Live from the iconic Memorial Union Terrace in Madison, Wisconsin, Charlie interviews a panel of environmental experts about the phosphorus levels in our lakes. The panel includes director of UW-Madison’s Center for Limnology, Jake Vander Zanden, professor of Grassland Ecology from the Department of Agronomy, Randy Jackson, and return Cripescast guest and author, Dan Egan. They answer questions from the crowd while having an open discussion about key sources of phosphorus, its implications on everyday life, and what we can do to help clean our lakes. 

To get involved, head to cleanwisconsin.org or grasslandag.org and check out the Wisconsin Idea wisc.edu/wisconsin-idea/. Also be sure to pick up a copy of Dan’s latest book “The Devil’s Element: Phosphorus and a World out of Balance” anywhere you get your books. 

Find us on all platforms @cripescast and @charlieberens and at cripescast.com. Check out our behind the scenes footage at Patreon.com/charlieberens.

On a special episode of the Cripescast this week, Charlie answers fan questions about birding, tour, the Midwest and more of his favorite things.

Find us on all platforms @cripescast and @charlieberens and check us out on Patreon at patreon.com/charlieberens

Ed Bieber, A.K.A. Ed the Diver, is cleaning up bodies of water across the Midwest one dive at a time. You may recognize him from his videos online, where he dives into lakes and rivers and retrieves anything from sunglasses, to car batteries, to engagement rings. He and Charlie bond over their love for fishing and their disdain for losing tackle when it gets caught on something in the water. Ed explains how he started his underwater recovery business, some of the craziest items he’s found along the way, and he shows Charlie his museum of lost items.

Find Ed on all platforms @edthediver and check out his merch and upcycled lures at edthediver.com

Find us on all platforms @cripescast and for tour dates, merch, show updates and all the info head to cripescast.com. For behind the scenes footage, deleted scenes, extended podcasts and exclusive ticket deals head to patreon.com/charlieberens.

Entrepreneur and founder of Funky Fresh Spring Rolls, TrueMan McGee, is always looking for the silver lining in life by turning obstacles into opportunity. In this episode of the Cripescast, he explains his motto of “collecting pennies” as the process of picking up big and small lessons throughout life, and why failure is necessary for success. From starting his business with money from his son’s piggy bank, to having his spring rolls available in 150 stores across the state today, TrueMan stresses the importance of believing in yourself and visualizing your goals. He and Charlie talk about the art of airfrying, they workshop TrueMan’s stand up material, and brainstorm ideas for a future joint business venture of bloody mary flavored spring rolls.

Follow Funky Fresh Spring Rolls on all platforms @funkyfreshspringrolls and find more information about TrueMan and the company at funkyfreshspringrolls.com.

Follow us on all platforms @cripescast @charlieberens @manitowocminute and for tour dates, merch, podcast info and more, go to cripescast.com.

Find us on Patreon at patreon.com/charlieberens for all the behind the scenes content you could ever want.

Major General Baker signed up for the military at just 17 years old after his father, who also served, recommended that he join. Now, after many years, a variety of positions, and numerous awards and decorations, he joins Charlie on the Cripescast to discuss the Army Reserve and what they do.  Major General Baker touches on the recruiting issues that the US military is experiencing, and emphasizes the wide range of educational and career based opportunities available within the Army Reserve and National Guard. They also discuss mental health issues that ex-soldiers face and what the military is doing to help lower veteran suicide rates. Since it wouldn’t be an episode of the Cripescast without Charlie mentioning artificial intelligence, the two discuss how the military is using AI to its advantage and how cutting edge technology will change the military jobs of the future.

Visit www.usar.army.mil for more information on the Army Reserve.

Find us on all platforms @cripescast and for tour dates, new merch, and all the podcast info your heart desires, head to cripescast.com.

