21-WFMJ News Podcast

On this episode of The Radar, Storm Tracker 21 Chief Meteorologist Eric Wilhelm talks with fellow weather geek Ralph Mack all about tempest and personal weather stations and how they work. 

In this episode of The Score, 21 WFMJ Sports Director talks with Chuck Parker, an assigner with the Ohio High School Athletic Association, to talk about all about his role. 

In today's The Outcue, assistant news director Justin Mitchell talks with reporter Ally Ross and Chief Videographer Pat Connelly about covering weather-related news.They discuss weather coverage, such as the recent snowfall, and help our community stay informed.

On this episode of The Vibe, Kristyn Wolf, a counselor with Equinox Sex and Relationship Counseling, describes ways you can improve your personal relationships and how your body responds to emotional stress. 

In today's The Radar Podcast, 21 News chief meteorologist and podcast host Eric Wilhelm is joined by Andrew DiPaolo and Gavin Sandel, who are discussing their jobs as Valley meteorologists.They discuss the weather field, what led each of them to pursue it, and the changes over the years.

In today's The Score podcast, 21 Sports Director Dana Balash is joined by Tracy Innocent, Youngstown State University's travel specialist, who handles all modes of transportation when it comes to sports and the university. The 19 different sports teams at the university keep Innocent busy. Hear how she handles getting all the student-athletes to their destinations, especially during busy seasons when multiple teams all play during the same period.

Welcome to The Vibe and Happy Holidays!Your podcast hosts, Nicole Kalpalko and Steve Vesey, are discussing New Year's Resolutions.Joining them to discuss diet and fitness for 2026 are Deborah Caggiano, a trainer/clinical dietitian, and Kelly Scott, a registered dietitian, who also discuss self-care.

In today's The Radar podcast, WFMJ Chief Meteorologist Eric Wilhelm discusses winter weather and how we deal with it.Joining Eric are Ohio Department of Transportation District 4 Public Information Officers Ray Marsch and Justin Chesnic, who share how ODOT prepares for bad weather, including how treating roads for snow, sleet and freezing rain has changed over the years.

In this episode of The Score, 21 Sports' Dana Balash catches up with Newton Falls basketball coach Roy Sembach to talk about his 39 years and counting of coaching the Newton Falls basketball team.

In this episode of The Outcue, members of the 21 News team discuss in-depth all that was revealed to them as they researched for the recent 101 West news program "Hazing - The Code of Silence." How this months-long work helped paint a clearer picture of how prevalent hazing is in Ohio and the nation.

Happy Thanksgiving, and thanks for joining the Vibe podcast.Hosts Nicole Kalpalko and Jodie White are joined by the Eastwood Mall Marketing team, Bri Ventimiglia and Chloe Schutlz, discussing the holiday shopping season and the prep that goes into making Black Friday an event at the mall.

On this episode of The Radar, 21 News Meteorologist Andrew DiPaolo and Chief Meteorologist Eric Wilhelm discuss what winter is shaping up to look like in the Mahoning and Shenango Valleys this year. 

On today's The Score podcast, 21 Sports Director Dana Balash speaks with Vindicator/Tribune Chronicle Sports Editor Dan Hiner about the Valley teams left in the playoffs and also discusses Youngstown State University football.Also discussed is the future of football at Ursuline for next season, following the cancellation of this year's season.

In this episode of The Outcue, 21 WFMJ News Director Shiela Miller sits down with former News Director Mona Alexander and Second Harvest Food Bank Executive Director Mike Iberis to talk all about 21 WFMJ's Feed Our Valley campaign.

The general election is Tuesday, and 21 News shares how we cover candidates and tax levies - to inform you about issues you will need to cast your vote on. Assistant news editor Justin Mitchell is joined by 5pm anchor Lindsay McCoy and discuss election coverage.They discuss the 5@5, where races and issues are discussed, and how we help you get to know the candidates.

In today's Vibe podcast, hosts Nicole Kalpalko and Jodie White share some scary events that are happening right here in the Valley. Joining them are cast members from "The Nightmare in Niles," including Mr. Mange.They discuss the move from Canfield to Niles, how they have been hosting Halloween events for 45 years and what's changed at their new location.

On the episode of The Radar, meteorologist Andrew DiPaolo sits down with Mill Creek Metroparks educator Lynn Zocolo to discuss fall weather and when we can expect to see that beautiful fall foliage this year.

