A Conversation on School Teacher Shortages
School districts across Pennsylvania are grappling with teacher and administrator shortages. In a conversation on WPSU, we'll speak with experts about the worker shortages in education. Continue »
Conversations Live
Guest experts discuss local and national issues as they take your questions. During the 60-minute program, we will take phone calls, emails, and questions via Twitter. WPSU-TV gives the audience an opportunity to help shape the content with this monthly call-in program.
Episodes
Ask a Veterinarian
Local veterinarians answer viewer pet-related questions such as proper diet, exercise, and more! Continue »
Gardening and Canning
Fall gardening is here. There’s plenty to do to get ready for winter. Everything from canning the vegetables you grew to putting your garden to bed. We talk with Penn State horticulture experts on gardening and preserving. Continue »
A Special Conversation on the U.S. Farm Bill: Why It Matters
The U.S Farm Bill is up for renewal this year. It will impact farmers, but also programs like food stamps and disaster aid. In this special conversation we'll talk with a panel to discuss why the U.S. Farm Bill is important for the lives of Pennsylvanians and all Americans. Continue »
Get Your Garden On!
Gardening season has arrived. Whether you’re growing cool season crops or getting ready to plant tomatoes — now is the perfect time to get tips to help your garden grow. Penn State Extension educators share their expertise on everything from taking care of your lawn to planting for pollinators. Continue »
Sharenting
In this age of social media, it’s not uncommon for people to share aspects of their lives, not just with friends and family, but with the public. But what happens when parents overshare the lives of their children? What are the consequences, especially when it involves sensitive content? Continue »
Making Sense of the Economy
Unemployment is low, and wages are rising. But the cost of living, from groceries to paying for a home, has gone up. And the possibility of a recession or economic slow down looms. We'll talk with experts about changes in the economy, and what they mean for everyday people. Continue »
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Our panel of experts discuss what leads to Seasonal Affective Disorder, methods for treating it, and ways to stay healthy and active during the winter months. Continue »
Ask a Veterinarian (2022)
Caring for a pet is a real commitment requiring time, patience, and tender, loving care. It can sometimes be challenging knowing what's best for your animal and who to turn to for those questions. WPSU welcomes local veterinarians who give us insight on our pet-related questions. Continue »
2022 Midterm Elections
2022 is a midterm election year, and Pennsylvania is a battleground state. Voters will pick a new governor and a new U.S. Senator, in races that have been playing out in national news. We talks with two experts about how elections are shaping up in Pennsylvania. Continue »
Gardening and Canning
Fall gardening is here. There's plenty to do to get ready for winter. Everything from canning the vegetables you grew to putting your garden to bed. We talk with Penn State horticulture experts on gardening and preserving. Continue »
Get Your Garden On! (Spring 2022)
Gardening season has arrived. Whether you’re growing cool season crops or getting ready to plant tomatoes — now is the perfect time to get tips to help your garden grow. Penn State Extension educators share their expertise on everything from taking care of your lawn to planting for pollinators. Continue »
Pennsylvania Redistricting
Pennsylvania’s primary elections are coming up and redistricting means voters will see changes in the state and Congressional legislative maps. We’ll talk with a panel of experts about how the new districts were drawn, what they mean for communities in Pennsylvania, and who decides what’s fair. Continue »
Healthy Aging
With one in every seven Americans now over the age of 65, it’s no wonder adult development and aging is a rapidly expanding field of study. What’s normal aging? What’s not? And what control do we have over our own aging process? Continue »
Gambling in Pennsylvania
Gambling is a growing business in Pennsylvania. Along with traditional casinos and online gaming are mini-casinos. Including one proposed for State College. While the industry is generating record-breaking revenues, there are questions about mental health and safety. Continue »
Ask a Veterinarian (2021)
Veterinarians Debra Smart and Andrea Loar answer viewer pet-related questions such as proper diet and exercise, and more! Continue »
A Special Conversation on Race Relations in Central PA
Watch this special pre-recorded conversation on race in Central PA with two panels of experts as they talk about issues related to Communities and Police, and Education and Race. Continue »
COVID-19 in 2021-22
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, it can be hard to keep up with the information. We'll talk with a panel of experts about vaccines and booster shots, the impact of the pandemic on mental health particularly children, and what we need to know about "breakthrough" cases. Continue »
Get Your Garden On! (Summer 2021)
Growing season is in full swing — flowers are blooming and summer veggies are on the way. But questions are starting to crop up too. Penn State Extension educators Tom Butzler and Tom Ford share their gardening expertise on everything from keeping weeds at bay to knowing how much to water your plants. Continue »
Legalizing Marijuana
As more states legalize recreational marijuana, will Pennsylvania follow suit? We talked with a panel of guests to discuss the pros and cons of marijuana legalization. Continue »
Cooking at Home
Cooking at home has taken on a whole new life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stay-at-home orders and self-quarantining have left millions of people not just with spare time to cook, but a necessity to cook at home. How have our attitudes towards cooking and food changed over the last year? How has it affected where we get our food and our local restaurants? And what kind of cooking trends are likely to remain in a post-pandemic world? Continue »
Get Your Garden On! (Spring 2021)
Gardening is more popular than ever. And it's no surprise. At a time when you're looking for something enjoyable to do that's close to home, gardening is a great choice. We'll talk with Penn State Extension educators Tom Butzler and Tom Ford, on what we can do this spring with our gardens. Continue »
COVID-19 Vaccination
As COVID-19 vaccines are distributed in Pennsylvania and across the country, there are still questions and concerns. How effective are the vaccines? Can someone transmit the virus even after getting vaccinated? When will things return to "normal"? Continue »
Ask a Veterinarian (2020)
