Sometimes music is more than just a passion, more than a love, it becomes a way of life. That’s the best way to describe Justin Stoltzfus who has spent most of his life studying the art of classical piano. That is until a few years ago when Justin decided classical music wasn’t the genera he wanted to create in. He picked up moved to LA and began the journey of the starving artist, living from gig to gig. Fast forward a bit and you’ll find a man who’s learned how to hone his art and now works in the business side of the industry. Enter Emily Fritz, a soulfully gifted vocalist. Together they’ve joined forces from opposite coasts to bring to life Justin’s fist EP An Interrupted Waltz. Join us as we learn about these artists and follow them along their music journey.

Learn More About The Duo:
Justin Stoltzfus Music
Emily Fritz

Support for this episode provided by PhotOle Photography & Listeners Like You. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

The Season of The Interrupted Waltz appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Many of us think about the adventure of traveling around the world yet only a few of us will actually embark on this adventure, and even fewer will make the journey under their own manpower. That’s exactly what Wilfried Steinbach is doing, traveling around the world by bike. As you can imagine this isn’t just something you pick up and do. Wilfried explains how plans for the journey started with a seed for the idea planted in his head while he was a teenager. Later in life that seed bloomed into a fully obtainable goal. But if traveling around the world under your own power isn’t enough Wilfried wanted to make his trip as emissionless as possible, relying on what he can bike with and even using an old bike instead of buying a new one.  The adventure began by heading east from Stockholm Sweden in June 2012 and Wilfried’s emissionless journey is nearing it’s home stretch. Listen in as we caught up with him while he was passing through our area mid April 2013.

Follow Wilfried’s entire emissionless journey on his blog: Travelling Without Emissions

Support for this episode provided by PhotOle Photography & Listeners Like You. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

The Emissionless Man appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Everyone wants to have the wedding they’ve always dreamed of, but sometimes the path to your dream wedding isn’t always clear. There are countless magazines, TV shows, and ads showing extravagant weddings with no guidance of how to make these situations attainable for the average person. This is where Dream Weddings comes in. Unlike most wedding reality shows where they swoop in and transform the wedding into a highly produced and generally unattainable event, Dream Weddings sets out to teach their bride and grooms as well as their audience how to make the most out of the budget you have. This along with highlighting central Pennsylvania as a wedding destination are the main points Executive Producer and Host Martine Cajas and Producer Derek LaVon Dienner want to get across.

During the episode the duo run us through the journey of creating a reality TV show and what they’ve learned about what it takes to make a show in this genera. We also take a glance into their other professional endeavors, House of Clarendon for Martine and LaVon Films for Derek. We hope you enjoy this show and we want to hear what you’d like to have in your dream weddings. Let us know in the comments below!

Learn More About Dream Weddings:
Dreamweddingspa.com
Dream Weddings on Facebook
Houseofclarendon.com
Lavonfilmsweddings.com

Support for this episode provided by PhotOle Photography & Listeners Like You. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

The Reality Behind Dream Weddings appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

If you’re from the Lancaster area then you’ve probably heard about ArtWalk and maybe you’ve even taken some time to enjoy the weekend long event. But, Have you ever stopped to think why do we have this event, who’s putting this all together, or how long has this been going on? I know I for one have taken ArtWalk for granted as just another great cultural thing our area has to offer. However, after noticing how often ArtWalk was mentioned in some of our more recent episodes it became quite evident that this event was more than just an extended First Friday. It’s a staple of our community and a celebration of all the different kinds of art we have here. With that in mind we tracked down Nick Mohler of the PA Guild of Craftsmen and of the mental pillars holding this event up. Nick shares about all things ArtWalk including what stops you’re not going to want to miss this year as well as tackling some of those questions you may not have asked before. The answers to which may surprise you.

Learn More About ArtWalk:
lancasterartwalk.org
Lancaster ArtWalk on Facebook

Support for this episode provided by PhotOle Photography & Listeners Like You. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

Don’t Just Walk, ArtWalk appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

To some when they hear about international refugees they think of groups of people moving from one country to another far from us in areas like Africa and Southern Asia, but what might surprise you is that the U.S. houses more than 1.8 million refuges in communities just like Lancaster. This is where Church World Service enters the picture, helping refugees make it to the states and integrate smoothly into the community. On this episode we’re going to hear from CWS Lancaster’s director Shella Mastropietro who will share about the organization and how our community is embracing the refugee populace. Accompanying Shella is Samuel Muya, a Somalian refugee who just relocated to the U.S. four months ago. Samuel was kind enough to share his journey with us and talk about adjusting to some new things here, like snow.

If you were impacted by the story shared on this episode then we’d like to encourage you to learn more about CWS and how you can help make a difference in the life of a refugee.
Church World Service – Lancaster
CWS on Facebook.

Support for this episode provided by Listeners Like You. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

Embracing The International Refugee Community appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

With the art community bursting to life here in Lancaster it raises the question for many artists, How can I get my art on display? Taylor Brown and Ole Hongvanthong want to show other artists that with a little creativity you can bring your art to the public with relative ease. Inspired by some space creating galleries in New York the duo brings Parked, a mobile art gallery, to their home town. Displaying out of a U-Hall truck gives them the versatility to take their work to where the people are. Listen in this episode to learn more about the creation of Parked, why art accessibility is key, and how Ole and Taylor are embracing the challenges from the galleries monthly themes.

Find out more about Parked
Get in touch with Ole Hongvanthong
Visit Taylor Brown at Coe Camera

Support for this episode provided by Listeners Like You. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

Park Your Art appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Hailing from Tennessee and having roots in Connecticut, Sarah Lou Richards is on an adventure chasing her music wherever it may take her. Join us as we stop Sarah Lou in the midst of her tour and right before a show to talk about how things have brought her to where she is today. We’ll learn about how the Pop/Country genre title may be putting people off to music coming from Nashville, TN, how education is key, but may not be what you wind up doing, and how karaoke might just change your life. It’s fairly safe to say that we all had a pretty fun conversation and we hope you enjoy getting to know Sarah Lou as much as we did.

An interesting tidbit is that when Sarah Lou Richards first contacted us she had never been to Lancaster and had just discovered our show through our friend and previous guest Joy Ike. After listening to some of her music, it quickly became evident that Sarah Lou would be a great fit for our musically infused area. With some help from another previous cast member Matt Wheeler, we were able work out a stop for her right here in Lancaster. So a big thanks to Joy and Matt for helping make this show happen. Remember if you have a guest idea, we invite you to send it our way.

Learn more about Sarah Lou Richards at:
sarahlourichards.com
Facebook
Twitter
Youtube

Support for this episode provided by Listeners Like You. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

Sarah Lou Richards and her Musical Adventures appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Can you believe this is the 8th one of the magnificent Guys Night series that we’ve done? Well you better start believing, buddy! Because here it is and it’s just waiting to fill your ears with awesome. We get into all the hard pressing issues like what theme songs should be sung in the shower, if Keith was fired from the show, and the deep dark mystery of what our middle names might be. Plus to top it all off Shawn returns to the group with stories of adventure and suspense. OK OK Maybe he doesn’t have any stories, but at least Jason isn’t going on an on about how cold it is this time.

Remember you can leave questions and responses for us to comment on during the next show in the comments below.

Support for this episode provided by Listeners Like You. 

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Guy’s Night #8: The Middle Name Crisis appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Anyone else remember listening to Dawson McAllister Live every Sunday night on your clock radio while trying to fall asleep? It was from that radio broadcast that I got a glimpse of what other teenagers were facing in their lives. Kids would call in from all over the country and talk about the real, everyday struggles they were dealing with. And questions. There were loads of questions. Dawson always listened to their stories and told them that he loved them. When you’re 16, and contemplating suicide, those words can make all the difference.

Keith and David joined Dawson for an interview right before he spoke at the 30 Year Anniversary Event for Rainbows End Youth Services. He had quite a few stories to tell. (He says he’s really got 45,000 stories, but who’s counting?) Dawson talked about how the radio show began, and some of the not-so-cut-and-dry topics that have come up for discussion over the years. It’s estimated that at least 1700 kids have been saved from suicide through TheHopeLine, an off-air Christian call center where kids can talk in depth with a counselor who can give them their full attention. Regardless of where you stand on the issues, you can’t deny that this guy loves kids and he wants to set them on a path to a better future.

After 30 years of service to the Mount Joy community, Rainbows End Youth Services (REYS) celebrated this month with a banquet to commemorate their accomplishments thus far and to look ahead to the future of the program. Rainbows End offers an after school program to at-risk teens that provides structure and a safe place for them to come, unwind, and foster solid relationships with peers and adult role models alike.

In addition to their web links above, Facebook is a great way to connect with these two organizations:

www.facebook.com/DawsonMcAllister

www.facebook.com/RainbowsEndYouthServices

Support for this episode provided by Listeners Like You. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

Calling Up Dawson McAllister appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Chet Roy doesn’t see having ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) as a bad thing, really. In his case, it helps him stay versatile. He and Garrity Powers operate Chetroy Productions, a photography and video production company that tries very hard not to be put in a box. Both Chet and Garrity have a wide array of interests, but specifically love things that keep them active in both body and mind. They met as caddies on the golf course, and they both share a passion for rock climbing as well. What started out as a way to “show off” the sport of rock climbing by filming videos of the action, eventually grew into a lot more than just a hobby. It’s now a successful business that allows them to explore their creativity from all sides. They do commercials and business promotional material, and then they do random art projects that they can really pour their heart and soul into. One of the production house’s ongoing projects is Project 365, where they take a photo, edit, and release a photo for every day of the year. To see more of what these two creative are up to, check out the links below.

On the web:
http://chetroyproductions.com
www.facebook.com/ChetroyProductions

Email:
chetroy@chetroyproductions.com
r.garrity.powers@gmail.com

Support for this episode provided by Listeners Like You. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Photography by Chetroy Productions

Climb the Rock that is Chetroy Productions appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Have you ever wanted to have a conversation with your favorite childhood TV characters? Well Miles and David got the chance to do just that when they sat down with voice actor Rob Paulsen. Mr. Paulsen has been in so many iconic shows that if you’re 40 or under you’ve probably watched something he did voice work for. We’re talking everything from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Animaniacs to Transformers. It was great to get to hear about how Mr. Paulsen broke into voice acting and what it was like on his first few gigs. And you might notice that he flows in and out of some of his more notable characters while telling stories which makes for an interesting conversation. We really enjoyed the opportunity to sit down with a vocal legend and we hope you enjoy the conversation.

You can keep up with Rob Paulsen at robpaulsenlive.com

This is Part 3 of our 3 part collaborative series with The Scifi Diner Podcast  covering the Farpoint Convention
Check out Part 1 featuring John Billingsly & Bonita Friedericy and Part 2 featuring Lee Arenberg!

Support for this episode provided by Listeners Like You. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

Farpoint Coverage pt3: Rob Paulsen appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Part 2 of our 3 part colaborative series with The Scifi Diner Podcast is fresh off the presses. This time around Miles McLoughlin and David speak with actor Lee Arenberg. Most of you probably know Mr. Arenberg as Pintel in the first three Pirates of the Caribbean movies and as Grumpy in Once Upon A Time, but it was interesting to also find out that he’s been a guest start on every Star Trek spin off series. One thing you’ll pick up on almost immediately from our conversation is that Mr. Arenberg has a passion for the film industry and we take some time to take in his insights on the current status of Hollywood. Enjoy the conversation!

