Shows / The Spark
The Spark
When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, host Asia Tabb starts conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.
Episodes
- The Spark
How a BMX Legend's Locker and a Pennsylvania Farm Changed Lives
We sit down with Kyle A. Huffman, author, BMX historian, and founder of Lititz BMX, to discuss his new book, The Fireside Story of: Harry Leary. What began as…
- The Spark
ArtsFest 2027 Call for Submissions & Cumberland County History Award Honorees
We’re joined by Dillon Beede, Director of Choral Activities and Chair of Music at Wilson College, to discuss the call for submissions for ArtsFest 2027, taking…
- The Spark
From DVDs to Doing Good: Gen Z’s Physical Media Revival & AFCA’s Mission of Hope
Why is Gen Z embracing DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, vinyl records, and other physical media in the age of streaming? In this episode, we explore the surprising…
- The Spark
Downtown Harrisburg’s Next Chapter and Lessons from Global Polarization
Following Governor Josh Shapiro and Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis’ announcement of $64 million in new public and private investments, local leaders are…
- The Spark
The Spark Weekly | October 25 | Bird Migration and Girl, Interrupted
Fall is one of the best times of year for birdwatching in Pennsylvania. Hawks, eagles, songbirds, ducks and other species travel through the region as they…
- The Spark
Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future: Broadway Legend Stephen Schwartz and Lancaster’s Cultural Landscape
The Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County is celebrating 60 years of protecting the places that tell Lancaster County’s story. In this episode, we…
- The Spark
A Hollywood Classic and a Homegrown Thriller: The Stories Behind Girl, Interrupted and Fiend
Step behind the scenes of Girl, Interrupted and discover how a Hollywood production found a home in Central Pennsylvania. Ahead of the special screening at the…
- The Spark
Imaginary Friends and Pennsylvania Farmland
Imaginary Friends celebrates the art of puppetry, live performance, and creative storytelling. Formed by a collective of experienced puppeteers and performers…
- The Spark
Passing Through: Migration, Creativity, and the Beauty of Letting Go
It’s peak bird migration season in Pennsylvania, with millions of birds traveling south and passing through our skies each night. In this episode, we explore…
- The Spark
Turning Teen Ideas into Reality with Side Hustle School
What happens when a teenager says, “I have an idea,” and a family decides to turn that idea into reality? In this episode, we sit down with Jay Jayamohan…
- The Spark
The Spark Weekly | October 18th | WITF's Newsroom Recaps PA-10 Debate
We’ll celebrate the latest release from international bestselling author Jeff Kinney, creator of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Kinney’s 21st book, Diary of…
- The Spark
PA-10 Debate Analysis and Building Affordable Housing in Harrisburg
Jordan Wilkie, Haley O’Brien, and Katie Knol break down the latest developments in Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District race. The panel examines key…
- The Spark
Fall Gardening Tips with Erica Jo Shaffer & the Dark Fairy-Tale World of Jonathan Edward Durham’s Winterset Hollow
Fall is one of the most important seasons in the garden, and Erica Jo Shaffer joins The Spark to share practical tips for making the most of the autumn growing…
- The Spark
Diary of a Bestseller: Jeff Kinney on 21 Books and a Worldwide Following
#1 international bestselling author Jeff Kinney is hitting the road to celebrate the release of Diary of a Wimpy Kid #21: Fight or Flight, and bringing fans an…
- The Spark
Building Hershey’s Dream & Celebrating John Coltrane’s Legacy
What role did architecture play in transforming a rural Pennsylvania landscape into the world-famous town of Hershey? In this episode, we explore Urban & The…
- The Spark
The Human Impact of Conservation and Cancer Research
What does a purchase made in Central Pennsylvania have to do with protecting the Peruvian rainforest? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Campbell Plowden…
- The Spark
The Spark Weekly | October 11 | The Governor's Race Recap
WITF’s Democracy Reporter Jordan Wilkie leads a discussion with Pennsylvania’s leading government reporters about what Governor Josh Shapiro and Treasurer…
- The Spark
The Race for Governor and The International Ballet Academy
WITF’s Democracy Reporter Jordan Wilkie leads a discussion with Pennsylvania’s leading government reporters about what Governor Josh Shapiro and Treasurer…
- The Spark
The Afterlife and Life After Prison: Death, Dissection, and the Challenges of Life After Jail
