The Postindustrial Podcast

A bipartisan group of former lawmakers from several swing states are working together to ensure the upcoming elections are free and fair and that American Democracy survives past November. Joining us we have three Keystone Staters: former Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Melissa Hart, former Democratic State Rep. Keith McCall, and another former GOP congressman, Jim Gerlach.  …

Democrats including Vice President Kamala Harris, are trying to find ways to appeal to America’s rural voters, who in recent years have broken largely for the GOP, especially in the age of Trump. Postindustrial columnist Mark Yonkman, aka “The Rural Whisperer,” shares thoughts on how to win their favor in November. We’ve been meaning to …

Democratic candidate Maryam Abolfazli is taking on one of Tennessee’s most notorious MAGA congressmen in defense of women’s reproductive rights, sensible gun laws, and a better tomorrow for her 6-year-old son.  Maryam Abolfazli is one of those people who grows more interesting the longer you listen to them talk.  A native Tennessean of Iranian ancestry, …

Have you ever met someone whose modesty is wildly disproportionate to their accomplishments? That’s Shawn Harris in a nutshell. The Georgia-born cattle rancher who spent 40 years in the military-  serving in Afghanistan and reaching the rank of general – is so “aww shucks” about his storied life that one can’t help but implore him …

Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Chris Deluzio is an Iraq War veteran serving his first term in Congress. Deluzio sat down with Postindustrial to talk about threats from extremist groups and the dangerous antidemocratic rhetoric that inspires them; caring for our nation’s veterans;  improving train safety following last year’s disaster in East Palestine, Ohio, and much more. …

Skyzoo has made a name for himself as a renowned rapper who's maintained his artistic independence, giving him even greater autonomy to pursue his other passions. On this episode, he talks about his life as a storyteller, entrepreneur, and what inspired his latest album, “The Mind of a Saint.”

Cammie Rice is an advocate, philanthropist, and author. Her son Christopher Wolf, died in 2016 at the age of 32 from an opioid overdose after struggling for years suffering from addiction. Since then, Cammie has made it her mission to raise awareness about the opioid epidemic and alternative ways to manage pain. She is author …

Dayton’s Democratic Mayor, Nan Whaley wants to be Ohio’s next governor. But Whaley faces an uphill battle in her race against opponent, GOP Gov. Mike DeWine. In our conversation, the Dayton leader talks about her concerns for the future of Ohio, extremism among its citizenry, and more.

John Austin wears a lot of hats. He’s the director of the Michigan Economic Center, a nonresident senior fellow with the Brookings Institution and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. However in all of these roles Austin’s working toward one goal: reimagining once highly industrialized communities into something else in a Postindustrial economy. You won't want …

Can't we all just be civil to each other? That's one question longtime newspaperman and contributing Washington Post columnist Gary Abernathy asks in the latest episode of the Postindustrial Podcast. After spending 13 years as an editor at three Ohio newspapers, Abernathy worked in Republican Party politics then returned to journalism, serving until 2018 as …

Damon Young is a writer, humorist, and satirist. His memoir, “What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Blacker,” won a Thurber Prize, among other awards. The book explores the angsts and anxieties “of existing while Black in America.” Damon is also cofounder of VerySmartBrothas, which was sold to Univision. His writing has been featured in the …

Gisele Fetterman believes in “blooming where you live.” In this episode to kick off Season 5, Pennsylvania's Second Lady talks about improving her community, what she learned growing up as an undocumented immigrant, and more. Fetterman is a native of Brazil. She became a U.S. citizen in 2009. She's the founder of Free Store 15014 …

Bertram de Souza is a former columnist and editor for The Youngstown Vindicator, a daily staple in the Mahoning Valley for more than a century. He wrote more than 1,600 columns for the newspaper over 40 years — from politics to public corruption in an area that once boomed, and now struggles with job loss …

Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman's political career began as mayor of Braddock just outside of Pittsburgh and now he's considering a run for the U.S. Senate. Hear him talk legal weed, jobs, and more in this bonus epsiode of the Postindustrial Podcast.  

What's it like serving in federal government at a time of great change in the U.S.? In this episode, hear from Lt. Col. David Eastburn, director of marketing and outreach for the U.S. Army, located in New York City. He helps to develop public support for the Army and its soldiers through community outreach and …

Why is local news so vital? Hear from Ben Lando, who covered stories abroad but returned to his native Kalamazoo, Mich. and launched an online news startup, NowKalamazoo.com, covering vital community issues. He's also the founder of the Iraq Oil Report, which specializes in covering developments in the energy sector, politics, and security in Iraq.

sarah huny young is an award-winning visual artist primarily documenting and exalting Black womanhood and queer communities through portraiture and video, often shooting in locations across the country. She's the artist behind Postindustrial's Fall magazine cover.

In Season 3, Episode 1 of the Postindustrial Podcast, author and expert Seth G. Jones says that the U.S. faces an escalating threat of violence in the next year — from within. Extremist groups fueled by the disinformation, political rhetoric, and a populace suffering added stresses of surging unemployment and the pandemic only adds to …

Is it sunny today or is it cloudy? Don't just ask someone— look out the window! At Postindustrial we work to find out the truth, not just ask others. Listen to this in-between season short.

