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

We turned back to the economic development ecosystem on our Tuesday show. The new leader of the Erie County Redevelopment Authority, Tina Mengine was our guest. Joel profiled Tina's extensive career in public service, and her efforts in bringing new focus on the real estate development needed to help meet the requirements of existing growing Erie businesses, as well as attracting new business to c...

We began the week focusing Thanksgiving and friends and family, and then of course shopping on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. We chatted with some of Erie’s retailers as they gear up for the big week and holiday season ahead. Sharing their experience and plans were Linda Breakiron of Breakiron Jewelers, Joe Lombardo of Lombardo’s Barber Shop, and Sara Kim, the owner of Lo...

We keep tracking down the local folks featured on the Undercover Billionaire Discovery Channel series that was based in Erie last spring. On Friday, we had a conversation with Lora Caldwell - she’s the Volunteer Coordinator for the Sisters of Saint Joseph Neighborhood Network. The SSJNN Soup Kitchen was a location where the Billionaire, Glenn Stearns volunteered at in the first episode of the seri...

On Wednesday, we had a total deep dive on commercial real estate in Erie.  We welcomed back Chuck Peters, Managing Director of Altair Real Estate to find out his perspective on the current market and the opportunities for investment in our community. Joel had a tremendously substantive discussion with one of Erie's true experts on the subject.

We began the week with our big focus on the Shop Local movement. We turned the spotlight on FishUSA, an extremely successful local retailer that also has a major national and international reach. We will learn more about how when you approach Black Friday and Cyber Monday with a local intentionality, you can make a difference right here in Erie. Our guests included FishUSA officials Jeff Parnell,...

On the Wednesday edition of the Joel Natalie Show, we welcomed another featured Erie participant in Discovery Channel's Undercover Billionaire show shot here in Erie. Chris Trott, owner of Second Chance Restoration, chatted with Joel about his work in recovering and customizing work vehicles for commercial use. Chris's expertise led producers of the reality show to have his shop build the custom s...

Established by the Highmark Caring Place, Children's Grief Awareness Day is designed to help us all become more aware of the needs of grieving children — and of the benefits they obtain through the support of others. The day is always the Thursday preceding Thanksgiving Day, and is observed on Nov. 21st this year. Our guests included Manager Kristie Nosich, Outreach Director Conor Dawley, and Scho...

We began the week covering the new direction the United Way of Erie County is taking when it comes to emergency funding and help for those in poverty. Bill Jackson, the President of the United Way of Erie County explained the new funding priorities. Then we heard from an agency that will be majorly affected by the changes. Mark Alexa of Community Shelter Services explained their role in helping to...

The Joel Natalie Show was live from Opening Day at the Erie Bayhawks, Erie's NBA G-League team affiliated with the New Orleans Pelicans. We shared conversations with front office staff, coaches and players who aspire to perform and contribute to the team at a level that would give them a shot at the NBA. Our guests included Matt Bresee, President of the Erie Bayhawks, Marc Chasanoff, General Manag...

On our Thursday show, Joel took a tour of the sprawling campus of the Hagen History Center, home of the Erie County Historical Society. Their Executive Director, George Deutsch was our guide, chatting about the history and assets of their location on West 6th Street. George laid out all the projects currently underway, including a brand-new exhibit building.

Recently the Erie Community Foundation announced that they had awarded the Hamot Health Foundation and their partners $6 million, the largest grant in their 84-year history, to expand the Magee-Womens Research Institute (MWRI) to Erie and create a new biomedical commercialization and translational research lab at Penn State Behrend’s Knowledge Park. That $6 million is being leveraged into a $26 mi...

Tuesday was Municipal General Election day across Erie County. Voters were selecting judges, council persons, school directors and supervisors. On our showm we covered all of the races with our political expert and sitting Harborcreek Supervisor Dean Pepicello. Plus, several candidates to called in and shared their perspectives on their campaigns. Finally we talked to voters on location at the pol...

