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This is a Grave Talks CLASSIC EPISODE! Is Wisconsin the most haunted state in America? Many paranormal investigators believe so — and filmmaker and investigator Michael Brown has the chilling stories to prove it. From rural towns to forgotten schools, Wisconsin is crawling with true ghost stories and unexplained hauntings. Brown has documented some of the most terrifying paranormal encounters, capturing evidence that suggests spirits are far more active here than anyone could have imagined. His work has taken him into abandoned classrooms where an entity followed him home — an attachment so disturbing it blurred the line between investigation and nightmare. And then there's the haunted radio station. Imagine working alone in a dark studio late at night, only to hear the voices of children echoing through the halls. Not on the air. Not through the speakers. But disembodied, spectral voices that seemed to come from nowhere… and everywhere at once. These are not urban legends or campfire tales. These are real investigations, real evidence, and real hauntings caught on camera. Michael Brown's journey across Wisconsin peels back the curtain on a state filled with restless spirits — from schoolhouses to radio towers, from shadowy hallways to spectral whispers in the night. If you thought Wisconsin was just about cheese curds and football, think again. Beneath its Midwestern charm lurks a world of supernatural activity that defies logic and sends even the bravest investigators running.
2 hour and 26 minutes The Sponsors Thank you to Underground Printing for making this all possible. Rishi and Ryan have been our biggest supporters from the beginning. Check out their wide selection of officially licensed Michigan fan gear at their 3 store locations in Ann Arbor or learn about their custom apparel business at undergroundshirts.com. Our associate sponsors are: Peak Wealth Management, Matt Demorest - Realtor and Lender, Ann Arbor Elder Law, Michigan Law Grad, Human Element, Sharon's Heating & Air Conditioning, The Sklars Brothers, Champions Circle, Winewood Organics, Community Pest Solutions, Venue by 4M where record this, and Introducing this season: Radecki Oral Surgery, and Long Road Distillers. 1. Offense vs Nebraska Starts at 1:00 Is yogurt, honey, and granola a snack? Dave Nastersnacks will give us the answer. Oklahoma was a 24-13 loss but it felt worst than that, this was 30-27 win but it felt better than that (but also worse!). The domination on both lines was more notable than some of the silly, bad things that happened. Between Oklahoma and Nebraska, Michigan hasn't had a complete touchdown drive (but this game had an 8 minute drive to go up by 10). Caveats aside, we're on the verge of saying Greg Crippen is good after he blocked three guys on one play. Running stretch is hard and they're running it quite well. McCulley had a great game but was to blame on Semaj's throw being incomplete. Zero drops otherwise and ran guys over. Everyone else? Not so great. Gotta catch the ball on a slant, get used to passes from Underwood. Should they throw it to Peyton O'Leary? The running backs sure toughened up in this one. Max Bredeson blocks everyone like they're Caleb Downs in the Rose Bowl. Not many Bryce critiques. Catch the ball. Guarnera is just not making mistakes. What's the next good defensive line that Michigan will play, Ohio State? Michigan consistently got a play in, saw the look of the defense, and got a new play in. 2. Defense vs Nebraska Starts at 46:58 Time for a Wink Martindale argument? He doesn't need to do anything fancy. Just run the Iowa defense, you're not going up against an NFL offense. Brandyn Hillman is being asked to do things outside of his base job. 27 points, seven are on Biff, seven are on Hillman taunting, three are on Mangham missing a sack. Otherwise it was pretty good? Raiola was getting sacked every other play. Too many safeties missing sacks. Complaining aside, they got to the quarterback a lot and tackled well. Sanders has been playing a lot and there haven't really been any negative feelings about him. Wink would be a better poker player than Mike Debord but not as good as Jesse Minter. This game felt like Trey Pierce arrived. Cole Sullivan has absolutely emerged, he's little bit of everywhere and has freaky long arms. Defensive backs played well. The Shamari Earls PI was a bit weak. Brandyn Hillman needs to grow up, that was the most obvious personal foul in a minute. Brian usually defends players celebrating and even he says that's an obvious foul. Was it a targeting call at the end of the game? Let's talk about the Hail Mary. Why was TJ Guy dropping? Why was there a spy? 3. Hot Takes, Game Theory, and Special Teams Starts at 1:25:17 Takes hotter than a Wisconsin fan looking at whatever the shit that was on Saturday. If you're Nebraska, would you go for it on 4th and 2 on the opening drive? Should Michigan have called timeout at the end of the first half? Maybe Sherrone could make a better call here but we can't know that. Zvada hit a 56 yarder and a chip shot to seal it, yay. Punting was okay, how do you recruit punters? What's with Semaj at punt returns? Punt returning has been a problem for a couple years now. Kendrick Bell got the onside! Gary Danielson and Brad Nessler are washed. The turf was a little slippy? 4. Around the Big Ten with Jamie Mac Starts at 1:51:48 Indiana 63, Illinois 10 This is the most points a top 10 team has been beaten by. This looks like Michigan's boxscore against Central. Cignetti is vindicated. How much is this Indiana being legit and Illinois never being top 10 team? Maryland 27, Wisconsin 10 The boxscore shows a relatively even game, BUT Maryland blocks a punt, field goal, and gets one of the easiest interceptions you've seen. Luke Fickell is done. The boo birds were just apathetic, which is worse than booing. 61 rush yards for Wisconsin on 42 attempts. Oregon 41, Oregon State 7 Oregon State has fallen on hard times since college football ejected them. This game looked like a controlled scrimmage. Is Oregon really good or just beating up on bad teams? We'll see how Oregon does during a whiteout at Penn State next weekend. Notre Dame 56, Purdue 30 Purdue's defense is really bad. Purdue is Purdue. Iowa 38, Rutgers 28 Iowa returns the opening kickoff for a touchdown and could not stop Rutgers' QB. Both teams went up and down the field, what is happening?? USC 45, Michigan State 31 The boxscore looks a little close but MSU gets a 75 yard drive down three touchdowns. Mostly a blowout. The Spartans' defense did not have answers to USC's running game. Aidan Chiles had some explosive plays. Washington 59, Washington State 24 Another Pacific Northwest rivalry that college football has ruined. Does Washington have the best complete package for skill position players in the conference? We don't trust Ohio State's run game. MUSIC: "Wave Goodnight"—Jeff Rosenstock "Alien With a Sleep Mask"—Batboys "Big Dipper"—Built to Spill “Across 110th Street”—JJ Johnson and his Orchestra
We have a round of new drill results to report his morning. News continues from GreenLight Metals, Amarc Resources and Goliath Resources. Perpetua Resources announced it received its conditional Notice to Proceed from the US Forest Service for the Stibnite Gold Project.This episode of Mining Stock Daily is brought to you by... Revival Gold is one of the largest pure gold mine developer operating in the United States. The Company is advancing the Mercur Gold Project in Utah and mine permitting preparations and ongoing exploration at the Beartrack-Arnett Gold Project located in Idaho. Revival Gold is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol “RVG” and trades on the OTCQX Market under the ticker symbol “RVLGF”. Learn more about the company at revival-dash-gold.comVizsla Silver is focused on becoming one of the world's largest single-asset silver producers through the exploration and development of the 100% owned Panuco-Copala silver-gold district in Sinaloa, Mexico. The company consolidated this historic district in 2019 and has now completed over 325,000 meters of drilling. The company has the world's largest, undeveloped high-grade silver resource. Learn more at https://vizslasilvercorp.com/Equinox has recently completed the business combination with Calibre Mining to create an Americas-focused diversified gold producer with a portfolio of mines in five countries, anchored by two high-profile, long-life Canadian gold mines, Greenstone and Valentine. Learn more about the business and its operations at equinoxgold.com Integra is a growing precious metals producer in the Great Basin of the Western United States. Integra is focused on demonstrating profitability and operational excellence at its principal operating asset, the Florida Canyon Mine, located in Nevada. In addition, Integra is committed to advancing its flagship development-stage heap leach projects: the past producing DeLamar Project located in southwestern Idaho, and the Nevada North Project located in western Nevada. Learn more about the business and their high industry standards over at integraresources.com
For years, the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, with the support of environmental groups, has been fighting to remove a segment of oil pipeline that runs through their northern Wisconsin reservation. Last year, the Wisconsin DNR gave Canadian energy company Enbridge the go ahead to re-route the Line 5 pipeline, but the tribe says that there is still a risk of pollution to their sovereign land and water. Executive producer Hayley Sperling talks with Erin McGroarty about her recent reporting on the continued legal battle and why the Bad River Tribe wants Line 5 shut down.
Eighteen Wisconsin Farmers Union members joined 250 other members around the country to talk farm issues in Washington, D.C. President Darin Von Ruden tells Bob Bosold the conversations were somewhat fruitful. It's the first day of fall! Stu Muck says tractors and choppers are likely to be rolling again this week despite a few rain chances. Rainfall reporters share what's in their rain gauge after the weekend precipitation. As harvest season kicks into gear, Wisconsin roads will soon be busy with trucks, tractors, and other farm equipment, creating new challenges for drivers. Ben Jarboe and Lt. Bill Berger with the Wisconsin State Patrol talk about important safety reminders. Extension Grazing Outreach Specialist Jason Cavadini says 2025 has been one of the best years for cool-season perennial grasses in the past decade, thanks to well-timed rainfall. He tells Kiley Allan that September and October are peak months for pasture growth, making it a crucial time for farmers to manage their forage carefully. The countdown is on for World Dairy Expo, Sept. 30 - Oct. 3, in Madison. Billed as the premier gathering of the dairy industry, the event showcases the best of dairy farming and innovation. Kay Zwald, a board member with Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin representing Dunn and St. Croix counties, says this year, DFW will debut a new presence at Expo.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This is a Grave Talks CLASSIC EPISODE! Is Wisconsin the most haunted state in America? Many paranormal investigators believe so — and filmmaker and investigator Michael Brown has the chilling stories to prove it. From rural towns to forgotten schools, Wisconsin is crawling with true ghost stories and unexplained hauntings. Brown has documented some of the most terrifying paranormal encounters, capturing evidence that suggests spirits are far more active here than anyone could have imagined. His work has taken him into abandoned classrooms where an entity followed him home — an attachment so disturbing it blurred the line between investigation and nightmare. And then there's the haunted radio station. Imagine working alone in a dark studio late at night, only to hear the voices of children echoing through the halls. Not on the air. Not through the speakers. But disembodied, spectral voices that seemed to come from nowhere… and everywhere at once. These are not urban legends or campfire tales. These are real investigations, real evidence, and real hauntings caught on camera. Michael Brown's journey across Wisconsin peels back the curtain on a state filled with restless spirits — from schoolhouses to radio towers, from shadowy hallways to spectral whispers in the night. If you thought Wisconsin was just about cheese curds and football, think again. Beneath its Midwestern charm lurks a world of supernatural activity that defies logic and sends even the bravest investigators running.
