The Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast shares stories, interviews, and conversations from Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, including Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, and the communities in between. Hosted by George Wacker and Lehigh Valley with Love Media, the podcast features local leaders, business owners, artists, musicians, authors, students, elected officials, nonprofit voices, and people helping shape the region. Find the latest episodes, videos, local stories, and more at https://www.lvwithlove.com.
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August 14, 202614 min
Moms Mean Business and Kids Do Too at The Mom Market with Devika Knafo
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Moms mean business, and at The Mom Market, kids do too.
Founder Devika Knafo returns to the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast as The Mom Market approaches its first anniversary. What began with 40 women supporting Devika’s vision has grown into a community platform that she says has supported more than 160 mom- and women-owned businesses.
Devika talks about creating space for women at every stage of business, from entrepreneurs developing their first idea to established owners opening brick-and-mortar locations. She also explains how her own postpartum experience inspired her to build the support system she wished she had.
The Mom Market’s Summer Glow event will include a dedicated Kids Market for young entrepreneurs ages 5–17. Parents can offer support, but the children will run their booths, speak with customers, and learn how to adjust in real time.
The Mom Market: Summer Glow
Sunday, August 23, 2026
9 AM–2 PM
Bethlehem Rose Garden
Free admission
Kids Market registration:
https://kidsmarkets.com/markets/bethlehem-3
Learn more about The Mom Market:
https://momsmeetmarket.com/
Hear Devika’s first appearance on the podcast:
https://lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com/podcast/themommarket/
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August 11, 202615 min
Gun Violence Prevention in the Lehigh Valley with CeaseFirePA’s Maggie Hartmann
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CeaseFirePA Lehigh Valley Organizer Maggie Hartmann joins George Wacker to discuss gun violence prevention in Allentown and the work continuing after the July 16 Allentown Gun Violence Prevention Forum.
Maggie talks about bringing elected officials, community organizations, law enforcement and residents together, including young people in decisions that affect them, addressing gaps in after-school support and building trusted partnerships within Allentown neighborhoods.
The conversation also covers school safety, secure firearm storage, House Bill 2244 and practical ways Lehigh Valley residents can support CeaseFirePA’s work.
Parent and Caregiver School Safety Survey:
https://act.ceasefirepa.org/a/schoolsafetysurvey
Sign the Petition:
https://www.mobilize.us/ceasefirepa/event/996058/
Learn more about CeaseFirePA:
https://www.ceasefirepa.org/
Contact Maggie Hartmann:
maggie@ceasefirepa.org
This episode is brought to you by Wind Creek Event Center, Michael Bernadyn with RE/MAX Real Estate, WDIY 88.1 FM, Banko Beverage and QuoteAhead.com.
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August 5, 20266 min
Musikfest Is Banko Beverage’s Biggest Stage
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Banko Beverage President Tony Gallo joins Lehigh Valley with Love at Musikfest to talk about the family business, its relationship with the festival and where the beverage industry is heading.
Banko supplies bars, restaurants and retailers across ten counties in northeastern Pennsylvania. Gallo discusses the importance of spending time with those local businesses, supporting smaller brands and growing Banko’s selection of non-alcoholic, sports and wellness drinks.
He also shares his own Musikfest traditions, including people-watching, waiting all week for Go Go Gadjet and trying as much festival food as possible. His advice for first-time visitors is simple: Start at Aw Shucks and figure it out from there.
Banko Beverage Company is a strong supporter of Lehigh Valley with Love. Follow Banko on Instagram for daily Musikfest ticket giveaways, behind-the-scenes videos and more throughout the year.
Banko Beverage Company:
https://bankobeverage.com/
Follow Banko:
https://www.instagram.com/bankobeveragecompany/
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August 3, 202626 min
22 Is 22 Too Many: Gabe Atkins’ Coast-to-Coast Ride for Veteran Suicide Awareness
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Marine veteran Gabe Atkins is taking on a roughly 3,500-mile bicycle ride from Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania, to San Diego, California, to raise awareness for veteran suicide prevention and support organizations helping veterans in crisis.
After serving two tours in Afghanistan, Gabe struggled to readjust to civilian life and watched friends and fellow veterans battle PTSD, isolation, and a loss of purpose. He talks about why asking for help can be so difficult, how photography helped him begin moving forward, and why finding a community can be an important first step.
Gabe also explains the planning behind the 102-day ride, his decision to document the journey in 22-mile blocks, and his commitment to being transparent about the money raised. Fifty percent of proceeds after costs will support organizations including Battle Borne and Wounded Warrior Project.
Follow the journey, donate, or purchase campaign merchandise at:
https://22is22toomany.com/
Veterans in crisis, or anyone concerned about a veteran, can call 988 and press 1 or text 838255 for free, confidential support.
