PBS Western Reserve presents a collection of stories that are singularly focused on the region that we all call home. Explore the people, places, history and events that make Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania so special.
About Our Region — September 2025
Published on
Presented by PBS Western Reserve
Forum 360
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
First Monday of every month at 5 PM and 5:30 PM
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Mondays at 7:30 PM and Saturdays at 5 PM
This public affairs series provides a local viewpoint on global topics. Subjects covered are both educational and entertaining, and are hosted by a Northeast Ohio community member who assists in determining the show’s content.
Presented by PBS Western Reserve
Ken Nordine: Video for the Ear
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 10:30 PM
Ken Nordine, nationally known voice-over and commercial recording artist, is featured in a new local production that is the work of Uniontown resident Carl Palmer of Wild Life Media. KEN NORDINE: VIDEO FOR THE EAR celebrates Chicago’s oldest living hipster and original beatnik. Musical and performance artist Laurie Anderson provides narration for the production.
Presented by PBS Western Reserve and Akron Children’s
More Childhood, Please
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Wednesday, Sept. 3, at 2 PM
Sunday, Sept. 7, at 9 AM
Saturday, Sept. 20, at 8 AM
Monday, Sept. 22, at 2 PM
Created and produced for kids (and parents), MORE CHILDHOOD, PLEASE is a series that blends aspects of reality TV, video challenges and helpful information from experts at Akron Children’s. Watch as kids and families tackle tricky topics like screens and screen time, emotions, the outdoor world and sports.
“Explore the Outdoors” Lily and Rhys explore the outdoors and learn why it’s so important to get outside and enjoy nature — bugs, trees, mud and all.
A PBS Western Reserve Production
Let’s Read Together: Laying the Foundation for Lifelong Learning
PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Saturday, Sept. 6, at 5 PM
Monday, Sept. 8, at 9 PM
Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 2 AM
Sunday, Sept. 14, at 3 PM
Tuesday, Sept. 30, at 8 PM
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 10 PM
Monday, Sept. 15, at 8 PM
Saturday, Sept. 20, at 7 PM
Help PBS Western Reserve Donate 2,000 Books!
It’s Literacy Awareness Month and PBS Western Reserve needs your help to do our part. In the last year, PBS Western Reserve gave out over 1,000 books. This year, let’s double it!
Tune in to our new local program LET’S READ TOGETHER: LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR LIFELONG LEARNING to learn about local nonprofits working to improve literacy across our region. When you make a donation to PBS Western Reserve in September, you can select a thank you gift of books to be donated in your name to one of the featured organizations.
To donate right now, call us at 1-800-672-4549 or visit PBSWesternReserve.org/bookchallenge.
Presented by PBS Western Reserve and The Summit FM
Studio C Sessions
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Saturdays at 10:30 PM
Sundays at 2:30 AM
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Sundays at 8 PM
Enjoy live performances that capture artists and audiences connecting in the closest of confines. To experience these unique concerts live, you have to be a member of The Summit FM, a public radio station serving Akron, Canton and Youngstown. This series allows you to watch these intimate music moments on PBS Western Reserve.
Great Lakes Now
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Sundays at 11 AM (preempted 9/14)
Through a regional magazine-style television program and daily online reports at GreatLakesNow.org, GREAT LAKES NOW covers the environmental, recreational, cultural, and economic issues of the lakes and the communities that depend on them.
A PBS Western Reserve Production
City Centric
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Mondays at 5:30 AM beginning Sept. 8
PBS Western Reserve presents an inspiring series highlighting passionate individuals who reflect the fabric of their cities. Each city’s episode reveals the stories of six trailblazers who define the essence of their community and possess unique roles including business leader, revitalizer, artist, humanitarian, historian, educator and visionary.
A PBS Western Reserve Production
Around Akron with Blue Green
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Saturday, Sept. 13, at 4:30 PM
Sunday, Sept. 14, at 11 AM
Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 8 PM
Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 1 AM
Saturday, Sept. 27, at 5:30 PM
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Sunday, Sept. 14, at 8:30 PM
Saturday, Sept. 20, at 4:30 PM
This monthly half-hour shines a spotlight on all of the good things that Akron has to offer. Each show consists of four stories, including segments on dining, arts and culture, history, business, and movers and shakers.
A PBS Western Reserve Production in collaboration with Akron 200
Akron 200: Forgotten History Forum Series, The Akron History Anthology
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Thursday, Sept. 18, at 6 PM
AKRON 200: FORGOTTEN HISTORY FORUM SERIES explores lesser-known chapters of Akron's history, from urban renewal and the story of deaf rubber workers to the local history of the African American church and much more. Presented in collaboration with the city’s bicentennial commission, the series is more than expert lectures, it is an invitation to foster dialogue that shines a light on the influential and at times challenging corners of Akron’s 200-year lifespan.
Presented by PBS Western Reserve
The Remember Balloons
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Saturday, Sept. 20, at 5 PM
A heartwarming dance-theater production that brings families together through storytelling and movement. Inspired by the award-winning children’s book, the show uses dance, music and multimedia to explore memory, loss and intergenerational connections, making difficult conversations about Alzheimer’s disease accessible for audiences of all ages.
A PBS Western Reserve Production
By Nature’s Design: Exploring Our Native Wildlife, Native & Invasive Species of the Wetlands
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 8:30 PM
Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 1:30 AM
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Sunday, Sept. 14, at 7:30 PM
Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 10:30 PM
Explore wetlands in this close look at the flora and fauna in and around the ecosystem. With the help of more local experts, learn about the essential role of native species, the destructive force of invasive species, and the importance of protecting biodiversity in our wetlands.
Presented by PBS Western Reserve, Ideastream Public Media and the
University of Akron’s Media Studies program
Akron Roundtable
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Thursday, Sept. 25, at 6 PM
Since 1976, the Akron Roundtable has brought new ideas to Akron. Now, PBS Western Reserve, Ideastream Public Media and the University of Akron’s Media Studies program are partnering with the Akron Roundtable to bring those ideas to our region at large. The Akron Roundtable’s signature series delivers thought-provoking presentations on a wide range of topics from speakers of global, national and regional importance.
This month: Charles L. Marohn on Escaping the Housing Trap
Presented by PBS Western Reserve
The World According to Polka, Season 3
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Fridays at 8:30 PM beginning Sept. 26
Saturdays at 1:30 AM & 10 PM beginning Sept. 27
Sundays at 2 AM beginning Sept. 28
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Sundays at 8:30 PM beginning Sept. 28
The Band Is Back: The World According to Polka Season 3
The Chardon Polka Band returns for a third spin on THE WORLD ACCORDING TO POLKA. With host Jake Kouwe fresh off his second regional Emmy win for his role, the band is back and better than ever. The new season takes you to to places near and far with plenty of polka jams along the way. The six-episode season kicks off on Sept. 26.
Presented by PBS Western Reserve
Gathered in Darkness
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Saturday, Sept. 27, at 5 PM
For thousands of years, total solar eclipses have captivated humanity. They are also great for science. The Citizen Continental-America Telescopic Eclipse (CATE) 2024 brought amateur and professional scientists into partnership to gather data on our Sun’s corona, its outermost atmosphere, during the 2024 total solar eclipse. Explore perspectives of the community participants in this documentary.
