Barnstorming PA

By Taylor Lightman and Jordi Comas

What's Barnstorming PA about?

Artisanal conversations about Pennsylvania politics, culture, and movements with a sense of place and humor. Co-Produced by Taylor Lightman and Jordi Comas

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Barnstorming PA episodes:

05.30.2023
Darth Pollinator with Sam (s5e2)
Jordi and Taylor record an outdoor pod with returning champion, Sam Pearson! This wide-ranging conversation covers local election news stories from the recent 2023 primaries, RGGI, and a wild letter to the editor from the Daily Item. In addition, find...
05.23.2023
Previewing Shapiro’s Budget Preview, Heterodoxies, and Season 5
DISCLAIMER: We are only speaking for ourselves and none of the opinions here reflect the positions of any other organization or entity. Taylor and Jordi launch the long-awaited and seldom-solicited Season 5! Governor Shapiro’s first budget address was just the...
11.08.2022
Denise Maris (s4e29)
Denise Maris comes on the pod to talk about her candidacy for State Rep.
10.11.2022
Amanda Waldman for Congress Interview (S4E28
Amanda Waldman is on the pod — she’s running to represent PA’s 9th in the US Congress. Waldman introduces her brand of unapologetic and un-bossed politics and brings this perspective to topics like healthcare, inflation, and ag policy. We also...
10.02.2022
Our John Fetterman Interview (s4e27)
We’re re-airing our John Fetterman interview at Knoebel’s Grove in Elysburg, PA from 2018. Plus, some additional retrospective commentary!
08.22.2022
The Worst Crudité I Ever Had (s4e26)
Terryane Myricks, Jenna Henry, Jordi Comas, and Taylor Lightman are back recording after a nice summer break. They begin with some show and tell about summer break then discuss a piece in The Atlantic by Elaine Godfrey from December 2021...
06.21.2022
Susquehanna Valley Community Education Project (s4e25)
Taylor and Jordi are joined by Meghan Beck and Le Paliulis to talk about the Susquehanna Valley Community Education Project. This project is seeking to establish a new community college to Union, Snyder, Northumberland, and Montour Counties. Together, they envision...
05.16.2022
PA Prim-a-pallooza 2022- Fetterman’s Stroke, Barnette’s Rise, and a Quiz!
An all-star cast of returning champs, newcomers, and even a “doctor in the house” joined us for a review of the 2022 PA Primary- one of 538’s “Top 16 GOP Primaries to Watch” (yo, the Dem side is interesting too,...
05.13.2022
PA Senate Democratic Debate Reactions Part Two (s4e23)
Dwayne Heisler, Jordi Comas, and Taylor Lightman share thoughts on one of the more recent PA Democratic Senate Debates. After some headlines, they listen and respond to clips from the debate. The first clip is about whether or not the...
05.10.2022
PA Senate Debate Reactions- Many Good Choices Make Tough Decision (s4e22)
We listen to highlights from the Democratic Senate Primary debate with Terrayne Myricks, the laughing and wry host of Alcoholitics (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alcoholitics/id1403073002). We focus on key moments from Rep Conor Lamb (https://www.conorlamb.com/) , State Rep Malcolm Kenyatta (https://www.malcolmkenyatta.com/), and Lt. Governor...
05.05.2022
Interview with Representative Conor Lamb (s4e21)
Jordi and Taylor sit down with Rep. Conor Lamb who is currently running in the Democratic primary for US Senate. The free-flowing conversation covered the opioid epidemic, his vision for healthcare, climate change, hydrogen, and more. Visit www.conorlamb.com for more...
04.30.2022
Community Health Fair May 7 in Wilkes-Barre- “You Don’t Just Play Life By Yourself”- FREE STUFF. (s4e20)
May 7! Community Health Fair in NEPA! (https://stayhappening.com/e/gwv-nurses-community-health-fair-E2ISU9IARIO) 12-4 at Kirby park! Organized by the Greater Wyoming Valley Nurses!Join Logan, and his dad, nurse Ryan, as we discuss this great community event. Solely organized by had-working nurses and frontline health...
04.21.2022
The Case for Malcolm Kenyatta for US Senate Nominee (S4e19)
Terrayne, our friend from the Alcoholitics podcast [https://anchor.fm/alcoholitics], makes the case for voting for Malcolm Kenyatta as the Democratic candidate for US Senate. Jenna [https://twitter.com/End_LWOP), Henry, Taylor, and Jordi join the roundtable. We believe in competitive primaries and open...
03.27.2022
Stacy Richards Two Years On (s4e18)
