PODCAST · society
What's The Story?
by Toni Reece
Exploring community issues and current events discussing things that have you wondering, What’s The Story behind that? From Health and Science to Technology and Politics, Innovations, Social Issues, Family, Books and Business. Together we’ll learn something along the way.
Episodes
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What's the Story? with Jo Painter | Meet Cara Wojciechowski
Oh, the places you will go …. when you let the music take you there! For many young musicians, the musical dream is big. It was no different for Cara Wojciechowski. Cara started playing and singing at a very young age. For many of us loss gives us the opportunity for perspective. Cara lost a dear...
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What's the Story? witH Jo Painter | Meet Sue Lange
Sue Lange’s ’The Traffic Opera’ is just a part of her story. It’s one of many successes in her journey. Have you ever been stuck in a traffic jam? Sue Lange was stuck in one on her way home from Harrisburg. The experience became the seed for ‘The Traffic Opera.’ Wow did that seed blossom! The...
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What's the story? with Jo Painter | Meet Cindy Ross
Education isn’t just about a body of knowledge, its helping kids learn how to be kind, caring and good citizens. A tall order that can be accomplished by helping them develop a connection with the natural world. Cindy Ross is an Author, Journalist, Blogger, and World Traveller. She talks about…
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‘Ghost Train’ Bringing The Past To The Present As We Look Toward The Future
A walk on the Highline in Chelsea District of New York prompted a discussion of its history and how the convergence of trains, people, cattle and goods in this area of New York shaped the neighborhood. The elevated line has been preserved and is now a beautiful linear park. This story with Jane...
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What's the story? with Jo Painter | Meet Anne Desjardins
Anne Desjardins experienced crippling fatigue about 7 years ago and that was the start of a journey through a medical quagmire trying to find out what was wrong. A series of mis-diagnosis and lots of misunderstanding led to a great deal of frustration and no relief from symptoms. The journey was...
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What's the story? with Jo Painter | Meet Dr. Pam Ellenberger
Life sure is interesting! Dr. Pam Ellenberger spent her life as a successful plastic surgeon. Yet she closed her practice and embarked on a farming career. She jumped right in and today she operates Bent Limb Farm in Shoemakersville. Why such a drastic transition in her 50’s? Well Pam says she...
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What's the Story? with Jo Painter | Meet Zeus McClurkin
Zeus McClurkin has been told, he’s too nice, “All you ever want to do is smile and dunk”. Now he gets paid for it! The World Famous Harlem Globetrotters travel all around the world and they find that the number one language everyone speaks is ‘a smile’. Zeus says, “I can speak that language!” The...
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What's the Story? with Jo Painter | Meet Lisa Fecera Gifford
Styrofoam takes 4,000 years to decompose and cannot be recycled. Lisa Fecera Gifford didn’t like that. Lisa wholesales soup to retailers up and down the East Coast and was determined to find a better way to package samples so that the packaging could be re-used. That quest led her to discover...
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What's the Story? with Jo Painter | Meet Joe Rudden
What do you get for someone who has everything? It was Christmas, 2011 and Joe Rudden was searching for something meaningful. As it turned out the perfect gift was a letter from a family in need. The impact of that letter far exceeded his expectation. Six families received money and each of Joe’s...
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What’s the Story? with Jo Painter | Meet Frank Antoine
Frank Antoine personifies empathy and compassion. His younger brother has autism. He recalls the struggle his mom faced when bringing his brother to a barbershop. When Frank was 12 he cut his brother’s hair so he wouldn’t have to go to the barber. Frank is keenly aware of the many challenges a...
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What's the Story? with Jo Painter | Meet Xiomara
Xiomara “There’s no such thing as easy money.” Here’s to New Beginnings! Xiomara says “I was in a bad situation.” She describes the road she was on. “I thought I was doing worse than I really was. I started chasing money”. She says that is how she ended up in prison. Xiomara talks about the...
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Whats the Story? with Jo Painter | Meet Leslie
Leslie found herself facing prison. She found the courage to not only survive, but to thrive. She says, “I always had my children in my mind. I could never go back to the way I used to be.” Leslie had a good life. She was married with two daughters and a good job. Her company was bought out and...
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A life on the road - The Asztalos Family - Part 2!
Amy, Gyula and Owen Asztalos talk about what it means to decide if you are all in or all out when your child wants to be an actor. Do you have a child that wants to get into the acting business or do you want to get into the acting business? Learn from this family what it takes to have that all…
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What's the Story? with Jo Painter | Meet the Asztalos Family
It’s a Family Affair! Meet the Asztalos Family Amy, Gyula and Owen Asztalos. They share their journey with their son Owen. Amy says, “He literally came into the world dancing and impersonating Elvis”. How do you know if your child has that ‘special spark’? Gyula recalls being told, “Your son is...
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‘Stand Down’ at City Park Is Just The Beginning of a Bigger Movement To Help Our Veterans
There are scores of Homeless Veterans in Berks County and the Armed Forces Brotherhood is doing something about it. We talked with Chris Bower, a Marine Veteran and Robin Gilmore an Air Force Veteran, about what it really means to serve in the military. “You do whatever needs to be done!” It is...
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What's the Story? with Jo Painter | Meet Christine Leonhardt
Meet Christine Leonhardt, CEO of City Thrift, is all about Sharing The Love So how does one “Share The Love” in a practical way? Christine Leonhardt talks about her journey from the corporate world to live her life’s mission to help people and do, as she says, “my bit of kindness and good every…
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What's the Story? with Jo Painter | Meet Dr. Ahmad Shahzad
He is a Doctor, a Painter, an Artist, a Photographer and more. We sat down with Dr Ahmad Shahzad to learn how he uses all these talents to bring about healing. Dr Shahzad found that a spiritual connection with wildlife helped him connect compassionately with his patients. He shares the lessons he...
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What's the Story? with Jo Painter | Meet Amy Johnson
Amy Johnson says “It's all in the family now”! This busy lady shares her story of transition from the corporate world to successful entrepreneurship. She speaks of leveraging the talents of partners to form a cohesive group. Pollen Consolidated, Lovin Spoonful and Reading Occasional Cocktail Club...
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JD Turner envisioned it over 5 years ago and now a Skate Park on Riverfront Drive is becoming a reality
Determination and persistence is how JD Turner won over City Hall! He shares his journey from an archeological dig near I95 in Philadelphia to owning a Skate Shop in West Reading to seeing a leading the push for a skate park in downtown Reading. His passion and tenacity led to the formation of a...
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Up close and personal with Randy Peers
Randy Peers is the new leader of the Greater Reading Chamber and Economic Development Corporation or the GRCEDC. They are looking for a new name by the way, something that rolls off the tongue a bit easier! Randy is charged with integrating the Greater Reading Chamber of Business and Economic...
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Living Day by Day - Meet Lung Transplant Recipient Patty Mahlon
Patty Mahlon talks to Jo about being diagnosed with a rare genetic disease called Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. She was on a waiting list for a lung transplant for 4 1/2 years and speaks about the importance of organ donation, listening to your body and living life to the fullest. A powerful...
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Reading Buccaneers add the Pagoda Award to their resume
The Berks Arts Council ( http://berksarts.org/) gives the Pagoda Award to the Reading Buccaneers Drum & Bugle Corps. It is well deserved. The Buccaneers have raised the bar for Drum & Bugle Corps winning the Championship in their division year after year. We talked with Lou Tierno who started in...
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Fajjr+ali are joyfully and musically spontaneous!
Fajjr+ali combine their musical talents and what a blend it is. “We improvise everything and go with the flow”, says Fajjr. The result is two singles, “Got To Be’ and ‘Without You’. That got the attention of a producer in LA and a soon to be released EP with 6 more songs is on the horizon!...
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Experiencing death at a young age set the course of Dr. Mary Jo Bonner’s life
Dr Mary Jo Bonner was left baffled and hurt by the untimely death of her father when she was just 14. She thought that should not happen As a 3rd year student at University of Penn Mary Jo noticed doctors did not share stories with patients, typically conversations happened outside the room with...
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Mike Zielinski realizes his journalistic dreams
He holds onto his dreams, schedules time daily to practice his craft and now his work will be performed in New York City. He is Mike Zielinski, both metro and sports columnist. He is Zeke, host of Talking Sports & Fitness on The PEOPLE Chronicles. He is Michael Zielinski published author and now...
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Human Trafficking – is it really happening in Berks County, PA?
Human Trafficking – is it really happening in Berks County, PA? YES !!! Andrea McHenry is the Executive Director of F.R.E.E. which stands for Freedom and Restoration for Everyone Enslaved. Andrea was a volunteer with this organization since it began in 2009. When the founding director re-located...
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Amazing Things Happen When People Collaborate For The Benefit Of Others
Take The Chill Off is the brainchild of Marc Goldstein and Chef Tim. Marc was looking for a way to get more blankets to people in need. Chef Tim wanted to use his talents to help that effort. Together they created this one day event that takes place at multiple sites around Berks County. Chef Tim...
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God doesn’t call the qualified He qualifies the called
Frank Grill walks through doors of opportunity and when the road leads to devastation he looks for another door of opportunity and tries again. Frank shares his story from becoming a Christian to earning his MBA and becoming a successful corporate analyst, then losing everything. Listen to his...
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Art Anchors on Penn Street
Downtown Reading is all dressed up with fresh inviting art in the 300 and 600 blocks of Penn Street. Two artists were chosen to install a sculpture in the 600 block of Penn Street and Edward Williams is the muralist chosen from 40 applicants to design, execute and display his art in the 300 block...
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Learn Something New Everyday and Then Teach Others
Life is full for Karin Wulkowicz and she shares it freely with others everyday, which is quite possibly, a trait she inherited from her Dad, Kaz, or Casimir Wulkowicz. Karin is a Master Gardener and now has been charged with setting up a Master Watershed Steward Program for Berks County through…
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Act 16 legalized Medical Marijuana in PA. How Long Till Patients Have Access?
PA’s Medical Marijuana Act is Law. What does this Mean for you? Carrie Roberts, a consultant with Medicine Man Technologies with a background in law enforcement, discusses the impact this legislation will have for patients, doctors, communities, law enforcement, business and tax revenue. Listen…
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Giovanni Negron Garcia says Go Inspire Others!
Giovanni Negron Garcia goes by the name of Gio. He turned his name into an acronym – Go Inspire Others. Gio lives this acronym every day. This young man was junior class president and is aiming for Senior Class President at Reading High School for the class of 2017. He says other class presidents...
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Meet Patti Trabosh, A Mom With A Mission.
It’s every Mom’s worst nightmare, you find out your child is addicted to drugs. Addiction is such an insidious disease and recovery is a process that requires constant navigation. Patti Trabosh talks candidly about her journey with her son Nikko and her experience with insurance companies calling...
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Listen, Get Involved and Make A Difference
Reading native, Ann Calvaresi Barr has been appointed by President Obama to Inspector General of the United States Agency for International Development, Government Accountability Office (GAO), which provides foreign assistance to those countries who are in need. The agency deals with democratic...
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Realizing Your Childhood Dreams, Meet teacher turned author, Ryke Leigh Douglas
Ryke Leigh Douglas taught first through sixth grades in several different school districts for nearly 20 years. She realized a childhood dream when she became a teacher but she never let go of another dream she had. She talks about her childhood, the dreams she had and how she realized them. One...
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Find out how this marine veteran Tom Gathman finds peace on the trail
Tom Gathman began his latest hike on the Appalachian Trail December 4, 2015 in Maine. It has taken him about 3 months to hike a little over 900 miles to get to the Delaware River Gap area. Cindy Ross literally plucked him from the trail to share his story with us. Tom met Cindy Ross on his 30th...
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Comparing Cultures. Meet Fred Murai from Kenya
Fred Murai stopped by The PEOPLE Chronicles during a recent visit to Berks County. He was traveling in the United States to talk about safari trips in Africa. We were curious to learn about his journey. Fred grew up in the Kenyan countryside. As the oldest of 13 children he had to take on chores...
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A Small Gesture Is All It Takes To Make A Big Difference.
Mark Goldstein’s story started in 2012. He shares the story of his ‘moment of truth’. It was that moment that motivated him to organize ‘Blankets Of Hope’. Over the past 4 years Marc has become more educated about the need. ‘Blankets of Hope’ currently works with over 40 organizations that have a...
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A lesson in non-judgement when caring for people and their pets.
Laurie Rhodes love of animals and dedication to helping others led her to a mission that is underserved I this community. She says there is a bond between people and their pets and “when you feed a pet and feed the soul. Laurie points out it is not her, but neighbors helping neighbors that allow...
