Barnstorming PA

Taylor and Jordi are joined by Meghan Beck and Le Paliulis to talk about the Susquehanna Valley Community Education Project. This project is seeking to establish a new community college to Union, Snyder, Northumberland, and Montour Counties. Together, they envision a future where there are cost-effective, local opportunities for training/up-skilling, associate degrees, and workforce development....

An all-star cast of returning champs, newcomers, and even a “doctor in the house” joined us for a review of the 2022 PA Primary- one of 538’s “Top 16 GOP Primaries to Watch” (yo, the Dem side is interesting too, ya number nerds). We are joined by Terrayne Myricks of Alcoholitics, Jess Brittain (long time...

Dwayne Heisler, Jordi Comas, and Taylor Lightman share thoughts on one of the more recent PA Democratic Senate Debates. After some headlines, they listen and respond to clips from the debate. The first clip is about whether or not the candidates would support ending the gas tax in response to inflation and high gas taxes....

We listen to highlights from the Democratic Senate Primary debate with Terrayne Myricks, the laughing and wry host of Alcoholitics (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alcoholitics/id1403073002). We focus on key moments from Rep Conor Lamb (https://www.conorlamb.com/) , State Rep Malcolm Kenyatta (https://www.malcolmkenyatta.com/), and Lt. Governor John Fetterman (https://johnfetterman.com/). We discuss the amazing idea that a simply safe magic prize would...

Jordi and Taylor sit down with Rep. Conor Lamb who is currently running in the Democratic primary for US Senate. The free-flowing conversation covered the opioid epidemic, his vision for healthcare, climate change, hydrogen, and more. Visit www.conorlamb.com for more information. Visit www.barnstormingpa.org/shop to buy some merchandise! Visit www.patreon.com/BarnstormingPA/ to donate!

May 7! Community Health Fair in NEPA! (https://stayhappening.com/e/gwv-nurses-community-health-fair-E2ISU9IARIO) 12-4 at Kirby park! Organized by the Greater Wyoming Valley Nurses!Join Logan, and his dad, nurse Ryan, as we discuss this great community event. Solely organized by had-working nurses and frontline health care workers as a day to celebrate, health, wellness, community, resilience and spring weather! Nurses...

Terrayne, our friend from the Alcoholitics podcast [https://anchor.fm/alcoholitics], makes the case for voting for Malcolm Kenyatta as the Democratic candidate for US Senate.  Jenna [https://twitter.com/End_LWOP), Henry, Taylor, and Jordi join the roundtable.   We believe in competitive primaries and open platforms so that voters, not party bosses, decide who wins nominations. We also play the...

We welcome back Stacy Richards, Union County Commissioner, to check in about rural news and updates.  Long time friend, Stacy shares her insights and perspectives on the steady work of making positive changes through good policy.  We talk about election integrity and threats to democracy.  The county commissioners are a key element of a good...

“Don’t wait on your neighbor because your neighbor may be waiting on you.” Malcolm Kenyatta (https://www.malcolmkenyatta.com/) discusses his vision for a politics that heals a broken social contract with working people of all backgrounds. He also shares stories of uniting people across regional and other kinds of difference across PA as part of his own...

We welcome back Mayor Derek Slaughter (https://www.cityofwilliamsport.org/government/mayors-office/) of WIlliamsport two years after his sea-change victory to become the first African-American mayor, as well as a major shift from an old guard to a younger, more progressive cohort of local electeds. Check out our prior show with him. KJ Williams, newly a resident of Williamsport, joins...

Intrepid hosts Taylor, Jordi, and Jess try to record a quick podcast and fail — there was too much to talk about! They begin with some quick headlines. Jordi talks about how Chambersburg, PA became the first municipality in PA to repeal their Non-Discrimination Ordinance. Taylor talks about Dr. Oz’s campaign to become the next...

Jordi and Taylor are joined by Jenna Henry from Better PA and Dwayne Heisler from SEIU to do a J6 retrospective. They begin by talking about how their feelings today are different than their immediate feelings after J6. This launches them into a longer free flowing conversation about how the insurrection happened, what are the...