One month has passed in the college football season as Week 4 is now in the books. There were some dominant performances that led the way including #17 Texas Tech dominating #16 Utah at the line of scrimmage. The college football world has been interested to see the Red Raiders get tested after an offseason of revamping their team through the portal, spending heavily on NIL. On Saturday, at least, that plan paid off as the Red Raiders came out of Salt Lake City with a 34-10 victory. Andy Staples, Ross Dellenger and Steven Godfrey discuss if Texas Tech is the best team in the Big 12. Plus, there was a big matchup in Norman, Oklahoma as #11 Oklahoma squeaked out a win over #22 Auburn. The guys discuss what this matchup told us about each school and what their season may look like going forward.Later, they discuss another dominant win as #19 Indiana got their first win over a Top 10 team in five years with a 63-10 beatdown of #9 Illinois. Was Illinois overrated or is Indiana actually that good? The guys discuss. They also take a look at a few other embarrassing losses from Saturday. Oklahoma State, Clemson and North Carolina all look like programs in disarray. Can any of them salvage a season, or is it doom and gloom for them this year? The guys chat about each program's issues. Lastly, the American Conference has been very impressive this season and people have started to take notice. The guys feel confident the winner of this conference is going to the CFP, but who might that be? They discuss the various options of who may claim that spot and what the success of this conference means for college football. Can the non-Power 4 conferences still be successful in the current age of college football? The American Conference's success seems to suggest so. Catch up on anything you missed from a wild Week 4 on College Football Enquirer.(5:47) - #17 Texas Tech dominates #16 Utah(15:11) #11 Oklahoma survives #22 Auburn(24:01) - #21 Michigan hands Nebraska their first loss(29:00) - Wisconsin continues to fall apart(34:30) - #19 Indiana dominates #9 Illinois(37:40) - Oklahoma State continues disastrous season(40:45) - Clemson's worst start under Dabo Swinney(44:06) - North Carolina struggles under Bill Belichick(52:07) - The American Conference continues to impress(1:00:25) - Who else impressed in Week 4?(1:07:02) - Looking at Week 5 Subscribe to the College Football Enquirer on your favorite podcast app:
Nebraska drops another Big Ten opener, 30–27 to Michigan, and Travis Justice & Dr. Rob Zatechka break down why the score felt closer than the game. From seven sacks and goal-line woes to Michigan's clear edge in speed and physicality, the guys zero in on the offensive tackles, short-yardage issues, and three explosive TD runs allowed. They also defend Dylan Raiola's day (it wasn't on the QB) and compare him to Bryce Underwood, separating arm talent, accuracy, and true dual-threat juice. With a bye week on deck, they outline what can actually be fixed now (OL personnel/scheme tweaks, tackling fits, protection help) and what's a longer project. Then it's a tour around college football: Indiana surges under Curt Cignetti, Wisconsin spirals (is Luke Fickell on the clock?), Florida's brutal slate puts Billy Napier in peril, and why monster buyouts are warping the coaching carousel. Please support our sponsors: This podcast would not be possible without the generosity and support of our sponsors. Gdefy Shoes Like Gdefy Shoes and their patented VersoShock technology, which offers absorption, body alignment, and a trampoline-like energy, Gdefy shoes are perfect for any activity. They offer a 60-day money-back guarantee, unmatched comfort, and two free orthotics. The holiday season is here, so save money by getting 50% off an order of $120 or more by entering the promo code DOCTALK50 at checkout at Gdefy.com. Husker Hounds Speaking of the holidays, get the Cornhusker fan in your family the best Nebraska gear at Husker Hounds. There are two locations in the Omaha area, and you can find them online at HuskerHounds.com. The Orr Law Group The legal process can be intimidating. Let the experts at Orr Law Group help you navigate the court system. They handle all types of litigation. Connor Orr and his team are compassionate and caring lawyers who provide a positive and experienced representation to their clients. Get more information from the Orr Law Group. Centris Federal Credit Union For all your banking needs, turn to Centris Federal Credit Union, the official sponsor of the Doc's Diagnosis. Discover the benefits of membership at Centris Federal Credit Union, member NCUA. Husker Max Husker Max provides the best Nebraska football and sports information. They distribute this podcast weekly and are the go-to source for all Husker news.
Wisconsin may have hit rock bottom on Saturday in the loss to Maryland. Zach and Jesse discuss what went right (essentially nothing) and what went wrong (a whole lot). They also dive into the Fire Fickell chants, the chances he gets fired, Chris McIntosh’s future and much more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On our latest show (#1,056 Sept. 21): Mike O'Connor with hawk migration hotspots in the U.S. and Canada; Lindsey Broadhead on a big crane festival in Wisconsin; and an extra-large shorebird on its journey south.
Episode 64 features a conversation with Michael Wegner from the band Cosmic Charlie, a Grateful Dead tribute band. Michael talks about his introduction to Max Creek, how the band influenced his approach to music, and what it was like performing with Mark Mercier.Learn about Michael Wegner:https://michaelwegner.comLearn about Cosmic Charlie:https://cosmiccharlie.netListen to Cosmic Charlie's live performance at Shank Hall in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on September 13, 2025:https://archive.org/details/cosmic-charlie2025-09-13If you have feedback or suggestions for future episodes, send a message via the contact link on the Hooked on Creek website:https://hookedoncreek.comRead a transcript of this episode on the Hooked on Creek website:https://hookedoncreek.com/2025/09/episode-64-michael-wegner-from-cosmic-charlie-talks-about-max-creek/
Virginia Tech fired Brent Pry Sunday, and our resident VT expert Bish reacted while JP Finlay came up with a plan to resurrect the Hokies. Mike Locksley previewed Maryland vs. Wisconsin, but also weighed in on how NIL and finances are affecting programs like Tech and UCLA. Plus, Denton Day's Week 4 previews, and Sam Acho on the landscape of Division I FBS!
Virginia Tech fired Brent Pry Sunday, and our resident VT expert Bish reacted while JP Finlay came up with a plan to resurrect the Hokies. Mike Locksley previewed Maryland vs. Wisconsin, but also weighed in on how NIL and finances are affecting programs like Tech and UCLA. Plus, Denton Day's Week 4 previews, and Sam Acho on the landscape of Division I FBS!
Virginia Tech fired Brent Pry Sunday, and our resident VT expert Bish reacted while JP Finlay came up with a plan to resurrect the Hokies. Mike Locksley previewed Maryland vs. Wisconsin, but also weighed in on how NIL and finances are affecting programs like Tech and UCLA. Plus, Denton Day's Week 4 previews, and Sam Acho on the landscape of Division I FBS!
Virginia Tech fired Brent Pry Sunday, and our resident VT expert Bish reacted while JP Finlay came up with a plan to resurrect the Hokies. Mike Locksley previewed Maryland vs. Wisconsin, but also weighed in on how NIL and finances are affecting programs like Tech and UCLA. Plus, Denton Day's Week 4 previews, and Sam Acho on the landscape of Division I FBS!
In this weeks Cougar Tales, BYU Basketball announces promotions for assistant coaches and shares ticket details for the upcoming games against UNC and Wisconsin.
Online criminals love cryptocurrency for many reasons – it's anonymous, can't be traced, and payments are irreversible. So when Paul discovers he has been targeted by a crypto scam and the thieves have stolen $450,000, he is resigned to the fact that he may never see that money again. That is, until an online search leads him to Wisconsin police detective Scott Simons. Following the trail of the stolen money, Detective Simons traces it to a private crypto wallet and eventually recovers $80,000 of Paul's money. Detective Simons works with the non-profit Operation Shamrock to offer hope to scam victims and fight transnational organized crime.
The 8am hour of Friday's Mac & Cube continued with the 4th Week of MAXX BALL FRIDAY!! We began with Syracuse vs. Clemson, Arkansas vs. Memphis, Michigan State vs. USC, Georgia State vs. Vanderbilt; then, the guys get into Auburn vs. Oklahoma & what Auburn D needs to do against John Mateer; later, Cole & Greg look at Oregon vs. Oregon State; and finally, more MAXX BALL with Maryland vs. Wisconsin and Ole Miss vs. Tulane. "McElroy & Cubelic In The Morning" airs 7am-10am weekdays on WJOX-94.5!!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Send us a textDr. Christy Kesslering, M.D. started out in conventional medicine as a Radiation Oncologist. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from UCLA and attended medical school at Loyola University Chicago-Stritch School of Medicine. She finished her Radiation Oncology Residency at the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 2000 and has been treating patients in the Chicagoland area since that time. She realized that something was missing from conventional medicine and did additional studies to improve outcomes with cancer but also saw many other diseases improve. She has done additional studies in the fields of Functional Medicine, Integrative Medicine, and the Terrain-Theory of cancer. She is a Terrain Certified Practitioner trained by Dr. Nasha Winters and is a founding member of the Society of Metabolic Health Practitioners. She has been actively incorporating metabolic health practices into the care of oncology patients for many years. She has been named a Top Doctor multiple times by Castle Connelly and Chicago Magazine. She is now focusing her efforts on working with cancer and non-cancer patients to optimize cancer outcomes, improve quality of life, and reverse chronic diseases. You can find her at: www.Kessrx.com
Send us a textCaleb Moen hangs out and interacts while we talk about Rain outs, Mississippi Thunder Speedway, North Central Speedway and many other topics from the weekend. Support the show
This week, Hackaday's Elliot Williams and Kristina Panos met up over the tubes to bring you the latest news, mystery sound, and of course, a big bunch of hacks from the previous seven days or so. In Hackaday news, we've got a new contest running! Read all about the 2025 Component Abuse Challenge, sponsored by DigiKey, and check out the contest page for all the details. In sad news, American Science & Surplus are shuttering online sales, leaving just the brick and mortar stores in Wisconsin and Illinois. On What's That Sound, it's a results show, which means Kristina gets to take a stab at it. She missed the mark, but that's okay, because [Montana Mike] knew that it was the theme music for the show Beakman's World, which was described by one contestant as "Bill Nye on crack". After that, it's on to the hacks and such, beginning with a really cool way to smooth your 3D prints in situ. JWe take a much closer look at that talking robot's typewriter-inspired mouth from about a month ago. Then we discuss several awesome technological feats such as running code on a PAX credit card payment machine, using the alphabet as joinery, and the invention of UTF-8 in general. Finally, we discuss the detection of spicy shrimp, and marvel at the history of email. Check out the links over on Hackaday if you want to follow along, and as always, tell us what you think about this episode in the comments!
