Bridge the City

Bridge the City episodes:

• 04.01.2024

  Episode 133: April 2024 Election Special (Bonus) - MPS Referendum

  Host Deisy Espana sits down with Ingrid Walker-Henry, the President of the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association, to discuss the “Say Yes to MPS” campaign. Ingrid and Deisy talk about what the additional funding would mean for MPS and why the...

  
• 03.25.2024

  Episode 132: April 2024 Election Special

  Hosts Deisy Espana and Ben Rangel sit down to talk about and discuss the upcoming election on Tuesday, April 2nd. They discuss the referendums on the ballot, the different aldermanic races, and other local elections.

  
• 02.21.2024

  Episode 131: Mercadera Market

  Host Deisy Espana sits down with Galy Montes and Nataly Andrade, co-founders of Mercadera Market. They talk about the growth of Latina owned small businesses and their part in amplifying their voices.

  
• 01.04.2024

  Episode 130: Milwaukee Mobile Health Crisis

  Host Benjamin Rangel sits down with Lauren Hubbard, Director of Community Crisis Services at Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services. Ben and Lauren discuss how her teams serves the Milwaukee Community in a variety of ways and the work of the...

  
• 12.13.2023

  Episode 129: Milwaukee Talkie w/ Brett Heaton Juarez

  Host Benjamin Rangel sits down in a Milwaukee Talkie with Brett Heaton Juarez. Ben and Brett talk about their relationship with finances and money, Brett’s new book, “Change from your Dollars”, and how to use your time and resources to...

  
• 11.16.2023

  Episode 128: Hundred Acre Farm

  Host Benjamin Rangel sits down with Chris Corkery, CEO of Hundred Acre Farm. They talk about what vertical hydroponic farming is, how it can disrupt the agricultural and food industry, and the difference its already making in our city.

  
• 11.09.2023

  Episode 127: MKE Climate and Equity Plan

  Hosts Deisy España and Benjamin Rangel sit down with Nancy Retana, Clean Wisconsin's Resilient Communities Program Director. They talk about Clean Wisconsin’s work to preserve and protect Wisconsin’s clean water, clean air and natural heritage and the City of Milwaukee’s...

  
• 09.21.2023

  Episode 126: Power to the People Campaign

  Hosts Benjamin Rangel and Deisy España sit down with Anna Dvorak and Gregory Brown with the Power to the People Campaign. They talk about their campaign to turn our energy utilities from an investor-owned utility to a municipally owned and...

  
• 08.03.2023

  Episode 125: Mexican Fiesta

  Hosts Benjamin Rangel and Deisy España sit down with Nora Godoy-Gonzalez and Kate Rodriguez the current and future Mexican Fiesta Ambassadors, respectively. They talk about how much fun the Fiesta is, how the Wisconsin Hispanic Scholarship Foundation supports the community...

  
• 07.13.2023

  Episode 124: Rethink 794 - Milwaukee Central Park Project

  Host Benjamin Rangel sits down with guest Jacob Krieg, founder of the Milwaukee Central Park Project. They talk about the potential removal of the I794 spur of freeway on the the Eastside of the city and what could take its...

  
• 03.30.2023

  Episode 123: April General Election Preview

  Host Benjamin Rangel sits down with Bridge the City teammate and guest producer, Ashlie Benson, to break down the upcoming election on Tuesday, April 4th, 2023.

  
• 02.24.2023

  Episode 122: Housing First

  Host Ben Hoekstra sits down with Eric Collins-Dyke, Assistant Administrator of the Milwaukee County Housing Division, to discuss Housing First and homelessness in the county.

  
• 02.14.2023

  Episode 121: Election Special w/ Everett Mitchell

  Host Benjamin Rangel sits down Judge Everett Mitchell one of four candidates on the ballot in the upcoming Wisconsin State Supreme Court Primary Election. Judge Mitchell was an Assistant District Attorney in Dane County and was elected to the Dane...

