Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast

Lehigh Valley with Love
  • 4.8 (31)
  • Society & Culture
  • Weekly

The Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast shares stories, interviews, and conversations from Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, including Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, and the communities in between. Hosted by George Wacker and Lehigh Valley with Love Media, the podcast features local leaders, business owners, artists, musicians, authors, students, elected officials, nonprofit voices, and people helping shape the region. Find the latest episodes, videos, local stories, and more at https://www.lvwithlove.com.

  1. 1d ago

    Frank Viele on The Silo, Dave Matthews, and Godfrey Daniels

    GET MORE AT LVWITHLOVE.COM Frank Viele joins George Wacker on the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast ahead of his Friday, November 6 show at Godfrey Daniels in Bethlehem. Arielle Silver opens the 8 p.m. show. Frank learned guitar in Dave Matthews concert parking lots and had seen the band 137 times by college graduation. He talks about those early influences, recording with Lee DeWyze, and his history playing SteelStacks with Frank Viele & The Manhattan Project. The story behind The Silo A canceled show left Frank stranded in a Portland motel for three days. He spent two nights writing the original songs for The Silo and recording demos on his phone. A last-minute studio session with Lee DeWyze brought those songs to life. Frank also gets into Bigger Beast Records, its community outreach arm All Boats Rise Entertainment, and the work of keeping an independent music career going. November 6 at Godfrey Daniels Returning to Bethlehem to headline Godfrey Daniels means a lot to Frank. He talks about the room’s history and why he takes it seriously when people choose to spend their evening listening to him. Frank Viele with opening guest Arielle Silver Friday, November 6, 2026, at 8 p.m. Godfrey Daniels · 7 E. Fourth Street, Bethlehem TICKETS & SHOW INFORMATION Frank’s music: FrankViele.com Label and outreach: Bigger Beast Records Get Lehigh Valley with Love in Your Inbox SIGN UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT FROM OUR STORE The I Hate 22 Tee You already say it in traffic. Put it on a shirt. SHOP THE SHIRT Thank You to Our Partners Wind Creek Event Center Michael Bernadyn with RE/MAX Real Estate WDIY 88.1 FM Banko Beverage Company QuoteAhead.com Special thanks to our friends at Battle Borne. Email news releases and story ideas to info@lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com

  2. 4d ago

    Harvest of Hope: Thanksgiving Help for 100 Lehigh Valley Families

    GET MORE AT LVWITHLOVE.COM Harvest of Hope is working toward a $10,000 goal: provide 100 Lehigh Valley families with $100 grocery gift cards for Thanksgiving 2026. Families can apply for themselves, and community members can nominate someone who could use a little extra support. Samantha Iannelli of The Eric T. Neith Team joins George Wacker on the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast to explain how the effort started, why the team wants to reach more families, and how people can help. Donate, apply, or nominate a family: https://givebutter.com/harvest-of-hope-xnpnce From 10 families to a goal of 100 Samantha recalls an early Thanksgiving effort that came together quickly during the team’s first year. They distributed about 10 gift cards worth $100 each, helping local families with roughly $1,000 in support. This year’s Harvest of Hope campaign sets a larger goal: 100 families receiving $100 each. Samantha describes seeing people working hard and still struggling to cover what they need, including through her earlier work in healthcare. She also remembers Thanksgivings when she could enjoy the food and time with family without worrying about the cost. Helping more households have that breathing room is part of what drives the campaign. How to apply or nominate someone for Harvest of Hope You can nominate your own household or someone you know. Samantha encourages people to share the opportunity with neighbors, friends, and families who might hesitate to ask for help themselves. The current nomination form lists a November 15, 2026 deadline. The Harvest of Hope committee will review nominations and contact selected recipients afterward. Distribution is planned for the week following November 15, with pickup instructions sent directly to selected recipients. Submitting a nomination does not guarantee selection. The form also states that agents and individuals directly affiliated with The Eric T. Neith Team | eXp Realty may not submit nominations or be nominated as recipients. Open the Harvest of Hope nomination form Donate or help spread the word Donations can be made through the Harvest of Hope Givebutter page. Samantha also welcomes businesses interested in contributing or finding another way to support the effort. Sharing the campaign helps it reach potential donors and the people it is meant to serve. If someone you know could use support this Thanksgiving, send them the application information or nominate them. Lehigh Valley life and a Thanksgiving food story The episode also covers Samantha’s path from personal training, healthcare, and other businesses into real estate, along with what she and George enjoy about living in the Lehigh Valley: local restaurants, hot dog spots, and drive-in theaters. And her Thanksgiving food pick? Oven-roasted Brussels sprouts. That leads to a story about rolling one in sprinkles and offering it to her daughter as a doughnut-hole lookalike. It did not go over well. Harvest of Hope links Goal: $10,000 to provide 100 local families with $100 Thanksgiving grocery gift cards Campaign and donations: https://givebutter.com/harvest-of-hope-xnpnce Applications and nominations: Harvest of Hope nomination form Deadline currently listed on the nomination form: November 15, 2026 Samantha on Instagram: @samanthaiannellirealtor The Eric T. Neith Team on Instagram: @erict.neithteam_exp.realty PRESENTED BY BANKO BEVERAGE CO. The 12-Foot-Tall Skeleton Crawl Is Back Explore the community-built map of Halloween displays across the Lehigh Valley and check out the limited-edition It Came From the Lehigh River shirts created with Bethlehem artist Thymes Zup. EXPLORE THE MAPSHOP THE SHIRTS Learn more about the 2026 Skeleton Crawl → ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Get More Lehigh Valley with Love SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER Thank You to Our Partners Wind Creek Event Center Michael Bernadyn with RE/MAX Real Estate WDIY 88.1 FM Banko Beverage Company QuoteAhead.com Email news releases and story ideas to info@lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com

