City Cast Pittsburgh

Introducing Uncover Ghost Towns with Brent Underwood from Via Podcast.

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On the season finale of the Via Podcast, hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks head into the high deserts of California and Nevada to visit ghost towns. They learn what it's like to actually live in one—where there may or may not be a resident spirit—and where to go to see the most preserved mining towns in the West.

Guest Brent Underwood, owner and resident of Cerro Gordo near Death Valley, California, shares what it's like to make a home in a former mining town, and why it's important to visit and maintain these snapshots of Western life.

Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

It’s officially October, which means it’s time to bundle up in a sweater and head out to a pumpkin patch — or dress up in an elaborate costume and sip a cocktail that looks like it’s made out of blood. Our team is sharing some of our favorite ways to enjoy Pittsburgh month, from fall hikes to haunted houses to Halloween dance parties. And if you’re looking for even more recommendations, don’t miss our recent episode about the best fall festivals in our region.

Our fall campaign is happening now! It takes a lot to keep City Cast Pittsburgh and Hey Pittsburgh running strong. Your membership helps us cover the cost of bringing you the local stories you care about. If you believe in what we do, become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh today. Every member makes a difference!

If you're new here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast Pittsburgh community. 

City Cast Pittsburgh’s guide to October is made possible by our awesome sponsor, Pittsburgh Opera. We’re also powered by our members, who enjoy an ad-free version of the show. Find out more about how to become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh.

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Reach us at [email protected].

Our fall campaign is happening now! It takes a lot to keep City Cast Pittsburgh and Hey Pittsburgh running strong. Your membership helps us cover the cost of bringing you the local stories you care about. If you believe in what we do, become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh today.

Every member makes a difference!

Debate moderators, the national press, and even the candidates themselves keep equating Pennsylvania voters with fracking, even as they say the commonwealth could be the electoral linchpin for the White House. But why? Why has fracking become the single issue we’re associated with? Today we’re with friend-of-the-pod Kiley Bense of Inside Climate News to talk about how 13 million Pennsylvanians really feel about natural gas extraction, and what the campaigns should maybe be talking about instead.

Here are some notes and references from today’s show:

Learn more about the sponsor of this September 30th episode:

Pittsburgh Opera

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Introducing Sarah Longwell on politics, AI, and elections from Possible.

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What’s driving some of the greatest political divisions and threats to democracy ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential election?

This week, Reid and Aria attempt to unpack this with someone who specializes in listening to American voters and translating those insights, at scale: Republican political strategist and The Bulwark co-founder/publisher Sarah Longwell. Sarah, who also hosts The Focus Group Podcast, joins the show to talk about her experience listening to everyday voters through focus groups — and her perspective on how doing so can help people better understand one another, combat misinformation, and heal some of the deepest divides in America today. She shares her perspective on Donald Trump, the upcoming election, the state of politics in Silicon Valley, AI, the future of the Republican Party, and the value of compromising. Plus, Reid tests GPT-4o’s ability to separate fact from fiction. 

Note: This conversation is not intended to proselytize or convert anyone. Rather, it is an attempt to learn from someone who has spent hundreds of hours talking to thousands of voters about their lives and politics.  

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/ 

Topics:

03:41 - Hellos and intros

04:55 - The state of politics now

06:08 - Inside the mind of an undecided voter

08:22 - What polls actually tell us

10:04 - What’s different about the political attitude right now

12:22 - How focus groups work, and what they tell us

18:08 - The benefits of qualitative research

18:52 - How can technology improve focus group research?

23:12 - How to become a better listener and persuader

28:21 - The impact and use cases of AI running focus groups

34:03 - When a human touch is necessary

36:37 - AI video-based sentiment analysis

41:05 - Sarah navigating being a lone wolf in politics

45:19 - What Sarah learned fighting for marriage equality

47:25 - How does misinformation spread and stick?

54:08 - What’s next for the Republican party?

57:42 - GPT-4o “spot the fake headline” test

01:02:57 - Rapid-fire questions

Possible is an award-winning podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future. Hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, each episode features an interview with an ambitious builder or deep thinker on a topic, from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Whether it's Inflection’s Pi, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or other AI tools, each episode will use AI to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

Amtrak is offering a new way for Pittsburghers to get out of town, our local zoo re-upped an important accreditation, and a bunch of Pittsburgh sports are ramping up! Plus, we’re talking about the most recent Presidential candidate visits and ways to support our local Haitian community.

We always cite our sources:

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Introducing The Tipping Point Revisited: An Excerpt from Revisionist History.

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Today, we’re sharing an exclusive preview of the audiobook of Revenge of the Tipping Point. All about bank robbers and doctors. Find Revenge of the Tipping Point wherever you get audiobooks. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

If you love a good beer, a good brat, a nice soft pretzel — this is your season! There are so many ways to celebrate Oktoberfest in Pittsburgh and so many places to enjoy a great German meal. Doug Heilman, host of The Pittsburgh Dish and German food connoisseur, is here to share his favorite spots in the city for schnitzel, spaetzle, and more.

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Introducing Chemena Kamali on Her Second Collection For Chloé and "Boho" from The Run-Through with Vogue.

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DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

Political commercials are everywhere in Pennsylvania right now, to the tune of more than $430 million so far. So who’s paying for all of this, and why are they pouring so much of that money into Pittsburgh’s media market? We’re with PublicSource’s Charlie Wolfson talking about the men and masks behind the money, plus his series with WESA tracking whether the claims made in the ads themselves even hold up.

Charlie’s “Spot Check” series will publish most Thursdays leading up to the November election. He also tracked many of the billionaires and concealed donors who’ve flooded Pittsburgh screens with attack ads, and helps explain how their ads differ from those explicitly endorsed by candidates and their parties. 

Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm.

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Introducing Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu On Emily in Paris, Aging Gracefully, and Team Gabriel or Team Marcello from The Run-Through with Vogue.

Follow the show: The Run-Through with Vogue

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].