On this episode, Jordi and Taylor interview Colin Jerolmack, author of ‘Up To Heaven And Down To Hell: Fracking, Freedom, and Community In An American Town’. This book examines the sociology of fracking in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, artfully telling this story through a mix of personal biographies and social theory. Jordi and Taylor begin by asking...

Ahead of a public forum in Williamsport on Saturday, Nov 3 at 1 in Brandon Park, Jordi was honored to have David Garlock (https://twitter.com/DavidLeegarlock) and Tyree Little of the newly formed Straight Ahead organization in PA (https://twitter.com/TowardAbolition). Thanks to Jennifer Black for helping to produce this episode. David and Tyree share their stories of being...

We pulled together smart people from all over PA to cover local races we each had an eye on as well as the results from the PA-wide judicial elections. We, too, fell into the trap of not waiting for all the votes to be counted. Since this was recorded, Judge Lori Dumas has pulled ahead...

Biden released on Oct 27 his framework for the Build Back Better reconciliation bill (https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/10/28/build-back-better-framework/). Along with the already-passed physical infrastructure bill, these two are the centerpiece of the very agenda Biden and Democrats ran and won on at the national level. With Dwayne Heisler (SEIU Healthcare PA https://twitter.com/dwayneheisler ) and Jeff Garis (The 99%...

Election day is just around the corner and today we release an interview with Dan Greak who is running for Union Township Supervisor in Union County! Dan has lived in the area for most of his life working as a contractor and teaching Tae Kwon Do first in East Lewisburg and now in Winfield. If...

Welcome to Season 4! We start the season off by interviewing Judge David Spurgeon who is currently running for Commonwealth Court. We begin the interview by talking about his upbringing in McKeesport in the Monongahela Valley and how his background led him to a successful career in law. Next, we talk about his decision to...

Judge Lori Dumas (https://www.judgedumas2021.com/) is running for the PA Commonwealth Court, one of the three major courts in PA (with Superior- parallel to Commonwealth and Superior- the highest). We whole-heartedly support her candidacy, and you can see why in this interview. Be sure to vote November 2! It’s an opportunity year. Judge Dumas’ website is...

This is Why Courts Matter! We get to elect our highest justices in PA. Judge Lane is the ONLY candidate for superior court who has, ya know, been a judge! Us PA voters have one vote for Superior Court (and one for Supreme Court and TWO for Commonwealth Court. Judge Timika Lane (https://judgelane.com/) discusses her...

Huge thank you to Dave Kamper (labor organizer and historian), Hillary Rothrock (SEIU PA member and leader), and Jeff Kennedy (political consultant and broadcaster) for joining Jordi on this deep dive into labor today. Aaron Troisi makes a special “guest” appearance via a prior recording. We also discuss Jane McAlevey’s critique of the Bezmer strike...

Judge Maria McLaughlin hops on the pod for an interview about her candidacy for PA Supreme Court! The conversation begins topically about cheesesteaks and quickly gets into the importance and unusual nature of the PA judicial races in 2021. We hear from the Judge about her background and how her parents emphasis on education propelled...

Mawkward- a Jordi neologism of Male +Awkward: the awkward space in a conversation of men talking about Womens’ (protest, health, issues, agenda… fill in the blank). Please support the show by donating one time at PayPal or being a monthly donor with Patreon (merch and swag on it’s way!) Kate DiPasquale, from Columbia county, tearing...

Welcome to Season 4! We start the season off by interviewing Judge David Spurgeon who is currently running for Commonwealth Court. We begin the interview by talking about his upbringing in McKeesport in the Monongahela Valley and how his background led him to a successful career in law. Next, we talk about his decision to...

Ideal for grassroots leaders, engaged citizens and newly aroused, angry people. Come to learn how to build people power or sustain and nurture your group (two tracks). Title is HUB Facilitator Daryl Lewis describing his own realization of the power of organized people. Register at https://bit.ly/HUBSummitFall2021

This is a recording of our first LIVE episode. Huge thank you to Terryane Myricks of Alcoholitics and Jontel Toland of the Leon Block for sharing their words, laughs, patience and wisdom with us. Topics include ruminations and reflections on Afghanistan, the aftermath of the killing of Ricardo Muñoz in Lancaster (link to candlelight vigil...

