U.S. Sen. Rob Portman hasn't been holding daily press conferences to update Ohioans on the novel coronavirus, but the Greater Cincinnati Republican has been doing critical work to help fight the pandemic. Portman has President Trump's ear, a relationship that's helped major Ohio companies quickly clear bureaucratic hurdles in efforts to make and receive critical products to combat the novel coronavirus, both locally and nationwide. Among the companies Portman is helping: Procter & Gamble, Ca...
Apr 02, 2020•1 hr 13 min•Season 2Ep. 30
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and two of his granddaughters were walking into a Columbus pub to grab a carryout meal on St. Patrick's Day – and what would've been Ohio's primary Election Day – when his cellphone rang. It was President Trump calling. In an interview with The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast, DeWine said the president called to discuss the governor's decision to delay the election amid the coronavirus crisis. Did he agree with your decision? "Well ..." DeWine paused and chuckled. T...
Mar 26, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 29
Leading in a time of crisis is nothing new for John Cranley. The Cincinnati mayor told The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast that he's reflected on his experience of helping the city through the 2001 riots while leading the city's response to the new coronavirus. Cranley was a member of city council in 2001, when civil unrest occurred after an unarmed black man was shot and killed by a police officer during an arrest attempt. Logistically, the experiences were similar – daily press confere...
Mar 20, 2020•1 hr 12 min•Season 2Ep. 28
Cincinnati's heavily populated West Side finally has a representative on Cincinnati City Council, and Betsy Sundermann has a message for Westwood and the Price Hill neighborhoods: "I'm listening to you," the Republican said on The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast this week. Sundermann was appointed to council last week to replace Amy Murray, who left for a job in the Trump administration. She's the first West Side resident to hold a seat on council since 2009, when then-West Price Hill re...
Mar 11, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 27
The "R" word has been mentioned a lot in Cincinnati politics the past week: Reform. Should Cincinnati voters implement a recall provision in the city charter? Should City Council have a mandated attendance policy? Should each City Council members' $65,000-a-year salary be cut? Should city law be changed on how open council seats are filled? Few people know city law better than COAST attorney and Republican Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge candidate Curt Hartman, who joins That's So Cincinnati ...
Mar 04, 2020•1 hr 14 min•Season 2Ep. 26
Democrats could have an open seat on Cincinnati City Council soon, with the possibility of Tamaya Dennard either resigning or being removed from office amid legal troubles. Who could be in line to fill the seat? Cincinnati.com City Hall reporter Sharon Coolidge and political columnist Jason Williams broke down potential candidates on their That's So Cincinnati podcast this week. Here are some of the potential candidates they talked about: Ryan DuPree : She's executive director of Walnut Hills-ba...
Feb 27, 2020•52 min•Season 2Ep. 25
No one knows Cincinnati politics better than Pete Witte, who some jokingly call the "Mayor of the West Side." The West Price Hill resident and small business owner is plugged in with both Republicans and Democrats and he offers his insight and analysis on That's So Cincinnati about: The candidates to replace Republican Amy Murray on Cincinnati City Council Who he thinks should be the front-runner for Murray's seat The lack of West Side representation at City Hall John Cranley's run for governor ...
Feb 19, 2020•1 hr 7 min•Season 2Ep. 24
David Mann sure sounds like he's going to run for Cincinnati mayor. But the city councilman isn't quite ready to go all in just yet. "My wife and I are having a lot of conversations, and I'm talking to other people," Mann said on The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast this week. "There seems to be some interest (from the community), and I'm continuing to look at it very actively." Asked about a timetable for when he'll decided, the Clifton Democrat said: "If I'm going to think about it, I'v...
Feb 12, 2020•46 min•Season 2Ep. 23
Some say long-time Hamilton County trial Judge Robert Ruehlman is controversial. There's no doubt he's tough – and can be tough-talking from the bench. Ruehlman has been in the news a lot in the past year, notably for his public lambasting of Cincinnati City Council's so-called "Gang of Five" Democrats and for not hesitating to call ICE on suspected illegal immigrants. But there's also a human side to the West Side Republican. He showed that in an in-depth interview this week on The Enquirer's T...
Feb 05, 2020•55 min•Season 2Ep. 22
It's a double-feature of guests this week on That's So Cincinnati. Jean-François Flechet , owner of Taste of Belgium: He tells the unique story of how he went from crunching data at Nielsen to building a Cincinnati waffle-making empire. He offers a candid assessment of The Banks, where Flechet has one of his four restaurants. Flechet also discusses his efforts to help the restaurant industry overcome the stigma of substance abuse. Gabe Davis , Hamilton County prosecutor candidate: The Democrat d...