After another win to improve to 3-0 on the year, head coach Michael Locksley joins legendary Voice of the Terps Johnny Holliday to discuss this Saturday's Big Ten opener at Wisconsin. Joining coach and Johnny are Dillan Fontus, DJ Samuels, and Tai Felton!
The movers and shakers of our hamlet are moving and shaking this week! The Madison City Council voted to close down Dairy Drive, some local politicians are throwing their hat into the race for Governor, plus school board members are considering giving themselves a raise. Host Bianca Martin, producer Jade Iseri-Ramos and newsletter editor Rob Thomas recap it all, plus explain what you need to do to enter to win our True North Music & Food Festival giveaway! Mentioned on the show: Madison Common Council Votes On the Future of the Dairy Drive Homeless Campground [WMTV]Democrat Francesca Hong promises to be 'wild card' in Wisconsin governor's race [Wisconsin State Journal] Madison School Board considers nearly doubling its pay [Wisconsin State Journal] True North Music and Food Festival Giveaway [Instagram]
In this week's episode of 365 Amplified, hosts Stephanie Díaz de León, Omar Waheed, and Rob Chappell dive into a wide range of local and national stories — from media censorship and free speech battles to community leadership and grassroots democracy — before welcoming a special guest. Featured Interview: Huma Ahsan Madison attorney Huma Ahsan, candidate for Dane County Circuit Court Judge (Branch 1), joins the show to talk about her journey from immigration law to tribal courts, her work rebuilding a judicial system from scratch on the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa reservation, and why she believes Dane County needs a “court of resistance” in the current political climate. Ahsan shares her background, her approach to justice, and what she hopes to bring to the bench. Other Topics This Week: Wisconsin politics: Two new names join the race for governor, plus a landslide recall election in DeForest. YWCA Racial Justice Summit: A preview of this year's speakers and themes, from abolition to ecological restoration. Media and free speech: The FCC threatens ABC over Jimmy Kimmel's remarks — what it means for journalism, censorship, and corporate influence. Community leadership: A look ahead to Madison365's annual list of Wisconsin's Most Influential Latino Leaders. The most important question: Is a taco a sandwich? Connect: Full coverage at Madison365.org Support Local Journalism: If you appreciate our work, consider donating to keep 365 Amplified and Madison365 thriving. Visit madison365.org/donate to contribute. Follow Us: Stay connected for real-time news updates and discussions:
On this week's show Robert Kraig is joined by special guest co-host State Senator Chris Larson. Robert & Chris discuss the shameful effort of the Trump Regime to use the brutal murder of Charlie Kirk as a pretext to unleash the full force of the federal government to crack down on progressive groups, celebrities such as Jimmy Kimmel, and millions of everyday Americans exercising their First Amendment rights on social media. Next, we preview the 2026 elections in WIsconsin where governing power is in play. Does this consolidation of authoritarian power call for different kinds of candidates and a new politics in the Democratic Party? Finally, Chris & Robert dig in on the latest state news, including the Evers Administration's efforts to protect access to COVID vaccines, and the decline of an alternative to predatory corporate health insurance.
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Operaspymaster you may ask? Read on and listen to this episode. In this powerful and multifaceted episode of Unstoppable Mindset, we welcome Kay Sparling, former opera singer, PTSD survivor, and now debut novelist—as she shares her incredible life journey from international stages to the shadowy world of espionage fiction. Kay talks about the creation of her first novel, Mission Thaw, a gripping spy thriller based on her own real-life experiences volunteering with refugees in post-Cold War Europe. Kay and Michael discuss the inspiration behind her protagonist, CIA agent Caitlin Stewart, and how real-world trauma and service led Kay to use fiction as both a vehicle for healing and a call to action on the modern crisis of human trafficking. This is a conversation that transcends genres—music, espionage, activism, and resilience—all converging through the unstoppable spirit of a woman who refuses to stay silent. About the Guest: Kay Sparling was raised in the Midwest. At the age of seven, she began her professional singing career as Gretl in “The Sound of Music” and she continued to perform through high school. After graduation Kay attended University of Kansas and earned a BME in music education and a minor in Vocal Performance. She then attended graduate school in opera voice performance for one year at UMKC Conservatory of Music. She was awarded a grant to finish my graduate studies in Vienna, Austria. From there she won an apprenticeship at the Vienna State Opera. After moving to NYC to complete her second apprenticeship, Kay lived in Germany, Austria, and Italy for many years. In 1999 Kay returned to NYC and continued singing opera and became a cantor for the NYC diocese. After 9/11, she served as a cantor at many of the funeral and memorial masses for the fallen first responders. In 2003, Kay moved from NYC to the upper Midwest and started a conservatory of Music and Theatre where her voice students have been awarded numerous prestigious scholarships and won many competitions. In 2020, the pandemic shut down her conservatory, so she began training to be a legal assistant and now works in workers compensation. Back in 2013, Kay had started writing a journal as a PTSD treatment. She was encouraged to extend the material into a novel. After much training and several drafts, Mission Thaw was published in 2024. Kay is currently writing the second book in the Kaitlyn Stewart Spy Thriller Series. Ways to connect with Kay: Website: https://www.kaysparlingbooks.com X: https://x.com/MissionThaw/missionthaw/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/missionthaw.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/505674375416879 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kay-sparling-8516b638/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missionthaw/ Litsy: https://www.litsy.com/web/user/Mission%20Thaw About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset . Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes: Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us. Michael Hingson ** 01:16 Well, hi everyone. Welcome to another episode of unstoppable mindset. I'm your host, Mike hingson, and our guest today is a very fascinating individual. I was just teasing her a little bit about her email address, which is operaspy master@gmail.com I'm telling you, don't cross her. That's all I gotta say. Anyway, we'll, we'll get into all of that. But I really am glad that she is with us. Kay Sparling is a fascinating woman who's had an interesting career. She's written, she's done a number of things. She's used to be an opera, gosh, all sorts of stuff. So anyway, we'll get to all of it and we'll talk about it. I don't want to give it all away. Where would the fun in that be? Kay, welcome to unstoppable mindset. Kay Sparling ** 02:11 Well, thank you. I'm glad to be here. Well, Michael Hingson ** 02:13 we're glad you're here. You're from up in Wisconsin. We were going to do this a couple of weeks ago, but you had all the storms, and it stole your internet and your power away, didn't Kay Sparling ** 02:23 it? It sure did. Yeah, that was a terrible storm we had. Michael Hingson ** 02:28 Yeah, that's kind of no fun. I remember years ago, I was talking to somebody on the phone. We were doing a sales call, and he said, I might not be able to stay on the phone because we're having a really serious storm, and he said it is possible that the lightning could hit the phone lines, and if it does, it could come in the house. And we talked for a few minutes, and then he said, I'm going to have to hang up, because I just felt a small shock, because the lightning obviously hit the phone line, so we'll have to talk later. And and he was gone. And we did talk later, though he was okay, but still, wow, yeah, there's a lot of crazy weather going on, isn't there? And we were just talking about the, we were just talking about the Canadian wildfires. They're No fun. Kay Sparling ** 03:15 No, no. Just everywhere is having crazy weather. Michael Hingson ** 03:20 Well, tell us a little bit about you growing up and all that sort of stuff, and telling me about the the early K Kay Sparling ** 03:32 Well, growing up, I grew up in a farm community in the in the central Midwest, just you know, right in the middle of the bread basket, you might say, not near where you are now. No no, no further south and in very much agriculture time, I mean skipping ahead. I remember talking to a famous opera conductor when I was an apprentice, and I made some reference, and he goes, Well, how would you know that? And I said, because I grew up on a farm. And he went, Oh, get out here. Nobody makes it, you know, to a major European opera house from a farm. And I went, Well, I did. And later, I asked my mom to send me a picture, because we had had an aerial view taken of our homestead, and it was obvious for miles, all the way around the house and the barn and all, it was just corn fields and soybeans. You know what they showed Michael Hingson ** 04:40 Illinois, Illinois, and so you showed it to him, yeah, Kay Sparling ** 04:44 I showed it to him, and he was like, well, doggone, you're not lying. Like, No, I wasn't kidding you. I really did. Michael Hingson ** 04:51 It shows how good I really am. See how far I progressed. Kay Sparling ** 04:55 Well, you know, I was one of these kids. I. At five years old, I my parents took me to see sound and music at the theater, and during the intermission. Now I'm five years old, it's pretty late for me, right? But when we're in the concession stand, I tug at my mom's skirt, and I say, Mom, that's what I want to do. And she looks at me kind of funny, and she's kind of funny, and she's kind of confused. Well, what do you want to do work in a theater? You know, a movie theater? No, no, I want to do what those kids are doing on that on the movie screen. And she was like, Well, honey, you know, that's that's really hard to get somewhere like that. So that was when I was five. And then when I was seven, she just, you know, the all the school and the church were telling her, this kid's got a great voice, and they kept giving me solos and stuff. And so when I was seven, she put me in the Sangamon County Fair Little Miss competition. And of course, my talent was singing, so I just sang away. I really can't remember what I sang, but afterwards, a fellow came up to my parents and introduced himself, and he said that he was there, he had family, not, you know, in the area, and that he had grown up there, but since then, he he was in St Louis, and he said, we are, I'm a scout, and I'm looking, I'm an entertainment Scout, and I'm actually looking for, you know, the von trop children. We're going to do a big production, and we'd love to audition your daughter. Well, we were about, think it was an hour and a half away from St Louis, so my parents are like, wow, that'd be quite a commitment. But long story short, I did it, and that started my professional career. I was the youngest Bon Troy. You know, over cradle, yeah. And so it just went from there. And, you know, it was all Broadway, of course, and I did a lot of church singing, you know, it got to be by the time I was, you know, in high school, people were hiring me for weddings, funerals, all that kind of thing. And so I was a Broadway and sacred singer. Went to college. My parents said, you can't depend on a vocal performance degree. What if things don't work out? You have to have something fall back. So I went into vocal music ed at a very, very good school for that, and also music therapy, and, you know, continue being in their shows. And when I when I graduated, continued the Broadway, and one night I was also singing a little bit of jazz in Kansas City, where I was living, someone approached me. She was a voice teacher at the conservatory there, and that conservatory had an apprenticeship with the Kansas City Lyric Opera. And she said I knew you was an undergrad. My husband works where you, where you went to school, and I have been watching you for a long time. And I wish you quit this nonsense of singing Broadway and jazz and rock and everything and get serious, you know, and try opera. So I thought she was crazy to bring that up, but it wasn't the first time it had been brought up. So I have been teaching for a year, and at the end of that school year, I announced everyone I was going to graduate school and I was going to study opera. And so Michael Hingson ** 08:55 what were you teaching? Kay Sparling ** 08:57 I was teaching high school choir, okay, at a very big high school, very, very good choir department. Michael Hingson ** 09:03 Now, by the way, after doing Gretel, did you ever have any other parts as you grew older in Sound of Music? Kay Sparling ** 09:11 Okay, that's a very cool question. I am one of the few people that I know that can say I have sang every major role in Sound of Music sometime in my life. Ah, okay, because it was so popular when I was Oh, yeah. And as I would grow older, well now you're going to sing, you know, you just kept graduating up. And then pretty soon I sang quite a few Marias. And then after I was an opera singer. During covid, I was asked to sing Mother Superior. Mother Superior. Yeah, literally, have sung, you know, in a decades long career, I've sung every role in Sound of Music. Michael Hingson ** 09:56 Cool. Well, that's great. 