Wgtd's The Morning Show With Greg Berg

Randy Fertel is the author of "Winging It: Improv's Power and Perild in the Time of Trump." The book explores improvisation as it plays out not only on the theatrical stage or in the musical performance .... but in nearly every facet of our lives: in our romantic relationships and friendships, in the workplace, on the athletic field, and - quite dramatically - in the political arena.

Mike DeWitt is a former All-American race walker- former coach of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside- and current coach of Case High School in Racine. The top three race walkers in women's race-walking at the most recent Olympic Trials were all coached at one time by DeWitt. Sadly, the U.S. track team will not be participating in race walking in the upcoming Olympic Games ..... the first time this has happened since 1904. DeWitt explains the factors that led to this. We also talk about the sport of race-walking itself and its challenges.

We're joined by three guests from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside: library director Anna Stadick, associate biology professor Jessica Orlofske, and graduate student Skylar Johnson. The Parkside library is participating in the Great Lakes Great Read and also presenting Freshwater Fun Day at the Petrifying Springs Park Biergarten. The event will include a Touch Table in which people can have close encounters and learn about aquatic insects.

From 2006 - My conversation with the late, great Bob Newhart, who passed away this past Thursday at the age of 93.

From 2009- Jennifer 8 Lee talks about her book "The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food."

From 2008- Steven Landsburg, author of 'More Sex is Safer Sex: The Unconventional Wisdom of Economics." The book outlines what happens when he apply basic tenets of economics to various aspects of our daily lives and societal issues. Landsburg writes for Slate.

In a departure from our published schedule- we replay an archival interview with Ransom Jackson, who played major league baseball in the 1950s with the likes of Jackie Robinson and other immortals. Jackson's memoir is titled "Handsome Ransom Jackson: Accidental Big Leaguer."

Kailyn Palomares's July visit to the Morning Show was with Dr. Jim Stute, former research director at the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, part-time farmer, crop advisor, and member of the Board of Directors for the Watershed Protection Committee of Racine County. We talk with him about Regenerative Farming, which includes the utilization of cover crops, farming without tilling the soil, and more. He also talks about why it's important to talk about soil 'health' rather than soil 'quality.'

From 2021 - Lynette Rice, author of "How to save a life: The Inside Story of Grey's Anatomy."

Doug Instenes, Managing and Artistic Director of the Racine Theater Guild, talks about the guild's summer musical, "First Date," which opens this Friday night and runs for the next two weekends. It's a contemporary show but it touches on timeless themes of love, vulnerability, regrets, friendship, and much more. (We play excerpts from several of the songs in the show.)

Best-selling author Robyn Harding talks about her latest novel, "The Haters." The main character. Camryn Lane, is a school guidance counselor who has finally seen a great dream fulfilled: the publication of her first novel. Her excitement and joy is abruptly torn apart when an extremely negative review of her book- one that also attacks her own integrity- is posted online. The attacks continue and grow more upsetting and frightening- and she finds herself obsessed with learning who is responsible and why they are attacking her. Robyn Harding did a great deal of research into online abuse and harassment in the course of writing the book.

Here is the complete interview that WGTD general manager David Cole recorded with Kevin McDougall, sales manager for 5K, the organization that manages Memorial Hall and Festival Park in Racine. The latter was the venue chosen for Donald Trump's visit to Racine last month. This interview, which explores just some of what goes into the planning of such a visit from a security perspective, was recorded shortly after news broke about the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania at a campaign event not unlike the event in Racine.

We spent most of Monday's Morning Show with Dr. Jerald Mast, Professor of Political Science at Carthage. The program begins with an interview recorded Sunday afternoon in which he reflects on the tragic incident in Butler, Pennsylvania. After that is a brief conversation between WGTD general manger David Cole and Kevin McDougall, who is sales manager for 5K, the organization that oversees Memorial Hall and Festival Park in Racine. The latter was the venue for Donald Trump's visit to Racine last month. They talk about what goes into the organizing of such an event, especially from a security point of view. We follow that with more from Professor Mast- in excerpts from the interview we recorded last Thursday. He talks about the first presidential debate as well as mounting calls for President Biden to step aside in this upcoming election. (Thursday's conversation as originally recorded can also be heard via the podcast.)

In an interview recorded this past Thursday, Dr. Jerald Mast - Professor of Political Science at Carthage College - offers his thoughts various facets of current presidential race: the Republican National Convention (which begins today in Milwaukee), the effects of Donald Trump's legal woes, the first Trump/Biden debate, and the increasing calls from some Democrats for President Biden to withdraw from the race.

(2008) - Bernard Wasserstein, author of "Israelis and Palestinians: Why Do They Fight? Can They Stop?"

From 2007 - Roland J. Dolezal, author of "Where the birds are: A Travel Guide to over 1,000 Parks, Preserves, and Sanctuaries."

Today's interview is a lovely celebration of libraries with Nick Demsky, interim executive director of the Racine Public Library, which recently underwent a massive and impressive refurbishing. We spend some time talking about the ways in which libraries have transformed themselves in the 21st century. Nick also tells the story of the surprising way in which he first became affiliated with the RPL 17 years ago.

We preview this Saturday's Secret Garden Club with Lynda Guy, past-president of the Four Seasons Garden Club. Also joining us is TJ Leveque, director of Hawthorn Hollow, which is this year's bonus garden. Also, TJ's own home garden is on this year's garden walk.

We speak with Robert Grede about RIP: A Musical Comedy of Life & Death (his first musical.) Grede retired seven years ago from a successful career in advertising and marketing and decided to return to his musical roots (he was a music major in college). The work premieres on Wednesday, July 17th- and runs through July 28th at the Next Act Theater's Performance Space at 255 S. Water Street.

Entertainment writer Scott Ryan discusses his book "The Last Decade of Cinema," which celebrates the great films of the 1990's, which he regards as the final heyday of the golden age of cinema.