TalkErie.com - The Joel Natalie Show - Erie Pennsylvania Daily Podcast

Thanks for joining us for the Joel Natalie Show, where we focus on the many important issues affecting Erie. One of those issues, unfortunately, is homelessness. While often the result of both systemic and personal problems, the primary cause of homelessness among families is the growing gap between housing costs and income. Joining us to talk about this complicated issue Thursday was Coleen Hammo...

The Jefferson Educational Society’s Global Summit began on Monday, featuring an impressive host of speakers including President George W. Bush. We were fortunate speak to two Global Summit keynote speakers on our program.  First up was Anita McBride, Executive-in-Residence at the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University, talking about The History and Role of Fi...

Thanks for joining us for this Fun Friday…or maybe we should call it a “Freaky” Friday episode of the Joel Natalie Show. If you’re an Erie native, you probably have heard some version of the Axe Murder Hollow legend. We had a conversation with Erin Phillips, contributing author with the Erie Reader, about her research on the origin of the urban legend, and we learned about her love for photographi...

On our Thursday education focus, we got an update on how our K-12 schools have navigated the first quarter of the 2021-22 school year, even as the pandemic continues to influence all aspects of how students are taught and learn. Our guest was Richard Emerick, the Superintendent of the Fort LeBoeuf School District. Rick shared his perspectives on the wins and challenges that most Erie County school...

For our Wednesday health focus, we invited Jim Caputo, the Vaccine Coordinator of LECOM Health to explain the latest information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots and the continued importance of testing.

It seems like the whole world is running short on products of all kinds, from the little things like toilet paper or your favorite cereal, to the big purchases, like building supplies and automobiles. In fact, you’ve probably been told that you should do your Christmas shopping now to avoid the disappointment of empty shelves. For some insider-info on the pandemic’s disruption of the supply chain,...

On our Friday edition of the Joel Natalie Show we welcomed back Chris Sirianni, owner of the Brewerie at Union Station for a bit of haunted history of the one of the most iconic buildings in Erie. Chris gives a popular tour of the Erie landmark (sold out until April).  He's also been mentioned in the national press, so we learned more about how his important hospitality business has been reco...

It’s the Joel Natalie Show podcast and we’re glad that you are with us.  October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and our guests Thursday provide help, counseling, and safety to victims of domestic abuse. Joining us were Lori Pasilin, Executive Director of Safe Journey Domestic and Dating Violence Services, and Michelle Evans the Program Director as they shared more about Safe Journey’s...

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so for our Wednesday health focus we began our conversation with Dr. Jennifer Saldanha, AHN St. Vincent fellowship-trained breast cancer surgeon.  To continue our discussions about health and wellness, we were joined by Ellen Galardy, Highmark Senior Vice President of Consumer Markets about Medicare Enrollment; and Lee Philips, Highmark Manager of Com...

Thanks for joining us again for the conversations that matter—on the Joel Natalie Show.  On Tuesday, we were exactly two weeks out from the 2021 General Election. Joining us for a preview and nonpartisan discussion was Ben Speggen, contributing editor of the Erie Reader.  We talked about the important elections that make a difference to all of us on a local level.

Our guest on the Monday edition of the Joel Natalie Show was Patrick Fisher, executive director of Erie Arts and Culture. Patrick joined us to discuss the 2021 United Arts Fund.  Together with their Cultural Service Partners, Erie Arts and Culture has made it their goal to raise $750,000 collectively during this year’s fund drive.

Thanks for clicking on the Joel Natalie Show, where we are always focused on the topics that matter most to the people of Erie.  On Friday, we had our Monthly Meeting with the Mayor of the City of Erie, Joe Schember.  We’ll got in-depth with the Mayor about the new blight proposal, and learned what is being done about the eyesore properties scattered around town.

The Erie region is blessed to have many opportunities for higher learning, and on our Thursday program, focused on the news coming out of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania  It was announced that Edinboro, California, and Clarion Universities will now be known collectively as Pennsylvania Western University, or Penn West for short. We were happy to welcome Dr. Scott Miller, the Vice-Presiden...

