The healthcare system is big, with lots of moving parts, and sometimes communication between healthcare workers and patients could be better. We talk with a nurse creating comics to help bridge the gap. We also hear about once-thriving towns in Wisconsin that are now abandoned, and we hear from a philosopher about just how you came to be.

The author of a new book makes the case that public lands need our protection and support. He explains why he believes privatization would be bad news. We also hear from our in-house foodie about new ingredients and techniques you can try to master in 2019, and we discuss the resignation of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.

Cuts to liberal arts programs at some Wisconsin schools have been in the news this year, and it's a hot topic nationwide. We talk with a reporter about the role of liberal arts in the future. We also talk about the rise of digital banks and online banking, and discuss this week's top Wisconsin news stories.

We reflect on some of the big issues in politics in 2018 and get a sense of what both parties have in store for the coming year. We also talk with science reporters about some of the most fascinating stories in the field this year.

After declaring that ISIS has been defeated, President Trump has decided to withdraw a significant number of troops from Syria. We find out why this announcement caught many lawmakers and senior administrators off guard. We also learn about the science of being a fan and how it can enrich our lives, or create a problematic obsession.

A dairy task force group formed by Gov. Walker earlier this year has put forward two proposals they hope will boost Wisconsin's struggling dairy industry. We look at the details. We also hear from a researcher who says many Americans don't know as much about how state government works as they should, and we take a look at this week's top national stories on Week in Washington.

A Milwaukee historian joins us to talk about Milwaukee's most influential people of the past two decades. We also hear a story from a new project from Wisconsin Life and we take a look some of the people appointed to Governor-elect Tony Evers' Cabinet.

According to a new CDC report, fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is most often the cause of fatal overdoses in the U.S. We talk to a doctor about what's behind this shift. We also hear from Attorney General-Elect Josh Kaul on the lame-duck legislative session and the ACA. And, we talk with a Wisconsin music expert about top picks for 2018.

If its beginning to seem like a real life monopoly game that companies like Amazon and Google are winning, you may be on to something. We talk with a guest who says antitrust laws that were designed in the 19th century to prevent corporations from growing too large may need some updating. We also take a look at what's at stake with a potential government shutdown.

The Trump administration is proposing to deport thousands of Vietnamese refugees who are undocumented or have been convicted of crimes. We examine the plan. Then, unemployment levels are at record lows, but 76 percent of Wisconsin business leaders report having trouble finding workers. We hear from a guest who says examining federal disability insurance could be a key factor in boosting labor participation. We also talk to the author of a new memoir about her experience of family estrangement.