The Commercial Break: Special Preview of “Cement City”

Episode: Introducing: Cement City
Date: September 30, 2024
Hosts: Bryan Green, Krissy Hoadley
Preview: Odyssey & Cement City Productions

Episode Overview

In this special edition of The Commercial Break, hosts Bryan Green and Krissy Hoadley introduce listeners to Cement City, a new documentary-style podcast by Odyssey. The episode shares a sneak peek of the series, which explores the struggles and enduring hope of the town of Donora, Pennsylvania—population: 4,650. Once a thriving steel town, Donora now faces extreme decline but clings tightly to its identity, traditions, and a flicker of possibility for redemption.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to Donora, Pennsylvania (00:00–01:33)

• The show opens with Bryan’s trademark banter and glowing recommendation of offbeat documentaries:
  • “You know I love a good quirky documentary or a quirky podcast, and I think we've got a good one for you...” (00:08, Bryan)
• He sets the stage for Cement City: Donora has lost nearly everything—schools, banks, grocery stores—and now is grappling with its future.
• Donora’s unusual attractions: a smog museum, the nickname “Home of Champions,” and a mayor called Piglet.

2. The Podcast Hosts’ Journey (01:33–02:38)

• Narrator Jean Marie (Jean Marie Laskas) describes her first impressions upon arriving in Donora, a “dying town” she’d only glimpsed from the highway.
• Jean Marie is accompanied by Erin and a microphone—exploring, recording, and seeking answers to: What’s it like to live in a dying town?
• Lighthearted exchanges:
  • “Did you know that there is actually a band, a local Pittsburgh band called Donora?” (01:15, Erin)
  • “I'm not buying a house, honey.” (01:58, Jean Marie)
  • “Then suddenly, I'm buying a house.” (02:03, Jean Marie)

3. The State and Spirit of Donora (02:06–03:16)

• Donora bills itself as “Home of Champions” but has only a single restaurant and a Dollar General left.
  • “And a smog museum. I mean, those are things, you know what I mean?” (02:30, Erin)
• Fatalism and dark humor from residents:
  • “We got smog. Everybody else got pumpkins and apples, we got smog.” (02:38, Resident)
• Despite hardship, a persistent hope underlies the community; Donora “will not go down without a fight.”
• The arrival of a pivotal election—19 days away—raises stakes for the town’s revitalization.
  • “Tick, tick, tick goes the clock. 19 days and there’s an election... the man in the arena. That's what it is.” (02:52, Resident)

4. Local Politics, Corruption, and Hope (03:16–04:05)

• The mayoral race becomes a focus:
  • “We have our hero. Oh my God, he's amazing. He has no idea how good he is to me.” (03:16, Jean Marie)
  • “This is gonna be one of the most important primaries ever. I mean, it’s just mind boggling.” (03:22, Resident)
• The town faces controversy and scandals:
  • “He is indicted.” (03:34, Jean Marie)
  • “It’s a corruption. It’s absolute corruption. And there’s honestly no hope for Donora.” (03:46, Resident)
• Residents debate visions for the town’s future: jobs, taxes, traffic—and whether any of it even matters at this point.

5. Connection, Transformation, and Community Bond (04:05–04:43)

• Jean Marie and Erin spend three years embedded in Donora, forging deep attachments:
  • “And by the end, we won’t want to leave.” (04:21, Jean Marie)
• Residents express pride and cautious optimism despite decades of struggle:
  • “We love this town. We want it to grow, we want it to get better. It’s home and we're proud of it.” (04:29, Resident)
  • “It is magical, that, that, that parade was magical.” (04:26, Jean Marie)

6. Outro & Call to Action (04:43–05:00)

• Show wrap-up by Jean Marie:
  • “From Odyssey and Cement City Productions. This is Cement City, the story of one American town. An Odyssey original podcast, available now.” (04:43, Jean Marie)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Donora’s Unique Character:

  • “Donora’s the home of champions.” (02:19, Resident)
  • “We got smog. Everybody else got pumpkins and apples, we got smog.” (02:38, Resident)

• On Hope and Resilience:

  • “But we stuck around. And what we found was a dying town with one hell of a will to live. Donora, Pennsylvania will not go down without a fight.” (02:46, Jean Marie)
  • “We love this town. We want it to grow, we want it to get better. It’s home and we’re proud of it. And we just keep hoping.” (04:29, Resident)

• On the Challenges Facing Donora:

  • “It’s a corruption. It’s absolute corruption. And there’s honestly no hope for Donora.” (03:46, Resident)
  • “You gotta come up with a vision, guys. What do we want Donora to be? It’s jobs, it’s traffic, it’s taxes.” (03:52, Resident)

• On Transformation and Attachment:

  • “And by the end, we won’t want to leave.” (04:21, Jean Marie)
  • “I just feel like today has been like life changing experience.” (04:22, Resident)
  • “It is magical, that, that, that parade was magical.” (04:26, Jean Marie)

Important Timestamps

• 00:00–01:15 – Show intro, context, and premise of Cement City
• 01:33–02:38 – First impressions of Donora, the smog museum, and settling in
• 02:46–03:16 – The vitality and fatalism of Donora’s citizens
• 03:16–03:52 – Mayoral race, dysfunction, and debates about Donora’s future
• 04:14–04:43 – Jean Marie and Erin’s growing bond with the town and its residents
• 04:43–05:00 – Closing remarks and invitation to subscribe

Summary & Takeaway

Introducing: Cement City offers a vivid, sometimes poignant, sometimes darkly comic glimpse into the resilience of small-town America. Through the voices of Donora—with its smog, its quirks, and its dogged citizens—the podcast captures both the heartbreak of decline and the stubborn hope for rebirth. Listeners are invited to engage with this “American town with one hell of a will to live,” promising a unique blend of humor, heart, and hard truths.

Listen to Cement City on Odyssey or wherever you get your podcasts.