The Spark

We sit down with Derek Smith, Director of Dive Every Puddle and a professional scuba instructor with Get-N-Wet Scuba in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Derek is passionate about using scuba diving as a gateway to freshwater exploration, environmental stewardship, and public engagement, helping people discover the hidden ecosystems beneath the surface of Pennsylvania’s lakes and waterways.

Our conversation begins with one of North America’s most fascinating and misunderstood fish: the American paddlefish, a prehistoric species often called a "living fossil" and native to Pennsylvania waters. From there, we dive into the Keystone Paddlefish Campaign, an initiative led by Dive Every Puddle that seeks to add paddlefish to the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission’s approved list of stockable species.

We also talk with the organizers behind Peace Kids to the Rescue’s Annual Art Show, a unique community event that empowers young artists to make a difference through creativity. The show features artwork donated by children and teens ages 3 to 18, with pieces displayed in a silent auction that benefits local nonprofit organizations while celebrating the talent, generosity, and compassion of Lancaster’s youth.

We explore the world of glider aviation with the Mid-Atlantic Soaring Association (M-ASA), one of the nation's largest soaring clubs. Founded in 1952 and based at its own airfield in Fairfield, Pennsylvania, M-ASA has introduced generations of pilots and enthusiasts to the unique experience of engine-free flight. Check out Asia and Emma soaring through the sky on our YouTube channel!

We spotlight Lancaster Gifts That Give Hope (GTGH), a nonprofit initiative transforming holiday shopping into an opportunity for meaningful giving. Host conversations feature Jennifer Knepper, longtime Lancaster Gifts That Give Hope Fair Coordinator and ICU nurse at Hershey Medical Center, who shares how a late-night newspaper article inspired her to bring the concept of alternative gift giving to Lancaster nearly two decades ago.

For more than 35 years, Rich Harwood, founder and president of The Harwood Institute, has helped communities, organizations, and institutions tackle some of society’s toughest challenges. In this episode, Rich shares the remarkable story of Reading, Pennsylvania, a city once labeled the poorest in America, and how local residents, nonprofits, and funders came together to drive meaningful change in education.

We meet Sharee Gunther, a York, Pennsylvania mother, former librarian, and passionate advocate for the Down syndrome community. Sharee shares the remarkable journey of her four-year-old daughter, Shyla, whose life has been defined not by limitations, but by resilience, determination, and joy.

Born with Down syndrome and a serious congenital heart condition, Shyla faced multiple major surgeries and an uncertain future. Doctors warned she might never walk, breathe independently, or eat on her own, yet today she is thriving, attending school, dancing, playing, and reaching milestones that once seemed impossible.

On September 11th 2001, Americans watched in horror as hijacked airplanes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Washington, and into a filed in Somerset County Pennsylvania. As a result, the government closed all US airspace, ordering planes to land at the nearest airport, included Harrisburg International.  We’ll talk to 2 people who were working at HIA that day, including one who had just started the previous day.

Author Peter Laufer conducted these interviews in 2001, 2011, and 2021 to chronicle our changes in society, and he would be happy to discuss this two-decade-long project for a podcast episode to air gearing up to the anniversary this September. 

Nearly a month after the terrorist attacks of September 11th, the crash site of United Flight 93 in Somerset County remained a place of investigation, recovery, and remembrance. For former WITF reporter and Morning Edition Host Tim Lambert, the visit was also deeply personal. 

In this archived conversation, Lambert returned to Shanksville in 2021 with his father for a firsthand look at the crash site, guided by Somerset County Coroner Wallace Miller. What they find is a landscape forever changed, and a powerful reminder of the courage and sacrifice of the 40 passengers and crew aboard Flight 93.

This episode spotlights Come From Away, the acclaimed musical based on the true story of Gander, Newfoundland, and the extraordinary acts of kindness that followed the events of September 11, 2001. When 38 diverted planes carrying thousands of stranded passengers unexpectedly landed in the small town, the residents of Gander opened their hearts and homes, transforming a global crisis into a powerful story of compassion, resilience, and human connection.

