Shows / Lake Effect Spotlight
Lake Effect Spotlight
The Lake Effect Spotlight podcast features some of our favorite conversations about the people, places and organizations that shape Milwaukee.
Episodes
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Chirp Chat: Raptor research and hidden gems
Tucked away just outside Sheboygan…is probably the most important raptor research site you've never heard of. The Cedar Grove Ornithological Research Station…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
'Best era of Brewers baseball': Reporter Sophia Minnaert on the road to the World Series
The Brewers’ World Series run continues tonight in Tampa Bay after two games here in Milwaukee over the weekend. If you’ve watched Brewers baseball on TV at…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
How being a Brewers fan can be good for your mental health
Whether it's the anxiety of bases loaded and two outs or the euphoria of seeing a grand slam — it turns out rooting for the Brewers… or any sports team… can be…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Meet the candidates for Wisconsin governor
We interview Democratic candidate for governor David Crowley. Republican candidate Tom Tiffany did not agree to a recorded interview. We detail his positions…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Swing State of the Union: Immigrants' Disappearing Pathways
For a special drop this Friday, enjoy one of the episodes from season three of Swing State of the Union, WUWM's election podcast. This episode covers…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Wandering Wisconsin: botanical gardens and light shows
Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison has 16 acres of gardens to explore as well as a domed conservatory full of tropical and exotic plants. By day, it’s a…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Meet the Wisconsin Food Hub
There’s a network of players involved in delivering food to communities in need. During the COVID-19 pandemic a federally funded program called the Local Food…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
2 Chainz co-wrote a book with this UWM professor
2 Chainz is a grammy-winning Hip-Hop artist, known for hits such as I’m Different, Feds Watching, and It’s A Vibe. He’s a businessman, a family man, and most…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Spooky Lake Month is back!
It’s the start of the spookiest month of the year, and that’s especially true for educator and content creator Geo Rutherford. The UWM grad and Sauk City based…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Chirp Chat: how to save a bird's life
Up to one billion birds die from building collisions every year in the U.S. In downtown Milwaukee alone — hundreds of birds die from flying into glass…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Milwaukee museum exhibit examines the legacy of racist memorabilia in the US
America’s Black Holocaust Museum & the Wisconsin Black Historical Society have partnered on a new exhibit that opens tomorrow. It’s called: An American…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Milwaukee Film's Dialogues Documentary Festival opens today
Milwaukee Film’s 3rd Annual Dialogues Documentary Festival opens today. Now through Sunday, September 27, more than 30 documentaries are showing at the Downer…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
A poetry roundtable with Bob Reitman, Bryon Cherry & Milwaukee Youth Poet Laureate Jodie Jasim
Whether spoken or written, we've been drawn to poetry and its power to connect us, inspire, and reflect on the human condition. As Bob Reitman’s album "12th…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Why wasps bee buggin' you right now
Have you been chased by a wasp lately? Or maybe you decided to eat indoors in case wasps, bees and yellow jackets want you to share that picnic you’re trying…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Wisconsin has its own version of Stonehenge
More than a million people visit Stonehenge in England each year. It’s a popular tourist destination, but what if I told you there’s something similar right…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Invasive Asian Carp creep closer to Lake Michigan
Invasive carp has been found near Lake Michigan. It’s been 24 years since Asian Carp were found in the upper Illinois River. Ever since, scientists and…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
How measles interacts with the immune system
With the measles outbreak in Wisconsin now surpassing one hundred cases, state public health officials are urging people to get vaccinated. Dr. Freddy Caldera…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Turning excess produce into full bellies
“Eat your vegetables,” remains some of the best health advice out there. But it can be especially tough for vulnerable populations or those in food deserts. A…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
The art of showing a 70mm film
Milwaukee Film currently has a 70-millimeter series, featuring five films on actual film. While there are many ways to see movies nowadays, it is a unique…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Chirp Chat: how bird migration becomes art
The ARTservancy is a year-long artist residency that promotes the visionary work of both artists and conservationists. The program is a partnership between…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Milwaukee NNS examines what's changed since the 2016 Sherman Park Uprising
10 years ago this month, a Milwaukee police officer shot and killed Sylville Smith in the Sherman Park neighborhood. Protestors filled the nearby streets for…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
How proposed deregulation of Head Start childcare could impact WI immigrant families?
