Real Life with Toni Reece

When most people think about agriculture, they picture tractors, barns, and fields.  But agriculture is much more than that.  It’s food.  It’s family businesses. It’s technology.  It’s economics.  It’s innovation.  And ultimately, it’s about the future of our communities.  Berks County has long been recognized as one of Pennsylvania’ agricultural leaders.  Through decades of land preservation effo...

Real Life’s guest in this episode knows what it means to experience profound loss, not once, but twice.  As a freshman in high school, Natalie Jacob-Bell lost her father to addiction.  Years later, she lost her childhood best friend, Kennedy Albright, to suicide.  Many people would be consumed by grief.  Natalie chose a different path.  She transformed that grief into purpose by creating Kennedy’s...

Sometimes the things that challenge us the most become the very things that shape our purpose.  Lexi Hull knows this firsthand.  Lexi Hull is Mrs. Pennsylvania 2026 for American Royal Beauties, but her story is about much more than a title or a crown.  It’s about overcoming dyslexia and learning disabilities, finding confidence in herself, and using those experiences to inspire the next generation...

Heather McCool, Executive Director of Phoebe Ministries’ Berks Campus and Founder of Dementia Friendly joins us to help us understand more about dementia.  Heather’s message is an important one - accepting a diagnosis doesn’t mean giving up hope.   It means learning how to provide the best possible support medically, socially, physically, and emotionally.  It also means remembering that people liv...

This episode is another Greater Reading Chamber Alliance Member (GRCA)  Spotlight!  Joining us in studio today is Jackie Stiles, V.P. Business and Special Programs and Melissa Hassler, Membership Coordinator (both with GRCA) and Yurico Rodriguez-Batista, Founder and CEO of Rena-SER Business Solutions.  Rena-Ser Business Solutions is a company that helps individuals and entrepreneurs navigate taxes...

Joining us on Real Life is Scott Hoh of Resolution Law Group.  None of us like to think about losing a loved one, but eventually every family faces that reality.  When it happens, grief often arrives at the same time as confusion, paperwork, decisions, deadlines, and family dynamics.  Today’s conversation with Scott Hoh is about helping families understand what happens after someone passes away, h...

My guest today has dedicated her life to standing beside people during some the of the most difficult moments they will ever face.  Moments of fear. Moments of uncertainty.  Moments when having someone who will listen, believe, advocate and help can make all the difference.  Beth Garrigan is the CEO of SAFE Berks, an organization that provides hope, safety, advocacy and support to survivors of dom...

Monica Reyes is the Vice President for Programs and Initiatives at the Berks County Community Foundation, where she helps oversee grant making and community programs that impact countless lives throughout our region.  Monica’s story reflects the experiences of so many people in our communities.  It’s a story about opportunity, resilience, believing in yourself and choosing to use your talents to m...

Many people dream about owning their own business.  They imagine being their own boss, creating something unique, and building a life around their passion.  What they don’t see are the early mornings, late nights, difficult decisions, financial risks, and sheer determination it takes to turn that dream into a reality.  My guest is Rachel Adams, Owner, Rachel’s Cafe and Creperie in downtown Lancast...

Success often looks seamless from the outside.  We see the titles, the positions, and the accomplishments.  What we don’t see are the years of learning, adapting, taking risks, overcoming obstacles and saying yes to opportunities when they appear.  In this episode we talk to Chris Cappel, General Manager, Stokesay Castle and Marty Brintzenhoff, Cocktail Creator, Stokesay Castle.  This conversation...

Have you ever wondered if there is something more you are supposed to be doing with your life?  A gift you haven’t fully used.  A dream that you put on hold.  Laurie Dawkins, Founder of Straight Paths Entrepreneurship Resource Center, believes that every person has been given unique talents, experiences, and opportunities, not by accident, but for a reason.  Laurie is a faith based leader, educato...

Every city has challenges.  Every city has opportunities.  The question is:  How do you balance growth, investment, public safety, neighborhood quality of life, and preserving what makes a community unique?  Those are some of the conversations happening right now in the City of Reading.  From redevelopment projects and housing concerns to public safety initiatives and upcoming community events, ci...