Learn more about Lee Arenberg at leearenberg.com and follow him on Twitter: @leearenberg

Check out Part 1 featuring John Billingsly & Bonita Friedericy and Stay Tuned for Part 3 featuring Rob Paulson coming later this week!

Support for this episode provided by Listeners Like You. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

Farpoint Coverage pt2: Lee Arenberg appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Welcome to the first installment of a three part series collaboration with The Scifi Diner Podcast. Earlier this year David was asked to assist Scott Hertzog and Miles McLaughlin, of The Scifi Diner podcast, cover the Farpoint Covention in Baltimore, MD.  While there David had the honor of sitting in for Scott Hertzog for some of the interviews of the convention’s principle guests.

In this part of our converge Miles McLaughlin and David sit down for a jovial conversation with actors John Billingsley & Bonita Friedericy. Some of you may know Mr. Billingsly from Star Trek: Enterprise and Ms. Friedericy from Chuck. One of the great things taken from the conversation with the husband and wife team is the different view points on each others roles. It’s also really interesting to hear about how they would brainstorm at home about the characters they were playing.  While conducting the interview we had a few mix ups that proved to be rather humorous, so we’ve decided to leave them in. Enjoy the conversation!

Stay tuned for Part 2 featuring Lee Arenberg and Part 3 featuring Rob Paulson, both coming later this week!

Support for this episode provided by Listeners Like You. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

Farpoint Coverage pt1: John Billingsley & Bonita Friedericy appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Joining us for some light hearted conversation is the great mustached Burrito Baron himself, Rob Burrito from Roburrito’s. During his visit in the studio Rob shares about the brain filled burrito that changed his mind on all things burrito related. Shall we call it a brain changer? (Huh, get it? Aw come on, that was gold!)  Anyway back to the Baron and his empire. Rob doesn’t just have love for burritos it’s a much deeper passion and he want’s that to show in his restaurants, from traveling around the country finding the best burrito combinations to personally designing the interiors of all the Roburrito’s. Later in the show we also discus some of Rob’s other passions such as his moped collection and being a part of the York Beard & Mustache Club. Obviously we had a lot to cover so grab yourself a burrito, pop in your ear buds, and enjoy the conversation.

Support for this episode provided by Listeners Like You. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

The Burrito Baron of Roburrito’s appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Joy Ike loves Lancaster. Thank God she does, because that means she travels here often to play her music for us. A singer-songwriter from Pittsburgh and born to Nigerian parents, Joy has worked hard to build a following for her music, interviewing on all around and playing festivals such as Lilith Fair. She travels throughout Pennsylvania and the neighboring states playing her songs, both acoustically and with her band. We’ve talked on the show before about our love of house concerts, and it turns out that Joy is partial to small gatherings such as these as well. We think it’s pretty cool that with all the places she could play, Joy still loves playing the Lancaster scene. Be on the lookout for upcoming shows…you won’t want to miss her sweet, soulful sound.

Songs Joy played during the show:
From the new Album All or Nothing

No Matter What
Happy

Next Lancaster Gig: Sunday, March 3^rd at the YWCA

www.Joyike.com
www.grassrootsy.com
Like Ike on Facebook

Support for this episode provided by Listeners Like You. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

Joy Ike Is All Or Nothing With Her Music appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

This week, David and Becky hosted Laurel Greer and Christina Kyllonen of 4-More, a Lancaster based non-profit organization that was formed to help provide sanitary water for the people of Rwanda. Their story began as they walked through the process of international adoption together. The women talked about the hurdles and range of emotions one has to face when going through the steps to bring your adopted child home, and the desire to communicate your love to them. Christina wrote a story for Laurel and her family after they brought their son Myles home, and it soon developed into a published book, entitled, “Mommy’s Heart Went POP!” Soon, discussion began about the need for support for adoptive families. A fund called the RubyMyles fund was started to raise money to support these families financially during the adoption process. If you would like more information about what Laurel and Christina do with 4-More, check out their website www.4-more.org where you can find links to purchase the book, support the RubyMyles fund, and learn more about the clean water project in Rwanda.

Support for this episode provided by Listeners Like You. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

The Story of Adoption for the Adopted appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

It’s the LUUUUVVVV episode!  ‘Cuz we know you’ve all been dying to know how Keith and I hooked up–and how we haven’t killed each other yet. Not only that, but Becky tells us about her first kiss, and David recounts his speed dating experience on Geek Love. AND, if those juicy details aren’t enough for you, in the second half, we all pretend we’re “Dear Abby” and offer advice to some folks who are finding their way down Romance Lane. Now THAT’s scary. So, pour the wine, light the candles, and snuggle up with your sweetie. We’ll get you in the mood.

Support for this episode provided by Listeners Like You. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

It’s A Special Kind of Love… Show appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

This week we grabbed a chance to sit down with Sarah (Auchenbach) Marriott and her Brit husband Chad while they were here visiting in the States. Sarah is an old classmate of David’s and we wanted to catch up with her and hear the story of how these two met, married, and decided to settle in England. Chad and Sarah both had some funny stories about cultural differences between England and the U.S., and we also got to hear about Chad’s less-than-awesome first Philly Cheese Steak experience. If you’d like to connect with Chad and Sarah, they can be found in Horsham, West Sussex, England, OR if you’re from the US and don’t want to travel across the Atlantic Ocean, they also have facebook.

Sarah’s facebook
Chad’s facebook
www.kingdomfaith.com

Support for this episode provided by Listeners Like You. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

Building Love Across Continents appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Is it me or is it cold in here? Maybe some lively Guys’ Night conversation will warm you up. (It won’t, it’s like 12 degrees in here! -Jason) Fine. Be that way, Jason. You know, maybe they’ll want to listen anyway. We’re funny guys. (HA! What’s funny is that there’s an air conditioner in the window and it’s the middle of winter. Seriously, did you guys have this thing on before I got here?) No, we didn’t have the AC on before you got here, it’s just really cold. And just so you know the heat is on. Give it a few minutes. Anyway, back to what I was saying… On this installation of Guys’ Night we jump right into questions from the audience and discuss all sorts of things, like J.J. Abrams directing the new Star Wars, to the controversial topic of gun control. (Do you know why they call my place The Wood Stove House? Cause there’s a wood stove in it that keeps the place warm like the tropics!) Alright, Alright! We get it, you’re cold. The more you interrupt me the longer we’re all going to be here. (Whatever. Next time we’re doing this at my place.) Hey Captain Complain-O, Shawn didn’t come ’cause it was too cold-you could have stayed home. (What!? That was an option?) He-he… Enjoy the conversation.

Support for this episode provided by Listeners Like You. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

Guys’ Night #7: The Great Chill Out appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

If you haven’t heard of Stroopies before now, you’ll definitely want to search high and low until you find them and try one for yourself. “Stroopie” is a nickname for the Dutch cookie known as a Stroopwafel that is very common in Holland and the Netherlands. It consists of a dollop of homemade caramel sandwiched between two cinnamon cookies, cut to the exact size of the top of a coffee mug. They’re intended to sit atop your coffee cup to soften from the heat of your coffee. The rest is Ooey-gooey goodness in your mouth.

Stroopies came to Lancaster about 4 years ago. The people who make it all happen are Jonathan and Jennie Groff, who practically live in our backyard. They stopped by to tell us how they make the cookies and what they’re doing to keep the business growing. Check out their website for more info about the business and how to buy.

www.stroopies.net
facebook

Support for this episode provided by Listeners Like You. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

Getting to the Gooey Center of Stroopies appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

It’s always interesting to talk with other folks from Lancaster County who are involved in forms of media that reach outside of our geographical boundaries. Sometimes we find there are a lot of things we can identify with. Blogger Kate Baer is one such person, who authors a “mommy blog” called Motley Mama. What began out of frustration with a less-than-exciting desk job grew into an opportunity to process her thoughts and experiences when she learned she was pregnant.  She started documenting her experiences and people seemed to like it.

Kate takes us “behind the scenes” of the blog and explains some of her decisions for interesting and relevant content,  interaction with her readers, and the challenges that come with putting your life out there for whoever wants to read.

Kate’s blog isn’t just for other moms. Her sentiments are honest and thought provoking.  We know your schedule is already pretty full because of all those Lancast episodes you need to catch up on, but in your spare time, give Kate’s blog a look-see…you just might learn a thing or two.

Support for this episode provided by Listeners Like You. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

Motley Mama Kate Baer appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

For Editor Mark Pontz, having someone compliment his magazine is like having them say, “I like your kid.” It’s become quite a passion for him. Fine Living Lancaster is going into its 6^th year, and has grown from what started as a 28 page publication to the 160 page quarterly magazine it is today. With full color advertisements, contests, interviews and articles, Fine Living Lancaster continues to grow in popularity and scope. They promote music, art, food, and pretty much anything else that might be of interest here in the Lancaster County area…do I feel a Lancast feature coming on?

The goal of the magazine is to “make people aware of the cool stuff that happens here.” While their primary focus is to edify and educate, Mark says he’s not afraid to push boundaries. Along with his wife, Marian, Mark has quite a team of people who work with him to make it all happen every quarter.

Fine Living Lancaster is distributed in local grocery stores for purchase and can be acquired for free by patrons of partnering local businesses such as Penn Cinema. Check out the magazine online at www.fllmag.com. Additional links that Mark mentioned in the show are:

facebook
www.markpontz.com
www.fllbuzzradio.com

Support for this episode provided by Listeners Like You. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

The Creative Soul of Fine Living Lancaster appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

This week on the Lancast, David talks with Dan Robrish, reporter, writer, editor, business and advertising manager, circulation coordinator, and delivery guy of the Elizabethtown Advocate, a weekly newspaper in Elizabethtown, PA. For those of you who aren’t from around these parts, Elizabethtown, or “E-town” as the locals call it, is a town of about 12,000, just northwest of Lancaster. So the story goes that Dan Robrish gave up his perfectly good day-job and risked everything to start a newspaper for E-town after the corporately sponsored newspaper came to an end in 2009. Not something you hear about everyday. The paper covers the general happenings around town, things specific to the area, and sometimes, the not-so-mundane, more controversial issues at hand. Listen to how Dan started the paper, and how he manages to keep it going all on his own. (And we thought we were dedicated journalists…)

The Elizabethtown Advocate is online! Check it out here, and “like” them on facebook.

