We’re excited to announce that George Wacker, founder of Lehigh Valley with Love Media, will be a panelist at the Young Professionals Council’s Leadership Summit on February 21, 2025, at DeSales University!
As part of the “Building Your Personal Brand” breakout session, George will share insights from over a decade of experience in media and storytelling. With more than 15 million video views and 8 million podcast downloads, Lehigh Valley with Love Media has been recognized regionally and nationally for creative and impactful work that connects businesses, nonprofits, and communities with their audiences.
This is an amazing opportunity to learn how to leverage storytelling, build a personal brand, and make an impact. We’re proud to contribute to this event and share some of the strategies and lessons we’ve learned along the way.
Click to learn more about the event and secure your spot: 📅 2025 Leadership Summit Details: https://bit.ly/3O1D1TR
Guests: Pennsylvania State Representative Mike Schlossberg and Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure
In this debut episode of Off the Record with Lehigh Valley with Love, George Wacker and Jeff Warren tackle the pressing issue of mental health with guests Rep. Mike Schlossberg and Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure. From personal stories to systemic challenges, they delve into the stigma, funding gaps, and actionable solutions to improve mental health care in the Lehigh Valley.
Mental health is an issue that affects us all, yet it remains shrouded in stigma and misunderstanding. In the debut episode of Off the Record with Lehigh Valley with Love, hosts George Wacker and Northampton County Commissioner Jeff Warren dive headfirst into this critical topic. Joined by Pennsylvania State Representative Mike Schlossberg and Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure, the conversation explores the challenges, solutions, and deeply personal stories tied to mental health in the Lehigh Valley.
Vulnerability in Leadership: Mike Schlossberg’s Story
The episode begins with Rep. Mike Schlossberg recounting his decision to publicly share his struggles with depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Inspired by the tragic death of Robin Williams in 2014, Schlossberg wrote a powerful op-ed to destigmatize mental illness and spark a public conversation. His courage not only helped many find their own voice but also lent credibility to his advocacy for better mental health policies and funding in Harrisburg.
“Until we invest in behavioral health professionals and infrastructure, we will continue to fall short as a community,” Schlossberg emphasizes.
The Funding Crisis
Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure paints a stark picture of the funding gaps plaguing mental health services. With one in five Northampton County residents living with a diagnosable mental illness, the demand far outweighs the resources available. The conversation underscores the “desert” of care left when private insurance and medical assistance run out, pushing many with severe mental illnesses into prisons or onto the streets.
“Prisons are no place for someone with schizophrenia,” McClure stresses, highlighting the systemic failures that leave vulnerable individuals without adequate support.
Lessons from the Past
The history of mental health care in the United States is a critical part of understanding today’s challenges. From the closure of state hospitals like Allentown State Hospital to the inadequacies of privatized care, the system has shifted but not always for the better. McClure points to the unintended consequences of legal victories that shuttered institutions without ensuring robust community support systems were in place.
The Pandemic’s Ripple Effect
The pandemic amplified existing issues and brought new challenges. Schlossberg reflects on the long-term impacts of a society increasingly reliant on digital connections at the expense of face-to-face interactions. Children and young adults, in particular, have borne the brunt of this shift, with rising rates of anxiety and depression.
“Breaking away from physical social interaction breaks something in people,” Schlossberg observes, stressing the need for renewed focus on in-person connections and community.
Looking Ahead
As the conversation wraps up, both Schlossberg and McClure outline their priorities for the future. Schlossberg is advocating for updates to the Mental Health Procedures Act and increased funding for workforce development in behavioral health. McClure remains committed to securing resources to support those with severe mental illnesses, ensuring they have access to safe housing and essential services.
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.
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.
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!
It’s always a thrill to contribute to local creative projects, and we were excited to provide drone footage for Tape Swap Radio’s feature on Pale Fang. The footage captures the unique energy and atmosphere that complements the band’s vibe perfectly.
Tape Swap Radio continues to elevate the Lehigh Valley music scene with projects like this, and being part of their work is an honor. If you’re into discovering new music and creative visuals, don’t miss this one!
Recently, I had the opportunity to join Jo on the Jokes by Jo Show podcast, where we dove into the humor and heart of the Lehigh Valley. We talked about everything from running a local media company to what makes the Valley such a vibrant place to live and laugh.
The conversation was full of funny moments, genuine insights, and a lot of love for the local community. Being a guest on Jo’s show was an absolute blast, and I’m excited to share this collaboration with you!
We’re talking to Melis, the owner of Kaleidoscope Collective, located at 77 W Broad Street, Suite 12C, Bethlehem, PA 18018 (between Crave and Into the Myst). Melis shares her journey of creating a space that celebrates local artisans and their unique crafts. From handmade gifts to one-of-a-kind art pieces, Kaleidoscope Collective is your go-to spot for creative finds this holiday season.
At Lehigh Valley with Love, we’re all about celebrating the best of our community—from quirky events and local businesses to mouthwatering food and those little moments that make the Lehigh Valley so unique. That’s why we’re thrilled to share some exciting news: we’ve been featured in The Keystone Newsroom’s article, “Pennsylvania Instagram Accounts to Help You Ditch the Doomscrolling”!