We welcome back Stacy Richards, Union County Commissioner, to check in about rural news and updates. Long time friend, Stacy shares her insights and perspectives on the steady work of making positive changes through good policy. We talk about election...
02.22.2022
Malcolm Kenyatta for Senate Interview– “Don’t wait on your neighbor because your neighbor may be waiting on you.” (s4e16)
“Don’t wait on your neighbor because your neighbor may be waiting on you.” Malcolm Kenyatta (https://www.malcolmkenyatta.com/) discusses his vision for a politics that heals a broken social contract with working people of all backgrounds. He also shares stories of uniting...
02.20.2022
Derek Slaughter, Mayor of Willliamsport, Two Years in with KJ Williams; “I’m Not Kicking this Can Down the Road” Policing, recreation, ARPA, becoming a change agent (s4e15)
We welcome back Mayor Derek Slaughter (https://www.cityofwilliamsport.org/government/mayors-office/) of WIlliamsport two years after his sea-change victory to become the first African-American mayor, as well as a major shift from an old guard to a younger, more progressive cohort of local electeds....
02.02.2022
Breyer Retirement, Dr. Oz, Chambersburg and More! (s4e14)
Intrepid hosts Taylor, Jordi, and Jess try to record a quick podcast and fail — there was too much to talk about! They begin with some quick headlines. Jordi talks about how Chambersburg, PA became the first municipality in PA...
01.06.2022
J6 2022: F%&! White Supremacy Revisited Becomes a Rallying Call For Now(s4e13)
Jordi and Taylor are joined by Jenna Henry from Better PA and Dwayne Heisler from SEIU to do a J6 retrospective. They begin by talking about how their feelings today are different than their immediate feelings after J6. This launches...
12.13.2021
A Sociology of Fracking in Pennsylvania with Colin Jerolmack (s4e12)
On this episode, Jordi and Taylor interview Colin Jerolmack, author of ‘Up To Heaven And Down To Hell: Fracking, Freedom, and Community In An American Town’. This book examines the sociology of fracking in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, artfully telling this story...
12.12.2021
A Sociology of Fracking in Pennsylvania with Colin Jerolmack (s4e12)
On this episode, Jordi and Taylor interview Colin Jerolmack, author of ‘Up To Heaven And Down To Hell: Fracking, Freedom, and Community In An American Town’. This book examines the sociology of fracking in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, artfully telling this story...
11.12.2021
Straight Ahead- Prison Reform Badly Needed in PA- Interview With David Garlock and Tyree Little (s4e11)
Ahead of a public forum in Williamsport on Saturday, Nov 3 at 1 in Brandon Park, Jordi was honored to have David Garlock (https://twitter.com/DavidLeegarlock) and Tyree Little of the newly formed Straight Ahead organization in PA (https://twitter.com/TowardAbolition). Thanks to Jennifer...
11.10.2021
Election 2021 Hot-ish Takes- The Smorgasbord Edition (s4e9)
We pulled together smart people from all over PA to cover local races we each had an eye on as well as the results from the PA-wide judicial elections. We, too, fell into the trap of not waiting for all...
11.01.2021
Build Back Better Framework is Good News- with panel of Healthcare Workers (s4e8)
Biden released on Oct 27 his framework for the Build Back Better reconciliation bill (https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/10/28/build-back-better-framework/). Along with the already-passed physical infrastructure bill, these two are the centerpiece of the very agenda Biden and Democrats ran and won on at the...
10.27.2021
Dan Greak for Union Township Supervisor (s4e6)
Election day is just around the corner and today we release an interview with Dan Greak who is running for Union Township Supervisor in Union County! Dan has lived in the area for most of his life working as a...
10.24.2021
Judge David Spurgeon for Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court (s4e1)
Welcome to Season 4! We start the season off by interviewing Judge David Spurgeon who is currently running for Commonwealth Court. We begin the interview by talking about his upbringing in McKeesport in the Monongahela Valley and how his background...
10.23.2021
Judge Lori Dumas for PA Commonwealth Court (s4e5)