Support for this episode provided by Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

Dan Robrish Is The Elizabethtown Advocate appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

You may remember Shane Graybill from a 2011 episode of the Lancast where he was joined by his band, The Grim Wilderness. Well, Shane is back, and he’s working on a new solo project called Cult Choir. He sat down with David to talk about his writing process and the styles of music that influence and inspire him. Shane doesn’t take any specific approach to his writing and doesn’t feel confined to a particular method, but just works through it as it comes. He describes his style as 50’s and 60’s doo-wop with a modern twist. The two Cult Choir songs featured on this episode are “Turn Out the Lights” and “Something’s There”. If you want to hear more of Shane’s music, you can connect with him via one of the links below:

http://www.facebook.com/shane.graybill?fref=ts

http://cultchoir.bandcamp.com/

http://www.reverbnation.com/thegrimwilderness

Support for this episode provided by Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

Preaching To The Cult Choir appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

It’s that time again, when the guys from The Lancast and friends get together to discuss random “guy” topics and the ever-popular Questions from the Audience! Things like, “Who is the sexiest Sci-Fi character?” and “What is the best progressive rock band of all time?” And, since the Mayan calendar says the world is calling it quits this year and coincidentally this would be our last Guys’ Night episode ever, it’s only natural that we would cover the topic of the end of the world. You’re already hanging on the edge of your seat, so I’ll tell you that Keith opens up about why he’s still in love with me. Besides my obvious good looks, that is. Our friends Jason and Shawn were good enough to return for this episode, so we’d like to point you in the direction of their other worthy endeavors once more:

Jason Mundok of Wood Stove House

Shawn V. Martin of Five Things

Thanks for listening to our last Guys’ Night Episode of the year (and maybe forever)!

Support for this episode provided by Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

Guy’s Night #6: Waiting For The Word To End appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

The Lancast crew stopped by Pennsylvania College of Art & Design to talk about their recent event Illustration 24, which launched in correspondence with the world wide  24-Hour Comics Day. David and Becky were joined by Jeff McComsey, Bob Hochgertel, Bob McLeod, and Sam Warren, who gave a behind-the-scenes look at the event. In case you’re not familiar with Illustration 24, it involves several groups of artists who have to dream up, storyboard and produce a finished 24 page comic in a 24 hour period. The guys explain the process for producing a comic from start to finish and discussed the different approaches that some of the students took to the project. To learn more about this and some of our guests’ other projects, check out the links below:

Pennsylvania College of Art & Design
Illustration 24
Jeff McComsey & FUBAR
Bob Hochgertel & ABC’s of Philadelphia
Bob McLeod

Support for this episode provided by Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

Sketching Out An Impression of Illustration 24 appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

This episode was my first to cohost with David, and my childhood schoolmate Darryl Armstrong joined us for the conversation. Darryl is a native of Lancaster, but has made his home in hot, sunny Las Vegas, Nevada. He talks about why he left Lancaster, and why he won’t be coming back anytime soon. We discuss how video chat technology and marketing distribution has brought the things he loves about Lancaster, like family and Turkey Hill Iced Tea, to his new digs.

One of the things Darryl is passionate about is the discussion of arts and faith in modern society. He is a part of an online forum called Image Journal that is based out of Las Vegas, which ventures to explore the necessary relationship between the arts and religion in today’s culture. Enjoy the conversation!

Contact:

facebook
darrylaarmstrong@gmail.com
www.artsandfaith.com

Support for this episode provided by Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break Music: Original Piece by Keith Slesser

The Road To Vegas With Darryl Armstrong appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Some people catch up on housework over the weekend, other people write books. That’s what our guest, Tommy Van Orden, did. He’d been turning over a concept in his head for some time, but when he finally sat down to write it, he cranked it out all in one weekend. Tom stopped by the Lancast to tell us about his creative process and why it seemed to come so easily for him.

The book is “Dear Clara”, and is written completely as a letter. It encompasses the thoughts of a young man after the loss of the love of his life. He writes the letter to her telling her of his sadness and how he has moved on past her death.  David, for one, thinks this is a book worth reading. Check it out for yourself! You can purchase “Dear Clara” here, or on Tom’s website listed below. Tom is working on his next creative work, so keep your eyes peeled for it. We heard he plans to have that one wrapped up in an hour.

www.tomvanordenjr.com
twitter: @tvojr
facebook

Support for this episode provided by Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

Dear Clara, The Letter That Was A Book appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Comedian Michael Malone joins David via Skype this episode to give us a glimpse of life in the real world for a comedian working hard to build a fan base. He talks to David about what it’s like trying to get started, and the sacrifices you have to make to get your name out there. Michael also shares about his just released one hour special called “Casual Sext”, which is available for purchase on his website, and how he’s already got another one in the works. In addition to his comedy routine, Michael  also hosts his own podcast where he showcases musical artists, one of his other passions. Look for the Malone Podcast on itunes and connect with Michael on twitter @malonecomedy. As always, thanks for listening!

Support for this episode provided by Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. 

Photo by Karlo Photography

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

Inside The Comedy of Michael Malone appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Have any of you listeners ever dropped the name of someone famous to claim their ties to to your home town? Well, we at the Lancast are name-dropping that of Lancaster native Bryan P. Jones, a friend of David’s who just so happens to have worked on the set of the recent blockbuster hit, The Avengers! Holla! And, Bryan Skyped in with David this week to give us a peek into the world of movie production, where 12-hour work days for months at a time are the norm. Not only that, but Bryan is working hard with a team of people to produce their own indie film called Bicycle Day and they hope to release it sometime in April 2013.

Bicycle Day needs your support to become a reality. If what you heard about the project intrigued you and would like to contribute, please check out their Kickstarter Page.

For more information on Bryan’s work, upcoming film, or to contact him, check out one of the following links:

Facebook
IMDB
Albuquerque, NM Film Directory
Solanopictures

Support for this episode provided by Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break Music: Original Piece by Keith Slesser

Behind The Scenes With Bryan P. Jones appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

If you listen to the show often, you already know our good friends Jason and Steve of Wood Stove House. For those of you who may be “just tuning in”, Wood Stove House is a creative think tank that looks for ways to promote and produce performing arts opportunities in our local community. WSH has two upcoming events, one this coming weekend, that you’ll definitely want to know about if you’re in or around the Lancaster Area.

Firstly, Wood Stove House is launching Creativity Con, a conference “calling on a diverse group of creatives” to jumpstart and inspire creativity, and to provide networking opportunities for artists of all genres. The conference will be held at The Candy Factory, 323 N. Queen St. in Lancaster, and will run from 9am-5pm.

Secondly, it’s time for another round of 24Hour Plays! With such an overwhelming response to last year’s production and a sold-out show, WSH is looking forward to this year’s rendition. The performance will be held at Community Mennonite Church of Lancaster on Saturday, November 3^rd, 2012 at 7pm.

Jason and Steve give a detailed account of how they pulled off last year’s event, and what we can expect to be different this time around. Come out and support Lancaster’s performing arts!

For more info, click on the hyperlinks or email Jason or Steve at the addresses below:

Jason@woodstovehouse.com

Steve@woodstovehouse.com

Support for this episode provided by Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break Music: Original Piece by Keith Slesser

Warming Our Minds At The Wood Stove House appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Ouch! I don’t want to spoil it for you, but the guys have some serious bad news about New York Comic Con. Don’t worry though, David and Immanuel bring some interesting news too as they run down their final thoughts of New York Comic Con 2012.

What did you think of us doing coverage like this? Would you like to see us cover more events in this manner?

Support for this episode provided by Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Art By: Melissa Smith

New York Comic Con ’12 Recap: Day 4 appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Whoa Whoa Whoa! Is this what I think it is? That’s right folks. David and Immanuel are back to talk about day 3 of New York Comic Con. This time they talk about almost missing their most looked forward to event and David’s first ever cosplay at New York Comic Con. Enjoy the conversation!

Support for this episode provided by Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void 
Art By: Melissa Smith

New York Comic Con ’12 Recap: Day 3 appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

David and Immanuel report back from day two of New York Comic Con. Technically being their first day at the con this year the guys give up some of their first impressions of this years show. Does this New York Comic Con live up to those of the past? Find out in this recap. And don’t worry folks, they follow up on all the things they talked about trying to see in yesterday’s episode.

Support for this episode provided by Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void 
Art By: Melissa Smith

New York Comic Con ’12 Recap: Day 2 appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

The New York Comic Con has finally gotten under way! David shares stories of his interesting journey to NYC and Immanuel may or my not question David’s popularity. Enjoy the conversation!

Support for this episode provided by Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void 
Art By: Melissa Smith

New York Comic Con ’12 Recap: Day 1 appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

After a year-long hiatus, Mike Witmer is back with his web comic Pinkerton, in its all-new digital format. This is Mike’s second visit with us here at the Lancast, and he stopped by to tell us what he’s been up to lately. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Pinkerton, it’s an adult comic strip about four forest animals, Buckley, Tucker, Steve and Martin, who have lots of mishaps and adventures while going about their daily lives. Witmer’s drawings are reminiscent of comics such as Peanuts and Calvin & Hobbes, but they also carry a style all their own. Mike explains the process by which he constructs a comic, and some of the things he’s had to adjust to after switching to the new format.

For an introduction to the storyline, visit www.gocomics.com/pinkerton, and check out the website here to purchase merchandise or support the strip. As always, thanks for listening!

Support for this episode provided by Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

Return To Pinkerton appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Matt and Carol Frigm are band mates who also just happen to be married and totally in love. Though it may not have always been candy hearts and roses, what started off as a good business relationship later progressed into a solid friendship which eventually budded into romance. Now, 24 years later, their life and music is still in harmony. After a ten year hiatus, the two decided to take up music again, and formed SweetLife.

The writing process for Matt and Carol can depend a lot on the song. Matt and Keith discuss how writing a song is a lot like discovering a child. The song has it’s own personality, it’s own vibe, it’s own flavor. You can try to steer it in a certain direction, but you must respect it as a gift. The Frigms try to work their life experiences into the lyrics of the songs and bring out the personal meaning in such a way that it resonates with the listener. They hope to encourage people that a happy marriage is an attainable thing that can and should be experienced.

We got to hear two of Matt and Carol’s songs for the show, “Perfect Summer Day” and a live studio rendition of “Time to Say Goodbye”. If you’d like to find out where SweetLife will be playing next, check out their schedule at www.sweetlifemusic.com and find them on facebook at www.facebook.com/mattfrigm. And as always, thanks for listening!

Support for this episode provided by Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break Music: Original Piece by Keith Slesser

Matt and Carol Frigm Are Living A SweetLife appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

It’s that time again. The time when our guys and two other guys get together and hash out the hard questions in life. David, Keith, Jason and Shawn tackle the tough issues, like: “Are bearded-men the new sexy?”, “What level do you prefer in a parking garage?”,  and “Are there any words that you can’t stand to hear or say?” I have to agree with Shawn and Jason, I can’t stand it when people say “libary” and “nucular”. We could dedicate a whole show or more just to this topic of misspelled and mispronounced words. And of course, what would a good Lancast episode be without discussing our favorite movies?

It’s pretty incredible to hear the wisdom bequeathed upon the human race by these amazing men, so you won’t want to miss this show.  Let us know what your answers would be to some of these and other questions that the guys try to answer, and please submit new ones for the next Guys’ Night and Ladies’ Night episodes below! If you want to check out what Shawn and Jason are doing outside of the Lancast, you can find them at one of these places:

http://shawnvmartin.com/
http://twitter.com/shawnvmartin

http://www.woodstovehouse.com/
http://twitter.com/woodstovehouse
http://www.facebook.com/woodstovehouse

Support for this episode provided by Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

Guy’s Night #5: Bucket Lists appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

To say that Matt Rodriguez likes comic books is an understatement. He got his very first comic book from his uncle on his 7^th birthday, and he never turned back. He joined Keith and David to talk about all things DC. He told us how, as a kid, he would head straight to the magazine racks at the grocery store to keep himself occupied while his mom shopped. He got to the point where he was consistently purchasing 7 books a month, and since then that number has grown to between 30 and 40. As a collector and an enthusiast, he says there’s not really any place that he’ll “draw the line.” He’s a self-diagnosed addict. So far, his collection takes up almost half of a spare bedroom and fills 32 long boxes. In addition to collecting, Matt and his partner Nate dress up as different super heroes every year for Halloween and they really go all out.

