Alter Eagle

Laura K. Crago
  • 4.9 (15)
  • DOCUMENTARY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

This podcast is brought to you by the Butler Eagle out of Butler, PA. Butler, PA a town located just 35 miles north of Pittsburgh, PA built on a wealth of history, known for oil refining roots to the present day Marcellus Shale boom, from railroad car manufacturing in the past to the birth of the Bantam Jeep in 1941, to a 153-year-old local newspaper, the Butler Eagle where our story begins... Here at the Butler Eagle we've been reporting the daily news since 1870 bringing the facts, real stories of real events happening in our community and now we are here to bring the voices to those stories. To talk about the issues that our community is facing daily and how they relate to the world at large. Join us every Monday and Wednesday, starting in February 2024, with each season focusing on a different topic. Follow us on Instagram: altereaglepodcast www.butlereagle.com

  1. Presence, Faith, and Finding Meaning with Pastor Katie McNeal.

    12/17/2025

    Presence, Faith, and Finding Meaning with Pastor Katie McNeal.

    In this episode, I sit down with Pastor Katie McNeal of St. John Lutheran Church in Mars for a thoughtful conversation about faith, creativity, and connection.   Pastor Katie joined the St. John congregation in 2022, bringing with her a wide-ranging background, from Camp Lutherlyn and youth ministry work to earning advanced degrees at Yale Divinity School. Along the way, she's also been a kickboxing instructor, a gardener, a musician with the Pittsburgh Philharmonic, and a pastor deeply committed to meeting people where they are.   We talk about what it means to share the Good News in ways that feel engaging and accessible, and we reflect on a small but powerful symbol inside the church, the IHS engraving on the pulpit, the first three letters of Jesus' name in Greek, serving as a reminder of presence, meaning, and faith in everyday life. We also discuss the annual Live Nativity St. John Lutheran performs for the Mars, PA community joining with another church in the neighborhood, LIVE animals and all, even a donkey!   This episode is a moment of pause and reflection as we head into the holiday season and a reminder of the power of presence, community, and storytelling.   Note: The podcast will take a brief break for the holidays and return with new episodes in the new year.   Episode Resources:   https://www.facebook.com/stjohnchurchmars   Sponsors:   https://www.betterhelp.com/altereagle   Follow & Subscribe to get episodes automatically as they drop every Monday. Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Audible, and Deezer, as well as YouTube. This Podcast is produced at The Butler Eagle located in Butler, PA. Subscribe to this channel for all Butler Eagle News content and go to:   https://www.alter-eagle.com/   https://www.butlereagle.com/   #butlerpa  #podcast #resources #community #Pittsburgh #hope #change #altereagle #altereaglepodcast  #movement #education #butlerdowntown #downtownbutler #butlercountydowntown #downtownbutler #butlerdowntown #community #StJohnLutheranChurch #Mars #Christmas #LiveNativity     Hosted, Produced & Edited By: Laura Crago

    1h 2m
  2. Where Passion Meets Partnership: The Merda Adams In Sports Media.

    12/10/2025

    Where Passion Meets Partnership: The Merda Adams In Sports Media.

    Today's episode features a candid and engaging conversation with Jake and Mallory Merda Adams, a couple who have spent the last decade building parallel careers in the fast-paced world of sports journalism. Jake, a Temple grad originally from Northampton, PA, has spent nearly twelve years in the field, serving as a sports editor at The Carlisle Sentinel, Madison.com, and the Louisville Courier Journal. His approach to storytelling is rooted in community, curiosity, and a deep love for the games that bring people together. Mallory, born and raised in Irwin just south of Pittsburgh, discovered her passion early through trips to pro games with her dad. Today, she's a sports editor and sports content coach with USA TODAY, shaping stories across the country while still holding space for her fun side as an avid Sailor Moon and Pokémon collector. Together, Jake and Mallory open up about the rhythm of life in sports media, the balance between partnership and deadlines, how they support one another through busy seasons, and what keeps them inspired in an industry that never really slows down. If you love sports, storytelling, or just a good behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to thrive in journalism today, this episode is for you.   Sponsors: https://www.betterhelp.com/altereagle   Follow & Subscribe to get episodes automatically as they drop every Monday. Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Audible, and Deezer, as well as YouTube. This Podcast is produced at The Butler Eagle located in Butler, PA. Subscribe to this channel for all Butler Eagle News content and go to:   https://www.alter-eagle.com/ https://www.butlereagle.com/   #butlerpa  #podcast #resources #community #Pittsburgh #hope #change #altereagle #altereaglepodcast  #movement #education #butlerdowntown #downtownbutler #butlercountydowntown #downtownbutler #butlerdowntown #community #sportesmedia #sportseditor #sportscouple #partnership   Hosted, Produced & Edited By: Laura Crago

    1h 12m
  3. Choosing Growth: An Honest Conversation with Heidi Nicholls Bowser.