  3. 6d ago

    Local Author Scott Morro on his new book Cooped Up and the AI Cover Art Question

    GET MORE AT LVWITHLOVE.COM Scott Morro brings Bethlehem into a story of growing up, making mistakes and finding a way forward with Cooped Up. Scheduled for release October 30, 2026, exclusively on Amazon, the young adult novel follows 13-year-old Cooper Grieve, whose Halloween weekend takes an unexpected turn when he is sent to stay with his grandmother at an assisted living community. The book is Morro’s eighth and his first venture into self-publishing. His decision to use ChatGPT for its cover also raises questions about AI artwork, creative control, publishing costs and opportunities for local authors and artists to work together. AI cover art and the cost of self-publishing Morro says the novel’s writing, characters, development and themes are his own. He explains that his previous publisher suggested self-publishing after indicating it might take a couple of years to bring Cooped Up to readers. For earlier books, Morro worked with artists and illustrators through his publisher, contributing ideas while relying on their visual skills. With Cooped Up, he chose ChatGPT for the cover. The practical questions include the cost of commissioning artwork, alternatives such as hiring a local artist, and how collaborations could make financial sense for both writers and illustrators. Cooper, Charlie and second chances Cooper is a seventh grader juggling school, sports, friendships and changes at home. Morro describes a character who sometimes does the wrong things for the right reasons, with consequences that force him to reconsider his choices. At the assisted living community, Charlie Cunningham becomes a friend and mentor. Their relationship helps shape a story about loss, forgiveness, learning from older generations and making the best of a difficult situation. Morro also says he is working on a sequel that builds on their friendship. Lehigh Valley roots and a teacher’s ear for dialogue A Nazareth native and Moravian College graduate, Morro draws on more than 30 years of teaching experience. He credits current and former students with helping him write dialogue that feels natural to young readers. His earlier novels, The Washington Pursuit and The Albrecht Society, use historic Bethlehem settings, including the Sun Inn and Moravian’s South Campus. Morro recalls book promotions that brought readers on walking tours through places connected to those stories, including spaces beneath South Campus. Where to find Scott Morro’s Cooped Up Release date: October 30, 2026 Formats: Paperback and ebook Availability: Exclusively on Amazon Author website: scottmorro.com PRESENTED BY BANKO BEVERAGE CO. The 12-Foot-Tall Skeleton Crawl Is Back Explore the community-built map of Halloween displays across the Lehigh Valley and check out the limited-edition It Came From the Lehigh River shirts created with Bethlehem artist Thymes Zup. EXPLORE THE MAPSHOP THE SHIRTS Learn more about the 2026 Skeleton Crawl → ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Get More Lehigh Valley with Love SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER Thank You to Our Partners Wind Creek Event Center Michael Bernadyn with RE/MAX Real Estate WDIY 88.1 FM Banko Beverage Company QuoteAhead.com Email news releases and story ideas to info@lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com

  4. Oct 26

    Lehigh Valley Discovery Ball: Unlocking Hope at Vault 634

    GET MORE AT LVWITHLOVE.COM The first Lehigh Valley Discovery Ball: Unlocking Hope takes place November 12, 2026, at Vault 634 in Allentown. The mystery-themed event raises money for the American Cancer Society and its work in cancer research, advocacy and patient support. Taylor Kosak, senior manager of events for the American Cancer Society, joins event co-chairs Katie Santana, president of Turnstone Creative, and Angela Malpedo, owner of Frosted Bakery, to preview the evening and share their families’ experiences with cancer.   The event has a Clue-inspired theme, with guests following clues and taking part in interactive experiences that introduce the American Cancer Society’s work. Chris Martin, executive chairman of C.F. Martin & Co., serves as honorary chair. The event website also lists live entertainment featuring Craig Thatcher and Cliff Starkey, food stations and a silent auction. The family stories behind the fundraiser Katie shares that her husband lost his mother to cancer when he was 13. Although Katie never met her mother-in-law, the family continues to remember her, including through their daughter’s middle name. Angela describes how Hope Lodge helped her parents while her father received treatment at Penn Medicine. The free lodging, transportation and support eased the strain of repeated trips to Philadelphia. Taylor recalls the American Cancer Society paying for her family’s rental car during an eight-month stay in Seattle for her father’s treatment. She explains how that assistance shaped her decision to build a career helping other families.   A Frosted Bakery update in Bethlehem Angela also discusses her plans for Frosted Bakery at 518 Long Street in Bethlehem, her return to the former Granola Factory space where she began baking, and her collaboration with Lovely. Follow Frosted Bethlehem for updates. Lehigh Valley Discovery Ball tickets and event details Date: November 12, 2026 Location: Vault 634, 634 Hamilton Street, Allentown VIP reception: 5:30 to 6:30 PM General admission: 6:15 to 9 PM Attire: Cocktail or elegant mystery Ages: 21 and older Tickets, donations and event information: lehighvalley.acsgala.org PRESENTED BY BANKO BEVERAGE CO. The 12-Foot-Tall Skeleton Crawl Is Back Explore the community-built map of Halloween displays across the Lehigh Valley and check out the limited-edition It Came From the Lehigh River shirts created with Bethlehem artist Thymes Zup. EXPLORE THE MAPSHOP THE SHIRTS Learn more about the 2026 Skeleton Crawl → ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Get More Lehigh Valley with Love SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER Thank You to Our Partners Wind Creek Event Center Michael Bernadyn with RE/MAX Real Estate WDIY 88.1 FM Banko Beverage Company QuoteAhead.com Email news releases and story ideas to info@lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com

  5. Oct 19

    Local Government in the Lehigh Valley: Data Centers, Housing, Warehouses, and Taxes

    GET MORE AT LVWITHLOVE.COM Data centers, warehouses, property taxes and housing costs are all part of the conversation when Ron Beitler, an independent Lehigh County commissioner representing District 2, and Frank Pintabone, Easton’s vice mayor, join Off the Record with Lehigh Valley with Love. Hosts George Wacker and Jeff Warren, Northampton County Council vice president and host of The Philadelphia Sports Table podcast, ask what first drew the guests into local government and what keeps them involved. Warehouses and the decision to run A warehouse proposal on farmland in Lower Macungie Township brought Beitler into local politics. He had grown up in the community and wanted a voice in how it developed. He learned that agricultural zoning and permanent farmland preservation offered different protections, then went on to serve as a township commissioner before joining the county board. Pintabone was concerned about teacher layoffs, school finances and threatened cuts to music and sports in the Easton Area School District. After he complained on Facebook, somebody challenged him to run for school board. He took office thinking he could fix things quickly. “I was wrong. Boy, was I wrong.” He eventually became school board president. After leaving in 2017, concerns about Easton’s neighborhoods keeping pace with downtown helped persuade him to seek a seat on city council. From Democrat to Republican to independent Beitler once led his college Democrats chapter. He registered as a Republican after returning home and starting a small business, describing his views as fiscally conservative and more liberal on social issues. Now an independent, he is concerned about the expansion of executive power under presidents from both parties and the erosion of checks and balances. He says his approach to public service has remained consistent through those changes in affiliation. County property taxes and essential services Beitler has to weigh property taxes against the cost of county services, including jails, health and human services and public nursing homes. Both Lehigh and Northampton counties operate nursing homes, and he describes caring for their residents as a moral and ethical responsibility. The proposed 2027 county tax increases were still under review when the interview was recorded. Beitler said commissioners were scrutinizing new spending and looking for ways to limit an increase while keeping services funded. Housing and neighborhood life in Easton Pintabone wants to help residents who earn too much to qualify for assistance but struggle to afford market-rate rents. He calls them the “forgotten middle,” including teachers starting their careers, police officers and city employees. His workforce housing approach ties requirements to qualifying developments receiving public subsidies or tax incentives. He also wanted income calculations based on Easton itself so the program would reflect city residents’ earnings. A fourth-generation South Side resident, Pintabone has seen neighbors respond when families need help. After fires displaced residents, he requested gift card donations on social media. So many arrived that City Hall called asking him to collect them because there was no more room. Data centers and local rules Pintabone and Beitler support giving municipalities more time to study data center proposals, including water use, electricity demand and where facilities should be built. Beitler backed moratorium proposals from state Senators Jarrett Coleman and Katie Muth. He wants communities to be able to update their rules before applications move ahead under older requirements. Residents interested in public service can also contribute through parks boards, planning commissions and other local bodies. Beitler encourages people to use those opportunities to work on issues they care about and learn how local decisions get made. PRESENTED BY BANKO BEVERAGE CO. The 12-Foot-Tall Skeleton Crawl Is Back Explore the community-built map of Halloween displays across the Lehigh Valley and check out the limited-edition It Came From the Lehigh River shirts created with Bethlehem artist Thymes Zup. EXPLORE THE MAPSHOP THE SHIRTS Learn more about the 2026 Skeleton Crawl → ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Get More Lehigh Valley with Love SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER Thank You to Our Partners Wind Creek Event Center Michael Bernadyn with RE/MAX Real Estate WDIY 88.1 FM Banko Beverage Company QuoteAhead.com Email news releases and story ideas to info@lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com