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Stay dialed in, listen and observe. You will be amazed at what you learn
Meet Brian Twyman, newly elected councilman representing District Three in Reading. Brian says he learned early on that time matters and it's too important to let it slip by. He certainly doesn’t have much idle time. After graduating from college Brian was thirsting for more knowledge about...
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Meet trailblazer and leader State Senator Judy Schwank
Who is State Senator Judy Schwank? Only 9 of the 50 senators in Pennsylvania are women. She shares her story on the way to becoming a State Senator in the 11th District in Pennsylvania and some of the surprises she found when she got to Harrisburg. Judy fondly remembers growing up in Pittsburgh…
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Celebrate The Uptown Band’s 10th year anniversary
Celebrate the Uptown Band’s 10th year anniversary and their nomination as Best New Adult Contemporary Group New Music Magazine. With their single release that Jenifer Kinder wrote ‘I Can Breathe’ at # 5 in the nation on the New Music Weekly AC Chart ahead of Taylor Swift, Coldplay and Gwen…
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Cindy Ross said "kids learn from the time they are born". Part 2
They are interested in almost anything that comes into their lives. Cindy Ross doesn’t conform to the rules. “What rules?” She asks! She broke all the rules. Cindy Ross was one of a handful of women to hike the full length of the Appalachian Trail in the 70’s. She took her kids out on the hiking...
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Turn off your computer. Stop playing with your thumbs on your devices and go outside!
Cindy Ross is an author, artist, adventurer and hiker extraordinaire! With her 6th book, ‘Modeling A Life’, about to be released she took a moment to share the story of how this life began. Cindy joined the Blue Mountain Eagle Hiking Club when she was 15 and learned everything she knows about...
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Dr. Harry Serio and The Spiritual Exploration Project.
Dr. Harry Serio is Pastor at Christ Church in Temple and prior to that he was the Pastor at St John’s UCC in Kutztown. Dr. Serio says the notion of A Spiritual Exploration Project “begins with the recognition that every person is on a spiritual journey …. It will take them in many different...
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Daniel Egusquiza shares a poignant moment that shaped his life.
Daniel Egusquiza, owner of the T.E.A. Factory, shares why it is important to him to be involved in the community working to make it a better place. The T.E.A. Factory is a community co-working space for Technology, Education and the Arts located on Canal Street in Reading. Daniel talks about a…
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Dr. Bill Santoro “The Increasing Heroin Problem and a Solution” Part 3
The heroin epidemic knows no boundaries and the numbers of Americans addicted to heroin grows daily. We have very powerful medications that end up being misused. Doctors stop writing prescriptions. Patients buy pills on the street and soon find out they can get heroin a lot cheaper. Dr. Bill...
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Dr. Bill Santoro “Identifying and Treating Addiction” Part 2
We continue our conversation with Dr Bill Santoro, Chief of the Section of Substance Use Disorders at Reading Hospital & Medical Center and Medical Director at New Directions. Every family knows addiction, either a family member or close friend suffers from addiction. What are the signs of...
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The Bike Hub – a place run by volunteers where everyone is welcome.
The Bike Hub is a lot of things… it’s a brick and mortar full functioning bikes shop run completely by volunteers. We sell bikes we repair bikes we help with maintenance we sell parts. We offer bikes at affordable prices to the community because people donate bikes, we refurbish them and make…
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Changing The Way We Talk About Addiction with Dr Bill Santoro - Part 1
We have an epidemic in the US, 23 million people suffer from addiction, 102 people die every day from an overdose. Where is the outrage? Dr Bill Santoro, Chief of the Section of Substance Use Disorders at Reading Hospital & Medical Center and Medical Director at New Directions, says, “we talk…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Exploring community issues and current events discussing things that have you wondering, What’s The Story behind that? From Health and Science to Technology and Politics, Innovations, Social Issues, Family, Books and Business. Together we’ll learn something along the way.
HOSTED BY
Toni Reece
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does What's The Story? have?
What's The Story? currently has 126 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is What's The Story? about?
Exploring community issues and current events discussing things that have you wondering, What’s The Story behind that? From Health and Science to Technology and Politics, Innovations, Social Issues, Family, Books and Business. Together we’ll learn something along the way.
How often does What's The Story? release new episodes?
What's The Story? publishes regularly with 126 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to What's The Story??
You can listen to What's The Story? on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts What's The Story??
What's The Story? is created and hosted by Toni Reece.
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