It's a long one today -- we've been off for a couple weeks and have a lot to catch up on!

First, Omar talks through a few highlights of the upcoming Martin Luther King, Jr Day celebrations and activities around Madison.

Then, Rob has an update from Sun Prairie, where the school district released the results of the investigation into the dean of students who was arrested on 16 charges of child pornography and exploitation in July, and how district administrators responded. We learned that allegations started six months earlier than previously known, and that the first student who made them was suspended for doing so.

Next up, a harm reduction drop-in center proposed for the East Side has prompted pushback and stirred controversy due to a potential conflict of interest, a questionable proposal process and some potential cultural competency issues. We have the full rundown.

Then, Green Bay Police posted a photo of their new recruits, one of whom had a tattoo representing an extremist militia movement. We have some thoughts.

And before the break, an alert listener flagged a Cap Times column for us called "When we were a happier country," which prompts us to ask: happier for whom?

Then, we talk to Quentin Riser and Quinlan Riser, twin brothers -- one a professor of child development, one a financial adviser -- who have published a children's book on personal finance, hoping to get parents talking with their kids about money early.

And finally, as promised at the end of last year, our top albums of 2025!

This week on 365 Amplified, Rob Chappell, Omar Waheed, and Stephanie Díaz de León dig into Wisconsin's latest school district report cards and ask a hard question: who actually benefits from how schools are graded? The conversation explores racial achievement gaps, how DPI weights "economically disadvantaged" students, and why some districts can earn top scores while deep racial disparities remain.

The crew also reacts to the newly announced women's soccer team, Rally Madison, unpacking the name, branding, symbolism, and fan response — plus what it says about women's sports, marketing, and who teams are really built for.

Later, Rob sits down with Fitchburg City Council member Donald Dantzler, who's running for re-election and for Dane County Board. Dantzler reflects on his first term, major city projects, housing and transportation challenges, and why county government plays such a critical — and often overlooked — role in people's daily lives.

The episode wraps with the weekly question: if you had a warning label, what would it say?

As promised after last week's grammar discussion, Rob talks through the etymology of the word "sincere" and Omar coins a new slang term. All that only after:

• We get updates on stories we've been following in the Sun Prairie Area School District and the Dane County Department of Human Services.'
• We look ahead to the CEOs of Tomorrow "Pitch and Launch" event this weekend
• We note a few local elected officials who announced this week that they're running again
• Rock County Board Supervisor Genia Stevens joins us to tell us why she's not running again, how Rock County JumpStart is expanding and what new endeavor she's launching
• We make note of the "Color of the Year" and the issues with this year's selection

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In this week's episode of 365 Amplified, the team dives into a busy stretch of community events, local politics, sports news, and a thoughtful conversation with the leaders of the Urban League of Greater Madison Young Professionals.

Highlights

• Holiday Black Bazaar returns bigger than ever, featuring 50+ Black-owned vendors, performances, and community gathering space at the Hub.

• Profile: Percy Brown — Omar talks about the new Carey Middle School principal and his winding journey through education and DEI work.

• Governor's race update — Mandela Barnes enters; the crew discusses timing, name recognition, new potential candidates, and what redistricting could mean for 2026.

• Judo phenom — Seventh-grader Ilion Hoskins heads to Peru to represent Team USA at the Pan American Championships.

• Sports roundup — Badger volleyball advances in NCAA play; Forward Madison re-signs Derek Gebhard and adds veteran defender Mark Segbers; the new Madison women's team unveils its branding December 12.

• Milwaukee soccer stadium — Still in the works, but no ground broken yet.

Feature Interview

Current and incoming YP presidents Kayla Conklin and Déja Mason join the show to discuss:

• YP's growth and Central Region Chapter of Excellence recognition

• Why affinity spaces matter for young Black professionals

• Goals for 2026, including community service, advocacy, leadership development, and food security work

On the podcast today, Rob talks through a few news items before chatting with Rodney Rave, who's running for Congress in Wisconsin's Third Congressional District, which covers most of Western Wisconsin. A former Ho-Chunk Nation legislator, Rave could become the first Indigenous person to represent the state in Washington.

