Traveling the world is only a dream for most of us. Few get to realize that dream firsthand and maybe read about or watch documentaries of far off, exotic places. Our guest today not only read about the world but lived out her dream. Sherry Knowlton is a native of Chambersburg. She has visited more than 50 countries on six continents. She has written about her adventures in two of the books she has written – Beyond The Sunset – A Travel Memoir Volumes One and Two. Sherry Knowlton joins us on The Spark today.

Traveling the world is only a dream for most of us. Few get to realize that dream firsthand and maybe read about or watch documentaries of far off, exotic places. Our guest today not only read about the world but lived out her dream. Sherry Knowlton is a native of Chambersburg. She has visited more than 50 countries on six continents. She has written about her adventures in two of the books she has written – Beyond The Sunset – A Travel Memoir Volumes One and Two. Sherry Knowlton joins us on The Spark today.

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>.

Southcentral Pennsylvania native writes about her world travels

Nursing

Lazy Moon Ranch

(00:00:00)

First, Penny Lenig‑Zerby, director of the UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing in Harrisburg, and Joye Gingrich, UPMC in Central Pa.’s Chief Nursing Officer, share their personal journeys into nursing and what drives them to train the next generation. They discuss the realities of today’s nursing workforce, the many career paths available to new graduates, and how UPMC supports nurses as they enter the field and continue their education. They also outline practical steps for listeners interested in applying to nursing school at a time when demand for skilled nurses has never been higher.

(00:22:22)

Then, the conversation shifts to Pennsylvania’s hemp and cannabis landscape through the story of Lazy Moon Ranch and its founder, Ron Boyles. After a debilitating back injury and years of opioid dependence, Ron turned to medical cannabis—an experience that helped him reclaim his health and sparked his advocacy for patient access. Today he leads the Green Bridge Society, connecting patients with certifying doctors across multiple states, and cultivates CBD hemp at Lazy Moon Ranch following the 2018 Hemp Farm Bill. Ron shares what distinguishes hemp from cannabis, how the industry works, and what recent legislation means for growers, consumers, and curious newcomers.

(00:00:00)
First,&nbsp;Penny Lenig‑Zerby, director of the UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing in Harrisburg, and Joye Gingrich, UPMC in Central Pa.&rsquo;s Chief Nursing Officer, share their personal journeys into nursing and what drives them to train the next generation. They discuss the realities of today&rsquo;s nursing workforce, the many career paths available to new graduates, and how UPMC supports nurses as they enter the field and continue their education. They also outline practical steps for listeners interested in applying to nursing school at a time when demand for skilled nurses has never been higher.
(00:22:22)
Then, the conversation shifts to Pennsylvania&rsquo;s hemp and cannabis landscape through the story of Lazy Moon Ranch and its founder, Ron Boyles. After a debilitating back injury and years of opioid dependence, Ron turned to medical cannabis&mdash;an experience that helped him reclaim his health and sparked his advocacy for patient access. Today he leads the Green Bridge Society, connecting patients with certifying doctors across multiple states, and cultivates CBD hemp at Lazy Moon Ranch following the 2018 Hemp Farm Bill. Ron shares what distinguishes hemp from cannabis, how the industry works, and what recent legislation means for growers, consumers, and curious newcomers.

Care, Cultivation, and Changing Industries: Two Paths Shaping Pennsylvania’s Future

Ephraim's Slaughter

Cursive in Schools

(00:00:00)

We look back at Ephraim Slaughter: Freedom’s Witness, the one-act production created for the Annual Dauphin County Black History Celebration by Sankofa African American Theatre Company and Gamut Theatre, in partnership with the National Civil War Museum. Actors Marcus McGhee and Melinda Anderson help us revisit the life of Ephraim Slaughter—a man born enslaved who became a Union Army veteran, community leader, and witness to a century of American change. Through their performances, the play brings audiences into a Harrisburg room in 1943, where memory, resilience, and long-silenced truths finally speak.

(00:22:02)

Then we turn to a new Pennsylvania law requiring cursive handwriting instruction in schools. Dr. Kerry Hasler-Brooks and Dr. Sarah Fischer explore why cursive still matters—from reading historical documents to strengthening cognitive development, deepening literacy skills, and slowing down enough to think critically in a fast-paced digital world. Together, they make the case that preserving history isn’t just about the stories we tell—it’s about ensuring future generations can read them.

(00:00:00)
We look back at&nbsp;Ephraim Slaughter: Freedom&rsquo;s Witness, the one-act production created for the Annual Dauphin County Black History Celebration by Sankofa African American Theatre Company and Gamut Theatre, in partnership with the National Civil War Museum. Actors Marcus McGhee and Melinda Anderson help us revisit the life of Ephraim Slaughter&mdash;a man born enslaved who became a Union Army veteran, community leader, and witness to a century of American change. Through their performances, the play brings audiences into a Harrisburg room in 1943, where memory, resilience, and long-silenced truths finally speak.
(00:22:02)
Then we turn to a new Pennsylvania law requiring cursive handwriting instruction in schools. Dr. Kerry Hasler-Brooks and Dr. Sarah Fischer explore why cursive still matters&mdash;from reading historical documents to strengthening cognitive development, deepening literacy skills, and slowing down enough to think critically in a fast-paced digital world. Together, they make the case that preserving history isn&rsquo;t just about the stories we tell&mdash;it&rsquo;s about ensuring future generations can read them.

From Ephraim Slaughter to Cursive Literacy: Preserving Black History and the Skills to Understand It

Journalist Roundtable

Bucknell Lecture 

(00:00:00)

Sydney and Emily report on how immigration enforcement is unfolding across Pennsylvania — from a State College man taken into ICE custody immediately after his decades‑old conviction was vacated, to the rapid spread of ICE 287(g) agreements that let local police perform federal immigration functions. Their coverage looks at why these agreements are expanding, why they’re controversial, and how they’re driving community backlash and political fallout.

(00:22:30)
The episode then turns to the future of public broadcasting. Steven Bass of Oregon Public Media and Matias Vernegno of the Bucknell Institute for Public Policy discuss the pressures facing public media, the shift toward more locally focused models, and why the distinction between public and commercial news still matters.

(00:00:00)
Sydney and Emily report on how immigration enforcement is unfolding across Pennsylvania &mdash; from a State College man taken into ICE custody immediately after his decades‑old conviction was vacated, to the rapid spread of ICE 287(g) agreements that let local police perform federal immigration functions. Their coverage looks at why these agreements are expanding, why they&rsquo;re controversial, and how they&rsquo;re driving community backlash and political fallout.
(00:22:30) The episode then turns to the future of public broadcasting. Steven Bass of Oregon Public Media and Matias Vernegno of the Bucknell Institute for Public Policy discuss the pressures facing public media, the shift toward more locally focused models, and why the distinction between public and commercial news still matters.

Southcentral Pennsylvania native writes about her world travels

In 1 playlist(s)

The Spark

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips