The Popko Project

Welcome to episode 46 of The Popko Project podcast where I’m joined by Eyal Filkovsky, founder of the music contest called The Big Break. The Big Break is a FREE contest for musicians in Pennsylvania where the winning band gets a free produced music video, track recording, photo shoot, and more (visit thebigbreakcontest.com) We talk […]

Welcome to episode 45 of The Popko Project where I’m joined by Gus Thè Savàge. Originally from the Bronx, Gus has called Northeastern, Pennsylvania home for the last 5 years. He has been in the rap game for the last 10 years and has won a few awards for his efforts courtesy of the Steamtown […]

Welcome to episode 44 of The Popko Project podcast where I’m joined by the founder of Bluebeards Original, Paul Kaniewski. Once featured in Esquire, Business Week, Men’s Health, New York Times, Modern Stylist, Instinct Magazine and the Philadelphia Inquirer, Bluebeards Original’s initial goal was to ease “beard itch” and provide natural, effective products that clean...

Welcome to episode 43 of The Popko Project where I’m joined by American country artist, singer/songwriter, and patriot, R.j. Scouton. You may have seen him singing the national anthem before a Buffalo Bills game or before an appearance by former Vice President, Mike Pence in Exeter Pennsylvania late last year.  I myself have known him since our freshman year […]

Welcome to episode 42 of The Popko Project podcast where I’m joined by John Tabone, co-owner and executive chef at Bar Pazzo, an authentic rustic Italian bar/restaurant located in downtown Scranton, Pennsylvania. We talk about the sacrifices he and his team have made over the last 15 months navigating a worldwide pandemic in the restaurant […]

Welcome to episode 41 of The Popko Project podcast where I’m joined by Bobby Keller and Jess Meoni, the organizers of SPOOKY SUMMER 2021: NEPA Horror Film Fest & Scranton Punk Rock Flea + Zinefest taking place THIS SATURDAY, June 12, 2021. We talk about planning the show, what to expect, some of the good […]

Welcome to episode 40 of The Popko Project podcast where I’m joined by Sean Flynn. Sean has been in bands like Those Clever Foxes, Old Charades, and most recently the man behind American Buffalo Ghost. We talk about the new release from American Buffalo Ghost called Folk Songs and the Weird Americana. We also talk […]

Welcome to episode 39 of The Popko Project podcast where I’m joined by a member of the band Tigers Jaw. Tigers Jaw is from Northeastern, Pennsylvania who has had and continues to have national success and recognition and released a new album called I Won’t Care How You Remember Me a couple months ago. My […]

Welcome to episode 38 of The Popko Project podcast where I’m joined by singer, producer, song writer, Livi Dillon She currently resides in LA but I first met her when she was living in Northeastern, PA and the bass player for the rock band Another Day Dawns. We discuss her departure from Another Day Dawns, writing, […]

Welcome to episode 37 of The Popko Project podcast where I’m joined by Mitch Evans of Anytime Soon, a pop punk band out of Scranton, Pennsylvania. We discuss their brand new EP called Variables streaming everywhere RIGHT NOW. How it came together, the delays caused by covid-19, some of the clever marketing avenues taken to […]

Welcome to episode 36 of The Popko Project podcast where I’m joined by a woman who may be the most iconic member of the Weekender in its history. For those of you who don’t know, the Weekender back in the day was THE BIBLE when it came to arts and entertainment in Northeastern, Pennsylvania. From […]

Welcome to episode 35 of The Popko Project podcast where I’m joined AJ Jump and Joe Burke & Co.. AJ is a fantastic drummer who has played in countless bands and traveled all over the world doing what he loves. He also is the co-owner of Karl Hall, a venue in downtown Wilkes-Barre PA, making […]

Welcome to episode 34 of The Popko Project podcast where I’m joined by Dustin Douglas of Dustin Douglas & The Electric Gentlemen. I’ve had the pleasure of following Dustin from his early days up until now with the Electric Gentlemen who are a blues rock power trio. They have music available on all the streaming […]

Welcome to episode 33 of The Popko Project podcast where I’m joined by a very talented musician who has built quite the resume over the years. I remember seeing him play at local bars in Northeastern Pennsylvania when he was just 16 or 17 years old and I knew from the moment I saw him, […]

Welcome to episode 32 of The Popko Project podcast where I’m joined by a dear friend of mine, John Phillips. He’s what I call a musician turned entrepreneur. He’s been in successful cover bands, original bands and he currently managages a few bands local to the Northeastern, Pennsylvania region. He’s even tour managed for bands […]

Welcome to episode 31 of The Popko Project podcast where I’m joined by not one, but TWO, iconic members of the Weekender family. Kieran Inglis who served as an account executive from 2011-2013 and Rob Nitkowski who was crowned the 2011/2012 Weekender Man of the Year. For those of you who don’t know, the Weekender […]

Welcome to episode 30 of The Popko Project podcast where I’m joined by the band Spud, a progressive Americana rock band out of Lehman, Pennsylvania. They will be releasing a new album in the upcoming months so we got into a little bit about that as well as how they started, what their lineup is […]

Welcome to episode 29 of The Popko Project podcast where I’m joined by Damion Pick who served as the graphic designer for the Weekender from 2004-2006. For those of you who don’t know, the Weekender back in the day was THE BIBLE when it came to arts and entertainment in Northeastern, Pennsylvania. Not only was […]

Welcome to episode 28 of The Popko Project podcast where I’m joined by Nick Duvall, owner and master craftsman at Duvall Leatherwork in Kingston, Pennsylvania. Before opening Duvall Leatherwork, Nick was also the frontman of the metal band, Cyphilis, later knows as Spitcan. The band was extremely popular in Northeastern, Pennsylvania and even caught the […]

Welcome to episode 27 of The Popko Project where I’m joined by Christina Romanchick aka Christina Dugan as I knew her at the Weekender. Christina served as the marketing associate for the Weekender from 2002 – 2005 (intern and full time). She was my boss when I was an intern and I’m thankful she left […]

Welcome to episode 26 of The Popko Project podcast where I’m joined by Ben Travers. Ben is the owner and engineer at Astrology Days in downtown Wilkes-Barre, PA. Some people may know him from his time at the River Street Jazz Cafe, a top notch music venue in Plains, Pennsylvania. Others may know him as […]

***Disclaimer – none of the commentary in this podcast is in any way directed at the current staff or management team at the Times Leader Media Group*** Welcome to episode 25 of The Popko Project podcast where I’m joined by Rich Howells who served as staff writer and editor of the Weekender. I always felt […]

Welcome to episode 24 of The Popko Project podcast where I’m joined by Pat McGlynn and Stefan Ogonosky of the band Goodnight, Captain. They’ve been making music together for about 20 years now and will be releasing their new EP titled Departures on Friday, March 5th, available on all the streaming services. We talk about […]

Welcome to episode 23 of The Popko Project podcast where I’m joined by the gentlemen from Violet Nine, a rock band based out of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. We discuss the release of their brand new single called “Grenade” which will be released on all streaming platforms on Friday, February 26th. Accompanying the new single is also […]

Welcome to episode 22 of The Popko Project podcast where I’m joined by Matt Morgis, the YOUNGEST intern in Weekender history. Some could say he accomplished more as an intern than some of us full time players did. We talk about how and why he started an internship at the Weekender when he wasn’t even […]