The America250PA ”Start Here, America Did” Podcast

In this special Memorial Day episode of the America250PA podcast, America250PA continues to honor Pennsylvania veterans, highlighting their unique stories and remarkable contributions. This episode features an insightful and emotional interview by host, Sydney Harris, with two distinguished veterans. Glenn Aaron Silva, a retired United States Marine Corps gunnery sergeant, shares his compelling jo...

Marking the beginning of a two-episode series honoring Memorial Day, host Sydney Harris continues America250PA's heartfelt initiative of spotlighting Pennsylvania's veterans by inviting three distinguished guests to share their unique stories of service. Retired Navy Captain Alysa Ambrose recounts her unexpected path to the military, driven by a need for financial assistance for college, and her g...

Join us for the second installment of our Earth Month series, where we -dive- into the preservation and conservation efforts of Pennsylvania's waterways, spanning over 83,000 miles of rivers, streams, and creeks. This episode features conversations with representatives from the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association and the Mountain Watershed Association. These dedicated stewards share their pa...

Tune in to our next captivating episode of the America250PA "Start Here, America did" podcast, the first of our two-part Earth Month Series devoted to uplifting and preserving Pennsylvania's natural beauty. Host Sydney Harris introduces you to naturalist trailblazers who are spearheading significant initiatives to protect and uplift Pennsylvania's one-of-a-kind natural landscapes. Discover from Do...

Step into an illuminating conversation on the power of female entrepreneurship with the newest episode of the ‘Start Here, America Did!’ Podcast, specially recorded to commemorate SBDC Day. Our host, Sydney Harris, a dynamic partner in a Pennsylvania women-owned business, guides us through the influential world of the commonwealth’s women entrepreneurs, who are redefining the business landscape. J...

In this episode of 'Start Here, America Did,' host Cassandra Coleman, a Keystone First herself, and Executive Director of America250PA, brings to light the achievements of Senator Kim Ward and Loretta Claiborne, two exceptional and barrier breaking women from Pennsylvania. Senator Ward, Pennsylvania's first female Senate President Pro Tempore and Majority Leader, shares her groundbreaking journey...

In this episode of "Liberty's Echoes: Unveiling Pennsylvania's Courageous Tales of Freedom with Historic Philadelphia," we're taking you back in time to explore some amazing stories from Pennsylvania's, and more specifically, Philadelphia’s history. Cassandra Coleman, the Executive Director of America250PA, hands her mic to Historic Philadelphia, an organization devoted to sharing history by makin...

In this engaging episode of the "Start Here America Did" podcast, Morgan Lloyd, the dedicated Programming Coordinator for the African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP) and a fervent advocate for African American history, steps up as host to honor the legacy of the African American Museum in Philadelphia. Born from the initiatives of the Bicentennial, AAMP has carved its path as the first muse...

Tune in for another engaging episode of the "Start Here, America Did" podcast, presented by America250PA! This week, we're delving deep into Pennsylvania’s Farm Show in our special feature, "Champions of the Field: Inside the Pennsylvania Farm Show," with your host Caleb Wright. In this next podcast installment, we celebrate the 108th Pennsylvania Farm Show's vibrant agricultural tapestry through...

In this captivating episode, host Cassandra Coleman, Executive Director of America250PA, teams up with Rusty Glessner, the creator of the PA Bucket List, to explore Pennsylvania's unique and often overlooked roadside attractions. Rusty, a renowned storyteller and photographer, brings his expertise and love for Pennsylvania to the show, sharing fascinating stories and insights about these hidden ge...

In this engaging episode of "Anything But The Ball, Pennsylvania's Unique New Year's Eve Drops" host Cassandra Coleman, Executive Director of America250PA, invites listeners to a festive exploration of Pennsylvania's unique New Year's Eve traditions. Venturing beyond the typical ball drop, Cassandra introduces three towns - Mechanicsburg, Bethlehem, and Dillsburg - each with its own distinctive wa...

Join guest host Sydney Harris in the next installment of the America250PA Start Here, America Did podcast, as we journey into the storied past of the Hotel Bethlehem and the historic town of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. In a rich and engaging conversation with Bruce Haines, managing partner of the hotel, we're taken on a historical tour of both the town and the hotel. Discover the transformation of th...

Join host Sydney Harris as we conclude 'Pennsylvania Junkie’s November Series' with a captivating interview featuring Cat Janisko, the creator of "Pennsylvania Junkie." With over 270,000 TikTok followers, Cat is known for her virtual tours of Pennsylvania's hidden gems and insights of Pennsylvania culture and unique characteristics.   In this episode, we explore Cat's top Pennsylvania destinations...

Join host Sydney Harris as we kick off the "Pennsylvania Junkie’s November Series" with a captivating interview featuring Cat Janisko, the creator of "Pennsylvania Junkie." With over 270,000 TikTok followers, Cat is known for her virtual tours of Pennsylvania's hidden gems and insights of Pennsylvania culture and unique characteristics.   In this episode, we explore Cat's early experiences in Penn...

Fun Isn’t Far Away – So hit the road and make seasonal events the reason to explore the four corners of Pennsylvania as part of your celebration of America250PA. This podcast will provide an overview of the range of events and how they are important to the heritage, and culture of Pennsylvanians, today and in the past. This podcast will feature examples that cover geography, the four pillars of EP...

America250PA’s Semiquincentennial Bell project aims to lift up the stories of communities that have been untold or not widely known, yet shaped the history of Pennsylvania. The first bronze, permanent Semiquincentennial Bell was unveiled on June 28th, 2023, at The Dennis Farm—a 200-year-old farm in Susquehanna County originally settled by the family of Prince Perkins, free African Americans who mo...

No matter which side of the aisle you fall on, we are all Pennsylvanians first. This episode takes a deep dive into why America’s 250th anniversary is important to ALL Pennsylvanians, and what legacy the America250PA Commission can leave behind. Featuring special guests, Former Pennsylvania Governors Tom Ridge, Mark Schweiker, Ed Rendell, Tom Corbett, and Tom Wolf.

The Pennsylvania Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial (America250PA) was established by the legislature and Governor in 2018 to plan, encourage, develop and coordinate the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, Pennsylvania’s integral role in that event, and the impact of its people on the nation’s past, present, and future. Learn more about how...