HarmonyTALK

Earth Day 2024 is upon us! With it comes the ever-present dream of making the Earth a better place. The Pocono Environmental Education Center – or PEEC—has a rich history of working with and for nature. A former honeymoon resort, PEEC uses the architectural remains for sustainable exhibitions such as a beaver lodge in a former indoor swimming pool. PEEC is one of only a handful of educational camps actually housed inside a national park. Host Lisa Champeau talks with Kelly Daly, Marc Gold and Joy Karnas, PhD, about how they got involved with PEEC and how PEEC programs aim to raise awareness about the natural world and how we can all make the Earth a better place --free of pollution, climate change and waste.

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Juan Espino marries architecture, history and the human experience to create some of the most “smile-inducing” paintings of our time. Working in the “Art Naïve” or, Folk-Art style. Guest Host Todd Stephens, and Juan discuss his use of painting as a form of therapy before relocating to the United States from his native Mexico. He is now the owner of Looking Glass Art Gallery, in Northeast Pennsylvania. www.lookingglassartgallery.com.

Find Todd Stephens at:

@toddjstephens (Twitter)

@tjstephens (LinkedIn)

@workinman1 (Instagram)

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As spring approaches, a group of community-minded art lovers in and around Hawley, Pennsylvania, prepares to launch a vibrant initiative: Paint the Town. Hawley is the hometown of Lake Wallenpaupack, Pennsylvania’s third largest man-made lake and a huge tourist destination. Paint the Town is designed to brighten up the streets and entice visitors to check out all the small borough has to offer. Host Lisa Champeau talks to Janet Gaglione and Kate Hayes about the influence of public art on a town’s economy—and quality of life.

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His life’s work is focused on “creating better humans” through his involvement in the children’s summer camp industry. Hear entrepreneur and philanthropist, Skip Vichness, talk about how his diverse life, career path and willingness to be completely involved, have led him to the service of others.

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Jim Weiss has evolved Real Chemistry from a one-person consultancy into an international leader in health innovation. Currently, he serves as Chairman and Founder and as Executive Advisor to New Mountain Capital, Real Chemistry’s investment partner.Jim is ahealthcare, biopharma, medical tech entrepreneur, business leader, and digital health pioneer.He’s been named aTop 50 Health InfluencerandInnovator of the Year. Last year, he received theTrailblazer Lifetime Achievement Award.

His affable curiosity began in our hometown of Honesdale, Pennsylvania, and was furthered at his alma mater, Syracuse University, where he was inducted into the Newhouse School’s50 Forwardas one of its most accomplished graduates of the last 50 years. Jim and his wife Audra also founded the Weiss Center for Social Commerce at S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.In this episode, Jim talks with Todd Stephens about taking the leap from big pharma to launching a start-up. He recounts his early days becoming the leader that, perhaps, no one saw coming. He also touches on the next phase of his career. Through it all, Jim says his commitment to family and giving back kept him grounded. Still, hedispels the myth of work-life balance. He believes the pursuit of “downtime” and "work time" will usually merge. When he's not working, he loves to watch his Northern California teams and listen to The Grateful Dead or see Dead and Co. live!Jim resides with his wife and two children in the Bay Area.

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In honor of Black History Month, we revisit Greg Frigoletto’s conversation with Glynis Johns, the Founder of the Black Scranton Project.

Growing up in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Glynis Johns dreamed of one day moving to New York City to explore the arts, fashion and to further her education.While attending St. John’s University and establishing herself as a Brooklynite, Glynis found her calling and her passion.In this episode, Glynis speaks with Greg Frigoletto about her fascinating journey from dreaming to doing, becoming the founder and CEO of the Black Scranton Project, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, local heritage initiative, and public history venture dedicated to archiving and celebrating the Black history of Scranton and Northeastern Pennsylvania.

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It started with a stamp from the Belgian Congo and took Professor Ed Williams around the world—along with hundreds of students, older adults, and college deans. “It” is the retired professor’s passion for travel, and not just any travel. Learning Vacations. Ed shares his journey with host Lisa Champeau on how he made a career of travel education with a focus on China, the “sleeping giant” who sleeps no more.

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Author Amy Ferris has just published a new memoir that lives up to its title-- Mighty Gorgeous, a Little Book About Messy Love.” From her home in northeastern Pennsylvania, Amy chats with Harmony TALK host Lisa Champeau about everything from dropping out of high school at age 15 to being nominated for a big award in Hollywood. But most significantly, Amy talks from the heart about how important it is to embrace who you are and how you got there.

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Peter Bohlin, the architect behind many iconic structures, including the Apple store on 5th Avenue in New York, the Barn at Fallingwater and Bill Gates’ Seattle-area mansion, talks to host Lisa Champeau about creating works that are not only sustainable but “humane.” Find out how Peter Bohlin followed his calling.

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Growing up in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Glynis Johns dreamed of one day moving to New York City to explore the arts, fashion and to further her education.While attending St. John’s University and establishing herself as a Brooklynite, Glynis found her calling and her passion.In this episode, Glynis speaks with Greg Frigoletto about her fascinating journey from dreaming to doing, becoming the founder and CEO of the Black Scranton Project, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, local heritage initiative, and public history venture dedicated to archiving and celebrating the Black history of Scranton and Northeastern Pennsylvania.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.