We're in between seasons! But we still have an important message for you, our valued listeners. Tune in for a short! We'll start Season 3 soon and we have a tremendous line-up of guests already.

Thanks to you, the listeners, we've produced two season with 16 episodes the the Postindustrial Podcast. We have big plans at Postindustrial in the coming months and soon we'll launch Season 3 — listen in!

In the final episode of Season 2, Eros Hoagland discusses his experience as a photojournalist and visual documentarian working around the world, concentrating on areas immersed in cycles of violence. What can those conflicts teach us about the current state of affairs in the U.S.? Listen in. Assignments and personal projects have taken him throughout …

In this week's podcast, host Carmen Gentile speaks with Tory Parrish, president of Region I of the National Association of Black Journalists, and a business reporter for Newsday on Long Island, N.Y. Tory is writing a story for Postindustrial magazine highlighting some women in positions of power across the region and what this year's developments …

Stephanie Strasburg documents the human condition in Postindustrial America from behind the lens. She is a staff photographer and filmmaker with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, in Pennsylvania. Her recent work includes an investigation on child sexual abuse in the Amish and Mennonite communities, for which she and her fellow reporters were named finalists for the Pulitzer …

Emmai Alaquiva uses the power of art to raise awareness. He recently created a public service announcement, “Unspeakable,” focused on American Sign Language and the Black deaf community. Alaquiva is an Emmy Award-winning producer, and composer. He also is CEO of Ya Momz House, a multimedia agency in Pittsburgh.

John Rudoff is a full-time freelance photojournalist who has been documenting the protests and federal response in Portland, Ore., where he lives. His principal current outlet is Sipa USA and AP Images, with whom he has worked for about three years. Recently he's also covered political events in Charlottesville, Va., Standing Rock, Colo., Greece, Bangladesh, …

Letrell Deshan Crittenden is assistant professor of communication and program at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.  A former police and government reporter, he is an emerging scholar who specializes issues related to diversity and inclusion in news, and community journalism. How can the media do better at a time when individuals and institutions should become …

West Virginia is known for its natural beauty, natural resources, and also, struggles. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Eric Eyre uncovered the story of companies flooding small towns in his state with prescription pain pills. He's concerned about those struggling with addiction amid COVID-19, what the government is doing, and how people might embrace a …

We don't know everything about how COVID-19 will change our world, but we do know that medicine and science can guide us. Listen in as Dr. Arvind Venkat discusses the novel coronavirus pandemic that's transformed our lives. He is vice chair for research and faculty academic affairs in the Department of Emergency Medicine of Allegheny …

Listen in for in-between season updates….what happened after last week's editorial published in the New York Daily News, what's new at Postindustrial, and Season 2!

Coronavirus cases are spiking again in some areas. Wearing a mask might not be fun, or popular, but we implore you: Wear a mask, social distance, and take other precautions to protect yourself and others. And don't forget to come back for Season 2 – coming soon.

We are living through a global pandemic and a social justice movement: How are our communities faring across the region? In Issue 4 of the Postindustrial magazine, out soon, we'll take a look at how people are working toward re-imagining their communities, with hope and resilience, amid sorrow. And keep listening for new conversations — …

In this week's episode of the Postindustrial Podcast, host Carmen Gentile talks with scholar Rana Khoury, who wrote “As Ohio Goes: Life in the Post-Recession Nation, about her home state. Khoury's insights into the effect of the Great Recession on some of her fellow Ohians are particularly valuable considering the even greater economic challenge we all …

Jennifer Brick Murtazashvili is an author and scholar who is studying what types of programs help cities struggling after economic decline. She is the author of “Informal Order and the State in Afghanistan.” Two other books are forthcoming from Cambridge University Press. Murtazashvili also has advised the World Bank, the U.S. Department of Defense, the …

Jeff Newton has had a long career as an award-winning journalist, producing work for The Associated Press, “60 Minutes,” Vice, and National Geographic. among others. He's worked throughout the globe in conflict zones including Bosnia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Uganda, Egypt, Niger, and Haiti. Jeff's most recent work can be seen on National Geographic's “Chain of …

Julia Rendleman is an award-winning photographer based in Richmond, Va. who explores issues of health, access, and community. In this episode, host Carmen Gentile talks to Julia about people who were already struggling before the lockdowns might be affected now.

In this episode of the Postindustrial Podcast, founder Carmen Gentile talks to Heath Druzin, Boise State Public Radio’s Guns & America reporter, part of a national collaboration between 10 public radio stations examining all aspects of firearms in America. Carmen talks to Heath about groups protesting shutdown orders nationwide, and more. Listen in for this …

In the first episode of The Postindustrial Podcast, we talk to the chief of emergency medicine about how his suburban hospital is preparing for an anticipated onslaught of COVID-19 cases. The Postindustrial Podcast will featuring conversations about how the novel coronavirus is transforming life across the Rust Belt and Appalachia.