That's So Cincinnati

With the addition of the Blackburn sisters – Elizabeth and Caroline – to the Bengals’ leadership team, the fourth generation of the Brown family has taken its place in the front office. Enquirer Bengals beat wrtier Kelsey Conway drops into this week’s That’s So Cincinnati podcast to chat with the Blackburns, along with co-host Beryl Love. Find out what was on Elizabeth’s to-do list when she took over as directory of strategy and engagement and what Caroline’s biggest pet peeve is when it comes to working with her sister.

If you asked Cincinnati chef Jose Salazar when he moved to Cincinnati in 2008 from New York City if he'd someday have an eponymous restaurant, two other restaurants, and be spending 90 hours a week opening his brand new Columbia Tusculum bodega, he'd have said no, that's not the plan. But here he is, 14 years later, doing all of that. Loving all of that. Salazar joined The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast to talk about his new venture, Daylily, the New York-style Bodega he opened in partnership with Deeper Roots Coffee; his sobriety journey; and all things Cincinnati.

As Frank Marzullo celebrates his 15th year as a meteorologist</a> at Fox 19 this month, he shared with The Enquirer where he found his love of weather reporting, how weather technology has changed the profession and just how accurate he thinks the Farmer's Almanac prediction of a cold and snowy winter for Cincinnati this year will be. Marzullo, who grew up in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, said his interest in weather was sparked by a childhood trip to the grocery store with his grandparents. The sky was dark, but there was a rainbow, a funnel cloud and hail. He was curious and then made predicting what would happen his career.

Fritz, the Cincinnati Zoo's new baby hippo, has spent the days since he was born on Aug. 3 at his mom Bibi's side, nursing, swimming and getting used to his surroundings. This week he did something new: He met his world-famous big sister, Fiona. Head hippo handler Wendy Rice tells That's So Cincinnati listeners how it went and so much more about Fritz.

The effort to force a stadium naming-rights deal between the Cincinnati Bengals and Paycor was so secret it had not one, but two code names.Internally Paycor called the deal Project SoFi, a nod to the name of the stadium where the Bengals played in the 2022 Super Bowl. Norwood-based Paycor was already a team sponsor, so talking about the Bengals' Super Bowl appearance wouldn't seem out of the ordinary. Meanwhile, the Bengals' internal code name for the deal was Project Lightening, a name Elizabeth Blackburn, the team's director of strategy and engagement, came up with. It's a nod to Paycor's competitor, Paycom, which has the naming rights to the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder Paycom Center. (Get it? Thunder and lightning.) And it references just how quickly the deal came together.Holmes and Carly Graman, Paycor's marketing and communications manager, revealed the code names and much more about how the deal came together on The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast.

If it's a high-profile national trial, chances are Cincinnati-based veteran courts and crime reporter Angenette Levy is there. The Law & Crime network host and correspondent has been on the ground in Wisconsin for the Kyle Rittenhouse, in Virginia for Johnny Depp-Amber Heard and in Minnesota for Derek Chauvin trials in the past year. And a big reason why Levy's been there: Courts in those states allow cameras in the court room. Levy, the former Local 12 reporter and anchor, is outspoken about the need for federal courts to begin following most state courts and allow cameras in the courtroom."It's time," Levy told The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast. "With the technology, we have to evolve and give people a peek into the system."Here in Cincinnati, the issue of cameras in the courtroom came up amid the recent federal public corruption trial of former city councilman P.G. Sittenfeld. Federal court policy prohibits cameras and all electronic devices in the courtroom for federal trials, something that has frustrated the public and journalists, particularly on high-profile cases.Levy recalled a recent discussion she had with a federal court source."This person said they think it hinders justice and people start performing because they believe they're on a stage and they're playing to the cameras. And maybe a little bit of that is true," Levy said. "But I believe in transparency. Courts should be accessible to everyone. Why are we not getting a peek inside? I think it's silly. People are going to perform whether there's a camera there or not. Court is kind of a theater."Law & Crime is a digital network that serves a similar purpose as Court TV. Law & Crime live streams high-profile cases on its website and social media platforms. Levy has been with the network since late 2020, and Law & Crime often sends her across the U.S. to provide live reports from trials. The network often sends Levy across the nation to provide live reports from the courtroom. Levy was in Florida this week reporting on the trial of the Parkland school shooter. Levy cohosts Law & Crime's "Sidebar" daily podcast. She also hosts the local radio show "Simply Medicine" at 2 p.m. on Saturday on 55KRC.

You think you were surprised at everything you heard in the P.G. Sittenfeld trial?So was the guy who oversaw the public corruption investigation into the former Cincinnati city councilman and other Ohio politicians. And David DeVillers was part of a team of prosecutors who helped convict Saddam Hussein on war crimes and genocide. "The biggest thing coming into becoming the U.S. Attorney ... it wasn't the murders and the terrorism and the cartels, it was the corruption that was the biggest surprise for me," DeVillers, the former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, told "That's So Cincinnati" podcast.DeVillers left the U.S. Attorney's office in February 2021 with the change in the White House. But the Columbus resident kept close tabs on the Sittenfeld trial, which ended last week with the Democrat being convicted of bribery and attempted extortion.DeVillers declined to answer specific questions about the investigation because it overlaps with cases that have not yet come to trial – and he's no longer in office. DeVillers, who in 2020 said Cincinnati City Hall had a "culture of corruption," declined to discuss why the investigation that ultimately led to Sittenfeld's arrest happened.But DeVillers, originally hired as an assistant federal prosecutor during President George W. Bush's administration, talked about the big picture when it comes to the federal government cracking down on corrupt politicians."That's one of the FBI's highest priorities," DeVillers said.These days, DeVillers is a partner in the Columbus office of national law firm Barnes & Thornburg. He's working as a technical adviser for the producers of the popular Showtime show "Billions," a drama about power and politics. DeVillers also is an adjunct instructor at Ohio State's Moritz College of Law.

Trial attorney Steve Goodin, a former Cincinnati City Councilman, joins "That's So Cincinnati" podcast to provide legal analysis on the public corruption trial of former Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld.Goodin, of Downtown-based Graydon Law, has been in the courtroom to watch most of the proceedings since the trial began June 21. Asked after the prosecution rested its case on Wednesday what he thought the outcome might be, Goodin said: “I have thought from the beginning that there was a pretty strong likelihood of him being convicted. I still feel that way after having heard the evidence. It isn’t just some subjective thing. When I look at some of the cases around the country that are most like this case … the (former Gov. Rod) Blagovich trial in Illinois and the (former Gov. Bob) McConnell trial of Virginia – both of which involved what we call these subtle quid pro quos – the jury found them both guilty. "Juries tend not to like this kind of behavior. There’s something about these fact patterns that to the average person really speak to everything they don’t like about politics. ... "I think there’s a strong likelihood he will be convicted on some of the charges, maybe not all. That’s a sad day for the city. That’s a sad day for him."Sittenfeld faces two counts each of attempted extortion, bribery and honest services wire fraud. Closing arguments could begin on Tuesday.

When Sheree Paolello signed a contract to be a reporter at WLWT-TV News 5 she saw Cincinnati as a stepping stone to a bigger market like Chicago or New York.But that contract became two contracts. Then an offer to anchor came along.So she stayed.This month marks her 20th anniversary at WLWT. Paolello told The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast there's no other place she'd rather report the news.Paolello grew up in St. Leon, in Dearborn County. She graduated from Northern Kentucky University and went on to be a crime reporter in South Bend, Indiana, Dayton and Charlotte before coming to Cincinnati.A mother of three, Paolello found the love of her life, Mike Dardis, in the anchor chair right next to where she sits. They celebrated their third wedding anniversary a few weeks ago.Looking back, Paolello said the big stories that resonate with viewers are, of course, the stories she remembers too. She reported live from Fountain Square in 2018 when a gunman killed three and wounded two others in the lobby of Fifth Third's headquarters. She covered the 2006 saga of Marcus Fiesel, a 3-year-old child who was falsely reported missing, but whose foster parents killed him.Paolello knows her job can look glamorous, but the truth, she says, is that it usually isn't."When you're a young reporter," Paolello said, "I don't think you realize the gravity of the job. ... And then you meet people on the worst day of their life. And what I always say to rookie reporters and to journalism school interns, I'll say to them, 'The day you lose your compassion is the day you need to get out of this business because it a day story for us is most of the time a life-changing moment for other people."To deal with the toughest stories she relied on Dardis' strength as her partner and the advice a priest gave her many years ago.He told her to be compassionate and do her job the best she can, in the most compassionate way possible.Then Dardis suggested that every night, on the way home, Paolello say a prayer for the people she's reported on."And that is kind of how I've gotten through it," Paolello said. "I have been doing this job for over 25 years, 20 here in Cincinnati. And that's what I do. I say a prayer for the parents whose kids were killed in a car crash or the father who lost their wife to cold blood or whatever it is."I try to just make it be part of my routine."

Western & Southern Financial Group top executive John Barrett joins "That's So Cincinnati" and discusses his big, bold idea to potentially build a new Downtown arena.

FC Cincinnati co-CEO Jeff Berding joins to discuss the crunch-time decision to sign the agreement with FIFA in order for Cincinnati to move forward with its 2026 World Cup bid.

Khisha Asubuhi came to Cincinnati to coach basketball in 2003 and soon noticed Southwest Ohio's strong pride in its private, Catholic high schools.Where's the love for the city, suburban and rural public schools, she wondered?It was a thought that eventually led to the best-selling T-shirt at Originalitees, an apparel shop that Asubuhi opened in 2009.She told the story behind the "Product of Public Schools" apparel as this week's guest on The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast.Asubuhi, a Columbus native, played basketball at Cincinnati State and Indiana University. She returned to Cincinnati in 2003 to be an assistant coach at Cincinnati State.After nearly 17 years working at the post office, Asubuhi opened Originalitees as an online-only shop. In 2020, Originalitees opened a storefront at 2809 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills.Originalitees is among a handful of T-shirt shops selling local- and state-themed apparel that have opened and been successful over the past decade or so.The store has partnerships with the Reds and FC Cincinnati. Originalitees has designed an exclusive T-shirt that's part of the ticket package for Friday's African American Community Night game at Great American Ball Park. Originalitees also saw strong sales of its Bengals-themed T-shirts and sweatshirts amid the Super Bowl run this year.Asubuhi explained why there's been a boom in such shops, not only in Cincinnati but nationwide. Listen to "That's So Cincinnati" for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Media and other podcast platforms. The episode is also available for free by clicking the link at the top of the article.

