Coal Region Campfire

Nativity head football coach has done A LOT in a short period of time, putting Nativity back on the coal region football map. With less than a month to prepare for the upcoming season he had a great year 1. At one point calling every male student at Nativity to get numbers up, and he did. Now in year 2 Coach Mason and the Wave have their eyes sighted on a bigger gridiron campaign.

I remember going to see Ryan Poletti fight when I was younger, and it was awesome to see his local following as he left the area. Today he's still in boxing as a trainer, making an impact on the youth in our area. I think there's enough room for two Italian Stallions in the county (me being the other one)

Centralia documentary filmmaker Joe Sapienza chats with us this week about the incredible job he did with the documentary. So interesting to hear a fresh perspective from someone outside the area. He beautifully captured the spirit of Centralia. He also discusses future projects about the lost town.

This week Schuylkill County DA Mike O'Pake sits down with us and discusses the challenges and triumphs of his first year in office. He talks opioid epidemic, his basketball game, and what's ahead.

This week we stop down Route 61 to the Auction Bid Board and speak with owner Carolyn Fry. If you're ever looking for anything, this is the place to start. You don't need to be an antiquer or anything. I feel like they have something for everyone. Do you know their one client drives up from Texas every month? That's how good it is.

Pottsville alum Meredith Averill joins us this week to talk about her exploding career out in the city of lights (maybe ... not sure that's the nickname) of Hollywood. She gives us great behind the scenes and talks about the triumphs and challenges of working in showing business ... and possibly a series about the Yuengling Little League Dynasty (I made that up ... but just putting it out in the universe)

If you're Pottsville Tide fan this is a must listen. Mike Kiehner has been such an influential and selfless member of the coal region, doing it all for the right reasons. His voice is as soothing as a cold beer on a hot day. Not only is he a great PA announcer, but he's an equally talented organ player, and coach. We are truly lucky to have someone like him in our community. P.S. let me know if you need the TD call for your ringtone

Every coal cracker has visited Knoebels at one time or another. It's a rite of passage for any summer ... and once you ride the Phoenix you're one step closer to being an adult. I felt like a complete stud after my first time. This week Brian Knoebel sat down with us and took us through some of the insights of this amazing park.

Barry never picked up a javelin until he was cut from the baseball team in high school. Instead of being a baby, he dug in and became a world class (literally) javelin thrower, representing USA in London and placing 4th at the Olympic Trials. Great lesson on working hard, persevering, and dedication.

Nativity, Babson alum George Halcovage III stops by to talk his rise to assistant basketball coach for the best program in NCAA basketball today, Villanova. He talks who was his favorite person to see coaching at Villanova, the challenges of being a video coordinator, and what his future may hold in coaching.

Jacklyn and Cassie Collier hail from the coal hills of Mount Carmel. Today, they live in NYC, but they still hold onto to their coal region roots. They're launching a board game, which in my humble estimation is pretty damn cool. Support their Kickstarter if you can, and root for this coal region tandem.

9th District Congressional Candidate and Schuylkill County Commissioner George Halcovage stopped by today. He talks his campaign, turning a complaint from a Thanksgiving dinner into a positive change, and what made him a good point guard (he was a lefty, but people thought he was a righty)

Another great and generous episode this week from Pottsville native (East Side) PAT FLANNERY who had an amazing coaching career, most notably at Bucknell, where he knocked off #2 Kansas, in what was considered the biggest upset in March Madness till this year. Also he won a D3 national championship with Lebanon Valley back in 1994. Real interesting to hear how he almost become a plant manager at Stouffer's chicken in Ohio.

This week St. Pat's CYO Alum and ESPN's fantasy guru takes the time to talk to us about how he turned a passion of sports stats into a career. Mike is now enjoying a career at ESPN as their fantasy football guru. Great story and lesson on how to turn a passion into a career. Hint: it's a lot of hard work.

This is one of those podcasts where I don't feel like I did it justice. It was amazing to visit Todd in his element carving blocks of wood into truly amazing pieces of art with a chainsaw. Check out the pics on our Facebook page

This week we take a visit to space (kind of) by going to the Pottsville Area High School Planetarium, one of the only kind in the area. An amazing resource for the community, and truly incredible to see in person. Mr. Adrian Portland, the Planetarium's director leads the way and flies the spaceship. This is one of those podcasts where I don't feel like I did it justice. It was amazing to visit Todd in his element carving blocks of wood into truly amazing pieces of art with a chainsaw. Check out the pics on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/coalregioncampfire/

You've all seen Joe Bosack's work whether you realize it or not. He's created some of the most iconic logos in sports including the Final Four logo, Boise State, Mississippi State, and was part of the team that designed the Colorado Avalanche logo. These are just a few, as his resume is expansive. Crazy to think he creates all of this living in Pottsville!

This week Blue Mountain Alum Jimmy Spence takes the time to talk to us about autograph authentication. An incredible insight into the niche market of autograph authentication. If you have a piece of memorabilia with a signature there's a great chance James Spence Authentication did the verification.

In this episode we travel north of the mountain to Shenandoah and talk with Jessica, a fourth generation owner of the famed Kowalonek's, which you've probably been saying wrong for some time now. Don't be an amateur man/woman!

Mike Sofranko has been the mayor of Jim Thorpe since 2009 and today he took the time to talk to us about the challenges and triumphs of being a mayor. We also talk about the origin of the nameJim Thorpe (hint Jim Thorpe never set foot in Jim Thorpe)