Wgtd's The Morning Show With Greg Berg

This is the oldest interview in the Morning Show archives.  This conversation dates back to 1987,  in the days when WGTD was a free-standing affiliate of NPR - and responsible for doing its own fundraisers.   In those days,  nationally-known hosts from NPR would come to Kenosha to be part of our fundraisers.  In 1987,  we welcomed into our studios Bob Edwards,  the original host of NPR's Morning Edition.   Bill Guy was the original host of The Morning Show.

We talk with the co-creators of the new podcast Read More Plays, which drops its first episode on Monday, September 7th.   

CBS News Journalist Wesley Lowery talks about coming to Kenosha to speak with the family of Jacob Blake- and to do the first interview with Raysean White, the man who took the video recording of the shooting of Jacob Blake and shared it with the world.   The interview is part of the latest episode of "60 in 6," which streams on Quibi and is also available on Quibi's YouTube channel. 

In her book "Prisoners of the Empire: Inside Japanese POW Camps,"  author Sarah Kovner explores why many Allied prisoners of the Japanese were treated so brutally while many others were treated quite humanely.    Why the wide variance?   And when it came to those situations where POW's were treated brutally,  why was that the case?  It turns out that some of the reasons are surprising.  

Dr. Debra Ford,  Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, offers her thoughts on recent events in Kenosha ... UW-Parkside's ongoing efforts on anti-racism and inclusion .... and also talks about the school's efforts to open the fall semester with a combination of virtual and in-person learning as safely as possible during this time of COVID-19.    (Today is the first day of fall classes at Parkside.)   

Dr. John Swallow, the president of Carthage College, offers some thoughts on recent events in Kenosha-  outlines Carthage's Anti-Racism Plan of Action -  and also updates us on the school's plans for the fall semester and the precautions that are being taken to try and keep the students, staff and faculty safe from the threat of COVID-19.  (Classes begin tomorrow, September 2nd, but entirely virtual.) 

In the wake of recent events in Kenosha,  we are replaying this conversation from earlier this year with Margaret L. Anderson, author of "Getting Smart About Race:  An American Conversation."  Among other things,  Anderson's book explores some of the history of the very concept of race- some of the ways in which ideas and attitudes about race have been a complicating factor in our country's history-  and some of the challenges tied up in talking about race.   

We believe this interview from the archives dates back to 1997 or 1998.  At the time of this interview, Marla Greenspan (now Marla Polley) worked in Carthage's Advising Center.  (She left in the early 2000's but is now back at Carthage and teaching there.)  Much has changed in the world - and in the world of education - since this interview was recorded, but some of the pressures and challenges remain the same.  Because Marla shared such important and intriguing insights, and in her uniquely entertaining way, I decided to replay this interview as another college school year begins. 

Dr. Michael Hansen is a member of the Political Science faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.  In this conversation recorded on August 21st, Dr. Hansen talks about some of the intriguing research he is doing on the wide variation in how counties across Wisconsin share information with the public through their respective websites.   Back in late April, he studied the sharing of COVID information county-by-county throughout the nation.   <This interview was originally scheduled to be broadcast on Friday, August 28th- but was postponed because of events in Kenosha.>

We discuss this week's turmoil in Kenosha with Jennifer Cobbina, Professor of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University,  author of  "Hands up!  Don't Shoot!  Why the Protests in Ferguson and Baltimore Matter, and How They Have Changed America."  

Dr. Art Cyr, Clausen Distinguished Professor of Political Science/ World Economy and Director of the Clausen Center at Carthage College.

Part One of today's program features Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian Jon Meacham, talking about his newest book-  "His Truth is Marching On:  John Lewis and the Power of Hope."   John Lewis, one of the most inspiring figures in the Civil Rights movement,  died on July 17th.  My conversation with Meacham was recorded on Tuesday with the city of Kenosha engulfed in unrest over the shooting of Jacob Blake.  

Today is the monthly visit of Bryan Albrecht, the president of Gateway Technical College, who begins by weighing in on the turmoil in Kenosha over the last several days.  His guest is Patrick Fennimore,  director of facilities for the Kenosha Unified School District.   They discuss the challenges being faced by KUSD as it prepares for the beginning of the fall semester - and how those preparations have had to change in the wake of the School Board's decision last week to shift from all-virtual to a hybrid of virtual and in-person learning.   

Dr. Jerald Mast, Professor of Political Science at Carthage College, offers his analysis of the recently concluded Democratic National Convention- and gives his thoughts on what the republicans need to do with their convention this week.  

On August 10th,  the upper midwest was slammed by exceptionally severe thunderstorms, and much of Iowa was slashed by a Derecho- sometimes known as an inland hurricane - with straight line winds between 100 and 140 miles per hour.   Cedar Rapids and the surrounding area was completel devastated. Peter Ylvisaker, who lives in nearby Marion, IA,  gives an account of what it was like to experience the storm- and what has transpired in the wake of it.  (600,000 Iowans lost power, and thousands of people are still without power two weeks later.)  

From 2008-  James M. Tabor, author of "Forever on the Mountain: The Truth Behind One of Mountaineering's Most Controversial and Mysterious Disasters."  The book chronicles the doomed 1967 expedition on Alaska's Mount McKinley; only five of the twelve climbers survived.  

From 2003 comes this interview with opera singer Shirley Verrett, talking about her book "I Never Walked Alone:  The Autobiography of an American Singer."  Verrett was one of the most compelling opera singers of her generation- and an African-American who came to prominence during the height of the Civil Rights movement.   This is the first time that the entire interview is being shared without abridgment.   Verrett died in 2010. 

We reconnect with Star Trek expert Marc Cushman to get an overview of his three most recent books titled "These are the Voyages: Gene Rodenberry and Star Trek in the 70's."   In these three volumes,  Cushman chronicles the events that ensued in the wake of the cancellation of Star Trek: the Original Series in 1969- and the persistent efforts to resurrect the franchise. 

Nan Calvert's monthly visit features an interview with Chris Litzau, Director of the Great Lakes Community Conservation Corp - as well as two of the crew supervisors who help carry out their important work in and around southeast Wisconsin.  They also talk about a new Racine County project to improve storm water run-off in the area.   

Part One:   Dr. Uma Naidoo, author of "This is your brain on food:  An Indispensable Guide to the Surprising Foods that fight Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, OCD, ADHD, and more."     Part Two:  (from 2009)  Richard Farrell, author of "What's Left of Us: a Memoir of Addiction."