10:00 Yeah, so, so, anyway, so Michael Hingson ** 10:02 you said that you were going to go study opera, Kay Sparling ** 10:07 and I did a graduate school, and then I got the chance to get an international grant over to Europe, and so I decided to not finish my masters at that time and go over there and finish it, and most of all, importantly, do my first apprenticeship in Europe. And so I thought that was a great opportunity. They were willing. They were going to willing to pay for everything. And I said I would be a fool to turn this down. Yeah, so off I went, and that's kind of the rest of the story. You know, got a lot of great training, left Europe for a while, moved to New York City, trained best coaches and teachers in the world at the Metropolitan Opera and then, you know, launch my career. Michael Hingson ** 11:04 So you Wow, you, you've done a number of things, of course, going to Europe and being in Vienna and places like that. Certainly you were in the the right place. Kay Sparling ** 11:16 Yes, yes, definitely. You know, at that time in the in the middle 80s, United States was we had some great opera houses Iran, but we had very few. And it just wasn't the culture that it was in Europe, in Europe. And so, yes, there was a lot more opportunity there, because there was such a culture established there already. Michael Hingson ** 11:44 So you went off and you did Europe and saying opera, what were you a soprano? Or what were you that sounds like a way a little high for your voice? Kay Sparling ** 11:59 Well, you have to remember, I'm a senior citizen now. So this is the way it worked for me, because we're talking decades from the age 27 and I quit singing at 63 so that's a very long time to sing opera. So I started out, as you know, there is a voice kind of category, and each one of those, we use a German word for that. It's called Foch, F, A, C, H, and you know, that is determined by the kind of vocal cords you have, and the kind of training and the literature you're singing, and hopefully that all meshes together if you have good coaches and a good agent and such. And I literally have seen so many different Fox lyric, lyric mezzo, then to, very shortly, lyric soprano, and then for a long time, spinto soprano, which would be the Puccini and a lot of them really popular things. And then I was, I felt I was quite lucky that my voice did have the strength and did mature into a Verdi soprano, which is a dramatic soprano, not many of those around. And so that was, that was an endeavor, but at the same time, that was a leg up. And so most of the time in my career, I sang the bigger Puccini, like, let's say Tosca, and I sang a lot of Verdi. So I was an Italian opera singer. I mostly sang in Italian, not to say that I didn't sing in German or French, but I did very little in comparison to the Michael Hingson ** 13:56 Italian Well, there's a lot of good Italian opera out there, although mostly I don't understand it, but I don't speak Italian well. Kay Sparling ** 14:07 The great thing about most houses now is, you know, you can just look at the back of the seat in front of you, and there's the translation, you know, yeah, that Michael Hingson ** 14:18 doesn't work for me. Being blind, that doesn't work for you. Yeah, that's okay, though, but I like the music, yeah. So how long ago did you quit singing? Kay Sparling ** 14:32 Um, just about, well, under, just a little under three years ago, okay? Michael Hingson ** 14:38 And why did you quit? This was the right time, Kay Sparling ** 14:42 senses or what I had a circumstance, I had to have throat surgery. Now it wasn't on my vocal cords, but it was on my thyroid, and unfortunately, the vocal cord nerve. They had to take out some Cyst On. My right thyroid, and then remove it too. And unfortunately, my vocal cords were damaged at that time, I would have probably be singing still now some you know, I mean, because dramatic sopranos just can go on and on and on. One of my mentors was Birgit Nielsen, famous singer from Sweden, and she was in my grandmother's generation, but she didn't, I went to work with her, and she demonstrated at 77 she could still pop out of high C. And I believe, I believe I would have been able to do that too, but you know, circumstances, you know, changed, but that's okay. Yeah, I had sung a long time, and at least I can speak. So I'm just very happy about that. Michael Hingson ** 15:51 So when you did quit singing, what did you decide to go do? Or, or, How did, how did you progress from there? Kay Sparling ** 16:01 Well, I had already made a transition where I had come in 2003 to the Midwest. I came back from New York City, where I lived many, many years, and I started a conservatory of music and acting, and then that kind of grew into a whole conservatory of music. So I was also a part time professor here in Wisconsin, and I taught voice, you know, one on one vocal lessons, so high school and college and graduate school, and so I had this huge studio. So when that happened, I wasn't getting to sing a whole lot, because I was much more focused on my students singing me at that point, especially the older ones, professional ones, and so, you know, I just kept teaching and and then I had started this book that I'm promoting now, and so that gave me more time to get that book finished Michael Hingson ** 17:10 and published. What's the name of the book? Kay Sparling ** 17:13 The book is called Mission, thaw. Michael Hingson ** 17:16 Ah, okay, and what is it about Kay Sparling ** 17:22 mission thaw is feminist spy thriller set at the very end of the Cold War in the late 80s, and the main protagonist is Caitlin Stewart, who it who has went over there to be an opera singer, and soon after she arrives, is intensely recruited by the CIA. They have a mission. They really, really need a prima donna Mozart soprano, which is what Caitlin was, and she had won a lot of competitions and won a grant to go over there, and so they had been vetting her in graduate school in the United States. And soon as she came to Europe, they they recruited her within a couple weeks of her being there, and she, of course, is totally blindsided by that. When they approach her, she had she she recognized that things were not exactly the way they should be, that people were following her, and she was trying to figure out who, are these people and why are they following me everywhere? Well, it ends up being young CIA agents, and so when the head chief and his, you know, the second chief, approach her, you know, she's not real happy, because she's already felt violated, like her privacy has been violated, and so she wasn't really too wonderful of listening to them and their needs. And so they just sort of apprehend her and and throw her in a car, in a tinted window Mercedes, and off they go to a park to talk to her, right? And so it's all like crazy movie to Caitlin. It's like, what is going on here? And, you know, she can tell they're all Americans, and they have dark suits on, even though it's very, very hot, and dark glasses, you know? So everything is just like a movie. And so when they approach her and tell her about what they need her to do, you know, and this would be in addition to the apprentice she is doing that, you know, she just gets up and says, I'm sorry I didn't come over and be in cloak and dagger. A, you know, ring, I'm getting out of here. And as she's walking away, the chief says, Well, what if you could help bring down the Berlin Wall? Well, now that stops her in her tracks, and she turns around. She goes, What are you kidding? I'm just a, you know, an opera apprentice from the Midwest grew up on a farm. What am I gonna do? Hit a high C and knock it down. I mean, what are you talking about? Michael Hingson ** 20:28 Hey, Joshua, brought down the wealth of Jericho, after all. Well, yeah, some Kay Sparling ** 20:34 later, someone tells her that, actually, but, but anyway, they say, well, sit down and we'll explain what we need you to do. And so the the initial job that Caitlin accepts and the CIA to be trained to do is what they call a high profile information gap. She has a wonderful personality. She's really pretty. She's very fashionable, so she can run with the jet set. And usually the jet set in Europe, the opera jet set is also where all the heads of states hang out, too. And at that time, the the Prime Minister was pretty much banking the Vienna State Opera where she was apprenticing. So he ends up being along with many other Western Austrian businessmen in a cartel of human trafficking. Who they are trafficking are all the the different citizens of the countries that USSR let go. You know, when you know just got to be too much. Remember how, oh yeah, we're going to let you go. Okay? And then they would just pull out. And there was no infrastructure. There was nothing. And these poor people didn't have jobs, they didn't have electricity. The Russian mafia was running in there trying to take, you know, take over. It was, it was chaos. And so these poor people were just packing up what they could to carry, and literally, sometimes walking or maybe taking a train into the first Western European country they could get to. And for a lot of them, just because the geographical area that was Austria. And so basically, the Austrians did not want these people, and they were being very unwelcoming and arresting a lot of them, and there was a lot of lot of bad behavior towards these refugees. And so the Catholic church, the Catholic Social Services, the Mennonite Relief Fund, the the UN and the Red Cross started building just tent after tent after tent on the edge of town for these people to stay at. And so the businessmen decide, well, we can traffic these people that have nothing over to the East Germans, who will promise them everything, but will give them nothing. But, you know, death camps, basically, just like in World War Two. So you have work camps, you have factories. They they don't feed these people correctly. They don't they don't give them anything that they promise to them in in the camps. And they say, Okay, be on this train at this time, this night. And then they stop somewhere in between Vienna and East Germany, in a very small train station in the middle of the Alps. And they have these large, you know, basic slave options. And unfortunately, the children in the older people get sent back to the camp because they don't need them or want them. So all the children get displaced from their families, as well as the senior citizens or anyone with a disability. And then, you know, the men and the women that can work are broken up as well, and they're sent to these, you know, they're bought by these owners of these factories and farms, and the beautiful women, of course, are sold to either an individual that's there in East German that just wants to have a sex aid, pretty much. Or even worse, they could be sold to an underground East Berlin men's club. And so terrible, terrible things happen to the women in particular, and the more that Caitlin learns. As she's being trained about what's happening, and she interviews a lot of these women, and she sees the results of what's happened, it, it, it really strengthens her and gives her courage. And that's a good thing, because as time goes through the mission, she ends up having