Joining us is Dr. Andrew 'Andy' Roth, Scholar-in-Residence at the Jefferson Educational Society, educator, historian, author, and one of our region's leading voices on leadership and civic engagement. Andy's latest book is titled How to Be a Highly Effective Leader: A Primer, a practical guide that explores what leadership really means, why character matters, and how anyone can develop the habits necessary to lead others well.

Joining us in our first half-hour is Aiden Knapp, owner of Knapp's Butcher Block. What began as a custom meat processing business has recently expanded with the opening of a new retail market, giving customers direct access to high-quality meats and locally sourced products.

Our next guest is helping people experience one of Erie's greatest natural treasures in a fun, active, and unforgettable way. Joining us is Shannon Marzka, founder of Presque Isle Beach Bums, a growing local business that offers beach rentals and outdoor experiences at Presque Isle State Park.

For the first half of the show, we're excited to welcome back one of Erie’s most talented singer-songwriters, Brooke Surgener. Brooke has built a loyal following with her heartfelt songwriting, beautiful vocals, and performances that blend indie folk, Americana, and pop into a sound that's uniquely her own

Our second interview is with Nicole Platz. Nicole first joined us as she was preparing to open a new business in Edinboro. Today, she's back to celebrate a major milestone — the one-year anniversary of Meat & Moss.

In the first half of our show, Dr. Platz spoke with Destin Demarion, owner of Demarion Bass Fishing Enterprises LLC. Through his work, Destin combines competitive fishing, education, outdoor recreation, and entrepreneurship, helping anglers of all experience levels improve their skills and enjoy the sport. We then learned the story of Stephanie Montgomery, a REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker Select and one of Erie’s most recognized real estate professionals. Stephanie has built a reputation not only for helping clients buy and sell homes, but for her deep commitment to relationships, community engagement, and helping people connect with all that Erie has to offer.

On this episode Dr. Platz was joined by Megan Solensky, who many listeners may know from her increasingly popular restaurant review videos on Facebook. Through her videos, Megan has been shining a spotlight on locally owned restaurants, hidden gems, longtime favorites, and the people behind them. She is also the Community Relations Specialist of the Community Blood Bank, so she discussed ways to participate to boost the local blood supply.

Joining us in our first half of the show was Mark Jeanneret, President and CEO of VisitErie. VisitErie recently partnered with Erie Apparel to launch its very first merchandise collection, called “It’s All in Erie.” In segment two, Jasmine Almeida is back with an exciting new venture — one that involves a beloved Erie institution. Jasmine is the new owner of Avanti’s Restaurant, a name that has been part of Erie’s dining scene for generations.

Joining us first in this episode was Bryan Brinkle of the Erie Shriners Cycle Corps, part of the Zem Zem Shriners organization here in Erie. The Cycle Corps has a long history of participating in parades, community events, fundraising efforts, and supporting the mission of Shriners Children's Erie. In our second half of the show, . We were joined by RJ Messenger, an Erie entrepreneur, speaker, and business leader whose journey has taken him from building Iron Empire Clothing to becoming part of the national spotlight through Discovery Channel’s Undercover Billionaire and the launch of Underdog BBQ right here in Erie. Today, RJ is adding another chapter to his story with the release of his new book, From Basement to Balcony.

On this episode Dr. Platz welcomed Jake Rouch, Vice President of Development for Passport Reality and host of The Jake Rouch Show podcast. Jake has spent more than 30 years working with businesses, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and community leaders to help Erie evolve and grow. In our second half, we were joined by Yash Kasini and Yashash Kasini, founders of StayX. StayX, Inc. is an AI software company on a mission to empower small businesses and professional services, believing that small businesses are the backbone of the economy, and they deserve the same caliber of AI tools that big enterprises have access to.

In this episode, our guest for the hour was someone who has become well known in Erie not only as a business owner—but as one of the region’s most recognizable endurance athletes. Andy Hellman is the owner of Snap Fitness Harborcreek, a gym focused on helping people improve their health, fitness, and overall quality of life through consistency, accountability, and community.

This week we got an update on the story of Serafini’s Trattoria, located in the heart of downtown Erie—a restaurant rooted deeply in family tradition, Italian heritage, and community connection. Owners Opie Hughes and Amanda Serafini joined us. Then we spoke with Brandon Soto, the owner of B. Soto Media, a photo, video, and drone production company based right here in Erie, specializing in capturing everything from weddings and live events to sports, business branding, and cinematic storytelling.