We began the week highlighting a group of professional women who are making their mark in the tech sector here in Erie. Our panel included Catherine von Birgelen, the Executive Director of the eMarketing Learning Center at the Ben Franklin Technology Partners,  Kathy Harrington, the Associate Account Manager at MCPc, Sara Olive Sheehan, Software Developer at Werkbot Studios, and Kara Wasser,...

On our Thursday show, we put the spotlight onto Justin Gallagher, a 24 year old man who is making a huge impact in our community.  Justin is working for Wabtec, formerly GE, and he is also involved in many different boards and committees throughout the Erie community, including the Harborcreek School Board and the board of the Erie County Technical School. Joel calls him a young Renaissance m...

Our Wednesday program focused on the Erie County Community College application to the PA Department of Education, and the meeting of the subcommittee to the state Board of Education. Joining Joel to explain the situation was County Director of Administration Gary Lee. Gary and Joel had a lively discussion about the realities of the Community College application, and the mixed support for the stand...

On the Tuesday edition of the Joel Natalie Show, Jon Whaley and Brenton Davis returned to our studios. Brenton and Jon are former political candidate and opinion leaders on social media. They shared with Joel and our audience their informed perspectives about the government, the local workforce, and other relevant issues in our community.

A group of the Erie region's younger leaders brought a lively conversation to begin the week at the Joel Natalie Show. Joining us were Amanda Duncan, Adam Welsh, Anne Lewis, and Davon Pacley of the Young Erie Professionals. Amanda is the program manager of YEP, and Adam is the editor in chief of The Erie Reader who sponsors the yearly Erie's 40 Under 40. Anne and Davon were recognized this ye...

On the Joel Natalie Show we’re always talking about fun and interesting topics to inform the people of Erie.  For this Fun Friday, we had a great conversation with Joel's brother Peter Natalie who recently returned from another trip to Italy.  He shared about his adventures in Sicily, the things to do and the food!  Included in on the chat was Featured Guest Laureate, Paul Bills...a...

Thanks for listening to the Joel Natalie Show Podcast, where we like to highlight interesting organizations and people in Erie.  On Thursday, we had a vibrant conversation with John C. Lyons, Executive Director, and Erika Berlin, President of the Film Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania. We took a deep dive into what it’s like making films in Erie, the production of their Unearth movie, and...

On our Wednesday edition of the Joel Natalie Show, we welcomed Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper back to the show.  Our conversation with her and Director of Administration Gary Lee centered around the upcoming 2020 budget and tax increase, staffing decisions, and the priorities for the county in the coming year. 

Tuesday, Matthew Wachter from the Erie Downtown Development Corporation returned to the Joel Natalie Show to discuss the latest news about their latest acquisition, the McDonalds property on the corner of 5th and State streets.  Mr. Wachter is the Vice President of Finance and Development for the EDDC. There’s a lot happening with the downtown area of Erie, and Matt was able to walk us throug...

We began the week talking to Andy Kerr -  he is a certified John Maxwell Team Leadership Coach - and we chatted about the upcoming Live2Lead conference.  This conference was designed to help people develop new perspectives and practical tools for moving forward with better leadership skills and real action plans for life. Andy also clued us in on his brand-new book, A Story and a Point .

Wednesday we welcomed back Janet Anderson, the director of NWPA Job Connect to the Joel Natalie Show.  Joel calls Janet "the hope bringer," as she smashes the false narrative that there are no good jobs in Erie.  The conversation focused on job opportunities, what’s really needed out there right now, as well as the skills and experience needed for the current hot jobs, and high-in-demand...

 On Tuesday's program, we welcomed back Erie Mayor Joe Schember to our studio to get a general update on city issues.  We talked about the budget, early intervention, blight removal, and the mayor's favorite subject, all of the new building permits and construction stemming from the LERTA that went into effect in July.

We began the week talking with the folks from the Jefferson Educational Society of Erie about the Jefferson Global Summit XI.  We will be talking to our good friend, Ben Speggen, Vice President, and Angela Beaumont, the Director of Operations at the Jefferson Educational Society.  They discussed with Joel Natalie the topics being presented this year at the Global Summit as lecturers come...