    12/03/2025

    Choosing Growth: An Honest Conversation with Heidi Nicholls Bowser.

    On this episode, Laura welcomes Heidi Nichols Bowser, a respected leader within the Butler YMCA community and an accomplished athlete with a lifelong love of sports. Heidi shares how she got her start in speed skating, the dedication that carried her through college tennis, and the career decisions that led her to Butler.   Together, they explore themes of personal growth, community connection, and defining success on your own terms.   Sponsors:   https://www.betterhelp.com/altereagle   Follow & Subscribe to get episodes automatically as they drop every Monday. Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Audible, and Deezer, as well as YouTube. This Podcast is produced at The Butler Eagle located in Butler, PA. Subscribe to this channel for all Butler Eagle News content and go to:   https://www.alter-eagle.com/   https://www.butlereagle.com/   #butlerpa  #podcast #resources #community #Pittsburgh #hope #change #altereagle #altereaglepodcast  #movement #education #butlerdowntown #downtownbutler #butlercountydowntown #downtownbutler #butlerdowntown #community #ymca #friendship       Hosted, Produced & Edited By: Laura Crago

    1h 3m
  4. Gratitude in a Tiny New York Apartment.

    11/26/2025

    Gratitude in a Tiny New York Apartment.

    This Thanksgiving, I'm sharing a story from my time living in New York with roommates from all over the world — people who, just a month earlier, were complete strangers to me.   It was their first Thanksgiving, and our tiny apartment became a place where different languages, spices, cultures, and expectations collided into one shared meal. That night reminded me how quickly strangers can become family, and how gratitude is often found around tables we never expected to sit at.   Sponsors: https://www.betterhelp.com/altereagle   Follow & Subscribe to get episodes automatically as they drop every Monday. Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Audible, and Deezer, as well as YouTube. This Podcast is produced at The Butler Eagle located in Butler, PA. Subscribe to this channel for all Butler Eagle News content and go to:   https://www.alter-eagle.com/   https://www.butlereagle.com/   #butlerpa  #podcast #resources #community #Pittsburgh #hope #change #altereagle #altereaglepodcast  #movement #education #butlerdowntown #downtownbutler #butlercountydowntown #downtownbutler #butlerdowntown #community #Thanksgiving #friendsgiving #NewYorkNewYork #upperwestside #sugarhill #NYCSubway #culture   Hosted, Produced & Edited By: Laura Crago

    12 min
  5. Ray Ray's Wild Ride: A Cat's 100-Mile Journey

    11/12/2025

    Ray Ray's Wild Ride: A Cat's 100-Mile Journey

    Sometimes, the stories that stop us in our tracks are the ones we never see coming. After traveling 100 miles on the roof of a moving car, RayRay the Cat became a local legend — and a symbol of survival, connection, and second chances. Laura talks with RayRay's human, Margaret about that unbelievable day, the outpouring of support that followed, and how one small cat reminded everyone just how big love can be.   Follow: @rayraytails on Instagram   Resources From Episode: https://www.orphansofthestorm-pa.org/   Sponsors: https://www.betterhelp.com/altereagle   Follow & Subscribe to get episodes automatically as they drop every Monday. Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Audible, and Deezer, as well as YouTube. This Podcast is produced at The Butler Eagle located in Butler, PA. Subscribe to this channel for all Butler Eagle News content and go to:   https://www.alter-eagle.com/   https://www.butlereagle.com/   #butlerpa  #podcast #resources #community #Pittsburgh #hope #change #altereagle #altereaglepodcast  #movement #education #butlerdowntown #downtownbutler #butlercountydowntown #downtownbutler #butlerdowntown #community  #RayRayTheCat #100milejourney #adoptdontshop #rayraytails     Hosted, Produced & Edited By: Laura Crago

    46 min
  6. Part III-The Maze Finale: Corn, Chaos & The O.G. Behind The 3D Creativity.

    11/06/2025

    Part III-The Maze Finale: Corn, Chaos & The O.G. Behind The 3D Creativity.