We explore the dark and unsettling world of 19th century grave robbing, body snatching, and the notorious practice of "Burking" — murder committed for the…
- The Spark
Keeping Lincoln’s Legacy Alive, Growing Conservation Leaders
For 20 years, the Wildlife Leadership Academy has been shaping future conservation leaders. Sara Mueller, Ph.D. shares the impact of the program, highlights…
- The Spark
Bold Ideas, Big Emotions: Shark Tank & Murder the Page
Andrew Brown and Kevin Langdon, the innovators behind Ball 2, a sensor-equipped smart ball that combines active play with the power of conversational AI. Fresh…
- The Spark
Carrie Wissler-Thomas' Legacy of Leadership and Art; and the Fight for Birth Control Access
After four decades of leadership, Carrie Wissler-Thomas is retiring as President and Executive Director of the Art Association of Harrisburg. A lifelong…
- The Spark
The Spark Weekly | October 4 | The End of the Penny
Juniata County’s history comes to life through the work of the Jessica Eaton Guyer, curator of the Tuscarora Academy Museum, president of the Juniata County…
- The Spark
Autumn Gardens & Hidden Histories Through Art
Erica Jo joins us as we explore the world of seasonal transitions that make autumn a critical time for gardeners and growers. Erica shares practical tips for…
- The Spark
Lancaster Symphony at 80 and the End of the Penny
Celebrate 80 years of music, community, and artistic excellence as we preview the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra’s 2026-2027 80th Anniversary Season with…
- The Spark
The Velveteen Rabbit, Young Artists & Revolutionary Dining
We speak with Michael Gamon, composer of The Velveteen Rabbit and Creative & Fine Arts Chair at Harrisburg Academy; Ava Rooney, Harrisburg Academy student and…
- The Spark
Shakespeare, History & Culture in Central PA
We go behind the scenes with the team at Gamut Theatre Group to explore their bold new production of The Tempest, running October 3–18 in Harrisburg. Directed…
- The Spark
What Unites America? Past and Present Stories
We sit down with Wesley Warshawer, a Fulbright Scholar and data analyst with more than a decade of experience in the semiconductor industry, to discuss a…
- The Spark
The Spark Weekly | September 27 | Leaving Silicon Valley and The Science of Hearing
What happens when scientists connect an electronic device directly to the nervous system to help restore access to sound? On The Spark, we’ll talk with…
- The Spark
Building Central Pennsylvania’s Film Industry
We sit down with Pablo Lopez, Film Production Manager, to discuss the growing film industry in Central Pennsylvania and the mission behind Film Happy Valley…
- The Spark
Lancaster History and the Power of Cultural Wellness
Did you know that Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was once the capital of the United States... for exactly one day? In this fascinating episode, we sit down with Tim…
- The Spark
Finding Your Next Act at Every Stage of Life
We welcome Chuck Waters, a Lancaster County native, massage therapist, and author of the new memoir 50 Things at 50. What began as a personal challenge to…
- The Spark
Prostate Cancer Advocacy & Cochlear Implant Breakthroughs
We highlight a powerful example of grassroots advocacy in action. On September 29, 2026, prostate cancer advocates, survivors, patients, caregivers, and…
- The Spark
The Power of Culture, Rock and Roll; and Belonging
Two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and founding member of both Graham Nash and the legendary groups Crosby, Stills & Nash and The Hollies, is bringing…
- The Spark
The Spark Weekly | September 20 | Soaring Through the Skies and The Paddlefish Campaign
We headed to the Mid-Atlantic Soaring Association in Fairfield, Pennsylvania, to learn more about how gliding works and what it takes to get a glider off the…
- The Spark
Weathering Storms and Preserving PA History
In this episode, we examine the severe tornado outbreaks that struck York and Lancaster counties in August, leaving a trail of damage across the region…
- The Spark
Paddlefish, Art & Community Impact in Pennsylvania
We sit down with Derek Smith, Director of Dive Every Puddle and a professional scuba instructor with Get-N-Wet Scuba in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Derek is…
- The Spark
Soaring High and Giving Hope: Flight, Community, and Purpose
We explore the world of glider aviation with the Mid-Atlantic Soaring Association (M-ASA), one of the nation's largest soaring clubs. Founded in 1952 and based…
- The Spark
Building Stronger Communities, Defying the Odds
For more than 35 years, Rich Harwood, founder and president of The Harwood Institute, has helped communities, organizations, and institutions tackle some of…
- The Spark
