Wgtd's The Morning Show With Greg Berg

From 2003 comes this interview with Alex Wellen,  author of "Barman:  Ping Pong, Pathos, and Passing the Bar."  In this entertaining memoir, Wellen recounts much of what he experienced as he struggled to pass the bar exam.  

From 2002 comes this interview with Milwaukee writer Tom Kertscher,  talking about his book "Cracked Sidewalks and French Pastry:  The Wit and Wisdom of Al McGuire."   McGuire, a veteran of the NBA,  was a beloved coach at Marquette University for many years as well as a much admired basketball commentator.  

We reconnect with three area clergy with whom we spoke before Easter:  Father Ricardo Martin,  Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Racine ....  Pastor Susan Patterson-Sumwalt,  First United Methodist Church in Kenosha  .....  Rev. Brad Brown,  North Cape Lutheran Church in Raymond.  <Journey Church, which participated in those earlier interviews, declined to be part of today's interviews.>  We also spoke with Rev. Prentice Robbins,  who serves New Beginnings of Faith (Church of God in Christ) in Racine.  Pastor Robbins is also active with the Racine Interfaith Coalition.  

Chad Seales discusses his new book "Religion Around Bono: Evangelical Enchantment and Neoliberal Capitalism."  

Alex Metalsky and Kyle David Perry from Fleeing Artists Theater talk about several virtual productions that they have planned for the summer, including virtual performances of a new play called "Built of Ivory," the winner of the group's 2018 playwriting contest.   The production opens this weekend.  

We speak with Sam Sacket, a recent graduate from Gateway Technical College's nursing program, to learn what it was like for him to finish up his schooling within the constraints of COVID-19 - and what it feels like to become a nurse during this public health crisis.   

Bonus podcast:  From 2010, Mary Roach talks about her entertaining book "Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void," which explores some of the most interesting issues and challenges involved with putting human beings into outer space.   

We talk with Helen Sampson, Quality Coordinator for the Kenosha County Agin and Disability Resource Center, about how the agency has managed to continue offering its many services despite the challenges of the COVID-19 crisis.  She also talks about the grocery shopping service that they have begun offering to vulnerable seniors without access to normal online shopping options. 

For Memorial Day, this is a 2009 conversation with Thomas Childers, author of "Soldier from the War Returning:  The Greatest Generation's Troubled Homecoming from World War Two."   This book examines some of the lasting emotional and psychological scars suffered by World War II veterans- scars that were not fully understood and appreciated at the time. 

From 2009 comes this conversation with Alan Sepinwall, co-author of "TV: The Book:  Two Experts Pick the Greatest American Shows of All Time."  

In a follow up to yesterday's Morning Show, which concerned the AIDS epidemic,  we share a Morning Show interview from 1996 that previews a production at Carthage of Larry Kramer's powerful play "The Normal Heart."  One of the students in the interview, Neil Scharnick,  a freshman at the time, is now a member of the theater faculty at Carthage.  Part two of the program is an interview with a representative of the Southeast Wisconsin AIDS Project.  (The performances at Carthage were done to benefit the SE Wisconsin AIDS Project.) 

From the archives from this 2017 interview with David France, co-author of "How to Survive a Plague:  The Inside Story of How Citizens and Science Tamed AIDS."   This is one of a number of past Morning Show interviews we have rebroadcast during COVID-19 in which we examine public health crises from our own history. 

Our guest is Dr. George Archibald, co-founded of the International Crane Foundation, which has been working since 1973 to safeguard endangered cranes both here and abroad.   His book is titled "My Life With Cranes:  A Collection of Stories."  Dr. Archibald's work has taken him to Russia, China, Australian,  Afghanistan,  and even the Demilitarized Zone of the Korean peninsula.  

Karen Brunssen is the national president of NATS, the National Association of Teachers of Singing.  We talk with her about her distinguished career as a singer and voice teacher - but also talk about the findings of a much-discussed webinar co-sponsored by NATS that suggested that group singing is a high-risk activity during COVID-19.   

Scott Turow is perhaps the leading author of Legal Thrillers over the last several decades.  (His first was the 1987 bestseller "Presumed Innocent.")  He is also an attorney.    "The Last Trial" is his most recent book.  

The mayor of Kenosha, John Antaramian,  gives an update on how the city is coping with COVID-19.  The interview was recorded Monday morning, May 18th. 

Rescheduled from this past Friday:  Nan Calvert's monthly visit to the program features Kevin Doyle,  a Rare Plants Botanist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, talking about Endangered Plants. 

From 2007 comes this surprise-packed interview with Steven Landsburg, author of "More Sex is Safer Sex:  The Unconventional Wisdom of Economics."  In this entertaining book, Landsburg explores some of the amazing conclusions that can be drawn when simple principles of economics are applied to complicated social issues and questions.  

From 2007 comes this interview with Mara Gibbs, co-author of "Everybody Eats There:  Inside the World's Legendary Restaurants."  

For Part One:  Marlo Thomas & Phil Donahue talk about their new book "What Makes a Marriage Last: 40 Celebrated Couples Share with us the Secrets to a Happy Life."  Thomas and Donahue are about to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary.   Part Two:  Martin Rooney, a celebrated athlete and coach, talks about his new book "Coach to Coach:  An Empowering Story about How to be a Great Leader."  He reminds us that all of us, in one way or another, are coaches whenever somebody else entrusts us to help them with some aspect of their life.