to be much, much more than just a high profile social, you know, information gather. She ends up being a combat agent and so, but that that's in the mission as you read, that that happens gradually and so, what? What I think is really a good relationship in this story, is that the one that trains her, because this is actually both CIA and MI six are working on this, on this mission, thought and the director of the whole mission is an very seasoned mi six agent who everyone considers the best spy in the free world. And Ian Fleming himself this, this is true. Fact. Would go to this man and consult with him when he was writing a new book, to make sure you know that he was what he was saying is, Could this really happen? And that becomes that person, Clive Matthews become praying, Caitlyn, particularly when she has to start changing and, you know, defending herself. And possibly, you know, Michael Hingson ** 26:38 so he becomes her teacher in Kay Sparling ** 26:42 every way. Yes. So how Michael Hingson ** 26:45 much? Gee, lots of questions. First of all, how much of the story is actually Kay Sparling ** 26:50 true? All this story is true. The Michael Hingson ** 26:53 whole mission is true. Yes, sir. And so how did you learn about this? What? What caused you to start to decide to write this story? Kay Sparling ** 27:08 So some of these experiences are my own experiences. And so after I as an opera singer, decided to be a volunteer to help out these refugees. I witnessed a lot, and so many years later, I was being treated for PTSD because of what I'd witnessed there. And then a little bit later in Bosnia in the early 90s, and I was taking music therapy and art therapy, and my psychiatrist thought that it'd be a good idea if also I journaled, you know, the things that I saw. And so I started writing things, and then I turned it in, and they had a person that was an intern that was working with him, and both of them encouraged me. They said, wow, if, if there's more to say about this, you should write a book, cuz this is really, really, really good stuff. And so at one point I thought, Well, why not? I will try. So this book is exactly what happened Caitlin, you know, is a real person, and everyone in the book is real. Of course, I changed the names to protect people and their descriptions, but I, you know, I just interviewed a lot of spies that were involved. So, yes, this is a true story. Michael Hingson ** 29:06 Did you do most of this? Then, after your singing career, were you writing while the career, while you were singing? Kay Sparling ** 29:13 I was writing while I was still singing. Yeah, I started the book in 2015 Okay, and because, as I was taking the PTSD treatment and had to put it on the shelf several times, life got in the way. I got my my teaching career just really took off. And then I was still singing quite a bit. And then on top of it, everything kind of ceased in 2018 when my mother moved in with me and she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, but Louie body Alzheimer's, which is a very, very rough time, and so I became one of her caretakers. So I quit singing, put that on hold, and I. I had to really, really bring down the number in my studio I was teaching and spend time here at home. And so I would take care of her, but then after she would go to bed, and she'd go to bed much earlier than I wanted to, that's when I write, and that's when I got the lion's share of this book written. Was during that time, it was a great escape from what I was dealing with, believe it or not, you know, even though there's some real graphic things in the book and all it wasn't, it was a nice distraction. Michael Hingson ** 30:36 Wow, so you, you lived this, needless to say, Kay Sparling ** 30:41 Yes, I did, and yes. Michael Hingson ** 30:45 So you've talked a little bit about what happened to these countries after the collapse of the USSR and communism and so on, these eastern companies, companies, countries. Has it changed much over the years. Kay Sparling ** 31:03 Oh, yeah, for instance, one, you know, I went to Budapest after they were freed, I guess is what usr would say. Stayed in a five star hotel, and we were lucky if we had running water and electricity at the same time. And every time you went down on the streets, all you'd see is lines, you know, I mean, just because there'd be all like, Red Cross, etc, would be there, and they'd have these big trucks they drove in every day, and it just got to be because they had nothing. If you saw a truck, you'd start running towards it and get in line. You didn't care what it was, you know, and it was. And then fights would break out because they wouldn't have enough for everyone. And then, like, you know, maybe someone's walking away with a bag of rice, and some of us knock them over the head and take, you know, and it was very hard, you know, I was a volunteer there, and it was very, very hard to see this, you know, desperation, one story that I'd like to tell, and I put it in the book. I was riding my bike, you know, on a Friday afternoon to get some groceries at the nearest supermarket where my apartment was, and at that time, they still had the European hours, so they were going to close at five o'clock, and they weren't going to open until seven or eight on Monday morning. So you had to make sure you got there to get your weekend supply. So I was on my way, and I was parking my bike, and this woman, refugee woman, runs up and she has two small children with her, and she's carrying a baby, and she's speaking to me in a language I did not know. I do speak several languages, but I don't know Slavic languages and so, but I'm getting the gist of it that she has nothing to eat, neither do her children, and so I'm patting her on the shoulder, and right when I do that, a policeman that was guarding the door of the supermarket came up to me and, like, grabbed me really hard, and told me in German that I was not To speak to them, and I was not to help them, because if you help them, they'll stay. And I said to him in German, I'm an American. I am not Austrian. I am here on a work visa, and I can do whatever the hell I want to do. Well, he didn't like that. And so I just walked away from him, and I went in the store. And so I got up everything I get. Think of the big need, you know, I never had a baby, so I was trying to kind of figure that out, yeah, and I had to figure it out in German, you know, looking at labels now. And so finally I got, I got some stuff, you know, the stuff I needed, and, and, and the stuff that I got for the family, and I checked out, and I'm pushing the cart, you know, towards them. And he runs up beside me and stops me, and he says, I am going to arrest you if you bring that. I told you not to help them. And I said, again, I don't think I'm breaking any laws. And he said, Oh yes, you are. And I said, Well, I didn't read that in the papers. I didn't see it on TV where anyone said. That you cannot help a refugee. And so we're going back and forth. And so, you know, I'm pretty strong, so I just keep pushing it towards it. Well, she's kind of running down the park, and I'm like, wait, wait, you know, because she's getting scared of this guy, you know, he has a gun, he has a nightstick. Of course, she's scared, and so, you know, I would say, No, no, it's okay, because I can't speak for language, right? And so I'm just trying to give her body language and talk. Well, finally she does stop, and I just throw I give the one sack to the little boy, and one second little girl, they just run and and then, you know, I'm talking to her and saying, you know, it's okay, it's okay. And he grabs me, and he turns me around and he spits in my face. Michael Hingson ** 35:53 Wow. Talk about breaking the law. But anyway, go ahead. Kay Sparling ** 36:00 Welcome to Austria in the late 80s. You have to understand their Prime Minister Kurt voltheim won on the Nazi ticket. Mm, hmm. At that very time, if you got on a bus and you saw these businessmen going to work, at least 50% of them were reading the Nazi paper. Okay, so we kind of know what, where his affiliations lie. You know, this policeman and, you know, and I was very aware, you know, of of that party being very strong. And so you have to watch yourself when, when you're a foreigner. And I was a foreigner too, just like her. And so after wiping my face, I mean, I really, really wanted to give him a kick or something, yeah, and I do, I do know martial arts, but I was like, no, no, gotta stay cool. And I just told her to run. And she did and caught up with the children, and, you know, kept running. So that was the first experience I had knowing how unwelcome these people were in Austria. Yeah, so I got involved, yeah, I got involved because I was like, this is absolutely not right. Michael Hingson ** 37:31 And so the book is, in part, to try to bring awareness to all that. I would think Kay Sparling ** 37:36 absolutely there are, there are bits of it are, they're pretty darn graphic, but it's all true, and it's all documented. Sometimes people about human trafficking, they think, oh, it's not in my backyard. I'm not going to think about that. Well, I live in a very small college town, around 17,000 people, and two months ago, on the front page of this small paper here in town, there were seven men that were arrested for many counts of human trafficking of underage women and prostitution. So guess what, folks, it is in your backyard. If it's in this little town, it's probably in yours too. And we have to be aware before we can do anything. So we have to open our eyes. And I hope this book opens the eyes of the reader to say, Oh, my God, I knew things were bad, but I didn't realize that torture, this kind of thing went on. Well, it does, and I the International Labor Union estimates that 21 million people are being you. You are victims of human trafficking right now, as we speak, throughout the world, that's a lot of people, a lot of people. So most likely, we've all seen some hint of that going on, it didn't register as it at the time. You know, if you're just walked out of a restaurant, and you're walking to your car that's parked on the street, and you happen to go by an alley and there's restaurants on that row, and all of a sudden you see people being kind of shoved out and put in a truck. That's probably human trafficking, you know? And you know, a lot of people don't pay attention, but like, if they stop and think that doesn't look right, and if those people look like they may be from another country, yeah. And all you have to do is call the authorities, you know, and other ways that you can help are by you know, that that you can get involved. Are, you know, donate to all the different organizations that are finding this now. Michael Hingson ** 40:19 Was the book self published, or do you have a publisher? Kay Sparling ** 40:25 I self published, but it's more of a hybrid publishing company that's kind of a new thing that's going on, and so I cannot learn all those different facets of publishing a book, right? It just wasn't in my, you know, skill set, and it also wasn't even interesting to me. I don't want to learn how to do graphic illustration. Okay? So what I did is I hired a hybrid company that had all these different departments that dealt with this, and I had complete artistic control, and I was able to negotiate a great deal on my net profits. So I feel that, after looking into the traditional publishing world and not being exactly pleased with it to say the least, I think that was the right business choice for me to make, and I'm very happy I did it. Michael Hingson ** 41:46 How do you market the book then? Kay Sparling ** 41:48 Well, that was, that was the tricky part that that publisher did have some marketing they started, but obviously now they agreed it wasn't enough. So at that point, I attended a virtual women's publishing seminar, and I really paid attention to all the companies that were presenting about marketing. And in that time, I felt one that I just was totally drawn to, and so I asked her if we could have a consultation, and we did, and the rest is history. I did hire her team and a publicist, Mickey, who you probably know, and, yeah, it's been going really great. That was the second smart thing I did, was to, you know, hire, hire a publicity. Michael Hingson ** 42:50 Well, yeah, and marketing is one is a is a tricky thing. It's not the most complicated thing in the world, but you do have to learn it, and you have to be disciplined. So good for you, for for finding someone to help, but you obviously recognize the need to