Wgtd's The Morning Show With Greg Berg

From the fall of 1998 comes this conversation with Dr. Sam Chell, a long-time member of the English faculty at Carthage College as well as an outstanding jazz pianist.   Professor Chell eventually began hosting an extremely popular program on WGTD:  "Saturday Night Bandstand."   This particular conversation was recorded shortly before Carthage celebrated the 100th anniversary of Gershwin's birth with a gala concert that included a piano performance by Professor Chell. 

For Nan Calvert's monthly visit to the Morning Show,   she has brought with her Mabel Garrison, who is one of the country's leading experts on the Dragonfly - one of the most amazing insects found on earth.    We explore just some of the things that make Dragonflies such incredible creatures. 

Robert Weintraub's newest book is a meticulously researched biography of Alice Marble, one of the most important and influential tennis players of the 20th century - as well as a highly charismatic and somewhat mysterious figure.  Weintraub's book is titled "The Divine Miss Marble:  a Life of Tennis, Fame and Mystery."  

For the monthly visit of Bryan Albrecht, the president of Gateway Technical College, we are joined with Jonathan Delagrave, Racine County Executive, and Dr. Eric Gallien, superintendent of the Racine Unified School District, to talk about the ongoing ramifications of COVID-19.  

This interview is with Professor Khyati Joshi, author of "White Christian Privilege: The Illusion of Religious Equality in America."  The book examines some of the ways in which many aspects of American life are formulated around the assumption that Christianity is our collective 'norm' -  an assumption which often leads to discrimination against those of other faiths -  or against those with no religious faith whatsoever.  

Today, July 13th, 2020, marks the 25th anniversary (to the day) of the beginning of the worst heat wave in Chicago history, a human disaster that resulted in over 700 deaths in and around Chicago that were directly linked to the effects of the record-breaking heat that was experienced for an entire week.  Erik Klinenberg's definitive book about the disaster is titled "Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago."  This interview was recorded and initially broadcast back in 2002. 

From the archives comes this 2017 interview with Heath Fogg Davis, author of "Beyond Trans:  Does Gender Matter."   

Best-selling author Gerald Koeppel talks about his most recent book, "Not a Gentleman's Work: The Untold Story of a Gruesome Murder at Sea and the Long Road to Truth."  

Victoria Phillips is the author of "Martha Graham's Cold War: The Dance of American Diplomacy."  Graham, one of the 20th century's most important and influential dancers and choreographers,  undertook a number of international tours under the auspices of the U.S. State Department - some of them conducted at the height of the Cold War. The book explores why the State Department believed that Graham's modern dance could be a highly effective diplomatic tool in enhancing America's stature in the world. 

From the archives:  Rev. Todd Peperkorn,  who used to serve a Lutheran-Missouri Synod congregation in Kenosha, talks about his own struggles with clinical depression- and about how depression is a common problem among many members of the clergy.  His book is designed both to help the general public understand this and to help those clergy with such struggles to know how to seek help.

Kara Ernst Schalk and Rob Kroes talk about teaching summer theater classes at the Racine Theater Guild ....  virtually ..... to children.

We speak with J. Chester Johnson, author of "Damaged Heritage: The Elaine Race Massacre and a Story of Reconciliation."   The author's grandfather was one of the whites who participated in a horrific wave of killings in rural Arkansas in September of 1919 ... in which well more than 100 African Americans are believed to have been murdered.  Part of Johnson's story is of how he was able to connect with Sheila Walker, a descendent of several of the blacks who were attacked in the Elaine Race Massacre- and build a beautiful friendship with her.   

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.