Head Start provides free and low-cost early childcare for more than 12,000 kids across Wisconsin. That includes many immigrant families and families dealing…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
How kids get fed over the summer
In Milwaukee, there’s a program that blends federal money, city agencies, and private donors to provide free meals for kids during the summer. Across the…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Uncovering secrets buried within Lake Michigan
When you think about archaeology, your mind probably went to a scene of an excavation site. Probably in a dry landscape, with hammers and dust and someone…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
After Crowley wins Dem nomination, what's next?
There was a big upset in the Democratic gubernatorial primary when Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley defeated State Representative Francesca Hong. Hong…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Enbridge Line 5 pipeline ordered to stop trespassing on tribal land
Last month, the seventh circuit court of appeals issued a decision on the ongoing battle over the Line 5 pipeline in northern Wisconsin. The Bad River Band of…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Homer Blow shares his secrets to success, on and off the air
Homer Blow has held many titles throughout his 35-year career in Milwaukee radio. On-air personality, talk show host, program director & music director. He…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
The Eaux Claires Festival returns without missing a beat
In some circles, music festivals happen on the coasts, the desert, or in big cities. Think Coachella, Burning Man and Lollapalooza. But there’s another big…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
How the president's lies about election integrity affect Wisconsin
President Trump continues to tout a lie that he won the 2020 election, despite evidence that confirms that Joe Biden won. While Trump continues to focus on…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Economic Check-In: Cozy Nook Farm battles dry weather and a 'break even year' for dairy farms
July has been dry and hot, which aren’t ideal conditions for farmers or their cows. This, combined with uncertainty about a future Farm Bill and a 'break-even…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
How to stay healthy when wildfire smoke worsens air quality
Air quality in Milwaukee reached historically hazardous levels last week. And while it’s gotten better, there are still reasons to be cautious. Wildfires in…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
No arms, all wings: world's first pilot without arms comes to Wisconsin
Thousands of airplane enthusiasts are in Oshkosh this week for the annual AirVenture celebration. The festival is put on by the Experimental Aircraft…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
We remember the Great Oconto Frog Invasion
It’s July 1952 in Oconto, Wisconsin. You wake up, stretch, pour some coffee, all while strange sounds filter in from outside. Some witnesses describe sounds…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
'Summertime' through the times
To mark the beginning of summer, WUWM’s Maayan Silver is looking into the origins of the beloved and unmistakable song “Summertime.” She’s joined by Jason…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Chirp Chat: a bird's-eye view on Bank Swallows
Beyond Our Senses is a new nature documentary that gives you a bird’s-eye view of the world of Bank Swallows. The 30-minute film follows thousands of Bank…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Fake pitches, real problems: AI journalist impersonators
Nicholas Hune-Brown is an editor at a nonprofit online magazine called The Local. It covers health and social issues in Toronto, Canada. Nick has shared how…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
From zero tolerance to new tools: How AI is changing Milwaukee education
From our 'AI in the workplace' episode on Tuesday: we look at how artificial intelligence is impacting education. WUWM education reporter Katherine Kokal takes…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Giannis will always be Milwaukee: a tribute to our superstar
For the past 13 years, Giannis Antetokounmpo has been synonymous with the Bucks and the city of Milwaukee. Sadly, last week, he was traded. But even though the…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
The Milwaukee Socialists, part 4: Frank Zeidler
We look at the tenure of Milwaukee’s last Socialist mayor, Frank Zeidler, and his aggressive campaign to expand the size of the city. We also explore what…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
The Milwaukee Socialists, part 3: Daniel Hoan
Milwaukee Mayor Daniel Hoan became the longest-serving socialist mayor in U.S. history, and redefined life in the city by creating parks, publicly-funded…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
The Milwaukee Socialists, part 2: Emil Seidel
