WESA's Good Question! Podcast

Katie Blackley
  • 4.7 (31)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

What have you always wondered about Pittsburgh? WESA's Good Question! podcast investigates your curiosities about our city's history and culture.

  1. 09/29/2022

    Pittsburgh's highs and lows, an abstract Downtown billboard, and the Steelerettes

    Our final episode of the season is a bit of a mix. We’ll tell you about the highest and lowest points in Pittsburgh. Then we’ll head Downtown to learn how the district transformed its not-so-great reputation with the help of bright, glowing public art. Finally, we’ll meet the women who were cheerleaders for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1960s, the Steelerettes.(The Good Question! Podcast is sponsored by the CPA firm Sisterson and Company, Baum Boulevard Automotive and Eisler Landscapes)

    14 min

  2. 09/22/2022

    The history of Squirrel Hill, Frick Park fire hydrants & the first Black and female City Councilors

    Pittsburgh’s East End has some of the city’s largest parks, historic buildings and has long been home to trailblazers in city government. We’ll visit Squirrel Hill and answer some of your questions about the community’s past; we’ll hear the stories of two firsts in Pittsburgh City Council: Paul Jones, the first Black councilor, and Irma D’Ascenzo, the first female councilor; and we’ll walk through Frick Park, where old fire hydrants pop out of the woods.(The Good Question! Podcast is sponsored by Eisler Landscapes, the CPA firm Sisterson and Company and Baum Boulevard Automotive.)

    14 min

  3. 09/15/2022

    The East Busway’s history, 40th Street colorful seals, and the scenic Allegheny River Boulevard

    From streetcars to scenic Sunday drives, this episode looks at the transit projects that continue to shape our region. Episode four explains why the 40th Street Bridge has colorful seals; how the East Busway was routed and what led to those decisions; and we take a trip along Allegheny River Boulevard, complete with picnic pull-offs with picturesque views.(The Good Question! Podcast is sponsored by Baum Boulevard Automotive, Eisler Landscapes, and the CPA firm Sisterson and Company.)

    13 min

  4. 09/08/2022

    Downtown wharfs, river depth, and the history of Czechoslovakia’s creation in Pittsburgh

    If you’ve spent any time in Pittsburgh, you’ve likely been on or near its three rivers. Follow along with WESA’s Good Question podcast as we walk along the riverfront trails and remember the bustling wharfs that once occupied the space; take a dive into how river depth is measured; and, did you know the groundwork for the creation of the country Czechoslovakia took place in Downtown Pittsburgh?(The Good Question! Podcast is sponsored by Baum Boulevard Automotive, Eisler Landscapes, and the CPA firm Sisterson and Company.)

    14 min

  5. 09/08/2022

    Pittsburgh’s panthers, Civil War fort remnants, and a trip to West View Park

    Turn right where the Isaly’s used to be! Sound familiar? Pittsburgh loves to remember things that aren’t there anymore. For this episode, we learn about actual panthers that once roamed this region and how they live on at Pitt and throughout Oakland; we travel to the woods of Stanton Heights to find the remnants of a Civil War fortification; and we ride the dips at old West View Park.(The Good Question! Podcast is sponsored by Baum Boulevard Automotive, Eisler Landscapes, and the CPA firm Sisterson and Company.)

    17 min

  6. 09/08/2022

    Pronouncing ‘Carnegie,’ Schenley bench art, and the origins of the Pirates’ name

    Welcome back to 90.5 WESA’s Good Question! podcast. We’re thrilled to launch season two and bring you even more stories about Pittsburgh history and culture. Our first episode highlights city staples. We’ll visit the mind behind the colorfully painted benches in Schenley Park; we’ll look into how the Pirates got their marauding moniker and the team’s trendsetting past; and, why do locals say “Carnegie” when the rest of the country has a different pronunciation?

    12 min

  7. 04/14/2022

    Slag structures, Downtown chandeliers, and the art of the Sixteenth Street Bridge

    Pittsburgh is a beautiful city for many reasons, and that’s what we’re going to explore in episode six. From the reuse of industrial waste and slag structure public art, to the number of crystals in two of downtown’s most beautiful theaters, we’ll highlight the creativity of this region. And, we’ll answer the question: Why are the large globe structures on the Sixteenth Street Bridge different colors? (The Good Question! Podcast is sponsored by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and CASTUS.)

    14 min

  8. 04/07/2022

    Remember the Pennsylvania Canal, Lock and Dam No. 1, and paddle to Brunot Island

    On this episode, we take to the water! Many listeners were curious about the history of the Pennsylvania Canal, which included aqueducts and inclines and mules and was an early way to transport goods in the region. We figure out why there’s no “Lock and Dam No. 1” on the Allegheny River (there used to be!). We’ll paddle to Brunot Island with WESA’s Chris Potter for a history lesson on the land, including its past as a race track. (The Good Question! Podcast is sponsored by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and CASTUS.)

    16 min
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What have you always wondered about Pittsburgh? WESA's Good Question! podcast investigates your curiosities about our city's history and culture.

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