Tree of Life

09 Oct

Pittsburgh mother transformed by year of crisis in Israel

published in category: From The TribLIVE Newsroom on Wednesday, October 9th, 2024 – 10:11 am

TribLive reporter Justin Vellucci delves into the emotional journey of Rona Kaufman, a Duquesne University law professor, who has leaned into her Jewish faith as the Israel-Hamas conflict continues.

With her daughter serving in the Israeli military, Rona faced the heart-wrenching challenge of being physically distant during this crisis. So she trekked to Tel Aviv to support her.

The Israel-Hamas conflict has escalated dramatically since the Oct. 7 attacks, when Hamas militants stormed southern Israel in a violent assault that led to the 1,200 deaths. During the ensuing conflict more than 40,000 Palestinians had been killed and nearly 100,000 injured.

Vellucci and host Zac Gibson discuss her experiences, insights on parental bonds under stress, and her evolving Jewish identity in the year since the Oct. 7 attacks.

Posted in From The TribLIVE Newsroom

 

04 Oct

S11, Ep 50, Pt 2: Two-Time Tennessee Teacher of the Year Virgil Herring & 2 Time Winner on Tour Rick Fehr

published in category: Next on the Tee on Friday, October 4th, 2024 – 3:26 pm

Virgil Herring is a graduate of Mississippi State’s Professional Golf Management program and has earned the title of Middle Tennessee Section PGA Teacher of the Year five times, as well as Tennessee Teacher of the Year twice. He has worked with several Tour players, including Brandt Snedeker.

In our conversation, Virgil shares stories about his time working with Snedeker, and we discuss Brandt’s recent accolades—being named the recipient of the 2024 Payne Stewart Award and serving as an Assistant Captain at both this year’s Presidents Cup and next year’s Ryder Cup. Virgil also offers valuable advice on how to get your swing on the correct plane and how to reach a Flow State on the mental side of the game.

Rick Fehr, who helped BYU win the national championship in 1981, was the low amateur at both the 1984 Masters and U.S. Open. After winning twice on the PGA Tour, Rick transitioned into becoming a top instructor.

Rick and I dive into the topic of old-school versus new-school golf instruction. Have tools like Trackman and home simulators given us a false sense of knowledge about our game? He also shares his thoughts on Scottie Scheffler’s claim that his mind is the strongest part of his game. We discuss whether trying harder or trying something different is the right approach, and Rick reflects on what it was like seeing himself on a trading card for the first time.
Posted in Next on the Tee

 

03 Oct

S11, Ep 50, Pt 1: Steelers Legend Greg Lloyd Tells It Like It Is & Dr. Kathy Hoeft Helps Us Start & Finish Strong

published in category: Next on the Tee on Thursday, October 3rd, 2024 – 4:26 pm

Greg Lloyd, a Steelers Hall of Honor inductee, is also a member of our Guest Hall of Fame over on our football show, Thursday Night Tailgate. This is the 13th time I’ve had the privilege of speaking with Greg. In this segment, we discuss the challenges of being a late-round pick from a small college, overcoming judgments based on school size rather than talent, and his approach of going full speed at every practice, never taking a play off. Greg also reflects on a special visit from The Chief when he had knee surgery during his rookie year, Bill Cowher’s idea of moving him to Inside Linebacker, playing alongside Kevin Greene, and the moment he first saw fans wearing his #95 jersey in the stands.

Dr. Kathy Hoeft makes her debut on Next on the Tee. She’s a fantastic physical therapist and athletic trainer, and in this episode, she shares her expertise on taking a holistic approach to relieving knee, hip, ankle, and lower back pain. We also dive into topics like Tai Chi, shedding the “dad bod,” the best foods to eat at the turn, and which supplements are worth taking and which ones are best avoided.

Posted in Next on the Tee

 

03 Oct

Podcast: Urban farms are sprouting in Pittsburgh’s food deserts

published in category: From The TribLIVE Newsroom on Thursday, October 3rd, 2024 – 10:03 am

Urban farms are emerging across the country.

“There’s been a food revolution going on for quite a while,” says Mchezaji “Che” Axum, director of the Center for Urban Agriculture and Gardening Education at the University of the District of Columbia.

Interest in growing local food has surged over the past decade, particularly during the covid-19 pandemic, when food insecurity became a pressing issue in many communities.

Urban gardens are not just a source of food — they also foster education and community engagement.

In this episode, TribLive staff writer Julia Burdelski and I explore the growing need for urban farming among new green thumbs. We’ll highlight the journeys of budding local urban farmers, including Ebony, who transformed her backyard gardening into two urban farms and a small store. Join us as we delve into how urban farming can enhance food accessibility and strengthen community bonds.