market, which is extremely important, and traditional publishers don't do nearly as much of it as they used to. Of course, there are probably a lot more authors than there used to be too. But still, Kay Sparling ** 43:19 yeah, their their marketing has changed completely. I remember I had a roommate that became a famous author, and just thinking about when he started, you know, in the 80s, how the industry is completely changed. Mm, hmm, you know. So, yeah, it's, it's really tricky. The whole thing is very tricky. One thing that I also did is one of my graduate students needed a job, and so I've known her since, literally, I've known her since eighth grade. I have been with this student a long time, and she's done very well, but she really is a wiz at the social media. And so she made all my accounts. I think I have 12 altogether, and every time I do something like what I'm doing tonight, soon as it's released, she just puts it out there, everywhere and and I have to thank her from again that that's probably not my skill set. Michael Hingson ** 44:37 Well, everyone has gifts, right? And the the people who I think are the most successful are the people who recognize that they have gifts. There are other people that have gifts that will augment or enhance what they do. And it's good that you find ways to collaborate. I think collaborating is such an important thing. Oh, yeah. All too many people don't. They think that they can just do it all in and then some people can. I mean, I know that there are some people who can, but a lot of people don't and can't. Kay Sparling ** 45:12 Well, I've got other things. I've got going, you know, so maybe if I only had to do the book, everything to do with the book, that would be one thing, but I, you know, I have other things I have to have in my life. And so I think that collaboration is also fun, and I'm very good at delegating. I have been very good at delegating for a long time. When I started my school. I also started a theater company, and if you know one thing, it's a three ring circus to produce an opera or a musical, and I've done a lot of them, and yeah, I would have not survived if I didn't learn how to delegate and trust people to do their own thing. So what are you Michael Hingson ** 45:58 doing today? What are you doing today? Besides writing? Kay Sparling ** 46:04 Well, during covid, everything got shut down, and I didn't have an income, and I had to do something. And one of, believe it or not, one of my parents, of one of my students, is an attorney for the state of Wisconsin, and she was very worried. I mean, it looked like I might lose my house. I mean, I literally had no income. And so, you know, I was a small business person, and so she offered me very graciously to come work in the department of workers compensation in the legal Bureau at the state of Wisconsin. So I never have done anything like that in my life. I have never sat in a cubicle. I've never sat in front of a computer unless it was in its recording studio or something like that. So it was a crazy thing to have to do in my early 60s, but I'm a single woman, and I had to do it, and and I did, and it put me on solid ground, and that was one reason I couldn't finish the book, because I didn't have to worry about a live cookie. And so I am continuing to do that in so as in the day, that is what I do. I'm a legal assistant, cool. Michael Hingson ** 47:32 And so when did mission thought get published? Kay Sparling ** 47:38 Mission thought almost a year ago, in August of 2024 it launched, yes, okay, yeah. And it was very scary for me, you know, because my hybrid publishers up in Canada, and they were telling me, Well, you know, we're going to get you some editorial reviews and we're going to have you be interviewed. And you know, those very first things where my editor at at the publisher had told me it was one of the really a good book, and that was one of the cleanest books she ever had to edit. And so that kind of gave me some confidence. But you understand, look at my background. I I didn't go to school to be a writer. I had never studied writing. I hadn't done any writing up until now, and so to that was my first kind of sigh of relief when the editor at the publisher said it was really a good book, and then I started getting the editorial reviews, and they were all stellar, and they continue to be. And I'm, I'm still a little shocked, you know, because it takes time, I guess, for a person to switch gears and identify themselves as an author. But you know, after a year now, I'm feeling much more comfortable in my shoes about that. But at first it was, it was trying because I was scared and I was worried, you know, what people were going to think about the book, not the story, so much as how it was crafted. But it ends up, well, Michael Hingson ** 49:15 it ends up being part of the same thing, and yeah, the very fact that they love it that that means a lot. Yeah, so is, is there more in the way of adventures from Caitlin coming up or what's happening? Kay Sparling ** 49:30 Yeah, this is hopefully a trilogy, um of Caitlin's most important standout missions. And so the second one is set in the early 90s during the Bosnian war. And this time, she cannot use opera as a cover, because obviously in a war zone, there's no opera. And so she has to. To go undercover as either a un volunteer or Red Cross, and this time, her sidekick is not the Clive Matthews. He has actually started a special squad, combat squad that's going in because, of course, we, none of us, were really involved with that war, right? But that's what he's doing. And so, believe it or not, her, her sidekick, so to speak, is a priest that very early, goes on and sees, you know, this absolute ethnic cleansing going on, you know, massacres and and he tries to get the Catholic Church to help, and they're like, no, no, we're not touching that. And so he goes AWOL. And had been friends in Vienna with the CIA during the first book. He goes to the CIA and says, This is what's going on. I saw it with my own eyes. I want to help. And so he becomes Caitlin's sidekick, which is a very interesting relationship. You know, Caitlin, the opera singer, kind of, kind of modern girl, you know, and then you know, the kind of staunch priest. But they find a way to work together, and they have to, because they have to save each other's lives a couple times. And this is my favorite book of the three. And so basically what happens is called Mission impromptu, and I hope to have that finished at the end of this month. And the reason we call it impromptu is because her chief tells her to just get the information and get out, but her and the priest find out that there is a camp of orphaned boys that they are planning to come massacre, and so they they they basically go rogue and don't follow orders and go try to help the boys. Yeah. And then the third book, she has actually moved back to New York, and she's thinking, well, she does retire from the CIA, and it's the summer of 2001 and what happened in September of 2001 911 and so they call her right back in she literally had been retired for about three months. Michael Hingson ** 52:35 Well, to my knowledge, I never met Caitlin, so I'm just saying Mm hmm, having been in the World Trade Center on September 11, but I don't think I met Caitlin anyway. Kay Sparling ** 52:43 Go ahead. No, she wasn't in the towers, but no, I was in New York. And yeah, so they called her back right away. And so the third one is going to be called Mission home front, because that's been her home for a very long time. She's been living in New York. Michael Hingson ** 53:01 Are there plans for Caitlin beyond these three books? I hope so. Kay Sparling ** 53:08 I think it would be fun for her to retire from the CIA and then move back to the Midwest. And, you know, it turned into a complete fiction. Of course, this is not true stuff, but, you know, like kind of a cozy mystery series, right, where things happen and people can't get anyone to really investigate it, so they come to Caitlin, and then maybe her ex boss, you know, the chief that's also retired, they kind of, you know, gang up and become pi type, you know, right? I'm thinking that might be a fun thing. Michael Hingson ** 53:46 Now, are mostly books two and three in the mission series. Are they also relatively non fiction? 53:53 Yes, okay, Michael Hingson ** 53:57 okay, cool, yes. Well, you know, it's, it's pretty fascinating to to hear all of this and to to see it, to hear about it from you, but to see it coming together, that is, that is really pretty cool to you know, to see you experiencing have the book, has mission thought been converted by any chance to audio? Is it available on Audible or Kay Sparling ** 54:21 anywhere it has not but it is in my plans. It's there's a little bit of choice I have to make do. I use my publisher and hire one of their readers you know to do it, someone you know, that's in equity, that type of thing. Or you know, my publicity, or people are also saying, well, because you're an actor, and, you know, all these accents, it might be nice for you to do to read your own book. Well, the problem is time, you know, just the time to do it, because I'm so busy promoting the book right now. And really. Right writing the second one that you know, I just don't know if I'm going to be able to pull that off, but I have my own records, recording studio in my voice studio downstairs, but it's just and I have all the equipment I have engineers. It's just a matter of me being able to take the time to practice and to get that done. So it's probably going to be, I'll just use their, one of their people, but yes, yeah, it's coming. It's coming. Well, it's, Michael Hingson ** 55:29 it's tough. I know when we published last year, live like a guide dog, and the publisher, we did it through a traditional publisher, they worked with dreamscape to create an audio version. And I actually auditioned remotely several authors and chose one. But it is hard to really find someone to read the book the way you want it read, because you know what it's like, and so there is merit to you taking the time to read it. But still, as you said, there are a lot of things going on, Kay Sparling ** 56:09 yeah, and I have read, you know, certain portions of the book, because some podcasts that I've been on asked me to do that, and I and I practiced and that, it went very well. And of course, when people hear that, they're like, Oh, you're the one that has to do this. You know Caitlin. You can speak her, you know her attitudes and all. And then you also know how to throw all those different accents out there, because there's going to be, like, several, there's Dutch, there's German, there's Scottish, high British and Austrian. I mean, yeah, yeah, Austrians speak different than Germans. Mm, hmm, Michael Hingson ** 56:53 yeah, it's it's a challenge, but it's still something worth considering, because you're going to bring a dimension to it that no one else really can because you wrote it and you really know what you want them to sound like, Yeah, but it's a it's a process. I and I appreciate that, but you've got lots going on, and you have to have an income. I know for me, we started live like a guide dog my latest book when the pandemic began, because I realized that although I had talked about getting out of the World Trade Center and doing so without exhibiting fear, didn't mean that it wasn't there, but I realized that I had learned to control fear, because I learned a lot that I was able to put to use on the Day of the emergency. And so the result of that was that, in fact, the mindset kicked in and I was able to function, but I never taught anyone how to do that. And so the intent of live like a guide dog was to be a way that people could learn how to control fear and not let fear overwhelm or, as I put it, blind them, but rather use fear as a very powerful tool to help you focus and do the things that you really need to do. But it's a choice. People have to learn that they can make that choice and they can control it, which is kind of what really brought the book to to mind. And the result was that we then, then did it. And so it came out last August as well. Kay Sparling ** 58:27 Oh, well, if you read my book, you'll see Caitlin developing the same skills you were just talking about. She has to overcome fear all the time, because she's never been in these situations before, and yet she has to survive, you know? Michael Hingson ** 58:44 Yeah, well, and the reality is that most of us take too many things for granted and don't really learn. But if you