NEPA SCENE PODCAST: Stories and a new season from the F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre
The NEPA Scene Podcast is back in a new location with new co-hosts and a fresh format, conducting the same honest, uncensored interviews and in-depth discussions about Northeastern Pennsylvania that the show has become known for, covering local arts, entertainment, and the issues that matter to the area.
Recorded and produced every week by Internet marketing company Coal Creative in their production studio in downtown Wilkes-Barre, the podcast is now presented as a live, multi-camera show that streams in high definition on NEPA Scene’s Facebook page on Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. Every hour-long episode 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 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.
In Episode 10, we sit down with Will Beekman, executive director of the F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre, and Director of Sales & Marketing Anne Rodella. We talk about why they chose to work for the Kirby Center and some memorable moments from their time there, the theater’s fascinating history and why it was almost torn down, how they choose what shows they book (and don’t book), what it takes to host many different types of performances with a small staff, funny and interesting behind-the-scenes stories from a variety of shows (from Mike Tyson to Third Eye Blind), some highlights from the Kirby Center’s exciting 31st season that was just announced, the importance of the venue and its programming to the local community, and more.
In The Last Word segment, we discuss Wilkes-Barre’s reputation and the ups and downs of living and working in the city. We get into why people perceive Wilkes-Barre the way they do, the positive things going on, and why people should go downtown and judge for themselves.
Watch the live video version on YouTube:
Listen on iTunes.
Listen on SoundCloud:
Listen on Stitcher.
Watch the original Facebook Live stream:
by Rich Howells
Rich is an award-winning journalist, longtime blogger, photographer, and podcast host. He is the founder and editor of NEPA Scene.