Shows / WORT 89.9FM Madison
WORT 89.9FM Madison
Listener-sponsored, volunteer-powered, noncommercial community radio broadcasting to south-central Wisconsin at 89.9 FM and online at wortfm.org via our studios in Madison. We provide an outlet for communication, education, free expression, entertainment, training and access for the purpose of sharing music, information, news, and cultural experiences, and strive to give people underrepresented elsewhere in traditional media a voice. NOTE: Most of the content posted at this time are news…
Episodes
WORT 89.9FM MadisonDemocrat JoCasta Zamarripa Seeks Secretary of State Position
The Monday Buzz continues its coverage of the race for Wisconsin Secretary of State. This week, we talk with Democratic Party candidate JoCasta Zamarripa.
WORT 89.9FM Madison“Dairy has never looked brighter,” says AG Sec. Brooke Rollins
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins declared, “Dairy has never looked brighter,” during an appearance last month at the World Dairy Expo in Madison…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonBucky Wanko & Dan Grabois interview
Hejira world music radio show host Jeff Spitzer-Resnick interview with Bucky Wanko and Dan Grabois
WORT 89.9FM MadisonBucket of Bribes
This week on Mel & Floyd: Mel reviews a movie from 1964 leading to a history lesson from ‘Pants; Smarty pants reveals his doodles of choice; Katie Zacharia…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonMatthew Gwyther 10162026
Journalist Matthew Gwyther on his Washington Post essay tracing Trump’s love of sycophancy back to the Garden of Eden.
WORT 89.9FM MadisonShane O’Neill 10162026
Shane O’Neill on launching “Life Hax,” his new advice podcast with Washington Post columnist Carolyn Hax.
- WORT 89.9FM Madison
Matthew Gwyther 10162026
Journalist Matthew Gwyther on his Washington Post essay tracing Trump’s love of sycophancy back to the Garden of Eden.
WORT 89.9FM MadisonFederal Funding Could End for Early Childhood Education Degrees
Early Childhood Educators are already working at poverty level, what happens if their degree is no longer federally funded? Photo courtesy of Project Manhattan…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonHow MMSD renamed three elementary schools at once
Prompted by concerns over their former namesakes, three Madison elementary schools were recently rechristened to honor a trio of local heroes. The change…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonBoldly Go Beyond with Marc Chiu
Boldly Go Beyond with Marc Chiu by WORT 89.9FM Madison
WORT 89.9FM MadisonForecast from Wednesday 10-14-26
Forecast from Wednesday 10-14-26 by WORT 89.9FM Madison
WORT 89.9FM MadisonMajor thoroughfares see major changes under Vision Zero
Madison’s Vision Zero initiative has been steadily approaching its goal of eliminating traffic fatalities on city-controlled streets by 2035. In a press…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonMetro Transit seeks solution to fare evasion
Madison’s Metro Transit system, which has seen significant city investment over the past few years, presented their proposed operating budget to the Finance…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonCardinal Call: “Abortion is Anti-Woman" Tour Hosted in Madison by Students for Life Organization
This week host Lola Rohl speaks with Daily Cardinal Staff Writer Britta Sevcik about her story, “Students for Life: UW-Madison invites community members to…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonMadison Clerks Discuss Voting Integrity in the Upcoming Election
Ali Muldrow speaks with City and County Clerks about election integrity, early voting, absentee ballots, and on-campus voting. Photo courtesy of Aine via Flickr
WORT 89.9FM Madisonbuzz-10-14-26-Allen-Hester
The National Defense Authorization Act provides a template for allocating and authorizing the budget for the Defense Department, and, according to Allen Hester…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonA closer look at Wisconsin’s three ballot questions
Three constitutional amendments are set to appear on the November ballot. Still haven’t decided how you’ll vote? A new explainer from UW Law School’s State…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonMadison’s interim police monitor seeks hefty budget increase
City of Madison finance leaders begin deliberations Monday on next year’s operating budget, with presentations from several city agencies. Aeiramique Glass…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonThe Richland Center-Santa Teresa Sister City Project is Going Strong
It all began in 1987 when during the Contra war in Nicaragua, a small group of concerned citizens of Richland Center, Wisconsin contacted the Nicaraguan…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonJenna Jacobson touts public service mindset
Jenna Jacobson, a Democrat who currently represents Wisconsin’s 50th Assembly District, is challenging Republican incumbent Howard Marklein this fall for the…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonWisconsin Native Vote says it’s fashionable to vote
Wisconsin Native Vote is hosting “Native Vote: Fashion in Action,” an event that will feature six Native Wisconsin-based designers who each have to include at…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonTom Tiffany’s appearance in Madison draws protesters
Madison residents took to the streets on Wednesday to protest gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany at a speaking event on the UW-Madison campus. The Republican…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonMadison Mixology: Death in the Afternoon
This week on “Madison Mixology,” we learn more about Ernest Hemingway and his connections to famous cocktails. Feature contributor Charlie Belawski will teach…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonFermats Theater Presents the Partriot: The Double Life of a Vietnam Spy
The interview examines the double life of Pham Xuan An, a Vietnam War spy who loved America, but loved Vietnam more.
- WORT 89.9FM Madison
Happy Birthday Joyce Ladner
Today, Oct 12, is the 83rd birthday of Joyce Ladner, SNCC organizer, life long civil rights activist, author and academic. Harry Richardson has her story so…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonPlastic has Always Been Supply Pushed, Not Demand Pulled
Author Beth Gardiner discusses how the plastic industry shifted the guilt from the producer to the consumer.
