The Yoga Loft of Bethlehem is celebrating 20 years in South Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Founded in 2006 by Jesse Thompson, the studio began as a third-floor yoga space in the former Cantelmi’s Hardware Building and has grown into a home for yoga, Pilates, teacher training, wellness, and community.
Owner Rachel Abott, founder Jesse Thompson, longtime teachers, students, and members of The Yoga Loft community reflect on the studio’s beginnings, its evolution, and the relationships that have kept it going for two decades.
From Rachel’s path from student to owner, to Jesse’s original vision, to the teachers and students who helped build the studio’s identity, this conversation celebrates the people who made The Yoga Loft what it is today.
The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival is celebrating its 35th anniversary season in 2026, and Artistic Director Jason King Jones joined the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast to talk about the milestone, this year’s “Legends & Legacy” theme, and why Romeo and Juliet continues to connect with audiences generation after generation.
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Founded in 1992 at DeSales University, the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival has grown into one of the region’s premier summer theater destinations, blending Shakespeare, musicals, dramas, and contemporary productions into a packed annual season.
This year’s lineup includes Romeo & Juliet, August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, Million Dollar Quartet, Moriarty, and more running through August 2 in Center Valley.
During the conversation, Jones talks about balancing classic works with modern audiences, what makes live theater special in the Lehigh Valley, and why PSF continues to attract both longtime theatergoers and first-time visitors.
Girls on the Run has the word “run” right there in the name, but this program is about a lot more than running.
On this episode of the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast, George Wacker is joined by his daughter Dahlia, a first-year Girls on the Run participant at her elementary school, for a conversation with Girls on the Run Lehigh Valley & Pocono Executive Director Liz Fones, coach Jennifer Leffler, and Laney, a program alumna who now gives back as a junior coach.
Yes, there is running. Yes, the season ends with a 5K. But the real work happens during the practices, where trained coaches help participants build confidence, make friends, set goals, talk through emotions, and learn how to handle the kinds of social pressure that can show up early in elementary and middle school.
Liz explains that the program gives girls tools at a critical age, especially as they begin thinking more about how they fit in, what others think of them, and how they see themselves. Jennifer, who has coached for many seasons, talks about helping girls navigate friendships, peer pressure, negative self-talk, and the simple but powerful idea of changing “I can’t do this” into “I can’t do this yet.”
Laney shares how her own experience with Girls on the Run helped her meet new people, build a love of running, and eventually return to the program as a junior coach. She now runs cross-country and track in high school, and talks about how running gives her a way to deal with stress and reset when life feels overwhelming.
Dahlia also shares what she has enjoyed as a first-year participant, including making new friends and getting to be part of something that gives girls a chance to try running in a supportive way.
The episode also looks ahead to the Girls on the Run 5K Celebration at DeSales University on Sunday, May 17. The event brings together girls, coaches, families, running buddies, mascots, music, and plenty of cheering as participants complete the season together.
Girls on the Run Lehigh Valley & Pocono serves communities across the region and is open to girls of all abilities. The organization also emphasizes that financial need should not stop a girl from participating, with scholarships and support available for families.
Todd is a Detroit-based twelve-string guitar player rooted in the pre-war blues tradition, drawing from artists including Blind Willie McTell, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Leadbelly, Mississippi John Hurt, Reverend Gary Davis, and others. In this conversation, we talk about what draws him to early folk and blues music, why the twelve-string guitar became such an important part of his sound, and how he approaches songs with deep history behind them.
Todd also talks about country blues as foundational American music, the connection between ragtime, folk, and blues traditions, and what audiences can expect in the intimate listening room setting at Godfrey Daniels.
Todd Albright performs Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 8 p.m. at Godfrey Daniels in Bethlehem, with guest Arthur Terembula opening the night.
Live in the Garden returns to Bethlehem’s Rose Garden for its fifth season this spring and summer, and this episode features three artists from this year’s lineup: Sir Dominique, Mariposas Galacticas, and Wood Flower.
The conversation ties into Next Stage PA, the statewide artist development initiative helping emerging artists grow through performance opportunities, mentorship, and hands-on professional development. In this episode, the artists talk about how their bands took shape, how they think about identity and visuals, what platforms they actually use, and what it takes to promote music and live shows in a way that feels real.
Sir Dominique and Mariposas Galacticas will perform May 16 at Live in the Garden, and Wood Flower will perform June 6.
Gráinne, an Irish singer-songwriter, talks about how she describes her music as “nu-folk” and explains why that label fits. The conversation gets into the difference between traditional assumptions people sometimes make about Irish music and the original songwriting work she and other contemporary artists are doing.