  
• 01.24.2023

  Episode 120: Milwaukee Talkie w/ Elmer Moore

  Host Ben Hoekstra sits down with Elmer Moore, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA), to discuss Elmer’s route to Milwaukee, the challenges of affordable housing, and NIMBYism.

  
• 12.19.2022

  Episode 119: Sojourner Family Peace Center

  Host Ben Hoekstra sits down with Carmen Pitre, President and CEO of Sojourner Family Peace Center, to discuss domestic violence in Milwaukee and the resources available for survivors.

  
• 10.10.2022

  Episode 118: Milwaukee Esports

  Host Ben Rangel sits down with Brandon Tschacher, Founder of the Milwaukee Esports Alliance, and Abbey Diedrich, Director of Career Development at New Horizons Wisconsin, to talk about the state of Esports in Milwaukee. They talk about the MPS...

  
• 08.30.2022

  Episode 117: Kinship Community Food Center

  Host Ben Hoekstra sits down with Anna Fahrendorf, Communications Associate at Kinship Community Food Center. They discuss food insecurity, what Kinship does, and the importance of dignity.

  
• 08.04.2022

  Episode 116: Milwaukee Black Theater Festival

  Host Ben Hoekstra sits down with three guests from Black Arts MKE—Barbara Wanzo, Executive Director of Black Arts MKE; Sheri Williams Panel, Producing Artistic Director of Bronzeville Arts Ensemble and Artistic Associate of Black Arts MKE; and Dimonte Henning, actor...

  
• 07.19.2022

  Episode 115: Walker's Point Youth and Family Center

  Host Benjamin Rangel sits down with Audra O’Connell, Executive Director of Walker’s Point Youth and Family Center, to talk about their work serving young people experiencing housing insecurity in the city. They discuss the misconceptions around those experiencing homelessness, the...

  
• 06.28.2022

  Episode 114: Milwaukee Talkie w/ Judge Derek Mosley

  Host Ben Hoekstra sits down with Chief Municipal Judge Derek Mosely about what it means being a Municipal Court Judge, Judge Mosely’s passion and celebration of Milwaukee’s food scene, and his work advocating for greater racial equity and knowledge of...

  
• 04.25.2022

  Episode 113: B Corps in Milwaukee

  Host Ben Hoekstra sits down with Drew Pond, Director of Development at Stone Creek Coffee, and Kelsey Moses, Excise Tax and Compliance Director at Lakefront Brewery. They talk about what is a B Corp, why the companies decided to pursue...

  
• 04.14.2022

  Episode 112: Woodland Pattern

  Host Benjamin Rangel sits down with Woodland Pattern Executive Directors Laura Solomon and Jenny Gropp. Woodland Pattern is a Book Center in Riverwest and offers a wide selection of books, including one of the largest collections of poetry in the...

  
• 02.24.2022

  Episode 111: Milwaukee Talkie w/ Dr. Monique Liston

  Host Ashlie Benson sits down with Dr. Monique Liston who is the Chief Strategist & Joyful Militant of Ubuntu Research and Evaluation. Ashlie and Dr. Liston discuss what does it mean to practice joyful militancy, who are community celebrates and...

  
• 02.14.2022

  Episode 110: Lion's Tooth

  Host Benjamin Rangel sits down with one of the co-owners of Lion’s Tooth, a local Bookstore, cafe, and subscription service with small press books and graphic novels. Ben and Cris talk about the origin of Lion’s Tooth, what makes Lion’s...

  
• 01.19.2022

  Episode 109: Help Wanted

  Hosts Benjamin Rangel and Ashlie Benson sit down with one another to ask you all, the listeners, for help! We are looking for new team members and would love your support. If you or someone you know is interested in...

  
• 12.18.2021

  Episode 108: Milwaukee River Greenway

  Host Benjamin Rangel Sits down with Mark Denning, Eddee Daniel, and Kimberly Gleffe to talk about the Milwaukee River Greenway and Eddee Daniel’s new book on the subject. We learn more about our place in caring for our ecosystems, how...

