The Spark
The Spark
When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, host Asia Tabb start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.Follow the podcast:
Milk, Management, and Mitigating Disease: Conversations in PA Agriculture
(00:00:00) That uncertainty became real last fall, when cases of Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) were confirmed in horses across Northumberland, Columbia, and Lancaster counties. With the virus spreading easily through direct contact, airborne droplets, and contaminated equipment, off…
44:59
The Spark Takes on The 2026 Farm Show
The Spark went on a field trip to the 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show! In this episode, you will hear the first half of interviews from our time at the farm show, with more to come tomorrow. Featured in today's episode is: (00:00:00) Dairymen's Executive Director Dave Smith (00:13:18) Committee M…
46:00
On the Air & At the Altar: Stories of Craft, Change, and Conversation
(00:00:00) In honor of Public Radio Broadcasting Day, this episode opens with a special “actors‑on‑actors” style conversation between Scott LaMar, former host of The Spark, and Asia Tabb, the show’s current host. In a rare dual‑interview format, Scott and Asia turn the microphones toward each othe…
48:10
The Spark of Creation and the Power of Advocacy: Kells Wood and Maureen Powers.
(00:00:00) In this episode, we begin with the inspiring journey of Kelly Anoka, a devoted maker whose woodworking story is rooted, quite literally, in family history. Kelly shares how a set of walnut trees planted by her great‑grandfather more than 80 years ago sparked her passion for transformi…
44:40
The Spark Weekly 1.11.2026: Film, America 250, Anxieties of the Atomic Age and Dry January
This follow-up conversation explores how film helps us reflect on identity, technology, and the American experience, especially as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary. It highlights a year-long America 250 film series and a four-week course on 1950s science fiction, using classic and contem…
44:21
Justice, Faith, and the Fight to Move Forward
This episode brings together policy, protest, and personal purpose. (00:00:00) WITF’s Jordan Wilkie joins us to discuss his reporting on a group of activist Mennonites calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, and how their faith-driven activism also centers on supporting immigrants in the United States. …
44:26
Film, America 250, and The Anxieties of the Atomic Age.
Dr. Weiss is a retired Professor of Philosophy at York College of Pennsylvania and a longtime film scholar and educator. He brings a rare combination of philosophical insight, teaching experience, and public-facing film programming. This follow-up conversation explores how film helps us reflect on…
21:29
Breaking Barriers & Bobbling Heads
This episode highlights two institutions breaking the mold. (00:00:00) Dickinson College expands its tuition-free initiative, opening doors for more students and redefining affordability in higher education. (00:22:21) Meanwhile, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum marks National Bobb…
43:56
Street Corner Talking: Kim Simmonds’ Blues Legacy, and Building Pathways for Veterans in Healthcare
In this episode, we explore two powerful stories of legacy, leadership, and service. (00:00:00) First, we honor the life and music of the late Kim Simmonds, legendary blues guitarist and founder of Savoy Brown, through his newly completed autobiography, Street Corner Talking, The Autobiography of…
44:26
Awareness and Recovery: Understanding Human Trafficking and the Rise of Dry January
In this episode, we take a closer look at two important and timely topics centered on protection, prevention, and recovery. (00:00:00) First, we explore human trafficking as a serious human rights abuse, breaking down what trafficking is, how force, fraud, and coercion are used to exploit victims…
44:28