WORT 89.9FM MadisonBuilding Our Sustainable Shared World with Dr. Alhaji N'jai
Dr. Alhaji N'jai has been such a good source of information about Africa for WORT listeners, from his DJ days on PanAfrica when he took us on trips around…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonCity budget season ramps up
Dane County’s Advisory Committee on Data Centers will get a status report this week, and Madison’s budget season ramps up with a series of presentations to…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonForecast from Monday, 10-12-26
Forecast from Monday, 10-12-26 by WORT 89.9FM Madison
WORT 89.9FM MadisonFinding Home on Highway 14, Episode 12: New Ulm, MN
Monday Buzz’s roving reporter, Nicole Gruter, joins us once again with another installment of “Finding Home on Highway 14.”
WORT 89.9FM MadisonDemocrat Yee Leng Xiong Seeks State Treasurer Seat
Democrat Yee Leng Xiong explains why he wants to be the next Wisconsin State Treasurer.
- WORT 89.9FM Madison
Republican Jay Schroeder Wants to Put Secretary of State in Charge of Elections
Republican Jay Schroeder joins us to talk about his candidacy for Wisconsin Secretary of State.
WORT 89.9FM MadisonBeef imports: our new “mystery meat”
Remember back during your school days, when “mystery meat” was a regular item in the cafeteria? Trump’s new, tariff-free imported beef from South America is…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonKnowledge but No Perspective
This week on Mel & Floyd: Thanking “the People” for the infinite density of pledges; Buried symbolism in The Wizard of Oz; A bull semen explosion in Australia…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonFlathead County Sheriff 10092026
Flathead County, Montana Deputy Sheriff Gary Huff joins the Friday 8 O’Clock Buzz to walk through some of the wildest real 911 calls his department fielded…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonNate Gibson on Brewers 10092026
Brewers superfan and musician Nate Gibson on this year’s team, Bob Uecker, and the Dodgers series, plus his album “Fear the Beer.”
WORT 89.9FM MadisonJessie Opoien and midterms 10092026
Journal Sentinel reporter Jessie Opoien on polling, vulnerabilities, and under-the-radar storylines in Wisconsin’s midterms.
WORT 89.9FM MadisonBen Gruber puts people over party politics
Republican incumbent Todd Novak has represented southwest Wisconsin in the state Assembly since 2015. He faces two challengers this fall in the race for…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonMayor Rhodes-Conway unveils 2027 operating budget proposal
An estimated 11 million-dollar shortfall in the city of Madison’s 2027 operating budget had finance leaders sounding the alarm earlier this year. But the…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonTransparency Talk: In Medias Res, Part 1
Want to obtain records about an ongoing police investigation or trial? Officials might say they can’t turn it over just yet. But are they right? This week on…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonWCO Maestro Sewell Transcendance Oct 2026
Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra Maestro Andrew Sewell talks with Ava Borelli about Transcendence program
WORT 89.9FM MadisonMegan Falley is in a Cosmic Chokehold
Megan Falley is in a Cosmic Chokehold by WORT 89.9FM Madison
WORT 89.9FM MadisonForecast from Wednesday 10-7-26
Forecast from Wednesday 10-7-26 by WORT 89.9FM Madison
WORT 89.9FM MadisonPolicing workgroup hits the ground running
The Madison Police Department’s policies and procedures are going under the microscope, in a new city council workgroup that was created after the police…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonCity council to consider canning contentious independent monitor
After months of extensive public comment and contentious votes about the fate of Madison’s independent police monitor, a resolution was introduced to the…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonCardinal Call: UWPDs Annual Security and Fire Safety crime report recap
This week, host Amellia Fowler speaks to Daily Cardinal Staff Writer Alena Shored about her story “UW-Madison crime reports show increase in reported stalking…
WORT 89.9FM Madisonbuzz-10-7-26-Ellen-Ermer
Zonta Club of Madison is a network of local professionals who meet to collectively plan activities which supporting women and girls, and advocacy projects…
WORT 89.9FM Madisonbuzz-10-7-26-James-Wolner
Emmy winner, author and producer of thirteen seasons of true crimes podcasts, and filmmaker, James Wolner, talks about his start as a podcaster and his…
WORT 89.9FM Madisonbuzz-10-7-26-Marianne-Oleson
Marianne Oleson, Co-Executive Director of ExPO (Ex-incarcerated persons organizing) focuses on the difficulties of incarcerated and released women. The…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonDina Nina Martinez-Rutherford vows to lower costs, fight fascism
Wisconsin’s 76th Assembly District covers much of Madison’s east and north sides and is currently represented by Francesca Hong, who didn’t seek re-election…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonMadison weighs rebrand for Traffic Engineering Division
The city of Madison’s Traffic Engineering Division could soon go by a different name. The proposed rebrand, which earned the Transportation Commission’s…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonBuild a world for Dragon Socks and Queens of the Universe Part 1
According to Playwright Brendon Smith, his latest work, entitled Dragonsocks and the Queen of the Universe, hasn’t felt like his since he lifted his pen from…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonWCO Joe Loehnis Community Conversation
Joe Loehnis of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra speaks with Ava Borelli about community outreach and engagement, 2026
WORT 89.9FM Madison"This one really, really hurts."
90 percent of Wisconsin milk goes into the cheese vat, creating high yields of whey – which is highly sought after in Canada along with butter, cream, and…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonCity seeks public feedback on Envision Downtown Madison
Downtown Madison is growing at a historic rate, and the city of Madison is planning ahead in partnership with nonprofit advocacy group Downtown Madison Inc…
WORT 89.9FM MadisonA Special Preview of the 25th Wisconsin Book Festival
A Special Preview of the 25th Wisconsin Book Festival by WORT 89.9FM Madison