That's So Cincinnati

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That's So Cincinnati episodes

December 27, 2019 S2 Ep16: That's So Cincinnati: Counting down the top political stories of 2019
Where did the City Hall text message scandal and the riverfront music venue end up on That's So Cincinnati's rankings of the top political stories of 2019?

Find out in this special Christmas week episode.
37 min
December 18, 2019 S2 Ep15: That's So Cincinnati: Cincinnati Ballet's Victoria Morgan, the dog that inspired 'Nutcracker,' watchdog journalism, 1,000 cheese coneys
The Nutcracker isn't unique to Cincinnati.

But Victoria Morgan's version of the ballet classic certainly is. Morgan's dog, Cammy, inspired the poodle character in Morgan's revamping of the Cincinnati Ballet's version of The Nutcracker in 2011.

“I really wanted it to be fresh, and I really wanted it to feel new,” Morgan, the ballet's artistic director, said on That's So Cincinnati podcast. “And I wanted especially young people to get a kick out of it.”

In the Cincinnati Ballet’s version, it’s the poodle that distracts the Mouse King so The Nutcracker can win the battle.

“Our dogs, they protect and give us company and comfort,” Morgan said.

Also on this week's episode, cohosts Jason Williams and Sharon Coolidge discuss watchdog journalism and the man who ate 1,000 cheese coneys.
55 min
December 11, 2019S2 Ep14: That's So Cincinnati: Estimable John Morris Russell, Cincinnati's Grammy nomination, Meg Whitman and 'Yes, Virginia,'
John Morris Russell's passion and energy is unparalleled year-round – and especially at Christmastime.

The Cincinnati Pops conductor joins That's So Cincinnati podcast to discuss all sorts of things, including:
The Pops' recent Grammy nomination and his celebration on an airplane
World renowned violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter and smartphone usage at concerts
The importance of including all people in the Pops
The Pops' holiday traditions and concerts, including a special Christmas message from JMR at the end of the episode

Here's a sampling of JMR's in-depth That's So Cincinnati interview, talking about the Mutter's Cincinnati performance this year being interrupted by a woman recording it with her smartphone.

“The concert hall, Music Hall, is my church," Russell said. "It’s a sacred space where people gather to experience something together at the same time. And man, you’ve got to be in the room where it happens. ... Bringing in that inanimate object that takes some sort of electronic copy, it spoils the moment right there for all of us – and it really demeans that moment.”

You do not want to miss this fun and lively chat with a man who has helped make Cincinnati one of America's great cities for the performing arts.

Listen to JMR's full interview on That's So Cincinnati for free by clicking on the Audioboom icon at the top of this article or by subscribing to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and other listening platforms.
53 min
December 04, 2019 S2 Ep13: That's So Cincinnati: Fire chief talks faulty hydrants and massive blaze in North Avondale
Cincinnati Fire Chief Roy Winston talks about the Downtown building collapse, how his department responded and how tragedies impact first responders.

The Enquirer's Amber Hunt discusses the launch of season three of the popular "Accused" podcast.

And fake or real? As in Christmas tree.
56 min
November 27, 2019S2 Ep12: That's So Cincinnati: Across the color line, Freestore Foodbank, goat yoga
Cincinnati cares, and the Freestore Foodbank is proof of that.

Freestore CEO Kurt Reiber discusses the work one of the region's top nonprofit organizations is doing this holiday season. He also talks about:
The importance of remembering that people are struggling with hunger year-round
Tear-jerking stories about children in need -- and about children who are helping to address the issue of hunger

Also this week, former Enquirer reporter Mark Curnutte joins That's So Cincinnati to talk about his newly released book, Across the Color Line: Reporting 25 Years in Black Cincinnati.

And what the heck is goat yoga? TSC cohost Sharon Coolidge explains.
1 hr 6 min
November 20, 2019 S2 Ep11: That's So Cincinnati: No death penalty, a father's lessons, 'whitesplaining' at City Hall, visiting Mason High
Hamilton County prosecutor candidate Fanon Rucker highlights the major differences between him and long-time prosecutor Joe Deters.