Jules talks about what she brings to the live show as a drummer, percussionist, and harmony singer, and how she approaches supporting songs that are deeply personal without getting in the way of them. One of the more interesting parts of the conversation is hearing how much thought goes into leaving space in a performance, not just adding to it.
We also talk about Gráinne’s songwriting process, including why lyrics usually come first for her and how she often builds songs outward from the chorus. From there, the conversation turns to “Magnets,” how the song came together, and how certain images or ideas can sit with a songwriter for years before becoming part of a finished piece.
Ahead of the May 19, 2026 primary, we sat down with candidates running for U.S. House in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District for our Congressional Candidate Conversations series.
On this episode of Off the Record with the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast, we’re highlighting The Chopper Foundation and the work they’re doing to help families access lifesaving veterinary care when money is tight, so people do not have to surrender a pet or make an impossible decision.
We’re joined by Sharon, Moreen, and Dr. Lee for a conversation about how The Chopper Foundation started, what the need looks like in real life, and how community partnerships make it possible to keep pets healthy and at home.
Sharon shares what she saw again and again when dogs were relinquished: lack of funds for care, or behavioral issues, often after a dog had already been rehomed. She talks about how the unexpected loss of Chopper became the turning point, and how she decided to turn that loss into action that helps other families keep their pets.
The episode also digs into what support can look like beyond emergency vet bills, including food distribution. The foundation has worked with community partners to provide large food donations and run what they call a “chow line,” with past stops in Reading, Allentown, and Bethlehem, and a goal of expanding to Easton. The point is simple: help families who are stretched thin so they do not have to choose between feeding themselves and feeding their pets.
Looking ahead to 2026, The Chopper Foundation shares plans for a low-cost vaccination clinic and ways local sponsors can help make basic care more accessible, including a “sponsor one shot” approach.
Founding Country Joe & The Fish keyboardist David Bennett Cohen is bringing his trio to Godfrey Daniels in Bethlehem on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 8 p.m., for a night that traces six decades of blues and rock keyboard history.
To celebrate, we’re giving away two pairs of tickets (two seats each) to the Lehigh Valley’s original live music listening room.
On this episode of the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast, we sit down with Allentown born trombonist, composer, arranger, and educator Brody Segan to talk about his original music, his independent label Brodacious Music, and his next big step as a showband musician with Royal Caribbean.
Brody has been busy releasing a string of projects, including the country rock single Make Lovin Great Again, the soundtrack to the short action film The Great Escape, and his final 2025 single Im Kinda Busy Now, a 1980s inspired funk blues song about unrequited love that also encourages getting to know the people in our everyday lives.
Under his Brodacious Music label, Brody is building a catalog that pulls from country, rock, funk, blues, film music, and big band writing. Make Lovin Great Again was released August 1 on all major streaming services, with artwork by his father and an animated lyric video by Miami based animator Juan Menache that earned a Special Mention from the Global Shorts Film Festival. Brody and collaborator Michael Ford promoted the track on PA Live in Wilkes Barre.
Im Kinda Busy Now followed on October 24 as the final 2025 Brodacious Music single. Brody describes it as a 1980s inspired funk blues song about unrequited love that also encourages getting to know those in our everyday lives. The track features music and lyrics by Brody Segan, mixed and mastered by Michael Ford, with Segan on lead and backing vocals and keys, Ford on electric guitar, electric bass, and cowbell, and Denisse Ferrara on backing vocals.
Beyond his singles, Brody composed the soundtrack for Sukavision’s short action film The Great Escape, recorded live at the Frost School of Music’s Weeks Recording Studio, and he continues to write for large ensemble. His big band chart Honk on This, a saxophone feature in the style of 1950s rock and roll, is available through JW Pepper.
Since graduating from UM in May 2025, Brody has stacked experience as both player and educator, including serving as low brass faculty for the PA Jazz Institute at Misericordia University, performing at the 20th Annual Scranton Jazz Festival, and working with groups across eastern and central Pennsylvania such as Panchito Bongo y Su Orquesta, Jessee Hernandez of La Maña Brava, Schutzengiggles Oompah Band, and M&J Big Band.
Next up, he performs with the Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band for their Christmas Spectacular and then begins a contract as a showband trombonist with Royal Caribbean starting December 14, performing nightly while continuing to write and release new music under Brodacious Music.
Today I’m joined by NBA and Lehigh Valley legend Jack McCallum, a New York Times bestselling author of “Dream Team” and “Seven Seconds or Less” who spent decades covering the league for Sports Illustrated.