Here’s what they had to say about us:
“If something cool and/or quirky happens in the Lehigh Valley, or even if it’s just Lehigh Valley adjacent—like comedian Pete Davidson rocking a Lehigh Athletics sweatshirt courtside at a basketball game—you’ll find it on Lehigh Valley With Love. Their coverage of Lehigh University students throwing the goal post in a river after the Mountain Hawks’ recent win over Lafayette was award-worthy. ”
Being recognized as a source of positivity and connection in our community means the world to us. It’s a reflection of the amazing people, places, and stories that make the Lehigh Valley such a vibrant and fun place to live. We’re grateful to all of you—our readers, followers, and supporters—for letting us share these moments with you every day.
In this episode, we take a walk with Marc Rittle, Executive Director of New Bethany, through the heart of South Bethlehem. Marc shares how New Bethany is helping Lehigh Valley residents in need, including the recent transformation of their food pantry into a choice pantry. Families can now shop for fresh produce and groceries in a setting that feels like a real store, giving them the dignity of choice and empowering them in a meaningful way.
The holiday season is right around the corner, and New Bethany’s Turkey Drive on Friday, November 22nd, is set to be a huge event at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown.
This year, they’re aiming to collect 1,200 turkeys to meet requests from local organizations, ensuring that hundreds of families from Allentown to Bethlehem have everything they need for a memorable Thanksgiving.
Want to get involved? Drop off a 10-12 lb frozen turkey at Coca-Cola Park or donate virtually by texting “LVturkeydrive” to 41444.
They’re also collecting holiday meal sides like stuffing and green beans, so feel free to add a little extra to the donation!
Tune in to learn more about New Bethany’s work and how you can make a difference this Thanksgiving season.
Big thanks to this episode’s sponsors: Wind Creek Event Center, Michael Bernadyn with Remax Realty, Molly’s Irish Grille & Sports Pub, Bingo Bango Beverage Company, and WDIY 88.1 FM!
Marta Kepka, Director of Art Marketing, gave us a tour of Buck Hall—including Landis Cinema and the Daniel H. and Sandra Weiss Black Box Theater—along with the Williams Center for the Arts and visual arts spaces.
We also spoke with Ty Furman and Ricardo J. Reyes about how the arts at Lafayette play a major role in the local community and are open to the public.
GUESTS
Marta Kepka – Director of Art Marketing, Lafayette College
Ty Furman – Director, Williams Center for the Arts
Ricardo J. Reyes – Director of Galleries and Curator of Collections, Lafayette College
We take a ride with Oogie’s Ice Cream Truck owners Lori and David to learn more about how they started out 18 years ago taking a chance on a dream! We also make a few stops along the way, including visiting their cutest customer as well as Jimi Honochik with YMI Insurance and their podcast.
All of this culminated in a stop at Molly’s Irish Grille & Sports Pub in Molly’s where we sold ice cream for an hour and made more than $300 for the Boys and Girls Club of Bethlehem!!!!
Welcome to another sweet episode of the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast!
Today, we’re chatting with Brooke Dietrick from Truffle Bar and Rick Pongracz from Batch Microcreamery about their exciting new venture, Twisted & Dipped. (Shout out to their business partner Manny Rodriguez as well!)
Located in the former Chocolate Lab spot in Bethlehem, this new dessert shop offers soft serve ice cream with a twist – think traditional toppings, rich chocolate dips, and a variety of truffles and dipped snacks!
Join us as we discuss how this delicious collaboration came to be, what tasty treats you can expect, and even sample some of their mouth-watering offerings. Tune in for a fun and flavorful conversation!
GUESTS
Brooke Dietrick and Rick Pongracz: Twisted & Dipped
We jump into the Goldfish Swim School – Bethlehem to learn essential summer swim safety tips.
As temperatures rise, it’s crucial to ensure kids know how to stay safe around water. We explore everything Goldfish Swim School has to offer, from invaluable safety tips to their extensive community involvement.
We also get into the water and demonstrate three basic water safety techniques for kids.
Hear from Ruth, the General Manager, and Holly, the Assistant General Manager, about the school’s mission and why swim safety should be at the top of your summer checklist.
We’re talking with Nancy and Todd Salomon ahead of the June 1 event “Chris Nee’s Comedy to Break the Stigma!” at the Civic Theatre in Allentown on June 1.
This event includes an excellent line up of comedians with a 100% guarantee that laughter will be shared by ALL! The best part of this event is that proceeds benefit Aevidum, an organization focused on empowering youth to shatter the silence surrounding mental health and suicide.
True Motion, the German running shoe brand known for its innovative U-TECH technology, is making its way to North America.
Join us along the D&L Trail as we talk with with Dr. Adam Teichman and Mitch Lenett and explore the local ties behind this exciting expansion. We also discuss the brand’s journey, their unique approach to shoe design, and what runners can expect from this game-changing footwear.
Welcome to this episode of the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast. Today, we’re talking with Katarah Jordan, the new CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Allentown.
Katarah’s background in education and community development makes her a perfect fit for the role. From leading the James Lawson Freedom School to fighting food insecurity at Second Harvest Food Bank, she’s dedicated to empowering youth.
We talk about those things as well as her excitement for her new role, which is palpable. She’s passionate about creating transformative spaces for Allentown’s children to thrive.With her dynamic energy, she’s set to inspire staff, members, and stakeholders alike.
As she takes the reins from retiring CEO Deb Fries Jackson, the club enters a new chapter full of promise and possibility.
GUESTS
Katarah Jordan – Boys and Girls Club of Allentown CEO
