Today on Forbes Avenue, we spoke to Jennifer Zgurich from the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank; Carole Panno, a Associate Director of Development here at Carnegie Mellon, who has been involved in the food drive for more than 30 years; and Jonathan Anguiano, who oversees the CMU Pantry.

The Carnegie Mellon Food Drive is happening until November 8th. Every year, CMU partners with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank to combat food insecurity. Carole and Jennifer discussed the collaboration and its history, as well as how to give. Donations are focused on cash, because the buying power of the food pantry means that $1 can purchase up to 3 meals, but you can find drop-off points to donate non perishable food across campus. The Food Drive is also collecting can openers to donate to the CMU Pantry.

Jennifer emphasized that there is no shame in getting extra help at a food bank. You can go to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank’s website to get help with food today. For Carnegie Mellon students, the CMU Food Pantry at the Residence on Fifth is also available to provide free food. Jonathan talked about some of the initiatives that the Pantry is working on, as well as the best way to reach out (call 412-268-8704 if it’s an emergency or email . Otherwise, schedule an appointment to go take advantage of the Pantry’s resources).

Listen to the episode: Food Resources and the CMU Food Drive

For more information about finding or donating food in the Pittsburgh area, WESA and Kidsburgh have created guides.

Riona Duncan, host, audio editor, audio engineer, researcher
Recorded October 31, 2025; WRCT debut November 5 2025

This week on Forbes Avenue, we had comedian Colin Mochrie (known for his work on “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”) and hypnotist Asad Mecci.

Colin and Asad talked about their show HYPROV, which is a combination improv and hypnosis performance – and which will have a show at the Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall on November 9, 2025. They also discussed misconceptions about hypnosis and advice for getting into improv. A fascinating conversation with funny people!

Listen to the show: Colin Mochrie and Asad Mecci

Abriana Bensch, host, audio engineer, researcher
Riona Duncan, audio editor
Recorded October 30, 2025; WRCT debut November 5, 2025

The fourth week of October each year is Free Speech Week. This year, we were fortunate to spend some time with University of Delaware Communications Professor Jennifer Lambe while she was in Pittsburgh for the 2025 Eradicate Hate Summit.

This conversation covered a wide range of topics: How Pittsburgh’s reaction to the 2018 Tree of Life shooting differed from some politicians’ reaction to the 2025 shooting of Charlie Kirk; What the First Amendment does and doesn’t do; The importance of the First Amendment; How the economics of political campaigns and social media have helped make the “speech environment” radically different than when the First Amendment was enacted in 1791; and many other interesting topics.

The most important point Prof. Lambe made was that we need more true civil discourse between individuals, where we listen to each other and respect each other as people even when we disagree about politics, to help diffuse the divisiveness of our current political environment.

A very thought-provoking conversation.

Listen to the episode: Prof. Jennifer Lambe

Richard Gordon, host, audio editor, audio engineer, researcher
Recorded September 15, 2025; WRCT debut October 21, 2025