Wgtd's The Morning Show With Greg Berg

Dr. Arturo Casadevall discusses his fascinating book "What if Fungi Win?" Dr. Casadevall has been studying fungi for more than forty years. They are extraordinary organisms - remarkably diverse - and absolutely essential for human life. They also pose a grave threat to us with fungal diseases that affect both human beings as well as our food supply. Dr. Casadevall also talks about all that we still do not understand about fungi and the ways in which research has fallen short. "I want to help change the way we practice science," he says at one point.

B.J. Hollars discusses his book "Wisconsin for Kennedy: The Primary that Launched a President and Changed the Course of History." The book gives a careful account of the JFK's campaign in the 1960 Wisconsin presidential primary in which he eventually secured a narrow victory over Hubert Humphrey. The book includes portraits of some of the people who played very important roles in the campaign, including Jerry Bruno, a forklift operator from Kenosha (with a 9th grade education) who became one of the coordinators of the candidate's travel arrangements- and went on to serve a similar function in President Kennedy's administration. The book also examines the crucial role that Jackie Kennedy played in her husband's campaign.

For Memorial Day: Patrick K. O'Donnell talks about his remarkable book "The Unknowns: The Untold Story of America's Unknown Soldier and World War One's Most Decorated Heroes Who Brought Him Home." (We replay this interview on every Memorial Day.)

From 2010 - Thomas Childers, author of "Soldier from the War Returning: The Greatest Generation's Troubled Homecoming from World War Two." (in anticipation of the Memorial Day holiday.) This haunting and illuminating book examines the largely untold story of all of the soldiers from World War Two who returned home with physical, mental and physical trauma, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder- something not fully understood or appreciated at the time. Childers focuses in particular on the stories of three families - one of which was his own.

From 2014 - Ayelet Waldman talks about her riveting novel "Love and Treasure" - partly set in the immediate aftermath of World War Two - and also set seventy years later. It touches on the painful legacy of plundered treasures.

We speak with Matthew Matysik, Kaylee Annable, Betty Peterson and Dan Venne about the Racine Theater Guild's production of the Kander/Ebb musical CABARET. We play excerpts from a number of the songs that are part of the score.

Ann E. Burg talks about "Force of Nature: a novel of Rachel Carson." Carson was one of the most important environmentalists of the 20th century.

Part 1 - Christine Saxman, co-author of "Being White Today: A Road Map for a Positive Anti-Racist Life." Part 2 - (from 2005) Ellis Cose, author of "Bone to Pick: of Forgiveness, Reconciliation, Reparation, and Revenge."

Part one: Dr. Andrea Sankar, co-author of "Dying at Home: a Family Guide for Caregiving." Part two: (from the archives) Diane Rehm, author of "When my time comes: Conversations about whether those who are dying should have the right to determine when life ends." The book focuses primarily on the practice known as MAID- Medical Aid in Dying.

We speak with John Tate II, director of the department of community safety for the city of Racine. We talk about efforts that are underway to reduce violence and violent crime in Racine. Tate is a former president of the Racine Common Council and former chair of the Wisconsin Parole Board.

Dave Cole, general manger of WGTD, discusses the format and schedule changes for WGTD and Wisconsin Public Radio that go into effect today.

Best-selling author Tom Clavin talks about his newest book, "Throne of Grace: A Mountain Man, an Epic Adventure, and the Bloody Conquest of the American West." The book explores the beaver trade of the early 19th century as the American West was being explored- and it focuses in particular on a largely forgotten explorer by the name of Jedidiah Smith.

From 2014 - Margo Howard (writer and daughter of Ann Landers) talks about her entertaining memoir "Eat, Drink and Remarry."

From the summer of 2021, Carthage College's Adam Koening talks about what went behind the creation of a brand new way to do Commencement .... necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the impossibility of safely gathering for a conventional Commencement with thousands of people crowded together. Adam drew upon some of his professional experience before Carthage to conceive, design and execute a sort of individual procession for each graduate. Because this experience was so deeply enjoyed and appreciated, it has been retained even though a more conventional commencement gathering is now possible. (Carthage actually does both- a large gathering as well as the individual processional.) We're replaying this interview today to coincide with the first of two days of individual commencement processionals.\ at Carthage.

On Monday, May 20th, Wisconsin Public Radio is enacting a dramatic realignment of its two networks- and WGTD is going to be part of the network devoted almost exclusively to news and information. Consequently, classical music will no longer be heard over WGTD- which also means that I will no longer be hosting the Music Potpourri on occasional weekday mornings at 9. These changes are necessary and sensible, and I fully support them - but I also find myself grieving more than I expected I would. Consequently, I made a point of making the last two Music Potpourri programs especially meaningful, comprised entirely of special pieces of music that have meant a lot to me over the years - and I am sharing them in the podcast in part so that they might be archived. (NOTE: this change in format does not in any way alter The Morning Show. It will continue to be broadcast five days a week, and the podcast version of the program will be shared seven days a week.)

Tim Wendel talks about his newest historical novel, "Rebel Falls," which is set during the Civil War. Its central protagonist is a woman anxious to be part of the Union war effort - and ends up volunteering to be part of the Union's special forces looking to thwart a Confederate plot to prolong the war and avoid outright defeat.

When I was hired at WGTD in 1986, it was primarily to organize and host our classical music programming- which back then was considerable. My musical duties here at the station- which have gradually given way to other responsibilities over the years (chief among them being the Morning Show) - are about to end because of a format change that goes into effect on Monday, May 20th. (It reflects a necessary and logical format change at Wisconsin Public Radio, with which we are an affiliate.) Under the new format, we will be part of the WPR network that is devoted almost entirely to news/information/talk ..... and classical music will move to the other network. It's a change which I fully understand and embrace, but it still marks for me the end of an era - so I want to archive my last two Music Potpourri programs here on the podcast. (NOTE: The Morning Show remains unchanged in the new format.)

Kendall Victorine talks about the Four Seasons Garden Club - and their annual plant sale, which is coming up this Saturday at Harbor Market.

Law professor Joshua Douglas discusses his book "The Court versus The Voters: The Troubling Story of hos the Supreme Court has Undermined Voting Rights." Professor Douglas examines 9 U.S. Supreme Court rulings over the past half century that he believes have undermined voting rights to an alarming extent.

In honor of International Water Safety Day, we speak with Seth Weidman - associate athletic director at Carthage and an associate coach for the swimming and diving teams - and David Benjamin, director of The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, an advocacy organization in the Great Lakes region that tackles the issue of water safety in many different ways.