Jean-Robert de Cavel is never far from a kitchen – whether it's at his restaurant Le Bar a Boeuf or at home with his wife and daughter.And at 60, he told The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast, not even cancer will stop him. Jean-Robert said he remains in chemotherapy after first being diagnosed in 2018 with leiomyosarcoma, a soft tissue cancer.“I will never be cured," Jean-Robert said. "I just have to be strong. I keep very positive. My medical team says, ‘Keep doing what you’re doing because it’s working.’ Never, ever give up.”The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber named Jean-Robert as a Great Living Cincinnatian in the 2021 class. In addition to Le Bar a Boeuf in East Walnut Hills, Jean-Robert owns French Crust Café and Bistro, in Over-the-Rhine by Findlay Market.Jean-Robert came to Cincinnati in 1993 when he was 32 to work at The Maisonette, the city's only Mobil 5-star-rated restaurant. In the interview, he talked about starting his own fine dining restaurant – Jean-Robert at Pigall's and his subsequent restaurants, which he always started when he was looking for a new challenge.Asked to pick a favorite, Jean-Robert talked wistfully about Table, which was located at Seventh and Vine streets. Table closed in December 2020 because the owner sold the building."You could come on a Monday night and have a casual dinner and come back and dress up on Saturday night and celebrate," Jean-Robert said. "Table is definitely a love affair, and it is sad what happened."Jean-Robert has said he wants to find a new space for Table, but the COVID-19 pandemic slowed the process. He told "That's So Cincinnati" that he looked at sites to potentially open a new restaurant eight months ago. But he decided not to continue to pursue it partly because of the financial challenges that the pandemic has had on the restaurant industry.Jean-Robert currently has no immediate plans to open a new restaurant, but said: “Opening a new restaurant is always on my mind.”

Pete Rose, who sees himself as an ambassador for the Cincinnati Reds, is defending team owner Bob Castellini amid the club getting off to one of the worst starts in Major League Baseball history. But baseball's all-time hits leader says he's doesn't blame Reds fans for being upset and wearing bags over their heads calling on Castellini to sell the team."If I'm managing the Reds and I get off to a 3-22 start, I'm going to wear a bag over my head because I'm embarrassed," Rose told The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast."I'm a Cincinnati fan," said Rose, the former Reds player and manager. "I do not want to hear the word 'develop.' You can't tell your season-ticket holders you have a three- or four-year plan. Because you know what they'll say? 'OK, I'll see you in three or four years. Let me know when you're ready to entertain me, and I'll come back to the ballpark.' " Rose was asked what he thought of the comments that Reds executive Phil Castellini made on Opening Day. The owner's son brushed off some fans' demands that the team be sold by saying: "Where you gonna go?""Baseball will never – never – leave Cincinnati, Ohio," Rose said. "So anybody out there worried about (the team moving) because of the ownership, go back to sleep and wake up on the other side of the bed. That's not going to happen."Phil Castellini has apologized for the comments, but fan backlash continues as the Reds have gotten off to one of the worst starts in Major League Baseball history. Rose, 81, permanently banned from baseball for gambling, has had a good relationship with Bob Castellini since he bought the team in 2006. The Reds have received permission multiple times from Major League Baseball to include Rose in reunion events.Rose called Castellini, 80, a "great guy" and "great Cincinnatian." Asked whether he thinks Castellini should sell the team, Rose said: "I'm just speaking for myself. I'm not speaking about anything I've heard. I don't think Mr. Castellini is making big-time decisions with the Cincinnati Reds. He is the owner. He wants the team to do well. He's a rich man. He's done wonders for Cincinnati with the produce company over the years. I don't think he wants to sell the team. And I know if he sold the team, he'd probably make a stipulation that you can't move the team. Rose later added: "The bottom line in sports is the players have to produce. It's not (Manager) David Bell's fault. ... A manager is only as good as his player." Rose, who lives in Las Vegas, is scheduled to be in Cincinnati for a celebrity roast at Hard Rock Casino on June 11. The 81-year-old Cincinnati native continues to travel the nation for autograph-signing events and speaking engagements. He not only keeps close tabs on the Reds, but also the Bengals and UC Bearcats. Rose loves Joe Burrow, and believes the Bengals' Super Bowl loss will help the team improve.Said Rose: "I was happy that they lost. Let me explain that. I wasn't happy for the city. But sometimes, when you're that good that young and you win, it ruins you for the future. You get complacent. Now they probably can't wait to get back there."Cincinnati is the epicenter of football with the Bengals coming off the Super Bowl appearance and the Bearcats playing in the College Football Playoff. But Rose doesn't want people to forget about the Reds' history as the oldest franchise in baseball."Cincinnati will always be a baseball town," Rose said.

It's been a busy few months for the MadTree Brewing. One of Cincinnati's most successful craft beer breweries has taken on challenges like never before – opening its first full-service restaurant and jumping into the hard seltzer game.MadTree marketing manager Trevor Self joined The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast to offer a behind-the-scenes look at why the Oakley-based company decided to open Alcove restaurant in Over-the-Rhine and launch a line of vodka soda called "Sway."MadTree, founded in 2013, held off on branching out beyond beer making, even as competitors started making seltzers and hard lemonades. Find out how MadTree expects "Sway" to expand its popular brand.

Ohio lawmaker Jean Schmidt talks in-depth about why she's leading the way on House Bill 616. The Clermont County Republican also talks about her return to politics, changing her stance on the death penalty, mentoring women struggling with substance abuse and marathon running.

Former Ohio Gov. Bob Taft, a member of one of the great political dynasties in American history, questioned whether he could even get elected in today's hyperpartisan political climate.In a rare interview these days, the 80-year-old Republican told The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast that he'd be known as a "RINO" – Republican in Name Only – if he were still in politics."I'm not sure there's much of a center-right ... on the Republican side," Taft said. "It could be a big challenge for someone like me to get elected as a Republican. There's no middle lane out there."Addressing the partisan extremes on both sides, Taft said: "It's like (the parties) don't want to allow the other side to have any victories that would help the other side get reelected. It's not healthy for democracy. It's not good for the country."

Teresa Theetge comes from a big West Side police family.Her father was a Cincinnati Police captain. Two of Theetge's uncles were high-ranking officers in the department. Four of her seven siblings became officers at various local departments. Her son is a Boone County Sheriff's Office deputy.Even her 10-year-old grandson – one of eight grandchildren – told her if a career in Major League Baseball doesn't work out, he wants to be an officer, too.So when Cincinnati interim City Manager John Curp appointed Theetge as the city's interim police chief on Feb. 16, Theetge had plenty of advisors at the ready."As soon as it was public knowledge that I was interim, two of my mentors who are now retired, told me, 'Take the interim off, because you're the chief. You own it. You know, the buck stops with you,' " Theetge told The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast.

