Season 2 Ep.10 Chuck Ondo, a former USMC and SERT officer, Valor Men's Grooming owner and Co-Founder of Semper Fi Mission organization

S3 Ep4 Dr. Jeanna Sybert, a "blue-blooded" media researcher, academic, and advocate for journalism

This episode features a deep dive into the evolving landscape of journalism with Dr. Jeanna Sybert, a researcher and administrator for the Pittsburgh Media Partnership (PMP). We discuss her background as a "blue-blooded" child of journalists, her academic research on the ethics of crisis photography, and the systemic challenges facing modern media. From the "Passion Paradox" to the rise of AI, Dr. Sybert explains how technology acts as an accelerant for existing economic problems and why seeing journalism as "labor" is crucial for its survival. We also explore the PMP’s role in supporting over 40 local newsrooms to ensure Pittsburgh remains a vibrant information ecosystem. * 09:26 – Growing up "blue-blooded": Life as a child of two newspaper journalists. * 12:01 – Journalism as Labor: The reality of precarious work in the media. * 17:54 – The Power of Crisis Imagery: Researching the 2016 Aleppo photo. * 28:10 – Technodeterminism: Is technology really the "killer" of journalism? * 37:33 – Rethinking Objectivity: Lessons from the 2020 social justice movements. * 48:36 – Pittsburgh Media Partnership: Why Pittsburgh isn't a "news desert." * 54:28 – The "Passion Paradox": Why journalists sacrifice so much for the craft. * 1:01:10 – AI Skepticism: Learning the lessons of the social media revolution.

S3 Ep3 Lisa Cunningham, passionate storyteller, editor, designer & world's oldest awkward teenager.

In this episode, we have the privilege to chat with Lisa Cunningham -- storyteller, editor, designer, and one of Pittsburgh’s strongest advocates for artists and local media.Lisa shares her journey from growing up on a rural dairy farm in central Pennsylvania to shaping Pittsburgh’s alternative media scene at Pittsburgh City Paper, where she spent over a decade as art director before becoming editor. She talks about the golden era -- and decline -- of alt-weeklies, the ethical decision that led her to leave the paper, and why editorial independence matters.Today, Lisa serves as Director of Marketing & Communications at the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, where she launched Artsburgh, a weekly arts newsletter highlighting events, opportunities, and underrepresented creative voices. She also helped create Creative Hive, a monthly gathering connecting artists, arts organizations, and creative professionals across Pittsburgh.We also discuss the future of local journalism, the challenges artists face today, funding for the arts, and how AI may impact creative work. This conversation is about storytelling, ethics, community, and why supporting local arts and journalism matters.04:43 Discovering storytelling and writing10:15 Starting a career at Pittsburgh City Paper15:08 The rise and decline of alt-weekly newspapers18:12 Ethical conflict and leaving City Paper30:31 Why artists struggle financially33:35 Arts opportunities around the NFL Draft37:31 Creative Hive community events51:42 AI and the future of creative work53:02 The fragmented state of Pittsburgh media56:34 Advice for the future of journalism1:00:14 Balancing meaningful stories vs clickshttps://www.pittsburghartscouncil.org/blog [https://www.pittsburghartscouncil.org/blog]https://www.pittsburghartscouncil.org/signup [https://www.pittsburghartscouncil.org/blog]https://www.instagram.com/pghartscouncil [https://www.instagram.com/pghartscouncil]

S3 Ep.2 Brian Conway, journalist & publisher of Pittsburgh Manifold from Pittsburgh South Side Flats

In this wide-ranging and candid conversation, journalist Brian Conway joins Will to reflect on his journey in journalism, the realities of freelance reporting, the emotional weight of covering national tragedy, and the future of local media in Pittsburgh.Brian begins by sharing why he loves living in Pittsburgh’s Southside Flats — a neighborhood often stereotyped for its nightlife but, in his view, one of the city’s most livable areas outside weekend chaos. From there, the conversation moves back to his early journalism experience at American University, where he interned with Al Arabiya during the Iraq War era. As a 20-year-old intern, he helped prepare interview questions for George W. Bush at the White House — a formative and surreal early-career moment.After leaving Washington, D.C., Brian returned to Pittsburgh, preferring its relational, community-driven culture over what he describes as the transactional atmosphere of D.C. He built his career through music blogging, freelance writing, investigative reporting, and photography. Along the way, he became deeply embedded in Pittsburgh’s independent journalism scene.He speaks frankly about the financial instability of freelance journalism — juggling multiple outlets, side gigs, event work, and contract projects to make ends meet. The collapse of collaborative creative spaces like Work Hard Pittsburgh illustrates the structural fragility of independent media ecosystems.The conversation turns dramatic when Brian recounts July 13–14, 2024, when he received a call that The New York Times needed a freelancer after the attempted assassination of Donald Trump. Within hours, he was interviewing witnesses, driving between locations, and ultimately knocking on the door of Corey Comperatore’s grieving family. He describes the heavy emotional tension between compassion and professional obligation — being both a human witness to tragedy and a journalist chasing critical quotes.The experience led to a front-page byline in The New York Times, a milestone that unfolded almost accidentally — from standing at a music festival to covering one of the biggest stories in the world in under 48 hours.Brian also shares his late ADHD diagnosis, calling it a revelation that helped him better understand his focus patterns, deadline-driven productivity, and internal struggles. Rather than seeing it as a weakness, he discusses how he’s learned to “weaponize” it as a strength in fast-moving reporting environments.On AI, Brian takes a practical view. He uses it as a research tool and for processing large public-records documents but does not see it replacing investigative reporting. In his view, deep journalism still requires human relationships, on-the-ground reporting, and ethical judgment.Finally, he explains the evolution of his publication from Pittsburgh Independent to Pittsburgh Manifold [https://www.pittsburghmanifold.com]. The name change reflects a shift toward a collective journalism model — a collaborative structure built from multiple independent contributors working together under shared nonprofit support. “Manifold” represents one system made of many parts — a metaphor for the cooperative future he believes local journalism needs.This conversation is ultimately about resilience — personal, professional, and institutional — in a media landscape that is constantly shifting.11:53 – Internship at Al Arabiya and preparing questions for George W. Bush20:20 – Why Brian left D.C. and returned to Pittsburgh22:31 – The financial reality of freelance journalism27:51 – Learning about the Trump shooting while at a music festival29:52 – Being sent to the alleged shooter’s address30:26 – Visiting Corey Comperatore’s family 31:54 – Earning a front-page byline in The New York Times17:16 – ADHD diagnosis and self-discovery39:04 – AI’s role in journalism44:37 – Why Pittsburgh Independent became Pittsburgh Manifold47:35 – The case for cooperative journalism models*** Adapted summary as generated by YT Summary / Glasp

S3 Ep.1 Jeff Freedman, inquisitive, community-oriented, resilient, dedicated, and QBurgh co-founder.

In this first episode of The Convos Season 3, host Will Halim interviews Jeff Freedman — co-creator of QBurgh [https://qburgh.com/], a Pittsburgh-area LGBTQ+ news and community platform — in a candid, wide-ranging conversation. They dive deep into Jeff’s life story: his upbringing in Pittsburgh, early experiences as a young gay man long before the internet era, and his first steps into LGBTQ+ community organization through sports. Jeff shares personal memories from growing up without cable television in the 1960s, moving during the 1970s energy crisis, and working for Westinghouse before finding his path as an activist and community leader. A large portion of the talk focuses on the early gay softball league in the 1980s, the onset of the AIDS crisis and its stigma, and the evolution of public perception and health responses. He also talks about his coming out journey, family reactions, and the nuanced meaning of identity and self-labeling. From there, the discussion broadens to terms and labels in today’s LGBTQ+ lexicon and how inclusive language can both help and confuse. Jeff discusses the size and visibility of Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ+ community, the importance of Pride events, and his long involvement — including leadership roles such as Pride Parade co-chair. The conversation transitions into Jeff’s work in local media, the recent closure of City Paper, and the mission of the Pittsburgh Media Partnership to support fair, accurate reporting. Throughout, Jeff emphasizes the value of listening, community, and respectful dialogue — highlighting the evolution of media and identity as intertwined parts of modern life. Drawing on his decades of activism and current leadership with QBurgh — a major LGBTQ+ news and resources outlet that has grown into a hub for community information and connection — Jeff provides both personal reflection and advocacy insight. QBurgh serves as a platform for news, resources, and community events for LGBTQ+ people in Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania, helping fill a long-standing media gap and act as a “virtual community center.” Some Highlights: (04:08) Jeff’s background — Pittsburgh native, grew up in South Hills, moved during the 1970s; early life details setting stage for activism. (09:30) Origins of Jeff’s LGBTQ community involvement — founding a gay softball league in the early 1980s and how that led to broader community engagement. (12:17) Personal impact of the AIDS epidemic — stigma, loss of friends, and transformation in community perspective. (17:24) Coming out journey — high school and college experiences, family reactions, and identity formation. (36:43) Discussion on LGBTQ+ labels and pronouns — how language has evolved and Jeff’s perspective on identity terminology. (48:28) LGBTQ+ visibility in Pittsburgh — community size, Pride events, and the lack of a centralized gay neighborhood in the city. (51:53) Jeff’s long involvement with Pride — leadership roles including chair and parade co-chair, and efforts to build community celebration. (54:56) Media work — Jeff comments on the closure of City Paper and his role in the Pittsburgh Media Partnership promoting fair, accountable reporting. (1:01:16) Closing thoughts on bias, listening, identity, and growth — emphasizing learning, openness, and respectful communication. This wide-ranging conversation explores identity, community, evolving language, media responsibility, and why visibility and empathy still matter. A powerful reflection on how far we’ve come — and what it still means to show up for one another.

