Sound of Ideas

By Ideastream Public MediaNews News Commentary

Sound of Ideas episodes

October 09 Cleveland officials call for updates to city's air code, the first in nearly 50 years | Reporters Roundtable
Cleveland officials are renewing efforts to overhaul the city’s air pollution code for the first time since 1977, citing health concerns. Proposed changes would tighten regulations in neighborhoods with poorer air quality, establish an indoor air quality program and increase permit fees to fund emissions reduction efforts. Cleveland City Council is expected to vote on the updated code in November.

Ohio’s 90-day fuel tax holiday took effect Oct. 4, suspending the state’s 38.5-cent gasoline tax and 47-cent diesel tax. Drivers could save about $5.77 on a 15-gallon fill-up, but electric vehicle and hybrid owners will not benefit.

Electric vehicle owners pay an extra $200 in annual registration fees, while plug-in hybrid owners pay $150 more and other hybrid owners pay $100 more. State Sen. Casey Weinstein called for including those drivers, but Senate Republicans ended debate, preventing amendments.

Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne and Destination Cleveland are proposing a 75,000-square-foot expansion of the Huntington Convention Center that could complicate the city’s lakefront redevelopment plans. The addition could overlap with a planned pedestrian bridge connecting downtown to Lake Erie.

City officials are concerned changes could delay the project and jeopardize $130 million in federal grants that require construction to begin by late 2027. A more comprehensive lakefront redevelopment plan is expected to be unveiled later this month.

Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb is proposing tax incentives to help grocery stores stay open. Certified “Good Food Retailers” could receive job retention tax credits of up to 100%, provided they demonstrate financial need, comply with city codes, offer fresh food and pay workers more than minimum wage. The proposal comes amid grocery store closures, including the downtown Heinen’s location, and limited access to affordable food in historically redlined neighborhoods.

We'll discuss these stories and more on the Friday Reporters Roundtable hosted by Mike McIntyre.