Joe Deters returns to "That's So Cincinnati" podcast -- and the Hamilton County prosecutor doesn't mince words.

Cincinnati Parks Foundation Director Jennifer Hafner Spieser​​​​​​​ spends a lot of time in Cincinnati Parks.It is her job after all. The foundation she runs is basically the unsung hero of the city park system, ranked the 8th-best urban park system in the country by the Trust for Public Land.Spieser talked to The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast this week to detail the foundation's newest projects, a new litter clean-up program and she urged people to go to Ault Park and Mount Echo Park to see the cherry blossom trees, which are blooming now for seven weeks. Ault Park alone has 1,000 cherry blossom trees. Statue of Ezzard CharlesSet to be unveiled this fall in the West End's Laurel Park, the bronze statue and plaza will commemorate the life and legacy of Cincinnati’s World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Ezzard Charles.It's meant to celebrate not just Charles' boxing legacy, but also how he was an ambassador for the community, Spieser said."He was bilingual. He was a veteran jazz musician, and would take an ice cream cart around the neighborhood on hot summer days," Spieser said. "So for us at the Foundation, we recognized immediately that it was definitely more than a piece of public art, although we're quite proud of that. It incorporated revitalization of the park."The project also has running routes that mimic some of the running routes Charles' used to when he was training to fight Rocky Marciano."Rocky was running in Central Park, and so as Ezzard Charles took to the Cincinnati Hills and was running throughout Cincinnati," Spieser said.

How did Michele Hobbs go from selling dog food to launching a distillery?The Prospect Hill entrepreneur talks about her 26-year journey of investing in Over-the-Rhine businesses on The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast. After years of running Pet Wants at Findlay Market, Hobbs opened Knox Joseph Distillery at OTR StillHouse (2017 Branch Street) in December. She wanted to focus on building a distillery as a way to complement rather than compete with the many breweries, bars and restaurants that have opened amid OTR's 21st century renaissance. Knox Joseph, named after one of Hobbs' children, features a large indoor/outdoor space for drinking, dining and concerts. Listen to "That's So Cincinnati" for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Media and other podcast platforms. The episode is also available for free by clicking the link at the top of the article.

Former St. Xavier High School basketball star Jordan Cornette has worked his way up at ESPN by being a versatile television and radio host.He's hosted shows talking about college football and basketball, and been an in-game TV analyst on college basketball broadcasts. In October, Cornette was promoted to co-host a weekday highlight and talk show on ESPN+ called SportsNation. It was a unique appointment because Cornette's co-host is his wife, Shae Peppler Cornette. They also host a weekly Sunday show on ESPN Radio. Jordan Cornette, 38, a former Notre Dame basketball player, joined The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast to discuss his rise in broadcasting; the Cincinnati sportscaster who influenced him; and what it's like to work alongside his wife.

Cincinnati FM radio legend Dennis “Wildman” Walker joins “That’s So Cincinnati.”

Cincinnati's interim City Manager John Curp joins the podcast this week.

Ickey Woods gained nationwide fame doing his "Ickey Shuffle" touchdown dance during the Bengals' run to the Super Bowl in 1988 season. He loves seeing the city come alive again amid the Bengals' run to Sunday's AFC Championship game in Kansas City."It’s been a long way for us – and it’s about time," Woods told The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast. "These guys are doing a great job. The kid, Joe Burrow, is a very unbelievable guy. He just has that 'it' factor. He’s just unbelievable."Woods, 55, has remained connected to the Bengals since his playing career ended in 1991. He runs a concession stand at every Bengals home game at Paul Brown Stadium. The proceeds from concession sales help support the Jovante Woods Foundation, which raises money and awareness for Asthma research in honor of Ickey Woods' late son.The legend of the "Ickey Shuffle" has lived on. In 2014, Woods was featured doing the dance in a Geico commercial. (Find out on "That's So Cincinnati" which two versions of the commercial ended up on the cutting-room floor.)Bengals fans got treated with the "Ickey Shuffle" in the home playoff against Las Vegas on Jan. 15. Tight end C.J. Uzomah did the shuffle after scoring a first quarter touchdown. Woods was at Paull Brown Stadium to see it. "He was doing a good job of it, too," Woods said.

Don't get Tim McGee wrong. He cherishes the memories of being part of the great Bengals teams in the late 1980s and early 1990s. And the former wide receiver loves talking about playing on a Super Bowl team.But McGee is happy the Bengals are giving fans a reason to stop talking about the glory days of three decades ago. He joined The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast to offer perspective on the Bengals' first playoff win in 30 years on Jan. 15."Trust me, I wish we could stop talking about the 1989 Super Bowl and the 1981 Super Bowl," McGee said. "We need to be erased, deleted. We need to be talking about what happened this year (2021 season) and 2022 and 2023. That's when I really get excited. I want to be part of the used-to-be as opposed to the current."McGee, 57, played nearly a decade in the NFL after the Bengals selected him in the first round of the 1986 draft. He is in his fifth year co-hosting the Bengals' post-game talk show on 700 WLW. The Cleveland native has thrived in the role partly because he offers listeners candid analysis."One of the reasons why WLW and WLWT and some of the other outlets have me on is because I have a reputation of calling things like they are," McGee said. "I'm just the truth-driven person, and I'm willing to suffer consequences and/or the accolades that comes with that."McGee, who lives in Mason, has spent most of his post-playing career living in Greater Cincinnati. For years, the Bengals have gotten a bad reputation for not celebrating their history enough and honoring past players.What does McGee think about this?Find out by listening to "That's So Cincinnati" for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Media and other podcast platforms.