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July 28, 20261 hr 19 min
Mayor’s Musikfest Preview Podcast 2026
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Musikfest Preview Night arrives Thursday, July 30, followed by 10 days of music, food, art and nearly unavoidable reunions throughout Bethlehem from Friday, July 31 through Sunday, August 9.
For the fifth annual Mayor’s Musikfest Preview Podcast, we set up at StadtPlatz outside Bethlehem City Hall with Mayor J. William Reynolds and eight guests who plan the festival, perform on its stages, volunteer behind the scenes and help create the community around it.
The 43rd Musikfest features more than 400 performers and 500 performances across 16 stages, 15 of which are free.
Mayor Reynolds described Musikfest as a shared experience that cannot be recreated through a screen.
“You can’t one-up somebody else’s experience. What happens there is that it brings people together, and it shows us what’s possible when we’re focused on people.”
Building a temporary city
ArtsQuest President and CEO Kassie Hilgert started with the people responsible for turning more than 50 acres of Bethlehem into the country’s largest free music festival.
“It takes 5,000 people to put this festival up and to tear it down. You’ve got volunteers that are taking 10 days from their vacation time at work to support this festival.”
Hilgert also made a direct appeal for people to support the vendors, restaurants, hotels, artists and cultural organizations that keep events like Musikfest alive.
Patrick Brogan, ArtsQuest’s Chief Programming Officer, said more than 2,000 artists applied to perform this year. The final program includes 417 artists presenting 512 sets, with roughly one-third of the festival changing each year.
His advice is simple:
“Follow your ears through the festival.”
Turn a corner, stop at an unfamiliar stage and stay long enough to find the artist who could become your next favorite.
“The soundtrack of Bethlehem”
Miguel Perez-Soto has experienced Musikfest as an ArtsQuest board member, a musician, a B. Braun Medical employee and a supporter who has been attending for 25 years.
He has also watched Musikfest and ArtsQuest’s year-round programming grow to represent more of the cultures found throughout Bethlehem.
“Musikfest is the soundtrack of Bethlehem. We’re going to have a great time doing this for the next 10 days, but throughout the year, Bethlehem always has the initiative to reinvent itself and put events together for the entire family, for the entire community.”
A place where everyone can Fest
Richard Liu helped lead the creation of SoberPlatz, the inclusive alcohol-free space that returns to the SouthSide for its second year. Located near Americaplatz and the Flywheel, SoberPlatz offers room to relax, activities, recovery resources and a community that does not revolve around drinking.
Everyone is welcome. The only request is that visitors not bring alcohol into the space.
Liu shared the response that showed exactly why SoberPlatz was needed.
“I’ve had people tell me they didn’t feel like they could Fest until SoberPlatz was there.”
For Liu, Musikfest ultimately comes back to people.
“It’s the volunteers that I see year after year and become friends with. It’s the friendships with performers who come back year after year. It’s the community members who I see and become friends with. It’s the people.”
Learn more about SoberPlatz and its 2026 activities.
Community voices and volunteers
WDIY Executive Director Margaret McConnell described the station as another community organization powered largely by volunteers.
WDIY was built by community members who wanted their own radio station. Its programming still reflects that original mission.
“Picking hand-curated music, no algorithms involved. Very little automation. This is really led by this community, for this community.”
ArtsQuest ambassador-level volunteer Robin Sherrerd has poured beer, sold tickets, worked with the Eco Squad and served as a site supervisor.
“I worked my way up to site supervisor and enjoyed every bit of it because of the camaraderie that we have with all of the other volunteers.”
Those relationships continue after the tents come down. Sherrerd said many volunteers have become friends who see one another and spend time together throughout the year.
Two Bethlehem artists step onto the stage
Bethlehem country artist Lilly Moss opens for Russell Dickerson at the Wind Creek Steel Stage on Friday, July 31. She returns Sunday, August 2 for a free Main Street performance.
Two years ago, Moss opened a fortune cookie while attending the Maren Morris concert at Musikfest.
“I opened a fortune cookie and it said, ‘You will make a name for yourself.’”
She kept and framed the fortune. Now she plans to carry it onto the largest stage she has ever played.
Moss said she no longer becomes more nervous as the crowds grow.
“As the crowds get bigger, I get more excited. I feed off the energy and the adrenaline.”
Jenny Founds performs with Ruby Dear at Zinzenplatz from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday, August 2. The Bethlehem alternative-rock trio is expanding for a special Ruby Dear Big Band performance featuring additional musicians from Start Making Sense.
Founds performs original music with Ruby Dear and Talking Heads music with Start Making Sense. She sees value in both.
“I’ve had people come up to me and say, ‘I’ve never heard you before, but I can relate to your lyrics, and I’ve never felt seen like that.’ So both are valid, and both give opportunities to musicians.”