Do you have questions about your pet? Or maybe you’re thinking of adopting one. We talk about all things pets with veterinarians Fred Metzger and Debra Smart. Continue »
Children’s Grief
How do children grieve? Is it different from the way adults grieve? And how does grieving change as children grow? Our panel answers these questions and more. Continue »
The 2020 Election
WPSU's Anne Danahy talks with the Director of the Franklin and Marshall College Poll, Terry Madonna, and Penn State Political Scientist Candis Watts Smith about the 2020 election. How will the use of mail-in voting and drop boxes affect the election? How are opinions being influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic? And, what issues are important to Pennsylvania voters? Continue »
COVID-19
We answer your questions on the COVID-19 pandemic. We cover topics suchas as how much longer the pandemic willlast, when we will get a vaccine, how havepeople of color been disproportionately impacted, and more. Continue »
Speaking Grief
Is there any “right” way to grieve? WPSU Speaking Grief producer Lindsey Fenton and guests will answer this question and more. Continue »
Get Your Garden On! (Spring 2020)
It’s growing season, and during this time many of you are turning to gardening as a hobby to enjoy at home and as a way to stock your kitchens. You'll get tips on growing fruits and vegetables, canning for winter, making the most of small spaces, and more! Continue »
Climate Change
What are the latest forecasts for our changing climate? Are there solutions that can reverse current trends? Our panel answers these questions and more. Continue »
Vaping and the Opioids Crisis
News on vaping is increasingly making the headlines as new studies are showing adverse health effects related to the habit. But what is vaping exactly? Can it be safer than smoking cigarettes? And how is it regulated? Also, is there any connection between vaping and the opioid crisis? Continue »
Ask a Veterinarian (November 2019)
Local veterinarians answer questions about your pets, from proper diet and exercise to the physical and mental benefits of adding a pet to your family. Continue »
Get Your Garden On! (Fall 2019)
What worked in your garden this season? Where could you have used a little expert advice? Tune in to discuss these questions and make a to-do list for winter. Continue »
Ask a Veterinarian (June 2019)
Experts discuss your pet-related questions, including proper diet and exercise, to the physical and mental benefits of adding a pet to your family. Continue »
Living Your Best Life
Drawing on the organizing craze inspired by Marie Kondo, we take a look at other aspects of organizing such as nutrition, health, and finance. Continue »
Get Your Garden On! (Spring 2019)
Waking up the garden to a new growing season is about more than soil and seedlings. Spring is a pick-me-up for the home gardener as well. On this Spring 2019 edition of Get Your Garden On!, we discuss preparing your garden for the summer with Penn State Extension educators Tom Ford and John Esslinger. Continue »
Get Your Garden On! (Spring 2018)
Host Bill Hallman leads a discussion on gardening with Penn State gardening experts Tom Butzler, John Esslinger, and Justin Wheeler. Continue »
Aging in Place
What does it mean to age in place? What care options are available? How do you make a home elder-friendly? Our guests provide answers to these questions and more. Continue »
Parenting
Our panel has a conversation about parenting and children, answering viewer questions and providing information on where parents can turn for good advice. Continue »
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Our panel of experts discuss what leads to Seasonal Affective Disorder and methods for treating it. They also talk about ways to stay healthy and active during the winter months. Continue »
Diet and Nutrition
Our guests discuss ways to prevent gaining that dreaded winter weight. We’ll also get their nutrition tips for eating healthy in the new year. They also take viewer questions. Continue »
Opioid Crisis in Pennsylvania
We explore the human impact of the opioid epidemic by talking to guests who have been personally affected by addiction. We’ll also talk about Pennsylvania’s $20 million effort to address it. Continue »
Ask The Doctor
As the seasons change and the temperature drops, we become more susceptible to seasonal bugs and other illnesses. Doctors from local healthcare providers explain how to stay healthy heading into winter and what symptoms look like for more common viruses at this time of year. Continue »
Get Your Garden On! (Fall 2017)
It's fall. That means it's time to think about what worked in your garden this season...and where you could have used a little expert advice. Our guests discuss the growing season, plus we'll get their post-season to-do lists. Continue »
A Time To Heal
Following the premier of A Time to Heal, the WPSU community was invited to participate in a live broadcast discussion about the documentary and memories and thoughts about how the Vietnam War redefined American attitudes and pop culture. Continue »
Get Your Garden On! (Spring 2017)
Waking up the garden to a new growing season is about more than soil and seedlings...spring is a pick-me-up for the home gardener as well. Penn State Extension specialists and a master gardener join us to share their tips for the best growing season ever. They also take viewer questions. Continue »
Revisiting Climate Change
President Trump has ordered an about-face on U.S. energy policy, walking back Obama-era policies aimed at curbing emissions and preparing the United States for the impacts of climate change. Will that stop the clean energy transition now underway—and what’s at stake? Continue »
Immigration
Our expert panel discusses the social, economic and security consequences of legal and illegal immigration to the United States. They also take viewer questions. Continue »
Resilience
Our panel of experts discuss the latest techniques for developing resilience and keeping you on track toward your goals. They also take your questions. Continue »
Climate Change
Why aren’t more Americans demanding action on climate change, despite the overwhelming evidence? And what’s at stake? Continue »
More from WPSU
Water Blues Green Solutions
Water Blues Green Solutions tells stories from across the country of communities that are adopting new ways of thinking about how to protect, restore, and preserve our rivers and sources of drinking water.
You Can’t Say That
Experience a class where people say the things you aren’t supposed to say; where students participate in a quiet revolution toward cross-cultural understanding; where the philosophy is simple: conversation can change the world.
Digging Deeper
In this monthly talk show, Penn State President Eric Barron explores how work being done at Penn State University impacts the broader community.
