Horticulturalist Erica Jo Shaffer was on The Spark Thursday at the height of the growing season with gardening tips.

May can be the best late spring month but there’s a lot of do to keep the plants, flowers, trees and garden healthy and thriving.

We’ve had a lot of rain this month so how does it affect the garden, what fertilizers are the most effective that are also environmentally friendly, how the insects in the garden – some are bad but others are essential. Are you feeding birds or even hummingbirds this spring?

These are all topics Erica addressed on the program.

Horticulturalist Erica Jo Shaffer was on The Spark Thursday at the height of the growing season with gardening tips.
May can be the best late spring month but there’s a lot of do to keep the plants, flowers, trees and garden healthy and thriving.
We’ve had a lot of rain this month so how does it affect the garden, what fertilizers are the most effective that are also environmentally friendly, how the insects in the garden – some are bad but others are essential. Are you feeding birds or even hummingbirds this spring?
These are all topics Erica addressed on the program.

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 starts conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/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 starts conversations about what&rsquo;s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/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.

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&rsquo;s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at&nbsp;<a href="https://witf.org/programs/the-spark">https://witf.org/programs/the-spark</a>.

Erica Jo Shaffer with gardening tips

J Roundtable

Braver Angels

(00:00:00)

WITF’s Jaxon White breaks down Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2026 budget address, delivered to the Pennsylvania legislature on Tuesday, Feb. 3. He explains the administration’s key priorities, proposed spending, and what the plan could mean for communities across the Commonwealth.

WITF reporter Jordan Wilkie also joins us to discuss his recent reporting on efforts by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to reinterpret or narrow long‑standing constitutional protections. He outlines what these actions look like on the ground, their potential legal implications, and how affected families are responding.

(00:22:37)

Later in the episode, Dr. Mary Theresa “Terry” Webb of Braver Angels shares why she believes the country is facing a dangerous moment of toxic politics and weakened leadership, and why courageous citizenship is more essential than ever.

Listeners interested in Braver Angels can visit braverangels.org, use the “Find My Alliance” tool to locate the Lower Susquehanna Alliance, or join for $12/year to receive national and local updates and access free virtual events.

(00:00:00)
WITF&rsquo;s&nbsp;Jaxon White breaks down Gov. Josh Shapiro&rsquo;s 2026 budget address, delivered to the Pennsylvania legislature on Tuesday, Feb. 3. He explains the administration&rsquo;s key priorities, proposed spending, and what the plan could mean for communities across the Commonwealth.
WITF reporter Jordan Wilkie also joins us to discuss his recent reporting on efforts by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to reinterpret or narrow long‑standing constitutional protections. He outlines what these actions look like on the ground, their potential legal implications, and how affected families are responding.
(00:22:37)
Later in the episode, Dr. Mary Theresa &ldquo;Terry&rdquo; Webb of Braver Angels shares why she believes the country is facing a dangerous moment of toxic politics and weakened leadership, and why&nbsp;courageous citizenship is more essential than ever.
Listeners interested in Braver Angels can visit braverangels.org, use the &ldquo;Find My Alliance&rdquo; tool to locate the Lower Susquehanna Alliance, or join for $12/year to receive national and local updates and access free virtual events.

Shapiro’s 2026 Budget, ICE and Constitutional Rights, and Why America Needs Courageous Citizenship

Linda Gottfried

Dan Tomaso

Cervical Cancer

(00:00:00)

Author Linda Gottfried joins us to share insights from her new book How to Live Your Life Like You’ve Already Won the Lottery, a guide to shifting perspective, embracing abundance, and finding purpose beyond financial luck. She invites readers to rethink what it means to “win” and to cultivate joy in everyday life.

(00:16:00)

Then, with a grateful heart, Dan Tomaso returns to walk us through last week’s powerful winter storm — what drove its intensity, how it compares to past systems, and what Pennsylvanians can expect for the rest of the season.

