Rich Howells

NEPA SCENE PODCAST: Smiling and spreading positivity with Chris Bohinski of NYC Smile 4 Me

NEPA SCENE PODCAST: Smiling and spreading positivity with Chris Bohinski of NYC Smile 4 Me
Decrease Font Size Increase Font Size Text Size Print This Page

Recorded and produced every week by Internet marketing company Coal Creative in their production studio in downtown Wilkes-Barre, the award-winning NEPA Scene Podcast presents honest, uncensored interviews and in-depth discussions about local arts, entertainment, and the issues that matter to Northeastern Pennsylvania.

The live, multi-camera show streams in high definition on NEPA Scene’s Facebook page on Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. and is hosted by Rich Howells, editor and founder of NEPA Scene; Brittany Boote, owner of Boote Photography Studio in Forty Fort; and Johnny Popko, the senior marketing consultant at local radio stations Alt 92.1, Rock 107, and ESPN Radio. Viewers are encouraged to tune in during each hour-long episode and interact during the Facebook Live stream so that the hosts can address comments and answer questions as they come in.

After the live webcast, the show is available the following Friday as an audio podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, and Stitcher, while the video version can be seen on Facebook and YouTube.

The NEPA Scene Podcast is made possible by local sponsors Beer Boys, The Keys, Loyalty Barber Shop and Shave Parlor, the F.M. Kirby Center, Coal Creative, and viewers who tune in every week.

In Episode 31, we sit down with Wilkes-Barre Township native Chris Bohinski, known as “Boh the Smile Guy,” the founder of the upcoming Smile Day in Wilkes-Barre Township and creator of NYC Smile 4 Me, where he interviews celebrities like Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bette Midler, and Kristin Chenoweth and asks them, “What makes you smile?”

Beer Boys is hosting a Susquehanna Brewing Company tap takeover, so they provide us with crowlers of Orange Is the New Ale and two versions of the Pittston brewery’s Pumpkin Ale – one from a cask with coffee and vanilla and the other blended in a Randall with Ghirardelli white chocolate wafers, which you can only get at Beer Boys – to drink before and during the interview. Needless to say, they all go over very well.

We talk about the power of smiling; staying happy and positive in an often negative world; NEPA’s infamous cynicism; how he responds to negativity or criticism; making everyday conversations more positive; his unique celebrity experiences with NYC Smile 4 Me and how those opportunities came about; his viral videos where he breaks glass with his voice, which led to national television appearances; working on major productions in New York City; blogging and starting a YouTube channel; hosting the first-ever Smile Day in Wilkes-Barre Township and its purpose; and we all answer the question, “What makes you smile?”

While giving away free tickets to see 311 at the Sands Bethlehem Event Center, we also answer questions and comments from live viewers, who explain what makes them smile.

The inaugural Smile Day will be held at the Wilkes-Barre Township Fire Hall (150 Watson St.) on Saturday, Oct. 21 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. The family-friendly event is free and includes food, games, prizes, and raffles.

Watch the live video version on YouTube:

Listen to the audio version on iTunes.

Listen on SoundCloud:

Listen on Stitcher.

Watch the original Facebook Live stream:

The views and opinions expressed during this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts, NEPA Scene, Coal Creative, or our sponsors.