Remembering 9/11 Through the Eyes of American Citizens
On September 11th 2001, Americans watched in horror as hijacked airplanes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Washington, and into…
- The Spark
The Spark Weekly | Come from Away and The State of Youth Voting in Pennsylvania
This episode spotlights Come From Away, the acclaimed musical based on the true story of Gander, Newfoundland, and the extraordinary acts of kindness that…
- The Spark
Pennsylvania's Young Voters and Real-World Math
We sit down with Carter Walker, the journalist behind a recent report examining Pennsylvania’s youth voter registration challenges, and Tanner Zimmerman, a…
- The Spark
9/11 Stories of Courage, Kindness, and Remembrance
This episode spotlights Come From Away, the acclaimed musical based on the true story of Gander, Newfoundland, and the extraordinary acts of kindness that…
- The Spark
The Spark Re-Airs: The Dangers of Kratom and The South-Central PA Accessible Adventure Guidebook
Kratom is often marketed as a natural or herbal product, but Pennsylvania doctors and toxicology experts say consumers should understand that it can have…
- The Spark
Technology, Health, and Overcoming Obstacles with Dillon Strause
Technology shapes nearly every aspect of our daily lives, but with new opportunities come new challenges. In this episode, members of York College’s Tech…
- The Spark
The Spark Weekly | September 6 | City Tavern and Bucks County, USA
Food writer, librarian, and culinary historian Becky Libourel Diamond joins the podcast to discuss her new book, City Tavern: The Founding Table: Colonial…
- The Spark
Growing Up Digital: AI, ADHD, and Resilience
We sit down with Eisha Buch, Head of Teaching & Learning at Common Sense Media, to explore how educators, parents, and policymakers can help young people…
- The Spark
Connecting Communities Through Stories and Food
Shannon Schinagl, Early Literacy Librarian at Lancaster Public Library, shares how a vision for inclusive, multilingual programming has grown into a thriving…
- The Spark
Beyond the Divide: Historic Leadership at PHRC and Lessons from Bucks County
We spotlight a historic milestone for the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) with the appointment of Amber J.E. Harris as the Commission’s first…
- The Spark
Remembering Dolly Parton’s Enduring Legacy and The Power of Music
With the recent passing of country music icon Dolly Parton at age 80, fans around the world are reflecting on a career that spanned more than six decades and…
- The Spark
The Spark Weekly | August 29 | WWII Memories & Dolly’s Legacy
We welcome Michael Melillo, a Pennsylvania author whose book What the River Kept uncovers a deeply personal World War II story preserved through years of…
- The Spark
A WWII Family History and the UPMC Carlisle Wheelchair Wash
We welcome Michael Melillo, a Pennsylvania author whose book What the River Kept uncovers a deeply personal World War II story preserved through years of…
- The Spark
Exploring Accessible Trails and School Readiness
Explore the outdoors without limits in this episode featuring Brook Lenker and John Naylor, co-authors of the South Central Pennsylvania Accessible Adventure…
- The Spark
John Harris Jr. and Fall Horticulture: Exploring Local History and Autumn Gardening
Rev. David Biser, author, historian, and first-person interpreter of John Harris Jr. As America marks its 250th anniversary, Biser brings to life the world of…
- The Spark
Bridging Divides and Protecting Urban Wildlife
We meet Charles Bittner and Mark Bowyer, the newly appointed co-chairs of Braver Angels’ Heritage Alliance, serving Adams, Franklin, and Fulton counties. A…
- The Spark
8/21 The Spark Travels to Harrisburg's Back-to-School Extravaganza
What happens when community focused organizations come together to support young scholars beginning a new school year? In this episode, we hit the road to the…
- The Spark
The Spark Weekly | August 23 | Serving Veterans and People in Crisis
What began with opening a family home to wounded soldiers has grown into one of Pennsylvania's leading veteran support organizations. In this episode…
- The Spark
8/20 Connecting Communities, From Global Aid to Reptiles
What does it take to run a humanitarian organization that serves millions of people around the world from right here in Pennsylvania? In this episode, we sit…
- The Spark
8/19 The Power of Storytelling at Every Age
In this episode, we explore the rich history and founding of Lititz, Pennsylvania, with Cory Van Brookhoven, President of the Lititz Historical Foundation. A…
- The Spark
8/18 Veterans, Bread, and the Power of Community
What began with opening a family home to wounded soldiers has grown into one of Pennsylvania's leading veteran support organizations. In this episode…