The Spark

(00:00:00) WITF’s  Jaxon White breaks down Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2026 budget address , delivered to the Pennsylvania legislature on Tuesday, Feb. 3. He explains the administration’s key priorities, proposed spending, and what the plan could mean for communities across the Commonwealth. WITF reporter Jordan Wilkie also joins us to discuss his recent reporting on efforts by Immigration and Customs Enf...

(00:00:00) Author  Linda Gottfried joins us to share insights from her new book How to Live Your Life Like You’ve Already Won the Lottery , a guide to shifting perspective, embracing abundance, and finding purpose beyond financial luck. She invites readers to rethink what it means to “win” and to cultivate joy in everyday life. (00:16:00) Then, with a grateful heart, Dan Tomaso returns to walk us...

(00:00:00) We begin with  Renate Wildermuth , author of Gone Before You Knew Me , a debut novel already earning international attention. Named a “Most Anticipated Book” by Indigo, reviewed by Booklist , and soon to be featured in Teach Magazine and on North Country Public Radio, the novel blends emotional depth with a gripping sense of mystery. It will even appear in the shop of the International...

(00:00:00) We begin with  Dr. Brett McLaurin , Professor of Environmental, Geographical, and Geological Sciences at Commonwealth University, who helps us understand why certain rocks can sing . Using the famous ringing rocks of Bucks County as a starting point, Dr. McLaurin explains how mineral composition, cooling rates, and internal stress create boulders that chime like bells when struck. From...

(00:00:00) First, we speak with  Elizabeth Zucker of the Dauphin County Historical Society and Noah Lewis , the living historian who portrays Edward “Ned” Hector , a Black Revolutionary War soldier whose bravery at the Battle of Brandywine challenges the incomplete narratives many Americans learned in school. We explore why the John Harris–Simon Cameron Mansion is an essential site for telling sto...

Then we turn to a different kind of deficit: America’s growing social isolation . The Barnes Family Foundation , based in Bethlehem, has released its first Social Connection in America report — a sweeping look at how connected (or disconnected) people feel today. The findings are stark: disengagement is widespread, and certain groups — including people with lower incomes, less education, those who...

(00:00:00) On today’s The Spark , we start with the news shaping communities across Pennsylvania. Carmen Russell-Sluchansky of WHYY brings us the latest on Philadelphia’s cleanup efforts after last weekend’s snowstorm and explains the growing controversy over the removal of a slavery exhibit at Independence National Historical Park. Then Sydney Roach of WPSU joins us with an update on the ongoing...

(00:00:00) We begin with the  Pennsylvania Attorney General’s recent settlement with Dollar General , following allegations that prices listed on shelves didn’t match what customers were charged at checkout. We break down what the settlement means for shoppers across the Commonwealth, why price‑accuracy violations matter, and what consumers can do to protect themselves from overcharges in an era o...

(00:00:00) We begin in Potter County with  Gary M. Buchsen , whose family owns and operates the Coudersport Ice Mine — a geological anomaly that has fascinated visitors for more than a century. Discovered in 1894 by silver prospector Billy O’Neill, the Ice Mine produces ice in the spring and summer, then melts in the fall and winter, thanks to a rare rock formation that traps and releases cold air...

(00:00:00) First, we visit the  Center for Post Natural History , a one‑of‑a‑kind museum dedicated to documenting the living organisms that have been intentionally altered by humans, from early agricultural domestication to cutting‑edge genetic engineering. Since 2008, the Center has sparked public dialogue about our growing role as evolutionary agents, using exhibitions, workshops, and multimedia...

When Matthew Wolfe walks through the Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona, he isn’t just surrounded by locomotives and artifacts, he’s surrounded by the lives of the people who built them. and In September 1982, that problem surfaced on a small network of computers at Carnegie Mellon University, where a few dozen computer scientists were using early electronic message boards—primitive by today’s...

(00:00:00) We begin with  Gillian McGoldrick of The Philadelphia Inquirer , who details her reporting on the Shapiro Administration’s lawsuit against a vendor accused of failing to deliver more than 3 million pieces of mail from state agencies. The missing documents, everything from benefits notices to tax information, raise serious questions about oversight, transparency, and the impact on Pennsy...