  6. Oct 14

    Small Business Help and Holiday Shopping with ToastiQueen in Bethlehem

    GET MORE AT LVWITHLOVE.COM Small-business help and local holiday shopping come together in Bethlehem on November 4 at ToastiQueen’s Fueling Business Growth event and the Home for the Holidays Podcast Holiday Marketplace. Tiffany Sondergaard, CEO and principal consultant of –ts Brand Elevation, joins George Wacker on the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast to explain how the evening connects business owners with practical resources while giving shoppers a chance to support local, women-owned businesses. Legal, banking and payroll resources for small businesses Whether someone is building a side business or working to grow an established one, Tiffany discusses the questions that can come up along the way: opening a business account, understanding contracts, preparing for financing, managing payroll and finding the right professional support. The Small Business Resource Roundup will include brief expert overviews followed by roundtable conversations. Experts will rotate among guest tables, giving attendees a chance to ask specific questions in smaller groups. In the interview, Tiffany highlights: Deborah Carey of Community Bank, discussing business banking and available resources. Cheryl Cusati Duran of Auris, discussing payroll. Jose Collado of Rising Tide Community Loan Fund, discussing small-business funding resources. Brandon Kelly of A.I.M.E., which stands for Apprenticeship, Internship, Mentorship and Entrepreneurship. Danielle Adams-Wiltshire of QueenSuite, discussing professional development. Representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration, along with accounting and legal resources. Tiffany also mentions event partner Venture X Bethlehem and explains how interior designer Wandra Neal Cain of WCA Interiors will help attendees think about the first impression their virtual backgrounds make. A holiday marketplace for shopping local The Home for the Holidays Podcast Holiday Marketplace adds local shopping to the evening, featuring women-owned businesses and a chance to meet the people behind the products. Tiffany previews offerings including Bethlehem stars, fragrance products, chocolates and Caribbean food. In the interview, she also invites businesses interested in vending to contact her at tiffany@tsbrandelevation.com. Home for the Holidays: shop small and share big The marketplace connects with Home for the Holidays: ’Tis the Season to Shop Small and Share Big, the podcast Tiffany co-hosts with WDIY Executive Director Margaret McConnell. Tiffany explains how the show explores different gift themes, interviews local business owners and highlights other businesses that fit each category. Event information and tickets Event: Fueling Business Growth + Home for the Holidays Podcast Holiday Marketplace Date: Wednesday, November 4, 2026 Time: 5–8 p.m. Location: Courtyard by Marriott Bethlehem, 2220 Emrick Boulevard, Bethlehem, PA 18020 General admission: $35 plus a ticket service fee Get tickets and event information PRESENTED BY BANKO BEVERAGE CO. The 12-Foot-Tall Skeleton Crawl Is Back Explore the community-built map of Halloween displays across the Lehigh Valley and check out the limited-edition It Came From the Lehigh River shirts created with Bethlehem artist Thymes Zup. EXPLORE THE MAPSHOP THE SHIRTS Learn more about the 2026 Skeleton Crawl → ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Get More Lehigh Valley with Love SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER Thank You to Our Partners Wind Creek Event Center Michael Bernadyn with RE/MAX Real Estate WDIY 88.1 FM Banko Beverage Company QuoteAhead.com Email news releases and story ideas to info@lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com

