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

Lisa DePaulo didn’t return his first call. When John F. Kennedy Jr. left her a voicemail, asking her to write for George Magazine, she assumed it was a prank. It took a second call to convince her it was real. That moment changed everything. On this episode of HarmonyTALK, host Lisa Champeau sits down with the Dunmore, Pennsylvania, native to reflect on a career shaped by instinct, access and a willingness to ask direct questions. At George, DePaulo worked closely with JFK Jr

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

A serial ceiling smasher who transformed the media landscape, Pat Mitchell has spent her life breaking barriers and making sure other women rise with her.