learn, for example, if there's an emergency, do you know where to go in the case of an emergency? Do you know how to evacuate, not by reading the signs? Do you know? And that's the difference, the people who know have a mindset that will help them be a lot more likely to be able to survive, because they know what all the options are, and if there's a way to get out, they know what they are, rather than relying on signs, which may or may not even be available to you if you're in a smoke filled environment, for example, yeah, Kay Sparling ** 59:22 yeah, you should know ahead of time. Yeah, you know, I know the state where I work. I I mostly work at home. I'm able to do that, but we do have to go in once a week, and we just changed floors. They've been doing a lot of remodeling, and that was the first thing, you know, the supervisor wanted us to do was walk through all the way for a tornado, fire, etc, and so we did that, you know, and that's smart, because then you're like, you say you're not trying to look at a chart as you're running or whatever, Michael Hingson ** 59:56 and you may need to do it more than once to make sure you really know it. I know for me. I spent a lot of time walking around the World Trade Center. In fact, I didn't even use my guide dog. I used a cane, because with a cane, I'll find things that the dog would just automatically go around or ignore, like kiosks and other things. But I want to know where all that stuff is, because I want to know what all the shops are down on the first floor. Well, now that that is the case anymore, but it was at the time there was a shopping mall and knowing where everything was, but also knowing where different offices were, knowing who was in which offices, and then knowing the really important things that most people don't know about, like where the Estee Lauder second store was on the 46th floor of tower two. You know, you got to have the important things for wives, and so I learned what that was. Well, it was, it was, those are important things, but you'll learn a lot, and it's real knowledge. Someone, a recent podcast episode that they were on, said something very interesting, and that is that we're always getting information, but information isn't knowing it. Knowledge is really internalizing the information and making it part of our psyche and really getting us to the point where we truly know it and can put it to use. And that is so true. It isn't just getting information. Well, that's great. I know that now, well, no, you don't necessarily know it now, until you internalize it, until you truly make it part of your knowledge. And I think that's something that a lot of people miss. Well, this has been a lot of fun. If people want to reach out to you, is there a way they can do that? Kay Sparling ** 1:01:40 Yeah, the best thing is my book website, K, Sparling books.com spelled and it would K, a, y, s, p, as in Paul, A, R, L, I N, G, B, O, O, K, s.com.com, okay, and you can email me through there. And all the media that I've been on is in the media section. The editorial reviews are there. There's another thing that my student heats up for me is the website. It's it's really developed. And so lots of information about the book and about me on on there. And one thing I want to mention is, just because of my background and all the all the people that you know, I know, a friend of mine is a composer, and he wrote a song, a theme song, because we do hope that someday we can sell this, you know, yeah, to for movie and, or, you know, Netflix, or something like that. And so he wrote a theme song and theme music. And I just think that's fun. And then I wanted my students saying, saying it. And then, you know, it's with a rock band, but it's, it's very James Bond, the kind of with a little opera, you know, involved too. But, you know, not a lot of authors can say that on their website, they have a theme song for their books. Michael Hingson ** 1:03:16 And where is Kay Sparling ** 1:03:18 it? It would be under, it's going to be about the author. And there's a nice one of my other students is a graphic artist. She She did a graphic a scene of Caitlin with her ball gown, and she's got her foot up on a stool, and she's putting her pistol in her thigh holster, in I think, you know, it's kind of like a cartoon, and it quotes Caitlin saying, I bet you I'm going to be the only bell at the ball with this accessory pistol. And then right underneath that, that song, you can click it and hear it. We also are on YouTube mission. Thought does have its own YouTube channel, so you can find it there as well. Michael Hingson ** 1:04:05 So well, I want to thank you for being here and for telling us all the stories and especially about mission. I hope people will get it and read it, and I look forward to it coming out in audio at some point. Yes, I'll be lazy and wait for that, I I like to to get books with human readers. You know, I can get the print book and I can play it with a synthetic voice, but I, I really prefer human voices. And I know a lot of people who do AI has not progressed to the point where it really can pull that off. Kay Sparling ** 1:04:38 Well, no, it cannot. Yeah, I totally agree with you there. Michael Hingson ** 1:04:42 So Well, thank you for being here, and I want to thank all of you for listening and watching us today. This has been fun. And as some of you know, if you listen to many of these podcasts, we have a rule on the podcast, you can't come on unless you're going to have fun. So we did have fun. We. You have fun? Yeah. See, there you go. I was gonna ask if you had fun. Of course, yes. So thank you all for listening. Love to hear from you. Love to hear what your thoughts are about today's episode. Feel free to email me at Michael H, i@accessibe.com that's m, I, C, H, A, E, L, H, I at accessibe, A, C, E, S, S, i, b, e.com, also, please give us a five star rating. We appreciate it. K, I'll appreciate it. And when this goes up, when you hear it, we really value those ratings and reviews very highly. If you know anyone else who ought to be a guest and KU as well, love to hear from you. Please introduce us. Kay, you'll have to introduce us to Caitlin, but But seriously, we always are looking for more guests. So if anyone knows of anyone who ought to come on and tell a story, we'd love to hear from you. But again, Kay, I want to thank you one last time. This has been great, and we really appreciate you being here. Kay Sparling ** 1:05:59 Well, thank you for having me. Michael Hingson ** 1:06:04 You have been listening to the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m i c h a e l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site., please use the form there to recommend people who we ought to interview in upcoming editions of the show. And also, we ask you and urge you to invite your friends to join us in the future. If you know of any one or any organization needing a speaker for an event, please email me at speaker at Michael hingson.com. I appreciate it very much. To learn more about the concept of blinded by fear, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com forward slash blinded by fear and while you're there, feel free to pick up a copy of my free eBook entitled blinded by fear. The unstoppable mindset podcast is provided by access cast an initiative of accessiBe and is sponsored by accessiBe. Please visit www.accessibe.com . AccessiBe is spelled a c c e s s i b e. There you can learn all about how you can make your website inclusive for all persons with disabilities and how you can help make the internet fully inclusive by 2025. Thanks again for Listening. Please come back and visit us again next week.
The Midwest Regional Broadcasters Clinic is where broadcast engineers and technologists gather each year to learn, share, and connect. Hosted in Wisconsin, this premier event features deep-dive sessions on both cutting-edge and legacy technologies, a vibrant trade show floor, and plenty of opportunities to network with peers from across the Midwest and beyond. Jointly organized by the Wisconsin and Minnesota Broadcasters Associations along with SBE chapters from both states, it’s a true collaboration for the industry. This year, TWiRT is once again going live from the trade show floor—right in the middle of the action—bringing you the latest insights, innovations, and conversations from one of the broadcast community’s most valuable gatherings. Guests:Jim Armstrong - Senior Director of Sales US/Canada at Telos AllianceWilliam Kerkhof - Director of Engineering RTVF at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Paul Kriegler - US Manager Omnia Sales at Telos AlliancePaul Stewart - President at Summit Technology GroupBrad Young - Sales Manager at WideOrbit Keith Paglia - Sales and Marketing at Sprite Media, Inc.Seth Stevenson - Broadcast Engineer Intern at Northwestern MediaEarl Sondreal - Director of Sales & Marketing, Americas at InovonicsBob Goff - General Manager at Heart of Wisconsin Media LLC Host:Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, South Seas, & Akamai BroadcastingFollow TWiRT on Twitter and on Facebook - and see all the videos on YouTube.TWiRT is brought to you by:Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Aiir, providing PlayoutONE radio automation, and other advanced solutions for audience engagement.Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console. The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output. Subscribe to Audio:iTunesRSSStitcherTuneInSubscribe to Video:iTunesRSSYouTube
Is this the last dance? We shall see. But in the mean time, we are back. Eric and Sean catch everyone up on the last few months of life, sports, and all things Wisconsin. The Badgers may be in for a rough patch in football. Green Bay basketball is in a fantastic spot. The Brewers are the best team in baseball. The Packers are one of the best teams in the NFL. It is a great time to a fan!
The Midwest Regional Broadcasters Clinic is where broadcast engineers and technologists gather each year to learn, share, and connect. Hosted in Wisconsin, this premier event features deep-dive sessions on both cutting-edge and legacy technologies, a vibrant trade show floor, and plenty of opportunities to network with peers from across the Midwest and beyond. Jointly organized by the Wisconsin and Minnesota Broadcasters Associations along with SBE chapters from both states, it's a true collaboration for the industry. This year, TWiRT is once again going live from the trade show floor—right in the middle of the action—bringing you the latest insights, innovations, and conversations from one of the broadcast community's most valuable gatherings.
God's Absurd Generosity! | Luke 16:1–13 | The Parable of the Dishonest Manager Here's the heart of it all: God Himself is the absurd master. Faced with the tragedy of our sin, He didn't clutch His wealth. He didn't demand repayment. He gave His only begotten Son into the flesh to save us from sin, death, and damnation. Jesus is the true steward who didn't just cut our debts, He paid them in full with His blood. He didn't just ease our burden; He bore it all. He didn't just lower our balance; He stamped across the ledger: “It is finished.” The cross is the most absurd act in history. God's own Son dies for sinners. The guilty go free. The dishonest, the greedy, the selfish, the prayerless, the vain—all forgiven. Absurd. Crazy. Wonderful. Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. ----- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService
Since we're coming up on the last day of summer, it seems as good a time as any for ... a Wisconsin-made frozen pizza taste-off!The staff at Milwaukee Magazine took on that delicious task recently, so we start our episode with Ann sharing the surprising (and kinda disappointing???) results. She also keeps us in magazine land for her recent review of Las Gardenias, a new(ish) spot with homemade tortillas, birria and unique desserts.Elsewhere, we give you the scoop on a couple local food events, including the Dining Out For Life fundraiser happening through this weekend that supports Vivent Health's mission to serve those most affected by HIV. Just beyond this weekend, Potawatomi Casino Hotel has its Gather & Grow dinners, which span two nights (Sept. 22-23) and include five courses of farm-to-table goodies.Finally, we literally save the best for last with Milwaukee Magazine's "Best of Milwaukee" awards, which this year saw the publication's readers make some very savvy decisions about their food and restaurant choices. And by that we mean they mostly agreed with Ann.
