The Spark

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A farmer’s accidental 1930 discovery beneath U.S. Route 22 became Lincoln Caverns, a destination that has fascinated visitors for nearly a century. 

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This episode also honors VisionCorps’ 100 years of impact, spotlighting its mission and its call for the public to help preserve and uplift its history.

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First, we look at the work of Dr. Louis S. Hopkins, whose forty years of research into Lancaster’s African American past blends rigorous scholarship with lived experience. Growing up in segregated southeast Lancaster City, Dr. Hopkins developed a deep awareness of how geography, access, and memory inform the historical record. His ongoing efforts to recover stories long pushed to the margins challenge us to reconsider how communities understand their own past.

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We then shift to a post‑lecture conversation with Tracie Potts, Executive Director of the Eisenhower Institute at Gettysburg College, following David M. Rubenstein’s recent Blavatt Lecture: “The Declaration of Independence at 250: Its Origins and Importance.” Potts reflects on the event, Rubenstein’s insights, and why examining the nation’s founding document matters as the U.S. approaches its semi quincentennial.

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If you’ve walked through Harrisburg, you’ve likely encountered the bold, vibrant work of artist Dionn Reneé — murals that don’t just brighten walls but tell stories, honor neighborhoods, and reflect the city’s spirit. A painter, photographer, designer, and community builder, Reneé is shaping the capital city’s visual identity while expanding her reach far beyond it.

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A rare and disturbing story from Cumberland County’s past is reaching a global audience through new historical research and a BBC podcast, shedding light on the life of Cloe, an enslaved teenage girl whose words survive in court and newspaper records. “For enslaved women in the United States, there’s only a handful of women whose words were actually recorded and preserved in the historical record, and Cloe’s was one of them,” said local historian Merri Lou Schaumann. Born in 1782, Cloe was enslaved by multiple people before being purchased at age 14 by the Carruthers family in what was then East Pennsboro Township.

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WITF’s Jaxon White breaks down Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2026 budget address, delivered to the Pennsylvania legislature on Tuesday, Feb. 3. He explains the administration’s key priorities, proposed spending, and what the plan could mean for communities across the Commonwealth.

WITF reporter Jordan Wilkie also joins us to discuss his recent reporting on efforts by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to reinterpret or narrow long‑standing constitutional protections. He outlines what these actions look like on the ground, their potential legal implications, and how affected families are responding.

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Later in the episode, Dr. Mary Theresa “Terry” Webb of Braver Angels shares why she believes the country is facing a dangerous moment of toxic politics and weakened leadership, and why courageous citizenship is more essential than ever.

Listeners interested in Braver Angels can visit braverangels.org, use the “Find My Alliance” tool to locate the Lower Susquehanna Alliance, or join for $12/year to receive national and local updates and access free virtual events.

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Author Linda Gottfried joins us to share insights from her new book How to Live Your Life Like You’ve Already Won the Lottery, a guide to shifting perspective, embracing abundance, and finding purpose beyond financial luck. She invites readers to rethink what it means to “win” and to cultivate joy in everyday life.

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Then, with a grateful heart, Dan Tomaso returns to walk us through last week’s powerful winter storm — what drove its intensity, how it compares to past systems, and what Pennsylvanians can expect for the rest of the season.

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Finally, Dr. Josh Kesterson helps us mark Cervical Cancer Awareness Month with essential, empowering information. We discuss what cervical cancer is, the symptoms women should watch for, why HPV vaccination and regular screening remain the strongest tools for prevention, and how advances in imaging, treatment, and mobile health services are expanding access. Dr. Kesterson also outlines the resources available through UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and UPMC Magee‑Women for women who may face barriers to care.

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We begin with Renate Wildermuth, author of Gone Before You Knew Me, a debut novel already earning international attention. Named a “Most Anticipated Book” by Indigo, reviewed by Booklist, and soon to be featured in Teach Magazine and on North Country Public Radio, the novel blends emotional depth with a gripping sense of mystery. It will even appear in the shop of the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. Wildermuth joins us to talk about the book’s themes, the craft behind its creation, and why stories about disappearance, identity, and the traces people leave behind resonate so widely.