For many people, there comes a point when careers slow down, children grow up, and life changes.  The questions become:  Where do I put my time?  Where do I put my heart?  Tom Frebel, Volunteer for Baseballtown Dream League, found the answers to those questions with the Dream League.  Baseballtown Dream League  is a program that provides children and adults with special needs the opportunity to ex...

Planning with purpose.  Turning your money into meaning.  Chris Briscoe, Senior Vice President and Director of Financial Planning and Lisa Ashcroft, Vice President and Wealth Advisor both of Girard, a Univest Wealth Division provide important information answering the question - why financial planning matters.  They teach us in this episode that financial planning isn’t just about preparing for th...

We are getting to know a woman who has spent much of her life serving the City of Reading, not just as an elected official but as a storyteller, community advocate, preservationist, and civic leader.  Meet Donna Reed, the President of Reading City Council.  Donna has dedicated decades to serving Reading and helping preserve its history, strengthen its neighborhoods and advocate for its residents. ...

Did you know that Berks County, PA is home to one of the most unique aviation museums in the county and host of World War II Weekend. Bruce Pollock, Mid-Atlantic Air Museum joins us to tell us about how thousands of visitors travel from across the country and around the world to step back in time and experience the sights, sounds, music, aircrafts, vehicles and stories of the Greatest Generation. ...

This episode of Real Life with Toni Reece is filled with laughter as we talk to Pat Cinfici, President of Boscov’s Travel!   This conversation is about travel, adventure, resilience, leadership and the stories that happen when people step outside of their everyday lives and explore the world. Pat rarely talks about herself, but after listening to today’s show, she leaves you wanting more of her wi...

Today is a big day!  FEEDBACK becomes Real Life, A different kind of talk radio!  Hosted by Toni Reece. In our second hour we welcome Andrea Ebling, a Certified Breast Health Coordinator with Tower Health, talking about Mammogram Monday, prevention, and early detection. 

Today is a big day!  FEEDBACK becomes Real Life, A different kind of talk radio!  Hosted by Toni Reece. In our first hour we welcome Santo Marabella.  Santo is a playwright, author, educator and filmmaker.  He shares that being adopted and gay left him feeling isolated and that he didn’t belong.  His real story is about finding peace, which he did in the creative work that he does.  

The first hour of FEEDBACK is about homelessness, trauma, healing, dignity, and hope.  Joining us are Rob Turchi, CEO of Hope Rescue Mission and Kate Alley, Executive Director of the LightHouse Women and Children’s Center.   They have also invited a resident of Hope House to join us to share his journey from extreme desperation, attempt to commit suicide, losing his leg, hitting rock bottom and th...

It’s all about reading today on FEEDBACK!  Joining us in our first hour is Gloria Foley Troup, creator of Stories and Songs with GiGi, a heartfelt YouTube channel designed to encourage families to read, sing, learn and connect with their children through stories and music.  Gloria has created something deeply personal, a digital legacy of love for her grandchildren, future generations and families...

Today on FEEDBACK, we are turning the tables.  For decades, Lisa Scheid has been the one asking the questions, telling the stories, and helping this community understand the people, issues, triumphs, and challenges shaping Berks County.  Lisa tells her story spanning 20 years as a reporter and editor at the Reading Eagle to her current position of Managing Editor of Spotlight PA’s Berks County Bur...

Our first hour of FEEDBACK is our Chamber Member Spotlight!  Dallan Yoh, Director of Membership for the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (GRCA), introduces us to Pattie Guarino, Owner of Focus on Sports Photography.  Pattie shares her personal journey from x-ray technician to sports photographer and what it took for her to grow her twenty-year business of capturing the moments for athletes, famili...

Our first hour we are joined by Lily Otu, Founder of The Working Mom Village, a growing community created to support professional mothers though honest conversations, connection and shared experiences.  The second hour of FEEDBACK is jam packed with information about Medicare and retirement planning.  Perfetto Insurance brings their wealth of experience to the discussion with Jessica Walb, Directo...

Our first hour is a conversation about resilience, identity, confidence, and turning a deeply personal experience into a mission that has impacted children and families around the world.  Joining us is Jeff Woytovich, co-founder of Children’s Alopecia Project, an organization dedicated to building self-esteem, providing support, and creating community for children living with alopecia and their fa...