Is it too early for a retrospective piece on the 2020 election? We think not! This week Jordi and Taylor pull out an episode that's been again nicely in the wine cellar. Stephen Caruso, Ben Forstate, and Jamie Perrapato join as an expert panel to interpret the 2020 general election in PA and give some...

Did someone suggest climate action here in Pennsylvania?? David Heayn-Menendez, Katie Blume, and Mark Szybist join Taylor Lightman to talk about RGGI, or the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a multi-state cap and invest program, which seeks to limit the the green house gas emissions from the power sector and invest back in Pennsylvania. They first...

Respect Us. Protect Us. Pay Us. – July 13 Day of Action: Care is Essential Empezamos con un pequeño anuncio en Español por Maddie para todos los hispanohabalantes que eschuchen. Maddie también traduzca más durante el podcast. Thank you to our amazing guests Kearni Warren, Lynn Weidner, Maddie Lopez-Vazquez, Erica Payne all from Pennsylvania, and LaNoral...

Adrian Miller, the Soul Food Scholar, and Sharee Clark, founder of Freedom Fighters in Wilkes-Barre, join Sam and Jordi for a rich, meaty discussion about Juneteenth, Adrian’s stellar writing on food and African-American heritage (and just all-American heritage!), Juneteenth in our area and more! Thanks to Bucknell University and the NAACP for arranging for his...

The regional Juneteenth celebration coming up on Saturday, June 19, from 10:30am to 5pm in Brandon Park, Williamsport, will include, among many other things, a mobile vaccine clinic provided by River Valley Health and Dental.  The mobile clinic will be offering J&J single-dose vaccination between 11 and 3 that day.  The first 50 to get...

Check our our amendment discussion and our breakdown of the new GOP candidate Sean Parnell’s video. GREAT CONTENT! vote May 18! 7 am – 8 pm polls open Sean Parnell Ad

Tierra Williams is running for Ferguson Township Supervisor in Centre County. You can support her directly here. She is part of the PA United “We Can’t Wait” slate of candidates. Tierra was fresh off of a poetry and politics events which we certainly heard more about it for being cool and innovative. Townships, in PA, […]

Lewisburg, PA has it’s very own Democratic primary for mayor! Taylor Lightman sits down with both David Heayn-Menendez and Kendy Alvarez and talks about the issues. They first cover their backgrounds, their reasons for running, and three things they’d change about the borough. Next, they play a game about their favorite things about the borough […]

Jordi Comas interviews a PA United slate of candidates running for State College Borough Council: Gopal Balachandran, Richard Biever, and Divine Lipscomb. Collectively, they are running on a progressive platform of racial justice, mental health support, and economic stability. The conversation spans housing policy, accessibility to prosperity, and how to reinvest, reimagine, and renew State […]

Jordi and Taylor interview Amanda Green-Hawkins who is currently running for Commonwealth Court in PA. We begin the conversation by talking about the role of the Commonwealth Court and the responsibilities of a judge. We then talk about Amanda Green-Hawkins’ personal and professional background. Afterwards there is a discussion about equity in the judicial system, […]

Welcome to the BarnstormingPA/Alcoholitics crossover episode! It’s finally happened. Taylor, Jess Britain, and Sam Pearson welcome Terrayne Myricks from Alcoholitics. After much introduction banter and fun, they have do rant headlines. Jess rants about Harrisburg Republicans meeting with Kansas Republican Secretary of State Kris Kobach about election issues. Terrayne rants about the phrase “this is […]

Welcome to the pod! On this episode, we talk about the ways you can care for the Earth on Earth Day with David Heayn-Menendez from PAIPL, Sam Pearson from Lewisburg Neighborhoods, and Nick Pressley from the We The People Campaign. After some banter and housekeeping, we do some intro’s and hear what everyone is up […]

This is our second episode looking back at a year of pandemic and looking forward. Thrilled to invite long-time friend of The HUB for Progress (www.thehub4progress.org) , Aaron Troisi, Lead Political Organizer with SEIU Healthcare PA. 60% of nursing home employees have resisted getting vaccines. Aaron describes that is a problem of the left and […]