A free Musikfest stage gives original artists something particularly valuable: people who were walking past, heard something interesting and decided to enter the tent.
The Musikfest must-do list
Mayor Reynolds and George also shared a few rules for getting the most out of Musikfest:
Put the phone away.
Spend time with someone you unexpectedly run into.
Buy at least one thing.
Watch an artist perform original music.
Show someone your favorite Musikfest spot.
Try a food you are not completely sure about.
Leave one night open and see where Musikfest takes you.
Musikfest Preview Night is Thursday, July 30. The full festival runs Friday, July 31 through Sunday, August 9.
Get the complete schedule and download the official app at Musikfest.org.
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July 27, 202629 min
Historic Easton Cemetery Tour: The People Who Shaped Easton
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Historic Easton Cemetery Executive Director Keith Lampman-Perlman leads Lehigh Valley with Love through 85 acres of Easton history, Victorian funerary art, monuments and green space.
The tour stops at the graves of Declaration of Independence signer George Taylor, football helmet inventor George Oliver Barclay, Lucy, Howard Rinek and John Frederic Osterstock, the man whose name lives on through the Freddy Awards. Keith also explains cradle graves, grave gardening, changing burial traditions and the work needed to preserve Easton’s largest green space.
Learn more or plan a visit: https://www.thehistoriceastoncemetery.org/
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July 24, 20269 min
Tour Phoenix Ridge Apartments in Allentown
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We were recently invited to tour the new Phoenix Ridge Apartments in Allentown and get a closer look at what the community has to offer. From the grand social space and resident lounge to the fitness center, yoga room, conference room, dog wash station, and modern one- and two-bedroom apartments, Phoenix Ridge is clearly designed around convenience and everyday living.
What stood out most is the balance. Phoenix Ridge gives residents access to downtown Allentown, restaurants, nightlife, and nearby parks, while still offering a setting that feels a little more peaceful and tucked away.
Phoenix Ridge features like in-unit washer and dryer, off-street parking, bike storage, package room access, private balconies, and pet-friendly amenities.
Watch the tour, take a look around, and contact the leasing team to schedule your personal tour here.
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July 15, 20268 min
Dylan Stroup is Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for Bethlehem’s Kids
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From the top of South Mountain to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Boys & Girls Club of Bethlehem board member Dylan Stroup is preparing to climb Africa’s highest mountain while raising $50,000 for local kids through his Climb for Kids campaign.
We joined Dylan on South Mountain to talk about the personal goal that started the journey, the six months of training behind it, and why he decided that reaching the summit should also benefit the community around him.
Dylan shares how long aerobic workouts, balance exercises, loaded hikes, and repeated climbs up Blue Mountain have prepared him for the challenge. He also talks about the family and friends who inspired him, the community that has joined the campaign, and his belief that success should be measured by the impact we have on others.
The Boys & Girls Club of Bethlehem has served local children and teens since 1930. Today, more than 650 young people rely on its educational, recreational, and character-development programs.
Donate to Climb for Kids:
https://givebutter.com/climbforkids
Learn more:
https://bgcob.org/climbforkids
Join Dylan’s final training climb at Blue Mountain on Saturday, July 25:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1739623163752091/
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July 8, 202615 min
Alex Radus Brings Songcraft, Family History, and Original Music to Godfrey Daniels
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Singer-songwriter Alex Radus joins Lehigh Valley with Love ahead of Songcraft in the Round at Godfrey Daniels in Bethlehem on Thursday, July 16.
The quarterly series, curated by Radus, brings songwriters together to perform original music and talk about the stories, influences, and craft behind the songs.
This July edition features Doug “Ol’ Moose” Anderson, Radus’ uncle, one of his earliest musical influences, and a longtime Godfrey Daniels veteran.
Tickets and info:
https://godfreydaniels.org/event/songcraft-in-the-round-july-16-2026/
More from Alex Radus:
https://www.alexradus.com/
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July 7, 202613 min
Conor Hepp on Da Vinci Science Center’s Next Chapter in Downtown Allentown
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Conor Hepp, the new Executive Director and CEO of Da Vinci Science Center in downtown Allentown, joins Lehigh Valley with Love to talk about the power of hands-on learning, what brought him to museum and science center work, and what comes next for the Center.
Conor shares how childhood visits to places like The Franklin Institute and Penn Museum helped spark his own curiosity, especially as a kid who learned best by moving, touching, exploring, and experiencing things directly.
We also talk about Da Vinci Science Center’s new downtown Allentown location, Curiosity Hall, the Lehigh Valley watershed exhibit, the balance between digital and tactile learning, and why community relevance is central to the Science Center’s future.
The conversation also touches on visitation, brand awareness, responsible planning, and how Da Vinci can continue reaching families, students, schools, and curious people across the Lehigh Valley.
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