Spoils of Akron Podcast

This week, we catch up with Keith Johnston, and frankly, we’re a little out of breath. That’s because he started Running2bWell, a running group open to all fitness levels that offers free training and is geared toward people in recovery. He talks about the science behind how physical activity improves mental well-being, along with the health benefits of connections,  and this group offers both of these things, as inclusiveness is the main focus of activities. Also, those who show up to three running meetups get a new pair of running shoes, he adds. The group is hosting the Buzzard Beach 5K Saturday, July 20 at Munroe Falls Metro Park, 521 S. River Road, in Munroe Falls. To register, visit http://bit.ly/2H77qPV. Registration is open until the event starts. 

This week, we visit Rock Mill Climbing (and Yoga and Fitness) in downtown Akron to check out their climbing wall, which is geared toward a number of ages and skill levels. We speak with Nicholas Muffet, director of marketing and community for Rock Mill Climbing, who offers a number of pointers for “bouldering” (like using your legs more than your arms to support yourself), along with how to properly fall from the climbing wall. Be sure to visit our Facebook page or the Akronist's YouTube channel for a video from our visit. For info, visit rockmillclimbing.com.

Yes, we're back from a bit of a hiatus, but fear not, because we cover months of ground in this single episode: what we've been up to, and what Akron's been up to. We offer some perspective to all the construction and orange barrels downtown, and we talk about the amazing placemaking efforts happening, the importance of local sourcing, and some of the many recent Akron events, like the opening of the first floor Generator Space at Bounce Innovation Hub. Speaking of Bounce, this episode is sponsored by HAZEL TREE DESIGN STUDIO, which is behind Bounce's incredible new look and redesign. Visit www.hazeltreeinteriors.com for info. 

This week we welcome Jillian Smith, founder of the ChickLits Book Club Akron, which offers a space where local women can connect through literature in an unconventional environment. The group meets monthly at Annabell’s in Highland Square, and meetups are often paired with signature drinks, food and activities to benefit local charities, along with entertainment. For example, a recent event included a body positive burlesque performance. She speaks with Shane and Chris about what inspired this group, along with her love of hot dogs and horror movies, and her favorite things to do in Akron. ChickLits meets on the third Tuesday of the month. The next meetup is Tuesday, Sept. 18, 7:30 p.m. at Annabell’s. You can find the group on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/chicklits/, or Instagram (@chicklits_akron).

It’s going to be a busy month for Devil Strip Publisher Chris Horne. This Saturday, Aug. 11 is the second annual Signal Tree Fest, which will celebrate so many things that make us uniquely Akron: music, food, vendors, children’s activities, yoga and a long list of Akron staples at Lock 3 and Lock 4 in downtown Akron. Chris also is on his way to Stanford University in California, where he’s been awarded a prestigious John S. Knight Journalism Fellowship. Shane and Cody speak with Chris about these well-earned accolades, and we meet Rosalie Murphy, the Devil Strip magazine’s new editor in chief. Signal Tree Fest will run from noon till 10 p.m. For info, visit https://www.signaltreefest.com/.

On Saturday, Aug. 4, an estimated 1,000 people will gather under the giant awning of the Trolley Barn in downtown Akron for Akron Ale Fest, which celebrates some of the area’s best craft breweries, which organizer Mathias King says are at once chemists and artists when concocting their ale recipes. Chris and Cody talk with Mathias about the intricacies of hosting a large-scale event like this, whose proceeds will benefit Crafty Mart. Tickets and volunteer opportunities are available by visiting www.akronalefest.com.

On Saturday, Aug. 25, thousands of Akronites will celebrate our diverse LGBTQ population with the Second Annual March for Equality and Akron Pride Festival. This week, we welcome Rebecca Callahan, executive director of CANAPI (the Community AIDS Network/Akron Pride Initiative), along with Phil Montgomery and Cindy Christman, from the Akron Community Foundation’s Gay Community Endowment Fund. We talk about Pride Fest — a safe, family-friendly event with live music, vendors, food trucks, children’s activities and other amenities — along with the discrimination that is still prevalent against the LGBTQ community, bringing about the need for Akron’s anti-discrimination ordinance. For info about Pride Fest, visit www.akronpridefestival.org. For more about CANAPI, visit www.canapi.org, and to learn more about the Gay Community Endowment Fund, visit www.akroncf.org/gcef.

