This podcast is about you: The Cincinnatian. Let The Enquirer’s Beryl Love and guest hosts make the complicated local issues affecting your daily life easy to understand – and have some fun in the process. Our guest list is a who’s who of Greater Cincinnati, and we celebrate the quirky awesomeness that defines this place we call home. Why? Because that’s SO Cincinnati.
S2 Ep140: That's So Cincinnati: Paycor Stadium deal was so secret it had two code names
Aug 11, 2022
Show notes
The effort to force a stadium naming-rights deal between the Cincinnati Bengals and Paycor was so secret it had not one, but two code names. Internally Paycor called the deal Project SoFi, a nod to the name of the stadium where the Bengals played in the 2022 Super Bowl. Norwood-based Paycor was already a team sponsor, so talking about the Bengals' Super Bowl appearance wouldn't seem out of the ordinary. Meanwhile, the Bengals' internal code name for the deal was Project Lightening, a name Elizabeth Blackburn, the team's director of strategy and engagement, came up with. It's a nod to Paycor's competitor, Paycom, which has the naming rights to the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder Paycom Center. (Get it? Thunder and lightning.) And it references just how quickly the deal came together. Holmes and Carly Graman, Paycor's marketing and communications manager, revealed the code names and much more about how the deal came together on The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast.
S2 Ep139: That's So Cincinnati: Angenette Levy reports from America's most high-profile trials
Jul 20, 2022
Show notes
If it's a high-profile national trial, chances are Cincinnati-based veteran courts and crime reporter Angenette Levy is there. The Law & Crime network host and correspondent has been on the ground in Wisconsin for the Kyle Rittenhouse, in Virginia for Johnny Depp-Amber Heard and in Minnesota for Derek Chauvin trials in the past year. And a big reason why Levy's been there: Courts in those states allow cameras in the court room. Levy, the former Local 12 reporter and anchor, is outspoken about the need for federal courts to begin following most state courts and allow cameras in the courtroom. "It's time," Levy told The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast. "With the technology, we have to evolve and give people a peek into the system." Here in Cincinnati, the issue of cameras in the courtroom came up amid the recent federal public corruption trial of former city councilman P.G. Sittenfeld. Federal court policy prohibits cameras and all electronic devices in the courtroom for federal trials, something that has frustrated the public and journalists, particularly on high-profile cases. Levy recalled a recent discussion she had with a federal court source. "This person said they think it hinders justice and people start performing because they believe they're on a stage and they're playing to the cameras. And maybe a little bit of that is true," Levy said. "But I believe in transparency. Courts should be accessible to everyone. Why are we not getting a peek inside? I think it's silly. People are going to perform whether there's a camera there or not. Court is kind of a theater." Law & Crime is a digital network that serves a similar purpose as Court TV. Law & Crime live streams high-profile cases on its website and social media platforms. Levy has been with the network since late 2020, and Law & Crime often sends her across the U.S. to provide live reports from trials. The network often sends Levy across the nation to provide live reports from the courtroom. Levy was in Florida this week reporting on the trial of the Parkland school shooter. Levy cohosts Law & Crime's "Sidebar" daily podcast. She also hosts the local radio show "Simply Medicine" at 2 p.m. on Saturday on 55KRC.
S2 Ep138: That's So Cincinnati: Former federal prosecutor weighs in on P.G. Sittenfeld verdict
Jul 12, 2022
Show notes
You think you were surprised at everything you heard in the P.G. Sittenfeld trial?
So was the guy who oversaw the public corruption investigation into the former Cincinnati city councilman and other Ohio politicians. And David DeVillers was part of a team of prosecutors who helped convict Saddam Hussein on war crimes and genocide.
"The biggest thing coming into becoming the U.S. Attorney ... it wasn't the murders and the terrorism and the cartels, it was the corruption that was the biggest surprise for me," DeVillers, the former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, told "That's So Cincinnati" podcast. DeVillers left the U.S. Attorney's office in February 2021 with the change in the White House. But the Columbus resident kept close tabs on the Sittenfeld trial, which ended last week with the Democrat being convicted of bribery and attempted extortion.
