WGTD's The Morning Show with Greg Berg

Kate Colbert, author of "Commencement: The Beginning of a New Era in Higher Education." The book springs from interviews done with 125 college and university presidents from across the country.

From 2015- John and Bert Jacobs talk about "Life is Good: The Book" which chronicles the creation of their apparel company and the spirit of optimism and gratitude with which they approach life and their work.

From 2018- Mark Ribowsky, author of "In the Name of the Father: Family, Football, and the Manning Dynasty." The book chronicles the football exploits of Archie Manning and his sons Peyton and Eli.

(from 2010) Donald P. Ryan, author of 'Beneath the Sands of Egypt: Adventures of an Unconventional Archaeologist.'

For Nan Calvert's monthly visit to the program, we speak with MaryLynn Conter Strack, Executive Director of the Racine Dominican Eco-Justice Center. Among other things, we talk about plans for the Eco-Justice Center to install solar-powered charging stations for electric vehicles.

This Morning Show Special is a follow-up to yesterday's interview with Dana Rubin, author of "Speaking While Female: 75 Extraordinary Speeches by American Women." Today, you will hear recorded excerpts from five of the speeches included in Rubin's book: speeches delivered by Katherine Hepburn, Barbara Jordan, Mary Fisher, Michele Obama and Oprah Winfrey, along with some of Rubin's thoughtfully written introductions to each.

Dana Rubin, author and editor of "Speaking While Female: 75 Extraordinary Speeches by American Women." The book presents the text for 75 speeches spanning several hundred years of American history. Each speech is preceded by a thoughtfully written introduction by Ms. Rubin. The American women represented range from Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Clara Barton and Helen Keller to Katherine Hepburn, Josephine Baker, Gloria Steinem, and Michele Obama.

Three interviews related to Star Trek: The Original Series. Part One: A newly recorded interview with William Shatner (Captain James T. Kirk) - who comes to Milwaukee this Friday night to participate in a screening at the Pabst Theater of Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan. Part Two: (from the archives) Walter Koenig, who portrayed Ensign Pavel Chekov on the original series. Part Three: Dorothy Fontana, who served for a time as the series' story editor and wrote several of its finest episodes, including "Tomorrow is Yesterday," "Charlie X," and "Journey to Babel."

From 2017 - Former highly-decorated NFL star Bruce Matthews, author of "Inside the NFL's First Family: My Life of Football, Faith and Family." Matthews played in the NFL for 19 seasons. One of several of his nephews who have played in the NFL is former Green Bay Packer linebacker Clay Matthews.

(From 2012) John Elder Robison, author of "Be Different: My Adventures with Asberger's and my advice for fellow Asbergians, Misfits, Families, and Teachers."

Dr. Carol Sabbar is Director of Library and Instructional Technology Services at Carthage College. Our conversation is both a response to and a continuation of the conversation on yesterday's program with Thomas Vartanian, author of "The Unhackable Internet."

Thomas Vartanian: "The Unhackable Internet: How Rebuilding Cyberspace can create Real Security and Prevent Financial Collapse."

(from 2014) for Women's History Month.... John Oller, author of "American Queen: The rise and fall of Kate Chase Sprague- Civil War Belle of the North and Gilded Age Woman of Scandal." At one point in her life, Kate Chase Sprague was by far the most famous woman in America.

From 2003 - Greg Tate, author of "Everything but the Burden: What White People are Taking from Black Culture"

Journalist Sharon Tubbs discusses her memoir "They Got Daddy: One Family's Reckoning with Racism and Faith." In the book, Tubbs recounts her efforts to uncover information about why her grandfather, a rural Alabama preacher named Israel Page, was brutally beaten by white supremacists (and nearly died) back in 1959. She also examines the ongoing affects of the attack on the family and subsequent generations.

Richard Hurowitz, author of "In the Garden of the Righteous: The Heroes Who Risked Their Lives to Save Jews During the Holocaust." The book recounts ten instances of people who courageously acted to save Jews who might have otherwise been killed by the Nazis.

(From 2013) Leonard Mlodinow, author of "Subliminal: How Your Unconscious Mind Rules Your Behavior."