Executive Director for the Wisconsin Wetlands Association, Tracy Hames, has a wealth of knowledge about Wisconsin’s water supply and ecosystem. On this episode of the Cripescast, he and Charlie discuss wetland preservation from environmental and economic perspectives, and its impact on the average Wisconsinite. “We don’t try to get people to like ducks and frogs and pretty flowers if they don’t already like those things,” Hames explains. “Instead, we get them to care for wetlands because wetlands are important to maintaining the things they already care about.” He explains that hunting, fishing, and clean water are just a few of the many areas of our day to day life that are dependent on wetlands and urges the listeners to get out in the mud and start exploring. 

For more information on what you can do in your community, visit wisconsinwetlands.org and get in the mud.

Find us on all platforms @cripescast and for tour dates, new merch, and all the podcast info your heart desires, head to cripescast.com.

For his triumphant return, stand up comedian Andrew Roffe joins the Cripescast this week to share his best and worst memories from life on the road opening for Charlie. Like an old married couple, the two air their grievances, express their pet peeves, and Andrew suggests they go to couples counseling. They discuss some of their favorite video collabs, the stand up comedy scene today, and Charlie’s environmentalist habits that drive Andrew nuts. Stick around for the end of the episode where they play a “Honeymooners Game for Comedy Partners” where all secrets get revealed. 

–

Follow Andrew on all platforms @asap_roffe and get tickets at andrewroffe.com to see him live or at charlieberens.com to see them perform together.

Find us on all platforms @cripescast @charlieberens and @manitowocminute as well as on Patreon at patreon.com/charlieberens for behind the scenes footage, tour dates, deleted scenes and more!

Against better judgment, Charlie plays therapist for comedian Rory Scovel on this episode of the Cripescast. Together they unpack the trauma of being former altar boys, their time in local news, and bombing on stage. From his first try at doing stand up at a poetry open mic in Spartanburg, South Carolina to becoming a regular comic on Conan, Rory’s struck success throughout his comedy career. Rory attributes his ability to endure criticism on stage to him failing the 10th grade and his love for making people laugh, whether it’s with him or at him. 

Find Rory on all platforms @roryscovel and find tickets to his shows near you at roryscovel.com. 

Find us on all platforms @cripescast @charlieberens @manitowocminute and on Patreon at patreon.com/charlieberens.

Milwaukee Riverkeeper Cheryl Nenn is advocating for the Milwaukee, Menomonee and Kinnickinnic rivers on this episode of the Cripescast. Cheryl explains how the key issues she deals with day to day in Wisconsin are a microcosm for the rest of the world’s water supply. Charlie, a self-proclaimed environmentalist, picks her brain about clean water issues and the implications on public health, fishing, and more. Stick around for the end of the episode where Cheryl gives tips on how to get involved with both the Milwaukee Riverkeepers and within your own community.

For more information on Cheryl’s work, head to milwaukeeriverkeeper.org or find them on social media @mkeriverkeeper.

Follow us on all platforms @cripescast and find more information about the show cripescast.com and patreon.com/charlieberens. To get your own Midwest and USA proud merch, head to manitowocminute.com.

Shortly after being in a hit and run accident, comedian and writer Rosebud Baker hops on a call with Charlie for this week’s episode of the Cripescast. With her first child on the way, Rosebud speculates whether motherhood will change her perspective on life and is excited for all the potential bits it’ll bring to her act. After being encouraged by her friends to try stand up, it only took trying open mic once for her to get hooked on comedy. Since then, she’s written on shows like That Damn Michael Che, put out her comedy special “Whiskey Fits” on Comedy Central, and is currently a writer on Saturday Night Live. She and Charlie share their disdain for crowdwork clips, upsetting their families with their material, and debate whether “Saved by the Bell” or “Full House” was a better show growing up. 

Want to see Rosebud Baker at @improvmilwaukee July 13-15th? Use code CRIPES at improv.com/milwaukee/ for $5 tickets.

Follow Rosebud on all platforms @rosebudbaker and get tickets for her shows at rosebudbaker.com.

Follow us on all platforms @cripescast and cripescast.com - find us on Patreon at patreon.com/charlieberens