More than 130 bands will take the stage, er, porches, for this year’s Highland Square Porch Rokr Festival, which on this very podcast was once dubbed “Rock N Roll Christmas.” This week, we speak with Katie Carver Reed, from the Highland Square Neighborhood Association, a vast network of neighborhood volunteers who go to great lengths to make sure this festival is a success each year. Porch Rokr, which takes place Saturday, Aug. 18, will feature a beer garden, morning yoga, food trucks and other vendors, a limited raffle for a guitar signed by music legends Dan and Chuck Auerbach, a karaoke stage and, of course, lots of music. And speaking of music, we also have a conversation with Luminari and Smokeface from dynamic hip-hop group Red Rose Panic, this year’s Porch Rokr main stage headliners. They explain their band origins, along with making the most of each 24. For info, visit http://www.highlandsquareakron.org/porchrokr.aspx.

It’s been a busy summer so far for the Spoils crew, but we finally have a chance to catch up. Cody has a cool new job, Shane is starting another powerful visual storytelling project, this time in North Hill, and Ryan talks about his aspirations of being a roller-skating ref. From outdoor Zumba downtown, to duck derbies and roller skating parties, the fearless hosts count the many ways Akron is as much a cool summer spot as any vacation destination, especially during August.

Roller derby is a full contact sport, but the athletes are much more than their tough exteriors depict. Envision football on roller skates, says Kiwi, one of the athletes for Akron Roller Derby, which will play its next bout Saturday, June 16, at the Summit County Fairgrounds. This week, we speak with a number of athletes from the team and learn about the stories behind their roller derby monikers, along with what they do when they’re not skating. The team is a “mega-team” comprising former members of NEO Roller Derby and the Rubber City Rollergirls. Roller derby skaters must pass a number of tests to join the team, one being 27 laps around the track in five minutes (which is more challenging than it sounds). Plus, they’re some of the hardest working athletes in the area. For info, visit www.akronrollerderby.net.

Akron Adventures is a mystery podcast for young listeners that’s inspired by real Akron events. This week, we’re happy to welcome Julie Drew and Casey Shevlin, two of the three women behind this new podcast, with a team that comprises writers and educators who pull from a host of experience, including children’s literature, storytelling, film and production. Julie and Casey discuss this compelling form of serial storytelling that involves written scripts, actors and sound effects and hearkens back to radio plays of the past. They also talk about their affinity for Akron, a “right-sized city” for creative work such as theirs. The first season of the podcast is based on a mystery surrounding the graves at Akron’s Schneider Park, which was once the site of the Summit County Infirmary (or poor house). You can listen to Akron Adventures through iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud (and anywhere else you hear podcasts). For info, visit https://www.snowdayproductions.com.

Even if you haven’t heard of Amp Strategy, chances are you’ve seen their work. Founded by sisters Kat Pestian and Morgan Lasher, the marketing and communications company is behind a number of successful local campaigns to personalize the messages of nonprofits, businesses and other organizations and share authentic stories of the people within. While their careers have taken them all over the country, like Boston and Los Angeles (where Kat actually brushed elbows with George Clooney), Kat and Morgan were happy to return to Akron early in their careers to make their mark on Akron. The entrepreneurs join Ryan and Cody to share their own personal stories, along with what inspired them to branch off and start their own business. They also talk about their many connections to the community, like Morgan’s recent appointment to the Akron Public Schools Board of Education. To learn more about the amazing work they do, visit http://www.ampstrategy.com/.