I caught up with Jack at WDIY 88.1 FM before he recorded a Something to Say segment to talk about how today’s NBA compares to the Larry Bird era, why he would build the next decade around Victor Wembanyama, and what AI and changing media mean for storytelling.
We also revisit the time Michael Jordan called him during one of my Moravian University classes and get into what he is working on now, from a new novel to the short radio pieces he jokes are his Tuesday “elevator music.” Let’s get into it.
Today we’re getting into the holiday spirit with Meredith Willson’s Miracle on 34th Street: The Musical, coming to Wind Creek Event Center right here in Bethlehem, the Christmas City December 10 – 14!
In this episode you’ll hear from three members of the company: first, a visit from Kris Kringle himself; then Hanna Scotch, onstage swing and assistant dance captain who was actually born here in Bethlehem; and finally, eight-year-old Charlotte Surak, a precocious young actor who plays Susan Walker.
We’ll talk about bringing this classic story to the stage, what it’s like performing it in Bethlehem during the holidays, and what families can expect when they come out to the show.
Families and young people are the future of the arts, and no one knows that better than Mark Fitzgerald Wilson, Executive Director of the Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh University.
Mark joined Zoellner in 2020, bringing an eclectic background as an educator, business professional, and opera singer. Originally from Iowa, he discovered the Lehigh Valley through his son’s lacrosse tournaments and fell in love with the area’s energy, trails, and sense of community.
When he arrived at Zoellner, he noticed a missing piece in local arts programming: family experiences that were fun, welcoming, and accessible. The result was Family FUN-A-PALOOZA, an annual event that brings families together for live theater, interactive arts activities, and partnerships with local organizations.
This year’s Family FUN-A-PALOOZA takes place Saturday, November 1 from 10 AM to 1:30 PM, featuring Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical, based on the beloved children’s book by Mo Willems. Developed by the Kennedy Center, the show promises laughter, energy, and plenty of opportunities for kids to move and make noise.
“This is a non-shushing show,” Wilson says. “Kids, have fun. Parents tell us that when they hear that, the weight just lifts off their shoulders. This is for everyone. We have families with neurodivergent children, sensory-friendly audiences, and people who just want to enjoy being here together.”
The event features more than 20 community and campus partners, including PBS, Lehigh University Art Galleries, and local dance groups. Visitors can take part in crafts, art projects, and pre-show performances throughout Zoellner’s lobby and open spaces. Costumes are encouraged, even for parents.
“It’s the day after Halloween, so bring your costumes,” Wilson laughs. “Dress up, have fun, and parents, wear a costume too.”
Beyond Family FUN-A-PALOOZA, Zoellner’s fall and spring lineup is packed with major performances and new experiences. Wilson highlights Postmodern Jukebox, Dirty Dancing in Concert, and the Morgan Freeman Symphonic Blues Experience, along with orchestral performances from the New York Philharmonic and Philadelphia Orchestra.
“We want to bring world-class artists to our stage while also connecting students to the professional world,” Wilson says. “There are so many great arts organizations in the Lehigh Valley, and each of us brings something different. For Zoellner, it’s about giving people cultural experiences they might not get anywhere else.”
He also points to Zoellner’s new well-being concert series, which lets audiences lie onstage among musicians for a meditative, health-focused experience.
“The arts are part of the ecosystem that keeps our community healthy,” Wilson explains. “Music and movement make people feel better. Across the country, doctors are prescribing the arts as part of someone’s physical or mental health. That’s where we’re headed too.”
Wilson says innovation will define the next phase of Zoellner’s growth. Expect site-specific performances, partnerships with local nonprofits for community ticket programs, and more creative collaborations that bring people together in unexpected spaces.
“People want experiences, not just events,” Wilson says. “Some want to sit in Baker Hall, some want to see a show outside, and some might even want to see something in a parking garage. The arts can meet people wherever they are.”
Family FUN-A-PALOOZA 2025 takes place Saturday, November 1 from 10 AM to 1:30 PM at the Zoellner Arts Center on the campus of Lehigh University.
On this episode of the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast, we’re joined by Kenna DeValor, a poet, publisher, and founder of FlowerMouth Press. Kenna’s new poetry collection DISCOFRUIT is a shimmering celebration of queer identity, vulnerability, and joy.
We talk about how the book was born in a small Poconos café under a disco ball, Kenna’s creative upbringing in Coopersburg and Charter Arts, and how FlowerMouth Press grew from a solo idea in 2019 into a nonprofit platform amplifying Gen Z voices around the world.
We also explore the importance of art, physical media, and why the next generation isn’t done with poetry.