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Then we turn to a very different kind of narrative recovery. Dr. Lindsay Varner, Executive Director of the Cumberland County Historical Society, and Merri Lou Schaumann, an expert on 18th‑century Cumberland County, share their work on the BBC podcast Lady Killers with Lucy Worsley. The episode examines the life of Cloe, an enslaved woman executed in 1801 for the deaths of her enslavers’ children — a case explored in Dr. Nikki M. Taylor’s groundbreaking book Brooding Over Bloody Revenge. Varner and Schaumann helped the BBC team trace Cloe’s world, identify the landscape she would have known, and locate the site of the crime using historic maps and modern tools. Their research brings new clarity to a painful, often overlooked chapter of local history.

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We begin with Dr. Brett McLaurin, Professor of Environmental, Geographical, and Geological Sciences at Commonwealth University, who helps us understand why certain rocks can sing. Using the famous ringing rocks of Bucks County as a starting point, Dr. McLaurin explains how mineral composition, cooling rates, and internal stress create boulders that chime like bells when struck. From Pennsylvania to sites around the world, these “lithophonic” rocks reveal surprising truths about Earth’s processes — and why some landscapes literally hold their own music.

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Then we shift from geological resonance to human resilience with international fine artist Dionn Reneé, a Harrisburg native whose original artwork was selected for the global marketing campaign of Sony’s The Woman King, starring Viola Davis. Dionn shares how her lifelong battle with lupus, her commitment to fitness and MMA training, and her deep connection to the film’s themes shaped her artistic approach. Her work — celebrated across the entertainment industry — reflects the same warrior spirit that defines the story on screen

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First, we speak with Elizabeth Zucker of the Dauphin County Historical Society and Noah Lewis, the living historian who portrays Edward “Ned” Hector, a Black Revolutionary War soldier whose bravery at the Battle of Brandywine challenges the incomplete narratives many Americans learned in school. We explore why the John Harris–Simon Cameron Mansion is an essential site for telling stories of underrepresented patriots, how living history deepens public understanding, and what audiences can expect at the February 22 event Forgotten Patriot: The Story of Ned Hector.

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Then, we shift to Punxsutawney, where **Butch Philliber—better known as Iceman—**offers a rare look inside the Groundhog Club’s Inner Circle. As caretakers of Punxsutawney Phil and stewards of a tradition dating back to 1886, the Inner Circle keeps alive a ritual that blends folklore, community pride, and a moment of national anticipation each February 2. We explore why Groundhog Day remains such a powerful cultural touchstone and how it continues to evolve as the country approaches its 250th year.

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Then we turn to a different kind of deficit: America’s growing social isolation. The Barnes Family Foundation, based in Bethlehem, has released its first Social Connection in America report — a sweeping look at how connected (or disconnected) people feel today. The findings are stark: disengagement is widespread, and certain groups — including people with lower incomes, less education, those who have never married, LGBTQ+ individuals, and some racial and ethnic communities — are especially at risk of social isolation. Yet, in a hopeful counterpoint, 72% of Americans still report a sense of belonging in their neighborhoods.

We had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, esteemed psychologist, scholar, and higher-education leader, about her upcoming visit to Dickinson College for Black History Month. Dr. Tatum will join Tony Boston, Dickinson’s chief diversity officer, and Jacquie Forbes, assistant professor of educational studies, for a conversation titled “The Psychology of Belonging: Navigating Identity on a College Campus.” Inspired by her New York Times bestselling book, Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race, Tatum discussed how social identities are formed, the importance of fostering inclusion and psychological safety, and the ongoing challenges facing higher-education leaders.

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On today’s The Spark, we start with the news shaping communities across Pennsylvania.
Carmen Russell-Sluchansky of WHYY brings us the latest on Philadelphia’s cleanup efforts after last weekend’s snowstorm and explains the growing controversy over the removal of a slavery exhibit at Independence National Historical Park.
Then Sydney Roach of WPSU joins us with an update on the ongoing debate over Pennsylvania’s rifle deer season, where proposed changes to the start date continue to divide hunters across the state.

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From there, we turn to a sweeping story of labor, race, and resilience. Author Jon Brandow talks with us about Goliath at Sunset, his new novel inspired by nine years as a welder and union activist in a Boston-area shipyard during the 1970s.

Brandow’s protagonist, Mike Shea, arrives fresh from Vietnam and the housing projects into a workplace defined by explosive racial tension, fading union militancy, and the pressures of a collapsing industry. As Shea reaches across entrenched color lines to build solidarity, he confronts ruthless management, a union leadership that has lost its fire, and a moral dilemma that forces workers to choose between risking their lives and losing their jobs.

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