In today's The Score podcast, 21 Sports Director Dana Balash is joined by Tyler Burk, Assistant Athletic Director and the Director of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) for the Youngstown State University Athletic Department.Burk explains his role in NIL, working with student-athletes to help them navigate sponsorship deals and build brands while staying NCAA compliant.A 2021 US Supreme Court ruling, which found in favor of students, allowed athletes to earn money from their own personal branding opportunities. The NCAA subsequently changed its policy.Learn about his role in helping students at YSU and how quickly deals were made for student-athletes.

In today's Outcue podcast, Assistant News Director Justin Mitchell is joined by reporters Ally Ross and Kaitlyn McCarthy, discussing the critical role that you, our viewers, play in helping stories make it on the air with valuable tips that we investigate.Kaitlyn shares her recent story about how a tip led us to learn of Mercy Health's potential loss of Medicare accreditation. At the same time, Ally speaks on her recent report on gray areas of reporting suspected child abuse to Children's Services from a teacher tipster.If you have a news tip you want to share for us to investigate, you can call the newsroom at 330-744-8821; email us at news@wfmj.com or watchdog@wfmj.com. You can also message us on Facebook Messenger.

In this episode of The Vibe, 21 News's Jodie White and Nicole Kapalko are joined by Steve Johnson, AKA Farmer Steve, from Apple Castle in New Wilmington to talk all about apples. 

In this month's 21 News podcast 'The Radar,' WFMJ chief meteorologist Eric Wilhelm speaks with Tim Stuart, Youngstown State University's Senior Associate Director of Athletics, on how the university prepares for and monitors weather conditions for its outdoor events.With outdoor fall sports like football, golf, tennis, and soccer currently taking place, the weather is always on everyone's mind for safety. 

On this episode of The Score, 21 News Sports Director Dana Balash is joined by Mark Porter of Scouting Ohio to learn all about the website and what it does for student athletes in the Mahoning Valley and beyond. 

Pursuing some news stories is more difficult when they involve private businesses or private schools.For example, while rumors of allegations of what Ursuline officials called "inappropriate behavior" involving students during the June football trip have been circulating, they are not reportable. Sometimes, unanswered questions from an official when serious allegations arise are the story.In today's Outcue Podcast, Assistant News Director Justin Mitchell is joined by anchor/reporter Madison Tromler and Senior Digital Content Manager Robert McFerren, discussing how we cover stories like this, when the police report on the initial report was heavily redacted and following where the facts take us.

Jodie White and Jimmy Wendolek sit down with Canfield Fair Director of Entertainment George Roman to talk about what's new and everything else you can expect to find at the 179th Canfield Fair. 

 In today's Radar podcast, 21 News chief meteorologist Eric Wilhem is joined by Curt Spivey, Planetarium Engineer for Youngstown State University. Spivey discusses what is going on at Ward Beecher Hall, which houses the astronomy center, and some of the astronomical events for the rest of this year and next. 

 In today's Score podcast, 21 Sports Director Dana Balash discusses High School Football, which begins next week. Joining Dana are Valley sports historian Champ Summers, along with YSN founder DJ Yokley, who discuss the 2025 high school football season, from changes in coaching to looking at the local teams and their divisions. The Score is a monthly podcast for sports enthusiasts around the Mahoning and Shenango valleys. 

In today's 21 News Outcue podcast, Assistant News Director Justin Mitchell is joined by 21 News reporter Ally Ross and Weekend Today anchor/reporter Leslie Huff, who discuss all the news coming out of Trumbull County.The stories discussed include a Foxconn update, the uptick of violence in Warren, and the possible reopening of Insight hospitals.Warren's law director said fighting crime was like a game of Whack-a-Mole, but Ross said that efforts to curb violence by closing businesses only caused the crimes to move. "At a certain point, you have to unplug the [Whack-a-Mole] game."There is also the discussion on two Trumbull hospitals saying it is looking to reopen in the coming weeks, but were unable to provide solid answers on how.

 In today's Outcue podcast, Assistant News Director Justin Mitchell talks with the Senior Digital Content Manager, Robert McFerren, about what Foxconn, the world's largest contract electronics manufacturer, may announce regarding something coming to the former Lordstown GM plant. Foxconn, part of Hon Hai Technology Group in Taiwan, announced Wednesday that they were working with TECO Electric & Machinery Co., which owns Westinghouse and builds engines in Texas, on AI data centers. While not much is currently known about what to expect here, Mitchell and McFerren discuss some of the potential options based on recent news from the company. 

Vibe hosts Jimmy Wendolek and Jodie White discuss the Panerathon — a 10K/2 Mile Walk/Run held in downtown Youngstown — which benefits the Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Breast Care Center. The annual event attracts thousands of people to Youngstown.Joining our hosts are Marie Strange with Mercy Help  Foundation Mahoning Valley and Carson Ryan, Race Director for JAC Live. Panerathon is scheduled to take place on August 24.

