Every day on 103.3, 105.9, and 1530 TalkErie.com's Joel Natalie Show, we tackle the biggest issues that the Erie, PA region faces. Stay informed and involved as we advance the narrative of Erie.
On Tuesday, The Joel Natalie Show aired our annual Tax Show with John Baker of Kingdom Tax Services. There are many changes this year because of the Big Beautiful Bill, and so we had a wide-ranging conversation about making sure you don't pay too much.
On Monday, Dr. Meghan Kinter of a Well Rooted Life joined us. Dr. Kinter is a trainer and leadership consultant that can help us communicate well, especially as we are in the middle of a great generational shift in our workforce, as baby boomers retire and millennials and Z'ers take over, and all that experience and wisdom is transferred.
On Friday, Erie City Mission President and CEO Brian Johansson joined us to talk about Knockout Homelessness, now no longer a single event. After 17 successful years as a celebrity boxing fundraiser, Knockout Homelessness has evolved into an annual fundraising campaign. The entire month of February is now dedicated to raising funds specifically for the Erie City Mission's Samaritan Care Shelter through the new Bizzarro Family Match Fund.
On Thursday, we had President Jon Anderson of the Pennsylvania Western University join us to discuss the moves the university is making to revise its academic array of offerings for undergraduate and graduate students.
On Wednesday we were joined by Dr. Matthew Platz, Executive Director of the Corry Higher Education Council. We discussed the latest developments in boost tech-based workforce development in their rural region, including the upcoming Corry Area Technical and Cyber Hub.
On Tuesday, Ryan Hoover, Director of Events and Promotions at the Erie Downtown Development Corporation, talked about taking the tens of millions of dollars of investment in Erie's central core and creating a sense of place, where people can live, work and play. We talked about the latest news in the EDDC apartments, restaurants, gathering places, and new construction at the Flagship City Commons.
On Monday we welcomed Mercy Center for Women Executive Director Jennie Hagerty back to The Joel Natalie Show. We discussed the lates developments in providing housing and help to vulnerable women and families, including the start of construction on the former Sacred Heart School, which will soon be home to MACC West—19 new apartments modeled after the Mercy Anchor Community Center.
On our Friday episode, we welcomed Erie News Now and Lilly Broadcasting Corporate News Director Scott MacDowell to our State St. studio. Joel and Scott talked about Scott's local news journey and the technology revolution impacting local reporting.
This week, the Mayor Daria Devlin's Transition Team released their fifty page report on what should be the priorities of the new city administration based on their research and outreach. Our guests were Chief of Staff Lori Radder Spicer, and Erin Carey, Executive Director of Groundwork Erie and member of the Transition Team.
Leaders from the Erie Community Foundation visited our studio Wednesday to share about the major impacts philanthropic investments their donors make have across the Erie region. Our guests were President Karen Biloweth, and Vice Presidents Erin Fessler and Pat Herr.
Joe Johnson, owner of Johnson Gearing joins us one month after a fire in his building wiped out his and three other businesses in the facility, and his road to rebuilding.
On Monday, we met the new President and CEO of United Way of Erie County, Mike Jaruszewicz, and his vision to continue the work of crushing poverty through the data-based Community Schools model, and what's ahead for 2026.
On a fun Friday broadcast, we got a couple of perspectives from travel experts for a getaway this winter or spring. First, we heard from Lisa Cappabianca of Cappabianca Travel Agency, then Ann Denny of Miller Travel joined us.
Dr. Walter Iwanenko Jr., President of Gannon University shares an update of university news, including the CLEER center at Blasco Library, First Ascent at iHACK, and the merger with Ursilene College.
New Erie County Executive Christina Vogel joins us for her January 2026 inaugural meeting here on The Joel Natalie Show.
In studio is Deonte Cooley and Craig Woodard, Sr. discuss their podcast and the latest news in the Marchello Woodard case.
Marcus Atkinson, Interim Director of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center joins us.
On Thursday, friends from the Hagen History Center came to discuss their upcoming day-long event centered around the Battle of the Bulge, in Dec. 1944 - Jan. 1945, where soldiers from the Erie region engaged in battle against Nazi Germany. Our guests were Adam Macrino, Mark Squeglia & Roman Straub.
Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook joins to discuss the cause of death statistics for 2025, along with an explanation of the investigation report issued on the deceased Marchello Woodard.
We had two prominent CEO's in our studio Monday, with Jeremy Peterson, CEO of the Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority, and Dr. Ben Wilson, CEO of the Greater Erie Community Action Committee, talking about transportation and EMTA's new Transit Development Plan, and the overall lived experience for underresourced individuals in our region.
On a fun Friday, we had a joyful conversation with one of Erie's First Families in the performing arts, Fr. Shawn and Almi Clerkin, as we reviewed the year in the arts. We remembered the brilliance of John Burton, who passed away over the holidays, and looked forward to a new year of performances in theater, music, and dance.
On Thursday, David González, the CEO of St Martin Center in Erie, to discuss their agency's efforts to provide for basic needs and help for people to achieve homeownership.
On a Wednesday health focus, we talked about getting fit in the new year.
Joel Natalie Show regular guest and commerical real estate expert Chuck Peters, Managing Partner at Altair Real Estate returned Tuesday to discuss the "lay of the land" in the Erie commercial market over the past year and what to look for in 2026.
