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The Spark

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

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In today’s episode, we go inside Pennsylvania’s pivotal 10th Congressional District to hear how voters are processing the recent U.S. attack on Iran. Reporter Frank Langfitt brings us voices from Harrisburg, Allentown, and Scranton, wher... more

John Chapman (1774–1845), better known as Johnny Appleseed, was an American pioneer nurseryman who traveled across Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Ontario, and parts of West Virginia planting apple trees grown from seed rather than grafts. His... more

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17 years is a long time for any relationship. Local Celtic rock band Kilmaine Saints has not only survived that long but thrived during their time together. They describe themselves as equal parts Irish swagger, Scottish pride and whiske... more

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Without professional interpreters, families can be shut out of essential moments—students unable to take required PSSAs, parents unable to understand a diagnosis, patients unable to follow a treatment plan. Language access is access, and... more

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Recent Guests

Dr. Michael Di Giovine
Professor of Anthropology
Westchester University
Episode: Downtown Harrisburg’s Future and Pennsylvania’s Cultural Story: What Revitalization and Heritage Reveal
Yolanda Eggrington
Leader of Respect Together and affiliated with the National Sexual Violence Resource Center
Respect Together / NSVRC
Episode: The Spark Weekly | March 8th | Cursive Reemerges in Pa. Schools and Highlighting Women of Excellence.
Amanda Martin
Award honoree and communications/advertising agency founder
Capital Blue Cross (sponsor)
Episode: Women of Excellence & The Work of Bridging Divides
Melissa Jitsi
Red Co-Chair, Braver Angels Lancaster County Alliance (BASA)
Braver Angels
Episode: Women of Excellence & The Work of Bridging Divides
Yolanda Edrington
Leader of Respect Together and advocate for Safer Communities
Respect Together, National Sexual Violence Resource Center
Episode: Women of Excellence & The Work of Bridging Divides
Jimmy Schambach
Executive Director of M28 Ministry
M28 Ministry
Episode: From Home Design Trends to Housing Recovery Solutions: PA Home + Garden Show and M28 Ministry’s Esther’s House Drive Community Focus
Jenna Naffin
Show Manager, Pennsylvania Home and Garden Show
Marketplace Events
Episode: From Home Design Trends to Housing Recovery Solutions: PA Home + Garden Show and M28 Ministry’s Esther’s House Drive Community Focus
Ron Boyles
Founder and CEO of Lazy Moon Ranch, medical cannabis advocate
Lazy Moon Ranch/Green Bridge
Episode: Care, Cultivation, and Changing Industries: Two Paths Shaping Pennsylvania’s Future
Joye Gingrich
Chief Nursing Officer for UPMC and Central Pa
UPMC
Episode: Care, Cultivation, and Changing Industries: Two Paths Shaping Pennsylvania’s Future

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.

The Spark Weekly | March 8th | Cursive Reemerges in Pa. Schools and Highlighting Women of Excellence.
Q: What tip would you give to parents for encouraging cursive practice at home?
One effective tip is to create authentic writing opportunities, like pen pals with real handwritten correspondence, and to encourage engagement with historical documents or artefacts that reveal handwriting as a personal touchstone.
The Spark Weekly | March 8th | Cursive Reemerges in Pa. Schools and Highlighting Women of Excellence.
Q: Kerry, how have you seen cursive influence students' engagement with historical texts differently than printed text?
Cursive allows students to access the original voice and material traces of authors, connecting learners to the production of texts and encouraging slower, more deliberate analysis that strengthens critical thinking.
The Spark Weekly | March 8th | Cursive Reemerges in Pa. Schools and Highlighting Women of Excellence.
Q: Sarah, let's start with you. Why does cursive still matter in elementary school today?
Cursive matters because it enables access to historical records, supports reading and reading of primary sources, and helps students organize their thoughts through writing at a pace that matches their thinking, which in turn enhances fluency and analytical skills.
From Ephraim Slaughter to Cursive Literacy: Preserving Black History and the Skills to Understand It
Q: Why does cursive still matter in elementary school today?
Cursive supports fine motor skills, helps students read historical documents, and enables faster writing that keeps up with thinking, while also contributing to memory and analytical thinking through a slower, more deliberate writing process when needed.
The Spark Weekly | March 1st | Teaching Media Literacy and Reimagining Public Broadcasting
Q: Why is media literacy education important for today's teens?
Because teens are exposed to highly curated content through algorithms that exploit attention, it's critical to teach them to evaluate sources, check multiple perspectives, and seek objective information rather than passively consuming sensational content.

Audience Metrics

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

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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 Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J.
2. Up First from NPR
3. Throughline
4. TED Radio Hour
5. Pop Culture Happy Hour

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. Dr. Michael Di Giovine
2. Yolanda Eggrington
3. Amanda Martin
4. Melissa Jitsi
5. Yolanda Edrington
6. Jimmy Schambach
7. Jenna Naffin
8. Ron Boyles

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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