Guests:
- Zaria Johnson, Environment Reporter, Ideastream Public Media
- Conor Morris, Education Reporter, Ideastream Public Media
- Sean McDonnell, Local Government Reporter, Ideastream Public Media
- Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau
55 min
October 08 Fall garden tips: How to extend your harvest season, prepare for winter
Tips on fall harvesting and preparing your garden for the next growing season
As the weather get colder, now is the time that experts say we need to prepare our home gardens for the harsh winter.
Thursday on the "Sound of Ideas" hosted by Stephanie Haney, we'll talk about what to cut back, what to leave alone, and how to protect your soil in order to make the next growing season easier.
We'll also discuss what you may still be able to grow this fall.
And we'll explore the balance between protecting your garden from the elements while still supporting local pollinators and wildlife.
Guests:
- Dave Tomashefski, Co-owner of the Meadow City Native Plant Nursery
- Rama Lopez Rivera, Director of Arboretum Horticulture, Holden Forest & Gardens
- Kelly Crotty, Kitchen Garden Consultant, Kelly's Creations in the CLE
- Liv White, Growing to Green Program Manager, Franklin Park Conservatory
"Shuffle"
Two Northeast Ohio musicians are putting a new spin on the Halloween soundtrack.
On this week's Shuffle, Ideastream Public Media's Amanda Rabinowitz has more on One Dark Night, a spooky production blending rock, classical music and theater.
Guests:
- Amanda Rabinowitz, Host and Producer, "Shuffle" and "All Things Considered"
- Neil Zaza, Musician, One Dark Night
- Connor Bogart O'Brien, Musician, One Dark Night
53 min
October 07 Ohio Supreme Court candidates Hawkins, Zayas on rule of law, party labels, political endorsements
Ohio Supreme Court race between incumbent Justice Dan Hawkins and Judge Marilyn Zayas
The Ohio Supreme Court is currently made up of a 6 to 1 Republican majority, with two seats up for election this year. After the votes are all cast, there are three possible outcomes. The court could retain its 6 to 1 split, it could shift slightly to five Republicans and two Democrats, or it could be completely Republican-controlled.
One of the contests that will determine that balance will be between sitting Republican Justice Dan Hawkins, and Democratic challenger Judge Marilyn Zayas, who currently serves on the Ohio First District Court of Appeals. Ideastream Public Media's Stephanie Haney recently spoke with both of them in prerecorded one-on-one conversations, and we’ll share those interviews with you in Wednesday's episode of the "Sound of Ideas."
These conversations are part of Ideastream’s "Listen, Engage, Vote" initiative which involved staff going to libraries across the region this summer to hear what Ohioans care about ahead of this midterm election.
First, we’ll bring you our conversation with Hawkins who joined the Ohio Supreme Court after being elected to fill the final two years on a vacant seat in 2024. Prior to that, he served at the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas in the General Division. He also spent 13 years as a trial prosecutor, serving the last 10 of those years as director of the office’s Special Victims Unit specializing in crimes of violence against women and children.
Then, we'll share our interview with Zayas, or Judge Z, as she calls herself. Zayas first came to Ohio nearly 40 years ago. She’s worked in both the private and public sector as an attorney, launching her own law firm before winning election as Ohio First District Court of Appeals Judge in 2016.
Guests:
- Justice Dan Hawkins, Ohio Supreme Court, Republican candidate
- Judge Marilyn Zayas, Ohio First District Court of Appeals, Democratic Candidate
Democratic Socialists of America co-chair Ashik Siddique visits the City Club of Cleveland
Democratic Socialists of America party Co-Chair Ashik Siddique recently sat down with "Sound of Ideas" host Stephanie Haney for a one-on-one conversation at the City Club of Cleveland. They talked about the recent rise in DSA membership, what the national DSA party platforms entails, and why President Donald Trump and DSA member New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani may have formed an unlikely working relationship. We share an excerpt from this conversation on Wednesday's edition of the "Sound of Ideas."
Guest:
- Ashik Siddique, Co-Chair, Democratic Socialists of America
You can find Stephanie's full conversation with Siddique here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lERkD6yqpiY
You can find reporting about the DSA movement and how it relates to the Democratic party in Cleveland from Ideastream’s Sean McDonnell here:
https://www.ideastream.org/government-politics/2026-10-05/the-democratic-party-is-fighting-itself-even-in-cleveland
51 min
October 06 Ohio Supreme Court candidates Brunner, O'Donnell on rule of law, public confidence in courts
Ohio Supreme Court race between incumbent Justice Jennifer Brunner and former Judge Colleen O'Donnell
Ohio has two state Supreme Court seats on the ballot in this year’s midterm election. In both cases, a sitting Justice is being challenged by someone would be a newcomer to the highest court in the state.
The court balance currently sits at six Republicans and one Democrat. That lone Democrat is sitting Justice Jennifer Brunner, who is running for re-election against challenger Republican former Judge Colleen O’Donnell.
"Sound of Ideas" host Stephanie Haney recently spoke with both of these candidates in prerecorded one-on-one conversations, and we’re sharing those interviews with you for Tuesday's show.
These conversations are part of Ideastream’s Listen, Engage, Vote initiative, which involved staff going to libraries across the region this summer to hear what Ohioans care about ahead of this election.
First, we'll bring you our conversation with Brunner, who was elected to the Ohio Supreme Court in 2020. Prior to that, Brunner served as Ohio’s first female secretary of state from 2007 – 2011. She previously presided over the Tenth District Court of Appeals in Franklin County and as a Franklin County Common Pleas judge, where she founded their adult felony drug court, which is still running today.
Following that conversation, we bring you our interview with O’Donnell, who served as a Franklin County Common Pleas Court judge for nearly 10 years, from 2013 to 2023. Following that role, O’Donnell served as a federal immigration judge, assigned to Laredo, Texas.
Guests:
- Justice Jennifer Brunner, Ohio Supreme Court, Democratic candidate
- Colleen O'Donnell, former Franklin County Common Pleas Court judge, Republican Candidate,
Ideastream Public Media's Voter Guide is live now
Early voting starts Tuesday, Oct. 6, which means Ohio voters will need to study up on the candidates in order to make informed decisions.
This year, Ideastream endeavored to make information about candidates much easier to access through the creation of a Voter Guide, as part of our "Listen, Engage, Vote" initiative.
On Tuesday's "Sound of Ideas," hosted by Stephanie Haney, Ideastream's Deputy Editor of News Andrew Meyer shares what you'll find in the guide, which you can access here:
https://www.ideastream.org/ideastream-public-medias-2026-election-guide
Guest:
- Andrew Meyer, Ideastream Public Media, Deputy Editor of News
50 min
October 05 New documentary on Parma police parody case examines constitutional rights
"Crime and Parody"
This year, we've seen late night hosts like Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert face scrutiny for political satire, something that is legally protected free speech under the First Amendment of the Constitution.

A new documentary called "Crime and Parody" is airing at the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival this weekend. It tells the story of a local man, Anthony Novak, who faced even more serious consequences for making a parody Facebook page mocking the Parma police department back in 2016.

Novak's legal battle made it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. The documentary examines what happens when constitutional rights are tested, in Anthony's case and beyond.

Monday on the "Sound of Ideas," hosted by Stephanie Haney, we'll learn more about the documentary from its director and a legal expert involved with the case.

Guests:
- Will Thwaites, Director and Producer, "Crime & Parody" Documentary
- Patrick Jaicomo, Senior Attorney, Institute for Justice

The Sioux Chef
Ohio has a deep Indigenous history. The name itself derives from the Iroquois word for "good river."