Judge Lori Dumas (https://www.judgedumas2021.com/) is running for the PA Commonwealth Court, one of the three major courts in PA (with Superior- parallel to Commonwealth and Superior- the highest). We whole-heartedly support her candidacy, and you can see why in this...
10.23.2021
Judge Timika Lane for PA Superior Court Vote NOV 2! (s4e4)
This is Why Courts Matter! We get to elect our highest justices in PA. Judge Lane is the ONLY candidate for superior court who has, ya know, been a judge! Us PA voters have one vote for Superior Court (and...
10.22.2021
Labor Matters Every Day- Hillary Rothrock, Dave Kamper, Jeff Kennedy and Labor Today
Huge thank you to Dave Kamper (labor organizer and historian), Hillary Rothrock (SEIU PA member and leader), and Jeff Kennedy (political consultant and broadcaster) for joining Jordi on this deep dive into labor today. Aaron Troisi makes a special “guest”...
10.14.2021
Judge Maria McLaughlin for Pennsylvania Supreme Court (s4e3)
Judge Maria McLaughlin hops on the pod for an interview about her candidacy for PA Supreme Court! The conversation begins topically about cheesesteaks and quickly gets into the importance and unusual nature of the PA judicial races in 2021. We...
10.06.2021
Thank You for Normalizing Abortion With Me- Oct 4 LIVE show with Kate DiPasquale and Dwayne Heisler
Mawkward- a Jordi neologism of Male +Awkward: the awkward space in a conversation of men talking about Womens’ (protest, health, issues, agenda… fill in the blank). Please support the show by donating one time at PayPal or being a monthly...
10.03.2021
Judge David Spurgeon for Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court (s4e1)
Welcome to Season 4! We start the season off by interviewing Judge David Spurgeon who is currently running for Commonwealth Court. We begin the interview by talking about his upbringing in McKeesport in the Monongahela Valley and how his background...
10.02.2021
“The System is Silently Begging For Us to Step Up…” HUB Summit Preview
Ideal for grassroots leaders, engaged citizens and newly aroused, angry people. Come to learn how to build people power or sustain and nurture your group (two tracks). Title is HUB Facilitator Daryl Lewis describing his own realization of the power...
09.04.2021
LIVE episode #1- Terrayne and Jontel Guest-Star; Afghanistan, Ricardo Muñoz and the Google Game
This is a recording of our first LIVE episode. Huge thank you to Terryane Myricks of Alcoholitics and Jontel Toland of the Leon Block for sharing their words, laughs, patience and wisdom with us. Topics include ruminations and reflections on...
08.01.2021
Rehashing the 2020 Pennsylvania Election (with Ben Forstate, Stephen Caruso, and Jamie Perrapato) Also! Jeff Bartos runs for Senate (s3e51)
Is it too early for a retrospective piece on the 2020 election? We think not! This week Jordi and Taylor pull out an episode that’s been again nicely in the wine cellar. Stephen Caruso, Ben Forstate, and Jamie Perrapato join...
07.31.2021
Is RGGI right for you? Pennsylvania’s Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (s3e50)
Did someone suggest climate action here in Pennsylvania?? David Heayn-Menendez, Katie Blume, and Mark Szybist join Taylor Lightman to talk about RGGI, or the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a multi-state cap and invest program, which seeks to limit the the...
07.10.2021
“I Can’t Eat Your Praise”- Esp and English- July 13th Care is Essential and Beyond with with Home Health Care Workers (s3e49)
Respect Us. Protect Us. Pay Us. – July 13 Day of Action: Care is Essential Empezamos con un pequeño anuncio en Español por Maddie para todos los hispanohabalantes que eschuchen. Maddie también traduzca más durante el podcast. Thank you to our...
06.18.2021
Black Smoke and Juneteenth: Adrian Miller and Sharee Clark on Food and Freedom (s3e48)
Adrian Miller, the Soul Food Scholar, and Sharee Clark, founder of Freedom Fighters in Wilkes-Barre, join Sam and Jordi for a rich, meaty discussion about Juneteenth, Adrian’s stellar writing on food and African-American heritage (and just all-American heritage!), Juneteenth in...
06.18.2021
Juneteenth Plans for Lycoming Tri-County NAACP and Let’s end COVID! (special episode s3e47)
The regional Juneteenth celebration coming up on Saturday, June 19, from 10:30am to 5pm in Brandon Park, Williamsport, will include, among many other things, a mobile vaccine clinic provided by River Valley Health and Dental. The mobile clinic will be...
05.18.2021
