Wgtd's The Morning Show With Greg Berg

We talk with Kevin Ervin, current co-owner of Frank's Diner, one of the best-known landmarks in downtown Kenosha- which is about to celebrate its 99th anniversary on September 13th. Ervin shares the story of how the diner was built (from a kit) 100 years ago- what prevented them from opening for an entire year- and what it means to take ownership of such a beloved institution.

We speak with Todd Kapp, CEO and Founder of Kivi Bio, which is one of the tenants of the Kenosha Innovation Center. We talk about - among other things - what the field of biotechnology entails and what Kivi Bio is doing to help others launch their own biotechnology ventures.

From 2023- Gail Merrifield Papp, author of "Public/Privater: My Life with Joe Papp at The Public Theater." The author's husband, Joe Papp, was an important theatrical impresario who founded The Public Theater as an outgrowth of The Shakespeare Workshop. The Public Theater's most noteworthy productions over the years have included "Hair," "A Chorus Line," and "Hamilton." PBS is now streaming a marvelous American Masters documentary titled "Joe Papp in Five Acts."

From 2008- Joseph M. Marshall, author of "The Day the World Ended at Little Bighorn: A Lakota History." In this intriguing book, the author presents how the Lakota people see that moment in American history that has come to be thought of as Custer's Last Stand.

From 2004 - A conversation with author Suzi Parker about her irreverent book "Sex in the South: Unbuckling the Bible Belt," in which she - herself a southerner - examines some of the interesting attitudes about sex and sexuality that she has encountered over the years.

On the eve of a new school year, we speak with Dr. Lynn Akey, Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. We talk about the dramatic reorganization of the school in the hopes of allowing it to offer more cost-effectively ..... new offerings from the school .... and the challenging environment within which the school is still managing to flourish.

Nicole Terrizzi discusses her book "Learning in Free Fall: A Testimony of Mental Health, Poverty and Race in American Education." The book is a memoir of her experience as a young teacher in a struggling inner city school.

We talk with Anna Barrington about her novel "The Spectacle" - which is set in a world she has worked in for a number of years .... high-end, luxury artwork.

Chris Paulson, director of the Racine Heritage Museum, talks about a new project in which they are digitalizing the diaries of Racine's George Horlick.

Andrew D. Blechman, author of "Leisureville: Adventures in a World Without Children." The book explores the rise of retirement communities in which children are expressly excluded. What does it mean to live in such an environment? What is attractive about that for so many seniors? What is gained? What is lost?

Two KUSD teachers - Kristen Singer and Nic Cicerale - and two KUSD students - Dallen Arendt and Stephen Stockholm - have just returned from the Festival Fringe (or Fringe Festival) in Edinburgh, Scotland ..... the largest performing arts festival in the world. Over the course of three weeks, more than 3,500 plays are performed in several hundred different venues by actors for sixty different countries. KUSD presented Mary Zimmerman's theatrical treatment of Ovid's "Metamorphosis."

In honor of Dave McGrath, longtime morning anchor at WGTD, who retired this past Friday after just over 25 years at the station, we are resharing a memorable interview with him and his wife Guida Brown in which they recount their experience of following the so-called Buddy Holly Tour. This involved retracing the final concert tour of Buddy Holly, which was cut short by a plane crash in rural Iowa on February 3, 1959 that killed Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper.

In honor of Dave McGrath's retirement from WGTD (his last day with the station was yesterday, the 15th) we are resharing this memorable Morning Show conversation in which he talks about his book "Gene Pitney: The Singer, The Songs, The Songwriters." Dave McGrath and his wife Guida worked with Gene Pitney for many years selling his memorabilia. In this very interesting book, Dave looks at the stories behind some of Pitney's greatest hits.

Today was the last day for Dave McGrath as WGTD's local anchor for Morning Edition ..... something he has been doing for more than 25 years! (Dave has opted for retirement.) With the help of his wife Guida Brown as well as assistance from WGTD general manager Dave Cole, we were able to round up some very special guests from Dave's long professional career in radio broadcasting to help give him a fitting send-off.

Kailyn Palomares joins us for her monthly visit to the program- and her guest is Laura Holder with Conservation Dogs Collective. Her dogs are trained to detect both invasive and endangered species - plants, animals, insects, even nests.

We preview this coming Saturday's HarborPark Jazz Rhythm and Blues Festival - a fundraiser for the Mary Lou and Arthur F. Mahone Foundation - with Tim Mahone ..... and with the musical headliner for this year's event, Grammy Award-winner Kirk Whalum. (He performs Saturday evening at 7:30.) The event occurs in Celebration Place adjacent to the Kenosha harbor.

Dr. Robyn Koslowitz, author of "Post Traumatic Parenting: Break the cycle and become the parent you always wanted to be." This book is intended as a guide for anyone who has experienced trauma in their own childhood and in how they were parented- and hopes to rise above that hurt and trauma to be the best parents they can be. - After that, from the archives (2014) is an interview with author Alan Rabinowitz in which he talks about his children's book "A Boy and his Jaguar." The book stems partly from his real-life experience as a stutterer.

On the eve of another school year, we speak with Dr. John Swallow, the president of Carthage College. He tells us about the record-breaking freshman class that is about to begin studies at Carthage - the creation of a School of Health - and the offering of a new Biotechnology major/minor.

From 2008 - Former Carthage College president Dr. F. Gregory Campbell remembers Alan Anderson, a 1950 Carthage graduate who went on to serve the college in a number of capacities .... including acting president .... over the course of 35 years. He is fondly remembered as one of the most beloved figures in the history of the college. This interview aired right before Homecoming that year - several weeks after Anderson's death on September 28, 2008. [NOTE - Tomorrow, Monday August 11th, we will air a newly recorded interview with the current president of Carthage, Dr. John Swallow.]

From 2007- Acclaimed actor Alan Alda talks about his memoir "Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself."