Where Adventure Lives

Ryan Hall is a local artist and owner of Dead Mouse Skateboards. His decks feature unique designs and custom artwork. He and I talked art, skate culture, and a ton more. There will definitely be a Part II in the near future!

Aaron Kovach returns and has some exciting updates about the Grass Roots Race Series at Yellow Creek State Park. Also, hang around until the end for a special Where Adventure Lives bonus for anyone wanting to try out this weekend's race! For more info, visit:https://www.friendsofyellowcreek.org/ycm/https://lhorba.org/https://www.facebook.com/YCMonthly

Executive Producer Dave O'Leary takes over the hosting chair as we get down to talking about the Stonycreek Rendezvous!

Ricky Price returns just in time for Water Safety Month (May)! We discussed how you can remain safe on the water, what to do in an emergency situation, and some of the great programs that you can take advantage of to learn water safety. More info below:https://runsignup.com/Race/PA/Ebensburg/WhyDrownInitiativeKeepingEveryoneSafeAroundTheWater?fbclid=IwY2xjawRYKGJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEej5Z1xYPX0Akd_qCKeHGHm7EP4697Shf0zj9KUcKo-X7hBXNQ3fu9wm13nzU_aem_0rrfIPempnuxN5vgyRhr0whttps://www.facebook.com/CambriaWaterRescue

Bruce Penrod was one of the formative Presidents of the Benscreek Canoe Club in its early days. He sat down to talk about Club history, the development of area recreation, and about his rental treehouse on the Juniata. Link to the treehouse below!https://www.vrbo.com/3951030

If you've spent any time at all in the whitewater paddling community, you've seen the iconic Shredder on the river. Today, Travis Cowles from Airtight Inflatables joined me to talk about the history of the craft, how the design evolved over the years, and more. For more info, check them out at:https://www.facebook.com/AirtightShredderhttps://www.airtight-inflatables.com/

Jackie Ritko from the Cambria County Conservation District and Melissa Reckner from Penguin Court joined me to talk about the PA Master Naturalist Program, NatureWorks, and so much more! For info on anything we talked about, visit:https://pamasternaturalist.org/https://cambriaconservationdistrict.org/https://www.brandywine.org/conservancy/preserves-trails/penguin-court-thomas-road-farmhttps://www.facebook.com/events/1681969643212439/?ref_source=NEWS_FEED

My good friend Shane is a cycling enthusiast to say the least. He and his wife run the Bike Johnstown Insta page (link below), and he's one of the smiling faces you'll see if you stop by Fat Jimmy's in Richland (link also below!). He's also one hell of a drummer, which we didn't end up talking about at all, but his band's IG is below as well.https://www.instagram.com/bikejohnstown/https://www.instagram.com/fatjimmyscycles/https://www.fatjimmys.com/https://www.instagram.com/tigerwinemusic/

Dr. Emily Lasinsky is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at UPJ and runs Art Expressions by Emily Lasinsky. We talked about ways to take care of your mental well being as part of your whole person as well as how creative pursuits can help to facilitate that well being. For more info, you can find her at:https://www.facebook.com/artexpressionsbyelasinskyhttps://artexpressionsbyemilylasinsky.com/https://www.instagram.com/elartnwellness/

Jess Lavelua, the Park Manager from Prince Gallitzin State Park (My personal fav!) returns! We talked about all of the great winter activities they offer (for free) and the upcoming Winterfest on Feb. 14th. Check them out here:⁠https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/prince-gallitzin-state-park.html

Dan Barefoot is a Richland grad and is currently on the USA Bobsled and Skeleton Olympic Team. He took time out of his day to talk about his Olympic journey and what the future holds. You can support him by visiting his GoFundMe, an I STRONGLY suggest you follow his Facebook and IG!⁠https://www.facebook.com/barefootonice/⁠⁠www.instagram.com/barefootonicehttps://www.gofundme.com/f/barefoot-on-ice-a-journey-to-the-2026-winter-olympics?fbclid=IwY2xjawPm7YFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFpREF5MjBiNTQyY3NsWllvc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHrxoBYL5idmX7Eo6giX8UTR962k0EjCOx2uHKenq7hT4ntV6ZkN17WUXSKQ2_aem_pvkDklN8g-qmDPeKGcEWCQ

Do you like cats? If so, this episode is for you! Dr. Christine Dahlin from Dr. Dahlin Talks Animals gets into the weeds on all things cats! For more information visither at:https://sites.google.com/view/8th-ward-animal-rescue/homehttps://www.facebook.com/drdahlintalksanimalshttps://www.facebook.com/johnstownanimalwelfaresociety

Michele Kupchella Adams, co-owner of Classic Elements joined me to talk about the shop, local authors, and upcoming events!

We spent a brisk November afternoon at the Johnstown Veterans Day Parade chatting with Vets, their families, community leaders, and parade attendees to see why the parade is important to them.

Kaylee Frederick holds a ton of impressive accomplishements, from being the youngest runner to ever complete the Badlands 135 to her recent 12th place finish at the 2025 IUA 24 HR World Championships in Albi, France. She joined me to chat about what it's like preparing for and running in an Ultra.

Gravel riding is currently one of the most popular forms of cycling. Dave Pryor and his organization unPAved Pennsylvania is showcasing some of the best gravel riding Pennsylvania has to offer. He is also my partner in planning the Higher Ground gravel event that is taking place November 2nd. You can check out unPAved and regeister for Higher Ground here:https://unpavedpennsylvania.com/https://www.bikereg.com/higherground

Author Josh Penrod is taking his second deep dive into the industrial heritage of the Johnstown region. This time he's looking at the dams of the region that helped to build the steel industry, and how they are now pivoting to recreational use. Josh will be speaking at Classic Elements on September 4th at 6 pm. You can pick up his books at both Classic Elements and Chameleon Bookstore downtown or on Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Johnstown-Industry-Joshua-Penrod-PhD/dp/1540247902/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2ZR98G8EID0KK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.lKryR_YIcPjvxkDWwCxAMBXA3e6y7RT-x3aPU0HakGVyEEhq5LrA_6MZV9rqd_Yb7tziBWmX7Rjn3uB6uSpPBSCfrUz1_vWE1szKqV5rgLS7-HeudZJVYO5c4WEfj7k6JMlaXZ22GDYdivhrgAiGI4wiFRwSPGCxopJRXYb_sXNi4Vbe1x2g_zN-awp3cAobNTtIbT2mPxwXgoPUabeqa4NYd3OhDo-nT0E6MqQd0nY._hn3uO3xkLH4JGpDzOUG3uROsrmfeKUVPbTqJmEwlwY&dib_tag=se&keywords=johnstown+industry&qid=1756470886&sprefix=johnstown+industry%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-1https://www.amazon.com/Johnstown-Waters-Legacy-Steel-Industry/dp/1467159522/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3VBPFXNOODECC&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.VdD8jqUokk08sJ87hfx-xQbSInJRBnoDbdydsMgqIzPGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.9Ak1ifapQvSPNyxZNHEOrHPsVhusFqktGqE3Zq2xOoA&dib_tag=se&keywords=johnstown+waters&qid=1756470916&s=books&sprefix=johnstown+water%2Cstripbooks%2C161&sr=1-1

Julie Doyle and her husband run (Ha! See what I did there?) Up N Running in Ebensburg. She joined me to talk about running as a lifestyle and how a shop like Up N Running can help beginners on their running journey, or make sure that seasoned vets have the best equipment geared to their running style.For more info, check out:https://www.facebook.com/UNREbensburg

I'm sure you've attended an event, or saw greenspace signage with the Conemaugh Valley Conservancy (CVC) logo on it. Did you ever wonder what the CVC is or what they do? Here's your chance to find out. Dr. John Wenzel joined me to talk about all the great projects that the CVC is involved with. More information can be found at:www.conemaughvalleyconservancy.com

It's Ameriserv Flood City Music Festival time again and Shelley Johansson from Heritage Johnstown has all the details on who's playing, how they get booked, and what goes in to producing a music festival!

If you find yourself paddling on any of the local waterways, odds are you're going to run into a member of the Benscreek Canoe Club. The club has been around for over 50 years and is responsible for a ton of the paddling amenities you'll find in the area. Former President, and current Vice President, Steve Podratsky joined me, the current President to talk about the history of the club and some of the projects they've been responsible for.

Executive Intern, Dave O'Leary and I spent some time chatting with participants of the The 2025 Stony-Kiski-Conemaugh Rivers Sojourn, which ran from Thursday, June 5, to Sunday, June 8. The sojourn showcases the entire river valley in a spectacular four day, 44-mile float on the Stonycreek, Conemaugh, and Kiskiminetas Rivers. From Johnstown to Apollo. If this sounds like something you would like to try, you can find more info at:https://conemaughvalleyconservancy.com/

Steve Podratsky is the office manager and a physical therapist at the Somerset branch of Western Pennsylvania Sports Medicine. We took the show on the road to visit him at his home to chat about outdoor rec related injuries, what you can do to prevent them, and how to rehab yourself if you DO find yourself having to recover from an injury.

I've never met someone who gets as excited about the outdoors like Joe Brosky. He and his wife visited every State Park and Forrest, after which he penned a FANTASTIC book. I seriously could have talked to Joe for hours! He has a couple of speaking dates coming up, and he'll have books for sale at the first two events, but not at the last two.May 29:  5:30 PM at Classic Elements, downtown Johnstown June 1:  11:00 AM at 3 Rivers Outdoors on South Braddock Avenue in PittsburghJune 11:  10:00 AM JCC Community Center on Forbes avenue in Pittsburgh July 21:   5:30 PM Cambria County Library, downtown Johnstown

It's that time of the year again! The Stonycreek Rendezvous is this weekend at Greenhouse Park. I WAS going to monolog an entire episode, but since I enjoy the ol' back-and-forth banter, I invited Executive Producer Dave O'Leary in to host another episode!

Sean Hockensmith made the decision to solo peddle across the southern tier of the US. Following the journey, he penned a book that not only chronicled the adventure, but also provided tips for anyone considering undertaking a similar adventure. You can pick up his book on EBay here:https://www.ebay.com/itm/197053915299

Commissioner Chernisky joined me to talk about all of the great stuff happening on area trails, how they've impacted the region, and what recreation means for Cambria County. If you don't already, be sure to follow him on Facebook, he's always out on the trails talking to visitors and locals alike!https://www.facebook.com/thomas.chernisky/

Just a quick trip into Indiana County and you have 21 miles of mountain biking at your disposal in Yellowcreek State Park. Aaron Kovach is the Key Holder, race organizer, and member of Friends of Yellowcreek. For more information you can check them out at: https://www.instagram.com/yc_monthlyhttps://www.facebook.com/YCMonthlyhttps://www.friendsofyellowcreek.org/ycm

There's a really Rad (had to make that reference) organization that brings the sport of BMX to Highland Park every summer. Geri and Cooper Maul, Track operator and track representative, respectively, joined me to talk about the sport and how you can get involved at any age!

Ricky Price from the Cambria County Swift Water Rescue Team made his return to Where Adventure Lives to talk more about what it takes to be a member of his team and how you can stay safe while enjoying the area's waterways!

Dan Barefoot is a Richland grad and is currently on the USA Skeleton Team. He just wrapped up his season in Lake Placid and joined me to chat about the sport. This was an absolutely fascinating conversation, and I'm glad he was able to make time in his busy schedule to talk to me! Check his Facebook and IG out!https://www.facebook.com/barefootonice/www.instagram.com/barefootonice

The Johnstown Airport has gone through some big changes in recent years as the area embraces the aviation industry. Cory Cree joined me to talk about all the cool stuff they are currently working on and where he would like to see the airport go in the future. For more info, visit:https://flyjst.com/

Natureworks is one of my favorite events of the year, so I decided to do some "Man on the street" style interviews. Unfortunately, the noise cancelling AI algo decided to booger up the audio! I cleaned it up as much as possible, so hopefully you still find it to be a good listen!

Brad Clemenson has been deeply entrenched in the redevelopment of Johnstown's outdoor rec for a very long time and is directly responsible for a ton of the amenities we all love today. Brad joined me to talk about some of the stuff he's currently working on. We also want to thank our sponsor, ReMax Team Realtors! Find the perfect place to live at movetojohnstown.com or call (814)262-7653 Last but not least, visit us at www.whereadventurelives.org or send show ideas to [email protected]

Jeff is a transplant to Johnstown and has been taking full advantage of everything the area has to offer. He's an avid outdoor recreation enthusiast, volunteers at Sandyvale, and is in the process of revamping the Veteran's Museum at the War Memorial!We also want to thank our sponsor, ReMax Team Realtors! Find the perfect place to live at:movetojohnstown.com or call (814)262-7653Last but not least, visit us at www.whereadventurelives.org or send show ideas to [email protected]

When it comes to trail building, Clark Fisher is an absolute legend. He is 100% responsible for teaching me how to build trails and has designed some of the areas best systems. We also want to thank our sponsor, ReMax Team Realtors! Find the perfect place to live at:movetojohnstown.com or call (814)262-7653Last but not least, visit us at www.whereadventurelives.org or send show ideas to [email protected]

WIldernest is a unique Pre-K program that focuses on the outdoors. Led by Lisa Clossin, the program is held twice a year at Duman's Dam, just otutside of Belsano. Activities focus on fostering a love for the outdoors and doesn't just involve the students, parents get their hands dirty too!https://www.facebook.com/people/WilderNest/100094286203104We also want to thank our sponsor, ReMax Team Realtors! Find the perfect place to live at:movetojohnstown.com or call (814)262-7653Last but not least, visit us at www.whereadventurelives.org or send show ideas [email protected]

After our first episode, Josh got me an author's copy of his book, A Heavy Metal History Lesson. After I read it, he came back in so we could do a deeper dive into the stories and the process of writing. Josh is going to be guest speaking at Classic Elements of Feb. 13th at 5:30, where you can pick up a copy for yourself! If you can't make it that night, here's the Amazon link: https://a.co/d/dL1FLq0

Wow! We covered a ton in this episode, from urban beekeeping and agriculture to starting a business in Johnstown! Steven is an absolute wealth of knowledge and was a blast to sit across the table from. Check him out at: https://www.stellajohnstown.com/ https://cambriacityflowers.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@stevenofalltrades We also want to thank our sponsor, ReMax Team Realtors! Find the perfect place to live at: movetojohnstown.com or call (814)262-7653 Last but not least, visit us at www.whereadventurelives.org or send show ideas to [email protected]

Jeremy Shearer and his wife Jen are the owners of SBB, Craft, and The Wine Loft. Jeremy and I talked about how he came to be a business owner in Johnstown the craft brewing industry, and why good beer and outdoor recreation go so well together. Check them out at: https://www.stonebridgebeer.com/ https://www.franklinwineloft.com/ We also want to thank our sponsor, ReMax Team Realtors! Find the perfect place to live at: movetojohnstown.com or call (814)262-7653 Last but not least, visit us at www.whereadventurelives.org or send show ideas to [email protected]

Because of SNOWMAGEDDON (ok, that might be a bit overblown), Kelly Duppstadt and Regina Coughenour joined me via Zoom to talk about this year's Somerset Fire and Ice Festival (happening this weekend!!!) and the mission of Somerset Inc. For more info, check out: https://somersetinc.org/fireandice We also want to thank our sponsor, ReMax Team Realtors! Find the perfect place to live at: movetojohnstown.com or call (814)262-7653 Last but not least, visit us at www.whereadventurelives.org or send show ideas to [email protected]

