Wgtd's The Morning Show With Greg Berg

We explore Carthage College's plans for the fall semester with Dr. John Swallow, the president of Carthage,  and Dr. David Timmerman, the provost of Carthage.  We talk about what kinds of discussions have been taking place through every stage of COVID-19 - and also examine some of the most vexing challenges for a college or university that wants to resume in-person learning while keeping students, staff and faculty as safe as possible. 

From 2013 comes this conversation with Susan Dunn, author of "1940:  FDR, Wilkie, Lindbergh, Hitler- the Election amid the Storm."  

For the Fourth of July, we listen back to a 2011 conversation with Harlow Giles Unger, talking about his book "Improbable Patriot:  The Secret History of Monsieur de Beaumarchais, the French Playwright who Saved the American Revolution."   Beaumarchais is perhaps best remembered for his groundbreaking plays that were the basis for the operas "The Marriage of Figaro" and "The Barber of Seville" - but as  the book's subtitle suggests, this book focuses on Beaumarchais's crucial role in aiding the colonists in the Revolutionary War.  

In memory of Carl Reiner, who passed away this past Monday at the age of 98, we are replaying my 2003 interview with the legendary entertainer.  

We preview an extraordinary two-part American Experience documentary called "The Vote" - which explores the final decade of relentless activism that finally led to passage of the 19th amendment in which American women gained the right to vote.  Our guest is Michelle Ferrari, who is writer, producer and director for the film.    The documentary airs on July 6th and 7th on PBS stations across the country.

Performing Arts organizations across the globe are grappling to contend with the COVID-19 pandemic and the many ways in which it has changed our lives, both individually and collectively.  We go behind the scenes of one such organization- the Racine Theater Guild- with Doug Instenes (Managing and Artistic Director) and Joycelyn Fish (Director of Marketing and Development) to see how the RTG came to the decisions it ultimately made on what to do with the end of the past season and the start of next season. 

We look at the presidential race with Dr. Jerald Mast, Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Political Science Department at Carthage College. 

Our guest is Steve Benen,  a Digital Producer for The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC.   His book is titled "The Impostors: How Republicans Quit Governing and Seized American Politics."  It is Benen's contention that the Republican Party, at least at the national level,  no longer functions properly as a major political party, having largely abandoned the process of formulating public policy. 

From 2007 comes this interview with Chip Heath, co-author of "Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Die and Others Survive."  

We live in a world in which the internet is an indispensable part of daily life- and we effortlessly navigate the internet without giving it a second thought.  But this interview from late 1998/early 1999 takes us back to a time when the internet was a very new and intimidating new frontier.  Carol Sabbar, who was (and is still) a staff member for the Carthage College library, was asked to come on the program to explain what the internet was and how one could best explore it.  

Our guest is Dr. John D, Feerick, former dean of the Fordham School of Law - and one of the primary authors of the 25th amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which specifies the line of succession in the event that the president is disabled.   His book is titled "That Farther Shore: A Memoir of Irish Roots and American Promise."  

Part Two:  We speak with Stephen Rebello, author of "Dolls! Dolls! Dolls!  Deep Inside Valley of the Dolls- the Most Beloved Bad Book and Movie of all Time." 

We hear about four virtual performances this weekend of Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" by the Fleeing Artists Theater in Kenosha.  We speak with Alex Metalsky, the director of the production- and with three of the actors:  Kaila Bingen, who is part of the Rose cast (all actors from Southeastern Wisconsin and Northeastern Illinois) and Kayla Ryan Walsh and Gloria Huang from the Globe cast (whose actors are from all over- Kayla is from Bend, Oregon and Gloria is from Vancouver, Canada.)  

Part 3-  This 2012 conversation is with Charles Ogletree, author of "The Presumption of Guilt:  The Arrest of Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Race, Class, and Crime in America."   

Part 2-  Broadcast journalist Soledad O'Brien previews the documentary "Outbreak: the First Response,"  a look at how the city of Seattle tried to cope with COVID-19 as the United States' first hotspot.   O'Brien was already in Seattle making another documentary when the crisis hit.   The film airs tonight on Milwaukee's WISN, channel 12. 

We get an update from Cory Mason, the mayor of Racine- a city which continues to be hard hit by COVID-19.   

Dr. Art Cyr, Clausen Distinguished Professor of Political Economy and World Business, offers his analysis of current events.  

Best-selling author Larry Tye talks about his latest book,  "Demagogue:  The Life and Long Shadow of Senator Joe McCarthy."   Tye was given access to an enormous wealth of documents that have never been available to previous authors and researchers.  This has allowed him to craft an exceptionally vivid and fresh portrait of one of our country's most infamous politicians. 

For Father's Day.  From 2012,  Matt Logelin talks about his book "Two Kisses for Maddy: a Memoir of Loss and Love."  

From 2007-  Phillip Lerman talks about his book "Dadditude:  How a Real Man Became a Real Dad."