Deff-initely Milwaukee

It's time to (finally) talk baseball! Like everyone else in 2020, the Milwaukee Brewers had to press pause when MLB suspended its season in March because of the coronavirus pandemic. In this episode of Deff-initely Milwaukee, Carl Deffenbaugh checks in with Sophia Minnaert to find out what we should expect from a 60-game slate that comes with plenty of rule changes and new faces on the roster. Minnaert has been part of the broadcast team on Fox Sports Wisconsin since 2013. She also has an interesting background -- growing up as the daughter of a high school football coach in Madison and fluent in Spanish thanks to her Costa Rican mom. She also has plenty of good stories about Christian Yelich, Bob Uecker and more.

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Just three months ago, COVID-19 forced schools across Wisconsin to shut down and shift to distance learning. How do you make the move to online schooling when many of your 78,000 students don't have access to the internet and 80% are economically disadvantaged? That was the challenge facing Milwaukee Public Schools amid the pandemic and it's something Wendell Willis is still focusing on. In this episode of Deff-initely Milwaukee, Carl Deffenbaugh talks with the Executive Director of the MPS Foundation. As the former Chief Operating Officer for the district, Willis explains the way MPS got food, materials, and technology to students most in need. The pair also talk about the #ConnectMilwaukee program that aims to level the playing field by providing high-speed WiFi to students, and training and support to teachers. Plus, in the midst of protests over racial injustice, Willis shares his message for young demonstrators and his own experiences as a black man coaching soccer in the suburbs.

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A symbol of strength and hope roaring through America's skies. Proud Wisconsin native, Maj. Michelle Curran, went into pilot training with no flight experience. Now, she breaks the mold as just the fifth female pilot in the history of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. In this episode of Deff-initely Milwaukee, Carl Deffenbaugh talks with Maj. Curran from her home base in Las Vegas. Hear how COVID-19 shifted the team's mission, what it's actually like to withstand that wild gravitational force while pulling off harrowing maneuvers, and how she hopes to be an inspiration to the next generation of young pilots. And yes, there's a 'Top Gun' question or two.

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Back in March, Alex Lasry found out the COVID-19 pandemic had not only canceled his wedding but also put his team's pursuit of a championship on hold. In this episode of Deff-initely Milwaukee, Carl Deffenbaugh chats with the Bucks Senior VP about what it will take for the NBA season to resume and how, even if the Democratic National Convention goes virtual, it can still turn Milwaukee into a major player on the national and global stage. You'll also hear about Lasry's time working in the Obama White House and his favorite restaurant takeout during this time of social distancing.

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When you're a man with big ideas, it helps to have an MVP or two on speed dial. A self-described 'people person,' Omar Shaikh is one of the most connected people in Milwaukee. Partner in SURG Restaurant Group, the new 3rd Street Market Hall, Chairman of the Board for VISIT Milwaukee, and the list goes on and on. In this episode of Deff-initely Milwaukee, Shaikh talks about all those things, plus how amid a pandemic, he reached out to two big Milwaukee sports stars who stepped up in a big way to help front line workers. Shaikh also opens up about the very sobering numbers for not only his restaurant, Carnevor, but the industry as a whole.

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In his long career, Paul Bartolotta has never seen anything affect the restaurant industry like the coronavirus. Many of his peers are offering takeout and curbside pickup, but in the episode of Deff-initely Milwaukee, Bartolotta explains why Bartolotta Restaurant Group decided to close all its locations. He also goes into the changes patrons may see when things eventually open up again. You'll also hear stories from Bartolotta who has spent time in kitchens around the world, including the legacy his late brother Joe leaves behind in Milwaukee. Plus, you'll learn the one thing Paul Bartolotta won't eat.

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For more than 30 years, Discover Wisconsin has shown off the best our state has to offer: The people, the places, the things that make Wisconsin special. And for seven years, Mariah Haberman has served as one of the show’s hosts. In this episode of Deff-initely Milwaukee, The Evansville native and UW-Oshkosh product join the podcast to discuss what drew her back to her home state, some of her wildest experiences over the years and why she’s a huge proponent of traveling abroad all by yourself at least once in life. One note: We did tape this before the coronavirus pandemic, so no mention of that – but we do have all kinds of great recommendations for where you should go and what you should do when we can travel again.

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Advocate Aurora is not just part of the fabric of Wisconsin, it’s one of the biggest health systems in the U.S. – with hospitals and hundreds of care sites serving millions of patients. One of the people advancing health and wellness far beyond an exam room is Cristy Garcia-Thomas. In this episode of Deff-initely Milwaukee, Carl Deffenbaugh sits down with the company's Chief External Affairs Officer at her headquarters in Walker’s Point. She explains the ways Advocate Aurora is trying to lessen economic and racial disparities in our community and the larger effect that has on health. And as a proud member of Milwaukee’s Hispanic population and a powerful female executive in the city, they talk about how she’s creating more opportunities for those groups. It's important to mention, this podcast was recorded before the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Milwaukee is about more than just beer. And Colectivo is the cream that’s risen to the top of the coffee scene. In this episode of Deff-initely Milwaukee, Carl Deffenbaugh heads to their Humboldt Avenue roasting facility to sit down with co-founder Lincoln Fowler. They talk about how a failed speaker business became a caffeinated institution. Also, how the company’s gamble in switching from Alterra to Colectivo paid off with the thriving, expanding business we know today. Plus, from Central and South America to Rwanda and Sumatra – amazing stories from trips that connect Milwaukee to the world. 

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For more than 125 years, the Milwaukee County Zoo has taken guests all around the world without ever leaving Wisconsin -- with animals and experiences you won’t find anywhere else in the Midwest. And for the past 30 years, the man guiding the zoo’s efforts has been Director Chuck Wikenhauser.  In this episode of Deff-initely Milwaukee, Carl Deffenbaugh talks with Chuck about the changes he’s seen across the country, and the Zoo’s focus on conservation. They also get into some amazing trips he’s taken to Africa, Iceland and other places, some of the underrated exhibits right here in Milwaukee and more.

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