Today's podcast episode is the fourth time this month that we have re-shared a past interview with Dr. Yuri Maltsev, longtime Economics Professor at Carthage, who passed away in late January. This 2017 conversation touches on economic policies of the Trump administration. Professor Maltsev also talks about the continent of Africa and a trip he had just taken there with Carthage students.

(from 2015) for Black History Month: Christina Vella, author of "George Washington Carver: A Life." Carver was one of the most important scientists of the late 19th and early 20th century - and one of the most significant black scientists in history. He was a scientist, inventor, educator, and environmentalist.

We preview Carthage College's production of Sarah Gubbins' play "fml: How Carson McCullers Saved My Life," an engrossing play about a young person's search for identity and a sense of belonging. We speak with Herschel Kruger, chair of the theater faculty at Carthage, and Samantha Martinson, who has been brought in as guest director for the production.

From 2003 - Roanne Weisman, author of "Own Your Health: Choosing the Best from Alternative and Conventional Medicine."

We preview the Racine Theater Guild's production of Shawn Grennan's "The Tin Woman," a play that tells the story of a woman whose life has been saved by a heart transplant - but who is wrestling with terrible feelings of guilt that she is only alive because a young man has been killed in a car accident. It is only through meeting the donor's family - who are wrestling with their own pain - that she gains resolution. We speak with Doug Instenes, director of the production, and Katie Gleason, who plays the character of Joy, the heart recipient. (Katie also describes her real-life connection to some of the themes that are explored in the play.)

We preview Saturday afternoon's concert with conductor Bob Hasty, board president Pete Rodriguez, and french horn soloist Neil Kimel.

We preview the production of Lorraine Hansberry's classic play "Raisin in the Sun," which opens this weekend at the Rhode Center for the Arts in downtown Kenosha. We speak with Adrianna Jones, director of the production, and with two members of the cast: Vanetta Powell and Marquon D. Harris.

Mackenzi Lee talks about her latest novel for Marvel, "Winter Soldier," which focuses on the intriguing character of Bucky Barnes, Captain America's sidekick, and his origins.

Darmon Meader is the tenor with New York Voices, a fantastic vocal jazz quartet that is performing at Carthage College this Thursday evening as part of their Fine Arts Series.

From 2007 - Neal Thompson, author of 'Driving with the Devil: Southern Moonshine, Detroit Wheels, and the Birth of NASCAR."

During the month of February, we are remembering Dr. Yuri Maltsev, long-time Professor of Economics at Carthage College, who passed away in late January at the age of 72. Every Saturday, the podcast will feature an archival interview with Professor Maltsev. This conversation was originally broadcast in August of 2015. It's a discussion about the chaotic state of affairs in Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the highly corrupt activities of Russian Oligarchs.

My guest is Stephen Ives, writer and director of a documentary titled "Ruthless: The Secret History of Monopoly," which airs Monday night on the PBS series American Experience. The film explores the tangled history of the board game Monopoly and the fascinating story of one man's tireless efforts to uncover the truth about the woman who actually invented the game, despite what Parker Brothers said to the contrary.

From the archives: Allen Shawn, author of "Wish I Could Be There: Notes from a Phobic Life."

Vijay Pandian is horticulture educator of the Kenosha County UW-Extension.

For Black History Month: Yohuru Williams, author of "Call Him Jack: The Story of Jackie Robinson, Black Freedom Fighter."

Dr. Peter Dennee - with two members of the choir - Chloe Kroger and Danae Palmer - in a discussion about the Treble Chorale's recent European tour that took them to Prague, Munich, Salzburg as well as to some picturesque small towns.

One day after Super Bowl 57, we have excerpts from two football-themed interviews..... 1) Jason Reid, author of "Rise of the Black Quarterback." Super Bowl 57 was the first Super Bowl to feature two black starting quarterbacks. 2) Casey Sherman, author of "12: The inside story of Tom Brady's Fight for Redemption." The primary focus of the book is on the controversy known as 'Deflategate," the most difficult chapter in Brady's long career.

For Lincoln's Birthday (from 2008) - Phillip B. Kunhardt Jr., co-author of "Looking for Lincoln: The Making of an American Icon." The book actually begins in the spring of 1865 and the assassination of Lincoln- and ends with the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial in 1922 - and traces the how the world came to terms with Lincoln and his extraordinary legacy.

