WGTD's The Morning Show with Greg Berg

For Women's History Month- Kimberly Heckler talks about the biography she has written about her mother-in-law, Margaret Heckler .... the first woman to score the political triple crown of serving in the U.S. Congress, serving in the U.S. Cabinet, and serving as a U.S. Ambassador. As a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts, she helped insure that women were able to access credit. As Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Ronald Reagan, she helped nudge the administration towards a more meaningful response to the AIDS epidemic. Heckler's book is titled "A Woman of Firsts: Margaret Heckler, Political Trailblazer."

For Women's History Month- we replay our 2016 conversation with Michael Schulman, author of "Her Again: Becoming Meryl Streep." The book examines the early years of Streep's life and the very beginning of her career.

From 2009 - Joan Wickersham, author of "The Suicide Index: Putting My Father's Death in Order." Of all of the interviews I have done over the years that have touched on the painful topic of suicide, this is the conversation that was - at least for me - the most illuminating. (For anyone feeling suicidal, there is help available 24/7 by calling the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline ..... 988.)

From the archives: "Laboratories of Faith: Mesmerism, Spiritism, and Occultism in Modern France" by John Monroe. This interview is being replayed in honor of a performance on Sunday afternoon, March 22nd at Kenosha's White Lilac ..... titled "Mesmerized," featuring Dr. Tony Barnhart (associate professor of psychology at Carthage) and Joe Diamond, who bills himself as The Midwest Mystic.

"The Divine Miss Marble" - by Robert Weintraub

Doug Johnson, conductor of the Belle City Brassworks, talks about the group's next concert ..... this Sunday afternoon, March 22nd, 3:00, at Holy Communion Lutheran Church ..... "Songs from the Scottish Highlands."

We preview the next theatrical production at Carthage College .... Jen Silverman's "The Moors." We speak with Herschel Kruger, director of the production - and with two students who are in the cast: Lorelai Amborn and Alle Gourlie. The platy will be performed over the next two weekends in the newly refurbished Wartburg Auditorium.

We learn about the wonders of Dragonflies and Dragonflies from Cindy Crosby, an author and naturalist, who will be giving a. talk this Tuesday evening, March 24th, 6:30, at the Stein's Garden Center, 6300 Green Bay Road in Kenosha .... a talk sponsored by the Four Seasons Garden Club. (The event is free but one needs to reserve a place by going to Eventbrite.com.)

We talk with two magicians - Joe Diamond - "The Midwest Mystic" - and.Tony Barnhart (also an Associate Professor of Psychology at Carthage College).- about their program "Mesmerized" that they will be performing at The White Lilac this Sunday afternoon, March 22nd.

Science journalist Bill Gifford, author of "Hotwired: How the Hidden Power of Heat Makes Us Stronger." The book examines the many ways in which heat can greatly enhance our health and well-being.

Dr. Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, author of "A Protest History of the United States." The book explores the surprisingly long and complex history of how protest has been woven into the fabric of our country.

From 2008- Allen Shawn, author of the memoir "Wish I Could Be There: Notes from a Phobic Life." In the book, the author discusses how several different severe phobias have dramatically affected his life and the way he moves through the world and interacts with others.

From 2020 - We speak with Darin Strauss, author of "The Queen of Tuesday: A Lucille Ball Story."

We speak with writer Margie Bucheit about her new novel "We Chose Resistance," which is set during Nazi-occupied France during World War Two - and which explores what it meant to be part of the resistance.

For Kailyn Palomares's March visit to the Morning Show, she introduces us to Danielle Bell, an ecologist and owner of Native Roots Designs, a firm that helps people secure and utilize native plants in their landscaping. The program includes an extensive discussion of what makes native plants preferable.

We speak with Russ Johnson from the music faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside about Jazz Week 2026, which is coming up March 16-20 .... with six performances in Frances Bedford Hall - four of which are absolutely free. (The program includes brief audio samples of most of the guest performers.)

We speak with James Neibaur and Gary Schneeberger, co-authors of "The Burt Reynolds Films." Neibaur has announced that this book - his 39th - will be his last, although he is planning to continue writing articles, essays and reviews - and will continue to do commentary tracks for home video releases. Burt Reynolds actually had starring or co-starring roles in 48 films. His best-known films include "Deliverance," "Smokey and the Bandit," and"The Longest Yard." For five years straight, beginning in 1978, Reynolds was the #1 box office star in America. His late-career resurgence included an Oscar nomination for "Boogie Nights" in 1997.

Today's program is a memorial tribute to Mike Kehoe, a valued member of the WGTD family as host of Saturday Night Bandstand and a past host of Education Matters - and a treasured part of the community. On hand in our studios - WGTD FM Dave Cole .... Carol Lee Saffioti-Hughes, Gregg Kishline, Mike Love and Jason Rimkus, who worked with Mike on various community access projects ...... Yolanda Adams, KUSD School Board Member and on the Executive Board of the Spanish Center of Racine & Kenosha (for which Mike volunteered ..... Andy Baumgart, Jennifer Haluska, and Sarah Padhye, who worked with him as a volunteer at Bullen Middle School ..... realtor Mary Dixon, a long-time friend of Mike's .... Sam Chell, the creator of Saturday Night Bandstand ...... and Mary Ann Kehoe, MIke's cousin.

