In January 2026 I had the opportunity to speak with Erika Funke, host/producer of “ArtScene,” the award-winning daily arts program on WVIA, my hometown NPR radio station in Northeast Pennsylvania. We discussed Raising Cain, my new musical about Pennsylvania miners who defied the coal barons by staging a historic six-month strike in 1902.

As both “ArtsScene” producer and Classical Music host, Erika has a broad knowledge of arts and culture. She also has a deep understanding of and interest in the mining history of Northeast Pennsylvania. 

Her radio play Who Pretender Is, Or Who Is King centers on the residents of Laurel Run, a borough outside Wilkes-Barre, PA, that has been plagued by a chronic mine fire since 1915. She also wrote and narrated a television documentary about the Knox Mine Disaster—the massive 1959 flooding of the River Slope Mine which killed a dozen miners and effectively ended deep anthracite mining in Pennsylvania.

It’s no wonder she had such insightful questions and comments about Raising Cain and its development. I was honored to have this conversation with such a well-informed interviewer, such an open and curious listener, such a fervent supporter of the arts and artists – and a creator in her own right.

“ArtScene” airs weekdays at noon and features interviews with creative individuals from the local, national, and international arts scenes as well as reviews and commentaries on films, books, jazz, and classical music.

My interview segment aired in March 2026 and is available to stream. LISTEN HERE.

SIDENOTE: WVIA has also supported my previous creative efforts with airplay of my solo music releases on George Graham’s “Mixed Bag” program and two in-studio live broadcast concerts as part of WVIA’s Homegrown Artists Concert Series, also hosted by George Graham.