WGTD's The Morning Show with Greg Berg

Dr. Mark Petering, Associate Professor of Music at Carthage College, talks about his career as a composer- and about his newest work "Cityscape," which receives its world premiere this Saturday night in a performance by the Kenosha Symphony Orchestra.   

Psychologist Laurie Helgoe's new book is called "Fragile Bully: Understanding our Destructive Affair with Narcissism in the Age of Trump."  In her book, Dr. Helgoe explains how narcissism can be manifested in many different ways- how all of us have some degree of narcissism in our personalities, and how at least a little bit of narcissism is a healthy and necessary thing-  and the many ways in which narcissism can become a terrible problem.  She even explores the notion of Collective Narcissism, in which narcissistic tendencies are not just felt and expressed by individuals- but also by large groups of people. 

Madeleine May Kunin served the state of Vermont for three terms as governor and was the U.S. ambassador to Switzerland during the Clinton administration.   Her newest book is titled "Coming of Age: My Journey to the Eighties."  

 Steven Solomon's book "Water: the Epic Struggle for Wealth, Power, and Civilization" examines the crucial role that access to water has played in the  rise, fall and ongoing fortunes of civilizations and cultures through history,  from Ancient Egypt to Ancient China - and how rising concerns about the world's clean water supply are raising vexing political and social questions all around the world.   This interview was recorded in 2009.  Solomon has written for Forbes, Esquire and Business Week and has been a commentator for NPR's Marketplace. 

From the archives comes an interview recorded in 2005 with Bob Cowser, an English professor at St. Lawrence University who also loves football - and returned to the game in middle age.  His book about that experience is titled "Dream Season: A Professor Joins America's Oldest Semi-Pro Football Team."  The book is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at semi-professional football, which fields hundreds of teams across the country.

Steven Brill's provocative book "Tailspin: The People and Forces Behind America's 50-Year Fall and Those Fighting to Reverse it" paints a picture of the United States in decline and divided not by left and right but rather by the protected and unprotected.   He also argues that certain shifts in American society in the 1960's have led to a deeply entrenched new aristocracy.  

Part One is a conversation about the Racine Heritage Museum and all that they offer- and about their upcoming fundraiser event called "Swing into Spring."  Part Two features Dr. James Kinchen, director of choral activities at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside,  talking about performances coming up on the next two Monday evenings - Schubert's Mass in G on April 8th and Faure's Requiem on April 15th.  

This is an interview with Pulitzer-Prize winning writer Matt Richtel,   author of "An Elegant Defense:  The Extraordinary New Science of the Immune System:  A Take in Four Lives."   The book explores the nearly miraculous capacity of our body's immune system to ward off all sorts of threats - but also how difficult life can be when the immune system, in one way or another, goes awry.

My guest is Christy Wopat, author of a disarmingly honest and open memoir titled "Almost a Mother:  Love, loss, and finding your people when your baby dies."   She and her husband experienced the heartache of giving birth to premature twins that both died very shortly thereafter.   She chronicles her struggles to emerge from such a deep sorrow.   Wopat also writes a blog called "Um, You Guys."   

Astronaut Al Worden was the command pilot for Apollo 15, which went to the moon in 1971.  His fascinating memoir is titled "Falling to Earth: An Apollo 15 Astronaut's Journey to the Moon."