This week on Forbes Avenue, we talked with high school history teacher Tom Lisak and Andrew Bensch, a Pittsburgh historian and former student of Mr. Lisak’s, on their research and converging interests in Pittsburgh’s rich background. The pair walked us through how they began working together, their research process, and a brief glimpse into the type of content their podcast will include. They look forward to ongoing creation of this project, and hope it will allow listeners to see just how much history surrounds you in your day to day life.

Listen to the episode here.

Abriana Bensch, host, audio engineer, researcher
Recorded January 5, 2026; WRCT debut February 3, 2026

We recently had an in-depth conversation with Poe about her music, her career, and her involvement in the Alan Wake II video game project.

During the course of our conversation, Poe revealed herself to be a sensitive and profound artist who has reveled in her recent collaboration with Sam Lake and the rest of the Alan Wake team. Poe created the song “This Road” and other parts of the game’s award-winning soundtrack, and she connects in the real world with both gamers and her fans through The Lake House, a DLC (downloadable content) expansion of the Alan Wake II Universe. Gamers and Poe fans can visit The Siren Society ARG website to participate.  

Along the way, we learned a lot about the creation of her 2000 album Haunted, the difficulties Poe had in her career in the early 2000s, and about the music industry itself. Fascinating how she has found more creative freedom in the Alan Wake virtual world than she ever has in the commercial streaming world!

Listen to our conversation with Poe

Note: The full nine minute version of “This Road” is not currently available to stream.  It is available on limited edition vinyl at www.poestuff.com and within the Alan Wake II game. It can be heard on select radio stations like WRCT. The archived copy of the interview contains a more in-depth version of our conversation with Poe but does not include “This Road.” “This Road” is included when this interview is rebroadcast on WRCT.

Steven Post, researcher and interviewer
Richard Gordon, recording engineer, audio editor
Recorded: November 6, 2025
WRCT debut: November 25, 2025

This week on WRCT’s Forbes Avenue, we visit the current exhibition at the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, located on the fifth floor of the CMU Hunt Library — a hidden gem on the CMU campus, open to both the CMU community and the general public.

The fall 2025 exhibition features the work of Costa Rican botanist and artist Rafael Lucas Rodríguez Caballero. Senior Curator Carrie Roy and Archivist Nancy Janda spoke with us about “Rafa’s” art; the role of botanical illustration in science; and other fascinating topics and issues in botany, art, and science — did you know there’s an extinct sea snail named after Mick Jagger?

Listening to this episode may inspire you to visit the Hunt Institute’s current exhibition: The Art and Science of Rafael Lucas Rodríguez Caballero. The illustrations of some of the orchids are spectacular. The exhibition is available 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays (except for November 27 and 28) through December 17.

Listen to the episode: Carrie Roy and Nancy Janda

Kate Smigie, researcher and interviewer
Richard Gordon, recording engineer, audio editor
Recorded: September 30, 2025
WRCT debut: November 11, 2025