We sit down with Carter Walker, the journalist behind a recent report examining Pennsylvania’s youth voter registration challenges, and Tanner Zimmerman, a recent Cedar Crest High School graduate, former Lebanon County poll worker, and state officer with the Future Farmers of America. Together, they discuss why Pennsylvania ranks last in the nation for youth voter registration, the barriers keeping young people from participating in elections, and the strategies advocates are using to boost civic engagement.

We sit down with Carter Walker, the journalist behind a recent report examining Pennsylvania’s youth voter registration challenges, and Tanner Zimmerman, a recent Cedar Crest High School graduate, former Lebanon County poll worker, and state officer with the Future Farmers of America. Together, they discuss why Pennsylvania ranks last in the nation for youth voter registration, the barriers keeping young people from participating in elections, and the strategies advocates are using to boost civic engagement.

What can a theme park teach us about mathematics? Quite a lot, it turns out.

In this episode, Dickinson College professors Dick Forrester, Professor of Mathematics and Data Analytics, and Barry Tesman, Theodore & Catherine Mathias Chair in Mathematics, Computer Science and Quantitative Studies, are joined by students who spent part of their summer at Universal Orlando as part of Dickinson’s innovative course, The Mathematics of Theme Parks.

This episode spotlights Come From Away, the acclaimed musical based on the true story of Gander, Newfoundland, and the extraordinary acts of kindness that followed the events of September 11, 2001. When 38 diverted planes carrying thousands of stranded passengers unexpectedly landed in the small town, the residents of Gander opened their hearts and homes, transforming a global crisis into a powerful story of compassion, resilience, and human connection.

Andrew Dalton shares how Gettysburg History and the Friends of Flight 93 National Memorial have partnered to create an evening of remembrance, reflection, and storytelling. The program honors the legacy of Flight 93 through personal memories, insights from those involved in bringing the story to the screen, and a commitment to preserving the stories of the heroes whose sacrifice continues to inspire generations.

Kratom is often marketed as a natural or herbal product, but Pennsylvania doctors and toxicology experts say consumers should understand that it can have powerful effects on the brain—and can lead to addiction, serious health problems and even death. On The Spark, Dr. Robb Bassett, associate medical director of the Poison Control Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Dr. Sara Kawasaki, division director of Addiction Services at Penn State College of Medicine, discussed the growing concerns surrounding kratom and products containing its compounds.

For people with disabilities, families with young children, older hikers or anyone looking for a more manageable outdoor adventure, figuring out whether a trail is truly accessible can be difficult. A new guidebook is working to make that process easier. On The Spark, Brooke Lenker and John Naylor, co-authors of the South Central Pennsylvania Accessible Adventure Guidebook, joined Kate Prisby, manager of events and programs with the Keystone Trails Association, to discuss the project and the growing effort to make outdoor recreation more welcoming to people of all abilities.

Technology shapes nearly every aspect of our daily lives, but with new opportunities come new challenges. In this episode, members of York College’s Tech Insight Club join us to discuss some of today’s most pressing technology issues, including cybersecurity, information technology trends, online safety, and the impact of screen time on young people.

We sit down with Dillon Strouse, founder of Strouse Entertainment, entrepreneur, content creator, and advocate who is redefining what is possible. Born with cerebral palsy and a wheelchair user, Dillon shares how he has navigated challenges, overcome limitations placed on him by others, and built a life centered on ambition, creativity, and purpose.

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Andrew Lutzkanin, a member of the Pennsylvania Medical Society Board of Trustees, to discuss the realities of measles, the importance of prevention, and how individuals and families can make informed health decisions.

Food writer, librarian, and culinary historian Becky Libourel Diamond joins the podcast to discuss her new book, City Tavern: The Founding Table: Colonial Dining, Revolutionary History, and the Restaurant at the Center of It All. Through the story of Philadelphia’s iconic City Tavern, Diamond explores how food, drink, and conversation helped shape America’s founding. Once a gathering place for Continental Congress delegates, Founding Fathers, and even George Washington, City Tavern served as both a social hub and a backdrop for pivotal moments in Revolutionary history.

Filmmakers Robert May and Jason Sosnoff join the podcast to discuss their documentary, filmed over four years in politically divided Bucks County, Pennsylvania, during one of the most turbulent periods in recent American history. What begins as a local conflict over COVID-19 policies in public schools evolves into a broader examination of political polarization, identity, parenting, and the future of education in America.