Eve Bolton called Cincinnati Public Schools Board of Education's decision last week to close the school buildings and return to fully remote learning "devastating" for students and their families.The retired teacher was the only board member who voted against returning to full remote learning amid a spike in COVID-19 cases in Ohio's third-largest school district. School buildings are shutdown to students until at least Jan. 24, a date board members targeted for returning to in-person learning. Bolton, the board's longest-turned member, didn't hold back in expressing her frustrations with the decision during an interview with The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast."We don't have a lot of credibility about trying to promise that we'll return on the 24th," Bolton said.Most other regional school districts remain open for in-person learning. CPS came under scrutiny from parents and community leaders early last year for continuing to be fully remote while most other local school districts had returned to in-person learning. Bolton said she decided last year that she wouldn't support going back to remote learning under most circumstances. She particularly worries how the board's decision will impact children and families living in poverty."Our children are safer at school than any other place," Bolton said. "No matter how good remote (learning) is, there's learning loss for a majority of the kids."A staffing shortage was cited as a reason for the decision. Bolton acknowledged that the teachers' union had an influence on board members."They are a political force in the community," Bolton said.Bolton spent 36 years as a teacher and theater director in the suburban Wyoming City Schools, including serving part of her career as the local union president. She's been on the CPS board since 2007.She said the district wasn't "aggressive enough" in hiring substitute teachers in preparation for the latest uptick in cases. Said Bolton: "We have to figure out how to still teach our kids and get them to school and get them fed and have the medical services that are available and have them be with their friends and have them have great adult mentors like our teachers and our coaches."

When the invitation came to Aftab Pureval, who had just been elected Cincinnati mayor, to visit the White House late last year along with other new mayors he wasn't sure what to expect.But Pureval went to the Dec. 14 meeting prepared, bringing with him a request for what he sees as Cincinnati's most pressing need from the federal government: A new Brent Spence Bridge.He did pitch that project the White House to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Although first, as an aside (and Pureval gets this a lot), Biden complimented Pureval's hair.Pureval talked about the White House visit on The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast during his first week on the job as mayor. He admits he was a little bit in awe and shared what he told President Biden and top administration officials."I'm sitting there with the mayor of Boston, of New York, of Atlanta, of Seattle and I'm just trying to play it cool," Pureval said. "I'm just trying to be like, 'Oh yeah, this is no big deal. We're in the Oval Office.' "But to Pureval, the son of immigrants and Cincinnati's first Asian American mayor, it was a big deal. Biden and senior administration leaders stressed they wanted to work with local leaders, Pureval said."It was an inspiring experience," Pureval said. "But I was there to do work. So I made it very, very clear to the Biden administration and specifically to the vice president. I personally challenged her to ensure that the Brent Spence Bridge is a priority and that it's not just lip service because we've seen presidential candidate after presidential candidate do press conferences at the Brent Spence Bridge. We're tired of inaction and it's having a big impact."No promises were made in return, but Pureval added: "I worked very hard to not just talk about it as a local project, but talk about it as a national project for interstate commerce."In a wide-ranging podcast interview, Pureval also addressed questions about his agenda; what his style of leadership will be; and his stance on public safety.

Enquirer executive editor Beryl Love and columnist Jason Williams discuss the biggest stories of 2021.Where does UC football making the College Football Playoff, Brood X cicada invasion and Aftab Pureval winning the mayor's race rank among the top stories? Find out on "That's So Cincinnati."

Cristian Pietoso takes pride in offering an authentic Italian dining experience at his four Greater Cincinnati restaurants.Early next year, guests at Downtown's Via Vite will have a new experience. They'll be able to watch up close the pasta-making process, a viewing area that'll be part of an upcoming remodeling at the Fountain Square restaurant.Via Vite is scheduled to temporarily shutdown on Jan. 8 to begin a planned monthlong remodeling, Pietoso told The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast. The restaurant will reopen in early February.Via Vite originally opened as the anchor fine-dining restaurant on Fountain Square in 2007, and Pietoso said it's time for a "refresh.""We're redoing the entire restaurant – kitchen, bar, dining room, light fixtures, (outdoor) piazza bar, awnings, everything brand new," Pietoso said. "We're going to re-modernize and make it super edgy again and feel exactly what it should be for a contemporary Italian restaurant smack in the middle of the city. It's going to be beautiful."The pasta-making station will be behind glass near Via Vite's main entrance, Pietoso added. The pasta served at his restaurants – which also include Nicola's in Over-the-Rhine, Forno in Hyde Park and Montgomery – are made with flour and other ingredients imported from Italy.Via Vite's menu also will be overhauled, with a handful of favorites remaining, Pietoso said.Other good things are happening for Pietoso's restaurants. Nicola's, located at the corner of Sycamore and Liberty streets, celebrated its 25th anniversary in April. Pietoso moved to Cincinnati from Italy in 2004 to work for his father's restaurant. Nicola Pietoso began passing the ownership torch of the restaurants onto his son in 2012, when Cristian was handed the keys to Via Vite. The elder Pietoso opened Nicola's a decade before Over-the-Rhine's renaissance even began. Cincinnati Magazine this year called Nicola's "one of the city’s longest-standing fine dining restaurants," and Cristian Pietoso called it a testament to his father's hard work."He had nothing to lose," Pietoso said of his father's mentality leading up to the 1996 opening of Nicola's. "He was a hungry immigrant who was willing to work hard. This is the beauty of this country. People call it the land of opportunity. The opportunity is there. You just need to chase it. Think about the incredible endurance that this guy had going through the challenges of being in that corner."