Posted in From The TribLIVE Newsroom

 

01 Oct

S11, Ep 49, Pt 2: Bethpage Director of Instruction Megan Younkman Plus Comedic Legend Tom Dreesen

published in category: Next on the Tee on Tuesday, October 1st, 2024 – 2:40 pm

In Part 2 of Episode 49, I’m joined by two fantastic people: Megan Younkman, the Director of Instruction at Bethpage State Park, one of the Top 50 Junior and LPGA Instructors in the game, plus comedic legend and veteran of 61 appearances with Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show, Tom Dreesen.

Megan Younkman is not only a top junior instructor, but she’s also the Director of Instruction at Bethpage State Park. This year, her 17 & Under team is competing for the National Championship, while her 13 & Under All-Star team made it to the finals. Megan shares insights into their success and talks about the preparations already underway at Bethpage Black for next year’s Ryder Cup matches.

Tom Dreesen brings over 50 years of show business experience to the conversation. With 61 appearances on The Tonight Show and years spent as the opening act for Frank Sinatra, he’s got a treasure trove of stories. He’s also hosted his own Pro-Am, played in the Bob Hope Desert Classic for several years, and competed on the Celebrity Tour. Plus, he’s a proud member of the Caddie Hall of Fame. In this segment, Tom shares his fascinating experiences and more.

Posted in Next on the Tee

 

25 Sep

S11, Ep 49, Pt 1: Two Great Ladies in our Game, Western Pennsylvania’s own Missie Berteotti and the First Female President of the PGA of America, Suzy Whaley

published in category: Next on the Tee on Wednesday, September 25th, 2024 – 9:53 am

Suzy Whaley is one of the most knowledgeable and gracious individuals you’ll ever meet. She made history as the first woman to qualify (not through a sponsor’s exemption) to play in a PGA Tour event since Babe Didrikson-Zaharias did it in 1945. Suzy was also the first female President of the PGA of America and now serves as the President of the exciting new golf platform, Golf Nation.

In our conversation, Suzy shares her insights on the recent Solheim Cup, a thrilling victory for Team USA. We discuss the possibility of creating a Presidents Cup-style event for women, giving international players a stage to showcase their talents. Suzy also reflects on Nelly Korda’s phenomenal season, the sometimes negative focus of media, and the innovative work happening at Golf Nation.

Missie Berteotti is one of Western Pennsylvania’s greatest golfers. She helped the University of Miami win a national championship and secured her first LPGA Tour victory at the 1993 Ping/Welch’s Championship, defeating Dottie Mochrie in an epic battle that went to the 5th playoff hole. Today, Missie is a leading instructor in the game.

Missie and I talk about a recent charity event where she teed it up alongside Steelers legend John Banaszak, and she shares her experience of going head-to-head with Mochrie to capture her first Tour win. We also chat about some of her favorite golf courses in the Pittsburgh area.

Posted in Next on the Tee

 

24 Sep

The Keystone Key: Unlocking younger votes

published in category: From The TribLIVE Newsroom on Tuesday, September 24th, 2024 – 10:01 am

As we approach the pivotal 2024 presidential election, Pennsylvania appears to be key to victory. With Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris seemingly visiting the state almost weekly, voters are grappling with critical issues that will shape the future of our country.

Today, we’re diving deep into the perspectives of young voters in Pittsburgh, exploring their hopes, concerns, and the challenges they face as a strong bloc in the electorate.

TribLive reporter Megan Swift interviewed young voters, including Cory Roma, a passionate advocate for progressive issues, and Mike Chiarlone, a dedicated member of the Allegheny County Young Republicans.

Today, we’re unpacking their views on the economy, political representation, and the importance of youth engagement in the electoral process.

This is From the Newsroom.

Posted in From The TribLIVE Newsroom

 

23 Sep

S11, Ep 48, Pt 2: John Mahaffey on Oakmont, Arnie, Deane Beman, & Playing at the University of Houston

published in category: Next on the Tee on Monday, September 23rd, 2024 – 9:50 am

John takes us back to his incredible comeback at the 1978 PGA Championship at Oakmont, where he rallied from 7 strokes down with 14 holes to play to defeat Tom Watson. He also reflects on his memories of Arnold Palmer in honor of what would have been Arnie’s 95th birthday. John shares his thoughts on the current fractured state of the Tours and how things might have been different if Deane Beman were still Commissioner. We also discuss his time at the University of Houston, where they won multiple national championships during his college career.

Posted in Next on the Tee

 



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