That's So Cincinnati

One of Greater Cincinnati's top leaders in events and entertainment is questioning whether a music venue at The Banks can be successful.

Bunbury Music Festival Bill Donabedian joined That's So Cincinnati podcast this week to offer his insight on the proposed dueling music venues on both sides of the Ohio River. 

Donabedian, former Fountain Square events director 3CDC, sold a majority stake in Bunbury to Columbus-based PromoWest in 2014.

In conjuction with Los Angeles-based AEG, PromoWest announced last week that its building an indoor-outdoor music venue in Newport. PromoWest, regarded as a top concert promoter in the entertainment industry, originally wanted to build the venue at The Banks.

But Banks and Hamilton County leaders chose the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra for The Banks project.

Did Donabedian play a role in PromoWest going to Newport? And will Bunbury move across the river in the coming years?

Find out on the latest That's So Cincinnati episode.

Plus, a new era in That's So Cincinnati begins as Enquirer City Hall reporter Sharon Coolidge joins political columnist Jason Williams as co-host of the region's best local news podcast.

Subscribe and listen to the free That's So Cincinnati podcast on Apple Podcasts and most other pod platforms.

Scott "Scoop" Wartman, Cincinnati.com's regional politics and Hamilton County reporter, joins That's So Cincinnati to talk all-things gerrymandering.

He also offers insights on Trump's Ohio, the 2020 sheriff's primary and the long-vacant Ovations riverfront property in Newport.

As always, we have a little fun with our guest. So we asked Scott: What's up with naming his cat Sister Betty Lou? The answer is So Cincinnati.

In the opening segment, TSC hosts Jason Williams and Paul Dehner Jr. discuss Elizabeth Warren's scheduled visit to Bogarts on Saturday. 

Finally, we have bittersweet news -- and an exciting new announcement.

It's a special bonus edition of That's So Cincinnati as hosts Paul Dehner Jr. and Jason Williams hit the road for one of Cincinnati's staple annual events. 

From Smale Riverfront Park during Flying Pig Marathon weekend, the TSC crew sets up in the middle of the Fifty West Mile run party and asks runners: 

What's the most Cincinnati thing they can imagine?

How about grandma's homemade goetta? 

Plus, Flying Pig course director John Cappella stops by to talk about race weekend's insane logistics and planning, course weddings, streakers and elementary school bonds.

This is our most Cincinnati edition yet. Don't miss it!

That's So Cincinnati listeners know '80s pop music has been a big topic on the podcast -- and we take it to a whole other level this week.

'80s teen sensation Tiffany invites TSC onto her tour bus for a candid behind-the-scenes chat before kicking off her 53-city Mixtape Tour with New Kids on the Block at U.S. Bank Arena on Thursday night.

Tiffany talks about her meteoric rise to pop megastar in 1987; trying to move on from still being seen as that 15-year-old mall girl; why she posed for Playboy in the early 2000s; bringing back her iconic red hair; and the latest remake of "I Think We're Alone Now."

Plus, Tiffany leaves That's So Cincinnati co-host and '80s music fanboy Jason Williams blushing when she let's him know she can still hit the high note in "Could've Been." 

Before heading down to U.S. Bank Arena to hop on the bus with Tiffany, Jason and guest host Sharon Coolidge discuss whether an overhaul of the arena is next on the list of major Downtown projects.

Don't miss our That's So Cincinnati Moment of the Week. 

And don't forget: We have a bonus episode coming this weekend as Jason and Paul Dehner Jr. take the podcast on the road to the Flying Pig Marathon. If you're at Smale Riverfront Park on Friday night for Marathon festivities, please stop by and see us!

Cincinnati Democrat Alicia Reece joins That's So Cincinnati to discuss her 20 years in politics.

Reece, a former Cincinnati vice mayor and state lawmaker, recalls the challenges of being on City Council in the wake of the 2001 civil unrest and the role she played in helping Cincinnati bounce back. 

The Roselawn resident also talks about working with former Gov. John Kasich; offers her take on the current City Council; and discusses what her next step in politics might be.

Will Reece run for mayor in 2021?

Also on this week's episode, TSC hosts Paul Dehner Jr. and Jason Williams discuss the trust issues with FC Cincinnati and the politicians who are committed to upholding the virtues of civility.

Finally, we pay tribute to the classroom-invading raccoon and, as always, have a That's So Cincinnati Moment of the Week.

Enquirer corporate watchdog reporter Alexander Coolidge stops by to talk about Kroger holding its ground in the grocery wars; the possibility of robots delivering groceries someday and the new Downtown store.

Also, TSC cohosts Jason Williams and Paul Dehner Jr. discuss whether the new streetcar czar can save the project. 

Busken's creepy Easter bunny is the focal point of the That's So Cincinnati Moment of the Week. 

And TSC is going on the road for a live podcast during Flying Pig weekend.

Conservative attorney Chris Finney joins That's So Cincinnati to talk about his rabble-rousing reputation and offer insight on why he's waged war on local progressives.

Finney talks about the early days of COAST, the citizen-led anti-tax group he helped found 20 years ago. He answers questions about why he pursues open-government litigation against certain politicians while leaving others alone.

And believe it or not, Finney grew up in a liberal household in Kennedy Heights. He talks about breaking away from his parents' party to forge his own path as a Republican.

In the opening segment, hosts Paul Dehner Jr. and Jason Williams break down the contentious city-county relationship despite Democrats controlling the mayor's office and board of commissioners.

Finally, our That's So Cincinnati Moment of the Week is a tribute to Fire The Coach Guy.

Enquirer reporters Carol Motsinger and Dan Horn join That's So Cincinnati to talk about Cincinnati.com's four-part series on the long hard road poverty project.

They go behind the scenes of their exhaustive reporting process to tell real people's stories from Middletown to Cincinnati to Falmouth, Kentucky. 

Also this week, a local lawmaker gets arrested, the landslide solution and two very memorable That's So Cincinnati moments of the week.