  
• 09.01.2021

  Episode 107: Fair Maps in Wisconsin

  Host Ashlie Benson sits down with Sheila Plotkin with We, the Irrelevant, Matthew Rothschild with the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, and Chris Ford with the People’s Maps Commission to discuss redistricting and fair maps in Wisconsin. They discuss the importance of...

  
• 06.08.2021

  Episode 106: Unionization in Milwaukee

  Host Ben Rangel sits down with Sam Harshner, Professor at Marquette University, Hillary Laskonis, Coworker at Colectivo Coffee, and Robert Penner, union organizer and former employee of Colectivo Coffee. They talk about the state of unionization in our city, the...

  
• 04.19.2021

  Episode 105: Black Vote Rising

  Hosts Kacee Ochalek and Ashlie Benson sit down with Melody McCurtis, Deputy Director of Priorities/Organizer, Metcalfe Park Community Bridges, and Miela Fetaw the Co-director of the short documentary Black Vote Rising. They discuss was inspired the documentary, the importance of...

  
• 04.12.2021

  Episode 104: Envision South 13th Street Together

  Hosts Benjamin Rangel and Kacee Ochalek sit down with planning experts Amy Oeth and Leif Otteson to talk about the recommendations coming to the South 13th Street and West Oklahoma Avenue corridors. These recommendations come together to inform the City...

  
• 03.28.2021

  Episode 103: Election Special - April 6th, 2021

  Host Benjamin Rangel sits down with candidates for State Superintendent and Milwaukee Public School Board Districts 4 and 5. The candidates for State Superintendent are Deborah Kerr and Jill Underly. The candidates for MPS Board District 4 are Aisha Carr...

  
• 03.16.2021

  Episode 102: Snow Removal and Accessible Streets

  Host Sam Woods sits down with Brian Peters, Harvey Ross, Jason Ostrowski, and Lauren Grudzinski, to discuss the importance of snow removal for sidewalk and street accessibility. When snow is left in the sidewalk, on curb cuts, or bus...

  
• 02.19.2021

  Episode 101: Milwaukee Talkie w/ Dr. Robert Schneider

  Host Benjamin Rangel sits down with UW-Milwaukee professor, Dr. Robert Schneider, to discuss how we can redesign our city to address reckless driving. We discuss how roads could be redesigned to slow down traffic, why our current transportation system needs...

  
• 01.26.2021

  Episode 100: Election Special - State Superintendent Primary

  Host Benjamin Rangel sits down with four candidates for State Superintendent of Public Instruction - Dr. Shandowlyon (Shawn) Hendricks-Williams, Steve Krull, Deborah Kerr, and Sheila Briggs. We talk about their priorities for the first 100 days in office and why...

  
• 01.20.2021

  Episode 99: Election Special - MPS School Board Primary

  Hosts Kacee Ochalek and Ben Rangel speak with Larry Miller, Outgoing Milwaukee Public School Board President and District 5 Director, about the upcoming Milwaukee School Board Primary Election. Larry explains the ins-and-outs of what it means to be an MPS...

  
• 12.15.2020

  Episode 97: Educating During a Pandemic

  Host Benjamin Rangel sits down again with Anthony McHenry, CEO of Milwaukee Academy of Science, and two of his own students, Rodrigo and Yulian. We talk about how schools have been navigating this challenging time, things to celebrate despite...

  
• 11.23.2020

  Episode 96: Fighting Gentrification in Walker's Point and King Drive

  In a different format than usual, Ben Rangel talks with Sam Woods about MKE United’s anti-displacement fund, which helps longtime homeowners along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and in Walker’s Point pay their property taxes to avoid being priced...

  
• 11.12.2020

  Episode 95: The Milwaukee Drag Alliance

  Host Kacee Ochalek sits down with Malaiya Marvel and Lenda Jo to talk about the mission of the Milwaukee Drag Alliance. We discuss the formation of the Milwaukee Drag Alliance in response to mistreatment by venue owners, what the Alliance’s...