In today's 21 News podcast, The Radar, WFMJ's chief Meteorologist Eric Wilhelm talks about all the people who submit those beautiful weather photos to us here at WFMJ.Joining Eric is local weather photographer Dan Owens, who lives in Springfield Township and enjoys sharing his stunning photographic work, including images of lightning storms and other weather events. Dan shares his stories of his photography work and why he enjoys it.If you would like to share your weather pics, please send them to us at weatherpics@wfmj.com

This week on The Score, Dana Balash sits down with Youngstown Bishop David Bonnar to talk about sports including his favorite teams and players, as well as his time as Chaplain for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In today's The Outcue podcast, assistant news director Justin Mitchell talks with guests 21 News reporter Kaitlyn McCarthy and Senior Digital Content Manager Robert McFerren. All have worked on investigating and reporting on the sale of the Southern Park Mall, the new ownership, and some of the troubles the new ownership has experienced at other shopping malls it has owned nationwide.Today's discussion focuses on why we cover stories like the sale of the mall and why we do follow-ups. The mall is a private business; yet, it has a significant impact on residents of Boardman Township and Mahoning County through the taxes the facility generates and the people it employs.The discussion looks back at when we first heard rumblings of an impending sale through the late tax payments for the first half of the year. The late payments cause the township to change its plans for purchases, and discuss why it is crucial to keep our community informed on stories like this.

In this episode of The Vibe, Jimmy Wendolek and Jodie White sit down with Eric Ryan of JAC Management and Alyssa Connelly-Bissett of Sunrise Entertainment discuss several upcoming concerts in the Mahoning Valley.

21 Storm Tracker Chief Meteorologist Eric Wilhelm and guest weather enthusiast Ralph Mack talk about how to be a weather geek including how to set up your own personal weather station and rain gauges, which ones are best and how much they cost, what you learn in a SKYWARN training session and what kind of weather forums there are fore weather hobbyists. 

On this week's episode of The Score, 21 News's Dana Balash catches up with former Major League Baseball umpire John Hirschbeck.

This week on The Outcue, 21 News 5pm producer Brandon Brown discusses everything that goes into getting 21 News at 5pm on the air every day. 

In today's Outcue podcast, we look back on the first anniversary of the Realty Building explosion, which killed one and injured nine people after workers cut into a natural gas line.The explosion sent shockwaves through our community, literally and figuratively.Joining Outcue host Justin Mitchell are three reporters, Kaitlyn McCarthy, Sydney Canty, and Madison Tromler, who have covered the stories, including new information released by the National Transportation Safety Board on the explosion, as well as plans for the site. 

The Vibe podcast hosts, meteorologists Jodie White and Jimmy Wendolek, talk with Luke Shelton of Pure Flight Disc Golf of Boardman.With the warm temperatures of spring and summer come people looking to try new outdoor games, like disc golf.Hear about the sport's history and places where you can get supplies for local courses.

In today's The Radar podcast, 21 News chief meteorologist Eric Wilhelm looks back at the 40th anniversary of the May 31, 1985, tornado outbreak that impacted the Valley and Northwest Pennsylvania, and beyond, leaving behind death and destruction.Joining Eric is Chris Cerenelli, 21 News weekend anchor and weather forecaster, along with meteorologist Andrew DiPaolo, talking about what happened that day.

This week on The Score, Dana Balash talks with the YSU Bowling Team who just brought home the National Championship.The Youngstown State University bowling team defeated Jacksonville State in the National Championship match, 4-3 April 12.This marked the first women's National Championship title in school history plus the school's first since 1997.

In today's episode of The Outcue podcast, Assistant News Director Justin Mitchell discusses building trust in our reporting with Corey McCrae, weekend anchor and reporter at 21 News, and Robert McFerren, Senior Digital Content Manager.We discuss how we built trust with sources in a case involving a Goshen Township dog breeder that was sentenced last week. From vetting sources to verifying facts, we examine how trust and truth are two of the most important aspects for a journalist to have and to seek.

 This week on The Vibe lifestyle podcast, hosts Jodie White and Jimmy Wendolek speak with Brooke Klenke, owner of 3 Maples on Market, located in North Lima, who talks about everything tomatoes and the 51 heirloom varieties she grows and sells. Klenke also talks about varieties that may be best for you and your garden. The Vibe, a monthly podcast, offers information on entertainment, pop culture, and events around the Valley. 