DeVillers declined to answer specific questions about the investigation because it overlaps with cases that have not yet come to trial – and he's no longer in office. DeVillers, who in 2020 said Cincinnati City Hall had a "culture of corruption," declined to discuss why the investigation that ultimately led to Sittenfeld's arrest happened. But DeVillers, originally hired as an assistant federal prosecutor during President George W. Bush's administration, talked about the big picture when it comes to the federal government cracking down on corrupt politicians. "That's one of the FBI's highest priorities," DeVillers said. These days, DeVillers is a partner in the Columbus office of national law firm Barnes & Thornburg. He's working as a technical adviser for the producers of the popular Showtime show "Billions," a drama about power and politics. DeVillers also is an adjunct instructor at Ohio State's Moritz College of Law.
S2 Ep137: Thats So Cincinnati: Why trial lawyer, former councilman believes 'strong likelihood' P.G. Sittenfeld will be convicted
Jun 29, 2022
Show notes
Trial attorney Steve Goodin, a former Cincinnati City Councilman, joins "That's So Cincinnati" podcast to provide legal analysis on the public corruption trial of former Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld. Goodin, of Downtown-based Graydon Law, has been in the courtroom to watch most of the proceedings since the trial began June 21. Asked after the prosecution rested its case on Wednesday what he thought the outcome might be, Goodin said:
“I have thought from the beginning that there was a pretty strong likelihood of him being convicted. I still feel that way after having heard the evidence. It isn’t just some subjective thing. When I look at some of the cases around the country that are most like this case … the (former Gov. Rod) Blagovich trial in Illinois and the (former Gov. Bob) McConnell trial of Virginia – both of which involved what we call these subtle quid pro quos – the jury found them both guilty. "Juries tend not to like this kind of behavior. There’s something about these fact patterns that to the average person really speak to everything they don’t like about politics. ... "I think there’s a strong likelihood he will be convicted on some of the charges, maybe not all. That’s a sad day for the city. That’s a sad day for him."
Sittenfeld faces two counts each of attempted extortion, bribery and honest services wire fraud. Closing arguments could begin on Tuesday.
S2 Ep136: That's So Cincinnati: WLWT-TV anchor Sheree Paolello reflects on 20 years in local news
Jun 15, 2022
Show notes
When Sheree Paolello signed a contract to be a reporterat WLWT-TV News 5 she saw Cincinnati as a stepping stone to a bigger market like Chicago or New York. But that contract became two contracts. Then an offer to anchor came along. So she stayed. This month marks her 20th anniversary at WLWT. Paolello told The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast there's no other place she'd rather report the news. Paolello grew up in St. Leon, in Dearborn County. She graduated from Northern Kentucky University and went on to be a crime reporter in South Bend, Indiana, Dayton and Charlotte before coming to Cincinnati. A mother of three, Paolellofound the love of her life, Mike Dardis, in the anchor chair right next to where she sits. They celebrated their third wedding anniversary a few weeks ago. Looking back, Paolello said the big stories that resonate with viewers are, of course, the stories she remembers too. She reported live from Fountain Square in 2018 when a gunman killed three and wounded two others in the lobby of Fifth Third's headquarters. She covered the 2006 saga of Marcus Fiesel, a 3-year-old child who was falsely reported missing, but whose foster parents killed him. Paolello knows her job can look glamorous, but the truth, she says, is that it usually isn't. "When you're a young reporter," Paolello said, "I don't think you realize the gravity of the job. ... And then you meet people on the worst day of their life. And what I always say to rookie reporters and to journalism school interns, I'll say to them, 'The day you lose your compassion is the day you need to get out of this business because it a day story for us is most of the time a life-changing moment for other people." To deal with the toughest stories she relied on Dardis' strength as her partner and the advice a priest gave her many years ago. He told her to be compassionate and do her job the best she can, in the most compassionate way possible. Then Dardis suggested that every night, on the way home, Paolello say a prayer for the people she's reported on. "And that is kind of how I've gotten through it," Paolello said. "I have been doing this job for over 25 years, 20 here in Cincinnati. And that's what I do. I say a prayer for the parents whose kids were killed in a car crash or the father who lost their wife to cold blood or whatever it is. "I try to just make it be part of my routine."