We're finally diving into the case of infamous bodysnatcher, human-skin-furniture-maker, and OG mummy's boy...Ed Gein. A shy bachelor who terrorised a tiny Wisconsin town with his nightmarish farmhouse of horrors in the 1950s, Ed Gein inspired some of the creepiest characters in scary-movie history: from Psycho's Norman Bates to Buffalo Bill from The Silence of the Lambs. And with the third season of Ryan Murphy's Monsters turning the Netflix spotlight on Gein, what better time for us to explore the twisted true story behind it all? Here's everything you need to know about the terrifying ‘Butcher of Plainfield'.Exclusive bonus content:Wondery - Ad-free & ShortHandPatreon - Ad-free & Bonus EpisodesFollow us on social media:YouTubeTikTokInstagramVisit our website:WebsiteSources available on redhandedpodcast.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this bonus episode of The Cabin Podcast, we explore Badger Talks, a UW–Madison program that connects communities across Wisconsin with expert speakers and unique stories. We chat with Fran Puleo Moyer about the program's mission, dive into Wisconsin's Amish history with Professor Mark Louden, and hear from Bridgitt Zielke on the impact of hosting Badger Talks at the Wade House Historic Site. Learn more: https://badgertalks.wisc.edu/
Wisconsin will host Maryland on Saturday. Zach and Jesse discuss what success looks like, whether it's a must win for the Badgers, who starts at QB and much more. Then the guys talk about a decline in attendance at Camp Randall, Wisconsin's game vs Va Tech in 2031 moving to Charlotte and they make their Week 4 picks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Margaret Hagedorn, head principal at Lake Country Classical Academy in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, delivers a lecture on how leadership helps build a healthy school culture. This lecture was given at the Hoogland Center for Teacher Excellence seminar, “The Art of Teaching: The Sciences” in November 2024. The Hoogland Center for Teacher Excellence, an outreach of the Hillsdale College K-12 Education Office, offers educators the opportunity to deepen their content knowledge and refine their skills in the classroom.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Join Marvin Cash on The Articulate Fly fishing podcast for another essential Casting Angles segment with renowned guide and casting instructor Mac Brown, who brings over 40 years of guiding experience to this critical discussion on building foundational casting skills. Mac reveals why most anglers struggle with on-water situations despite countless hours of park practice, explaining how developing a strong foundational casting stroke facilitates the variability needed to adapt seamlessly to challenging fishing conditions from Wisconsin's Driftless area vegetation to Montana's windy rivers. Learn why "pickup and lay down" repetition leads to context dependency that fails when trees, wind and tight quarters demand creative solutions, and discover how mastering core principles like power and rod path variations enables you to throw positive and negative curve casts confidently in any fishing scenario. With delayed harvest season approaching, Mac emphasizes the importance of grass-based practice sessions that build true adaptability rather than memorized responses, transforming frustrated anglers into confident problem-solvers who can handle mangrove-covered saltwater flats or rhododendron-shrouded mountain streams with equal skill. Whether you're preparing for fall fishing or looking to break through casting plateaus, this segment provides the foundational understanding that serious fly fishing enthusiasts need to elevate their stream performance through intelligent practice and strategic skill development.Related ContentS7, Ep 20 - Practice Makes Perfect: Mac Brown on Mastering Casting TechniquesS7, Ep 41 - Navigating High Water: Strategies for Success with Mac BrownS6, Ep 93 - Terrestrials, Drift and Teaching the Next Generation with Mac BrownS6, Ep 130 - Casting in Color: Mac Brown's Fall Fly Fishing StrategiesAll Things Social MediaFollow Mac on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.Support the Show Shop on AmazonBecome a Patreon PatronSubscribe to the PodcastSubscribe to the podcast in the podcatcher of your...
A state lawmaker says he's been targeted with death threats after false claims circulated online. He canceled a public hearing in Madison as a result. The city of Racine released information on water usage for a proposed data center after an environmental group sued. And, Wisconsin high schools are using a new technology to crack down on student vaping.
After passing an easy test against three lesser-name opponents, Maryland football hits the road for a far tougher challenge at Wisconsin. Will Mike Locksley get a validating win that gets the fans fired up? What factors does Billy Edwards' situation present and what are the biggest concerns (and the IMS Radio crew's predictions) for the game? Plus: -- How did the big basketball recruiting weekend go? -- Who will be Buzz Williams' next commit? -- Could the Terps get two top-40 guards and what's the latest on Baba Oladotun. -- What's the issue with Maryland's running game? -- And lots more ... FEEL BETTER SOON LARRY! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week, Max returns and goes on various Wisconsin adventures with Noah, Tim takes a trip to Colorado, and Andy's whole family takes turns being sick over the holiday weekend. [CONTENT WARNING] TANcast features mature language and immature hosts but is NOT a representation of the stand up act of Tim Babb. Listener discretion is […] The post TANcast 727 – Back And Forth Two Minutes Forever first appeared on TANcast.
Cheryl Baxter's very first job as a young dancer put her on the set of Xanadu with Olivia Newton-John, Gene Kelly, and Kenny Ortega. What does it feel like to step into a world like that straight out of a small town in Wisconsin? And how do you carry lessons from legends into a career that lasts for decades? Joining John Corella in this episode, Cheryl reflects on the magic of Xanadu, the influence of Gene Kelly's ease and Olivia Newton-John's authenticity, and the ways she has kept her career alive through every crossover - from film and television to teaching and even TikTok! Cheryl's story invites you to think about resilience, reinvention, and the joy that comes from saying yes to new stages of life in dance. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Dance Dad Introduction 03:20 Making Xanadu With Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly 06:00 Gene Kelly's On Set Lesson: Relax and Have Fun 10:30 Meeting Olivia Newton-John and Early Xanadu Memories 16:10 Why Xanadu Became a Cult Classic 28:30 Reinvention and Career Crossover From Stage to TikTok 49:30 Filming Magic on Xanadu: Steadicam, Long Days, Big Finale 57:50 Stay Bold: Resilience and Reinvention in Dance Connect with Cheryl Baxter: Follow Cheryl on Instagram Connect with John Corella: Follow Dance Dad with John Corella on Instagram Follow John on Instagram Join Dance Dad with John Corella on Patreon John Corella Website Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
It's time once again for our Best of the Midwest feature! Are you trying to come up with some vacation ideas that are only a quick getaway from the Chicago area? Well, John Williams has some great recommendations for your trip! Today, we make a quick trek north to beautiful Janesville, Wisconsin! Christine Rebout, Executive […]
A Wisconsin lawmakers claims there are death threats being made because of his comments regarding a new law having to do with flags and the state capitol. And it's Thursday, so we need get the update from Civic Media's Meteorologist Brittney Merlot about what kind of forecast we have for the weekend! And just like we do, it's time to talk sports with Journal Sentinel Writer JR Radcliffe and with the playoffs-bound Brewers looking to clinch the division and The Packers dominating, there's a lot to discuss. And we need to stick this landing on today's show and the only way to do it is with This Shouldn't Be A Thing - Blades Of Glory Edition. As always, thank you for listening, texting and calling, we couldn't do this without you! Don't forget to download the free Civic Media app and take us wherever you are in the world! Matenaer On Air is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs weekday mornings from 9-11 across the state. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! You can also rate us on your podcast distribution center of choice. It goes a long way!
Andy Johnson is joined by three Fried Egg Golf staffers to discuss the first-ever Fried Egg Guides! These guides are a new feature on thefriedegg.com and will feature in-depth breakdowns of golf courses and surrounding activities that can be used to plan your next golf trip. First, Andy chats with Brendan Porath about his guide covering Northern Ireland following their Eggsplorations trip overseas last year. Will Knights then shares his thoughts on Sand Valley and includes some other activities for those traveling to Wisconsin. Lastly, Andy and Pinehurst local Abby Liebenthal run through the Fried Egg Guide to the North Carolina Sandhills.
From 09/17 Hour 4: Mike Locksley joins The Sports Junkies to preview Maryland vs Wisconsin.
The Week 4 college football schedule is loaded with big games that wouldn't have felt this big in any other year, like Texas Tech-Utah and Illinois-Indiana. Alex and Richard break down what's interesting this weekend. A non-exhaustive list of games covered:* Iowa-Rutgers * Texas Tech-Utah* SMU-TCU (for the last time for a while)* North Texas-Army* Arkansas-Memphis * The Civil War* The Apple Cup* Tulane-Ole Miss* Michigan-Nebraska * Auburn-Oklahoma * Boise State-Air Force * Florida-Miami* ASU-Baylor* Michigan State-USC, verrrrry late at night * The Main Course, presented by Modelo: A detailed look at Illinois ahead of a huge game at Indiana, featuring Andy Johnson of The Shotgun Start More this week at Split Zone DuoCo-founder and co-host emeritus Steven Godfrey is here to break down five teams that are playing very badly: How doomed are they, and how doomed are their coaches? We discuss Florida, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Oklahoma State, and Liberty in this episode. Thank you to our subscribers and partnersBecome a paid subscriber today to get a lot more SZD, and check out www.nokiantyres.com/szd and www.homefieldapparel.comAlso, welcome our new partner, Dad Water. Code SZD for 20% off.Producer: Anthony Vito This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe
It's Work-Boot Wednesday on The Coach JB Show with Big Smitty as Alabama Crimson Tide' Great AJ McCarron joins the show to give his Takeaways from Alabama's WIN vs. Wisconsin.. Super Bowl Champion Shaun King joins as well to discuss QB Play Across NFL & College Football! Join us for this WORK-BOOT Wednesday on The REALEST Show On Planet ERF! Like, Comment, and Subscribe! The Coach JB Show with Big Smitty is the realest sports show on Planet ERF! We discuss what other talk shows & debate shows refuse to discuss! We are LIVE 3 hours a day from 6-9am pacific with the realest guests on Planet ERF! Coach Jason Brown is the star of the hit Netflix series "Last Chance U", master motivator, and legendary JUCO football coach!! Darnell Smith Fox Sports very own, Ball State Alum, and Nap towns finest! Merciless Monday | Talk that Talk Tuesday | Work-Boot Wednesday | Truth Telling Thursday | Free Game Friday Matt McChesney on Monday/Wed/Friday Steve Kim on Tuesday/Thursday Shaun King - Former NFL QB Monday/Friday Live M-F 6am-9am PST. Subscribe and become a member today, $2.99 for general membership or $5.99 to join Slap Nation and get access to the exclusive Coach's Crew group Chat! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.