Milwaukee is known for its deep ties to Socialism. It was the first city to elect a Socialist mayor and was the first place to elect a Socialist to Congress…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
The Milwaukee Socialists, part 1: Igniting a movement
The legacy of the Milwaukee Socialists looms large in the city. But the rise of the Social Democratic Party was anything but inevitable. It was a struggle…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Summerfest preview week one
Milwaukee is known for its summer festivals but none is as anticipated as the Big Gig. Crowds will flock to the lakefront as Summerfest gets underway tomorrow…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
How Milwaukee became home of the longest continuously held Juneteenth celebration
June 19th, or Juneteenth, commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas learned they had been freed from bondage. It was two…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Economic Check-In: American Science and Surplus
American Science & Surplus is a Milwaukee staple for many science enthusiasts and DIYers. While its online store has closed, its brick-and-mortar locations in…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Why closed Walgreens locations can't host new businesses
Recent reporting from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel looked into Walgreens leases throughout the city. The reporting found that leases contain terms that…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Wait Wait...We speak with Paula Poundstone
If you’re a frequent listener to WUWM, chances are you’re familiar with the voice of Paula Poundstone. She’s a regular panelist on NPR’s Wait! Wait!...Don’t…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Glendale Mayor: grassroots organizing can reinvigorate democracy
As the midterms approach both Republicans and Democrats are trying to court prospective voters. But a new book by Glendale Mayor Bryan Kennedy argues that both…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Thinking of adopting a rescued Ridglan Farms beagle? Here's what to know
Earlier this month the Wisconsin Humane Society welcomed the first beagles rescued from Ridglan Farms. That’s a dog breeding facility in Blue Mound, Wisconsin…
Lake Effect SpotlightHow to Evict Your Landlord, part 1: Who is David Tomblin?
You may have heard that one of Milwaukee’s largest landlords is in big legal trouble. David Tomblin, founder of Highgrove Holdings Management LLC, owns over…
Lake Effect SpotlightHow to Evict Your Landlord, part 2: Opportunity knocks
In part one, we learned about David Tomblin, who owns over 200 rental properties in Milwaukee. But lawsuits brought by the city and major lenders could…
Lake Effect SpotlightHow to Evict Your Landlord, part 3: Public nuisance
In parts one and two, we learned about out-of-state landlord David Tomblin. He owns over 200 rental properties in Milwaukee and is fighting lawsuits that…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
ECO MKE and the plastic-free life
If you’re trying to live a more plastic-free life, Milwaukee’s new “refillery” might be for you. At ECO MKE Refillery, you can bring in a reusable container…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
The cultural significance of sturgeon return
Earlier this spring, conservationists marked the return of sturgeon to the Milwaukee River for the first time in more than one hundred years. This past…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Could sealing eviction records lead to more stable housing in Milwaukee?
An eviction can follow a person for years. Even if the case is dismissed or if the renter was not at fault – experts say it can have a long-lasting impact. A…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Milwaukee food truck owner says new food truck curfew will cost her 80% of her business
Last month, Milwaukee’s Common Council passed a curfew for food trucks operating downtown. Alderman Robert Bauman says a 10 P-M closing time will curb violence…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Sea shanties vs. maritime music
When you think of maritime music, you might imagine pirates or sailors exploring the ocean on an old, masted ship. But what if I told you the Maritime Music…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
Economic Check-In: Cozy Nook Farm springs anew amidst high fuel prices, federal aid, looming Farm Bill
Tom Oberhaus is the co-operator of Cozy Nook Farm in Waukesha County. Cozy Nook is primarily a dairy farm, and it supplements its business with seasonal…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
'Your Attention Please': A call to push back against social media
Since the dawn of the internet, online spaces have been rapidly changing and eating up more of our time. Social media and attention-driven apps are shaping how…
- Lake Effect Spotlight
The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship fund faces an uncertain future
The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund will likely come to an end this June. Earlier this year, the state senate failed to reauthorize funding for the program…