On a more serious note, the guys asked Matt to talk about some of the tough social issues that come up in the comics and whether they accurately present the weight of the issues or not. Being gay himself, Matt really identifies with some of the characters, such as Green Lantern in Earth Two and a gay couple, Apollo and Midnight who fight for social justice around the globe.

To help other addicts get a little love and support for their illness, Matt heads up quite a few forums online. If you’re interested in getting involved or would like to connect with Matt, you can find him on facebook.

And as always, thanks for listening!

Support for this episode provided by Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break Music: Original Piece by Keith Slesser

A Personal Look At The Comic Book World appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

When Tom Becker started the Row House, it may have been more out of necessity than creativity. He was in between jobs and trying to create something that would support his family while fully utilizing his strengths in communications and providing him with a creative outlet.  In the beginning, a lot of things were experimental, to see what sparked peoples’ interest and what got a good response. “The biggest thing we’ve accomplished in the last two years is to figure out what we are”, Tom says. In the end, he decided, it should be known as a forum: a place for people to come to exchange and discuss ideas. And most importantly, it should be engaging and fun.

So once a month, the Beckers host a forum in their home at 413 College Avenue, featuring a lecture on topics of faith and culture. Expressly Christian, The Row House seeks to “build bridges” to people. They welcome debaters and questioners, and intend for the discussion to be thought provoking. In addition to the forums, Tom also hosts about three live music shows a year at various local venues. He wants to support artists who are a bit off the beaten path and who really have something special to contribute to the mix.

If you’d like to catch up with Tom and learn more about what the Row House is doing in Lancaster, check out the website here. Check the site regularly for upcoming events and concerts and listen to podcasts of past forums. And of course, you can “like” them on Facebook!

The Row House

413 College Avenue

Lancaster, PA 17603

www.therowhouse.org

Support for this episode provided by Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break Music: Original Piece by Keith Slesser

Not An Ordinary Row House appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

This week on the Lancast, our correspondent Becky Svendsen joined David to talk with Ephraim Allgyer, who spent the first 21 years of his life in the Amish tradition. He told us stories about following his dad around on the farm at age 3, and attending a one room school with one teacher for all eight grades. From his perspective, the Amish don’t really value education. All the children are taught in a school where the teacher herself has only completed the 8^th grade. Community members are not encouraged to think for themselves or interpret the scriptures for themselves, but rather, are expected to conform to what the Bishop sets in place. While education may not be high on their priority list, the Amish do, value hard work. After graduating the 8^th grade, Ephraim was tired of school, and couldn’t wait to find a job. He took one at a neighboring farm. He remembers how strange it was to have spending money, because he really didn’t have anything to spend it on.

As Amish adolescents near the age of adulthood, they are almost expected to go through “Rumschpringe”, a phase of life where a young person can “sow their wild oats” before they settle down. The life plan is pretty much laid out for all Amish young people: get through the rebellious stage, come to terms with yourself and your faith, commit yourself to the church and the community, and get married by your early 20’s. Anyone who doesn’t follow that course is a bit of a misfit, Ephraim says.

Ephraim started considering the belief system he had been raised with and found he had a lot of questions, but not too many answers. When he started to study the Biblical texts for himself, he found a very different message than that of only subservient good works. He started to realize that his ideals weren’t a good match for the community of which he was a part. Eventually, he connected with someone who had left the Amish church before him and found comradery in that relationship. It gave him the confidence to do what he knew he had to: leave the church.

Now, things are very different. To look at Ephraim, you probably wouldn’t guess where he’s come from. He has short hair and wears a t-shirt and shorts, just like any other “Englishman”. He says what he misses most is the relationships he had with his family. While he always feels welcome in his parents’ home, some of his siblings have not been so understanding. They talk to him differently, less seriously, and sometimes things are just awkward. But he has found people he can relate to and a place of worship that he can call home. He is grateful for all those who have welcomed him with open arms and he hopes he can offer hope to others by talking about his experiences openly. If you’d like to contact Ephraim, you can email him at ephallgyer@gmail.com.

Commenters: What things did you learn from this dialogue that surprised you?

Support for this episode provided by Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break Music: Original Piece by Keith Slesser

Un-becoming Amish with Ephraim Allgyer appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Welcome to our first annual video game discussion with the team at Complete in Box. Spenser Brossman and Travis Arment laugh it up as they lay down the hard facts about the trends they’ve seen over the last year at Complete in Box. Something that we’re going to do every year when we meet up with the guys is a top ten list. This year’s list is the Top Ten Zelda Games. Listen to the guys argue over why Majora’s Mask is better than Ocarina of Time and hear what other classic Zelda games made the list.

If you haven’t heard about Complete in Box before make sure to go back and check out when Spenser was on the show to talk about starting the company. It’s pretty interesting to learn about how he made a dream a reality.

Commenters: What are your top Zelda games?

Support for this episode provided by Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

A Gaming Retrospective, Complete In Box appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Shawn Smucker hadn’t intended to make writing a career, he was thrust into it due to some humbling circumstances. When the economy went south Shawn along with his family or six were hit with a difficult situation resulting in the need for them to move back to Lancaster and in with Shawn’s parents. Faced now with the option of rebuilding his career in a new area or taking a chance at something new the Smucker family decided they’d play their cards at following Shawn’s dream of being a writer. And it payed off! Shawn has written and co written several books as well as maintaining a successful blog. We’re honored to sit down with Shawn and learn more about his journey into writing and the book, Building A Life Out of Words, which chronicles the experience.

In the second half of the show we learn about a year long journey Shawn and his family took around the states while living in a bus. Most of the experiences form this trip were blogged about and Shawn was able to connect to his readers on a new level because of the trip. Some of the more perilous adventers of that trip our discussed on our show.

If you missed out on experiencing that journery with him make sure to head over to his blog at shawnsmucker.com, because later this week Shawn will be traveling to Sri Lanka with a group of World Vision bloggers.

Commenters: What type of adventure would you want to blog through?

Support for this episode provided by Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. 

Theme Music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break Music: Original Piece by Keith Slesser

Shawn Smucker, A Writer Of Circumstance appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

This episode we headed over to Tellus360 to check out their gallery, Gallery360. During our time exploring Gallery360 the manger, aptly dubbed “Gallery Girl”, Lauren Nye along with Tellus360′s marketing manager Amy O’Regan share how the gallery developed naturally within the stores mission and vision.

Also joining us during the visit was artist Kelly Blevins who is currently displaying an exhibit in the gallery. Kelly shares about they energy and emotion she pours into her work.

Visiting the store and the gallery is definitely an experience unto it’s self. If you have an opportunity stop by and tell them you heard about them on The Lancast. We for sure will be back in the store soon to talk more about it’s Irish heritage and it’s environmentally helpful mission.

Support for this episode provided by Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. 

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

A Gallery With A 360 Perspective appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

If you enjoy history even in the least, you need to listen to this episode. David and Becky sat down with author Charlie Schroeder, a native of Brickerville, PA now living in Hong Kong, who decided to embark on a journey of historical education through war reenactment. The energy emulating from this guy made me want to dig up all my old history books and immerse myself in the stories of people from long ago. I had forgotten what it’s like to imagine myself in the middle of the Battle of Gettysburg, praying that a cannonball didn’t fly through the wall of the house. Charlie points out that re-enacting, or historical role-playing, opens up the mind to a much deeper understanding of where we came from and how what happened then has shaped what is happening now. It brings for many people a connection, whether it be to their own family origins, or to those men and women who shaped this great nation that we call home.

Re-enacting can take many forms and happens on many different levels. It can vary greatly when it comes to historical accuracy, breaking in-and-out of character, artistic license, and who is considered the actor or the audience. But whatever their preferences, and whatever their reasons for doing it, re-enactors seem to share a certain sparkle about stepping into another world.

Charlie has written a book about his gallant adventures called, “Man of War: My Adventures in the World of Historical Reenactment”.  He discussed at length the creative process for putting something like this together. Check out an excerpt from the book here.

www.charlieschroeder.com
chschroed@yahoo.com

Commenters: What era of historical reenactment sounds the most interesting to you?

Support for this episode provided by Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

Man Of War Charlie Schroeder Tells His Tales appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

On this episode of the Lancast, hosts Jason, Keith and David were joined by the elusive Shawn V. Martin of the Five Things video blog. We were finally able to convince him that it would be worth his while to come and join the team by promising him free nachos and margaritas after the show.

Jason opened up the evening with a discussion on what people mean when they refer to “All-American” food. After that, we launched into our regular Guys Night feature, Random Questions From The Audience. It seems that David has a knack for soliciting interesting questions for discussion, as opposed to those submitted for Ladies Night, which mostly consisted of “Who’s Sexier?” This time there was a range of topics, although there was definitely a lean towards the inner-nerd leading to an all out battle of nerd cred.

Overall, we had quite a variety of topics, with some entertaining banter in between. David wrapped up the night with a discussion about Kickstarter, specifically the Penny Arcade Kickstarter. This is a peculiar Kickstarter project because Penny Arcade is attempting to completely fund their company through the project. Also during this part of the discussion David mentioned our own Kickstarter initiative that will be getting underway in the very near future. Stay tuned-in and we’ll provide you with details about that very soon. As always, thanks for listening, and don’t forget to support your favorite podcast by clicking on our donate button.

Commenters: What questions would you like us to answer next time?

Support for this episode provided by Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. 

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

Guy’s Night #4: A Test of Nerd Cred appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

If you’ve been acquainted with Josh Gibbel for any length of time, you probably know that random, funny, off-the-wall comments can come out of nowhere. Pair that with the company of Keith and David, and you have a very interesting conversation indeed. Josh joined us in his bright green t-shirt and matching Chucks to talk about jumping off the Convention Center in a sombrero, as well as Live from the Cellar, the house concert venue he started in his basement–er, cellar. “Basement” is not classy enough, he says. Josh and his wife Kelly have been opening their home every few weeks for the last two years to local acts and traveling musicians alike, with BYOB and a suggested $5 donation at the door to cover costs. Colorful and thought-provoking art pieces adorn the uneven plaster walls of the space and make you want to casually meander around the room to take it all in. Not that it’s all that big. The Cellar can seat between 30 and 40 people, but you should come ready to share a couch cushion or some floor space. But then, tight quarters are part of the appeal.

House concerts are a growing trend nationwide, but they are especially popular here in Lancaster, PA. People really value the intimate setting, where you can get up close and personal with someone who might even be a national act. These gatherings are small out of necessity, but also by design. It’s an experience that can’t be created in a stadium or a concert hall. It puts people on the same level and invites conversation and spontaneous Q&A sessions.

