A liberal rant recorded in 2020....

Newville PA has essentially been a "dry" town since Prohibition back in 1933. This May 2021 residents will vote on whether to change the liquor law and become a "wet" borough. So what do residents think about this change? Listen to this 7-minute podcast and learn a little history about this quaint township - and how getting "wet" may change the borough. (This podcast is an extension of an article I wrote recently for Carlisle's Sentinel newspaper.)

Until Heaven Then My Friend; Life's Journey For Your Beloved Dog by Tana Osborn Osborn lives in Montana, is an assisted living nurse, and author of a book called "Until Heaven Then My Friend: Life's Journey For Your Beloved Dog." Bill Mintiens talks with Osborn about why she wrote the book, how she dealt with her own grief, and why she believes that all dogs go to heaven. Total running time: 7:30

2014 - Homeless in Crook County Oregon Ever Wonder What It's Like? Somehow the message that the economy was improving never made it to the homeless population in Crook County. Numbers are increasing and services can't keep up with the need. Bill talks with two people in Prineville Oregon about how they came to be homeless, what it's like to live on the street, what challenges they have on a daily basis, and what resources they have tapped to help them get out of the cycle of homelessness, drug addiction, and jail. Listen to this podcast now (8:41 total time) and learn what it's like to be homeless in a rural community in Central Oregon.

June 2015 - Ochoco National Forest (Oregon) Restoration Collaborative - Part 2 The Collaborative tours the Bailey Butte Fire Site In this episode the Collaborative takes a tour of the Bailey Butte Fire which burned 8,000 acres of Ochoco National Forest in 2014. Experts in fire behavior and forest restoration discuss, at various stops during the day, how fire affected the forest and how smart restoration practices may diminish the effects of future fires. 9:21 total time.

2015 - Ochoco National Forest Restoration Collaborative - Part 1 - Addressing and Resolving Impassioned Gridlock The Ochoco National Forest Restoration Collaborative is a group of diverse stakeholders who started meeting in 2012 at the request of co-conveners, Prineville's Mayor at the time Betty Roppe and Crook County Commissioner Ken Fahlgren. The group works on forest and watershed restoration within the Ochoco National Forest in Central Oregon. Listen to this 8-minute podcast to hear how groups, seemingly at odds with each other over forest management issues, are working together for the common good of the forest and surrounding communities.

October 2015 - Woodgrain Millwork in Prineville Oregon recently closed its mill after a roof collapsed under the weight of heavy ice and snow. The company has no plans to reopen the facility meaning that upwards of 200 people are losing their jobs. This in a county with over 10.2% unemployment, high poverty and homelessness. Listen to this podcast and hear the voices of affected workers. Total time: 8:02

Jeanna Som is the Executive Director of Carlisle PA's Summer Program for Youth (SPY.) I recorded this podcast with Jeanna as part of the article I wrote for the (Carlisle) Sentinel newspaper's "Inspire" edition Feb. 28, 2021. A woman with a big heart, listen to this podcast and be inspired to help those kids that are less fortunate than you.

This is the first episode of Cumberland County Chatter, a new podcast show featuring interviews with inspirational, and sometimes controversial, people who live in Cumberland County Pennsylvania. Sara Agerton is the only woman, and only Democrat, on the Mechanicsburg Borough Council. At 41 Agerton is committed to making her voice, and others' voices, heard in order to make the community a better place to live. (about 15 minutes)

Steve Bloom is the former Pennsylvania State House Representative (2010-2018)who then ran unsuccessfully for a US Congressional seat in 2019-20. A man who's life goal has always been to "make a difference" in peoples' lives, Steve is one of those people you can hold up as a role model. Listen to this 30-minute interview to learn more about Steve's life and what he's up to these days. (This interview was the basis for my profile article in The Sentinel Newspaper, Carlisle PA, December 2020.)