Everyone is excited for the warm temperatures of Spring. But no one likes allergy season, with pollen from the flowers blooming, the buds on trees growing, and the weeds growing.In today's latest installment of 'The Radar,' a 21 News podcast about everything impacted by weather and weather-related stories, meteorologist Andrew DiPaolo speaks with Dr. Benjamin Brocker with Mercy Health, who discusses seasonal pollen and ways to lessen your exposure to these elements.

21 Sports Director Dana Balash is joined by Curbstone Coaches President Bob Camardo and First Vice President Tom Miller. They discuss who they are, what they do, and their upcoming annual Hall of Fame banquet.The non-profit was formed in 1958 when members of the Mahoning Valley's sports media recognized a need to create a group that would meet weekly and allow Valley sports fans to participate in programs concerning topics in athletics.

In today's 21 News podcast, 'The Outcue,' 21 News Assistant News Director Justin Mitchell sits down with reporter/weekend anchor Sydney Canty and reporter Leslie Huff to discuss the ongoing developments at Insight Hospital & Medical Center Trumbull. The trio discusses the rapid events that led to the shutdown of the hospital, Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital and satellite offices in the Valley.The discussion explores the impact on Trumbull County, the people, and the employees notified of the closing on the day of, who did not receive their paychecks, lost their healthcare insurance, and have an uncertain future.

The Vibe is a 21 News podcast hosted by Jodi White and Jimmy Wendolek, who will bring you information on entertainment, pop culture, and events around the Mahoning and Shenango valleys and the region.In its debut episode, the hosts discuss the spring planting season with guests Laura Barovich of Joe's Greenhouse and Farm Market in Hermitage and Kim Sisco from White House Fruit Farm in Green Township.

This week, 21 News Chief Meteorologist Eric Wilhelm introduces the new weather-related 21 News podcast, "The Radar."This week is severe weather awareness week in Ohio, and Tyler Berry, a local storm chaser and weather enthusiast with his outfit "Chasing Ohio," will join Eric to discuss severe weather.Other weather-related stories will air on "The Radar" in the next few months, including a 21 News Meteorologist discussing allergies that come with the changing seasons. In May, Eric and 21 News Weekend Anchor and weather forecaster Chris Cerenelli will discuss the 40th anniversary of the deadly May 31, 1985 tornado that tore through Niles and Wheatland, Pa.

 'The Score' is a 21 News podcast hosted by 21 Sports Director Dana Balash that will discuss all things sports around the Valley. Youngstown State University Executive Director of Athletics Ron Strollo joins Dana in the debut episode. Their conversation provides an overview of the YSU athletic department and its recent men's basketball appearance in the Horizon League Championship. 

Today's Outcue isn't a look behind the story but an introduction to 21 News' expansion of its podcasts — adding three additional podcasts that will join The Outcue to our lineup.Assistant News Director Justin Mitchell sits down with meteorologists Jodie White and Jimmy Wendolek, who talk about their new podcast called The Vibe, which will bring you information on entertainment and events around the region; and in the second half, Mitchell is joined by 21 News Sports Director Dana Balash and 21 News chief meteorologist Eric Wilhelm, who speak about the new sports podcast 'The Score' and 'The Radar,' a weather-related podcast.Here is the lineup for the additional 21 News podcast and premiere dates:March 13: The ScoreMarch 20: The RadarMarch 27: The Vibe

 In today's Outcue podcast, Assistant News Director Justin Mitchell and reporter Kaitlyn McCarthy discuss the four-part Watchdog Investigation into JobsOhio, a non-profit organization that receives state liquor profits for funding. However, for transparency's sake, the spending of these public funds can't be viewed once given to the private entity. McCarthy discussed JobsOhio with Democrats and Republicans, some of whom shared their concerns about the corporation's lack of transparency and some about issues with the organization itself. The Outcue will now be posted weekly every Thursday morning and listen for next week's Outcue, where we will introduce three new additional podcasts that will be added to our rotation. 'The Score' — a sports-based podcast with Dana Balash, will premiere on March 13, followed by 'The Radar' with 21 News chief meteorologist Eric Wilhelm and meteorologist Andrew DiPaolo discussing weather on March 20, and 'The Vibe,' an entertainment, events and culture in the Valley, hosted by Jodi White and Jimmy Wendolek beginning March 27. 

This week on the story-behind-the-story podcast, Assistant News Director Justin Mitchell is joined by some of the reporters who have spent the last two years covering the toxic train derailment that occurred in East Palestine, quickly followed by the decision to vent and burn the hazardous chemicals inside the derailed tanker cars.Joining Mitchell to reflect and share stories from this anchor/reporter Derek Steyer, anchor/reporter Madison Tromler and weekend anchor/reporter Corey McCrae. All share insight and look at what has and hasn't been done in the last two years involving East Palestine and rail safety.