Fifteen years ago, the idea of staging Shakespeare in Scranton carried a slight degree of skepticism amongst those in the New York theater world. But Scranton native Michael Bradshaw Flynn decided to give it a try, crossing his fingers that at least 200 theater fans would show up in support of the Bard. Instead, more than a 1,000 people crammed into Nay Aug Park for a performance of Shakespeare’s celebrated “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The rest, as they say, is history. In th

How Michele Dempsey helped Scranton turn parody into pride. This week on HarmonyTALK, Michele Dempsey shares with Todd Stephens how Scranton’s connection to ‘The Office’ nearly became a national punchline, until creativity and collaboration turned it into civic pride and tourism dollars. As an architect, Michele is trained to see possibility before others could. She brought that same vision to her city, helping transform pop culture attention into events, partnerships, visito

Following a Different Beat. There are moments in life when everything looks right on the outside. A respected career. A clear path. A life built on service and responsibility. Matt Kizis had that life. As a dedicated Pennsylvania State Trooper, his work carried meaning and structure. It was a role defined by commitment and purpose. But alongside that life was something just as steady. A love for travel. Not occasional. Not fleeting. Something that consistently brought him ene

Some people watch a movie and move on. Others build their life around it. For Mike Kunda, Rocky was never just a film. It was a lifeline. Growing up in West Scranton, he was the kid who didn’t quite fit. Bullied. Overlooked. Unsure of who he was supposed to be. But when he watched Rocky Balboa take hit after hit and refuse to go down, something shifted. He saw himself. Not the champion. Not yet. But the fighter. On this episode of HarmonyTALK, host Todd Stephens explores what

Chef Ryan Von Smith didn’t leave Scranton because everything was lined up. He left because he knew he needed more. More opportunity. More pressure. More of a shot than he felt he could get staying put. So he headed to Los Angeles with a big dream and one mindset: figure it out. It wasn’t glamorous. He scraped by at first, doing whatever he had to do to stay afloat. His first real break came at Tao Asian Bistro… not in the kitchen, but at the door. Working security. Watching e

Actress, singer, and producer Gabrielle Ruiz joins the HarmonyTALK podcast to share her inspiring journey from growing up in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas to performing on Broadway and starring in hit television shows.

In this episode of HarmonyTALK, host Todd Stephens interviews Kim Stevens, a visionary leader in real estate, who shares her journey from childhood memories at Lake Wallenpaupack to her unique leadership philosophy of 'structure with a healthy dose of magic.'

Moderated by past HarmonyTALK guest Skip Vichness, this was an inspiring testament to history in the making! We were truly honored to join Congregation Beth Israel in celebrating their 175th Anniversary with a powerful panel discussion, originally taking place on August 25, 2024.