(00:00:00) Winter may still have its grip, but we’re already dreaming of green. In this episode, we finally dig into the houseplant care we didn’t get to last time. From keeping indoor plants thriving to refreshing bird feeders and bird baths during the coldest stretch of the year. We’ll talk about what’s blooming right now, the seeds you can start early, and the small rituals that help us look to...

(00:00:00) First, we meet  Matthew Wolff , Curator at the Railroaders Memorial Museum , whose passion for railroad history fuels his work preserving the legacy of the people who built Altoona into a powerhouse of American industry. Matthew guides us through the astonishing story of the Horseshoe Curve,  an engineering marvel blasted, dug, and carved through the Allegheny Mountains in the 1850s by...

(00:00:00) We begin with the  Art Association of Harrisburg , founded in 1926 by visionary civic leader Gertrude Olmsted McCormick . What began during the Coolidge presidency in a world shaped by world wars, the Great Depression, and seismic cultural change has grown into a 100‑year artistic anchor for the region. Through shifting art movements, evolving technology, and nearly twenty presidential...

This episode includes all of our segments from Wednesday and Thursday this week from the 2026 Farm Show. All you need to know all in one place! Featured this year is: Dairymen's Executive Director Dave Smith Committee Member of The Mushroom Farmers of PA, managing the Farm Show booth Gale Ferranto President of PA alpaca owners and breeders' association- owner Crimson Skye Farm Karen Nace Northwest...

(00:00:00) First, Mi Xian and Mark Fazollah of Spotlight PA join us to discuss their reporting on undercounted and misreported rapes in the State College area. Their investigation reveals how gaps in data, institutional practices, and reporting systems can obscure the reality of sexual violence. They walk us through what they uncovered, why these discrepancies matter, and how communities are affec...

(00:00:00) That uncertainty became real last fall, when cases of  Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) were confirmed in horses across Northumberland, Columbia, and Lancaster counties. With the virus spreading easily through direct contact, airborne droplets, and contaminated equipment, officials made the difficult call to cancel all equine‑related events at this year’s show. While EHM is...

The Spark went on a field trip to the 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show! In this episode, you will hear the first half of interviews from our time at the farm show, with more to come tomorrow. Featured in today's episode is: (00:00:00) Dairymen's Executive Director Dave Smith (00:13:18) Committee Member of The Mushroom Farmers of PA Gale Ferranto (00:23:11) President of PA Alpaca Owners and Breeders' As...

(00:00:00) In honor of  Public Radio Broadcasting Day , this episode opens with a special “actors‑on‑actors” style conversation between Scott LaMar , former host of The Spark , and Asia Tabb , the show’s current host. In a rare dual‑interview format, Scott and Asia turn the microphones toward each other to explore their shared legacy, their different approaches to storytelling, the surprises of ho...

(00:00:00) In this episode, we begin with the inspiring journey of Kelly Anoka , a devoted maker whose woodworking story is rooted, quite literally, in family history. Kelly shares how a set of walnut trees planted by her great‑grandfather more than 80 years ago sparked her passion for transforming reclaimed Pennsylvania wood into meaningful, functional art. From foraging fallen branches to collab...

This follow-up conversation explores how film helps us reflect on identity, technology, and the American experience, especially as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary. It highlights a year-long America 250 film series and a four-week course on 1950s science fiction, using classic and contemporary movies to examine cultural ideals, fears, and evolving ideas of what it means to be human. The...

This episode brings together policy, protest, and personal purpose. (00:00:00) WITF’s Jordan Wilkie joins us to discuss his reporting on a group of activist Mennonites calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, and how their faith-driven activism also centers on supporting immigrants in the United States. Emily Previti of the PA Capitol Star breaks down new Pennsylvania legislation aimed at cracking down on...

Dr. Weiss is a retired Professor of Philosophy at York College of Pennsylvania and a longtime film scholar and educator. He brings a rare combination of philosophical insight, teaching experience, and public-facing film programming. This follow-up conversation explores how film helps us reflect on identity, technology, and the American experience, especially as the nation approaches its 250th anni...

This episode highlights two institutions breaking the mold. (00:00:00) Dickinson College expands its tuition-free initiative, opening doors for more students and redefining affordability in higher education. (00:22:21) Meanwhile, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum marks National Bobblehead Day by unveiling a limited-edition  Saturday Night Live bobblehead collection, celebrating creat...