The Spark

WITF, Inc.
  • 4.5 (31)
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When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, host Asia Tabb starts conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.

  1. 1D AGO

    Evolution, Identity, and the Spaces We Create

    (00:00:00) First, we visit the Center for Post Natural History, a one‑of‑a‑kind museum dedicated to documenting the living organisms that have been intentionally altered by humans, from early agricultural domestication to cutting‑edge genetic engineering. Since 2008, the Center has sparked public dialogue about our growing role as evolutionary agents, using exhibitions, workshops, and multimedia storytelling to illuminate the profound entanglement between human culture and the natural world. Featured by outlets like WESA, WHYY, BBC World Service, National Geographic, and Science Friday, the Center challenges us to rethink what “nature” even means in the 21st century. (00:22:39) Then, we shift from biological evolution to social identity with Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, renowned psychologist, bestselling author, and former president of Spelman College. Ahead of her Black History Month appearance at Dickinson College, Tatum joins us to discuss belonging, identity formation, and the institutional work required to create inclusive, psychologically safe learning environments. Drawing from her landmark book Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? and her newest work, Peril and Promise, she reflects on the pressures facing higher‑education leaders and the urgent need for communities that support all students. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    45 min

  2. 2D AGO

    The Spark Weekly | Trailblazers in Pennsylvania: Horseshoe Curve and The Rise of The Internet.

    When Matthew Wolfe walks through the Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona, he isn’t just surrounded by locomotives and artifacts, he’s surrounded by the lives of the people who built them. and In September 1982, that problem surfaced on a small network of computers at Carnegie Mellon University, where a few dozen computer scientists were using early electronic message boards—primitive by today’s standards, but revolutionary at the time. Messages were text-only, stripped of facial expressions, tone of voice, or context. Humor, sarcasm, and jokes often landed the wrong way. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    45 min

  3. 4D AGO

    Lost Mail, Late Budgets, and the Legacy of Mt. Tabor

    (00:00:00) We begin with Gillian McGoldrick of The Philadelphia Inquirer, who details her reporting on the Shapiro Administration’s lawsuit against a vendor accused of failing to deliver more than 3 million pieces of mail from state agencies. The missing documents, everything from benefits notices to tax information, raise serious questions about oversight, transparency, and the impact on Pennsylvanians who depend on timely communication from their government. WITF’s Jaxon White then previews the upcoming state budget season, reflecting on last year’s prolonged delay and the political stakes as Gov. Shapiro seeks re‑election. (00:22:18) In the second half of the show, we turn to Mt. Tabor AME Zion Church in Mount Holly Springs, a one‑room church built by formerly enslaved people and a cornerstone of the region’s African American community for more than a century. Now the focus of the Mt. Tabor Preservation Project, the church stands as a testament to resilience, faith, and the determination to protect Black history in Cumberland County. We speak with Carmen James, a board member and lifelong advocate for the site, about the ongoing restoration efforts, the stories preserved within its walls, and why safeguarding Mt. Tabor’s legacy matters for future generations. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    47 min

  4. 5D AGO

    Growing Things: In the Garden and Online

    (00:00:00) Winter may still have its grip, but we’re already dreaming of green. In this episode, we finally dig into the houseplant care we didn’t get to last time. From keeping indoor plants thriving to refreshing bird feeders and bird baths during the coldest stretch of the year. We’ll talk about what’s blooming right now, the seeds you can start early, and the small rituals that help us look toward spring. (00:22:30)Then we shift to a very different kind of ecosystem: the early internet. Our guest reflects on the moment he proposed the very first emoticons :-) and :-( and how those simple keystrokes reshaped digital communication.  Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    44 min

  5. 6D AGO

    From Railroads to Renaissance: How PA Built and Rebuilt Its Creative Identity

    (00:00:00) First, we meet Matthew Wolff, Curator at the Railroaders Memorial Museum, whose passion for railroad history fuels his work preserving the legacy of the people who built Altoona into a powerhouse of American industry. Matthew guides us through the astonishing story of the Horseshoe Curve, an engineering marvel blasted, dug, and carved through the Allegheny Mountains in the 1850s by Irish immigrant laborers. The Curve became a vital artery for the nation, a target of wartime espionage, and a symbol of the grit that defined Railroad City. We explore how the museum keeps that legacy alive and why the story of Altoona’s workers still resonates today. (00:22:34) Then we travel to York, where Roth J. Preap, Executive Director of the York Art Association, is leading a new chapter for one of Pennsylvania’s oldest arts organizations. Founded in 1905, the Association has weathered cultural shifts, urban flight, and technological change, and now, under Roth’s leadership, it’s preparing to move into a new permanent home known as the Little Green Church. With a $2 million capital campaign underway, Roth shares how the organization is expanding arts education, strengthening community access, and honoring more than a century of creative history. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    44 min

  6. JAN 21

    Past, Present, and the Pictures We Make: Celebrating Harrisburg’s Artistic Story

    (00:00:00) We begin with the Art Association of Harrisburg, founded in 1926 by visionary civic leader Gertrude Olmsted McCormick. What began during the Coolidge presidency in a world shaped by world wars, the Great Depression, and seismic cultural change has grown into a 100‑year artistic anchor for the region. Through shifting art movements, evolving technology, and nearly twenty presidential administrations, the Association has remained a beacon for artists, students, teachers, and patrons. We explore the legacy of its founding mothers, the decades‑long leadership of Carrie, the creation of the beloved Gallery Walk, and the storied history of the Bal Masque, which has traveled from the old Penn Harris Hotel to Strawberry Square, the Hilton, and now for its 100th anniversary celebration the King Mansion on April 26, 2026. (00:22:29) Then we shift to the present with Jemar Sweets, a travel photographer and Millworks artist whose business, LensWorthy Imagery, captures culture, color, and connection across the globe. From Harrisburg and Hershey to Colombia, Greece, Jamaica, and beyond, Jemar’s work blends adventure with artistry. When he’s not behind the camera, he’s exploring new foods, performing improv, and immersing himself in the stories of the places he visits. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    44 min

  7. JAN 19

    The Spark Weekly: The 2026 Farm Show

    This episode includes all of our segments from Wednesday and Thursday this week from the 2026 Farm Show. All you need to know all in one place! Featured this year is: Dairymen's Executive Director Dave Smith Committee Member of The Mushroom Farmers of PA, managing the Farm Show booth Gale Ferranto President of PA alpaca owners and breeders' association- owner Crimson Skye Farm Karen Nace Northwest Maple Association Member Laura Dengler Bradford County Dairy Princess Sophia Tice and finally Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 6m

  8. JAN 17

    From Hidden Harm to Hidden Meanings: Journalist Roundtable and The Dark History of Nursery Rhymes

    (00:00:00) First, Mi Xian and Mark Fazollah of Spotlight PA join us to discuss their reporting on undercounted and misreported rapes in the State College area. Their investigation reveals how gaps in data, institutional practices, and reporting systems can obscure the reality of sexual violence. They walk us through what they uncovered, why these discrepancies matter, and how communities are affected when the numbers meant to protect them fall short. (00:22:21) Then, we shift from modern reporting failures to the deep past with Chrissie Senecal, historian at Shippensburg University, for a journey into the origins and evolution of nursery rhymes. Chrissie explores how many familiar rhymes trace back to medieval Europe, shaped by the politics, fears, humor, and social tensions of their time. We dig into the “dark” or hidden meanings encoded in rhyme and rhythm, how these verses transformed from adult commentary to children’s entertainment, and why they’ve endured for centuries. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    44 min
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4.5
out of 5
31 Ratings

About

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, host Asia Tabb starts conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.

Information

  • Creator
    WITF, Inc.
  • Years Active
    2009 - 2026
  • Episodes
    114
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 WITF
  • Show Website
    The Spark

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