365 Amplified

The crew packs a full room this week: nine days after Madison police killed Corey Ruiz, Rob breaks down the standoff between the Office of the Independent Monitor , Madison Police and the state DCI over evidence access. Plus, we have updates on the La Crosse homicide inquest and Charles Myadze's latest trial delay. The Francesca Hong-led governor's race gets a deep dive on electability, race, and the most recent Marquette poll. Plus: Stoughton kills its Flock camera contract, the CARES team's five-year mental-health-response numbers, an algae-eating boat on Lake Monona, a new mural at Lighthouse Christian School, and Rob's on-site interview with Madison Public Market CEO Keisha Harrison on opening day.

On Wednesday, Madison police shot and killed 38-year-old Corey Ruiz at the corner of Williamson and Baldwin Streets in Madison. Today on the podcast, we talk through what we know and what's next. Then, we talk through some more news that came up this week: the end of SNAP and Badgercare benefits for refugees and some other immigrants; a growning run club for young people of color in Madison, Ju Ju's Block Party coming up in August, a debate over Flock cameras in Stoughton, and a white politician's ad that implies people of color are unelectable. And in our roundtable question: in a heavy week, what were the bright moments?

New studio, same crew — 365 Amplified moves into the Black Business Hub's new podcast studio with a full house. Rob and Stephanie dig into the messy world of campaign finance reports as Wisconsin's governor's race heats up, including a serious discrepancy in Sarah Rodriguez's filings. Beth previews Africa Fest, Omar reports from a youth social action march, Miles warns Wisconsinites about the Lone Star tick's red meat allergy risk, and Camille asks where Madison teens are supposed to hang out this summer. Plus, Myra McNair joins to celebrate 10 years of Anisa's Family Therapy and the launch of the Anisa's Foundation. It all wraps with a round of "main character energy" confessions.

Those swarms by the lake? Harmless, mostly. Miles gets the buzz on Madison's midge season from a UW entomologist, then Omar breaks down Meriter's nurses union facing pushback from hospital management after their historic vote. Beth shares an intimate conversation with a Madison mother fighting to get her autistic children the support — and the belief — they're entitled to. Plus: Barrio Dance scores three "yeses" on America's Got Talent, an Indigenous Cultural Celebration returns to Schumacher Farm Park, the Wisconsin governor's race narrows as David Crowley drops out, and Rob sits down with Focused Interruption's Anthony Cooper on 10 years of violence prevention work in Madison.

Blacks for Political and Social Action of Dane County hosted a forum for Democratic candidates for governor on Tuesday, July 7, at The Hub on Madison's south side. The candidates present were:

• Lt. Gov. Sarah Rodriguez
• State Rep. Francesca Hong
• State Sen. Kelda Roys
• former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes
• former Dept. of Administration Secretary Joel Brennan
• Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley

This is the full audio of the forum.

This week, after a roundup of the week's news, we talk through the controversial appointment of Sean Eichorst has the University of Wisconsin's next athletic director, which happened without interviewing a single Black candidate -- including the guy doing the job now. Then, in a special 608 Soccer Show crossover, we welcome Rally Madison technical director Liz Lawrence and assistant coach Tenzin Rampa to look back on the team's inaugural season and ahead to the future of women's soccer. Finally, we wrap up with the weekly roundtable question: what's the one conspiracy theory you want to believe? We consider World Cup fixes, haunted mountain ranges, Stevie Wonder's visual acuity, subterranean biomes, the realness of birds and more.

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We have the full crew this week, and a robust roundup of news: an organization inviting the community to help create cartoneras to uplift Palestinian stories; a family-focused health event that grew out of one woman's faith community; the excitement around women's soccer in Madison; the chef behind all the events at Madison's Black Business Hub; an all-Spanish anthology of poetry from around the Midwest. Then, Rob chats with Christopher Talton, the new CEO of the Goodman Community Center, about connecting with a new community, what nonprofit leadership means, rebuilding trust, and what's next for the beloved institution. Finally, the roundtable question: what snack defines your generation?

Today, we get caught up on a few news items -- including Madison's softball dominance, health advocates heading across the pond, and a young entrepreneur making a difference through totes -- before digging into the Office of the Independent Monitor's bombshell report on the in-custody death of Richard Lee Johnson in 2024. The report says Madison Police are responsible for his death through use of prone restraint, poor communication and negligence. Rob has seen the videos, and gives his assessment of the report and the Madison Police Department's response. Then, Madison Common Council Vice President Carmella Glenn joins us to discuss that case and zoom out to consider the OIM and why she says it must maintain its independence.

It's been a hard week in Madison. Today, Rob remembers Michael Johnson as a mover, and a vocal supporter of Madison365 and its mission to amplify voices and create a more informed community. Then, we meet the Summer 2026 class of Madison365 reporting interns, and hear about the stories they're working on: girls' flag football in Madison schools, the Madison Pubilc Market's soft launch, a youth entrepreneurship event for the Harmony Apartments community and Juneteenth in Sun Prairie. Plus, a big union vote at a Madison hospital.

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Links:

St. Mary's nurses overwhelmingly vote to unionize

Built from the Block brings youth entrepreneur event to Madison's East Side, offering mentorship and community engagement

Madison Public Market welcomes shoppers for first "pop up"

MSCR kicks off inaugural season of high school girls' flag football

"A day of joy and liberation." Sun Prairie Juneteenth celebration set for June 19

It's a special, abbreviated episode of 365 Amplified as Rob and Omar welcome the first of Madison365's four summer interns to the mic. Abi Maxey makes her podcast debut and breaks down her first Madison365 story: Bikes 4 Kids Wisconsin's new "Meals on Two Wheels," an e-bike grocery delivery service partnering with the River Food Pantry to get groceries to neighbors who need them. Omar reports on Urban Triage's young adult transitional home — now one year old — and what it means for kids aging out of the foster care system, plus an update on the St. Mary's nurses' union vote set for June 11. Then Rob shares the jaw-dropping story of Waunakee freshman Ross Kidau, who may have just run the fastest 100 meters by a Wisconsin freshman ever. Plus: a call for nominations for Wisconsin's Most Influential Asian American Leaders. New episodes every Friday.

Nominate someone for the Most Influential Asian American Leaders here.

Read Abi's story on Meals on 2 Wheels here.