Jan 29, 2020•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 21
It's hard to believe Bill Cunningham was once a Democrat who aspired to be elected judge in Hamilton County. He's long since become one of the Midwest's top conservative voices, closing in on 40 years of calling 'em like he sees 'em weekdays on 700 WLW. Cunningham's powerful mic has helped to thrust him into a new role in recent years – unofficial adviser to President Donald Trump. "He'll call me now and then and ask questions about what's happening," Cunningham told The Enquirer's weekly That's...
Jan 22, 2020•59 min•Season 2Ep. 20
Crossroads' Chuck Mingo is on the frontline of working to bring racial reconciliation to Greater Cincinnati. Thousands have gone through the megachurch's six-week "Undivided" program, which emphasizes people of different races and backgrounds to build long-term relationships. Mingo joins That's So Cincinnati podcast to chat about the successful program he started; race relations in the city; Crossroads' growth; and making the leap of faith from a successful business career to ministry. Also this...
Jan 15, 2020•57 min•Season 2Ep. 19
Happy New Year, That's So Cincinnati listeners. Your favorite local podcast is out of the gate in 2020 with an insightful interview with attorney Brian Shrive, who's become a major player on the local political scene for his work on exposing the text-message scandal Cincinnati City Hall. Shrive talks about overcoming personal tragedy and struggles with addiction to go onto a successful law career fighting for open government. That work began a decade ago, when Shrive became one of the biggest th...
Jan 08, 2020•1 hr 10 min•Season 2Ep. 18
What do Greater Cincinnati's political, business, media, entertainment and other top leaders want for the region in 2020? Nearly 20 regional leaders, including Joe Deters, Bill Cunningham, Alicia Reece and John Morris Russell, share what their New Year's resolutions are for Greater Cincinnati. You won't want to miss this special short but engaging New Year's episode of That's So Cincinnati.
Dec 31, 2019•24 min•Season 2Ep. 17
Where did the City Hall text message scandal and the riverfront music venue end up on That's So Cincinnati's rankings of the top political stories of 2019? Find out in this special Christmas week episode.
Dec 27, 2019•36 min•Season 2Ep. 16
The Nutcracker isn't unique to Cincinnati. But Victoria Morgan's version of the ballet classic certainly is. Morgan's dog, Cammy, inspired the poodle character in Morgan's revamping of the Cincinnati Ballet's version of The Nutcracker in 2011. “I really wanted it to be fresh, and I really wanted it to feel new,” Morgan, the ballet's artistic director, said on That's So Cincinnati podcast. “And I wanted especially young people to get a kick out of it.” In the Cincinnati Ballet’s version, it’s the...
Dec 18, 2019•55 min•Season 2Ep. 15
John Morris Russell's passion and energy is unparalleled year-round – and especially at Christmastime. The Cincinnati Pops conductor joins That's So Cincinnati podcast to discuss all sorts of things, including: The Pops' recent Grammy nomination and his celebration on an airplane World renowned violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter and smartphone usage at concerts The importance of including all people in the Pops The Pops' holiday traditions and concerts, including a special Christmas message from JMR a...
Dec 11, 2019•52 min•Season 2Ep. 14
Cincinnati Fire Chief Roy Winston talks about the Downtown building collapse, how his department responded and how tragedies impact first responders. The Enquirer's Amber Hunt discusses the launch of season three of the popular "Accused" podcast. And fake or real? As in Christmas tree.
Dec 04, 2019•56 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Cincinnati cares, and the Freestore Foodbank is proof of that. Freestore CEO Kurt Reiber discusses the work one of the region's top nonprofit organizations is doing this holiday season. He also talks about: The importance of remembering that people are struggling with hunger year-round Tear-jerking stories about children in need -- and about children who are helping to address the issue of hunger Also this week, former Enquirer reporter Mark Curnutte joins That's So Cincinnati to talk about his ...
Nov 27, 2019•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Hamilton County prosecutor candidate Fanon Rucker highlights the major differences between him and long-time prosecutor Joe Deters. Top among those differences: Rucker is opposed to the death penalty. "I cannot see a circumstance, with all the inequities that we have in the system, that I would pursue a death penalty case," the Democrat told That's So Cincinnati. Find out more about Rucker's stance on the issue in this week's episode. Plus, That's So Cincinnati cohosts Sharon Coolidge and Jason ...