    In this final chapter of The Maze series, we meet Rob Raifsnider — the creative force behind Ravenswood Manor and the original 3D Maze at The Beacon. Rob shares his passion for haunting artistry and decades of dedication to Halloween. Then, take one last ride through the Corn Maze with us — sights, sounds, and scares included.   Sponsors:   https://www.betterhelp.com/altereagle   Follow & Subscribe to get episodes automatically as they drop every Monday. Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Audible, and Deezer, as well as YouTube. This Podcast is produced at The Butler Eagle located in Butler, PA. Subscribe to this channel for all Butler Eagle News content and go to:   https://www.alter-eagle.com/   https://www.butlereagle.com/   #butlerpa  #podcast #resources #community #Pittsburgh #hope #change #altereagle #altereaglepodcast  #movement #education #butlerdowntown #downtownbutler #butlercountydowntown #downtownbutler #butlerdowntown #community  #Halloween #TheBeaconHotel #HalloweenMaze #TheHaunt #MadHatter #RobRaifsnider   Hosted, Produced & Edited By: Laura Crago

    1h 7m
  7. Part II Of The Beacon Hotel: The Haunt. Community, Chaos, and a Haunted Maze!

    10/30/2025

    Part II Of The Beacon Hotel: The Haunt. Community, Chaos, and a Haunted Maze!

    Part Two of The Beacon Hotel: The Haunt is here — and this time, I'm joined by Jordan Grady from the Butler County Chamber of Commerce and Audrianna Bly! Jordan and I relive our trip through the haunted maze, talk about what makes The Haunt such a Butler County favorite, and share some of the video and photos from that night (yes, the screams are real). I also continue my conversations with family members, staff and even a scare actor — she told us where she would be and still got us good! This is the final weekend for The Haunt — wagons head out Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m. Get there by dusk and make a night of it! Next up: Part Three — a full walkthrough episode you won't want to miss.   Sponsors: https://www.betterhelp.com/altereagle   Follow & Subscribe to get episodes automatically as they drop every Monday. Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Audible, and Deezer, as well as YouTube. This Podcast is produced at The Butler Eagle located in Butler, PA. Subscribe to this channel for all Butler Eagle News content and go to: https://www.alter-eagle.com/ https://www.butlereagle.com/ #butlerpa  #podcast #resources #community #Pittsburgh #hope #change #altereagle #altereaglepodcast  #movement #education #butlerdowntown #downtownbutler #butlercountydowntown #downtownbutler #butlerdowntown #community  #Halloween #TheBeaconHotel #HalloweenMaze #TheHaunt #MadHatter #TheHaunt #BeaconHotel #ButlerCountyPA #SupportLocal #Podcast #HalloweenFun #LocalEvents   Hosted, Produced & Edited By: Laura Crago

    43 min
  8. Part I The Beacon Hotel Halloween Special: Behind The Haunt.

    10/22/2025

    Part I The Beacon Hotel Halloween Special: Behind The Haunt.

    Step inside the Beacon Hotel — a Butler County landmark where history, community, and a good scare all come together. In this first part of my Beacon Hotel Halloween special, I sit down with Nick, Roni, and Jamie — the creative forces behind The Haunt. We talk about what it takes to bring this annual Halloween experience to life, the pride they have in their community, and how the Beacon has become a place that connects people year-round — from haunted mazes to Wing Fest and everything in between.   Stay tuned for Part Two, where I team up with Jordan Grady President of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce to take on The Haunt ourselves — maze, screams, and all.   Sponsors:   https://www.betterhelp.com/altereagle   Follow & Subscribe to get episodes automatically as they drop every Monday. Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Audible, and Deezer, as well as YouTube. This Podcast is produced at The Butler Eagle located in Butler, PA. Subscribe to this channel for all Butler Eagle News content and go to:   https://www.alter-eagle.com/ https://www.butlereagle.com/   #butlerpa  #podcast #resources #community #Pittsburgh #hope #change #altereagle #altereaglepodcast  #movement #education #butlerdowntown #downtownbutler #butlercountydowntown #downtownbutler #butlerdowntown #community #Halloween #TheBeaconHotel #TheHaunt #AliceInWonderland #CornMaze #HauntedHouse #FamilyTradition #GhostStories   Hosted, Produced & Edited By: Laura Crago

    1h 11m
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Trailer

4.9
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

This podcast is brought to you by the Butler Eagle out of Butler, PA. Butler, PA a town located just 35 miles north of Pittsburgh, PA built on a wealth of history, known for oil refining roots to the present day Marcellus Shale boom, from railroad car manufacturing in the past to the birth of the Bantam Jeep in 1941, to a 153-year-old local newspaper, the Butler Eagle where our story begins... Here at the Butler Eagle we've been reporting the daily news since 1870 bringing the facts, real stories of real events happening in our community and now we are here to bring the voices to those stories. To talk about the issues that our community is facing daily and how they relate to the world at large. Join us every Monday and Wednesday, starting in February 2024, with each season focusing on a different topic. Follow us on Instagram: altereaglepodcast www.butlereagle.com

Information

  • Creator
    Laura K. Crago
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    94
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2024
  • Show Website
    Alter Eagle