At the heart of any culture is food, and that is no different for Indigenous Americans. But how many of us have actually tried the cuisine of the people who first resided on this land?

Chef Sean Sherman, known as the Sioux Chef, is an Oglala Lakota chef working to reclaim Native American food and culture. He is speaking at The City Club of Cleveland this Friday at noon.

Guest:
- Sean Sherman, Founder & Executive Director, NĀTIFS; Co-founder, Indígena by Owamni; Founder & CEO, The Sioux Chef

An Extraterrestrial Discussion
People have long wondered whether we're alone in the vastness of space, or if is earth just one of thousands of nearby planets that has some form of life.

It's a question astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson brings to Cleveland this Wednesday in an event at Playhouse Square.

Tyson sat down with Ideastream science reporter Jeff St. Clair to talk about the "Search For Life In The Universe."

To end the hour, we'll hear part of that conversation.

Guests:
- Jeff St. Clair, Science Reporter, Ideastream Public Media
- Neil deGrasse Tyson, Ph.D., Astrophysicist, Author
52 min
October 02 Amid rising fuel prices, Ohio's gas tax is suspended for 90 days | Reporters Roundtable
A 90-day suspension of Ohio’s 38.5-cent-per-gallon gasoline tax and 47-cent diesel tax will go into effect on Sunday. The tax holiday is expected to cost the state $726 million, with the lost revenue covered by the state’s general revenue fund. The Senate passed the bill 26-5 and the House approved it 78-16. Gov. DeWine signed the bill into law on Thursday.
Many lawfully present immigrants in Northeast Ohio no longer qualify for Medicaid under new federal eligibility rules, though green card holders are excluded from the changes. Those who lose coverage will be moved to a program covering emergency medical care, while local organizations such as Re:Source Cleveland work to connect affected immigrants with healthcare and other resources.
The Cleveland Community Police Commission voted to pause the use of automated license plate readers, including Flock cameras, starting Jan. 1 unless the city adopts an updated policy after public review and community input. The commission cited concerns about data access, information sharing and immigration-related searches, while Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd said the department is not aware of any illegal use of the technology by its officers.
Gov. Mike DeWine has asked the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to begin the process of ending E-Check, the vehicle emissions testing program required every two years for drivers in seven Northeast Ohio counties. The Ohio EPA will hold a 30-day public comment period to allow for additional input from residents and stakeholders. Once the period ends, the Ohio EPA plans to submit its request to the U.S. EPA by the end of 2026.
We'll discuss these stories and more on the Friday Reporters Roundtable hosted by Stephanie Haney, in this week for Mike McIntyre.
Guests:
- Kabir Bhatia, Senior Reporter, Arts & Culture, Ideastream Public Media
- Michelle Jarboe, Reporter, News 5 Cleveland, WEWS
- Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau
55 min
October 01 How will today's actions on AI impact our economic future?
Future of the economy
How will the actions and policies of today impact our economic future? From businesses investing heavily in artificial intelligence to increased government tariffs to the building of data centers and ensuing public backlash?
Longtime public media fans will have heard David Brancaccio's voice for more than a decade as the host of the Marketplace Morning Report sharing daily updates on the economy, but his new role has him focused on the future as the "future effects" senior correspondent for Marketplace.
Brancaccio is coming to Cleveland next week for a private Ideastream IdeaLeader event and joins host Stephanie Haney for Thursday's "Sound of Ideas" ahead of his visit to talk about this job change and recent reporting.
Guest:
- David Brancaccio, Future Effects Correspondent, Marketplace
"Best of Cleveland" awards
Last week, Cleveland Magazine announced the winners of the 2026 Best of Cleveland awards. Cleveland Scene shared their winners in July. The lists both honor city favorites - from shopping spots, to artisans, entertainment venues, and even local personalities across Northeast Ohio. Winners are chosen by both readers and editors. And they're teaming up for a Best of Cleveland party on Thursday, Oct. 15th at the Great Lakes Science Center.
We'll highlight some of these winners on Thursday's show. We'll also talk to some food-related winners for this installment of our biweekly series, "The Menu" in collaboration with Cleveland Magazine.
Guests:
- Tyren Craemer, Vice President, Wax Mage Records, Design Specialist, Gotta Groove Records
- Becky Hopp, Co-Owner, Grateful Heart Yoga and Wellness
- Nick Robson, Owner & Founder, Ohio Pie Co.
- Chris Nguyen, Co-Owner, Superior Pho
- Dillon Stewart, Executive Editor, Cleveland Magazine
50 min
September 30 Ohioans brace for changes to Medicaid eligibility, work requirements
Medicaid covers about a quarter of Ohioans and nearly 1 in 3 people in Cuyahoga County.
The state and federal program provides health insurance to low-income people, people with disabilities, older adults and pregnant women and children, as well as some noncitizens who meet eligibility requirements.
But starting Thursday, changes to the program will begin affecting who can qualify and stay enrolled.
On Oct. 1, federal rules will change eligibility for some immigrants who are lawfully living in the U.S. and enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP.
Then, beginning Jan. 1, adults ages 19 to 64 who don’t qualify for an exemption will have to regularly show they’re working, in school or participating in community service for a total of 80 hours a month to maintain their Medicaid coverage.
Some people will be exempt from these requirements, and states will be responsible for determining how the rules are applied.
So, what do these changes mean for Ohio Medicaid recipients, and what should people know before the new requirements take effect?
We'll discuss on Wednesday's "Sound of Ideas" hosted by Stephanie Haney.
Guests:
- Rea Hederman, Vice President of Policy, The Buckeye Institute
- Daniel Skinner, Ph.D., Professor, Health Policy, Ohio University
- Madelaine Matej MacQueen, Ph.D., Budget Researcher, Policy Matters Ohio
- Kevin Gowan, Director, Cuyahoga County Department of Job and Family Services
34 min
September 29 Ohio Governor candidates on affordability, property taxes, data centers and more
As Ohioans cast their ballots for who will become the next governor, the final result will make history, no matter who wins.
If it’s Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, he’ll become Ohio's first Indian American and billionaire governor, as well as the first Hindu governor in the United States. If Democrat Dr. Amy Acton gets the most votes, she’ll become the first elected woman and Jewish governor of Ohio. And if Libertarian Don Kissick upsets the two major party candidates, he’ll become the first Libertarian governor of Ohio.
"Sound of Ideas" host Stephanie Haney talked with each of the candidates in one-on-one prerecorded interviews lasting roughly 20 minutes each, and we’re sharing those conversations with you today.
The questions came from research on the candidates, as well as conversations we had this summer with voters at libraries across Northeast Ohio as part of our Listen, Engage, Vote initiative. We also asked for input from "Sound of Ideas" audience members on social media.
First, we’ll hear from Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, then Democrat Dr. Amy Acton, and then Libertarian Don Kissick.
Guests:
-Vivek Ramaswamy, Republican Candidate for Ohio Governor
-Amy Acton, M.D., Democratic Candidate for Ohio Governor
-Don Kissick, Libertarian Candidate for Ohio Governor
1 hr 18 min
September 28 Voting expert explains how to make your vote count ahead of Nov. 3 midterms
Voting Q&A