Nov 20, 2019•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 11
How can Democrats appeal to rural and working-class Trump Country voters? U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown is among few Democrats who knows the answer. The only Democrat to hold a prominent statewide office in Ohio joined That's So Cincinnati podcast to talk about: The presidential field and why he's not endorsing anyone Why he's staying out of the race, despite people continuing to ask him to jump in His relationship with Republican U.S. Sen. Rob Portman Civility in politics And what job he'd be doing i...
Nov 13, 2019•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Cincinnati City Councilman Greg Landsman came bearing news on That's So Cincinnati podcast this week, saying Mayor John Cranley and Commissioner Todd Portune had brokered a deal on The Banks. Landsman also discussed: The future of The Banks Joint Steering Committee City-county relations His legislation to help prevent evictions And his assessment of Council nearly halfway into his first term Also on this week's episode, That's So Cincinnati co-hosts Jason Williams and Sharon Coolidge talk about ...
Nov 06, 2019•54 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Ohio BMV Registrar Charlie Norman joins That's So Cincinnati this week. The Cincinnati native, hired this year by Gov. Mike DeWine, talks about: New customer-friendly ideas to reduce the pain of waiting in long lines at the BMV Visiting the license plate factory inside the Lebanon Correctional Facility How the BMV handles requests for politically charged specialized plates Also this week, Enquirer investigative reporter James Pilcher stops by to discuss an upcoming story about problems people ar...
Oct 30, 2019•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 8
What makes Jeff Ruby a true Cincinnati treasure? Well, besides his world-renowned steakhouses, he's never one to mince words. The famous restaurateur joined That's So Cincinnati to discuss: The possibility of opening a restaurant in Las Vegas His take on The Banks riverfront development Working on a new book called "Art of the Meal" How his Downtown restaurant was originally envisioned as a New York-style deli And of course, Ruby always has to give his take on politics. What did he say about Don...
Oct 23, 2019•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 7
You've read their columns on The Banks-Bengals deal. Now listen to The Enquirer's Paul Daugherty and Jason Williams discuss the issue on That's So Cincinnati podcast. They address the Bengals' future, The Banks and the idea of a new referendum on the stadium tax. Plus, the That's So Cincinnati crew breaks down the 2020 Hamilton County prosecutor's race in the wake of Democrat Fanon Rucker announcing his candidacy this week.
Oct 16, 2019•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 6
The Banks needs help from a team of development experts. That's what Hamilton County Commissioner Denise Driehaus told That's So Cincinnati podcast this week in response to a question about whether the riverfront project needs a master developer. That question comes amid the highly controversial decision to build a music venue and rework the Bengals' stadium lease. The Banks have been without a master developer -- an expert team of real estate, urban planning and architecture experts -- since At...
Oct 09, 2019•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Blink starts next Thursday, and event co-founder Steve McGowan joins That's So Cincinnati to discuss the marvel of a city covered in lights and art. McGowan -- owner of Downtown-based creative services firm, Brave Berlin -- talks about transforming the light spectacle from Lumenocity at Washington Park into a citywide and now regional event. Blink, which started in 2017, heads across the Robeling Suspension Bridge this year and into Covington. What else is new this year? Where should you park? W...
Oct 03, 2019•56 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune, who recently announced he's not running for re-election in 2020, joins That's So Cincinnati podcast for a candid discussion about his long political career, critical county projects and the Bengals' future.
Sep 25, 2019•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 3
Cincinnati Museum Center CEO Elizabeth Pierce joins That's So Cincinnati to talk about the Apollo 11 exhibit opening, Neil Armstrong's legacy and the museum center's magnificent makeover. Also in this episode, TSC co-hosts Jason Williams and Sharon Coolidge pay tribute to Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune as he battles cancers and prepares to retire. Jason and Sharon breakdown who could replace Portune and whether Republicans have a shot to regain a seat on the board of commissioners in ...
Sep 18, 2019•52 min•Season 2Ep. 2
John Cranley never shies away from a fight -- and he's battling The Banks music venue like he's never opposed a project before. Why is Cincinnati's mayor so opposed to the plan? He explains in-depth in a don't-miss episode of That's So Cincinnati. Plus, TSC co-hosts Sharon Coolidge and Jason Williams discuss Congressman Steve Chabot's campaign problems. And in the fun segment: Snakes and yoga a Red River Gorge, the intrigue of Diner en Blanc and marching bands playlist....
Sep 11, 2019•1 hr 11 min•Season 2Ep. 1