One of the shows Josh is especially looking forward to hosting is that of David Bazan. He told us a little bit about how he met Bazan at a house concert in Baltimore, and how he got the musician to agree to a show here. July’s Live from the Cellar show features St. Narcissus, Adrienne Leasa, and The Lancast’s own Keith and Lauren Slesser! Come out for a great evening of music this Friday, July 27th, at 7:30pm.

For more info, visit Live from the Cellar’s facebook page, tweet @thecellar717, or call/text Josh Gibbel at 717-468-2282.

Commenters: How do you see the house concert scene evolving in your area?

Support for this episode provided by Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. 

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

Josh Gibbel Live From The Cellar appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

For Daniel Smith, coming to America was a dream so far out of reach, he never thought it possible. And yet, here he was sitting across the table from us, telling his story. Daniel is here because of a miraculous opportunity orchestrated by the Haitian Connection Network to have a tumor surgically removed from his jaw. He will stay a total of six months, enough time for him to receive two surgeries and heal a bit before returning to his country of Haiti. He originally crossed paths with HCN as a student, looking for an opportunity to finish his schooling so he could find work. When executive director Kristen Hertzog met Daniel, she noticed the elongated shape of his face and knew he needed help. That started the journey of making connections with the right people here in the US who could ensure that Daniel’s surgery could become a reality.

He talked with us about how many people in Haiti go all day without eating anything, and the ones who are fortunate get one meal of rice a day. Imagine his surprise coming here where there are more options for kinds of toilet paper than there are for things to eat in Haiti. It has all been a bit overwhelming, he says. Daniel is not the only young student being helped by the HCN. Scott Hertzog, who is on the board, told us a little bit of the vision and how the organization has grown from it’s original mission to now include a more holistic approach to helping the Haitian people. They started out focusing on education to enable students to get jobs to support their families and communities. HCN has broadened their focus to include a feeding program, eye clinics, and spiritual support.

Even though Daniel’s surgeries will be completely paid for, there are still a lot of other costs involved with his travel and care while he’s here, and there is the ongoing need in Haiti. There are a number of ways you can get involved. The most obvious, of course is to contribute financially. You can donate electronically to HCN or to Daniel specifically here. You can also get involved by volunteering. Thirdly, you can attend a fundraising event for HCN on Thursday, July 26, at 7:30pm at the Ware Center. The show is Glee: The Musical. All ticket sales from the show that evening will go to benefit Haitian Connection Network. So consider stepping outside of yourself and giving of your time or money to this great organization. Invest in the future of Haiti.

Support for this episode provided by Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

HCN Brings Us A Native Look At Haiti appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Our guys, Keith and David, sat down with Media Boom Town’s guys, Ed Fox and Dan Almoney to talk about their recently released documentary, Sweet Rock: The Red Weasel Story. The film is about a semi-local band, Red Weasel, from the Salisbury, MD area and the story of their coming back together for a reunion show, some twenty years after they disbanded in the early 90’s. Ed told us of how Red Weasel kept coming across his radar over and over again, but he never really connected with them until years later. The band asked him to film their reunion show and he accepted. After running a Kick Starter campaign with over 70 backers, they launched into the project. The film talks a lot about the early days of the band and features interviews with the guys now. Right before the break, we got to hear one of Red Weasel’s early hits, “Napoleon Spinks”.

Media Boom Town is a video production company that Ed and Dan decided to start together about 5 years ago as a side project. With increasing success, they decided to jump in with both feet and quit their day jobs to go full time. They create videos for weddings, corporate needs, commercials, and of course, documentaries. For more information on the services they provide, you can contact them via email at info@mediaboomtown.com.

To get your hands on a copy of the documentary, visit www.sweetrockdoc.com.  The film is also available on Amazon.com. For other various links pertaining to the band or Media Boom Town, click here.

Commenters: Which of your favorite hometown bands would you be interested in seeing a documentary about?

Support for this episode provided by Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

Media Boomtown Brings Some Sweet Rock To The Small Screen appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

It’s time for our 4th annual movie talk meeting with Penn Ketchum from Penn Cinema. This time Penn brings us up to date on Penn Cinema’s new location in Wilmington Deleware, Penn Cinema Riverfront. It’s easy to hear the excitement in Penn’s voice as he tells us about all the things they’re planning for the new location. From new easier ways to purchase ticket, to being able to show 48 frames per second film, to including an IMAX in the same building with it’s own waiting area, it’s clear that the team at the theater is using what they learned from the Lititz location to make Riverfront the best theater possible.

Once we cover all those exciting details we movie into our movie talk conversation. As usual we take a look back at the films we all think were the most notable, including Super 8, Harry Potter, and many more. Than it’s a head first dive into the movies we expect to love in the year to come. No doubt The Dark Knight Rises is on everyone’s list as well as Skyfall, the new James Bond film. Always a fun conversation!

Commenters: What were you’re favorite movies of the last year and which ones are you looking forward to?

Support for this episode provided by Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

A Retrospective Talk On Movies With Penn Cinema’s Penn Ketchum appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Hosting a house concert with Dietrich Strause and Austin Nevins feels a lot like visiting with old friends and having an impromptu jam session in the middle of it. It’s the kind of gathering that makes you want the night to stay young and the music to keep coming. After an opening set by mutual friend and local musician Matt Wheeler, Austin and Dietrich took to the stage with their folksy, melancholy songs. Keith and David sat down with the guys before their set in our garage-turned-concert venue to discuss their music and upcoming gigs.

A Lancaster native, Dietrich grew up in a very musical family, with everyone playing an instrument and his mom listening to Bruce Springsteen. He first decided to pick up the trumpet and got his start playing in an R&B band at local bars. After that, he decided to learn to play the guitar. He credits the school he attended with fostering the love of music in him and providing avenues for private instrument instruction. After having difficulty finding work in PA, Dietrich decided to try his luck in Boston, MA where he began to write and perform music of his own.

Austin grew up in California and moved to Boston to attend Berkley School of Music. He says his interest in his peer-to-peer relationships is what got him initially interested in music, and his older brother also had a hand in influencing his musical path. He doesn’t write any music of his own, but Austin is a skilled back up guitarist and he’s played on numerous projects for other musicians, including Dietrich, and Josh Ritter.

They might come from opposite ends of the country, but you’d never know it. These guys play music together as if they always have. They met through a mutual friend in Boston and hit it off almost immediately, planning and playing gigs right from the start. The traveling show has made it’s way down the coast and Dietrich and Austin plan to do a month long tour in the fall. We play two songs during the show the first is Annie Dear from one of Dietrich’s albums and the second is Lemonade Springs which was recorded live at their show here in Lancaster. Get more information on their music, as well as upcoming tour dates at:

www.dietrichstrause.com
www.austinnevins.com
www.facebook.com/austinnevins 

Songs titles are “Annie Dear” and “Lemonade Springs”. Both songs are copyrighted material by Dietrich Strause, 2010.

Tell us what you think! Post your comments in the section provided below, or you can comment under the post on Facebook. As always, thanks for listening!

Support for this episode provided by WindingWay Books and Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

The Traveling Music of Dietrich Strause appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

We discussed peoples’ poor understanding of traffic laws and which ones we ourselves disregard. Becky decided to show her allegiance to the country of Sweden by bringing them up in another topic of discussion: twitter accounts. Apparantly Sweden farms out their twitter account to random countrymen who feel they have something to say. It’s kind of like getting the keys to the city-except instead, it’s a international media platform from which you can say whatever random ignorant comment you feel. Should get interesting…

Jasmine and Becky entertained us with stories of the crazy things they do while sleeping. Now I feel like a very boring individual. I actually stay in my bed and sleep quietly during the night. I suspect with all the interesting abilities these two seem to have during sleep, they have the makings of some excellent super-heroe qualities: seeing things that no one else can see in the dark…being able to jump up at lightning speed while still asleep and run halfway across the house…I mean, I can’t even get myself out of bed in the morning, but these girls? They kick butt, REM and all.

We ended the show on a much more serious topic, but it’s something that’s near and dear to my heart. Friends of mine, Ken and Mirta Beachy, are participating in Tread on Trafficking, a fundraising event that runs through the end of June 2012. They are trying to raise $1500 for Love 146, a non-profit that primarily works to provide aftercare for children who have been rescued from prostitution and child trafficking. The Beachys have pledged to run 150 miles by the end of June and hope to raise financial support for this great organization, as well as awareness about the monumental problem of child trafficking, both in the U.S. and abroad. In the United States alone, over 100,000 children are forced into prostitution each year. That’s a statistic you don’t hear every day. If the problem is that great on our own soil, consider the depth of the issue in Asia, where it is considered common practice. This is your chance to make an impact. Please consider supporting Love 146 by donating today. Every little bit helps. If we band together, we can beat this thing.

We hope you enjoyed this episode of Ladies Night. Don’t forget to submit questions for the next discussion, and as always, thanks for listening!

Support for this episode provided by WindingWay Books and Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

Ladies Night 3: Très appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Ten Throne put out an album almost as quickly as they formed their band. They began by recording demos of the first two songs that they wrote. From there, they just kept adding, and they released the 10-track record in February. The album is called Desolate Day and can be purchased through itunes or at their live shows. Ten Throne may be a newcomer to the local music scene, but if they keep trucking along at this rate, we might just be seeing (and hearing) a lot more of them.

Want to hear more? Check out Ten Throne on their facebook page.

Support for this episode provided by WindingWay Books and Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

A Band On A Throne appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

This edition of Guys Night will not fail to entertain you. We are joined once again by David, Keith and Jason to discuss various subjects of interest or nonsense, with a new addition to the show: Random Questions from the Audience. The guys asked listeners to submit questions or topics for discussion and they got quite the variety, like, whether or not you would pull food from the trash, or whether you prefer boxers or briefs (or skirts). Included in that lively debate are favorite local fare, as well as Lancaster’s best-kept secrets, according to David, Keith and Jason. Here are the links for some of the things mentioned in that part of the segment:

For Food and Beverage

• Turkey Hill Philadelphia Style Ice Cream, Turkey Hill Iced Tea
• Cap’n Gus’s Cheese Steaks
• Carmen & David’s Creamery
• Lancaster Brewing Company’s Milk Stoudt Beer
• Square One Coffee
• Lapp Valley Farm Ice Cream
• The Red Rose
• Hot Diggity Dog

Individual mentions

Artist Jeremy Bently

• Playwright Erich Goldstein
• Lauren Slesser (me?!?!) Ok, so I do some art and writing and stuff.

David brings us a story about the “flying car”, and then moves into theater with a plug for a new video blog called The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, a modern-day interpretation of Pride and Prejudice. Also mentioned, Romeo and Juliet,  as told by 16 different writers accidentally-on-purpose. And to wrap things up, you really should watch Batman the Musical. It really is quite funny. So, this week, the Lancast is your one-stop-shop to find that new thing you never knew you loved so much. Check out some of the stuff we talked about and let us know what you think. Special thanks, once again, to Jason Mundok of Wood Stove House, for joining in the jovial and lighthearted banter.

