The Erie Loudspeaker

Today, recent graduate Kara Loftus interviews the Honorable Judge John Trucilla, who serves on the Erie County Court of Common Pleas. Judge Trucilla earned undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Dayton. After serving as a judicial law clerk and local prosecutor, he spent nearly 11 years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, earning numerous commendations for public service. He has supported...

Today, Andrea Carnicelli interviews Dena Rupp, owner of Purrista Cat Café. Purrista is Erie’s first cat café, combining a coffee shop experience with a dedicated space where visitors can interact with adoptable rescue cats. Dena helps create a welcoming environment for both customers and cats while supporting local animal rescue efforts. With a passion for animals and community engagement, Dena pl...

Today, Hannah Bennett interviews Speech Language Pathologist Nicole Lewis. Nicole earned a bachelor's degree in communication disorders and sciences from SUNY Geneseo in 2012 and graduated with a master's degree in speech-language pathology in 2014 from Ithaca College. She is an active member of the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) and holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC’...

Today, Olivia Kitchener interviews Aryn Lisa Heron, a Licensed Professional Counselor for more than 20 years. After earning a bachelor's degree in sociology from Edinboro, Aryn earned a master's degree in counseling from Gannon University. In 2019, she became a founding member of Thrive Therapy space, where she treats patients of all ages, specializing in conditions like anxiety, depression, and A...

Today, Ariel Sherr interviews Erin McCall, a licensed Counselor and Registered Art Therapist at Golden Outlook Counseling. Erin specializes in anxiety, depression, emotion regulation, trauma, grief and loss, family/relationship difficulties, and individuals impacted by chronic illness. She works with clients using a trauma-focused lens and uses modalities of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialec...

Rick Bowser is the Director and founder of Erie's 1020 Collective, a creative enterprise focused on arts, culture, and entrepreneurship. Rick is a multi-instrumentalist and music producer who directs 1020's in-house recording studio. He has been involved in music since he was young, and through creative spaces like Bastion Studios, Collective Café, and Rick’s Records, he’s helped create opportunit...

Today, Hewson Morphy interviews film producer Jackie George. Jackie is the Vice President of Film Erie, but got her start in the industry as a producer’s assistant in the 1980s. After years working her way up the ladder through large-scale projects like Dick Tracy and Demolition Man, she recently moved back to her hometown of Erie and has been working with Film Erie to support productions of all s...

This week, Tomiris Askarova interviews Alex Anthes, a non-traditional printmaker and mixed-media artist based in Erie. Her work explores ideas like grief, memory, and celebration, often using everyday materials like confetti and party decorations to express these themes. Alex is the Education Manager at the Erie Art Museum, where she works closely with the community to create meaningful art experi...

This week, Ainslee Konkle interviews Devon Yates, music coordinator for the Erie Playhouse. Yates has substantial experience in music and theater which she brings to the productions at the Playhouse. Previous to her current position, she spent 10 years living in New York City working as an actor, singer, and musician, which she discusses with Ainslee.

This week, Sabbirul Ferdous interviews Malay Sarkar, Budget Analyst for Erie County. With a strong background in finance and public administration, Sarkar is responsible for analyzing financial data, preparing budgets, and helping ensure that public funds are used efficiently to support community services.

This week, Latifa interviews Daria Devlin, the 49th mayor of the City of Erie. Mayor Devlin is a proud Erie native and graduated from Edinboro University and Colgate University. She has over 15 years of nonprofit leadership experience and has led notable projects, including, most recently, serving as Director of Social Impact for Hamot Health Foundation. She has served as an elected member of the...

The Erie Loudspeaker is a student-produced podcast from Gannon University. Our mission is to amplify the innovative and impactful work of Erie-based organizations, artists, educators, and other local change-makers, while also strengthening connections between Gannon and the broader city of Erie. Our second season will feature 21 episodes, including interviews with Erie Mayor Daria Devlin, Printmak...

This week, Connor Foster interviews Trevor Kubeja, the play-by-play announcer for the Erie Otters. Trevor brings energy, insight, and passion to every game, helping fans experience the excitement of Otters hockey from the booth. A proud Gannon University graduate, Trevor got his start through the Primetime Sports Guys radio show on 90.5 WERG, where he honed his voice and storytelling skills. His c...

Today, Sophomore Juan Salazar interviews Professor Pegene Watts, advisor of the Gannon Knight newspaper. Professor Watts has played a key role in shaping the voice, direction, and standards of student journalism at Gannon. Under her leadership, the Gannon Knight has continued to grow as a platform for student expression, storytelling, and community impact. Juan asks about her career in journalism,...

This week, freshman Daymar Dickerson interviews business consultant, Bill Dietz. Bill joined the Small Business Development Center at Gannon in July 2020 and brings more than 39 years of experience in digital and print media marketing. A seasoned marketing professional, Bill is highly skilled in leveraging data, analytics, and market insights to develop effective growth strategies for a wide range...

This week, freshman Dan Moses interviews Scott Stano, Gannon University’s Director of Golf and head coach of both the men’s and women’s golf teams. Stano has been with Gannon for over a decade, leading the women’s team to an incredible six straight PSAC Championships and guiding the men’s program to its first-ever conference title. His leadership has earned him multiple honors, including being nam...

This week, junior Donell Mason interviews the director of Gannon's theatre program, Jordan Wolfe. As an actor, Wolfe as performed all across the country, including productions like Beauty and the Beast in which he played the talking clock, Cogsworth, and a recent episode of PBS Chronicles in which he played a Confederate soldier. Wolfe is the Artistic Director of Gannon's Schuster Theatre.

This week, sophomore Luca Lanasa interviews vice-rector of St. Mark Seminary, Father David Renne. A life-long native of western PA, Fr. Renne was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Erie in 2013 by Bishop Lawrence Persico. He has served as parochial vicar at Our Lady of Peace Parish and also serves the community at St. Peter Cathedral.

This week, freshman Nutrition and Human Performance student Amari Ash interviews Dr. Suzzanne Kitts, an Associate Professor at Gannon University. Dr. Kitts earned her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Penn State and received her PhD from Walden University in Health Psychology. She has been a part of Gannon University for 22 years in the Applied Exercise Science Department and is the Program...

This week, recent Advertising and Digital Media grad Ellie Malesiewski interviews the founder of AK Public Relations, Ashlyn Keenan. AKPR is an Erie-based agency that’s changing how small businesses think about marketing. Through AKPR, Ashlyn creates personalized marketing and PR strategies that actually fit each business’s goals. She manages everything from social media and branding to full-on ca...

This week, senior Digital Communications major Tyler Rekich interviews Erie-based filmmaker John C. Lyons. John is perhaps best known for his eco-horror film, Unearth (2020), which he co-directed with his partner, Dorota Swies. He's also worked on Chronicles , a PBS documentary about Lake Erie, and has created several short dance films. He is the owner of Tethered, Erie’s first immersive theater a...