Podcasts

May 3, 2024

Reverend Dr. Shelia Johnson-Hunt – City Wide Revival

Reverend Dr. Shelia Johnson-Hunt sat down with WQED-FM’s Anna Singer to talk about the City Wide Revival on May 7th and 8th at Petra International Ministries. This event includes multiple styles of African American music, dance, preaching, and much more. This free event will also feature Bishop Lisa Weah and Elder Justin Hunt from Baltimore, MD. Dr. Hunt talked about her three compositions that will be featured in this program, including her Billboard Single Hit, “Freedom”, her musical family, and her background. This event and interview are part of WQED’s Gospel programming that highlights local concerts in the Western Pennsylvania area. Visit the Baptist Minister’s Conference of Pittsburgh and Vicinity’s Facebook Page to learn more.

May 3, 2024

Renee Fleming – “Music and Mind”

Opera superstar Renee Fleming will be on the air for the Saturday Metropolitan Opera broadcasts with the Hours by Kevin Puts on May 18 at 1pm but less two days before her return in the role at the Met, she spoke with Jim Cunningham about her new book “Music and Mind” published by Viking on April 9th, 2024. She has donated a copy of the book with a cd of the Hours and tickets to The Hours at the Met to the silent auction and Franck Conrad Birthday Party at the Train Station in Wilkinsburg just a few blocks from where broadcasting began on Penn Avenue in Wilkinsburg on May 4th from 1 till 4pm.

With multiple contributions from experts in the field of music and wellness and over 540 pages, she spoke of her long exploration of the growing field. Renee Fleming also talked about her visit to Chautauqua on July 27th, 2024 and her work in putting together a week at Chautauqua on the Transformative Power of Music which includes a Monday morning lecture she will give in the Amphitheater. Renee Fleming speaks about her work with broadcasting on PBS, her family ties in Western Pennsylvania dating back to her birthplace in Indiana, PA and other family in Coraopolis, her husband from Pittsburgh and her brother-in-law, Harry Jessell, who was the Editor of Broadcasting Magazine and now serves on the board of the Museum of Broadcasting in Pittsburgh.

May 3, 2024

Robert Levin

Pianist and musicologist Robert Levin with the Academy of Ancient Music discusses with Jim Cunningham the 30 year project to record the complete Mozart Piano Concertos with original instruments and multiple pianos. Robert Levin explains which new additions to the set involved his research and completions. Robert explains how improvisations were added that resemble the technique of jazz players like Art Tatum, He also remembers his colleague Christopher Hogwood, describes the extra detail for notes and art with the packaging of each hard bound booklet, and suggests why classical radio has spotlight hours of Mozart. He remembers his own experience as a dj with a good reason why listeners should help out during the fundraising drives.

May 2, 2024

Mike Perry – Saving Face: Memoir of a Circus Clown

Educatory and storyteller, Mike Perry, spoke with WQED-FM about his upcoming show at New Hazlett Theater on Monday, May 6th at 7pm, Saving Face: Memoir of a Circus Clown. This one man show features Mike Perry using the art of storytelling to explore tales of circus clowns drawn from his own experience as a clown for Ringling Brothers Circus and why today’s stigma around them is so scary. Mike also discusses why he continues to be a storyteller and what drove him to the circus. Visit https://primestage.com/events/ to learn more and find tickets for this fundraising event.

May 2, 2024

Susie Barbour

Jim Cunningham spoke with broadcasting legend Susie Barbour about the National Museum of Broadcasting event on Saturday May 4th from 1-4pm at the Wilkinsburg Train Station celebrating the 150th birthday of Frank Conrad. The event includes birthday festivities, music by DJ Sims, a silent auction, historical displays, broadcast personalities, the beautifully restored train station and more! The key presentation will be an engaging panel with distinguished broadcasters, past and present — Jack Bogut, Sally Wiggin and Bill Flanagan—moderated by our own Jim Cunningham!

May 2, 2024

Lorraine Mszanski – South Park Theatre

It’s almost summer! Time to break out the picnic blankets and head to a park. This Voice of the Arts episode kicks off a series about summertime activities with Executive Director of South Park Theatre, Lorraine Mszanski. Lorraine highlights SPT’s Mainstage Season that starts on Thursday, May 2nd with “Run for your Wife” and ends with “Sleuth” on September 19th, as well as their Children’s Theatre season that features classic fairytales, for kids, by kids. And for more summertime fun, South Park Theatre will also host Party in the Park on Saturday, May 25th at 4 pm in collaboration with Bethel Park Community Foundation, Bethel Park Public Library, Bethel Park Education Foundation, and Bethel Park Historical Society. There is so much to do in South Park this summer! Visit https://sites.google.com/a/southparktheatre.com/south-park-theatre to learn more.