Support for this episode provided by WindingWay Books and Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

Guy’s Night #3: Flower Print Kilts appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Teamwork is the name of the game for ProVolve Entertainment co-owners Eric Brobst and Mike McHenry. They say their strengths and weaknesses balance each other out when it comes to the business of music DJ-ing, and these two make a great team. The guys were our guests for this week’s episode and we got to hear a little bit of what they do for a living and how it all got started.

Both Eric and Mike grew up in musical families and they made a connection through their love of music when they met in college. Eric had done a stint for a few years at FM97 where he learned to DJ on the fly. Mike had done some gigs off and on and found that he had a knack for the technical side of the art-form.  Together, they create an experienced, well-rounded professional duo that puts their clients at ease for weddings and events and gets the dance floor hoppin’. Later on in the show, they recounted some of the more stressful situations they’ve encountered, and what they really love about their jobs. If you’d like to book ProVolve for your next party, contact Eric and Mike through their website, and check them out on facebook and twitter.

Support for this episode provided by WindingWay Books and Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

Evolve Into Provolve appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Gradually though, the recovery became difficult, and depression set in. Janet credits her family with much of the support she needed to pull through such a low point in her life. Little by little, the recovery continued. But to be able to walk again, well, that wasn’t enough. She longed to be able to run as she had before the accident. She decided to give running a try, at first, without telling anyone. The pain was intense, but she was determined…

Yesterday, May 20, 2012, marked the 8 year anniversary of the accident. It also marked a new victory for Janet: running her very first full length marathon. Why, you ask? Well, for Janet, it’s just, “Because I Can”.

Janet is a motivational speaker, and author of the book “Because I Can”, available in print and digital formats. Visit her website to read more about her story and to share your own.

Support for this episode provided by WindingWay Books and Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

Running with Janet Oberholtzer: Because She Can appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Prologue:
We set out to the midnight opening of The Avengers to speak with Mike and Alex Snyder, a father-son movie going duo. The two share about why midnight openings are the place to be.

Act 1: I Just Can’t Quit You
Chris Flinchbaugh looks into how we originally are attracted to superheroes as kids, while also exploring why we continue to be fascinated by them as we grow older.

Act 2: The Machinist
Working in the hype machine for a living gives Topless Robot writer Rob Bricken a unique perspective on the franchises he loves. Rob breaks out to share about how he sees superhero hype affect the fans.

Act 3: It’s My Party And I’ll Cry If I Want To
What about those who dislike the superhero genre all together – how do they interact with the hype machine? Jacob Gehman hates superhero movies, but even with all the distaste for them, he still gets sucked in. He shares an essay narrated by David Moulton on this.

Support for this episode provided by WindingWay Books and Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka
All Other Music By Keith Slesser

Oiling The Superhero Hype Machine appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

This episode we spoke with Linzey Zoccola and Élise Rodgers of Pheonix Assistance Dogs of Central PA. Linzey founded PAD in 2009 as a non-profit that trains dogs to assist individuals with disabilities. Linzey herself is disabled, suffering from spinal muscular atrophy. SMA has confined Linzey to a wheelchair and she needs assistance with almost everything.  At age 15, Lindzey got her first service dog and it “transformed [her] life and abilities”. She talks about how differently service dogs respond as caregivers in contrast with a human caregiver. Élise also has a medical condition involving frequent seizures and would not be able to live an independent life if it were not for her dog. Both women decided that training service dogs was what they needed to do so that they could give back and help other disabled individuals experience personal independence and live their lives to the fullest.

Not only is training service dogs helping the human beings in these partnerships, but the training also benefits the dogs themselves. According to Linzey and Élise, animal shelters are bursting at the seems with dogs and they are having to euthanize large numbers of dogs because there is just not the capacity to care for them. Phoenix Assistance Dogs brings all of their dogs into their training program from area shelters. Training a service or working dog, as they’re sometimes called, gives each animal a second chance at life and brings about a partnership that will last for years to come. And, the dogs who start off in the program but are unable to graduate as service dogs still make incredible pets and are adopted as such. It is good to be reminded about the needs of these members of our community, whether they be animal or human. Phoenix Assistance Dogs is working diligently to fill the needs of both. Enjoy the conversation!

Contact Phoenix Assistance Dogs at info@padcentral.org and like them on Facebook!

Support for this episode provided by WindingWay Books and Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

Lending A Paw For Assistance appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

What could possibly be better than listening to Becky Svendsen and myself talk about random stuff? How about listening to Becky, myself and Jasmine Grimm talk about random stuff! In our second Ladies’ Night episode, we introduced Jasmine as our third female host and recapped a little bit about what she does for a living. For those of you who missed out on her interview with David and Keith, you can click here to view and listen to that episode. Jasmine is a style buff who helps people dress for their body type. Since Jasmine knows what’s up when it comes to looking good, we decided that was a good topic to start with. From there we talked about how we  hooked up with our hubbies and some sentimental clothing items we associate with our romantic relationships. Jasmine and husband Cory have quite an adventurous love story that you won’t want to miss.

Next up, I wanted to put in a plug for Amber Miller, owner/operator of a small business venture called Simply Amber Company. Amber has an array of artistic talents, and one of her current projects is handmade flower pins. They sell for around $20 a piece and come in a variety of colors to choose from. You can also have one made to order like I did.

For more information, you can email Amber at simplyamberco@gmail.com.

Talking about women in the workforce led to discussion about the difference in pay levels between men and women and the belief that we should all be paid for what we’re worth. Are our companies really paying individuals fairly, or are we still living in the dark ages when it comes to gender equality?

Finally, Becky wrapped up the evening with an article of interest that covered a “gender neutral” preschool in Stockholm, Sweden. We discussed our opinions on the concept and why it might or might not accomplish the goal of equality. Lots of good content for discussion this time around. Please enter your own opinions below on the topics we’ve talked about here. Join our conversation! And for the ladies of the Lancast, I’d like to say thanks for listening!

Support for this episode provided by WindingWay Books, & Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

Ladies’ Night #2: Fashionable Gender Roles appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Justin Jones has been drawing from little on up, so it should come as no surprise that he’s decided to make a career of it. Justin is an illustrator and portrait artist who uses a variety of mediums to produce his work. Growing up, he would create all sorts of things straight from his imagination to the paper. Now days, he feels that working from reference material is the way to go to ensure quality and accuracy. A PCA&D graduate, Justin has been commissioned for several pet portraits.

In addition to his life-like portraiture and colorful and creative illustration, Justin also hand crafts what he calls paper dolls and bears. It started from an attempt at making a diorama back in high school. From there, he got the idea to make a three-dimensional figure that could stand on its own. Over the years, he’s perfected his design, and he’s gotten it down to a science at this point. Now, Justin builds his paper dolls in Adobe Illustrator and has a lot of fun creating custom dolls for individuals or characters. He mentioned making paper doll replicas of the staff of the popular Dispensing Company down town. His favorite collection to-date, however, are the dolls he made of the Street Fighter 2 characters. These, and many other examples of his work, can be viewed on his website, www.jjonesillustration.com.

Support for this episode provided by WindingWay Books and Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

The Illustrious Illustrations of Justin Jones appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

In case you haven’t yet had your fill of the “Slesser Charm”, we skyped in with Keith’s brother Steve Slesser and his wife Rebecca, from Camden Town, London for this show. The other Slessers are committing a minimum of two years of their lives in London as “reverse missionaries”, serving with a Pennsylvania-based organization known as World Harvest. The goal for their time there is to engage the people they meet within the framework of the existing culture. In other words, it is not a cut-and-paste endeavor to bring American church to England, but rather a mission to make faith relevant to the British people in their own context. Camden Town is a flurry of activity and serves as a hub for the arts scene in London. Steve and Rebs, as she is affectionately called, are continually adapting their lifestyle to allow for impactful conversation and meaningful relationships in that arena.

Rebecca talks about what it is like being a new missionary and a new mom simultaneously and how difficult it can be to be away from family. Steve, who left his band Kheris to go to London, shares some of the new projects he’s been working on and the personal connections he’s made on the creative front. He has become something of a phenomenon with his one-of-a-kind drum kit that he built from a snare drum, a tambourine and a drum case that he uses for a kick. He can fit everything inside the case, making it very portable for playing shows with his new band Young Jude.

You can check out the church that Steve and Rebecca serve with here, and to get behind what they are doing financially, click here. Contact Steve and Rebecca on Facebook.

Support for this episode provided by WindingWay Books and Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

Across The Pond With The Slessers appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

What do you get when you cross a Douglas Adams loving English teacher with a Star Trek geek? Answer: The Scifi Diner Podcast.

Scott Hertzog and Miles McLoughlin host The Scifi Diner Podcast, and we met up with Scott to hear a little bit about how it all got started. Scott began to have an interest in podcasting back in 2008 and he’s worked on a number of other projects in addtion to Diner. Originally called, “Dining at the End of the Universe”, the show offers commentary on all things sci-fi. They keep up on current popular shows and movies, but also like to throw the occasional “oldie-but-goodie” into the mix. Not only does Diner offer commentary from experts such as Scott and Miles, but it also features a number of interviews with popular TV/Movie stars such as Felicia Day, Edward James Olmos and Miracle Laurie. How does one land such opportunities? Just ask, says Scott. He approached a convention about marketing for them and was presented with the opportunity to conduct some actor interviews. Since then, they’ve just sort-of run with it. Now Diner is often asked to feature a particular actor or promote various new TV shows. Scott is even recording audio books.

In the second half of the show, we provide some of our own commentary on sci-fi shows that we like and some that we don’t. We discuss the Transformers threesome, Hitch Hiker’s books vs. movies, and our favorite of the Stargate television series’. We’ve told you our opinions, so now it’s time to give us yours…leave us your comments below.

If you want to hear more of Scott and Miles on the Sci-Fi Diner, check them out at: scifidinerpodcast.com, Youtube, Facebook, & Twitter

Support for this episode provided by WindingWay Books and Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

Grabbing A Meal At The Scifi Diner Podcast appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

The Rev. Dr. Raymond F. Adkins, MCSE, founder of the Lex Lutheran Church of Lancaster, PA, graciously accepted our invitation to talk about what it is that he and his church believe. While Adkins characterizes the Lex Lutherans as a splinter off of the Christian faith, there are some very clear fundamental differences between the two. Reverend Adkins founded the church in 2009 with the idea to empower individuals to take responsibility for themselves, instead of relying on a deity, or “the Super Man” to do all the work for them. Adkins holds to the belief that God created us to be strong enough to solve our own problems and that anything less would be a discredit to His greatness. “The Lex-Lutheran Church is all about lifting people up, telling them that they can”, he says.

The Rev. Dr., who is also a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, confided that it’s been difficult to be taken seriously as a legitimate expression of faith. Our cohosts, themselves, were divided on their opinion of the Lex Lutheran message. David really seemed to connect with Adkins on some of the concepts that he’s preaching, but Keith just couldn’t shake his skepticism. Listen in to see how this serious conversation turns comical in our first show of the month. Let us know what you think, and as always, thanks for listening!

Disclaimer: This was our 2012 April Fool’s episode. The thoughts expressed during this episode were meant in jest and do not actually reflect the thoughts of those involved, or The Lancast in general.

Support for this episode provided by WindingWay Books and Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

Behind The Theology of The Lex Lutheran Church appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

It’s that time again…where the “guys” of The Lancast bequeath to us their knowledge (or not) of current trends and things that they find personally interesting.

