Pa History Comes to Life Through Stories of the People Who Shaped It

aired; October 10, 2026 Pennsylvania’s history is filled with stories of invention, political intrigue, triumph and tragedy. Author and lifelong Pennsylvanian Roger Kelly takes a different approach to teaching that history, focusing less on memorizing dates and more on the people behind the events. His books, Empowered: How Pennsylvania Transformed America and Keystone Connections, explore everything from the state’s role in shaping American government to unusual stories like a World War II plan to attach incendiary devices to bats and Abraham Lincoln’s secret journey through Harrisburg to avoid an assassination plot. On The Spark, we’ll talk with Kelly about making Pennsylvania history more engaging and helping students understand how the people and events of the past continue to shape the state today.