3/15 is the first day of Milwaukee's all-city basketball tounament, the March of Champions. My son's team, the Fernwood Pirates (undefeated!) will be taking on Grantosa at Bradley Tech High, 8pm.

This week's Sound and Soul is a playlist of their weekend fight songs. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to share basketball and music with my son, Abraham. My involvement in both of these disciplines has taught me so much about teamwork, friendship, family, school loyalty, and how to persevere through tough times. I'm happy to pass that on.

The kids had a challenging season, with several coaching changes and a taste of how public school politics effect all of us. But through the changes, Fernwood mastered fundmentals and showed grit and sportsmanship each game.

Thanks to the great parents, coaches, and all the ballers in the Fernwood community and the city of Milwaukee for a great season. Among us are a generation of youth who will one day join the ranks of Al McGuire, Latrell Sprewell, and Giannis.

Let's Go!

1.Patience-Mega Ran

2.DC Special-Sceam

3.Jump- Van Halen/DJ Sid Morales

4.Gonna Have to Fight!-S.O.A.

5.Have Faith- The Cl#* Boys (MKE)

7. Public Witness Program-Fugazi

8.Declaration of Interdependence- Blackwall Hitch (MKE)

9.I am the Walrus-Gray Matter

11.Hailu Mergia- Hari Meru Meru

The book is a rare look into the mind of a man who allowed a conspiratorial theory down a road to adventure and ultimately ruin.

How can a society censor itself from reading and watching that which seemingly addicts the mind? What are alternatives that we should tume into? How can we prevent a tragedy like the January 6th insurrection from happening?

We took on these and other questions with great heart and a little humor too. Recorded in two parts : 1/7/24 and on 1/21/21.

Intro music:

J Hates Too by Compound Red

Closing Music:

Chill by White Wishes

Artwork by Jeff Winkowski

Conspiracy theorists all have a story. Often, these people suffered some kind of wound in life (addiction, abuse, rejection) and the intoxicating rabbit hole of conspiracy theories gave them a sense of meaning and purpose in life. In some of the worst case scenarios these conspiracy theorists were somehow able to make sense of utter nonsense and were committed acts that they themselves would have one time deemed unthinkable. The takeover of the US Capital on Wednesday 1/6/2021, was a day when highly emotional conspiracy theorist (among other unsavory types) attempted a coup on reason, fairness, and due process in the United States.

Before we get to addressing crowd control and lack of police presence, we need to ask how we could have stopped this. The first place to look is to the past by reading how various conspiracy theories have been spread and could have been prevented.

Realizing the danger of such theories, now must be a time for educators and parents to have discussions with kids regarding what news sources are rooted in traditional, good journalism and which ones are not. Buying into a site like “Infowars” is as dangerous as joining a gang of skinheads in the 1980’s.

I resolve to spend less time making fun of these people and hating on them. I commit  to  spending that time learning from them so that our youth do not go down the same path.

In his book AMERICAN MADNESS; The Story of the Phantom Patriot and How Conspiracy Theories Hijacked American Consciousness, author Tea Krulos tells the story of a conspiracy theorist and arsonist, Richard McClaslin, AKA “The Phantom Patriot” who’s fractured thinking made him the ideal consumer of even the most arcane of conspiracy theories. Krulos’ book also may be the first of its’ kind to dive into the history of modern conspiracy theory.

We talked about the book at my kitchen table and it was rad! Listen and pass it on.

-Jeff Winkowski

This special podcast with my dad, John Winkowski. I usually try to ask pretty intimate questions to guests  whom I interview and was not going to make an exception for this one. However, My dad surprised me by beating me to the punch and revealing a lot of things I had not known about him. It was a very powerful experience.

John Winkowski has written, produced, and recorded six studio albums in the last fourteen years, playing all of the instruments. He also recorded in the 1960’s for Milwaukee outfit The Englishmen who were antagonistic to the rhythm and blues/ soul sensibilities of the greasers who were still cruising in hot rods and prominent in the scene. As a father, he helped my bands record at our home and was open to some of the artists of our day, particularly Peter Murphy’s “Hit Song” single and Morrissey’s “Your Arsenal” tape which he bought for me on a trip to DC.

I encourage more people to do podcasts as it is a good way to interview the people who should be stars: parents, teachers, underground musicians, firemen, street artists, etc. It also moves us away from the clipped answers we gravitate to on social media and forces us to listen to hear complete thoughts and statements.

Enjoy,

Jeff Winkowski

What could be a more appropriate lunch conversation on music and fatherhood than sitting down with Dave K. ( Hardware,  Loomis,  Lombardi Records) at Gus' Deli where we were repeatedly interrupted and doted on by my spiritual father and former landlord, Gus Hosseini, from Milwaukee's Unicorn. Dave's determination and drive as a band leader and songwriter was the force behind Loomis  and the stage they repeatedly shared with remarkable local and national bands.  

For the first time in over 20 years I have been listening to Loomis' understated Grass Records masterpiece, You're No Tiger, Meow, Meow and it is still the perfect balance of harsh and understated, of driven and lazy,  laced with  legit guitar hooks and beautifully hard-whispered lyrics. 

Enjoy our chit chat. 

Jeff