People with intellectual disabilities and their families employ line workers, known as Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) to support these individuals either in their own homes or in day or employment programs. Unfortunately these programs cannot find people willing to be employed as DSPs, due to the level of reimbursements paid through the state with Medicaid funds distributed by Pennsylvan...

On our Tuesday episode, we got an update from the Erie County Redevelopment Authority. Back in the studio was the CEO of the ECRDA, Tina Mengine.  Our conversation focused on the latest ways the ECRDA is leading Erie County’s economic renaissance.

Joel was back live in studio Monday, starting the week with a conversation with Erie Chief of Police Daniel Spizarny. The discussion surrounded the recent rise of gun violence among youth in Erie. We talked solutions, including community policing and crime reduction initiatives, as well as the financial assistance gained from being awarded the Byrne Grant, a Community-Based Crime Reduction Initiat...

On our Thursday episode, leaders from the Northern Pennsylvania Regional College joined us. Through Leigh Anne Kraemer-Naser, Early Childhood Education Instructor; and Mindy Saunders, Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs, we learned about the new Early Childhood Education certificate program. plus the other programs, scholarships, and tuition reimbursement opportunities available at NPRC...

For our Wednesday episode of the Joel Natalie Show, we invited Casey Wells, Executive Director of Erie Events to return to the program.  Casey ran down the latest on the renovation of the Warner Theater, and what the timeline looks like for reopening. Also included in our conversation was UPMC Park updates, the planned Market House, and what’s on the schedule at Erie Insurance Arena and the B...

On Tuesday, Joel Natalie was invited to Erie Homecoming 2021, back in-person at the Bayfront Convention Center. The focus of most of our coverage were to meet the new cohort members for the Chamber's FIRE Accelerator program. The FIRE Accelerator provides investment and mentorship to rising businesses, encouraging them to utilize Erie's talent and resources in the hopes that they spring roots here...

On the Thursday episode of the Joel Natalie Show, we put a spotlight on the upcoming Jefferson Educational Society's Global Summit XIII, back to in-person this coming November. To lead us through the preview were Director of Operations Angel Beaumont, and Vice President Ben Speggen.

For our Wednesday health focus, we invited three health leaders to discuss the Highmark Community Suppport Platform and the nature of online searches community members have made during the pandemic. With us were Amanda Mihalko, Highmark Director of Social Determinants of Health, Dr. Elizabeth Cuevas, Allegheny Health Network Division Chief, the Center for Inclusion Health and Academic Internal Med...

On Tuesday, our conversation centered around the Erie Center for Arts and Technology, or ECAT. We welcomed Daria Devlin, Executive Director at Erie Center for Arts & Technology; and Jude Shingle, ECAT’s Director of Arts Programs. We were able to learn more about this community-based educational arts and career training facility that inspires, educates and empowers people of all ages to transfo...

Friday began Gannon University’s Homecoming Weekend, and as two alumni make up the staff of TalkErie, we were given a personal tour of Gannon’s new state-of-the-art iHack building.  The innovative new field of study focuses on cyber security, and as the students learn, the whole community benefits from their expertise. Our audio tour of the new iHack Building, was led by Dr. Karina Vernaza an...

On our Thursday program we were talking about a problem that affects all cities, and Erie is unfortunately not immune. Homelessness in Erie is a continuing, growing problem.  For some perspective, we welcomed to the microphone Kurt Crays, Executive Director of the Erie United Methodist Allliance.  EUMA offers services and housing to any person or family who finds themselves homeless.&nbs...

On the Wednesday episode of the Joel Natalie Show, we caught up with leaders from Emma's Footprints, an Erie-based organization that provides support, resources and comfort for those experiencing pregnancy and infant loss. Their reach is across the country, but locally they recently added a prevention division that employs certified doula's to help under-resourced pregnant women navigate pregnancy...