A decade ago, Chris Seelbach ran for Cincinnati City Council wanting to help stop the city's yearslong population decline.The trailblazing Democrat was personally doing his part. He purchased a condo in Over-the-Rhine for $125,000, $10,000 of it an inheritance his parents told him he was squandering on such a purchase.Seelbach, first elected in 2011, has watched his neighborhood thrive ever since.As Seelbach prepares to leave city hall early next month, he told The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast that he accomplished more than he thought possible on council. Prevented by term limits from running for reelection, he reflected on his time at city hall and talked about what might be next for him. "I ran for city council because we were losing population for 65 years ... and that's why we had a deficit every year," Seelbach said. "And so the conversation was only about what are we going to cut? What are we going to not cut? I wanted to run to change that conversation to not what are we going to cut or not, but what can we invest in that will attract people back to our city that will make people want to live in Cincinnati." According to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey and Enquirer research, from 2014 until 2019 – the last year estimates are available – the city's population grew 1.9%, or by nearly 5,800 people. It might not be a lot, but it's not a decline – and Seelbach is proud of the growth.

Montgomery Inn partner Dean Gregory tells stories about his dad and the restaurant's late founder, Ted Gregory; his mom's secret BBQ sauce; how Bob Hope got involved; and the exploding cigar prank.

Cincinnati City Councilwoman Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney and former President Barack Obama have been friends since they were classmates at Harvard Law School 30 years ago.Their families have stayed in touch. Kearney and her husband, former state Sen. Eric Kearney, held fundraisers for Obama and worked on his campaigns. Did Lemon Kearney turn to Barack and Michelle Obama for political advice while running her first campaign this year?No, and Lemon Kearney didn't need to. The North Avondale resident was the top vote-getter in last week's city council election. But she has received advice from the Obamas over the years. "They're advice to us has always been to our kids about college, parenting stuff. Nothing politically," Lemon Kearney told The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast. "I'm sure Eric has had conversations with Barack about politics, but I have not."In a wide-ranging interview, Lemon Kearney recalled her interactions with Barack Obama at Harvard. They graduated from law school in 1991."He was amazing in law school," she said. "Super, super smart. Always well-prepared. Always wanted to hear what everybody had to say. He was really wonderful. I'm not surprised that he ended up being president."For years, Lemon Kearney loved helping others on their campaigns. She enjoyed the fundraising events for her husband, Obama and other Democrats. But she loved her career running the Cincinnati Herald and "never really thought I'd be out there in front" in politics, Lemon Kearney said."I used to tell people in politics, 'You guys are crazy. I can't believe you would put yourselves out there,' " she said.Then early last year, a seat became open on city council after Tamaya Dennard had been arrested on federal public corruption charges and subsequently resigned a few days later. Lemon Kearney was appointed to council in March 2020."I just had this strange weekend," Lemon Kearney recalled. "First, it's this Joel Osteen thing about when you're called, you need to answer. Then reading Stacey Abrams' book about how women are so hesitant to say yes. We always think we're not qualified. We need more degrees or more training or more experience. And she said, 'Have the audacity to say yes.' " To my parents saying, 'You've got to serve your community. That's important.' "What issues do Lemon Kearney want to focus on in upcoming council term? Does she have political aspirations beyond city council? Find out the answers by listening to "That's So Cincinnati" for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Media and other podcast listening platforms.

David Pepper first ran for office 20 years ago, the start of a career that now includes Cincinnati City Council, the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners and Ohio Democratic Party Chairman.Pepper, 50, of Indian Hill, pivoted in recent years to a new career: author, writing political thrillers.His newest book, Laboratories of Autocracy: A wake-up call from behind the lines, is a non-fiction tome culled from his political experience. His thesis: corrupt politicians in statehouses across the country pose a threat to American democracy.Pepper joined The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast to talk Tuesday's general election, what he sees happening in statehouses and what's next for him. (No, he's not ruling out a run for office.)

REDI Cincinnati is the region's leading organization charged with recruiting new companies and jobs. It played a big role in regional leaders' pitch to World Cup officials last week, and REDI President and CEO Kimm Lauterbach joined "That's So Cincinnati" podcast to discuss.

The Flying Pig is back, albeit it with a smaller field of racers and later in the year than usual. But it will still be the same community-driven event that it was before the coronavirus pandemic forced Cincinnati races to be virtual last year, said Iris Simpson Bush, executive director at Flying Pig Marathon, Inc, which runs the marathon and several other races throughout the year. "We're thrilled to be back," she told The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast.The marathon, usually held in May, will be on Oct. 31 after the pandemic delayed it.In the Flying Pig's 23 years, more than $19 million has been raised for charity, Bush said. She's been involved from Day 1 when Paycor founder and CEO Bob Coughlin dreamed of bringing a marathon to Cincinnati.Bush, then a general sales manager at WCPO, read a story about his idea in The Enquirer and got involved.It's been fun and rewarding ever since, Bush said.