From 2006 - Fannie Flagg ("Fried Green Tomatoes"). discusses her novel "Can't Wait to Get to Heaven."

In honor of KUSD's production of "Les Miserables," we replay a conversation from 2014 in which stage director Doug Instenes and several cast members talk about the Racine Theater Guild's production of "Les Miserables." (The KUSD production of Les Miz runs for two weekends through March 15th.).

Part One: Tony Castro, author of 'Micky and Billy: The Glory and Tragedy of a Yankee Friendship." Part Two: from 2010- an excerpt from a conversation with Jane Leavy, author of "The Last Boy: Mickey Mantle and the End of America's Childhood."

We celebrate the remarkable life and legacy of Morton Gould (1913-1996), one of the most heralded American composers of the 20th century, in anticipation of a special concert of his music this Saturday evening, March 7th, by the Waukesha Area Symphony Band. Our guests: Dr. James Ripley, Professor of Music at Carthage College and the artistic director of the WASB, and Abby G. Burton, daughter of Morton Gould, who will be serving as an emcee and moderator for Saturday evening's concert. The program will consist of music that Gould wrote for film and television. Gould's many honors include a Grammy Award, a Pulitzer Prize, and a Kennedy Center Honor.

Doug Instenes talks about the Racine Theater Guild's production of "The Girl on the Train," which runs for the next two weekends.

We speak with Mary Kerr about the production of Thornton Wilder's classic play "Our Town," which is being performed this weekend at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Kerr is directing the production.

We preview the Carthage Choir's upcoming spring tour and homecoming concert with Dr. Maggie Burk, director of choral activities at Carthage College, and Ella Bergfeld, a Carthage senior music theater/political science double major who is the Carthage Choir's president. The group will sing a homecoming concert on Monday evening, March 9th, at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in downtown Kenosha. We also talk about the ensemble's participation in the most recent Midwestern American Choral Directors Association Conference in Milwaukee.

We speak with Richard McGlaughlin, who teaches Microbiology at Gateway Technical College, talks about the research that he has been doing in China over the last two decades - studying the endangered finless porpoise of the Yangtze River.

John Choi, director of choirs at Indian Trail High School in Kenosha, talks about his Chorale's appeartance at the Midwestern American Choral Directors Association Conference in Milwaukee.

From 2008 - Frederick Kaufman, author of "A Short History of the American Stomach."

Richard Thieme - "Islands in the Click Stream"

Part One- for Black History Month- we speak with Lucas E. Morel and Jonathan W. White, co-authors and co-editors of "Measuring the Man: The Wirings of Frederick Douglass on Abraham Lincoln." Part Two- "Lincoln's Lie: A True Civil War Caper Through Fake News, Wall Street, and the White House" by Elizabeth Mitchell.

We speak with writer Carla Kaplan about her new book "Troublemaker: The Fierce, Unruly Life of Jessica Mitford." Mitford (1917-1996) grew up in the British aristocracy but was driven to literally run away from home in order to escape a life that she found to be stiflingly unbearable. She eventually found her way to the United States where she became a well-known writer and social commentator. She was, among other things, a proud Communist as well as a tireless social activist. The book is not only about Jessica Mitford- It also touches on the complicated legacy of the entire Mitford family, including Jessica's colorful and often controversial sisters.

Dr. Matt Cecil, Provost for the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, talks about a new initiative which pledges that the faculty, staff and student body of the school will be "A.I. Fluent" by 2028. We discuss the concerns that have prompted this - what its implementation might look like - and the challenges as well as the opportunities that A.I. already represents in the realm of higher education.

Mark Havens and Chris Entwisle, co-authors of "Wail: The Visual Language of Prestige Records." Prestige was an influential, innovative, small independent record label (devoted mostly to Jazz) that came to prominence in the 1950s. The book talks about the unconventional ways in which this company operated- with special focus on the distinctive art work of its album covers.

We speak with Stephanie Sklba, executive director of the Racine County Food Band, and Dawn Merritt, treasurer for Empty Bowls Racine, which is happening this Monday, March 2nd at Racine's Festival Hall. We talk about all that goes into making this exciting event happen- and we also talk about the important work of the Racine County Food Bank. (Empty Bowls Racine also benefits HALO and the Hospitality Center.)

For Black History Month- from 2010- Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Isabel Wilkerson talks about her book "The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration." The book explores the largely untold story of the massive 'migration' of blacks from the south to other parts of the United States over the course of the twentieth century.

For Black History Month- from 2015- Christina Vella, author of "George Washington Carver: A Life."

For Black History Month: Gerald Early, author of "Play Harder: The Triumph of Black Baseball in America." The book explores the remarkably long history of blacks playing baseball in America long before Jackie Robinson - tracing that history to the present day.

