Ross (Yergz) Yerger and Jane took advantage of his visit to family over Thanksgiving to record a "B Inspired" episode face-to-face. The episode provides a taste of the energy, content, and tone of the podcast they created together recently titled "Both Sides Now" that can be found on yergz.com along with his podcast "Up the Middle" and his Monday-Friday LIVE radio show. Check us out: we have some fun. (A previous episode with Yergz was dropped August 4, 2023, that provides info about his background and motivation.)

Randy Renninger, BASH grad Class of 2014, is passionate about his work involving graphic design and planning events to bring video game players together face-to-face as a way to provide another team sport that can include everybody. He is happy in his hometown but connects with his partner and tons of players of all ages through his phone. Playing games is a lucrative business these days. Who knew?! Find him on Twitter: #teamasylum, Find merch at teamasylum.gg

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Eileen Dautrich, president of TriCounty Chamber of Commerce, and I have known each other for decades without realizing that we've known one another for decades longer. Connecting people and services builds long-term relationships that benefit businesses and communities.

Marky Barto comes to us from the Czech Republic, bringing the centuries-old classical painting style to Berks County as apprentice to her instructor, fine artist Eric Armusik. She recounts her artistic journey-- influences from her childhood, education, career paths, and serendipitous encounters--that landed her in the U.S. following her love of art as an emerging and award-winning artist with her first solo exhibit at Arts Plus Gallery in West Reading through November 2023.

Doug Nestler had a vision and a lifetime dream of bringing the worlds of guitars and visual art together in a space where creativity blossoms. His new business--Crossroads--is a beautifully renovated space where students of all ages can learn to play instruments--guitar, ukulele, and piano for now--with other options to come; participate in workshops; stage a performance; purchase musical instruments or other merchandise; showcase their visual art in the gallery; or just hang out with others who love music and art. The episode features Doug and Evan Cole, Crossroads' music and voice instructor. Visit guitarsandart.com and take the tour of this amazing space to learn and create. https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jane-stahl/episodes/Guitars-and-Art-Crossroads-of-Creativity-e2bdlr9

While Barby Bonnett knew that creating art was her destiny and that Moore College of Art would prepare her, she wasn't sure if she would be able to make a living at it. Where she found her art was in creating pastry that is not only mouth watering but also visually delightful.

And while she knew early on that animals needed protection, not as part of her diet, she didn't know that her love of animals would feature in the pastry she created and would inspire her to paint those endangered animals that needed her help.

Barby's award-winning work is colorful and layered, a technique resulting from her work in pastels.

Pastor Dave Bitler of St. John Hill asks, “Does Your Tattoo Have a Story?” And then he listens carefully to folks eager to tell the secrets of their soul. “Stories are important,” he offers; “it’s where lives intersect with Jesus. And that’s the point of evangelism—giving meaning to communion.” Approaching people who are often shunned because of their body art has changed Dave's ministry--from "telling" to listening. His own story features unscripted paths from a dream of becoming a music teacher to a degree in business and computer and employment as an IT guy developing internet systems for companies to (finally, his friends tell him) entering the seminary. And an out-of-the-blue phone call inviting him to join a fellow pastor to hunt tattoo stories has led to his unique form of evangelism.

In our third "B Inspired" episode, Joe shares the multiple meanings behind his art as expression as man's necessity for survival and especially his current series that contains elements from cave art and native cultures. Always a fascinating interview, Joe's knowledge of spiritual matters that comes largely from his wide reading and life experiences--first as a cult member and then as a deprogrammer--is mind-opening. An award-winner in Studio B's "What Inspires YOU?" exhibit, he articulates the many inspirations behind his work.

Rachel Trettin, owner of The Gilbertsville Farm, admits that she’s no farmer; however, she is an impressive, self-educated young entrepreneur who runs a 5-acre high-tech farm maze on County Line Road, Gilbertsville, each September through December. Her father created the second corn maze in the country, and when she was 6 years old, knew that she wanted to run her own corn maze someday. And, at 31 she's living her dream. Lots of add-ons are features of The Gilbertsville Farm’s maze.In addition to the corn maze, The Gilbertsville Farm is a family-friendly venue for events. Always eager to talk to young people, she wants them to know that if she can own her own business—even without an official college degree—they can do it too. And she has plans to further her ideal of making The Gilbertsville Farm a go-to destination and to own additional businesses--following in the footsteps of her father, a serial entrepreneur. 

Assemblage artist Bob Hakun has always enjoyed creating things using a variety of techniques to turn found objects into art. After the fabricators of Halloween masks moved to China, he turned his creativity into graphic design. Missing the art involved in working with his hands, he has become known for his multi-themed assemblages in rust.