Today's episode is brought to you by Steinhafels.

Support local nonprofit news at Madison365.org/donate. All donations from now until December 31 will be matched!

Rob's flying solo today, with a few news updates: a new Congressional candidate in western Wisconsin, an effort to support a beloved local musician who collapsed on stage after a heart attack last week, a recap of Madison College's first-ever trip to the national junior college men's soccer tournament, and a review of "Planets as Stars," the poetry-driven performance we previewed on the podcast last week.

Then, he talks to Kynala Phillips, the editor of a new community journalism project at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and an alum of Madison365's internship. Finally, he offers a bit of the Madison365 origin story, our philosophy, what community journalism means to us, and why we need you your support.

All donations are doubled when you give now at Madison365.org/Donate.

On the podcast today, Rob, Stephanie and Omar talk through some local news, including a summit of Milwaukee social justice nonprofits, a snow removal apprenticeship program and the Madison College soccer team's first-ever trip to the national tournament. Then, poet and performer Gina Cornejo joins the show to preview her new production at Theatre LILA, "Planets as Stars," opening this weekend. Then, we have an update on Channel 3000's unethical and erroneous reporting on Urban Triage and consider the larger context of racism and media ethics.

Tickets for Planets as Stars are available here.

Our preview is here.

This week, News 3 Now published an erroneous news story about Madison-based nonprofit Urban Triage, and Madison365 was the only outlet to correct the record. On the podcast today, Rob, Nicholas and Omar talk through how that went down and what it means for the larger landscape of journalism and media. Plus, this weekend, Midwest Mujeres is hosting its fifth annual "Yo Quiero Dinero" storytelling event, so founder Araceli Ezparza and production manager Jonathan Delgado join the show for a preview, and Omar has a recap of the annual Black Parents Summit with Madison schools.

It's NewsMatch time! Your donations in support of nonprofit local media are DOUBLED until the end of the year. Click here to support Madison365.

Hosts: Rob Chappell, Stephanie Díaz de León, Omar Waheed Guest: Prenicia Clifton

Episode Overview

This week, the team covers the end of SNAP benefits and its impact on Wisconsin families and small businesses, the return of Madison Nonprofit Day, the growing threat of media capture, and a few lighter conversations to close the show — including conspiracy theories they wish were true.

SNAP Benefits Ending

Nearly 700,000 Wisconsinites are about to lose Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits as of November 1. Rob, Stephanie, and Omar discuss what this means for food pantries, families, and local economies.

They also highlight that federal workers are unpaid during the shutdown and that the ripple effects extend to small businesses and farmers.

LOUD's New Gallery Space

Omar talks with Oscar Morales, founder of Latinos Organizing for Understanding and Development (LOUD), about opening a new gallery at Next Wave Studios on Madison's east side. The first artist in residence, La Pistola from Oaxaca, led workshops and connected with Madison's growing arts scene.

Media Capture and the Importance of Local News

Rob discusses a recent episode of the Question Everything podcast, focusing on "media capture" — when governments or their allies take control of the media.

Starting November 1, every donation to Madison365 will be doubled through the Institute for Nonprofit News' matching fund. Donate here → madison365.org/donate

Madison Nonprofit Day Returns

Guest: Prenicia Clifton, organizer of Madison Nonprofit Day, joins to preview the event's return on Friday, November 7 at TruStage.

She explains that it's a professional development opportunity for nonprofit professionals, board members, and community leaders — with sessions on funding, collaboration, safety, and leadership transitions.

"Professional development is often the last thing invested in," Clifton says. "But we need to develop ourselves to serve our communities safely and effectively."

Highlights include:

• Opening panel with Angela Davis (Madison Community Foundation), Angela Russell (TruStage), Renée Moe (United Way of Dane County), and Shiva Bidar-Sielaff (UW Health)

• Workshops on fundraising, partnership, and succession planning

• Clifton's keynote on preventing abuse in youth-serving spaces

• Social Impact Happy Hour recognizing local changemakers

🎟️ Register: https://seeinisbelievin.regfox.com/2025-madison-nonprofit-day

Roundtable Question: Conspiracy Theories We Wish Were True

365 Amplified is produced by Rob Chappell for the 365 Media Foundation, a nonprofit local media organization in Madison, Wisconsin. Follow Madison365 on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Threads.

