Wgtd's The Morning Show With Greg Berg

(one of our favorite interviews from 2024) - David Lapp, co-founder of the group Braver Angels (originally known as "Better Angels) - which seeks to help people from different sides of the political divide to find ways to communicate with each other and come to a more thoughtful understanding of each other's perspectives. He came to Southeastern Wisconsin for a national Braver Angels convention that occurred at Carthage. Also participating in the interview was Cameron Swallow, who has been an active part of the organization for several years.

(One of our favorite interviews from 2024) - Gerry Cooney, author of "Gentleman Gerry: A Contender in the Ring, a Champion in Recovery."

In memory of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who died on December 29th at the age of 100, we replay my 2005 conversation in which we talk about his book "Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis," which examines the importance of the separation of church and state. After that, we replay a 2021 conversation with Chuck Dalaklis, executive producer of the documentary film "In Their Own Words: Jimmy Carter." This and other episodes of the series can be viewed at pbs.org. (Search for "In Their Own Words" - and then scroll down until you find the episode with President Carter.)

One of our favorite Morning Show interviews from 2024: Alexander R. Brash talks about his book"A Whaler at Twilight: A True Account of Whaling and Redemption." The book is based in large measure on a long-forgotten account written by his great-grandfather about his own experiences as a whaler.

From 2004 - Best-selling author of columnist Anna Quindlen talks about her book "Loud and Clear.

From 2010, journalist Jim Moret talks about his deeply personal book "The Last Day of my Life."

From 2013- actor and writer Eric Pierpoint talks about his book "The Last Ride of Caleb O'Toole."

From 2002- Deep sea photographer Paul Skerry talks about his book "Lost Subs: from the Hunley to the Kursk, the greatest submarines ever lost - and found."

From 2012- In another followup to Thursday's program, which featured a reunion of young men who had performed the title role of Menotti's Christmas opera "Amahl and the Night Visitors" with the Choral Arts Society over the years, we replay the 2012 interview with Nathan Engstrom, recorded just before he undertook the role. Also in the interview is his father, Steve Engstrom, along with conductor James Schatzman.

In a follow-up to yesterday's Amahl reunion, we replay a 2002 conversation with one of those past Amahls - Michael Weideberg - along with Beth Bush, who portrayed his mother in that production, and Jeri Smith, who was the producer of the production.

From 2017 - a preview of what was a very special performance of Gian Carlo Menotti's Christmas opera "Amahl and the Night Visitors" by the Choral Arts Society - in which three past performers of the role of Amahl - Brett Angel, Michael Weideberg, and Nathan Engstrom - were invited to return to Racine for a special audience Q&A. All three participated in this interview, along with conductor James Schatzman - and Jim's grandson Tai Heether-Schatzman, who sang the role of Amahl for the 2017 production. The program includes several excerpts from the opera, which had its world premiere over NBC television on Christmas Eve 1951.

From the archives: Bruce Littlefield, author of "Merry Christmas, America: Mega-watt Displays across the U.S.A."

From 2017- Martha Brockenbrough talks about her delightful children's book "Love, Santa - The Beautiful Truth About Santa."

From 2004 .... Catherine Scott-Clark talks about her book "The Amber Room: The Fate of the World's Greatest Lost Treasure."

In the wake of a tragic school shooting in Madison, Wisconsin, we are re-sharing a 2005 conversation with Katherine Newman, author of "Rampage: The Social Roots of School Shootings."

We remember John Stewig, who had a long and distinguished career in the field of library science with a specialty in children's literature. He helped to create the Center for Children's Literature at Carthage's Hedburg Library and served as director of the center from 2004 to 2014. This is a rebroadcast of our first conversation.

We replay a 2013 conversation with Dr. Thomas Noer, long time history professor at Carthage, who passed away earlier this year. Carthage has created a special fund in memory of Professor Noer. In this interview, Professor Noer reflects on the legacy of John F. Kennedy.

From 2018- Curt Smith, author of "The Presidents and the Pastime: The History of Baseball and the White House." Smith's professional resume includes a stint as a presidential speech writer.

From the archives: Andrew Roberts, author of "Napoleon: A Life."

From 2022 - We speak with Dr. Laura Gellott, Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, about her book Helen Perry Curtis and the European Trip of a Lifetime." Ms. Curtis was the author of "Jean and Me," which once upon a time was an extremely popular book for young readers- and a book that Professor Gellott dearly loved in her youth. We talk about the life and legacy of Ms. Curtis, but we also discuss Professor Gellott's wide-ranging efforts to gather as much information as she could about her subject's life.