Each Saturday in February, we are replaying memorable Morning Show conversations with the late Dr. Yuri Maltsev, long time Economics Professor at Carthage College, who passed away on January 25th. This 2018 conversation was primarily about Chernobyl. (Maltsev was living and working in Moscow at the time of the 1986 disaster.)

In anticipation of Sunday's Super Bowl: Part 1: From 2015, Austin Murphy (Sports Illustrated), author of "Super Bowl Gold: 50 Years of the Big Game." Part 2: Richard J. King, author of "Meeting Tom Brady: One Man's Quest for Truth, Enlightenment, and a Simple Game of Catch with the Patriots' Quarterback."

For Nan Calvert's February visit to the Morning Show, we talk about Native Plants (and the danger of invasive plants) with Regina Harders, president of the Root River Area Chapter of Wild Ones, and Joann Sustachek, coordinator of the group's native plant sale, which is currently underway.

From the archives, (2019) for Black History Month: Melba Pattillo Beals, one of the so-called Little Rock Nine .... the nine young black students who were the first blacks to attend Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Their dramatic entry into the school in the fall of 1957 was one of the most crucial events in the civil rights movement. In this interview, Beals discusses her memoir "March Forward, Girl: From Young Warrior to Little Rock Nine."

Nick Brooks, author of a social thriller titled "Promise Boys."

Part One: Chris Whipple talks about his much-discussed book "The Fight of his Life: Inside Joe Biden's White House." Part Two: Eric Schaeffer, founder and director of the Environmental Integrity Project, talks about his concerns regarding the effectiveness of the EPA (the Environmental Protection Agency.)

In memory of Dr. Yuri Maltsev, longtime Professor of Economics at Carthage College (who passed away on January 25th) we are sharing a number of archival Morning Show interviews with him during the month of February. This particular interview was recorded and initially broadcast in April of 2013. [His first-ever Morning Show interview, from 2001, was shared on Saturday February 4th. On subsequent Saturdays for the remainder of February, we will share more interviews with Professor Maltsev.]

From 2005- Robert Kurson, author of "Shadow Divers: The True Adventure of Two Americans who risked everything to solve one of the last mysteries of World War II."

Through the month of February, we will devote one weekend segment of the Morning Show podcast to remembering Dr. Yuri Maltsev, Professor of Economics at Carthage College since 1991 and a frequent guest to the Morning Show - who passed away on January 25th at the age of 72. This is (I believe) the first of Professor Maltsev's visits to the program- dating from the fall of 2001.

From 2011- Patricia Bosworth, author of "Jane Fonda: The Private Life of a Private Woman." Fonda is one of the stars of a new film, "80 for Brady," which opens this weekend in movie theaters across the country.

We have a three-part series devoted to THE WIZARD OF OZ. 1) We preview the Lakeside Players's production that opens this weekend and runs for two additional weekends. 2) We play an excerpt from a 2005 interview with Meinhardt Raabe, who played the Coroner in the classic 1939 film. His memoir is titled "Memories of a Munchkin: An Illustrated Walk Down the Yellow Brick Road. 3) We play an excerpt from a conversation with Randall McLowry and Tracy Heather Stein about their documentary film "American Oz: The True Wizard Behind the Curtain," which aired on American Experience and can still be viewed on pbs.org.

Bob Delaney, author of 'Heroes are Human: Lessons in Resilience, Courage and Wisdom from the COVID Front Lines."

Dr. Art Cyr, from the faculty at Carthage College, joins us for his first monthly visit of 2023. Our conversation begins with a tribute to Dr. Cyr's longtime faculty colleague and friend Dr. Yuri Maltsev, who recently passed away. (We will be sharing recordings of a couple of Dr. Maltsev's Morning Show conversations this coming weekend.)

Jim Campbell, author of "Madoff Talks: Uncovering the untold story behind the most notorious ponzi scheme in history."

In a departure from our normal routine, here is an example of a program I did during my first years at WGTD .... "Music-A Closer Look," a 60-minute documentary series that I did when it was no longer possible for our station to carry the very popular program "Adventures in Good Music with Karl Haas." This particular installment of "Music-a Closer Look" was recorded and broadcast in the spring of 1991- and has not aired since!

From 2009- Edward McPherson, author of "The Backwash Squeeze and other Improbable Feats: a Newcomer's Journey into the World of Bridge."