  7. Oct 1

    Lara Bly Gets Ready for Her Bethlehem Fall/Winter 2026 Fashion Show

    GET MORE AT LVWITHLOVE.COM We caught up with Lara Bly at Lara Bly Designs in South Bethlehem as she gets ready for her Fall/Winter 2026 Fashion Show at The Wilbur Mansion in Bethlehem on Friday, October 9. Lara takes us inside her boutique and working design studio, where much of what you see on the racks is actually made right there.   Lara Bly Fall/Winter 2026 Fashion Show: Friday, October 9, 2026, at The Wilbur Mansion in Bethlehem. Tickets and show information: LaraBly.com Learn more about Lara Bly Designs: LaraBly.com PRESENTED BY BANKO BEVERAGE CO. The 12-Foot-Tall Skeleton Crawl Is Back Explore the community-built map of Halloween displays across the Lehigh Valley and check out the limited-edition It Came From the Lehigh River shirts created with Bethlehem artist Thymes Zup. EXPLORE THE MAP SHOP THE SHIRTS Learn more about the 2026 Skeleton Crawl → ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT   Get More Lehigh Valley with Love SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER Thank You to Our Partners Wind Creek Event Center Michael Bernadyn with RE/MAX Real Estate WDIY 88.1 FM Banko Beverage Company QuoteAhead.com Email news releases and story ideas to info@lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com

  8. Sep 25

    Milkdrunk: Cathleen O’Malley Brings a Brutal Comedy About Motherhood to Bethlehem

    GET MORE AT LVWITHLOVE.COM Cathleen O’Malley is bringing Milkdrunk, her original one-woman show about childbirth, breastfeeding, motherhood and everything messy that comes with it, to Touchstone Theatre in Bethlehem October 7-10. Cathleen joins George Wacker to talk about how her own experience giving birth became the starting point for Milkdrunk, and how documenting the strange, difficult and funny moments of early motherhood eventually turned into a theatrical show. She describes Milkdrunk as a brutal comedy about breastfeeding, but the conversation goes well beyond that. Cathleen talks about using humor to explore some very raw territory, the taboos and expectations surrounding birth and motherhood, and why audiences who may not initially think the show is for them have connected with it. The show premiered Off-Broadway at the United Solo Theatre Festival at Theater Row and has since been performed in Cleveland, Washington, D.C., and at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Cathleen also talks about her history with Touchstone Theatre, what it means to return to Bethlehem with this show, and what she hopes audiences take away from Milkdrunk, including a little more curiosity about the caregivers in their own lives and the demands placed on them. Milkdrunk: October 7-10, 2026, at Touchstone Theatre, 321 East 4th Street, Bethlehem, PA. Performances are Wednesday through Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. Tickets: Adults $35; students and seniors $25. Thursday’s performance is Pay-What-You-Will. Get tickets and show information: Milkdrunk at Touchstone Theatre Learn more about Cathleen O’Malley: cathleenomalley.com PRESENTED BY BANKO BEVERAGE CO. The 12-Foot-Tall Skeleton Crawl Is Back Explore the community-built map of Halloween displays across the Lehigh Valley and check out the limited-edition It Came From the Lehigh River shirts created with Bethlehem artist Thymes Zup. EXPLORE THE MAP SHOP THE SHIRTS Learn more about the 2026 Skeleton Crawl → ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT   Get More Lehigh Valley with Love SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER Thank You to Our Partners Wind Creek Event Center Michael Bernadyn with RE/MAX Real Estate WDIY 88.1 FM Banko Beverage Company QuoteAhead.com Email news releases and story ideas to info@lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com

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4.8
out of 5
31 Ratings

About

The Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast shares stories, interviews, and conversations from Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, including Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, and the communities in between. Hosted by George Wacker and Lehigh Valley with Love Media, the podcast features local leaders, business owners, artists, musicians, authors, students, elected officials, nonprofit voices, and people helping shape the region. Find the latest episodes, videos, local stories, and more at https://www.lvwithlove.com.

Information

  • Creator
    Lehigh Valley with Love
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    200
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Lehigh Valley with Love Media
  • Show Website
    Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast

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