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The Spark

WITF, Inc.
Mental Health
Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Education
Pennsylvania
Community Support
Veterans
Chesapeake Bay
Obesity
Boots To Health
Drought
Physical Fitness
Nutrition
Spiritual Health
Veterans Health
Pollution
Environmental Protection
Ozempic
Community Engagement
Central Pennsylvania
Veteran Homelessness

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

In this episode, we’re joined by Jasmine Rivera, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition, and Andrew Brananoksi, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center, with additional insight from Lize Miller of PIRC... more

The Spark, hosted by Asia Tabb, will feature a 40‑minute conversation presented in two informal, discussion‑focused segments centered on the theme of learning how to disagree more constructively.

In the first half, Asia is joined by Nita Landis, mo... more

As wildfire season ramps up across the state, The Spark spoke with Mike Kern, Chief of the Division of Forest Fire Protection, and Matt Reed, Chief of Wildfire Operations and Planning with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry, about what residents nee... more

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(00:00:00)

Greg Katshir is part of the third generation of family leadership at the West Shore Farmers Market in Lemoyne, Pennsylvania. After the market’s founder, Ray Garver Sr., passed away in 1959, and later his son Ray Garver Jr. took over, the... more

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Recent Guests

Mike Kern
Chief of the Division of Forest Fire Protection
Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry
Episode: The Spark Weekly | April 5 | Wildfires and Hemp Fiber
Matt Reed
Chief of Wildfire Operations and Planning
Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry
Episode: The Spark Weekly | April 5 | Wildfires and Hemp Fiber
Gabriella Fioravanti
Research instructor
Thomas Jefferson University
Episode: The Spark Weekly | April 5 | Wildfires and Hemp Fiber
Greg Katshir
Co-owner, West Shore Farmers Market
West Shore Farmers Market
Episode: From Generational Market Leadership to Industrial Innovation: How the West Shore Farmers Market and Pennsylvania’s Hemp Revival Reflect a Growing Sustainable Future
Gabriella Foravanti
Research Instructor
Thomas Jefferson University
Episode: From Generational Market Leadership to Industrial Innovation: How the West Shore Farmers Market and Pennsylvania’s Hemp Revival Reflect a Growing Sustainable Future
Mike Roth
Director of Innovation
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Episode: From Generational Market Leadership to Industrial Innovation: How the West Shore Farmers Market and Pennsylvania’s Hemp Revival Reflect a Growing Sustainable Future
Carol Thornton
Executive Director, Partnership for Better Health
Partnership for Better Health
Episode: Match Madness & Women in the Judiciary: Championing Community Health and Judicial Leadership in PA
Ericka Anderson
Landisburg EMS representative
Landisburg EMS
Episode: Match Madness & Women in the Judiciary: Championing Community Health and Judicial Leadership in PA
Jeanna Som
Supportive Partnerships for Youth representative
Supportive Partnerships for Youth
Episode: Match Madness & Women in the Judiciary: Championing Community Health and Judicial Leadership in PA

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 States12 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 Rising Facility Fees to Women’s Health and the Arts: This Week’s Stories from Central PA
Q: What can patients do to protect themselves from unexpected facility fees?
Patients should ask for cost estimates beforehand, verify if the facility is hospital-affiliated, inquire about hospital-based billing, and check with their insurer about coverage and in-network options.
Preserving Pennsylvania’s Past While Building Its Future: Keystone Markers and New Women’s Sports Take the Spotlight
Q: How do the new programs fit into the broader history of women's athletics at Gettysburg College?
The college views the expansion as a historic advancement that reflects ongoing progress in women's athletics and aligns with a vision to provide high-end academics paired with elite athletic opportunities, contributing to long-term growth and national competitiveness.
Preserving Pennsylvania’s Past While Building Its Future: Keystone Markers and New Women’s Sports Take the Spotlight
Q: What are the next steps for students interested in these new programs?
Interested students should fill out recruitment questionnaires on the college website, contact the head coaches, and plan campus visits; the admissions and athletics offices coordinate to connect applicants with the coaches and start the recruitment pipeline.
Preserving Pennsylvania’s Past While Building Its Future: Keystone Markers and New Women’s Sports Take the Spotlight
Q: What led Gettysburg College to add three new women's varsity sports at this moment?
The decision was driven by a combination of strategic enrollment considerations, growth in career and NCAA pathways for women's sports, and alignment with regional opportunities, plus the timing around national growth in these sports and enhanced support across campus.
Honoring Enslaved Lives in Lancaster & Preserving Ancient Falconry Traditions: Education, History, and Stewardship in Focus
Q: Jeff, how did you first get interested in falconry?
Jeff describes discovering falconry through a combination of exposure in school programs and a lifelong passion for birds of prey, followed by years of apprenticeship and sponsorship before obtaining his own bird.

Audience Metrics

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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?

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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. Politics War Room with James Carville & Al Hunt
3. Up First from NPR
4. Pod Save America
5. The NPR Politics Podcast

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. Mike Kern
2. Matt Reed
3. Gabriella Fioravanti
4. Greg Katshir
5. Gabriella Foravanti
6. Mike Roth
7. Carol Thornton
8. Ericka Anderson

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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