Scaffidiology

On this episode of Scaffidiology, Steve Scaffidi talks with WTMJ journalist Neil Doyle about covering Wisconsin elections and the 2026 governor’s race.

They discuss the difference between reporting and commentary, getting straight answers from candidates, the role of personality versus policy, media access, debate coverage and the reliability of political polling. Neil also shares what he looks for when covering campaigns and the journalists who have influenced his work.

Steve Scaffidi talks with Kevin Cullen, executive director of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, about the state’s connection to the Great Lakes and the stories preserved beneath Wisconsin’s waters.

Cullen discusses the USS Cobia, underwater archaeology, historic shipwrecks, artifacts recovered from Lake Michigan and the ongoing search for undiscovered wrecks. He also explains how maritime history, Native American canoes and underwater discoveries offer a deeper look at Wisconsin’s past.

Faith and politics are often treated as separate worlds, but for many people, they are inseparable. In Faith in Politics, 620 WTMJ’s Steve Scaffidi speaks with faith leaders from Catholic, Episcopal, Jewish, Muslim, Pentecostal and Methodist traditions about how belief shapes public life.

The series explores voting and civic responsibility, justice, immigration, religious freedom, political disagreement, polarization and the challenge of living out faith beyond a place of worship. Together, these conversations examine whether faith can help restore dignity, dialogue and unity to an increasingly divided country.

In the final episode of his Faith in Politics series, Steve Scaffidi speaks with Minister Jalal about the Muslim faith, service to humanity, and the importance of building bridges across religious and political divides.

They discuss immigration, religious freedom, justice, political participation, generational differences, and the responsibility to stand up against injustice. Minister Jalal also explains how faith can bring people together during a time of increasing division—and why love, peace and service should transcend politics.

Steve Scaffidi begins a new Scaffidiology series on social media with Mike Zussman , an adolescent and adult therapist. They discuss the benefits and risks of social media for young people, including cyberbullying, mental health, addictive algorithms, screen time, and the challenges parents face.

The conversation also explores whether social media companies and lawmakers should do more to protect children—and why adults may be just as dependent on their phones.

Steve Scaffidi sits down with attorney Edo Walny of Walny Legal Group for a conversation about life, career, communication, and the importance of planning for the future.

Walny shares how beginning his legal career just days before 9/11 shaped his professional journey, the advice that helped guide his career, and why so few Americans have an up-to-date estate plan. He also discusses his work with families, including those caring for children and adults with special needs, and the lessons he has learned from meeting clients during some of life’s most important moments.

Plus, Walny explains how he became a more confident communicator and what inspired him to pursue a career in law.

Steve Scaffidi sits down with author and Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson to discuss his new book, "The Green and Gold Standard: A People’s History of the Green Bay Packers." Nelson shares the personal experiences that inspired him to write the book, along with stories from more than a century of Packers history from Curly Lambeau and the team’s early struggles to Brett Favre, Reggie White, the Packers-Bears rivalry, and the generational bond shared by Packers fans.

Steve and Tom Nelson also discuss what makes the Packers unlike any other franchise in professional sports, including the team’s small-town roots, fan ownership, and role as a civic institution in Wisconsin. Nelson explains why the Packers’ future may depend on how the NFL addresses private equity and guaranteed contracts and why preserving the team’s unique identity matters so much.

“Now I know why the Packers are so special. That’s what really drove me to write this book.”

Steve Scaffidi had a chance to sit down with three African journalists through the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) to discuss their home countries and why journalism matters not only in the United States, but across the globe.

Abubakair Sadiq Sulemana, from the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation; Sandrine Butera, from the Rwanda Broadcasting Agency; and Cassandra Zungu from South African Broadcasting Cooperation joined Steve for a fascinating conversation about their home countries and what inspired them to get into journalism.

"I've seen what the media can do. People listen to the radio; they see you, as a voice when you say something; they believe in it. So really, I know the power of the media."

What role should faith play in politics—and what responsibility do people of faith have as American citizens?

Steve Scaffidi sits down with Pastor Tim Peters of Parkway Church in Oak Creek for a wide-ranging conversation about faith, culture, politics and the importance of meaningful dialogue.

Pastor Peters shares his unconventional path into ministry, how his experiences outside the church shaped his approach as a pastor and why listening is often just as important as preaching. He also explains why he believes Christians have a responsibility to vote, how he approaches political disagreements within his own congregation and why he welcomes elected leaders from across the political spectrum into his church.

The conversation also explores the division in American politics, the importance of integrity in public life, how faith can provide stability in a changing culture and why conversations with people who disagree with us still matter.

In the fourth episode of “A Matter of Faith,” a special series from The Scaffidiology Podcast, host Steve Scaffidi sits down with Father Tim Kitzke, a Catholic priest who has served southeastern Wisconsin for more than 37 years.

Father Kitzke shares his perspective on the relationship between faith and politics, explaining why he believes political division can become a barrier to both faith and community. He discusses how he approaches preaching, encourages meaningful dialogue, and challenges people to live out their beliefs beyond the walls of the church.

Together, Scaffidi and Father Kitzke explore fundamental questions facing faith communities today: How much should politics influence faith? And is there a disconnect between what people hear in worship and how they practice those values in everyday life?