(00:27:29)

Finally, Dr. Josh Kesterson helps us mark Cervical Cancer Awareness Month with essential, empowering information. We discuss what cervical cancer is, the symptoms women should watch for, why HPV vaccination and regular screening remain the strongest tools for prevention, and how advances in imaging, treatment, and mobile health services are expanding access. Dr. Kesterson also outlines the resources available through UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and UPMC Magee‑Women for women who may face barriers to care.

(00:00:00)
Author&nbsp;Linda Gottfried joins us to share insights from her new book How to Live Your Life Like You&rsquo;ve Already Won the Lottery, a guide to shifting perspective, embracing abundance, and finding purpose beyond financial luck. She invites readers to rethink what it means to &ldquo;win&rdquo; and to cultivate joy in everyday life.
(00:16:00)
Then, with a grateful heart, Dan Tomaso returns to walk us through last week&rsquo;s powerful winter storm &mdash; what drove its intensity, how it compares to past systems, and what Pennsylvanians can expect for the rest of the season.
(00:27:29)
Finally, Dr. Josh Kesterson helps us mark Cervical Cancer Awareness Month with essential, empowering information. We discuss what cervical cancer is, the symptoms women should watch for, why HPV vaccination and regular screening remain the strongest tools for prevention, and how advances in imaging, treatment, and mobile health services are expanding access. Dr. Kesterson also outlines the resources available through UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and UPMC Magee‑Women for women who may face barriers to care.

How to Live Abundantly, Prepare for Winter Storms, and Protect Women’s Health: Insights on Mindset, Weather, and Cervical Cancer Prevention

Renate Wildermuth

CCHS

(00:00:00)

We begin with Renate Wildermuth, author of Gone Before You Knew Me, a debut novel already earning international attention. Named a “Most Anticipated Book” by Indigo, reviewed by Booklist, and soon to be featured in Teach Magazine and on North Country Public Radio, the novel blends emotional depth with a gripping sense of mystery. It will even appear in the shop of the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. Wildermuth joins us to talk about the book’s themes, the craft behind its creation, and why stories about disappearance, identity, and the traces people leave behind resonate so widely.

(00:22:26)

Then we turn to a very different kind of narrative recovery. Dr. Lindsay Varner, Executive Director of the Cumberland County Historical Society, and Merri Lou Schaumann, an expert on 18th‑century Cumberland County, share their work on the BBC podcast Lady Killers with Lucy Worsley. The episode examines the life of Cloe, an enslaved woman executed in 1801 for the deaths of her enslavers’ children — a case explored in Dr. Nikki M. Taylor’s groundbreaking book Brooding Over Bloody Revenge. Varner and Schaumann helped the BBC team trace Cloe’s world, identify the landscape she would have known, and locate the site of the crime using historic maps and modern tools. Their research brings new clarity to a painful, often overlooked chapter of local history.

(00:00:00)
We begin with&nbsp;Renate Wildermuth, author of Gone Before You Knew Me, a debut novel already earning international attention. Named a &ldquo;Most Anticipated Book&rdquo; by Indigo, reviewed by Booklist, and soon to be featured in Teach Magazine and on North Country Public Radio, the novel blends emotional depth with a gripping sense of mystery. It will even appear in the shop of the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. Wildermuth joins us to talk about the book&rsquo;s themes, the craft behind its creation, and why stories about disappearance, identity, and the traces people leave behind resonate so widely.
(00:22:26)
Then we turn to a very different kind of narrative recovery. Dr. Lindsay Varner, Executive Director of the Cumberland County Historical Society, and Merri Lou Schaumann, an expert on 18th‑century Cumberland County, share their work on the BBC podcast Lady Killers with Lucy Worsley. The episode examines the life of Cloe, an enslaved woman executed in 1801 for the deaths of her enslavers&rsquo; children &mdash; a case explored in Dr. Nikki M. Taylor&rsquo;s groundbreaking book Brooding Over Bloody Revenge. Varner and Schaumann helped the BBC team trace Cloe&rsquo;s world, identify the landscape she would have known, and locate the site of the crime using historic maps and modern tools. Their research brings new clarity to a painful, often overlooked chapter of local history.

Erica Jo Shaffer with gardening tips

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