Wgtd's The Morning Show With Greg Berg

For Nan Calvert's monthly visit to the program, we speak with Mary Ann Feist,  curator of the Wisconsin State Herbarium.  

Part One:  PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk talks about her newest book, "Animalkind: Remarkable Discoveries about Animals and Revolutionary New Ways to Show Them Compassion."     Part Two:  Soman Chainani talks about the final book in his series called "The School for Good and Evil."   Part Three:   Tom Angelberger talks about adapting the character of Geronimo Stilton into a graphic novel. 

Bryan Albrecht, the president of Gateway Technical College, pays his monthly visit to the Morning Show.   Joining him is Ray Koukari, Dean of Manufacturing, Engineering and IT at GTC,  and local entrepreneur Jeff Daniel.  

Brian Dumaine is a contributing editor at Fortune magazine.  His newest book is titled "Bezonomics:  How Amazon is Changing our Lives and Waht the World's Best Companies are Learning From It."  It examines the story of Amazon creator and CEO Jeff Bezos, who is now the richest man in the world - and discusses some of the unconventional ways in which Amazon functions.  

From 2009:  David Blight, author of "A Slave No More:  Two Men who escaped to freedom= including their own narrations of emancipation."  

From 2006:  Sgt. Daniel Hendrex, author of "A Soldier's Promise:  The Heroic True Story of an American Soldier and an Iraqi Boy."   

We speak with Angela Downs,  co-owner of Chit Chaat, an Indian-Pakistani restaurant in downtown Racine .... Steve Torcaso, the manager of the Italian-American Club in Kenosha .... and Tim and Kathy Dinan, co-owners of Bill's Corner Club, a small bar in Kenosha,  to find out how they have contended with the challenges of COVID-19. 

Dr. Thomas Carr, Associate Professor of Biology and Director of the Paleontology Program at Carthage College,  talks about the publication of his groundbreaking work on the growth of Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Zachary Moore, the choral director at Waukesha West High School,  talks about the virtual choir he created with the collaboration of 1,403 young singers from across the state of Wisconsin .... singing his piece "I have had Singing."     

From 2013:  Lucy Bethbridge's book is "Servants:  A Downstairs History of Britain from the 19th Century to Modern Times."   

Kate Anderson Brower's new book is "Team of Five:  The President's Club in the Age of Trump."  She explores what it means to be an ex-U.S. President and how different ex-presidents have tried to find meaning and purpose after relinquishing the presidency.  Her book also examines the close friendships that have sprung up between certain ex-presidents, often surmounting differences of philosophy, personality or political affiliation.  She also talks about President Trump's antagonistic rhetoric when it comes to his predecessors.  

Economist Howard Steven Friedman's new book is "Ultimate Price:  The Value We Place on Life."   

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.