The U.S. Travel Association says at least 6 in 10 Americans will take at least one trip this summer. We speak with an author and food historian who argues travelers should consider exploring the Midwest’s past for their next vacation.

First, we talk with the executive director of OpenSecrets.org for a review of how money will influence the 2022 election cycle. The, we speak with Northwester Mutual's executive vice president about the company and its sustainability efforts.

About a third of children in the grades K-2 are missing reading benchmarks, according to research from The New York Times. We talk with an educator and former literacy coach about how to reach students who are struggling to read, tips for summer, and culturally appropriate interventions.

First, we talk about how crazy worms are invading the Midwest. Then, we speak with a nutrition researcher about how food labeling influences consumer spending.

We revisit recent conversations from WPR's “The Morning Show” and invite listeners to share their ideas for future programs.

An eighth grader from Wisconsin recently competed in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. We talk with her about the experience and her future goals. Then, ahead of graduation day we learn about a five-month residential program called, the Wisconsin Challenge Academy.

She’s known as the “Trans Handy Ma’am” on TikTok, where she dishes out home improvement advice to her nearly 2 million followers. This hour, we talk with maintenance technician Mercury Stardust about home care tips, alongside trans activism and awareness.

First, we speak with the head of Wisconsin's Office of School Safety about keeping schools secure. Then, a first-term state representative talks gun legislation.

Some 12.5 million Africans were abducted into slavery from the 16th to 19th centuries. About 1.8 million died in shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean. We talk with two National Geographic explorers about efforts to find the shipwrecks and better understand these crimes and what we can learn of the victims.

First, we go behind the scenes of WPR's new podcast "Open and Shut," which explores the power of prosecutors. Then, a UW Health chef shares a taste of Middle Eastern culture through cuisine. We learn how it's giving comfort to pediatric Afghan refugees.