Wgtd's The Morning Show With Greg Berg

We catch up with Dr. Morgan Phillips, interim president of Gateway Technical College. He updates us on enrollment numbers at Gateway, talks about some exciting new initiatives, and explains where Gateway is in its search for a new president and ceo. Dr. Phillips also pays tribute to local education leader Scott Pierce, who passed away on November 20th. Dr. Pierce was a long time member of the board of trustees at Gateway.

From 2010- Harlow Giles Unger, author of "Lion of Liberty: Patrick Henry and the Call to a New Nation."

From 2008- Mark Kreidler talks about his book "6 Good Innings: How One Small Town Became a Little League Giant."

From 2008- Best-selling author John Grogan ("Marley and Me") talks about a later book titled "The Longest Trip Home: A Memoir."

We share my memorable encounter with local music legend Fred Hermes, a well-known theater organ aficionado who had a massive, 5-manual Wurlitzer theater organ in the basement of his home- which he transformed into a facsimile of a classic movie palace. This interview was recorded in Fred's amazing home back in 2008. He died ten years later. (His home recently went on the market, which is what prompts this re-sharing of this interview.)

We speak with Shawn Rivers, Racine County Veterans Service Officer, who works to make sure that area veterans are aware of and able to access the benefits that are available to them. We give special attention to the matter of mental well-being and to the special difficulties that veterans might be experiencing during this time of year. We also talk with Rivers about his own military career (he was part of the U.S. Air Force for 21 years.)

We speak with Greg Cope White, whose memoir "The Pink Marine" serves as the basis for the acclaimed new Netflix series "Boots." "The Pink Marine" tells the story of White's experience as a closeted gay man enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps in the early 1980s.

From 2003 - Todd Gitlin, author of "Letters to a Young Activist." Gitlin, who passed away in 2022 due to COVID, was a well-known activist, sociologist, and author.

James Kaplan, co-author with Jerry Lewis of "Dean & Me: A Love Story." The book explores the relationship between Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin- a professional partnership and friendship that eventually fractured.

We preview Saturday afternoon's concert by the UW-Parkside Orchestra, which will be devoted to great film music. Our guest is conductor Alvaro Garcia.

We speak with Dr. Julius Crump, a member of Carthage College's religion faculty since 2018 and co-director of the school's Teaching Commons. Dr. Crump was recently named the Rev. Raymon Pedersen Distinguished Professor of Social Change.

We talk to two young people- 13-year-old Jaxson Thomas and 19-year-old Jayden Eisenbraun - who have undertaken a huge toy drive. Jaxson happens to be on the Autism spectrum- and is happy to have people know that because he wants people to know that Autistic people are capable of accomplishing great things.

Esther Roberts, executive director of The Shalom Center, talks about all that they offer to people in Kenosha living in poverty. (There is a fundraiser this Saturday evening at Union Park Tavern will benefit The Shalom Center as well as The Sharing Center in Trevor.)

We speak with Sharon Pomaville, executive director of The Sharing Center, which works with people living in poverty in rural Kenosha County. (A fundraiser this Saturday evening at Union Park Tavern is donating proceeds to The Sharing Center and The Shalom Center.)

From 2012- Michael Schumacher, author of "Mighty Fitz: The Sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald." Last week (Nov. 10) marked the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, one of the most tragic and mysterious events ever to occur on the Great Lakes. Schumacher's book is the definitive account of the tragedy and its aftermath.

We speak with David Anderson, artistic director of the Lake Geneva Symphony Orchestra, about the LGSO's next concert- featuring music of Glinka, Brahms, and Dawson. The group is in the midst of its 25th Anniversary season.

We speak with best-selling author Mitch Albom ("Tuesdays with Morrie") about his latest book ..... a novel titled "Twice" in which the main character discovers that he has the ability to redo anything that he regrets- but he must live with the results. It's a fascinating exploration of what it means to be human and to live with the consequences of the choices we make.

We have been replaying interviews with documentarian Barak Goodman, who has created an array of superb films for the PBS series AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, which unfortunately has been cancelled by PBS because of federal budget cuts. This conversation from 2012 concerns Goodman's two-part documentary "Clinton," which chronicles the fascinating story and complicated legacy of President Bill Clinton.

From 2019- NPR's Linda Holmes (Pop Culture Happy Hour) talks about her first novel, "Evvie Drake Starts Over."

Kelly Cervantes talks about her new book "The Luckiest: A Memoir of Love, Loss, Motherhood, and the Pursuit of Self." Her husband is Miguel Cervantes, the man who has done more performances of the title role of the musical HAMILTON than anyone else. Kelly Cervantes's memoir is deeply moving and honest and touches on the joys and sorrows that she has experienced in her eventful life.