S2 Ep135: That's So Cincinnati: Western & Southern's John Barrett on retractable roof arena, tennis tourney future, growing jobs
Jun 08, 2022
Show notes
Western & Southern Financial Group top executive John Barrett joins "That's So Cincinnati" and discusses his big, bold idea to potentially build a new Downtown arena.
S2 Ep134: That's So Cincinnati: Jeff Berding breaks down crunch-time decision on World Cup bid
Jun 01, 2022
Show notes
FC Cincinnati co-CEO Jeff Berding joins to discuss the crunch-time decision to sign the agreement with FIFA in order for Cincinnati to move forward with its 2026 World Cup bid.
S2 Ep133: That's So Cincinnati: Local T-shirt boom, story behind hot-selling 'Product of Public Schools' apparel
May 25, 2022
Show notes
Khisha Asubuhi came to Cincinnati to coach basketball in 2003 and soon noticed Southwest Ohio's strong pride in its private, Catholic high schools. Where's the love for the city, suburban and rural public schools, she wondered? It was a thought that eventually led to the best-selling T-shirt at Originalitees, an apparel shop that Asubuhi opened in 2009. She told the story behind the "Product of Public Schools" apparel as this week's guest on The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast. Asubuhi, a Columbus native, played basketball at Cincinnati State and Indiana University. She returned to Cincinnati in 2003 to be an assistant coach at Cincinnati State. After nearly 17 years working at the post office, Asubuhi opened Originalitees as an online-only shop. In 2020, Originalitees opened a storefront at 2809 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills. Originalitees is among a handful of T-shirt shops selling local- and state-themed apparel that have opened and been successful over the past decade or so. The store has partnerships with the Reds and FC Cincinnati. Originalitees has designed an exclusive T-shirt that's part of the ticket package for Friday's African American Community Night game at Great American Ball Park. Originalitees also saw strong sales of its Bengals-themed T-shirts and sweatshirts amid the Super Bowl run this year. Asubuhi explained why there's been a boom in such shops, not only in Cincinnati but nationwide. Listen to "That's So Cincinnati" for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Media and other podcast platforms. The episode is also available for free by clicking the link at the top of the article.
S2 Ep132: That's So Cincinnati: Jean-Robert doesn't let cancer keep him from the kitchen
May 19, 2022
Show notes
Jean-Robert de Cavel is never far from a kitchen – whether it's at his restaurant Le Bar a Boeuf or at home with his wife and daughter. And at 60, he told The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast, not even cancer will stop him. Jean-Robert said he remains in chemotherapy after first being diagnosed in 2018 with leiomyosarcoma, a soft tissue cancer. “I will never be cured," Jean-Robert said. "I just have to be strong. I keep very positive. My medical team says, ‘Keep doing what you’re doing because it’s working.’ Never, ever give up.” The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber named Jean-Robert as a Great Living Cincinnatian in the 2021 class. In addition to Le Bar a Boeuf in East Walnut Hills, Jean-Robert owns French Crust Café and Bistro, in Over-the-Rhine by Findlay Market. Jean-Robert came to Cincinnati in 1993 when he was 32 to work at The Maisonette, the city's only Mobil 5-star-rated restaurant. In the interview, he talked about starting his own fine dining restaurant – Jean-Robert at Pigall's and his subsequent restaurants, which he always started when he was looking for a new challenge. Asked to pick a favorite, Jean-Robert talked wistfully about Table, which was located at Seventh and Vine streets. Table closed in December 2020 because the owner sold the building.