Top among those differences: Rucker is opposed to the death penalty.

"I cannot see a circumstance, with all the inequities that we have in the system, that I would pursue a death penalty case," the Democrat told That's So Cincinnati.

Find out more about Rucker's stance on the issue in this week's episode.

Plus, That's So Cincinnati cohosts Sharon Coolidge and Jason Williams discuss "whitesplaining" at City Hall, a blockbuster commissioner's race, "athleisure" and visiting journalism students at Mason High School.
1 hr 5 min
November 13, 2019S2 Ep10: That's So Cincinnati: Sherrod Brown talks Trump Country, presidential field, not running for president, his beloved Cleveland Indians
How can Democrats appeal to rural and working-class Trump Country voters?

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown is among few Democrats who knows the answer. The only Democrat to hold a prominent statewide office in Ohio joined That's So Cincinnati podcast to talk about:
The presidential field and why he's not endorsing anyone
Why he's staying out of the race, despite people continuing to ask him to jump in
His relationship with Republican U.S. Sen. Rob Portman
Civility in politics
And what job he'd be doing if he weren't in politics

Plus, That's So Cincinnati cohosts Jason Williams and Sharon Coolidge give their quick takes on all the hot local races coming up in 2020.
1 hr 5 min
November 06, 2019S2 Ep9: That's So Cincinnati: The Banks unity, slamming the door on slumlords, new name/same old arena, chili survey
Cincinnati City Councilman Greg Landsman came bearing news on That's So Cincinnati podcast this week, saying Mayor John Cranley and Commissioner Todd Portune had brokered a deal on The Banks.

Landsman also discussed:
The future of The Banks Joint Steering Committee
City-county relations
His legislation to help prevent evictions
And his assessment of Council nearly halfway into his first term

Also on this week's episode, That's So Cincinnati co-hosts Jason Williams and Sharon Coolidge talk about how the renaming of the city's riverfront arena should catch political leaders' attention to push for building a new downtown arena.

Team TSC also preview's Enquirer food critic Polly Campbell's upcoming survey on Cincinnati-style chili.
54 min
October 30, 2019S2 Ep8: That's So Cincinnati: ID deadline, skipping lines, 'FAKENWS', Trump era vanity plates
Ohio BMV Registrar Charlie Norman joins That's So Cincinnati this week. The Cincinnati native, hired this year by Gov. Mike DeWine, talks about:
New customer-friendly ideas to reduce the pain of waiting in long lines at the BMV
Visiting the license plate factory inside the Lebanon Correctional Facility
How the BMV handles requests for politically charged specialized plates

Also this week, Enquirer investigative reporter James Pilcher stops by to discuss an upcoming story about problems people are having with a well-known home builder.

TSC co-host and political columnist Jason Williams addresses feedback about his recent Trump Country column.
1 hr 1 min
October 23, 2019S2 Ep7: That's So Cincinnati: Jeff Ruby talks Bengals future, Trump, new book, expansion plans, Cincinnati's 'tourist trap'
What makes Jeff Ruby a true Cincinnati treasure?

Well, besides his world-renowned steakhouses, he's never one to mince words.

The famous restaurateur joined That's So Cincinnati to discuss:
The possibility of opening a restaurant in Las Vegas
His take on The Banks riverfront development
Working on a new book called "Art of the Meal"
How his Downtown restaurant was originally envisioned as a New York-style deli
And of course, Ruby always has to give his take on politics. What did he say about Donald Trump?

Find out on this week's episode by listening for free on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Google Podcasts and many other listening platforms.
1 hr 6 min

About That's So Cincinnati

From the publisher's feed

This podcast is about you: The Cincinnatian. Let The Enquirer's Beryl Love and guest hosts make the complicated local issues affecting your daily life easy to understand – and have some fun in the process. Our guest list is a who's who of Greater Cincinnati, and we celebrate the quirky awesomeness that defines this place we call home. Why? Because that's SO Cincinnati.