Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast Wins “Best Local Podcast” from Lehigh Valley Style Readers

The Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast has been named Best Local Podcast by readers of Lehigh Valley Style in the publication’s 2025 “Best of the Lehigh Valley” awards — marking the podcast’s second win, with its first honor coming in 2020.

Launched in 2018, Lehigh Valley with Love has become a leading local podcast by doing what it does best — telling the stories of the Lehigh Valley’s people, places, and pulse. Whether it’s sitting down with community leaders, walking through neighborhoods and festivals, or simply chasing a good story with a camera in hand, the podcast continues to evolve as a trusted voice for the region.

“We try to tell the kinds of stories you don’t always hear elsewhere, or at least not in the same way.” said George Wacker, host and founder. “And over the past year especially, we’ve really leaned into getting out into the community, not just recording episodes, but filming them, walking with our guests, and showing people what the Lehigh Valley looks like right now. There’s so much out there.”

Deeper Dives with Off The Record

In 2024, the podcast introduced Off The Record, a subseries co-hosted by Northampton County Commissioner Jeff Warren. It brings a more serious tone to discussions around mental health, incarceration and reentry, and regional development — without losing the podcast’s grounded, conversational feel.

Episodes in the Off The Record series include:

Watch the full series on YouTube: Off The Record Playlist

Community, Culture & Visual Storytelling

In addition to audio interviews, many episodes now include full video walk-throughs — giving audiences a more immersive look at life across the region. From parks and food trucks to holiday drives and music festivals, recent episodes highlight the breadth and depth of the Lehigh Valley:

🎧 Watch or listen to the full archive:

Powered by the Community

The podcast’s continued growth and recognition wouldn’t be possible without its loyal audience, generous guests, and the support of local sponsors. A sincere thank-you to:

  • Lehigh Valley Health Network
  • WDIY
  • Wind Creek Event Center
  • Michael Bernadyn of RE/MAX Real Estate
  • Molly’s Irish Grille & Sports Pub
  • Banko Beverage Company

Interested in being on the show, or becoming a sponsor?
📧 Email info@lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com
🌐 Visit www.lvwithlove.com

 

2024 in Review: Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast Hits 2.7 Million Downloads!

As 2024 draws to a close, we’re taking a moment to celebrate an incredible year for the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast. This year, we reached an extraordinary milestone: 2.7 million hits across all of our episodes, showcasing the power of community storytelling and local connections.

With 47 episodes in 2025, we’ve shared countless stories that celebrate the heart of the Lehigh Valley and beyond. From exclusive celebrity interviews like Tony Danza, to exploring local landmarks such as The Sayre Mansion and The Dery House, to diving into community-focused initiatives like New Bethany Ministries’ Turkey Drive and Festival Unbound, our podcast covered an incredible breadth of topics this year.

Thanks to your support, we connected with people from all walks of life, sharing the stories that make the Lehigh Valley truly special.

Be sure to visit www.lvwithlove.com for updates throughout 2025!

Highlights from 2024

We’re proud of every episode we released this year, but here are a few that truly stood out:

  • Tony Danza: Standards & Stories – Tony joined us to share insights from his career and his one-man show at SteelStacks, giving listeners a behind-the-scenes look at his life in entertainment. Listen / Watch here.
  • New Bethany Ministries Turkey Drive – We highlighted the incredible work of New Bethany Ministries in supporting our community during the holiday season. Listen / Watch here.
  • Festival Unbound with Touchstone Theatre – A deep dive into this vibrant annual festival celebrating creativity and community. Listen / Watch here.
  • Lafayette College Arts Tour – Exploring the rich arts culture on campus with exclusive insights. Listen / Watch here.
  • Toured The Sayre Mansion – An exclusive look at this historic gem in Bethlehem. Listen / Watch here.
  • Learned to Swim with Goldfish Swim School – A fun and educational episode about fostering water safety. Listen / Watch here.
  • Toured The Dery House in Catasauqua – Discovering the history and beauty of this iconic property. Listen / Watch here.
  • Celebrated 90 Years at Shankweilers Drive-In – A nostalgic dive into America’s oldest drive-in theater. Listen / Watch here.

These episodes, among many others, exemplify the diversity and richness of stories we’re privileged to share with our listeners. Your engagement—from sharing episodes to leaving comments—helped make this possible.

Monthly Highlights

  • Social Media Reach: 500K+ monthly average.
  • Podcast Listenership: 225K+ monthly hits average.

We use S3Stat to verify our numbers. 

Thank You to Our Partners

Our achievements this year wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our amazing partners:

  • WDIY – Supporting local radio! Link
  • Wind Creek Event Center – Hosting incredible events! Link
  • Michael Bernadyn of RE/MAX Real Estate – Connecting us to our community. Link.
  • Molly’s Irish Grille & Sports Pub – Fueling our team with great food and energy. Link
  • The Coop Sports Bar & Kitchen – Fueling our team with Dinosaur Eggs. Link
  • Banko Beverage Company – Helping us keep the conversation flowing. Link
  • Lehigh Valley Health Network – Keeping us healthy! Link

Thank you for believing in our mission and helping us bring these stories to life.

Looking Ahead to 2025

For more updates, episodes, and ways to connect with us, visit our website: www.lvwithlove.com.

We’re already planning for an even bigger and better year ahead, and we want YOU to be part of it! Whether you have a story to share, a business to spotlight, or an idea for collaboration, we’d love to hear from you. Fill out this form to get involved: https://forms.gle/3AXv59fdXrVirXke9.

Are you interested in being a guest on our podcast? Share your story with us by filling out our guest form here: https://forms.gle/V6czQLymPp1B31GW8.

Join the Conversation

Stay tuned for more incredible stories in 2025, and thank you for being part of our journey. Here’s to another amazing year of connecting, sharing, and loving the Lehigh Valley!

Canoes, Poems, and Inclusive Art at Festival UnBound

Get More LVWITHLOVE content


Thank you to our Partners!

Lehigh Valley Health Network

WDIY

Wind Creek Event Center

Michael Bernadyn of RE/MAX Real Estate 

Molly’s Irish Grille & Sports Pub

Banko Beverage Company

Hidden Bethlehem with Touchstone Theatre

Get more LVwithLOVE


Thank you to our Partners!

WXPN

Wind Creek Event Center

Michael Bernadyn of RE/MAX Real Estate 

Molly’s Irish Grille & Sports Pub

We talk with Matt Prideaux of Touchstone Theatre about Hidden Bethlehem, a part of the upcoming Festival Unbound.

Do you know of a hidden gem, item, or location in Bethlehem and want to share it for sake of community art and theatre? Then click this link: www.touchstone.org/festival_unbound/hidden-bethlehem/

 

“WHAT IS HIDDEN BETHLEHEM? A chance for anyone in our community to shine a spotlight on the places and people in Bethlehem that they believe deserve to be seen and appreciated. There is a lot in Bethlehem that people love and frequent, but there are some truly wonderful places and people that not enough folks know about – share them with us!

Do you know a place in Bethlehem that you feel goes unseen? A person who brings joy to those around them, and who makes their neighborhood a little bit better everyday? Do you have a hidden talent that you want the world to know about? Tell us about somewhere or someone that you feel is overlooked or under-appreciated.”