WDIY is celebrating 30 years of community radio from its home in Bethlehem’s historic Flatiron Building. Since first going on air in January 1995, the station has become a hub for local voices, diverse music, and civic engagement across the Lehigh Valley.
We had a chance to sit down with Executive Director Margaret McConnell on the roof of the Flatiron Building, overlooking the valley WDIY serves. She talked about everything from the station’s ten-year founding journey, to its 130 dedicated volunteers, to the challenge of replacing federal funding cuts.
“Try to replace 15 percent of your personal budget,” McConnell said. “That is a part time job. We have to fill that gap.”
We also talked about WDIY’s commitment to future generations through its youth media program, which has already trained more than 200 students to host shows and create podcasts.
“Through WDIY we combat homelessness, address mental health, prevent teen suicide, alleviate senior citizen loneliness, and spread joy,” McConnell said. “WDIY is not just a radio station. It is a beacon of hope, support, and empowerment for everyone in our community.”
The 30th anniversary celebrations continue with concerts, community programming, and a unique new fundraiser at the State Theatre in Easton — Lehigh Valley Hollywood Squares.
Brannagh Breslin & Diya Sharma – Hosts of YANA LV on WDIY 88.1 FM
In this episode of the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast, host George Wacker sits down with Moravian Academy seniors Brannagh Breslin and Diya Sharma, co-hosts of YANA LV, a youth-led mental health radio show airing monthly on WDIY 88.1 FM: https://www.wdiy.org/show/yana-lv
Brannagh and Diya explain how they started YANA LV with little more than an idea, a few iPhone recordings, and a shared belief that their generation needed a safe space to talk about mental health. The podcast, now supported by the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, features candid conversations with students, educators, and community leaders—tackling mental health from every angle.
Teen Voices, Real Conversations: Inside YANA LV on WDIY
“You are not alone.” It’s more than a title—it’s the foundation of YANA LV, the student-led mental health show created by Moravian Academy seniors Brannagh Breslin and Diya Sharma.
Their journey began in the summer before junior year with a few iPhone recordings and an idea. “We decided to start this podcast because we both had interest in mental health,” Diya says. “Our stories individually were so different, but they overlapped with the idea of mental health and giving it to a bigger audience.”
Mental Health Is Personal
The show is rooted in lived experience. “For example, if a girl is smiling to the world, happy, seems like the most bubbly person in the world—it’s not true,” Diya says. “She might be dealing with the most deepest things herself, and she’s afraid to tell other people.”
“And that’s another reason we started this podcast,” she adds. “Because the idea of You Are Not Alone means that we’re a community, and we’re going to support one another.”
From Voice Memos to Broadcast Airwaves
At first, the show was as DIY as it gets. “We would just record on our phones,” Diya recalls. “Obviously it’s not as great editing as we have here at the studio, but it was a start.”
They cold-emailed professors and local figures to ask about everything from ADHD to the psychological impact of injury and trauma. “Sometimes we would have to send five emails to five different people just to get one episode,” Brannagh says.
Eventually, with encouragement from a teacher and a few inspiring guests, they were connected with WDIY’s Youth Media Program. “I brought my dad into the studio,” Brannagh says. “I was so excited about it. It feels so professional.”
Standout Guests, Lasting Impact
Two moments stood out from their time on the show. “David Robertson… he came on to talk about Joshua Tree,” Brannagh says. “It’s for his little brother, who unfortunately passed away due to addiction… and he turned it into such a positive thing.”
Their very first WDIY episode also left a mark. “His name is Herman,” Diya says. “He’s an anesthesiologist and he has a prosthetic leg. The way he spoke and the things that he said were very inspirational.”
What They’ve Learned
“Even though situations aren’t exactly the same,” Brannagh says, “we’re still bringing attention to talking about the things that we go through.”
Diya adds: “Everyone has physical health—and I think everyone has mental health, whether they recognize it or not. I think just normalizing that and talking about it is the first big step.”
What’s Next?
Brannagh is heading to NYU to study liberal studies and political science or psychology before law school. Diya will attend UVA to study biology and pursue a career in medicine. But they’re not finished with YANA LV.
“Obviously, we can’t come here and record at the studio,” Brannagh says, “but we’ll keep YANA alive.”
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!
Today we’re talking with retiring WDIY 88.1 FM executive director, Greg Capogna.
We talk about greg’s nearly 50 years in radio, from his initial interests to buying stations across the country, to coming to Bethlehem and WDIY fm.
We talk about how radio has changed over the years, where it may be heading in the future, and why WDIY is such a vital piece in that story.
WDIY produces 21 long form community programs, they have more than 120 volunteers production 80 public affairs, news, and music programs. And the station has positioned itself with local non profits, music venues, personalities, and more. And we also get into music and how refreshing it is to have an actual person selecting it and listening to it with you….
Local radio is thriving in the Lehigh Valley and we’re gonna find out why.