American soccer veteran Geoff Cameron is always outspoken about something.A few years ago, it was about his support of Donald Trump. Nowadays, though, it's more about how much he loves Cincinnati and the city's soccer fans.Cameron, in his first season with FC Cincinnati, spent time on his off day to chat with The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast partly about his decision to back away from publicly talking politics and how much he loves the fans here.The 36-year-old former U.S. national team defender calls FC Cincinnati's fanbase the "best" in Major League Soccer. In terms of overall soccer popularity and support, Cameron said, Cincinnati is a top 5 city in the U.S. The Massachusetts native added that the unwavering support for last-place FC Cincinnati reminds him of how fans in Europe back their favorite clubs regardless of record. Cameron would know: He played nearly a decade in Europe before returning to the U.S. this season for his second stint in MLS. "Just walking around the city, you see FC Cincinnati shirts everywhere," Cameron said. "It's crazy. You don't see that other places (in the U.S.). Even though we've been poor, they're still loyal and deserve all the credit." As for talking politics, Cameron did media interviews and took to Twitter to support Trump during his presidency. In a 2017 interview with Sports Illustrated, Cameron said he supported Trump's immigration policy. “I believe it’s important to support our president whether he was your candidate or not,” Cameron told SI.com. “I am pleased he is making security of all Americans one of his top priorities. Our enemies have stated – and in Europe they have proven – they will take advantage of lax immigration procedures for the purposes of staging attacks." Cameron faced intense backlash on social media for his ongoing support of Trump. The soccer player said it's not worth continuing to openly talk about politics now that he has other priorities such as raising his 1-year-old son.He told "That's So Cincinnati:" "It's a touchy subject now. As of recent, I really haven't said much because of just the way the world is now. It's really hard to have an opinion – if you don't have an opinion that's similar to other people. "It's sad in a way of (how) I grew up. Twenty years ago, it wasn't that way. With the news and social media giants, things are shoved down people's throats whether it's good or bad. It's tough. When I was outspoken and said certain things, a lot of people said things about me that weren't true whatsoever and that was really hard to deal with. They don't know me. People are just saying things to be hateful. That's why I don't really share pictures with my family, because I don't really know what people's intentions are."I haven't been as outspoken now because there's other things I care about. I'm sure there are fans in Cincinnati who are conservative or liberal or whatever. Whether they want to believe the stuff that I believe in or disagree with the things that I believe, (I hope) they'll see that I am a good, genuine person. It's OK to have people with different political views or religious views, but you can respect them as a person."

After throwing years of popular LGBTQ-friendly tea dances, Richard Cooke embarked on opening a bar in Over-the-Rhine, which he envisioned as a place to "dance in a safe and welcoming place."The pandemic hit as the Procter & Gamble alum readied to open the bar. But there was only one thing to do, Cooke said: Stay the course. e19 Lounge Bar & Discothèque, located across the street from Rhinegeist Brewery, opened one year ago this month. "You have to create the change you want," Cooke said.

No one knows the history of University of Cincinnati football better than Jim Kelly, a member of the school's athletics hall of fame and long-time radio analyst.Whether as a player, broadcaster, son of a former assistant coach and athletic department administrator or fan, Kelly has attended nearly 500 Bearcats football games in his lifetime. None will be more significant than Saturday's showdown in South Bend, Indiana, between No. 7 UC and ninth-ranked Notre Dame."This is the biggest game in University of Cincinnati football history," Kelly told The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast. The Bearcats have a legitimate shot to make the College Football Playoff if they win this game and go onto an undefeated regular season. The plot is juicier when factoring in that Notre Dame is coached by Brian Kelly, who played a big role in turning UC into a football school as the Bearcats' coach. It will be Brian Kelly's first game against UC since he left for Notre Dame after the 2009 season. Jim Kelly, 67, no relation to the Notre Dame coach, will be in the radio booth alongside play-by-play man Dan Hoard calling the game on 700 WLW. It's Kelly's 31st season in the booth."This (game) is totally different. It really is," Kelly said. "There's been some big bowl games along the way. In 50-plus years, I've never seen anything like this."In the "That's So Cincinnati" interview, Kelly offers his perspective on seeing UC football go from a national punch-line to a powerhouse. He recalled being at Penn State for the Bearcats' demoralizing 81-0 loss in 1991, and described how he felt after the game. Kelly remembers there being discussions about whether UC should continue to play football. He talked about UC's journey to the 2009 undefeated regular-season. Kelly mentioned names of those who stuck by the program and helped keep it together along the way, including his father, Jim Kelly Sr., who played for the Bearcats from 1947 to 1950.The elder Kelly went onto to be an assistant football coach and a long-time staffer of the athletic department. UC's football program annually hands out the Jim Kelly Award to the Bearcats player who shows "outstanding spirit." The school's hall of fame is named in honor of the elder Kelly.Like his father, Jim Kelly Jr. was also a top wide receiver for the Bearcats. He played for UC from 1973-1975 and was inducted into the James P. Kelly Athletics Hall Of Fame in 2017. Some Bearcats supporters have referred to the Kellys as the "First Family of Bearcats Football." What Jim Kelly Sr. think of the BearcatFind out more about Jim Kelly Jr. by listening to "That's So Cincinnati" podcast, which is available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and iHeart Media.

Findlay Market CEO Joe Hansbauer highlights the improvements made to the market over the last 20 years on The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast this week. The market house was re-done and is bustling. The nearly 18 storefronts along Elder Street, are nearly full. There is Findlay Kitchen, a non-profit food business incubator, where 60 businesses are operating and now, Findlay Launch, which mentors business owners.Hansbauer, who has been at the helm for nearly 10 years, says there's nothing he would rather be doing than than figuring out ways to highlight what he describes as a "jewel and gem that I think many, many other cities would love to have."His work has helped draw 1.2 million visitors each year to Findlay Market, up from 600,000 annually when he took over in 2013.Said Hansbauer: "It's built on authenticity. It's built on history. And in a lot of those things are not something you can recreate. There's not a week or a month that goes by that I don't hear from other communities and other public markets or communities that are looking to build a new public market. Louisville opened one two years ago. Lexington is looking to do that. We've had conversations with Reading Terminal Market n Philadelphia and Washington, D.C."

Tom Brinkman, a longtime conservative state lawmaker, talks about why he decided to tackle corruption at Cincinnati City Hall.

Sam Adams' Jim Koch joins us on this week's episode of That's So Cincinnati.