2021 PA Primary Pod NO NO YES YES. And A new GOP Senate entrant who wants you to fight about something…(s3e46)
Check our our amendment discussion and our breakdown of the new GOP candidate Sean Parnell’s video. GREAT CONTENT! vote May 18! 7 am – 8 pm polls open Sean Parnell Ad
05.12.2021
Tierra Williams, Poet and Advocate for Ferguson Township Supervisor-Centre County (s3e45)
Tierra Williams is running for Ferguson Township Supervisor in Centre County. You can support her directly here. She is part of the PA United “We Can’t Wait” slate of candidates. Tierra was fresh off of a poetry and politics events...
05.11.2021
Lewisburg Democratic Mayoral Debate: David Heayn-Menendez and Kendy Alvarez (s3e44)
Lewisburg, PA has it’s very own Democratic primary for mayor! Taylor Lightman sits down with both David Heayn-Menendez and Kendy Alvarez and talks about the issues. They first cover their backgrounds, their reasons for running, and three things they’d change...
05.10.2021
Gopal, Rich, and Divine for State College Borough Council (s3e43)
Jordi Comas interviews a PA United slate of candidates running for State College Borough Council: Gopal Balachandran, Richard Biever, and Divine Lipscomb. Collectively, they are running on a progressive platform of racial justice, mental health support, and economic stability. The...
05.05.2021
Amanda Green-Hawkins for Commonwealth Court (s3e42)
Jordi and Taylor interview Amanda Green-Hawkins who is currently running for Commonwealth Court in PA. We begin the conversation by talking about the role of the Commonwealth Court and the responsibilities of a judge. We then talk about Amanda Green-Hawkins’...
04.30.2021
Barnaholitics! The Official Barnstorming and Alcoholitics Crossover Episode (s3e41)
Welcome to the BarnstormingPA/Alcoholitics crossover episode! It’s finally happened. Taylor, Jess Britain, and Sam Pearson welcome Terrayne Myricks from Alcoholitics. After much introduction banter and fun, they have do rant headlines. Jess rants about Harrisburg Republicans meeting with Kansas Republican...
04.21.2021
Earth Day 2021, Bridging Faith and Good Work. Plus, Attack of the Invasive Species! (s3e40)
Welcome to the pod! On this episode, we talk about the ways you can care for the Earth on Earth Day with David Heayn-Menendez from PAIPL, Sam Pearson from Lewisburg Neighborhoods, and Nick Pressley from the We The People Campaign....
04.17.2021
Can We Imagine the Next Chapter of the Pandemic? It’s Hard to Prioritize Both Speed and Equity with Aaron Troisi, Nathan Alan Lund, and Sam Pearson (s3e39)
This is our second episode looking back at a year of pandemic and looking forward. Thrilled to invite long-time friend of The HUB for Progress (www.thehub4progress.org) , Aaron Troisi, Lead Political Organizer with SEIU Healthcare PA. 60% of nursing home...
04.03.2021
100 hours of work a week and standing in line for food. One year into the pandemic with Home Health Care Worker with Hillary Rothrock, Sam, and Dwayne. (s3e38)
We mark a year since the pandemic began wit special guest Hillary Rothrock, a home healthcare worker, union leader, single mom, and excellent guest. She recently led a “Fast for $15” with other comrades to draw attention to how our...
03.26.2021
“We Don’t Need to Expand the Parking Lots” The PA Budget, Rural Healthcare, and More. Guests Katie Blume and Gillian Kratzer. (s3e37)
We have been fans of Katie Blume and GIllian Kratzer for years- their work in pa, their fabulous aura, and of course the rib-breaking laugh fest. Katie has years of experience in political, environmental and community organizing. She hails from...
03.19.2021
The American Rescue Plan (ARP): The End of Reaganomics (s3e36)
Taylor, Jordi, and Dwayne are joined by returning champion Keith Pemrick, an Adjunct Professor at American University and a managing partner at Commonwealth Strategic Partners, and Jeff Garis, the Outreach and Engagement Director at The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center....
03.12.2021
Naughty Words and Big Sighs: Talking Rural Reproductive and Sexual Health with Jess Brittain and Kate DiPasquale. Plus, stupid shit men say through the ages- a game. (s3e35)
Kate DiPasquale and Jess Brittain join Taylor and Jordi to talk about reproductive and sexual health in terms of access (read this), politics (read this), and culture. We also get our first installment of “Heard in the Kitchen” from...