This week, we welcome Hannah Comeriato, who collected personally powerful stories for the book “TransAkron,” which was published by the Gay Community Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation and spotlights a range of gender noncomforming community members. For the book, Comeriato collaborated with Shane, who took photos, and the people the two of them met have made a lasting impression. Hopefully, this storytelling project also will serve as an educational resource for those who are cisgender who may want to learn more about what it means to be transgender, including meanings of pronouns and terms, along with awareness of the discrimination and danger faced by transgender residents. For info about this story series and the Gay Community Endowment Fund’s news, visit www.akroncf.org/gcef. 

Akron is at the tipping point of innovation and entrepreneurship, says Heather Roszczyk, the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Advocate for the city of Akron, who joins Shane and Chris to discuss the landscape of local business startups, including the opening of the new Bounce Innovation Hub in downtown Akron. And innovation doesn’t necessarily mean tech-based inventions, it’s merely a revolutionary way of looking at something, she adds. It’s apparent that Akronites take a unique view of the world around us, which is likely why we were selected for eBay’s Retail Revival program, and Heather points this out as an example of e-commerce and bricks and mortar working hand-in-hand. We also learn about Heather's operatic college studies and her endurance running accomplishments, along with what keeps her in Akron. To find out more about Heather’s amazing work in the community, visit akronisforentrepreneurs.org.

This week, we welcome the multi-talented Courtney Cable, Creative Director of the Curated Storefront program, which manages multimedia public art installations in some of downtown Akron's vacant buildings, helping to beautify these spaces as they await development. Courtney, who’s also a jewelry maker and musician, shares a unique vantage point of Akron’s arts landscape, along with leading Shane and Chris in a singalong, featuring commercial jingles for Tootsie Rolls and Ms. Pac Man Cereal. We also talk about local paw-paw harvests and getting buried in a Don Drumm casserole dish. For info about Curated Storefront, visit http://www.curatedstorefront.org/.

This week we visit Pub Bricco in the Merriman Valley, one of many local places where you can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year. We try some of their great food (the sauerkraut and corned beef bites are like "little fried Ruebens," notes Shane) and talk about the history of the eatery, along with the unique Black Box Theatre, that’s also part of the building. If you do celebrate St. Patrick’s with a drink or two, be sure to have a designated driver or call an Uber, Lyft or cab. Also, check out our Facebook page for a video from this episode. And for info about the restaurant, visit https://www.pubbricco.com/.

Ma’Sue Productions has helped preserve the African-American experience through theatre and storytelling. This week, Shane and Chris sit down with Ma-Sue’s John Dayo-Aliya and Vince Tyree to talk about their Knight Arts Challenge grant for a tour of the play “Or Does It Explode?” (donations and support are being accepted to help fulfill their grant match), a new story series called #Blakron, and the origins of theatre company’s name, along with an upcoming fundraiser March 23 at the Akron Civic Theatre, which happens to also coincide with a birthday party for local journalist and Ma’Sue supporter Yoly Miller. And when they’re not busy producing quality theatre, John and Vince play in a local band, Church of Starry Wisdom, which is described as macabre worship music with pop sensibilities. For info on attending the fundraiser or contributing to the grant match, visit www.facebook.com/masueproductions.

This week we welcome Amber Cullen, organizer of “Until Name Becomes Prayer,” which takes place Monday, Feb. 26, 7 p.m. at Summit Artspace and will feature award-winning Samoan poet and educator William Alfred Nu’utupu Giles, who will stop through Akron as part of his national poetry tour. We also speak with Pumpkin, a Native-American artist, writer and speaker, whose pottery demonstrations will join a number of other local artists at the "Until Name Becomes Prayer" event, including Himalayan Music Academy (music/dance), Gum-Dip Theatre (theatre), Hula Fusion (dance), Akron BMe Community (poetry) and Poetry is Life Publishing (poetry). Pumpkin, who moved to the Akron area from the Southwest, shares an indigenous perspective to being an American and talks about how Giles’ visit will help raise native voices through creativity, meaningful discussion, arts and other avenues. Giles’ visit also will include writing workshops and open mics, like an "open mic response" Tuesday, Feb. 27, 7 p.m. at The Exchange House (760 Elma St., on North Hill). Visit the “Until Name Becomes Prayer” event page for info.