700 WLW host and ESPN college football analyst Rocky Boiman joins That's So Cincinnati podcast.

Britney Ruby Miller wasn't just handed the keys to her father's steakhouse empire in spring 2020.She earned it – and her experience of having worked her way up from server to CEO of Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment immediately paid off as Ruby Miller tackled head on the challenges of the pandemic had on the restaurant industry. Ruby Miller was not only a leader for her company. She was a leading voice for Ohio's locally owned restaurants, having worked closely with Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted on decisions effecting the industry statewide. Building relationships with elected officials is just one of the many lessons Ruby Miller has learned from her father.As this week's guest on The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast, Ruby Miller reflected on her journey to taking over the family business. "I served for a very long time at Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse (in Downtown), which I did not want to do at first," said Ruby Miller, the oldest of Jeff Ruby's three children. "I thought when I graduated from UC (in 2005) that I was ready to go to corporate and (her father) said, 'No, you're not putting on a power suit. You're putting on a server uniform.' He was 1,000% right. That's where I learned the business mostly." Ruby Miller is still working hard to keep Jeff Ruby's seven locations across three states open amid another spike in COVID-19 cases. But she's also leading the effort to relocate Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse in Downtown Cincinnati to Fountain Square. It was announced recently that Jeff Ruby's would move into the first floor of the redeveloped former old Macy's store, a building that's now being called The Foundry. Ruby Miller offered a glimpse into what the 11,000-squre foot dining space will look like. Initial plans call for a large horseshow-shaped bar, a tribute to Jeff Ruby's old Waterfront restaurant in Covington. The Waterfront, which sat atop a barge on the banks of the Ohio River, permanently closed in 2011 after it became partially unmoored from its dock. It's location on the river overlooking the Downtown Cincinnati skyline made it a hotspot restaurant and night club for a who's who of Greater Cincinnatians. The Waterfront's popularity helped Jeff Ruby ascend as a restauranteur, and it's always held a special place in his heart as his company prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary next month.Ruby Miller said of The Foundry location: "I hope that people walk in and feel that throwback nostalgia of The Waterfront, but also can see the evolution of design and see that it's a little bit more refined. The finishes are going to be gorgeous."Jeff Ruby has taken a step back in the company. He's not fully retired and is actively involved in the design of the new location, expected to open in September 2022. Said Ruby Miller:"A lot of times family businesses, the founder has a hard time not micromanaging and controlling – and he's the opposite. He has enough confidence in my brothers and I and our executive leadership team. He knows that we're not going to get away from everything that we know and got us to where we are right now which is the Jeff Ruby experience and taking care of our guests and taking care of our employees. "He's not involved in the day-to-day. But I know how he would make decisions, and I operate the same way that he does. By all means, he was highly involved in (the decision to move to Fountain Square). He's super busy with what he does best – designing. We walked that site at The Foundry. He fell in love with it and he's like, 'We need to make this happen.' Our whole family, major business decisions, we work together on those."Ruby Miller also talked about the release of her upcoming book, "5-Star Life: The Faithful Fight to Overcome Obstacles and Pursue Excellence." The book is due out Sept. 21 and is available for pre-sale on Amazon.com. Former TODAY Show co-host Kathie Lee Gifford wrote the forward. Here's a synopsis of the book, according to Amazon: "Having faced family tragedy, peer rejection, infidelity, infertility, and a pandemic that threatened not only to close her family’s business but also to decimate the restaurant industry, Britney battled back with the winning combination of faith and fight that has led to her five-star life." Learn more about Britney Ruby Miller by listening to "That's So Cincinnati" for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Media and other listening platforms.

3CDC's Steve Leeper says the next major Downtown development priority needs to be the area around the Duke Energy Convention Center.The aging convention center is surrounded mostly by blighted properties and surface parking lots. The old Millennium Hotel is in the process of being demolished, but there's no plan for a new convention center hotel.Leeper, the development organization's president and CEO, had plenty to say about that area of western Downtown as this week's guest on The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast:"We should strive to do better. I think there's a movement (afoot) that we do that and start thinking that district is critical to Downtown. When visitors come into our community, we need to show better than we're showing right now. "We ought to start looking at the bright side of this, and that we now have a lot property under (public) control. Let's not do anything stupid here. Let's think about this and be bold but fiscally responsible. I think you can do both. Everybody is on the same page here. Our political leaders are actually trying to think about this in a comprehensive manner. They're excited about the potential. We ought to be excited about something instead of tinkling on each other."Leeper said it's a "viable option" to build a new convention hotel on a site directly south of the convention center across Fifth Street and preserve the old Millennium site for a potential future convention center expansion."I don't think it's the only option," Leeper said. "The site to the south, quite frankly, I think it's big enough for not only a (hotel) but other uses. It could be more residential. It could be more hospitality. It could be entertainment. There's all kinds of possibilities here. We just need to get off our butts and start focusing on it." The problem: There's no funding source for a new hotel or convention center expansion. And who's going to lead any of those projects has not been determined, though Leeper said conversations have been positive among political, business and development leaders.Meanwhile, a block east of the convention center, 3CDC continues to make progress on overhauling the building that once housed the Fountain Square Macy's store. It was announced last week that Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse will be relocating to the building, known as The Foundry, once the $51 million mixed-use project is finished.In the podcast interview, Leeper told the story of how Ruby's decision came about unexpectedly from a conversation between Jeff Ruby's CEO Britney Ruby Miller and 3CDC Executive Vice President Adam Gelter.Said Leeper: "Britney, with a colleague of mine, Adam Gelter, were walking down to the site. We were actually talking to another restaurateur at the time, and Adam was asking Britney about this restauranteur, what she knew about him. She said, 'Well, why?' He said, 'Because we're thinking about moving them into this spot.' She didn't know we were redeveloping the building at the time. (Jeff Ruby and his team) took a look at the site and said, 'I'd like to come here.' "

Rosemarie Moehring, marketing director for Cincinnati-based concert promoter Music & Event Management, Inc., joins That's So Cincinnati podcast.