Last week, the Erie Regional Airport Authority had two big announcements regarding new service from Erie International Airport. On Thursday, they announced that American Airlines was starting daily service to Chicago O'Hare airport beginning May 22nd. Then on Friday, it was released that United Airlines was returning to ERI with three daily flights to O'Hare beginning on June 1st. Executive Director Derek Martin gave us the full story on Monday's show.
On a breaking news Friday, we heard from Michael Woodard, part of the Justice for Chello movement, who reacted to the arrest of the state parole officer allegedly part of the officer-involved shooting of Marcello Woodard in July 2025 in Erie.
The CEO of Erie Events, Gus Pine, joined us to update listeners about their efforts to activate Erie's entertainment and hospitality venues. He also shared the latest developments in Erie Events taking over the Erie Zoo property from the City of Erie. Editors Note: Erie City Council passed the first reading of a resolution to complete the transfer of 96 acres including the Erie Zoo to Erie Events. The second reading is forthcoming.
Bishop Lawrence T. Persico of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie joined us Wednesday to discuss the Episcopal Transition for the Diocese, as the bishop has submitted his resignation at age 75, along with the opportunity for spiritual growth in season of Advent.
Brandon Mendoza, President and CEO of the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership is with us. We reviewed 2025 from the Chamber's perspective, and took a look at their new Erie 300 Strategy.
On Monday's episode, Joel spoke with both Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA), who was in town for a business roundtable, and Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA16) on the phone to discuss affordability, tariffs, and what Erie-area constituents are feeling here at year-end.
Dr. Roché Vermaak, Executive Director of the Greater Erie Area Habitat for Humanity joins us to share about Build 81.
The Executive Director of Erie's City Revitalization and Improvement Zone Authority, Brian Polito, joins us for a year-end update on the CRIZ and the kinds of projects in the pipeline for investment using this powerful economic development tool.
We started the week getting an understanding of how the Erie residential real estate market is doing at the end of 2025, with team leader Josh Kitchen of Remax Real Estate.
Pam Parker, Project Manager at the Hagen History Center, came by Thursday to discuss Victorian Holidays at the Watson-Curtze Mansion this month, as well as describing Christmas celebrations at the turn of the 20th Century on Erie's Millionaire's Row.
Thomas Laird, the CEO of OttoQA & Expivia talks AI with us to discuss Artificial Intelligence and how Erie can benefit from embracing it.
Erie County Executive Brenton Davis joined The Joel Natalie Show for his December and final monthly meeting at TalkErie as the elected CE. We reviewed his four-year tenure and the people who served to make it happen.
Joining us on Monday was Dr. Jeffrey Bloodworth to talk about his article, titled “Erie Portends an Ominous Path for PA's GOP,” which was recently published on the Real Clear Pennsylvania website, reviewing the 2025 Municipal Election results and what it could mean for the 2026 midterms.
Dr. Fernando Melaragno, an endocrinologist with LECOM Health returns to discuss obesity, diabetes, and watching your weight.
Temple Anshe Hesed Rabbi Robert Morais joined us Tuesday to talk about the latest updates on how the Israel - Gaza situation affects us all.
Local historian George Deitsch returns to talk about the American Revolution and how our region was impacted.
The author of the book America's Early Frontier: Economic History of Northwestern Pennsylvania (1753-2024), Dr. Judy Lynch, was our guest Wednesday. We discussed Erie and the region's importance to the nation's geographic and industrial growth, including great success and missed opportunities.
Erie County Council District 3 representative and Finance Committee chair Rock Copeland returned to The Joel Natalie Show to unpack budgetary priorites and forecast what 2026 might look like.
On Monday, we welcomed back Infinite Erie Executive Director Kim Thomas as we examined the highlights from the recently passsed Pennsylvania state budget and what it means for our articulated local priorities.
On our Friday episode, we were happy to welcome back Susannah Faulkner to the microphone. As the Executive Director of Erie Arts and Culture, Susannah and her team connect artists with organizations, and engage the community by promoting diverse culture experiences.
Brian Johansson, CEO of the Erie City Mission joined us Thursday to share plans for feeding Erie families for Thanksgiving, along with plans for expanding its outreach to women and children.
On a Wednesday health focus, we met with Maria Baker, Highmark Vice President of Health Strategy and Delivery to discuss a new collaboration between Highmark and Noom to improve member health through behavior change and personalized support.
On Tuesday, we met the new leader for Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania, Greg Hall. We discuss the essential services of Second Harvest to its 11 county footprint, and the highly-increased demand it's experiencing since the federal government shutdown.
In the wake of last week's municipal election, Erie County Executive Brenton Davis returned to our studio for his November monthly meeting.
On Friday, Erie-native, nationally-renowned journalist and talk show host Steve Scully returned to discuss the Jefferson Educational Society's Global Summit, the mood in DC, and latest in media issues.
On Thursday, Joel was joined by former chaplain of the Erie VA Medical Center, Rev. David Fugate and Jim Hertner, retired real estate broker and former Navy Medic serving US Marines in the Vietnam War. We discussed the hidden wounds of war, including PTSD and moral injury.
Political consultant Jezree Friend returned to our microphones Wednesday to share his hot takes on the General Election Tuesday.
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