This week, David decided to lead in with a topic most anyone would find exciting: bacon. Yes, folks, bacon. Bacon burgers, bacon sundaes, bacon soda. With such an appetizing start to the discussion, the conversation quickly turned to how unappetizing fast food’s attempt at healthful food can be. Keith brought up the debate about homeschool vs. public school and all three guys had some personal insights to bring to the table.

Next up, Jason Mundok told us about his newest project at Wood Stove House. It’s a new theater venture called Play Grounds: Theater on Site that will present on May 5 and 6 during Lancaster’s annual Artwalk. Three playwrights and three directors will create site specific plays at three different locations downtown and the audience will move from site to site during the event. Each play is unique and not connected with the others in theme or storyline. The shows will be open to the public free of charge, but Woodstove is trying to raise funds to help pull off the event.

Other points of discussion included First and Third Fridays and their success, and the growing trend in house concerts here in Lancaster. David’s article in the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce magazine Connections can be found here.

Know something about any of these topics? Have a question for one of the guys? Join the conversation by posting a comment below. And as always, thanks for listening.

Photos Courtesy of Chetroy Productions

Support for this episode provided by WindingWay Books and Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

Guy’s Night #2: Musical Bacon Art appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

It had been over a decade since Jack Lewars spent any length of time in Lancaster County outside of the occasional visit to his folks. In August 2011, he returned to his childhood home of Mount Joy and its surrounding areas for four weeks to create a film by the same name. During those four weeks, we found out, there were quite a few noteworthy experiences, including, but not limited to crashing vehicles into buildings and burning a barn to the ground. When they weren’t wreaking havoc on our serene farming community, Jack and the team were busy making connections with local businesses and filming the scenes that will eventually become the movie.

The story line follows a group of friends and their attempts at making their band a success in the wake of a break-up between the lead singer and his girlfriend. Unlike some films that take place in a certain town but are actually filmed elsewhere, Mount Joy was all shot right here in Lancaster County. The crew got permission from Good’s Disposal service to use their trucks and uniforms for the movie, and Jack tells how a run-in with the police landed them an “in” to film in the holding cells at the police station downtown. The Chameleon Club also gets showcased as the backdrop for some of the band scenes. Local interest is building with supporters growing through facebook and twitter, and it certainly helps that local news stations like WGAL 8 and Fox 43 have taken notice as well.

Jack co-wrote the script with fellow Mount Joy native and writer Mark Mena, and derived a lot of the content from his own childhood experiences. His wife Katie plays the roll of the love interest and also helped to produce the film. He told us that directing and producing a movie with such a small budget has taken its toll on him with the high stress of coordinating so many aspects of the film and trying to work around obstacles like weather and traffic patterns. But when we asked him if he would do it again, he said he plans to stick with it, because “it does come with great rewards in the end”.

Mount Joy is expected to release in the fall of 2012 and Jack plans to submit it to Sundance and SXSW film festivals in 2013. You can view the trailer for Mount Joy HERE and if you would like to follow their progress or support the movie, check them out at www.mountjoymovie.com.

As always, thanks for listening!

Photos Courtesy of Bianca Cordova, www.biancacordovaphotography.com

Support for this episode provided by WindingWay Books and Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

Scaling Mount Joy In Pursuit of Film Making appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

For Kristen Hertzog of Haitian Connection Network, it would seem that there is never a moment where her hands are idle. She is a woman who wears many hats, but she doesn’t seem to be bothered by her busy schedule. Kristen is the co-director/founder of HCN, a non-profit whose goal is to educate and empower Haitians to obtain gainful employment and become self-sustaining. Though she has been active in aid work to Haiti since 1999, it wasn’t until after the earthquake of 2010 that the extreme need for education was realized. Twenty-eight of the 32 universities in Haiti were destroyed in the earthquake, either physically or operationally, and the people there are desperate for education and jobs. HCN provides a student computer center that facilitates a virtual online education program. The center offers three different programs including ESL classes, University programs, and an Info Hub providing internet access for educational purposes.

Assisting a nation of such hardship, one becomes quickly aware of the multitude of other needs these people have. HCN not only provides them with food and information, but also teaches them dignity and self-respect. Kristen talks about training the students to see themselves as equals with their instructors and would-be employers. They learn that they are valuable because they are people and that they are not less deserving simply because of where they were born. Kristen’s commitment to the country has become more personal than ever with the adoption of her daughter who is native to Haiti.

On a lighter note, we discuss the mix of cultural backgrounds that make up Kristen’s immediate- family, and the “side business” she and her husband run from their historic Ephrata farmhouse. The Hertzog Homestead is a B&B that offers a retreat for those who want to get away from it all. It caters to peoples’ need for relaxation and boasts homemade meals straight from an Amish kitchen. In addition to the Bed and Breakfast, the HCN, and raising her two children, Kristen has also spent many years as a performer at Sight and Sound Theaters, helping to develop such plays as “The Miracle of Christmas”. There is no doubt that Kristen is a very organized and talented individual.

With all of the interesting things that Kristen does, I have to say that her work in Haiti is what inspires me the most. She has chosen to look at herself and evaluate how she can make the best use of her time and her resources in order to help those in need. “We all have ways that we can give back,” she says. Her work in Haiti is a good reminder that everyone on this earth has value, and all of us have something to give.

If you would like to contact Kristen or find out more about anything we talked about this episode, you can email her at Kristen@haitianconnectionnetwork.org.

Support for this episode provided by WindingWay Books and Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

Kristen Hertzog and Her Educational Connection with Haiti appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Since David and Keith decided to introduce “Guys Night” a few weeks ago on the Lancast, we girls have been thinking about launching our own show.  We figure there’s plenty of topics we’d like to discuss that our female listeners may also share an interest in. After much pestering, Becky and I were able to convince David to let us give it a try. Welcome to the very first episode of Ladies Night.

We’ve decided to call this show Women’s Trends. We wanted to discuss things that we’ve seen becoming popular among our peer groups such as Chobani Greek Yogurt and Pinterest. If you’ve never heard of these, check them out. If you have heard of them, let us know what your thoughts are below. Since I personally am new to both, I will follow up with my own opinions on our next episode.

Both Becky and I have a creative side, one that may not get utilized as much as we would like. We talked about some of our ideas for projects that we think are Pinterest -worthy, and someday hope to accomplish. We also talked about the growing interest in natural childbirth and midwifery. I gave a very long-winded account of the births of my four children and Becky graciously sat through the whole thing without looking bored. (Well, I do have four kids, and to be fair, I had to cover all of them!) Hopefully, though, if you’re expecting a child and you’re thinking about having a natural birth, I inspired you to give it a try. You can find the website for Birth Care where I most recently delivered here.

If there is one thing I have trouble with, it’s listening to the sound of my own voice. That being said, I don’t think I did too badly for the first time around. You can tell I was nervous because I used the phrase “kind-of” about a hundred times in the first five minutes. I was concentrating so hard on not saying “like”, that I didn’t realize I just replaced it with a new set of words. Becky, however, is a natural. She is an excellent co-host, very well-spoken, and I had a blast working with her for our first show. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did, and as always, thanks for listening!

Support for this episode provided by WindingWay Books, & Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

Ladies Night #1: Women’s Trends appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

So this week, we sat down with Shawn V Martin, YouTube vlogger and fellow podcaster. In between Keith and David’s bickering about an earlier lack of communication, Shawn filled us in on the history of his video log and how it has evolved. Initially, he set out to make funny, informative videos for his parents on topics he thought they may find useful or interesting. Very quickly though, his friends took notice, and they agreed that he needed to make this a regular thing. It was entertaining and people kept watching, so as a result, “Five Things” was born.

Shawn films all of his vlogs from his Lancaster City apartment which he shares with his wife Alisha, two cats, and a handful of clones. The clones were invented to add humor and content to the vlog, and they’ve since become permanent fixtures on the show. Alisha likes to add her own creative input and is also regularly cast on the show.

In addition to Five Things, Shawn also produces a lot of content featuring a popular PC game called Minecraft. He hosts a server that hundreds of people can play the game from, and he has gained popularity with those who are dedicated fans of the game.

Carter Kalchik was  a follower of Shawn’s vlog and would regularly comment on posts with his own commentary or input. The two  started talking, and one thing lead to another. They now cohost a podcast via Skype called Shawn and Carter Have a Podcast, which is available through YouTube and iTunes. Because Shawn spends the better part of a full day producing his vlog each week, and because Carter has discovered his incredible love for podcasting, Carter generally decides on the main content for each show. They may discuss or debate current trends and events, and they typically also include a film review.

If you’d like to find out more about the Shawn V Martin experience, you can catch him on Facebook and Twitter. You can also visit his YouTube page here, where you will find links to his Five Things and Minecraft websites, as well as Shawn and Carter Have a Podcast.

As always, thanks for listening.

Support for this episode provided by WindingWay Books, & Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

Shawn V Martin And His Five Things appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Jasmine Grimm knows a good piece of clothing when she sees it. And she knows how to make a girl feel like a million bucks, no matter what the budget. Her style-consulting business, Ruby, Inc., not only helps women find good clothing without breaking the bank, but also educates them about their body type and how to shop for clothes that accentuate all the right features.

She starts with her client’s body shape, and then determines what style they’re looking for. From there, she develops a game plan and then it’s off to the mall. But Jasmine insists that no matter where you shop, whether it would be Niemen Marcus or Goodwill, she can help you find a style that works for your shape. Her goal in all of this is to help grow the clients’ self-esteem and to give them  confidence in developing their personal style.

Though low self-esteem in regards to appearance is typically seen as a female concern, we talk about how this can be an issue for men as well. Keith tells about his adventures in shirt tailoring and David lets us in on a quirky fact about his own wardrobe.

In other news, Jasmine is active in the martial arts. We all got to talking about some of our personal experiences with various forms of martial arts, and let’s just say it will be worth your while to listen to this part of the show. Hilarity may ensue. Other topics of discussion include Mortal Combat, Angry Birds, and how many arguments Keith has not won with his wife.

If you’d like more information on Jasmine’s consulting services, check out her facebook page here. Also, check out her blog for helpful tips and fashion tricks.

You can reach Jasmine by phone at 717.517.8266.

Support for this episode provided by Winding Way Books, & Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

The Incorporated Ruby, Jasmine Grimm appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

This episode was the first of a new thing we’re calling “Guys’ Night”. David and Keith were joined by good friend Jason Mundok of Around the Woodstove to discuss all sorts of exciting topics. For instance, Keith shared briefly about the birth of his son, and his plans for world domination. Jason told us some of the things we can expect from Around the Woodstove in 2012. And David wrapped up the show by telling us what it was like to be featured on “Geek Love”, a new reality TV show that airs on The Learning Channel (TLC). He had quite the experience participating in the speed dating event that took place at the Comic Con in NYC. If you missed his episode of Geek Love or would like to check it out after hearing the show, right click and choose “Save As” on the link here to download the episode.

Some other topics we discussed include Nano Studio for the iPod Touch, the rapid rate of growth in the world of technology, and the recent SOPA and PIPA initiatives. Hear our thoughts on these topics and share some of your own below.