Yeah, we know. This is a tagline from another podcast (My Favorite Murder), but it seems like a useful piece of advice, one of many we share as the “Core Four” catches up and talks about the myriad cool developments in town, like eBay choosing Akron for a first-of-its-kind retail initiative, the new Akron Art Library, along with self-help tips like using car karaoke as therapy. We also discuss our new podcast direction, which will center around interesting local people in more experience-based interviews. If you have any ideas for future episodes, please send them our way at spoilsofakron@gmail.com.

At the Akron Makerspace, the only limits are your own imagination. From 3-D printing to woodworking, sewing, laser-engraving, metalwork and crafts, you can pretty much make anything at this volunteer-staffed membership organization. This week, Chris and Shane sit down with Devin Wolfe and Beck Radonich, from Akron Makerspace, about the growing national “maker movement” and the organization’s many offerings, including free classes, game nights and mentorships, along with the Makerspace’s future plans to move into Bounce - Akron's Innovation Hub, a new collaborative that will offer a one-stop shop for startups, innovators, universities and others. Bounce also will help makers scale up their business models and ideas. For info about this incredible organization, visit www.akronmakerspace.org.

This week, we visit Melodie Laird, a stylist at Dino Palmieri Salon, in Fairlawn's Summit Mall, who takes great care in her work. She’s able to read people and their hair to determine the best style for her customers. She also discusses how her job is part psychologist, and she’s even inadvertently helped save a customer from a health scare, as she points out when recounting a memorable experience. And Shane, Ryan and Cody get their hair styled, which you can see by checking out our accompanying video on the Spoils of Akron Facebook page.

While virtual reality is typically known within gaming and entertainment, there are a number of practical applications for this technology, says Eric Vaughan and Tony Samangy, who join Shane and Cody to talk about their Knight Arts Challenge winning grant. The project, a collaboration between Red Point Digital and VR Skunkworks, will not only teach virtual reality production to local children, but it will also specialize in stop-motion animation, making this a rare opportunity for learning. They discuss narrative virtual reality, along with the challenges of applying stop-motion animation in a 360-degree space, which is wholly unique. This is the final installment in a series about recent Knight Arts Challenge winners. To see a full list of grantees, visit https://knightfoundation.org/articles/meet-akron-s-2017-knight-arts-challenge-winners.

William Shakespeare’s plays were challenging gender and identity long before today’s discussion of gender fluidity, and his prolific body of work was ahead of its time in many ways. A new project by Rubber City Theatre, called Shakesqueer, taps into this universality of Shakespeare’s works and will adapt a few classics with LGBT themes and characters that are also reflective of Akron. The idea was a recent winner in the Knight Arts Challenge and Dane Leasure, founder and artistic director of Rubber City Theatre, joins Shane, Cody and Chris to talk about Shakesqueer, the theatre company’s new home on Romig Road (part of a unique partnership with the Salvation Army of Akron and Summit County) and the troupe’s current production of Charles Dickens’ "A Christmas Carol." For more info and to find upcoming Rubber City Theatre productions this season, visit www.rubbercitytheatre.com. This is the third podcast in a series featuring Knight Arts Challenge winners.

When Jane Berkner founded Urban Troubadour, she wanted to offer Akronites a taste of musical culture and engagement within unique spaces, like art galleries, hotels and other attractions, featuring a collective of area musicians. Urban Troubadour also is a recent winner of the Knight Arts Challenge, which Berkner says will help raise the organization’s profile and help continue these performancess. One of the goals, she says, is to get residents downtown and into urban spaces to explore and enjoy the character and architecture of these buildings. Chris and Cody speak with Jane about her goals and aspirations for this collective and some of the challenges with being an artist in Akron. For info about upcoming performances, visit https://www.urbantroubadour.org/.

This week, we welcome Brit Charek, a recent winner of the Knight Arts Challenge, whose project will take a unique spin on film festivals. The Bechdel Fest will highlight movies that pass the “Bechdel Test,” coined by Alison Bechdel, which requires that there are two women who talk to each other about something besides a man. You’d be surprised at the number of mainstream films that lack this criteria, she says, hoping this project will help move the needle on the way we look at equality. Brit, who also runs the wildly successful Crafty Mart, visits Shane and Chris, along with her two boys, one of whom is likely the youngest podcast guest in Spoils of Akron history. This is the first interview in a series featuring recent Knight Arts Challenge winners. For a full list of grantees, visit https://knightfoundation.org/articles/meet-akron-s-2017-knight-arts-challenge-winners.

The Spoils of Akron team visits the recent Akron Comicon, which has become more successful with each year. We speak with Ted Sikora and Milo Miller, who created a Cleveland-based comic that’s taken the comics world by storm. "Apama: The Undiscovered Animal" centers around IIlyia Jarsky, an ice cream truck driver who awakens a savage creature within. We also speak with Marc Sumerak, a local writer who has worked on a number of notable titles, from "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "X-Men" to "Avengers" and the "Walking Dead." Shane and Chris interview Ryan and Cody about their group Rubber City Cosplay, and we also speak with Mike Savene, co-founder of Akron Comicon, who shares some news about upcoming events. For info, visit http://www.akroncomicon.com/.

When Sage Lewis ran for mayor two years ago, he saw the problem of homelessness firsthand while canvassing the city. Since then, he’s put his money where his mouth is by launching a number of efforts, including the Second Chance Store and Village, which carries a sense of community, responsibility and dignity for those facing homelessness. Run by Paul Hays, who himself was in a rough situation before joining this group, the Second Chance Village is a mini tent city with its own council, set of rules and conduct and job-training within the on-site second-hand store on the property. Sage says the village also teaches people a sense of pride and responsibility. Cody, Shane and Chris speak with Sage and Paul about this unique program. To contribute to the effort, visit www.thehomelesscharity.org.

In this episode, we catch up with Liz Tyran, our amazing former co-host, who moved to Key West earlier this year. A lot has happened since her and Jason have moved, including hurricanes, new jobs, an adjustment to island living and a temporary move while the coastal areas pick up the pieces from the recent devastating storms. Despite these setbacks, Liz (who calls in from Melbourne, Florida) shows her signature positivity and sense of humor. She also shares a sea turtle story, which takes a few dark turns.

Zach Freidhof wears many hats: artist, songwriter, community organizer, peace activist, sustainability champion. But all of these interests converge when it comes to helping to build peaceful communities. Zach visits Cody and Chris to talk about Akron Peace Month, a whole month’s worth of workshops, concerts, yoga summits, community art installations and more, culminating with the area’s first “Hands On Sustainability” conference. Along with being a well-known musician and songwriter, Zach is part of the Big Love Network and Akron City Repair, which work to empower neighborhood leaders to be a more active part of their communities. For more about his music, visit zachmusic.net. For a full schedule of Peace Month activities, visit www.akronpeace.love. 

This week, Shane, Cody and Chris welcome Danny Volk, whose YouTube series puts a unique spin on the traditional interview scenario. During each episode of “Made-Up with Danny Volk” the artist applies makeup to Danny during the interview, offering his face as a canvas of sorts and helping to lower the artist’s inhibitions (and removing the usual personal space of two people talking). For his new season, “Made-Up with Danny Volk: The Akron Sessions,” Danny's returning to his hometown of Akron (from his current home in Chicago) to interview artists like Kate Budd, Elisa Gargarella and Kathryn Shinko, along with the current roster of Akron Soul Train artist fellows. This season also will weave a biofictional element into the web series. You can find the episodes at https://www.youtube.com/user/MUwDV, or on his website (http://www.madeupwithdannyvolk.com/), along with social media. 

We can’t believe it’s been 100 episodes! To celebrate, we recorded our 100th episode live at Jilly’s Music Room, where we reminisce about some of our favorite past episodes, give a shout-out to former guests in the audience, along with featuring interviews and live performances from local singer-songwriter Shelby Olive and producer, songwriter and podcaster Eriq Troi. This episode is generously sponsored by Good Life - Body Piercing + Fine Jewelry in Highland Square. Be sure to check out highlights from the two performers at the end of the episode. And thanks again to Jilly's Music Room for hosting us.

While the Beyonderers don’t have a lead singer, the local surf punk trio more than makes up for it with its sonic musical palette, especially when led by Dave Rich’s finely honed guitar chops. But he freely admits that his journey with learning music has been more of a coping mechanism than a rock star dream. Dave talks with Shane, Cody and Chris about playing in a number of notable local projects, including his current spot in the Beyonderers, who is playing at this Saturday’s Highland Square Porch Rokr on the EarthQuaker Stage at 5 p.m. Dave talks about juggling family life and band life, along with what motivated him to pursue a career in nonprofits, along with a truly insightful perspective from working in social services. Dave's day job is with United Way of Summit County, helping to address the community’s current opioid crisis. Check out the Beyonderers at https://thebeyonderers.bandcamp.com/.

10,000 people. 135 bands. Dozens of food and craft vendors and artisans. Highland Square PorchRokr, which takes place Saturday, Aug. 19, is one of Akron’s premier events and a veritable buffet of cool local music. This week, we welcome Katie Carver Reed, a PorchRokr organizer and community champion, along with Jeri Sapronetti, the lead singer and guitarist of Akron band Time Cat, which will headline this year’s event. Katie shares some of the behind the scenes work that goes into PorchRokr (which involves about a month of recovery time for volunteers), and Jeri says PorchRokr is her favorite event, which she also affectionately refers to as “Rock and Roll Christmas.” Jeri and Shane feel inspired to bust out some Madonna tunes, with the possible plan of a Madonna karaoke in the future. Check out http://www.highlandsquareakron.org/porchrokr.aspx for more info about the event.

Akron is a symphony, and together each of us is contributing to this beautiful music, says Anoo Vyas, one of the founders of the PechaKucha Akron speaking series, which he describes as a Ted Talk with a more festive atmosphere. Anoo is a tireless supporter of all things Akron, which is apparent in his enthusiasm when talking with Shane and Chris about his recent name change (more like a name reboot), Akron’s “idiosyncratic charisma” and even Shane’s early fast food career. Another fun fact: Anoo and Shane share the same birthday. In fact, for their recent birthdays, they threw an epic Akron party and plan to do so again this year (and everyone’s invited, by the way). Anoo also talks about serving as co-director of the University of Akron’s EXL Center, which helps connect students with the community, along with his career as an attorney working in the area of social justice. PechaKucha Akron takes place Friday, Aug. 4 at 7 p.m. at the Well CDC.

Chris Horne, publisher of The Devil Strip magazine, wants to celebrate all things Akron. That’s why this Saturday’s Signal Tree Festival will pack downtown Akron’s Lock 3 with the best in local bands, local food, family-friendly activities and more, like a Freeplay! event with the Akron Children’s Museum, OddMart, a jo-jo eating contest, parade of pizza, Soap Box Derby cars and human foosball table. Chris admits that he’s come a long way since his proposed bacon and kazoo festival in his native city of Macon, Ga., and he also does a mean Bane impression (a voice he says he uses to read stories to his daughter). Shane, Ryan and Chris speak with the Rubber City convert about his changing Southern accent, local publishing, the “Macon Migration” of some other cool folks from Chris’ hometown and the upcoming “Blimp City Guide.”

Without our history of canals and locks, Akron would not be the city it is today, says Don Gordon, executive director of the Cascade Locks Park Association and the Mustill Store Museum, who takes Ryan and Chris on a tour of the park and site of the former Schumacher Mill, which housed Akron’s “Oat King.” Don also talks about the Waterways Renewed project, which will help clean up our water system in Akron and eliminate sewer overflows. Free tours are available to check out the progress of this massive city effort, which includes a giant machine named "Rosie" that will tunnel underground.  The Cascade Locks Park site also connects downtown Akron to the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath trail and has helped make the Northside District a destination. For tours and other info, visit http://akronwaterwaysrenewed.com and http://cascadelocks.org.

Joey Arrietta considers her job a labor of love. The owner and general manager of the Akron Racers professional softball team talks with Cody and Chris about Akron's stake in this league that has now gained an international reach (one of the current National Pro Fastpitch teams is from China). The league will also most likely provide athletes for the 2020 Olympic Games. Attendees of Akron Racers games are treated to a family-friendly experience and an up-close look at the players, who Arrietta says play for the love of the game. She also discusses a recently completed documentary, "Burn the Ships," which profiles the highs and lows of the team and has helped bring more positive attention to the sport and to women athletes. Visit http://www.akronracers.org to order tickets or find out more about the team. 

The Akron Art Museum is a cultural gem in our community. From groundbreaking exhibits, like the current “Serial Intent” show that features complete series collections from artists, to the Inside|Out  program, which displays artwork throughout area neighborhoods, the Museum has just about anything for all types of people. Dominic Caruso and Jennifer Shipman talk to Shane and Ryan about the Museum’s many offerings, from the Downtown At Dusk free Thursday concert series to yoga and meditation in the Bud and Susie Rogers Garden for Wellness Wednesdays. Shane also shares a story about the sheer resiliency of the Museum’s Inside|Out pieces. Be sure to check out the Art Museum at www.akronartmuseum.org. 

The Winery at Wolf Creek offers a scenic overlook, locally grown wine and a 10-acre vineyard in nearby Norton. Shane and Cody speak with owner Andy Troutman about the winery's history and what makes its wine unique, and Andy introduces them to the resident goats, along with some of his favorite wines. Wolf Creek also hosts a number of special events, like Yappy Hour for dogs and their owners (which was happening during the interview). They also discuss the recent explosion and fire, during which, thankfully, no one was injured.

JT Buck is a force to be reckoned with in the arts community. He just wrapped up a successful run of “Goosetown,” a musical he wrote and composed about the South Side neighborhood’s ties to the city’s rubber history (as part of New World Performance Lab’s “Devil’s Milk Trilogy”). And more recently, he was named artistic director of Coach House Theatre, which is celebrating 90 years of performances in the community. JT talks with Shane, Cody and Chris about “a million little shifts,” a 20-year career in theatre, spending a year in Vermont with a meditative job and his favorite Akron haunts, among other topics.

For this "in between" episode, Chris ventures a few minutes south to join hundreds of families for the Canton Museum of Art’s “Night at the Museum” event, in tandem with the “Avatars: Relics from the Future” exhibit. Joined by Danielle, he speaks with a number of kids about what items they treasure, along with their hopes for the future, and their favorite jokes and stories.

Like a stream-of-consciousness verse, Akron’s poetry scene is steadily growing and taking shape, and Shane and Chris speak with three of the scene’s promising poets: Noor Hindi, Yoly and Mike Krutel. Yoly and Noor talk about the Poetry in Akron series, which enables local writers to perform their poems and spoken word, and Mike is one of the founders of the Big Big Mess Reading Series, which takes place monthly at Annabell’s. All three of the poets do a live reading, and Shane also busts out her poetry skills with an Akron-centric lyric (with promises of a Spoils of Akron rap in the near future).

Gum-Dip Theatre Founder Katie Beck has been using the arts to transform communities in Akron. Her projects combine community organizing with social empowerment, and her participants are able to tell their stories using theatre as their medium. Katie sits down with Shane and Chris to talk about "Nepali Applause: An Open Air Market/Performance Festival," a two-day event at North Hill’s Exchange House May 27 and 28, which features art, music, dance and the debut of an original play devised by six Bhutanese refugees based on their personal experiences. Among her many projects, she works with teen girls in the South Street neighborhood, along with collaborating with Firestone Park residents to help tell the story of Akron’s rubber industry heyday. Katie also talks about her ideal one-woman play and teaches Shane and Chris how to swear in Nepali. Find out more info at http://www.gumdiptheatre.com/.

