Greg Petersen

An archive recording of the WPSU Jazz Show (from home edition) as broadcast on July 30, 2021, and hosted by Greg Petersen, sitting in for the vacationing Tom Beebee.

In the first hour, hear Count Basie, David Sanborn, Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, Betty Carter, Dream Session ’96, Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, and more.

In the second hour, hear Paul Desmond & Gerry Mulligan, Paul Seaforth, Milt Jackson with Joe Williams, Kenny Barron, Louis Armstrong & Oscar Peterson, The BBC Big Band, Billie Holiday, and more.

An archive recording of the WPSU Jazz Show (from home edition) as broadcast on July 16, 2021, and hosted by Greg Petersen. This show features jazz singers. 

In the first hour, hear Johnny Mercer with Paul Weston and His Orchestra, Jon Hendricks, Joni Mitchell, k.d. lang, Lady Gaga, Louis Armstrong, Maceo Parker, John Pizzarelli, Michael Bublé with Nellie Frutato, The Mills Brothers, Diana Krall, Harry Connick, Jr., Tony Bennett, and more.

An archive recording of the WPSU Jazz Show (from home edition) as broadcast on June 11, 2021, and hosted by Greg Petersen. 

In the first hour, hear Boz Scaggs, Asleep At The Wheel, Cowboy Junkies with Elvis Costello, Dexter Gordon, Diana Krall, Ella Fitzgerald, The Jacques Loussier Trio, Tony Bennett, and more.

In the second hour, hear Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet with Jackie Ryan, Wycliffe Gordon, Bill Evans Trio, Freddy Cole, Gene Krupa, Gerry Mulligan, Jeremy Davenport, Louis Armstrong & Oscar Peterson, and more.    

This is my second This I Believe essay. The first was in 2008 when I extolled the virtues of the Chicago Cubs as a metaphor for the game of life. You may have setbacks, but like the Cubs you have to persevere. Now that my Cubbies have reached the pinnacle of baseball, it’s time to set new sights.

I’ve just retired from a 45-year career in public broadcasting and to say I believe in pubic media, would be an understatement. Besides having a mission to inform, educate and even entertain, public media’s role in today’s society is more essential than ever. 

Michael Black has been borough resident since 1991 and is a local business owner. He earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Springfield College and his master’s degree in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. He served as a student affairs professional at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and pursued a doctorate degree at Penn State in higher education. He is a graduate of the of the Leadership Centre County program. Black was once a volunteer on-air host for WPSU. 

Janet Engeman was elected to the State College Borough Council in 2015. She is a graduate of State College High and Lock Haven University with a degree in economics. Engeman left the area for many years after high school before returning with her husband in 1995. Engeman was a labor market analyst for the New Jersey Department of Labor, and worked on multiple projects with Applied Data Research, Mathematica Policy Research, and Computer Associates.

Don Hahn is a Centre County native, and graduated from State College High and Penn State. He holds a law degree from Villanova University, and is currently an attorney at Stover-McGlaughin Law firm in State College. Hahn has held numerous public service positions including member and president of the State College Borough Council, a member of Centre Region Council of Governments and has served on the Board of Directors for the Pennsylvania Municipal League, and the State College Community Land Trust. 

Are Pennsylvania’s minimum wage earners likely to see a pay increase? What of Governor Tom Wolf’s current budget will make it through the Pennsylvania House—what won’t?   WPSU’s Greg Petersen talks about the next state budget with Democrat Mike Hanna, the house minority whip who represents Pennsylvania’s 76th district.    

WPSU’s Greg Petersen talks with Republican Pennsylvania Senator Jake Corman about Governor Tom Wolf’s just-released state budget.  Corman represents the 34th Senatorial District, which includes all of Centre, Mifflin, and Juniata Counties and part of Huntingdon County.  Senator Corman serves as the majority leader in the State Senate.   

Few issues in contemporary democracy are so important as the future of public education. Democracy, our founding fathers believed, can thrive only if the citizens who consent to be governed are educated and engaged, and are capable of understanding the challenges that we all face together. When education fails, so does democracy. 

WPSU’s Greg Petersen interviewers Pennsylvania State Senator and Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-Centre County) who talks about the prospects for an on-time budget, pension reform, state liquor reform, his support for a higher minimum wage in the Commonwealth, and work to close a tax loophole that currently allows hundreds of Marcellus Shale companies to avoid taxes by registering in Delaware.
 

In August, Terrell Jones, Penn State’s Vice Provost for Educational Equity and a well-known expert on diversity issues, passed away after a bout with cancer. Marcus Whitehurst, who worked with Jones for many years, was appointed the Acting Vice Provost for Educational Equity. We talked with Whitehurst about the legacy that Jones left behind for Penn State, diversity and equity issues, and Terrell Jones as a mentor. For the second half of our show, we talked to Penn State Senior Vice President for Finance and Business David Gray about Penn State health care.

Walter Terrell Jones (know as just "Terrell" to everyone) was the vice provost for Educational Equity at Penn State and was instrumental in diversity initiatives and equity for faculty, staff and students at Penn State.  He passed away in August after a bout with cancer at age 64.  He began his Penn State career in 1980 as a residence hall coordinator.

A service was held on Tuesday, September 23, 2014 at the Frank and Sylvia Pasquerilla Spiritual Center on the University Park campus of Penn State.

Political satirist Mark Russell will be performing at the State Theater on Sunday, July 27.   WPSU's Greg Petersen talks with Russell about his career and today's audiences.