Duty Free Lunch

By Pennsylvania State Education Association, PSEASociety & Culture Education Government

Duty Free Lunch episodes

July 16 Breaking down the budget: key PSEA priorities achieved
The state budget for FY 2026-27 finally passed, and it delivers major wins for PSEA members, students, and retirees. Aaron and Jeff sit down with PSEA’s Dan Wiedemer and Chris Lilienthal to break down the $565 million boost in adequacy and equity funding, expanded student teacher stipends, and the long-awaited COLA for pre-Act 9 retirees. Plus: what didn’t make the cut, and what’s next.
Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.
HOSTS
PSEA President: Aaron Chapin
PSEA Vice President: Jeff Ney
PSEA Treasurer: Rachael West
EPISODE CREDITS
Written and produced by David Constantin
Recorded and edited by David Arva
LINKS
Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more at psea.org/podcast.
26 min
July 09 Behind the message with PSEA Communications
Ever wonder who's behind the scenes making sure PSEA's message gets out to members, the media, and the public? Aaron and Jeff sit down with PSEA Director of Communications Chris Lilienthal and Communications Committee Chair Elysa Farrell, a Millcreek Township math teacher, to pull back the curtain on PSEA's Communications Department.
Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.
HOSTS
PSEA President: Aaron Chapin
PSEA Vice President: Jeff Ney
PSEA Treasurer: Rachael West
EPISODE CREDITS
Written and produced by David Constantin
Recorded and edited by David Arva
LINKS
Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more at psea.org/podcast.
26 min
June 24 Every athlete deserves a day
What started as a small field day during the COVID years has become the highlight of the school year for hundreds of students across Perry County. Jennifer Dillman, a 20-year life skills teacher at West Perry School District, joins Duty Free Lunch to talk about PECO, a countywide celebration she built from scratch that gives students with disabilities a day filled with competition, community, and joy.
Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.
HOSTS
PSEA President: Aaron Chapin
PSEA Vice President: Jeff Ney
PSEA Treasurer: Rachael West
EPISODE CREDITS
Written and produced by David Constantin
Recorded and edited by David Arva
LINKS
Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more at psea.org/podcast.
23 min
June 10 Igniting student success with Erik Huebner and Christine Liberaski
Jeff and Rachael welcome Winter PSEA-PACE Grand Prize winner Erik Huebner alongside North Penn School District Educational Foundation Executive Director Christine Liberaski to discuss advocacy, educational philanthropy, and student success. They share how the foundation supports innovative programs and opportunities for students, and why strong partnerships between educators, schools, and communities make a lasting difference.
Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.
HOSTS
PSEA President: Aaron Chapin
PSEA Vice President: Jeff Ney
PSEA Treasurer: Rachael West
EPISODE CREDITS
Written and produced by David Constantin
Recorded and edited by David Arva
LINKS
Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more at psea.org/podcast.
27 min
May 27 End of an era with retiring board members Patsy Tallarico and Debbie Lee
Aaron sits down with two of PSEA’s longest-serving board members – Debbie Lee and Patsy Tallarico – as they prepare to close out remarkable education careers. Debbie shares how 9/11 brought her from New York City classrooms to Pennsylvania, where she spent 16 years as local president and six as an NEA director. Patsy traces his path from a scrappy 1968 strike over planning periods all the way to the PSEA presidency and beyond. Together, they reflect on what keeps leaders going, why politics and education are inseparable, and what they hope the next generation of union leaders carries forward.
Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.
HOSTS
PSEA President: Aaron Chapin
PSEA Vice President: Jeff Ney
PSEA Treasurer: Rachael West
EPISODE CREDITS
Written and produced by David Constantin
Recorded and edited by David Arva
LINKS
Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more at psea.org/podcast.
27 min
May 13 Reporting for duty: What military service taught these educators
What do military service and public education have in common? More than you might think. Aaron and Rachael sit down with three educator-veterans — retired science teacher John Odell, social studies teacher Del Fuller, and retired math teacher Dana West — to explore the parallels between serving in uniform and serving in the classroom.
Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.
HOSTS
PSEA President: Aaron Chapin
PSEA Vice President: Jeff Ney
PSEA Treasurer: Rachael West
EPISODE CREDITS
Written and produced by David Constantin
Recorded and edited by David Arva
LINKS
Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more at psea.org/podcast.
25 min
April 29 PA Teacher of the Year Madeline Loring on the power of joy and authenticity
What if joy isn't something you earn after a hard week but the actual point? Madeline Loring, Pennsylvania's 2026 Teacher of the Year, joins the officer team to talk about building a career around authenticity, engaging students with uniquely themed classroom setups, and why she believes every educator is their school's best recruitment tool.
Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.
HOSTS
PSEA President: Aaron Chapin
PSEA Vice President: Jeff Ney
PSEA Treasurer: Rachael West
EPISODE CREDITS
Written and produced by David Constantin
Recorded and edited by David Arva
LINKS
Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more at psea.org/podcast.
28 min
April 15 Honoring decades of dedication with Rosetta Dufalla and Cheryl Mattern
Aaron continues his special spring farewell series with a double feature starring outgoing board members Rosetta Dufalla and Cheryl Mattern, two leaders whose combined decades of service have made a lasting mark on PSEA and public education in Pennsylvania. Rosetta shares how her background in retail management gave her a unique window into both sides of the labor relationship. Cheryl opens up about how being a school nurse shaped her eye for the members who often get overlooked. Together, they reveal the reality of PSEA board work and share advice for the next generation of PSEA leaders.
Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.
HOSTS
PSEA President: Aaron Chapin
PSEA Vice President: Jeff Ney
PSEA Treasurer: Rachael West
EPISODE CREDITS
Written and produced by David Constantin
Recorded and edited by David Arva
LINKS
Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more at psea.org/podcast.
28 min
April 01 Making a difference at every level: One-on-one with PSEA Senior NEA Director Melissa Costantino-Poruben
Aaron sits down one-on-one with Melissa Costantino-Poruben in the first of a special spring series honoring outgoing PSEA Board members. A longtime math teacher and PSEA’s Senior NEA Director, Melissa shares what it’s really like to bridge state and national education advocacy, from chairing the NEA’s Friend of Education Committee to representing Pennsylvania at Education International in Argentina. She opens up about managing board responsibilities alongside family and classroom life, why she’s a passionate advocate for teacher sabbaticals, how the Corbett-era education cuts lit a fire under her to speak out, and why relationships are the real heart of this work.
Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.
HOSTS
PSEA President: Aaron Chapin
PSEA Vice President: Jeff Ney
PSEA Treasurer: Rachael West
EPISODE CREDITS
Written and produced by David Constantin
Recorded and edited by David Arva
LINKS
Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more at psea.org/podcast.
26 min
March 18 State Sen. Santarsiero makes the case for banning cellphones in schools
Aaron and Jeff sit down with State Sen. Steve Santarsiero and PSEA Legislative Committee Chair Mike Cherinka to dig into Senate Bill 1014, Pennsylvania's proposed bell-to-bell cellphone ban for public schools. They talk about what the bill would actually require, how PSEA's position evolved over 18 months of member-driven discussions, and why a bill that passed the Senate 46-1 might just be the rare thing everyone can agree on.
Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.
HOSTS
PSEA President: Aaron Chapin
PSEA Vice President: Jeff Ney
PSEA Treasurer: Rachael West
EPISODE CREDITS
Written and produced by David Constantin
Recorded and edited by David Arva
LINKS
Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more at psea.org/podcast.
28 min

About Duty Free Lunch

From the publisher's feed

Duty Free Lunch is the official podcast of the Pennsylvania State Education Association. Join us as we unpack the issues that matter most to Pennsylvania educators and especially PSEA members. From…