Hosts: Rob Chappell, Stephanie Díaz de León, and Omar Waheed Guest: Nate Buescher, UW–Madison freshman and star of Disney Channel's Electric Bloom Runtime: 53:38

On this week's podcast, we catch up on a range of news stories from the week, and get acquainted with a new neighbor who's a rising Disney star. 🌟 Leadership Summit Preview

The eighth annual 365 Leadership Summit is just around the corner, happening Monday, November 3, at the Madison Concourse Hotel. Stephanie and Rob preview the lineup:

• Opening panel "Leadership Unscripted" with Henry Sanders, Dr. Sagashus Livingston, Karen Menendez Coller of Centro Hispano, and Chairman Tehassi Hill of the Oneida Nation.

• Honoring the 2025 Most Influential Leaders at the evening celebration.

• Presented by UW Credit Union and other key sponsors. "It feels like a homecoming," Stephanie says — a reunion for changemakers across Wisconsin.

Register now at 365LeadershipSummit.org/registration.

🔫 Moms Demand Action at the Capitol

Omar reports from the State Capitol, where Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action held their annual Advocacy Day, pushing for six common-sense gun safety measures:

• Banning guns on college campuses

• Universal background checks

• Extreme risk protection orders ("Red Flag Laws")

• Tax-free gun safes

• Stricter liability for unsafe firearm storage

• Background checks for gun store employees

Stephanie reminds listeners that "the Second Amendment is not absolute," and Rob notes that every proposal sounded "pretty sensible." Read Omar's story here.

📚 Wisconsin Book Festival: Shobha Rao Returns

Omar recaps his interview with novelist Shobha Rao, author of Indian Country, ahead of her Wisconsin Book Festival appearance. The book explores land, memory, and identity through a murder mystery lens. Rao recalls her "healing" time living in Madison as a young adult and her love of Wisconsin's own Laura Ingalls Wilder. Read Omar's story here.

🏫 MMSD's $507 Million Plan

Madison voters approved a massive school facilities referendum, and the Sherman and Shabazz schools are first in line for new buildings. Omar details plans for larger classrooms, separate libraries, and a 13,500-square-foot gym — all ready by September 2027. Stephanie highlights how basic needs like warmth, air flow, and space "deeply affect how kids learn." Read Omar's story here.

🥫 SNAP Benefits Suspended

Rob reports troubling news: 700,000 Wisconsinites could lose access to FoodShare (SNAP) benefits starting November 1 due to the federal government shutdown. The panel discusses who's affected — families, seniors, and the disabled — and pushes back on myths about "lazy" recipients. Read Rob's story here.

🎬 Guest Interview: Nate Buescher, Star of Electric Bloom

Rob chats with Nate Buescher, a freshman at UW–Madison and co-star of Disney's new teen series Electric Bloom, now streaming on Disney+. Nate shares:

• How he landed the role after months of auditions

• Filming in California and the culture shock from Chicago winters to LA

• His plans to study biology while continuing acting

• His lifelong passion for storytelling — from Weebles Wobbles commercials at age seven to now being part of Disney's next big friendship series.

"Even though the show's for tweens," Nate says, "my grandma watches it — and she loves it."

💬 The Question: "What's Your Ratio?"

In the closing segment, Stephanie poses this week's question:

"What's your ratio of pretending to know what's going on versus actually knowing what's going on?" After a wild story about a $88 million jewel heist at the Louvre, the crew confesses to plenty of "confident BSing." Omar admits he's "winging it 70% of the time," while Rob recalls faking his way through a grad seminar, and somehow getting away with it.

🎧 Subscribe & Follow

365 Amplified is produced and edited by Rob Chappell for 365 Media Foundation, a nonprofit local independent media organization based in Madison, Wisconsin. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow Madison365 on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, and Bluesky.