We mark a year since the pandemic began wit special guest Hillary Rothrock, a home healthcare worker, union leader, single mom, and excellent guest. She recently led a “Fast for $15” with other comrades to draw attention to how our most “essential workers” are shockingly horribly underpaid. Twitter #Fastfor15 (https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/video/5368692-caregivers-asking-lawmakers-to-increase-minimum-wage-end-48-hour-fast/ https://twitter.com/hashtag/fastfor15?src=hashtag_click&f=live) Want to help? CallDOH […]

We have been fans of Katie Blume and GIllian Kratzer for years- their work in pa, their fabulous aura, and of course the rib-breaking laugh fest. Katie has years of experience in political, environmental and community organizing. She hails from Eastern Centre County (NOT State College) where she is also on the Milheim Borough Council. […]

Taylor, Jordi, and Dwayne are joined by returning champion Keith Pemrick, an Adjunct Professor at American University and a managing partner at Commonwealth Strategic Partners, and Jeff Garis, the Outreach and Engagement Director at The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center. We come together to deconstruct The American Rescue Plan! After some intro’s and obscure PA […]

  Kate DiPasquale and Jess Brittain join Taylor and Jordi to talk about reproductive and sexual health in terms of access (read this), politics (read this), and culture. We also get our first installment of “Heard in the Kitchen” from Jess. We learn about Kate’s journey to becoming an organizer. Find out why Jess says […]

Jordi aims to keep his losing record on Taylor’s games perfect. Cole Goodman answers the BarnstormingPA bat signal and jumps on to bail us out with his insight and good humor. And an AMAZING Miami Vice track suit. Oh, and headlines. Malcolm Kenyatta’s jump into the race gets the hot take treatment. Bonus! Cole also […]

Jordi and Nathan sit down with KJ Williams, one of the leaders from “If Not Us, Then Who” (INUTW). INUTW is “a community organization started in Milton, Pa that is committed and dedicated to spread awareness about injustice, inequality, and racism.” In the interview, they talk about how the organization started and what their process […]

Jordi and Taylor welcome three Pennsylvania politico’s steeped in rural organizing in Pennsylvania. Most recently, Chris Benson worked as Communications Director for Amanda Waldman’s campaign for PA’s 84th District, Chuck Black served as Finance Director for Amanda Waldman’s and Lee Griffin’s campaigns, and Christian Chludzinski worked as Field Director for Lee Griffin and Jackie Baker who ran for PA Senate in […]

Thanks to show sponsors Billy Kelly and Mondragon Book store in the Open Door Gallery at 430 Market St in Lewisburg.Please fill out our listener survey!  https://bit.ly/BarnstormingPAform  If you want to join us for the BLM biweekly Roundtable for NEPA and rural PA, email us at info@thehub4progress.org or look on Facebook. We are thrilled to […]

Jordi, Dwayne, and Nathan welcome Nick Pressley on the show! After some introduction banter and housekeeping, we get to hear a little bit more about Nick’s story. Then, each host gives their headlines for the week — Dwayne talks about COVID and vaccines, Jordi talks about systemic racism and the PADems judicial endorsements, and Nick […]

We are joined by Karen Wolf, PhD. Karen is a nurse practitioner, nurse educator and a political sociologist making her uniquely qualified to understand the complexities of health, community, and human systems. Bonus fun fact: she is also a UU making this episode 75% UUs (Sam, Jordi, and Karen). We review the Biden COVID plan, […]

In this inauguration episode, Jordi, Dwayne and Nathan are joined by special guest, Cole Goodman! They discuss their headlines from the inauguration, play a game about inaugural speeches that Taylor devised, and dig a bit deeper about how they felt about the inauguration. Lastly, they talk about the Judicial races coming up in 2021 in […]

Long ago, before the mayhem of J6, we recorded an episode recapping the 2021 Hub For Progress Winter Summit. Jordi, Sam, Nathan, and Jess Britain talk about their takeaways from the event, they play a game about events, and talk about changes they would make with a ‘magic wand.’ Fill out the listener survey!