The Spark

The story of American industry is deeply woven into the steel beams, machine tools, and echoes of labor found inside the National Museum of Industrial History in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. On The Spark, host Asia Tabb spoke with museum curator Andria Zaia and historian Mike Piersa about the museum’s roots, its Smithsonian affiliation, and how it brings the legacy of industrial America to life. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On a recent episode of The Spark, Dr. Chrissy Senecal joined host Asia Tabb to uncover new and evolving discoveries about early humans—from our earliest ancestors in Africa to the impact of DNA inherited from long-extinct relatives like Neanderthals and Denisovans. The conversation explored groundbreaking insights into how humans evolved and what modern science is teaching us about our ancient past. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For students across the Keystone State, the Pennsylvania Science Olympiad offers more than just a test of knowledge—it’s a hands-on, high-energy academic experience that encourages critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity in science, technology, engineering, and math. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts is returning this summer with a vibrant and inclusive lineup that organizers say will reflect the region’s artistic spirit while drawing visitors from far and wide. Executive Director Pamela Snyder Etters says this year’s event is bigger, more diverse, and more accessible than ever before. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now in its third year, the Harrisburg Fringe Festival has quickly become a vibrant celebration of bold, experimental, and uncensored art that’s energizing the capital city’s creative community. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Pennsylvania State Police’s Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement (BLCE) is responsible for far more than checking IDs at bars or inspecting bottles at restaurants. Officer Kristyn Plowden, who works in the bureau’s Training and Recruitment Unit for the Central Section, joined The Spark to share the behind-the-scenes role BLCE officers play in promoting public safety across the Commonwealth. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now in its 58th year, Art of the State continues to serve as a cornerstone of Pennsylvania’s rich and vibrant arts community. Hosted by the State Museum of Pennsylvania in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation, this annual juried exhibition features an impressive range of work—painting, photography and digital media, crafts, sculpture, and works on paper—highlighting the diverse artistic voices from across the Commonwealth. This year’s exhibition includes 94 works selected from a staggering 2,344 entries—the second-highest submission count in the exhibition’s history. Ninety-five artists from more than 30 counties are featured in the 2025 show, which runs from June 8 through September 14 at the State Museum in Harrisburg. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the rich scent of homemade vanilla ice cream to the creak of wooden barn doors, farm life runs deep for Brittany Snyder and Charlene Espenshade—two Pennsylvania women working to make agriculture education more accessible for the next generation. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With thousands of dams scattered across its waterways, Pennsylvania has a complicated relationship with its aquatic infrastructure. But a growing number of those dams—especially small, aging, and obsolete ones—are being taken down. And for good reason. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As more women seek answers about the physical and emotional changes that come with aging, UPMC Nurse Practitioner Melissa Laidacker is helping lead the conversation through a new podcast series dedicated to menopause and perimenopause. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coming up on this week's edition of The Spark Weekly. David Blankenhorn, a Harvard graduate and cofounder of Braver Angels, has stepped down after nine years as President of the nonprofit organization he helped launch in response to America’s growing political polarization. also, on the program. More than a decade after the loss of 19-year-old Peyton Walker to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), the foundation created in her name is saving lives across Pennsylvania and beyond. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Blankenhorn, a Harvard graduate and cofounder of Braver Angels, has stepped down after nine years as President of the nonprofit organization he helped launch in response to America’s growing political polarization. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Americans get ready to celebrate Independence Day, the bald eagle—a powerful symbol of freedom and the nation itself—continues to be a soaring success story in Pennsylvania. Once nearly wiped out due to pesticide use, bald eagles have made a remarkable comeback across the Commonwealth. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the heart of downtown Lancaster, a new museum is preparing to open its doors — one that highlights a powerful, and often overlooked, chapter of American history. The Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy is set to open next spring, led by LancasterHistory, the organization behind the museum's development. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As temperatures soar and heatwaves become more common in Pennsylvania, health experts are urging people to understand the dangers of extreme heat — and how to protect themselves and others. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mount Gretna may be a small Pennsylvania town, but it’s home to something historically unique: the only remaining Chautauqua in the state. For more than 130 years, the Mount Gretna Chautauqua has championed the same four foundational pillars—arts and culture, education, religion, and recreation—that began with the movement’s founding in 1874. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than a decade after the loss of 19-year-old Peyton Walker to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), the foundation created in her name is saving lives across Pennsylvania and beyond. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Local educator, historian, and adventurer Adam Zurn has taken his passion for Pennsylvania’s hidden history from blog to bookshelf. In his debut children’s book Canassatego and His Six Arrows, Zurn tells the powerful story of unity shared by the Onondaga chief Canassatego during the 1744 Treaty of Lancaster—a message that helped shape America’s earliest ideas of governance. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asia Tabb speaks with Hope Mackenzie and Marcus Mcghee of Gamut Theatre Group all about their mission, history, and what's coming up next. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Congress considers what could be the most significant Medicaid cuts in U.S. history, experts are sounding the alarm about the far-reaching consequences—especially for small businesses and rural communities. Also, on the program. For children affected by parental incarceration, the trauma can be deep, isolating, and difficult to express. But in Lancaster, a unique nonprofit is helping those children find their voice — through music. Scaling Walls a Note at a Time (SWAN) was founded in 2011 by violinist and educator Diana Vuolo to serve children impacted by the incarceration of a parent. The organization offers free music instruction, performance opportunities, Bible and trauma management classes, and immediate access to mental health care — all under one roof. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.