The Spark

Kerry Royer, director of the Mt. Gretna Outdoor Art Show, and Nancy Gates, president of Visit Lebanon Valley, will discuss one of the region’s premier summer events, taking place August 15-16, showcasing hundreds of artists and attracting thousands of visitors. They can also highlight how the art show coincides with the Mt. Gretna International Film Festival on the same dates, creating a unique weekend that celebrates both visual arts and independent film in the Mt. Gretna community.

Kim Miller, the eldest daughter of Sight & Sound founders Glenn and Shirley Eshelman, will discuss the theater’s 50-year journey, sharing personal stories about its history, the 1997 fire, the rebuilding process, and the ministry’s growth and expansion. The interview will reflect on Sight & Sound’s milestone anniversary, exploring how the organization has evolved from its early years to where it stands today.

From royal courts and rural villages to South Philadelphia, poison has long been a weapon of choice for those seeking a discreet way to kill, sometimes spawning organized networks of murder motivated by money, power, or escape from unhappy lives. This episode explores three of history’s most notorious poison rings: the Affair of the Poisons in Louis XIV’s France, Hungary’s Angel Makers of Nagyrév, and the deadly Philadelphia Poison Ring of the 1930s, an alleged murder conspiracy that may have claimed dozens of victims.

Join the Harrisburg Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society for a behind-the-scenes look at Harris Tower and the Power Directors Office, two remarkable pieces of Pennsylvania Railroad history hidden in plain sight. Chapter leaders and historians share how this once-bustling rail hub operated, why its 113-lever interlocking machine was a marvel of its time, and how volunteers are preserving its legacy for future generations.

Jeannie Zappe, a Mechanicsburg-area swim coach, successfully completed her second 21-mile English Channel crossing at age 60, finishing the swim in 15 hours and 10 minutes. Inspired by her husband Chris's early-onset Alzheimer's diagnosis, she undertook the challenge to raise funds for Alzheimer's research and has raised more than $27,000 for the Clear Thoughts Foundation.

Also on the program, we focus on the rigorous training and responsibilities of lifeguards, with Wyatt Werneth, the American Lifeguard Association's Public Service Spokesperson, drawing on decades of experience in lifeguarding, marine operations, military service, and aquatic safety education, Werneth promotes safe water practices nationwide through media interviews, public outreach, and the development of health and safety programs.

Tick season is back in Pennsylvania, and experts say 2026 is shaping up to be another challenging year. In this episode, we talk about how severe tick activity is across the state, what’s driving tick populations, and the health risks Pennsylvanians should be aware of this summer. Dr. Erika Machtinger, Associate Professor of Entomology and Extension Vector-borne Disease Team Lead at Penn State, explains what experts are seeing this season and how residents can protect themselves from tick-borne illnesses. Emily Struckhoff, Extension Program Specialist with Penn State Extension, shares practical guidance for families, including prevention tips, tick checks, and what to do if you find a tick attached.

The Pride of the Susquehanna Riverboat continues to be an iconic attraction on the Susquehanna River, connecting residents and visitors with the region’s history, recreation, and tourism opportunities. In this episode, we sit down with Melissa Snyder, Riverboat Administrator/Manager, to discuss the riverboat’s role in the community, upcoming events, and its impact on local tourism and economic development. We’ll also talk about the recent approval of a $25,000 Dauphin County tourism grant, which will help support efforts to attract new visitors and strengthen the regional economy. 

Murder at University Park by Dr. Cheryl Dellasega is a campus thriller set in 1998 that explores corruption, power, and misconduct within academia. Drawing on Dellasega’s decades of experience in higher education, Murder at University Park combines a murder mystery with an insider look at the ambitions, politics, and darker realities of university life.

Native Americans and Pennsylvania is a thoroughly revised history of Indigenous peoples in the region, tracing their story from thousands of years before European colonization to the present day. Drawing on the latest scholarship, the book centers Indigenous perspectives, voices, and landscapes while examining how local events connected to broader continental and global developments.

On The Spark, Sean Murphy, ornithologist with the Pennsylvania Game Commission; Jen Sliko, landscape program specialist with Audubon Mid-Atlantic; and Bracken M. Brown, biologist-naturalist with Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association, discussed the Pennsylvania Northern Harrier Project, a collaborative research effort aimed at protecting the state’s threatened northern harrier.

On The Spark, Dr. Timothy Craig, an allergy and immunology specialist at Penn State Health and professor of medicine and pediatrics, discussed what allergies are, how they develop and why recognizing symptoms early is important.

Erica Jo Shaffer discusses the unique challenges gardeners face in Central Pennsylvania during the summer growing season. Erica explains that the region's hot, humid conditions create an ideal environment for a variety of fungal diseases, including early blight, powdery mildew, and leaf spot issues that can impact vegetable gardens and landscapes alike.

WITF’s democracy reporter, Jordan Wilkie, spoke live in studio with Pennsylvania experts immediately following President Trump’s live, prime-time address focused on what he called the successes of his second term. Here’s that analysis, lightly edited for time, on what a new law would mean for Keystone state voters if President Trump’s pressure campaign is successful. 

From record-breaking heat waves and devastating floods to surprise cold snaps and wildfire smoke, the weather seems to be getting weirder by the year. But is this the new normal, or are we just paying more attention? We cut through the headlines and hype to explore what's really driving today's extreme weather events. We'll unpack the science behind climate change, separate facts from misconceptions, and discuss what these shifts mean for our communities, businesses, and everyday lives.

 Dr. Timothy Craig of Penn State Health breaks down the basics of allergies and how they impact millions of people every day. He explains what allergies are, common triggers such as pollen, pet dander, foods, and medications, and the important difference between allergies and food intolerances. Dr. Craig also discusses the warning signs of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, a serious medical emergency that requires immediate attention.

Leigh Hurtz and Bill Reifsnyder discuss the growing appeal of adult camps, the importance of lifelong learning and recreation, and how music, movement, and community can enrich our lives at any age. Whether you're looking to pick up an instrument again, meet new people, stay active, or simply recapture some of the magic of summer camp, this conversation offers inspiration and practical ways to get involved.

The Hawk Mountain Northern Harrier Project, a Pennsylvania-based research initiative that is gathering public sightings and scientific data to better understand northern harrier populations, habitat use, and conservation needs across the state. Key perspectives will come from project and conservation leaders including Bracken M. Brown of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Pennsylvania Game Commission ornithologist Sean Murphy, and Audubon Mid-Atlantic landscape specialist Jennifer Sliko, whose work on the Kittatinny Ridge supports regional habitat conservation and collaborative resource management.

Sweet Maple is a dynamic folk-rock band that seamlessly blends indie, pop, and acoustic bluegrass influences into a sound that is both rich and melodic. Drawing inspiration from multiple musical eras, the group delivers energetic, genre-crossing performances that balance strong musicianship with memorable songwriting.

Amid ongoing concerns about maternal health, healthcare workforce shortages, and access to care in underserved communities, leaders from the American College of Nurse-Midwives discuss how expanding midwifery services can help address critical gaps in maternity care. The conversation explores maternal and infant health disparities, rural healthcare access, common misconceptions about midwifery, and the growing need for nurse-midwives in Pennsylvania and across the nation

Dickinson College has officially launched the Deep Network Understanding (DNU) Lab, a new research initiative led by Professor John MacCormick that gives undergraduate students hands-on opportunities to study deep neural networks and large language models, with research courses, internships, and mentorship available to students of all experience levels. The lab, aims to position Dickinson as a leader in undergraduate AI research by engaging students in open-ended investigations into how AI systems learn, reason, and generalize beyond memorized patterns.