We plan to make this a regular occurrence from here on out, so watch for more of these “Guys’ Night” episodes. If you have an idea for a topic you’d like to hear us cover, write your suggestions below! And as always, thanks for listening!

Support for this episode provided by Winding Way Books, & Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

Guys Night #1: The Premiere appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Director Allen Clements first discovered the Chameleon Club while touring in a band. The club had such an impact on him that he quickly realized a need to document everything the club was and had to offer so that others could discover it as well.

Making The Chameleon Club Documentary took Allen 5 years to complete. Using everything from posting flyers to harnessing the power of social media he was able to gather an immense amount of old footage, photos, and music from band that played at the club including bands like Live & Suddenly Tammy. Compiling that all down to a one hour film is no small feat, but with the help of his team at PostageVFX and a group of passionate community members the project was wrapped up.

The film is available online through Amazon.com. Check out the trailer below and make sure to leave a comment with your favorite memory from the Chameleon Club by February 4th, 2012 to be be entered into the contest to win a copy of the documentary.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

The Story Behind The Chameleon Club Documentary appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Dance Envoy’s “Dance With A Mission” is the brain child of Michelina Piazza and Alyson Grine. Different from traditional class formats, Dance With A Mission seeks to teach children and adults good technique and strong self-esteem without all the fluff. We sat down with Michelina, founder of Dance Envoy, to hear more about this unique approach to dance instruction.

Fostering children’s creativity is important, because it builds self confidence, Piazza says. If you were a fly on the wall in one of her ballet classes, you would see a strong emphasis on technique. In the latter part of the session, however, focus shifts to a more light-hearted and creative approach. The students may be required to take what they’ve learned and include those elements in their own choreographed piece while trying to express a concept or a feeling through their dance. This is called creative movement. In addition to ballet and creative movement, the dance company also offers instruction in hip hop and lyrical, as well as some adult classes.

Michelina grew up loving dance, and from the age of three, that is what she aspired to do. She found ways to incorporate dance into so much of her life’s activities. She has spent time living and working in Boston, Philadelphia and New York, and abroad in Italy. As exciting as her travels have been, Michelina has decided to bring her gift back to Lancaster County, PA. Piazza herself favors contemporary and world dance and it shows in her approach to teaching. Dance Envoy presents 12 week sessions which allow more flexibility for other school commitments and activities. Michelina and her staff bring a strong and seasoned, yet free and fun-loving approach to dance instruction, but they hope you’ll come and see for yourself.

Classes are offered at the Linden Hall Dance Studio facility in Lititz, PA. For more information on classes and pricing, please visit www.danceenvoy.com. You can also “Like” them on Facebook.

Support for this episode provided by Winding Way Books, & Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

Michelina Piazza Dances With A Mission appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Theatre for Transformation is about just that: being transformed. For Dr. Amanda Kemp, it is a process, one that she hopes will affect the viewer as much as if affects the participants. “Theatre for Transformation…encourage[s] people to remember, forgive and to create something new.” Founded in 2007 by Kemp, the company seeks to address the hardships of historic African-Americans through drama and to bring healing and personal growth to current generations. Dr. Kemp writes most of the productions herself and performs in them as well. She talked with us about her own transformation of thought while producing the plays and how she worked through some of her own prejudices in the process.

Two 1-act plays will be performed this month at Millersville University’s Ware Center. One of the plays, Sister Friend, follows the life and writings of Phillis Wheatley. The second play, Show Me the Franklins, will be presented for the last time on January 28th, after running for four years. Both productions are approximately 30 min in length. For more information on upcoming performances and how to reserve tickets, visit www.theatrefortransformation.org.

Support for this episode provided by Winding Way Books, & Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

Dr. Amanda Kemp & The Theatre For Transformation appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Jenny & Tyler have a personal relationship and a professional relationship.  Largely, the two of those are one and the same for this traveling folk/rock duo. When it comes to the music, they have a give-and-take approach to writing their songs and they share the spotlight equally. Both Jenny and Tyler come from very musical backgrounds with a wide variety of influences ranging from classical to country. If you listen to their past projects you can hear how their sound has evolved and how they have gradually rounded each other out. They talked with us about trying to find their identity and feeling like they’ve finally begun to “settle in”. Many of the songs that have made the cut present very intimate and personal themes about life and faith.

Based out of Nashville, Jenny and Tyler are making the rounds on the house concert circuit. We caught up with them while they were playing a show at Burlap and Bean Coffee in Newton Square, Pennsylvania and got to hear two of the songs from their latest album, Faint Not. You can check out their tour schedule and download music at www.jennyandtylermusic.com and keep up with they’re journeys by liking them on Facebook.

Support for this episode provided by Winding Way Books, & Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

The Musical Bond of Jenny & Tyler appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

This episode we break out of the geographical box going north and international to talk with Alex Yu of the increasingly popular YouTube commentary, Ragin Ronin Review. Alex lives in Vancouver and joined us via Skype to give us a picture of how he got started and what it’s like to be an internet celebrity.

Beginning with Iron Man 2, Alex decided to start giving commentary on movies, one of his passions. He started to gain popularity when he built up hype for the Transformers 3 trailer. He filmed his reaction when it finally was released, and that video has now had over twenty thousand views.

Although reviewing movies and shopping for memorabilia is what put Yu on the map, he has a professional life that’s pretty interesting as well. Alex became interested in video production at a young age when he saw some of his friends making homemade kung fu videos. He decided he wanted to do it for a living, and sold all of his toy collection to raise money for the equipment he would need. Advertising, weddings, events, and more, Alex enjoys producing for work and for play.

He’s learned a lot from his video posting experiences. Being yourself is important when putting yourself out there for the world to see. Get comfortable with the camera and be as natural as you can, Alex says. People seem to go for down-to-earth, honest commentary over big flashy effects. And, it would seem, that reality TV still sells. It connects with people.

Get in touch with and follow Alex:

• Ragin Ronin Review on Youtube
• Email Alex 
• Twitter
• The Ragin Nation on Facebook
• Ragin Ronin Productions on Facebook
• www.theraginnation.com (coming soon in 2012)

Support for this episode provided by Winding Way Books, & Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

Ragin Ronin Alex Yu appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

The door is shutting on 2011, but we’ve jammed a foot in the doorway to keep it open just a little longer so we can bring you The Best Lancast Moments of 2011! On this special episode Keith and David count down their top five moments from the year and play a track from their favorite musical guest. Previous co-host Daniel Klotz also takes some time to share some of what he thought were the most impactful moments while he was co-hosting the show during the first half of the year. Links to all the episodes we talk about can be found bellow.

Happy New Year to you, our awesome listeners!

Support for this episode provided by Winding Way Books, & Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

The Best Lancast Moments of 2011 appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

Christmas has come early this year on The Lancast. We share our holiday spirit by bringing you two season themed stories.

The first story is Pennsylvania Dutch Night Before Christmas written and narrated by Chet Williamson, published by Pelican Books. And our second story is Presence by Janean Burkholder and Jason Deeds and is the featured holiday offering over at Gloaming Gap.

We hope you enjoy this short festive episode and from all of us here at The Lancast we wish you a happy holidays!

Support for this episode provided by Winding Way Books, & Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void

Christmas With The Lancast appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

It all started in the eighth grade, when Chris Newcomer was first introduced to the idea of screen printing. Chris is the owner/operator of BigPlanetApparel, a screen print shop based here in Lancaster, PA. After the initial spark of interest struck in junior high, he took a few classes in high school and learned the basics. After that he became something of a Renaissance man, dabbling in various professions ranging from construction to cooking, and everything in between. Fifteen years and seven jobs later, Chris finally decided to take the plunge and go into business for himself. It took some time to accumulate all the gear he would need, but he now runs a successful screen printing business in addition to his other full time job.

On what it’s like to work for yourself, Chris says, “When you run your own business, you get to do [everything].” You see the process from start to finish instead of just contributing one small piece to the puzzle. That’s a positive way of saying you have to do all the work. Chris doesn’t seem to mind though. He’s put in a lot of time working for “the man”. Now he’s finally doing something he loves and he’s doing it for himself.

To find out more about BigPlanetApparel, contact Chris at 717-283-6827.

Support for this episode provided by Winding Way Books, & Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

It’s A Big Planet For Apparel appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

OperaLancaster is really starting to come into its own, thanks to the efforts of some dedicated people like Josh Rinier, the opera’s managing director. The non-profit organization has been in existence since 1952 and has presented opera to Lancaster, PA every year since then. OperaLancaster is primarily made up of volunteers, people who are committed to furthering the arts in the surrounding community and to developing their own skills as performers. They perform at various locations such as the Fulton Opera House, the Roschel Performing Arts Center at F&M College, and the Ware Center at Millersville University.

Josh talked to us about the misconception that one has to dress to the nine to attend an opera performance. He says it’s not uncommon to see visitors come in jeans or casual street clothes. Though opera is one of the older forms of entertainment out there today, it is gradually evolving with the times. Josh hopes to see the age spectrum of their audience broaden with the implementation of new projects such as The Community Opera Series. These productions were developed with the intention of attracting a younger, more diverse crowd. It’s casual, more frequent, and affordable. And coming in April 2012, Opera Week will kick off in Lancaster with lectures, singing in the streets, and a grand gala event commemorating their 60th year.

Just because OperaLancaster is taking a more contemporary and informal approach doesn’t mean they lack in quality. They are the only opera company between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and people travel from neighboring states and counties to participate in their productions. In some cases, professional paid singers are brought in to fill a difficult role. Focusing on fund-raising, development, and impacting the community around them, the organization is shifting into the higher gears. Keep looking for good things to come from Opera Lancaster.

To learn more, visit www.operalancaster.org or email Josh at jmrinier@gmail.com.

Box Office: 717-872-3811

Support for this episode provided by Winding Way Books, & Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

Take A Look And Listen In with OperaLancaster appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/

When Erica Millner and her partner came to live on West King St. in Lancaster, PA, it was difficult to connect with the neighbors on any level. But after bringing the Inside Out Project to the neighborhood, there seemed to be a significant change in that respect.

Inside Out is a global art project that displays large black and white images of everyday people in public places. The project is designed in a way that makes it very easy for people to participate all over the world. Images can be uploaded to the project website and prints are made and sent back to be mounted and displayed for the public. Erica approached her friend, local photographer Jenny Schulder Brant, about assisting her in photographing some of the people in her neighborhood. What transpired after that was inspiring, to say the least. People who would never talk to her before started saying hello and bringing people by to see the pictures, which she had pasted to the outside of her house. The art project seemed to act as a catalyst relationally and brought a sense of pride to the people who live there.

Erica and Jenny’s art project was one of five Lancaster groups fecatured in a recent Lancaster County Community Foundation lecture called “Aha Moments”. They have plans for many more arts and community-building projects in the future. If you’d like to contact either Erica or Jenny, or find out more about the Inside Out Project, you can do so at one of the following links.

www.facebook.com/emillner, emillner@facebook.com, www.jennyschulder.com, jenny@jennyschulder.com, www.insideoutproject.net

Support for this episode provided by Winding Way Books, & Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void
Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

Public Art From The Inside Out appeared on http://www.thelancast.com/