"You could come on a Monday night and have a casual dinner and come back and dress up on Saturday night and celebrate," Jean-Robert said. "Table is definitely a love affair, and it is sad what happened." Jean-Robert has said he wants to find a new space for Table, but the COVID-19 pandemic slowed the process. He told "That's So Cincinnati" that he looked at sites to potentially open a new restaurant eight months ago. But he decided not to continue to pursue it partly because of the financial challenges that the pandemic has had on the restaurant industry. Jean-Robert currently has no immediate plans to open a new restaurant, but said: “Opening a new restaurant is always on my mind.”
S2 Ep131: That's So Cincinnati: Pete Rose talks Bob Castellini, Joe Burrow and the state of the struggling Reds
May 11, 2022
Show notes
Pete Rose, who sees himself as an ambassador for the Cincinnati Reds, is defending team owner Bob Castellini amid the club getting off to one of the worst starts in Major League Baseball history. But baseball's all-time hits leader says he's doesn't blame Reds fans for being upset and wearing bags over their heads calling on Castellini to sell the team. "If I'm managing the Reds and I get off to a 3-22 start, I'm going to wear a bag over my head because I'm embarrassed," Rose told The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast. "I'm a Cincinnati fan," said Rose, the former Reds player and manager. "I do not want to hear the word 'develop.' You can't tell your season-ticket holders you have a three- or four-year plan. Because you know what they'll say? 'OK, I'll see you in three or four years. Let me know when you're ready to entertain me, and I'll come back to the ballpark.' " Rose was asked what he thought of the comments that Reds executive Phil Castellini made on Opening Day. The owner's son brushed off some fans' demands that the team be sold by saying: "Where you gonna go?" "Baseball will never – never – leave Cincinnati, Ohio," Rose said. "So anybody out there worried about (the team moving) because of the ownership, go back to sleep and wake up on the other side of the bed. That's not going to happen." Phil Castellini has apologized for the comments, but fan backlash continues as the Reds have gotten off to one of the worst starts in Major League Baseball history. Rose, 81, permanently banned from baseball for gambling, has had a good relationship with Bob Castellini since he bought the team in 2006. The Reds have received permission multiple times from Major League Baseball to include Rose in reunion events. Rose called Castellini, 80, a "great guy" and "great Cincinnatian." Asked whether he thinks Castellini should sell the team, Rose said: "I'm just speaking for myself. I'm not speaking about anything I've heard. I don't think Mr. Castellini is making big-time decisions with the Cincinnati Reds. He is the owner. He wants the team to do well. He's a rich man. He's done wonders for Cincinnati with the produce company over the years. I don't think he wants to sell the team. And I know if he sold the team, he'd probably make a stipulation that you can't move the team. Rose later added: "The bottom line in sports is the players have to produce. It's not (Manager) David Bell's fault. ... A manager is only as good as his player." Rose, who lives in Las Vegas, is scheduled to be in Cincinnati for a celebrity roast at Hard Rock Casino on June 11. The 81-year-old Cincinnati native continues to travel the nation for autograph-signing events and speaking engagements. He not only keeps close tabs on the Reds, but also the Bengals and UC Bearcats. Rose loves Joe Burrow, and believes the Bengals' Super Bowl loss will help the team improve. Said Rose: "I was happy that they lost. Let me explain that. I wasn't happy for the city. But sometimes, when you're that good that young and you win, it ruins you for the future. You get complacent. Now they probably can't wait to get back there." Cincinnati is the epicenter of football with the Bengals coming off the Super Bowl appearance and the Bearcats playing in the College Football Playoff. But Rose doesn't want people to forget about the Reds' history as the oldest franchise in baseball. "Cincinnati will always be a baseball town," Rose said.
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
Stay Connected
