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A researcher who has been spending time in rural parts of Michigan and Wisconsin tells us why we should rethink what economic success looks like for rural America, and what its residents are already doing to make change. We also discuss the new Green Bay Packers' head coach hire and talk with a writer who believes we need to keep an eye on the rights of pregnant women.

The host of NPR's "Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me!" quiz show will join us to talk about how his extensive running career, including fourteen marathons, helped him through some of his most challenging moments in life. We also learn what to do with all of those spices in our cabinets with a spice master.

Today marks the twentieth day of the partial government shutdown, tying it for the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. We take a look at past shutdowns to get more context about the current situation. We also hear from a psychology professor about how to give authentic compliments and talk about this week's top Wisconsin news.

While world travel can come with numerous benefits to the traveler and the destination, if we all decide to visit the same handful of destinations year after year it can take a big toll on a city. We talk about the concept of 'overtourism' and learn about what can be done to lighten the load on some of these popular cities. We also talk about Apple and other tech companies facing lower than expected revenue and take a look at a lawsuit filed this week that aims to overturn laws passed during a recent lame-duck session in the Wisconsin legislature.

While the White House has expressed that they'd like to work with Congress on securing a deal for the border wall, there have also been questions about whether or not they need the full support of Congress to make it happen. We talk with a reporter about the legality of the situation. We also hear from the author of a new book who says anxiety is a major part of grieving for many people and deserves to be recognized as so.

A proposed solar project in Iowa County would be the largest solar farm in the Midwest. We learn more about the nearly 2,700 acre-plan and why the county has seen mixed reactions. We also hear from the author of a new book who says our education system needs to be doing more to provide equal opportunities to children of color. And, we talk about single-payer healthcare, set for hearings in Congress.

A running group in Eau Claire is hoping to hold the fourth Snowshoe Beer Mile very soon, which combines the concept of a Beer Mile with the wonder of snowshoes. We learn more about the motivations behind this quirky race from one of the founders and the race record holder. We also take the time to think about what we miss most about life prior to the age of the internet and we discuss President Trump's first address to the nation.

Studying a lake as large as Lake Superior has its challenges, but some researchers are looking to learn more about the big picture by studying the many small tributaries that feed into the lake. We talk with a researcher about what they know. We also learn about a bill that has been introduced by two Republican legislators that would criminalize first-time drunken driving and we talk about how to make the most off of your days off from work.

Despite receiving criticism from many Republicans and military experts, President Trump has slowed down his plans to pull all 2,000 troops out of Syria but remains firm that the U.S. cannot stay there forever. We talk with a guest who believes Trump's decision to withdraw from Syria is a good one. We also take a look at immigration stance and policy from the last couple of years and how ideas have shifted from DACA to funding a border wall.

Leadership skills aren't just for bosses. We talk to an expert on leadership about how we can benefit from being a go-to person in our communities and every day lives. The weekend brought some celebratory events hosted by the Evers team that focused on kids activities, but today is the big day, inauguration. We hear from WPR's Capitol bureau chief about the unfolding events for the newly inaugurated Governor.