What's Barnstorming PA about?

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Barnstorming PA episodes:

Darth Pollinator with Sam (s5e2)

Previewing Shapiro’s Budget Preview, Heterodoxies, and Season 5

Denise Maris (s4e29)

Amanda Waldman for Congress Interview (S4E28

Our John Fetterman Interview (s4e27)

The Worst Crudité I Ever Had (s4e26)

Susquehanna Valley Community Education Project (s4e25)

PA Prim-a-pallooza 2022- Fetterman’s Stroke, Barnette’s Rise, and a Quiz!

PA Senate Democratic Debate Reactions Part Two (s4e23)

PA Senate Debate Reactions- Many Good Choices Make Tough Decision (s4e22)

Interview with Representative Conor Lamb (s4e21)

Community Health Fair May 7 in Wilkes-Barre- “You Don’t Just Play Life By Yourself”- FREE STUFF. (s4e20)

The Case for Malcolm Kenyatta for US Senate Nominee (S4e19)

Stacy Richards Two Years On (s4e18)

Malcolm Kenyatta for Senate Interview– “Don’t wait on your neighbor because your neighbor may be waiting on you.” (s4e16)

Derek Slaughter, Mayor of Willliamsport, Two Years in with KJ Williams; “I’m Not Kicking this Can Down the Road” Policing, recreation, ARPA, becoming a change agent (s4e15)

Breyer Retirement, Dr. Oz, Chambersburg and More! (s4e14)

J6 2022: F%&! White Supremacy Revisited Becomes a Rallying Call For Now(s4e13)

A Sociology of Fracking in Pennsylvania with Colin Jerolmack (s4e12)

A Sociology of Fracking in Pennsylvania with Colin Jerolmack (s4e12)

Straight Ahead- Prison Reform Badly Needed in PA- Interview With David Garlock and Tyree Little (s4e11)

Election 2021 Hot-ish Takes- The Smorgasbord Edition (s4e9)

Build Back Better Framework is Good News- with panel of Healthcare Workers (s4e8)

Dan Greak for Union Township Supervisor (s4e6)

Judge David Spurgeon for Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court (s4e1)

Judge Lori Dumas for PA Commonwealth Court (s4e5)

Judge Timika Lane for PA Superior Court Vote NOV 2! (s4e4)

Labor Matters Every Day- Hillary Rothrock, Dave Kamper, Jeff Kennedy and Labor Today

Judge Maria McLaughlin for Pennsylvania Supreme Court (s4e3)

Thank You for Normalizing Abortion With Me- Oct 4 LIVE show with Kate DiPasquale and Dwayne Heisler

Judge David Spurgeon for Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court (s4e1)

“The System is Silently Begging For Us to Step Up…” HUB Summit Preview

LIVE episode #1- Terrayne and Jontel Guest-Star; Afghanistan, Ricardo Muñoz and the Google Game

Rehashing the 2020 Pennsylvania Election (with Ben Forstate, Stephen Caruso, and Jamie Perrapato) Also! Jeff Bartos runs for Senate (s3e51)

Is RGGI right for you? Pennsylvania’s Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (s3e50)

“I Can’t Eat Your Praise”- Esp and English- July 13th Care is Essential and Beyond with with Home Health Care Workers (s3e49)

Black Smoke and Juneteenth: Adrian Miller and Sharee Clark on Food and Freedom (s3e48)

Juneteenth Plans for Lycoming Tri-County NAACP and Let’s end COVID! (special episode s3e47)

2021 PA Primary Pod NO NO YES YES. And A new GOP Senate entrant who wants you to fight about something…(s3e46)

Tierra Williams, Poet and Advocate for Ferguson Township Supervisor-Centre County (s3e45)

Lewisburg Democratic Mayoral Debate: David Heayn-Menendez and Kendy Alvarez (s3e44)

Gopal, Rich, and Divine for State College Borough Council (s3e43)

Amanda Green-Hawkins for Commonwealth Court (s3e42)

Barnaholitics! The Official Barnstorming and Alcoholitics Crossover Episode (s3e41)

Earth Day 2021, Bridging Faith and Good Work. Plus, Attack of the Invasive Species! (s3e40)

Can We Imagine the Next Chapter of the Pandemic? It’s Hard to Prioritize Both Speed and Equity with Aaron Troisi, Nathan Alan Lund, and Sam Pearson (s3e39)

100 hours of work a week and standing in line for food. One year into the pandemic with Home Health Care Worker with Hillary Rothrock, Sam, and Dwayne. (s3e38)

“We Don’t Need to Expand the Parking Lots” The PA Budget, Rural Healthcare, and More. Guests Katie Blume and Gillian Kratzer. (s3e37)

The American Rescue Plan (ARP): The End of Reaganomics (s3e36)

Naughty Words and Big Sighs: Talking Rural Reproductive and Sexual Health with Jess Brittain and Kate DiPasquale. Plus, stupid shit men say through the ages- a game. (s3e35)