  
• 10.26.2020

  Episode 94: I94 Expansion

  Hosts Kacee Ochalek and Benjamin Rangel sit down with Elizabeth Ward, James Davies, and Barbara Little to talk about Governor Evers’ recent proposal to expand the I94 East-West Corridor near Miller Park. We discuss the environmental and community impact such...

  
• 10.13.2020

  Episode 93: Election Special w/ Tom Palzewicz

  Host Benjamin Rangel sits down with Tom Palzewicz, the Democratic nominee for the fifth congressional district. We talk about why he is running for Congress as a Democrat in a heavily Republican district, and what he wants to get done...

  
• 09.09.2020

  Episode 92: Embody Yoga

  Host Benjamin Rangel sits down with Joanna Brooks, founder of Embody Yoga and the Aspiring Black Yoga Teacher's Education Fund. We talk about her path to becoming a yoga teacher and studio owner, how yoga offers more beyond physical exercise,...

  
• 08.27.2020

  Episode 91: Milwaukee Talkie w/ Paul Mozina

  Hosts Kacee Ohalek and Sam Woods sit down with Paul Mozina. We talk about how Paul holds electeds accountable, navigating bureaucracy at City Hall, and the lasting effects of the War on Drugs. To learn more, visit: Paul’s website The Scuppernong Springs Nature...

  
• 08.20.2020

  Episode 90: CopyWrite Magazine

  Hosts Kacee Ohalek and Benjamin Rangel sit down with Lexi Brunson, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of CopyWrite Magazine. We talk about what makes CopyWrite Magazine unique, Lexi’s advice for other entrepreneurs in the city, and a new collective that supports other...

  
• 07.27.2020

  Episode 89: Election Special - What's on the Ballot

  Hosts Kacee Ochalek, Sam Woods, and Ben Rangel sit down to go over what’s on the ballot for the August 11th, Partisan Primary here in Milwaukee. The Bridge the City Team will go over each of the positions, what their...

  
• 07.21.2020

  Episode 88: Bridging the Digital Divide

  Host Kacee Ochalek sits down with Wendell Willis and Tina Chang with the MPS Foundation’s ConnectMKE Campaign that is looking to raise $1 million to support students' access to digital resources during COVID-19 and beyond. Then, Kacee chats with Anthony...

  
• 07.16.2020

  Episode 87: Active Streets

  Hosts Kacee Ochalek and Sam Woods sit down with Kate Riordan, Associate Transportation Planner, City of Milwaukee, Department of Public Works and Liz Brodek, Executive Director of The East Side Business Improvement District and The Downer Avenue Business Improvement District....

  
• 07.02.2020

  Episode 86: Police Reform in Milwaukee

  Host Ben Rangel sits down with Reggie Jackson, Co-Owner of Nurturing Diversity Partners and the Head Griot of America’s Black Holocaust Museum, Alderwoman Chantia Lewis, Alderwoman for District Nine in Milwaukee, and State Representative LaKeshia Myers, State Representative for Assembly...

  
• 06.25.2020

  Episode 85: Expanding the Definition of Violence

  In this episode, Jamaal Smith, Racial Justice and Policy Advocacy expert, speaks to us in his role as Manager at the Office of Violence Prevention, Milwaukee Health Department. We discussed the role of the Office of Violence prevention at the...

  
• 06.16.2020

  Episode 84: Universal Basic Income

  Host Sam Woods talks with Alderwoman Chantia Lewis about her proposal to give Milwaukee residents a Universal Basic Income. Lewis was elected to represent the 9th District, the New9th, in 2016. She currently services as Vice-Chair, Public Safety and Health...

  
• 06.09.2020

  Episode 83: Black Lives Matter

  Hosts Kacee Ochalek and Sam Woods sit down with Black Lives Matter activists, Destiny Monae, Darius Smith, and Markasa Tucker. We dive into a topic that has captured the country’s attention yet again: police violence and the movement for Black...