We speak with best-selling author Steve Berry about his latest thriller, "The Devil's Bible," which is part of his highly popular Cotton Malone series.

We preview a theatrical production that opens next Wednesday at Carthage College in the studio theater: "Dear Elizabeth" by Sarah Ruhl. We speak with three Carthage seniors: Annaliese Ruhs, who is the director - and Jessie Skonesey and Chase Juster, who comprise the two-person cast. The play is based on letters that were exchanged between two gifted 20th century poets - Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell - over the course of thirty years.

We speak with Steven C. Law, the author of "The Story of Bob: The life and Times of Rev. Robert W. Wood." Rev. Wood was a decorated World War Two veteran who became a United Church of Christ pastor - and he was also a closeted gay man. Rev. Wood was one of the first American clergymen to speak out openly for gay rights - but his story is largely forgotten even in the gay community.

We preview this weekend's performances of "A Streetcar Named Desire" by Tennessee Willams, one of the most beloved masterworks in the history of American theater. The performances are being done by the Kenosha Academy of Performing Arts Repertory Theater. We speak with Braxton Molinaro, Creative Director and the director of this production (in which he is also appearing) .... and Elizabeth McLaughlin (Eunice), who is one of the professional actors brought in to be part of this production. She has appears in things like "Pretty Little Liars" and "Hand of God." Performances of "Streetcar" are Feb,. 20 and 21 at 7:00 and Feb. 22 at 2:00 at Circa on Seventh in Kenosha. Tickets are avalable through kaparep.com.

We speak with Tim Rebers and Andrew Varela, who comprise two-thirds of the trio Tenors MIKE, based in Milwaukee - - - who present concerts that combine elements of opera, musical theater, jazz, and even rock. They are performing a concert at Carthage College (in the Johnson Arts Center Recital Hall) this Thursday evening, February 19th, at 7:00.

We speak with Dr. Jan Yager, author of "Time Masters: 11 Secrets to Greater Productivity and Life Fulfillment."

For Black History Month: Joe Drape discusses his book "Black Maestro: The Epic Life of an American Legend" .... the story of Jimmy Winkfield, the son of a black sharecropper who became one of the country's finest jockeys. (from 2007)

We have been replaying memorable interviews with author Michael Schumacher, a guest on the Morning Show on at least a dozen occasions over the course of three decades. One of my most memorable conversations with Michael on the program was actually the one occasion when he wasn't there to talk about one of his books- but rather to pay tribute to his good friend Bill Guy- long-time news director for WGTD and my predecessor as host of The Morning Show by talking about the art of great interviewing. Earlier that morning, we received word that Bill Guy had just died at the age of 50 after a valiant battle with liver cancer. Consequently, this Morning Show visit from Michael became a memorial tribute to Bill, someone who had interviewed Michael on a number of occasions on the program and always enjoyed the experience.

Part One- for Friday the 13th- we hear about an unlucky turn of events for the Lakeside Players, who are cleaning up from an unfortunate flood in the basement of the Rhode Center for the Arts. We talk with two board members about the flood- what the community can do to help- and how their current production, the musical "The 25th Annual Puttnam County Spelling Bee" is still opening tonight, on schedule. Part Two- For Valentine's Day, we speak with the author and illustrator of a new book for very young children titled "100 Words to Say I Love You." Sandra Magsamen is one of the most acclaimed children's book authors and illustrators before the public today.

For Kailyn Palomares's February visit to the Morning Show, we are talking with Aaron Schiller, Senior Fisheries Biologist for the Wisconsin DNR.

Part One- Investigative Reporter Rico Moore talks about allegations of inhumane conditions in ICE detention facilities. Part Two- from 2019, best-selling author Reyna Grande talks about her book "A Dream Called Home: a Memoir," which explores her own immigrant experience.

We speak with Jan Cress Bondi, author of "The Navigator's Letter: The True Story of Two World War 2 Airmen, a Doomed Mission, and the Woman who Bound Them Together." The story concerns the author's mother Polley, and two men who served our country as airmen: Polley's brother John B. White and Polley's friend and future husband Bob Cress. The two men participated in what turned out to be an ill-conceived air raid on oil fields in Romania - an attack that ended up being the costliest air raid of the war. Bondi was inspired to write the book after looking through hundreds and hundreds of her mother's letters. [Bondi is signing books at Boswell Books, 2559 Downer Avenue in Milwaukee, WI on Thursday, February 12th at 6:30 pm.]

David Brooks has been a well-known columnist for the New York Times for the past 22 years (as well as a prominent political commentator on television.) He recently announced that he is leaving the New York Times and moving to The Atlantic. This is a rebroadcast of my 2024 interview with Mr. Brooks about his remarkable book "How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen. " This interview generated more positive feedback from listeners than any other interview I have done in recent years. It is a pleasure to re-share it today.

On this 60th Super Bowl Sunday, we replay a conversation with one of the authors of "Super Bowl Gold" (from Sports Illustrated) that commemorated the 50th anniversary of the first Super Bowl.