oneBURGH Presents: This Week in Pittsburgh

Juron Kensok, a veterinary prosthetist and orthotist, joins oneBURGH to discuss Stu the Duck's fake feet and the prosthetic work behind them.

Pennsylvania State Rep. Abigail Salisbury joins Brian Carothers to discuss Act 73, the new law restoring Gaucher disease screening for Pennsylvania newborns. Gaucher is an inherited condition that affects the body’s ability to process certain fats, or lipids. Salisbury says a simple heel-prick blood test can identify the disease and help families pursue care earlier. In this conversation, Salisbury explains why a baby born in New Jersey could receive a Gaucher screening while a baby born just across the river in Philadelphia could not. She describes how newborn screening is determined state by state, why Pennsylvania’s review process left families without a clear path to add the test, and the years of advocacy that helped move the bill through Harrisburg. Salisbury also explains what happens next: hospitals will need time to update the programming on their screening equipment before the test is fully added. She shares how families have faced delayed diagnoses, including cases where children were treated for other conditions before doctors identified Gaucher disease, and credits the advocates who kept pressing lawmakers to act. House Bill 1652 became Act 73 of 2026 on Oct. 22, after passing the House 195–7 and the Senate 50–0. Read the bill’s history: https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/HB1652

Bhante Pema of the Sri Lankan Buddhist Center joins Brian Carothers for a conversation about Buddhist practice, the Four Noble Truths, common misconceptions about the Buddha, and the ways Buddhist and other faith traditions overlap. They also talk about Sri Lankan Buddhist traditions, the Dalai Lama’s role, and how the center uses technology and social media to connect with the community.

Brian Carothers talks with Thomas West, a candidate for Pennsylvania State Senate in District 38, about Allegheny County’s proposed paid parental leave policy. They discuss the proposal and the public debate around what a county paid leave benefit should look like. West shares his perspective as a candidate and how he thinks the issue affects workers and families in Allegheny County. This conversation is part of oneBURGH Presents: This Week in Pittsburgh, with oneBURGH executive producer Brian Carothers.

What happens in the ten minutes before a political debate goes live? Apparently, a lot of frantic note-taking.

WPXI anchor Lisa Sylvester joins Brian Carothers the day after co-moderating Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial debate between Josh Shapiro and Stacy Garrity. She takes us inside the studio: the rehearsals, negotiated rules, questions that never made it to air, and why there was no time-limit bell.

They also revisit the Oz–Fetterman debate, discuss Shapiro’s potential presidential ambitions, campaign money, and how moderators give voters a fair look at both candidates.

Then it’s back to Pittsburgh: newsroom bloopers, covering difficult news, and the wonderfully unscripted people who give WPXI its best sound bites.

oneBURGH speaks with Pittsburgh author Laura Zurowski, co-author of City Steps of Pittsburgh: A History & Guide, about the historic stairways woven into the city’s neighborhoods.

Zurowski explains how the steps once connected working families to jobs, schools and neighborhood shops. She shares the story of Rising Main in Fineview—more than 330 steps above the vanished East Street Valley, now beneath I-279—and points listeners to the City Archives and local libraries for exploring Pittsburgh’s past.

The conversation also covers Pittsburgh’s industrial history, population loss and Zurowski’s next book, Outdoor Pittsburgh, about the city’s parks, playgrounds and trails. Plus: the old-school workout and why city steps remain one of Pittsburgh’s best ways to explore the city.

Allegheny County Councilwoman Bethany Hallam joins Brian Carothers to talk about the decisions shaping county government. They discuss staffing shortages at the Allegheny County Jail, paid parental leave for county employees, how Allegheny County compensates its workforce, and the perks tied to public office. What do county leaders control? What should taxpayers know? And how do these choices affect the people who work for and rely on county government? A conversation about local policy, public service and accountability.

What happens in the ten minutes before a political debate goes live? Apparently, a lot of frantic note-taking.

WPXI anchor Lisa Sylvester joins Brian Carothers the day after co-moderating Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial debate between Josh Shapiro and Stacy Garrity. She takes us inside the studio: the rehearsals, negotiated rules, questions that never made it to air, and why there was no time-limit bell.

They also revisit the Oz–Fetterman debate, discuss Shapiro’s potential presidential ambitions, campaign money, and how moderators give voters a fair look at both candidates.

Then it’s back to Pittsburgh: newsroom bloopers, covering difficult news, and the wonderfully unscripted people who give WPXI its best sound bites.

Contains occasional strong language.

Point Breeze resident and Jeopardy Masters competitor Victoria Groce joins Brian Carothers for a look behind the smartest game show on television. She explains her path from bar trivia and a 2005 Jeopardy appearance to The Chase, Jeopardy Invitational and Masters.

Victoria breaks down buzzer timing, betting strategy, backstage life, Ken Jennings, Final Jeopardy pressure and what happens when brilliant contestants suddenly look human. She also discusses her book, Know It All: The Quiz Champ’s Essential Guide to Learning Anything.

Pennsylvania State Senator Nick Pisciottano joins Brian Carothers to discuss the Commercial Street Bridge replacement, the state budget and why local government matters more to daily life than most people realize.

They also get into grocery-store dynamic pricing, AI and surveillance safeguards, the McKeesport emu case, John Fetterman and the Steelers. Yes, infrastructure, Harrisburg and Aaron Rodgers somehow end up in the same conversation.