Next Tuesday, early voting begins for the important midterm elections, including many high profile races in Ohio, from U.S. Senator and Congressional seats that could change the balance of power in Congress, to a history-making governor's race no matter who wins that role, plus every statewide office, from Attorney General to Secretary of State, and even two Ohio Supreme Court seats. That's all in addition to local races and issues like school levies.

Monday, Oct. 5 is the deadline to register to vote. Have you checked your registration status? And do you have everything you need to vote this election?

On Monday's "Sound of Ideas," hosted by Stephanie Haney, we've invited Jen Miller, head of the League of Women Voters of Ohio, on to answer your questions about voting access ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.

Guest:
- Jen Miller, Executive Director, League of Women Voters of Ohio

U.S. Senate Race Candidate Interview

The country is watching Ohio's U.S. Senate race closely this election year, as the November midterm election approaches. Vice President JD Vance left his Senate seat vacant, when he became second in command following President Donald Trump's win in 2024.

Governor Mike DeWine appointed then-Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted to temporarily take over that spot, and this year, Ohioans will vote on who fills the remaining two years left on that term.

Husted is running on the Republican ticket, hoping the retain the seat. On the Democratic side, Sherrod Brown is hoping to rejoin his former colleagues in the Senate, after losing his re-election bid to current Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno in 2024. Two others have joined the contest, Libertarian candidate Bill Redpath and Independent candidate Gregory Levy.

Host Stephanie Haney spoke with Sherrod Brown recently in a one-on-one prerecorded interview, and we're sharing that conversation with you today. We had an interview scheduled with Husted for last Thursday, but his spokesperson told us he needed to reschedule due to Senate business, and we are still working to secure a new date for that conversation.

We do have interviews scheduled with Redpath and Levy. We'll bring you each of these conversations in October.

The questions we're asking these candidates came from research on the candidates, as well as conversations we had this summer with voters at libraries across Northeast Ohio as part of our Listen, Engage, Vote initiative. We also asked for input from our audience members on social media.

Guest:
-Sherrod Brown, Democratic Candidate & Former Ohio U.S. Senator

These conversations are part of Ideastream's Listen, Engage, Vote initiative. This summer, our staff went to libraries across Northeast Ohio to hear what people cared about ahead of the midterms. We're using those conversations with voters to help inform our election coverage.

51 min