It's Spoils of Akron 3.0. As the team tearfully wishes Liz a happy voyage to Key West, they introduce a brand new host (and popular past guest) Shane Wynn, a well known and talented Akronite. After officially introducing Shane, the other hosts re-introduce themselves and Shane shows off her impeccable array of animal calls. So, next time you hear what you think is a turkey or sheep, it's likely Shane with a camera.

In this week's episode, Liz and Cody speak with a few of Akron's coolest kids (literally) to find out where they like to hang out, what they like to eat and why you shouldn't let your kids go to Cody's house. Special thanks to Shane Wynn and Lauren Ward for being such cool moms and letting us interview their children. 

Adam Ganuza has a cool job. As Arts Program Officer with Knight Foundation, he travels to different cities meeting people and hearing about their ideas for improving the arts. And during his current visit to Akron, he’s informing residents about the Knight Arts Challenge, where a possible $1 million is up for grabs to fund arts-based project ideas. The challenge grant is open to anyone in Akron: nonprofits, businesses, groups or individuals. Adam talks about his background as a previous Knight Arts grantee in Miami and his appreciation of the arts and love of community. He'll be at a number of events this week to help answer questions about the Knight Arts Challenge, including coffee shop hours and evening presentations. Applications are open through April 28, and for the first round of applications, all you need to provide is a 150-word description of your project idea. For more info, visit www.knightarts.org.

Akron Glass Works’ new location near the University of Akron is ideal for this glass blowing studio and gift shop, where everything is made by local artists, including the work of owner Jack Baker. On this episode (which also has an accompanying video - check out the Akronist's YouTube channel), Jack takes us through the inspiration behind Akron Glass Works, the building’s former life as a church and the company’s connection with artists, ending with a demonstration in the “hot shop,” where he creates a beautiful glass marble. To sign up for a glass-blowing workshop, contact http://www.akronglassworks.com.

Akron’s historic buildings contain so many interesting stories of the city's past and its people, says Lauren Burge, who works as a historic architect. The firm Chambers, Murphy & Burge is responsible for restoring a number of important buildings in Akron, including its headquarters the Hermes Building. She talks about the “Akron Style,” which was known all over the country and can still be found in some of our churches, along with working in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, along with her most recent effort, a wine company called Bottle to Glass that she and her husband operate (headquartered at another historic building in downtown Akron).

It’s apparent the artistry that goes into the day-to-day operations of downtown Akron’s Crave restaurant, which has been a staple for 12 years. Liz and Chris talk with owner Aaron Hervey about his background in acting, photography, painting and other creative endeavors, and he shares info about the upcoming opening of Crave Cantina in Cuyahoga Falls. Aaron also talks about why chefs eat tacos, and Liz shares some big news.

Heather Roszczyk has one of the coolest jobs in Akron. As the Akron Entrepreneurship Fellow for the Fund for Our Economic Future, Heather gets to hear about and work with many of the area’s entrepreneurs, who are starting businesses and attempting to make their marks on Akron. She points out that many of our city’s startups are all about collaboration. Heather also oversees the website Akron is for Entrepreneurs (http://www.akronisforentrepreneurs.org/), which serves as a resource for local startups.

Those attending Rubber City Shakespeare Company’s “Cymbeline,” which opens this Friday, Feb. 10 at the Well CDC, will get to see an evil stepmother, a poison apple and a young heroine who takes her destiny into her own hands. It's a fairy tale adventure, written long before Disney came along. Dane Leasure and Casey Robinson stop in to talk to Cody and Chris about this lesser known Shakespearean play, along with what it takes to put on productions in a former church sanctuary in Akron’s Middlebury neighborhood. The company offers unique takes on the Bard’s body of work, including an upcoming twist on King Lear. Visit www.rubbercityshakes.com/tickets for info.