Pittsburgh summer podcast

Podcasts for your Fourth of July weekend

We selected these episodes from our archives. They’re the perfect accompaniment for porch sitting, house projects, or for driving out of tahn. 

by Stephanie Brea | June 6, 2020

We’re headed into another long weekend, so here’s some podcast episodes you might have missed. Press play for interviews about getting outdoors, enjoying your backyard, and exploring our city.

Do you struggle to flex your green thumb?

Did you buy a bunch of plants during the first few months of staying home this past spring?  Meet Natasha Brittain, one of the owners of Shadyside Nursery.

It’s hot and city pools are closed.

Good thing we have lots of rivers to explore. Meet Ian Smith, founder and lead guide of SurfSUP Adventures. His stand-up paddleboarding experiences allow you to safely get out on the water while remaining socially distant. He has a perfect record of getting people to balance and stand on the boards, too.

Has your backyard grill been working overtime?

Meet Doug Derda, the man behind Yinz Love BBQ, a local website focused on all things barbeque in Western PA. He shouts out some of his favorite places for takeout (including a spot for smoked tofu) and some of his tips for purchasing meat, rubs, and accessories.

Looking to explore a different neighborhood?

Meet Laura Zurowski and Dean Bog. Their projects focus on doing just that. In episode 15, Laura Zurowski shares how the book “Pittsburgh Steps: The Story of the City’s Public Stairways” by Bob Regan led to her quest to climb and document all the flights of stairs in Pittsburgh. In episode 18, local YouTube sensation Dean Bog shares his process for making those neighborhood videos you’ve seen shared all over social media.

Laura Zurowski 

Dean Bog

Looking for more summer fun around Pittsburgh?

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Stephanie Brea

Stephanie Brea

Stephanie has been organizing events since 1998, starting with a series of motorcycle rides through the Arizona desert to support her father’s business. She’s probably crossed your name off a presale ticket list or served you a beer somewhere around town.

An undergrad degree in poetry means she has lots of unpractical knowledge about iambic pentameter, while a brief stint as a copy editor for Alternative Press taught her that twenty one pilots is stylized in all lowercase letters.

Wanna throw a party in a vacant parking lot? She’s interested.

At the onset of COVID-19, Stephanie took on the role of podcast producer for The Slaw. She’s pretty familiar with a microphone, thanks to that aforementioned poetry degree, and she’s got the wherewithal to ask Epicast Studios for help. She listens to too many true crime podcasts, and currently records from her bedroom.

If you know of someone who would be the perfect podcast guest, send her an email.

Download the Very Local app to stream all of the Very Local original series for FREE!

Download the Very Local app to stream all of the Very Local original series for FREE!