What is a Community foundation? You see the CFA logo around town and as sponsors at various events, but do you know what they actually do? Mike Kane joined me to talk about community foundations and the impact they have on our region. You can find them at: https://www.cfalleghenies.org/

Happy New Year! I loved going to Prince Gallitzin as a kid. Now, as an adult, I regularly find myself travelling out there for work. I had an amazing convo with Jess Lavelua, the Park Manager about all of the things they offer at the park! Check them out here: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/prince-gallitzin-state-park.html We also want to thank our sponsor, ReMax Team Realtors! Find the perfect place to live at: movetojohnstown.com or call (814)262-7653 Last but not least, visit us at www.whereadventurelives.org or send show ideas to [email protected]

New bed music, who dis? I figured mixing things up would be apropos for this episode. I was joined by local author and fellow lover of all things metal, Josh Putnam. We dove into the stories that inspired his book as well as random metal story exchanging. The book will be available on Amazon soon! We also want to thank our sponsor, ReMax Team Realtors! Find the perfect place to live at: movetojohnstown.com or call (814)262-7653 Last but not least, visit us at www.whereadventurelives.org or send show ideas to [email protected] Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/abbynoise/run-faster

Harry has owned and operated Ski Den Sports since the 70's. He joined me to alk about how the industry has changed since opening the shop and where he sees outdoor rec going in the Johhstown Region. Check them out at: https://www.skidensports.com https://www.facebook.com/SkiDenSports We also want to thank our sponsor, ReMax Team Realtors! Find the perfect place to live at: movetojohnstown.com or call (814)262-7653 Last but not least, visit us at www.whereadventurelives.org or send show ideas to [email protected]

I was joined by my friends Leah Spangler and Ed Dreikorn. The pair spend (what seems like) the majority of their free time finding adventure both ourside the region as well as inside of it. They talked about some of their favorite destinations for hiking and good beer! If you're looking for unique destinations, this is the episode for you! We also want to thank our sponsor, ReMax Team Realtors! Find the perfect place to live at: movetojohnstown.com or call (814)262-7653 Last but not least, visit us at www.whereadventurelives.org or send show ideas to [email protected]

I have been looking forward to this episode for a while now! Kayla Adams and Brian Weimer spent six months hiking the length of the Pacific Crest Trail. They talk about the dynamics and challenges of the hike and post-hike has been like! We also want to thank our sponsor, ReMax Team Realtors! Find the perfect place to live at: movetojohnstown.com or call (814)262-7653 Last but not least, visit us at www.whereadventurelives.org or send show ideas to [email protected]

The Mountain Laurel Chapter of Trout Unlimited is a volunteer cold water preservation and enhancement group. They partner with other non-profits to clean up the area's waterways. They also have a number of community outreach programs that provide education on their programs. President, Dave Maher sat down with me and we talked all things trout! Check them out and get involved at: https://www.mltu.org/ We also want to thank our sponsor, ReMax Team Realtors! Find the perfect place to live at: movetojohnstown.com or call (814)262-7653 Last but not least, visit us at www.whereadventurelives.org or send show ideas to [email protected]

Wow, 50 episodes, and Nick and Jenny were the perfect guests for a milestone episode like this. They host the Small Town Johnstown podcast and are bring fresh voices to the awesome things happening around the City. Check them out: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558000808655 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvGN1es60Ciib2_cH0FR_1A We also want to thank our sponsor, ReMax Team Realtors! Find the perfect place to live at: movetojohnstown.com or call (814)262-7653 Last but not least, visit us at www.whereadventurelives.org or send show ideas to [email protected] and check out podcast pics at

Len Lichvar has been instrumental in the efforts to clean up our rivers. He joined me today to talk about what a Conservation District is, what they do, and what still needs to be done. For more information check out: https://somersetcd.com/ We also want to thank our sponsor, ReMax Team Realtors! Find the perfect place to live at: movetojohnstown.com or call (814)262-7653 Last but not least, visit us at www.whereadventurelives.org or send show ideas to [email protected] and check out podcast pics at