The Rediscover State College Podcast

Abbe Hamilton, a local adventurer, shares her journey back to State College—not just once, but three times! We’ll also dive into the local caving community and the vibrant whitewater kayaking scene. Stay tuned for our segment “How to Do the Thing,” where Abbe will provide three actionable steps for paddling the waters around State College.

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Ezra Nanes is not only the mayor of State College but also an avid outdoorsman. Known as the "Iron Mayor," he’s a triathlete who recently participated in the Ironman 70.3 Pennsylvania Happy Valley race and enjoys biking around the area. In this episode, we cover the types of bikes to consider owning in State College, the Borough Council’s plans to enhance biking infrastructure, and Ezra’s Ironman training schedule. Stick around for “How to Do the Thing,” where Ezra will share three actionable steps for training for an Ironman race in State College.

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Jamie is the owner and guide for American Fly Fishing Company, leading guided fly fishing trips, and she also serves as a guide for TCO Fly Shop. Previously the president and now a board member of the Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited, she brings her expertise to the table. In this episode, we’ll delve into what a fly fishing trip entails, why the State College area is renowned as one of the best fly fishing destinations in the world, and how you and your kids can get involved in the sport. Stay tuned for our segment “How to Do the Thing,” where Jamie will provide three actionable steps for fly fishing in and around State College.

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In this episode, we discuss why Michael focuses on mapping central Pennsylvania and explore the endless opportunities for discovering these woods, regardless of your experience level. Make sure to stick around for our segment called “How to Do the Thing,” where Michael will share three actionable steps for hiking in and around State College.

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Josh and Lizzie Parra’s cool job in State College: owners and founders of Parra Design & Build, a real estate investment and interior design company.

Josh and Lizzie Parra met while serving at Champs on North Atherton, and promptly moved to Boston once Lizzie graduated from Penn State. They started a petcare business and began their real estate journey while in Boston, falling in love with being their own bosses. Once they had their first child, they found themselves moving back to State College to be closer to family, bringing their modern and urban-influenced home design style with them to launch Parra Design & Build.

In this episode, Josh and Lizzie talk about how they developed a passion for homes and interior design, the real estate market in State College, and their unique and thriving AirBnB business.

Make sure you stick around through the end of the episode - we'll enter our segment called "How to Do the Thing," where Josh and Lizzie will give you three actionable steps you can take towards successfully working in real estate and interior design in State College.

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Eric Ian Farmer’s cool job in State College: professional musician.

Eric was born in State College but grew up in North Carolina. He found his way back to Penn State for graduate school, and that's when his music career began. Eric is a singer, songwriter, and educator. His music is inspired by musicians such as Marvin Gaye and Bob Marley, and he describes his music as heartfelt and passionate. 

In this episode, Eric talks about why he decided to pursue his music career in State College, how the music scene in State College has evolved, and what it's like making it as a musician in the area.

Make sure you stick around through the end of the episode - we'll enter our segment called "How to Do the Thing," where Eric will give you three actionable steps you can take towards getting involved with the music scene professionally in State College.

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Liz Grove's cool job in State College: owning and running Pine Grove Hall, an upscale restaurant, bar, and music venue.

Liz Grove grew up in State College, went to Penn State, then moved to New York City for 20 years. She came back to the area to help her dad with his business. The decision came once again as to whether she should move to a big city or stay in State College. The lack of music venues in the area is both what made her almost leave, and ultimately drove her to stay and start her own.

In this episode, Liz talks about how she came upon the opportunity to purchase and open what is now Pine Grove Hall. She also talks about how she got connected to Pine Grove Hall's chef, how they persevered through the pandemic, and the growing music and restaurant scene in the State College area. 

Make sure you stick around through the end of the episode - we'll enter our segment called "How to Do the Thing," where Liz will give you three actionable steps you can take towards opening a restaurant and music venue in the State College area.

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Leah Mueller and Jared Yarnall-Schane's cool job in State College: owning and running Singing Onstage, a children's musical theatre program.

Leah and Jared are both life partners and business partners. Leah grew up performing in and around State College, taught music at a local school, and went on to pursue her MFA in acting. Jared went to Penn State State, stuck around to launch an urban agriculture startup, and has been working in the startup space ever since.

In this episode, Leah and Jared talk about how they ended up purchasing a property in State College that was not just an existing business, but also a house. They discuss the theatre scene in the area, as well as the opportunities that exist for young people to purchase existing businesses.

Make sure you stick around through the end of the episode - we'll enter our segment called "How to Do the Thing," where Jared and Leah will give you three actionable steps you can take towards buying a small business in State College.

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Bill Zimmerman's cool job in State College: Teaching full-time in the Penn State Bellisario College of Communications, without a PhD.

Bill wrote for his hometown paper, the Indiana Gazette, for several years right out of college. Although he enjoyed the experience, he was ready to move on from the hectic newsroom job.

Bill moved to State College to work at Penn State's PR office, and quickly fell in love with the campus, the community, and - something he didn't anticipate - teaching. 

In this episode, Bill talks about how he was able to start teaching college classes, why teaching at the university level is a rewarding experience, and the benefits of being a lecturer.

Make sure you stick around through the end of the episode - we'll enter our segment called "How to Do the Thing," where Bill will give you three actionable steps you can take towards teaching at the university level without a PhD.

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Trevor Calabro's cool job in State College: Working remotely as the lead UX researcher for Bowery Valuation, a NYC based appraisal firm.

Trevor built up his manufacturing industry background at companies you'd be surprised are located right in State College: Minitab, one of the largest statistical software companies in the country, and  multinational technology conglomerate Siemens.
 
Trevor came to the area with no ties to Penn State or State College - he came to start his career, and ended up falling in love with the area as a place to stay and raise a family.

In this episode, Trevor talks about his career journey, the young professional networking opportunities in State College, and how he was able to negotiate for exactly what he was looking for in his current remote job.

Make sure you stick around through the end of the episode - we'll enter our segment called "How to Do the Thing," where Trevor will give you three actionable steps you can take towards working remotely in State College.

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