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Artwork for The Spark

The Spark

WITF
Pennsylvania
Mental Health
Community Engagement
Harrisburg
Disability Rights
Braver Angels
Healthcare
Capital Blue Cross
UPMC
Gardening
Gettysburg
America 250
True Crime
Food Insecurity
Artificial Intelligence
Education
Prostate Cancer
Pancreatic Cancer
Public Policy
Veterans

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 witf.org/programs/the-spark.

PublishesDailyEpisodes143Founded17 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Artwork for The Spark

Latest Episodes

Join Chris Vera in person as he shares the history and hidden stories of Zion Hill Cemetery and its role in Columbia’s past. Learn why preserving this site still matters today.

Also on the program: Dr. Christopher Weber of the Alzheimer’s Associatio... more

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Zachary Adams, Executive Director of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, leads a critical conversation from the first public hearing in a statewide series on data center development. Joined by Indiana County Commissioner Sherene Hess and Tioga County ... more

YouTube

We sit down with David Leidholdt, Artistic Director of Millbrook Playhouse, a renowned summer stock theater rooted in tradition and creativity. David shares insights into the unique world of summer stock, how Millbrook balances classic productions wi... more

YouTube

A proposal in Pennsylvania aims to change how police interrogations are handled—by requiring certain custodial interviews to be recorded. Supporters, including the Pennsylvania Innocence Project, say the measure could help prevent false confessions w... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

David Leidholdt
Artistic Director
Millbrook Playhouse
Episode: From Playhouse to Playbook: PA Arts & Football
Zane Memiger
Executive Director, Pennsylvania Innocence Project
Pennsylvania Innocence Project
Episode: The Spark Weekly | May 10th | Pennsylvania Innocence Project and The Big 33 Football Classic
James Figorski
Senior Staff Attorney
Pennsylvania Innocence Project
Episode: The Spark Weekly | May 10th | Pennsylvania Innocence Project and The Big 33 Football Classic
Willie Veazey
Wrongfully convicted and exonerated
Pennsylvania Innocence Project
Episode: The Spark Weekly | May 10th | Pennsylvania Innocence Project and The Big 33 Football Classic
Garry Cathell
Executive Director
PSFCA Big 33 Football Classic
Episode: The Spark Weekly | May 10th | Pennsylvania Innocence Project and The Big 33 Football Classic
Nicole Whitmire
Chief Operating Officer
Big 33 Football Classic
Episode: The Spark Weekly | May 10th | Pennsylvania Innocence Project and The Big 33 Football Classic
Marcus Yeager
Team Pennsylvania player
Big 33 Football Classic
Episode: The Spark Weekly | May 10th | Pennsylvania Innocence Project and The Big 33 Football Classic
Karen M. Dixon
Karen M. Dixon with the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission
Tri-County Regional Planning Commission
Episode: Rethinking Roads and the “Bikini Body” Myth
Elena Cuffari
Science researcher and feminist philosopher at Franklin & Marshall College
Franklin & Marshall College
Episode: Rethinking Roads and the “Bikini Body” Myth

Host

Asia Tabb
Host of The Spark and The Spark Weekly; public radio host focusing on Pennsylvania issues and local storytelling.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 35 ratings
  • Pennsylvania News of Interest

    Excellent show. Addresses current issues in Pennsylvania. In depth. Interviews with informed persons. Great questions. Not adversarial. Balanced.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AnitaBower
    United States6 years ago
  • Great Local Issues Discussion

    What you'd expect from public radio. Calm, cogent discussions on issues important to PA.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Talkingtojoey
    United States13 years ago
  • Excellent but not updated regularly

    This is an excellent program, but the podcast has not been updated lately.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Trebor Nella
    United States16 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate in-depth, balanced discussions on PA issues and thoughtful questions that avoid adversarial stances.
The show is praised for calm, cogent conversations and credible guests who illuminate local governance and community impact.
Some feedback notes the podcast has not updated regularly, suggesting a need for more consistent release scheduling.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

From the Greenbelt to the Galaxy: The 2026 Tour de Belt and The Star Wars Collecting Society
Q: How did the Star Wars Collecting Society formalize as a nonprofit and what changed?
They organized as a 501(c)(3), enabling a formal charity bank account, IRS reporting, and legitimizing fundraising activities including high-profile collaborations and charity events.
From the Greenbelt to the Galaxy: The 2026 Tour de Belt and The Star Wars Collecting Society
Q: What is Tour de Belt and what can people expect from it?
It's the signature, fully supported ride that loops the entire Greenbelt, with rest stops, volunteer support, and police traffic directions, meant for all ages and non-competitive participation.
Law Day and Structural Concerns in PA Immigration Enforcement
Q: What is Law Day and why is it celebrated in Pennsylvania?
Law Day marks the rule of law and citizens' rights, with events statewide to educate about how the legal system works and how it protects freedoms.
Learning Across Languages and History
Q: So Andrea, when did language become more than just communication for you?
Andrea Kolb describes how bilingualism became tied to her identity through studying Spanish, living with a Dominican family, and building relationships in Spanish, which revealed a deeper sense of self and culture beyond simple communication.
Know Your Rights: Immigration Enforcement, Legal Protections, and How to Prepare
Q: Andrew, what does the Pennsylvania Immigration Center do?
PIRC is an immigration legal organization focusing on removal defense, survivors services, and broader immigration legal services, operating as a service-oriented partner with trained attorneys and representatives.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Spark

What is The Spark about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show covers a range of Pennsylvania-focused public affairs topics, including local government, education, health, media literacy, and community issues. Episodes frequently feature interviews with researchers, journalists, nonprofit leaders, and public servants who discuss policy implications, civic information, and regional impact. A notable strength is the mix of in-depth policy discussions with local storytelling and education-related conversations, often tying state-level issues to Harrisburg and central Pennsylvania communities. The show stands out for its resident focus on public media's role in informing citizens, its emphasis on diverse perspectives, and its willingness to connect complex topics to everyday life.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Spark?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Spark. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Spark and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Spark get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Spark, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Spark?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Spark, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Spark have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Spark has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Spark?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Spark:

1. The Morning Agenda
2. The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart
3. Science Friday
4. Fresh Air
5. The Daily

How many episodes of The Spark are there?

The Spark launched 17 years ago and published 143 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Spark?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Spark?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Spark from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Spark?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Spark. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Spark?

Recent guests on The Spark include:

1. David Leidholdt
2. Zane Memiger
3. James Figorski
4. Willie Veazey
5. Garry Cathell
6. Nicole Whitmire
7. Marcus Yeager
8. Karen M. Dixon

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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