In this HarmonyTALK podcast episode, host Lisa Champeau interviews Dakota Kate Isaacs, the first U.S. employee at DECIEM and former Director of DECIEM USA. Dakota helped grow The Ordinary into one of the most disruptive beauty brands in the world, expanding to more than 2,500 retail locations across North America. She discusses scaling disruption, work...

Valentine’s Day may be about romance, but it can also highlight just how exhausting modern dating has become. On this special HarmonyTALK episode, host Greg Frigoletto welcomes professional matchmaker Rachel Brown, founder of Jewish Matchmaking NYC, for a candid conversation about why real connection goes far beyond swiping right. Rachel shares how she discovered her gift for matchmaking at just 1...

This episode of HarmonyTALK pulls back the curtain on the music industry through the eyes of one of its most trusted and respected behind-the-scenes figures. Jim Della Croce has spent more than four decades shaping careers, protecting legacies, and advocating fiercely for artists whose music has defined generations. From the Pocono Mountains to Nashville’s Music Row and Hollywood’s platinum-record...

What happens when confidence, compassion, and coding collide? On this episode of HarmonyTALK , host Greg Frigoletto sits down with Jacqueline Means , Miss Caribbean 2025, STEM advocate, and founder of the Girls Empowerment STEM Initiative , to explore how one young woman turned purpose into power. From earning national and international pageant titles to inspiring underprivileged girls to pursue c...

Actress, singer, and producer Gabrielle Ruiz joins the HarmonyTALK podcast to share her inspiring journey from growing up in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas to performing on Broadway and starring in hit television shows. Raised in Edinburg, Texas, Gabrielle discovered her passion for the performing arts through public school arts education, while navigating life as a proud Mexican American artist....

Former NFL defensive tackle Marc Spindler joins HarmonyTALK Podcast to share his powerful journey after retiring from the Detroit Lions. In this episode, Marc opens up about identity loss, resilience and finding purpose beyond football, including the life philosophy he teaches his children: Staying Healthy, Hungry, and Humble . A must-listen for athletes, sports fans, and anyone navigating life af...

The holidays are here, and at HarmonyTALK, that means it’s time to hit pause, look back, and smile a little. This special holiday episode is our end-of-year highlight reel- a celebration of the dreamers, doers, and big ideas that shaped our conversations throughout 2025. Hosted by Lisa Champeau, Greg Frigoletto, and Todd Stephens, this episode revisits some unforgettable moments and the people beh...

Dive into the rich history of jazz with Loren Schoenberg, Grammy Award-winning saxophonist, conductor, and senior scholar at the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. In this HarmonyTALK episode, Loren chats with host Lisa Champeau about his experiences performing with jazz legends, his work preserving American jazz history, and his journey as a respected educator at institutions like Juilliard and the...

Join us on this captivating episode of HarmonyTALK Podcast hosted by Lisa Champeau as we delve into the fascinating world of "Lover's Eyes" with Nan and David Skier, a remarkable couple from Birmingham, Alabama. Dr. David, a retired ophthalmologist, and his wife Nan have spent the past two decades amassing an extraordinary collection of these unique and historical artworks. Lover's Eyes are miniat...

In this episode of HarmonyTALK, host Todd Stephens engages with Tyus Williams, a passionate environmental scientist and educator. Tyus shares his journey from a childhood fascination with wildlife to pursuing a PhD in environmental science. He discusses the complexities of domestic cats as invasive species and emphasizes the importance of understanding human-wildlife interactions. Tyus also opens...

In this conversation, Emily Bright delves into the nuances of storytelling and poetry, exploring how everyday experiences can inspire creative expression. It highlights beauty found in the mundane and the mysteries that lie beneath the surface of our daily interactions. Emily also discusses the multifaceted identity of motherhood, emphasizing that becoming a mother does not erase one's previous se...

Bob Eckstein, an award-winning writer, illustrator, and cartoonist, discusses his latest book, 'Footnotes from the World's Greatest Museums.' He shares his motivation for delving into museums and highlights the diverse range of museums featured in the book. Bob emphasizes the user-friendly nature of the book, catering to a wide audience beyond art lovers. He also talks about the power of art to mo...

HarmonyTALK is thrilled to welcome Dan Micciche, the Music Director and Conductor of WICKED on Broadway. With over nine years working on this iconic production, Dan offers a unique look behind the curtain at what it takes to keep one of the world’s biggest shows running.  Host Lisa Champeau dives into Dan's impressive career journey, from his start on Broadway in CHICAGO to his work across interna...