Season 2 Ep.10 Chuck Ondo, a former USMC and SERT officer, Valor Men's Grooming owner and Co-Founder of Semper Fi Mission organization

In this episode, Chuck Ondo shares his incredible life journey, starting with a calling as a teenager to join the U.S. Marine Corps. After five years of service, he transitioned to the Pennsylvania State Police, becoming an undercover detective and SERT (SWAT) operator in Philadelphia. Despite a highly decorated career with over 30 commendations, the accumulated trauma of witnessing death and violence—including a heartbreaking infant drowning—wore Chuck down. He began using alcohol and eventually stole cocaine from the police evidence room to cope with PTSD. His career ended when he was arrested by his own team and sentenced to state prison, where he immediately faced violent attacks for being a former cop. However, prison became the site of his transformation. Chuck learned to understand the backstories of those incarcerated rather than just judging their crimes. After his release, he became a barber and used his trade to connect with homeless veterans, realizing a haircut could open the door to mentorship and faith. This led him to co-found the Semper Fi Mission, a nonprofit dedicated to prison ministry, homeless outreach through "Prayer Cuts" events, and providing housing for recovering veterans, effectively turning his life's mess into a powerful message of hope. Key Highlights (03:55 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYwflba6hSE&t=235s]) Chuck describes the exact moment he felt a divine "calling" to join the Marine Corps. (17:30 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYwflba6hSE&t=1050s]) A wild story from his undercover days: witnessing a drive-by shooting and chasing the suspect for 17 blocks through Philadelphia. (26:25 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYwflba6hSE&t=1585s]) The breaking point: Responding to the tragic drowning of an 18-month-old baby that mirrored his own son's age. (29:25 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYwflba6hSE&t=1765s]) Crossing the line: The moment Chuck first stole drugs from the police evidence room to escape his trauma. (34:44 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYwflba6hSE&t=2084s]) Living in fear for 37 days knowing he was caught, ending with being arrested by his own SWAT team colleagues. (41:06 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYwflba6hSE&t=2466s]) Arriving in prison and immediately being attacked by inmates who knew he was a former state trooper. (51:39 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYwflba6hSE&t=3099s]) How becoming a barber after prison allowed him to start ministering to homeless veterans in his chair. (1:02:32 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYwflba6hSE&t=3752s]) The vivid dream at 3:15 AM that gave birth to the name and concept of the "Semper Fi Mission." (1:11:02 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYwflba6hSE&t=4262s]) The launch of "Prayer Cuts," an outreach event providing food, clothing, prayer, and haircuts to hundreds of people in need. (1:17:37 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYwflba6hSE&t=4657s]) Details on the Cornerstone Residence, a recovery house specifically for veterans. Reading Chuck's story is one thing, but hearing him tell it—with the raw emotion of a man who has lost everything and found something greater—is an entirely different experience. From the adrenaline of a 17-block foot chase to the quiet moments of prayer on the streets of Pittsburgh, this is a conversation about the resilience of the human spirit that you don't want to miss. Play this podcast to witness a true testimony of faith, forgiveness, and the power of a second chance. https://www.semperfimission.org/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558926009554www.cornerstoneresidence.org *** Adapted summary as generated by YT Summary / Glasp and Gemini AI