BONUS - We speak with two musical theater graduate students at Carthage College, Lucas Burr and Chynna Chung, who are part of a production of the musical "Next to Normal" that is being performed this coming weekend at the Rhode Center for the Arts in downtown Kenosha. Lucas is the music director, Chynna is the costume designer, and both of them are in the cast.

We reconnect with Amy Greil, executive director of the Kenosha Community Foundation. With her is John Kuehl, who worked with Amy to set up a new fund with the foundation that continues the philanthropic work of his great aunt, Grace Kolakowski. The fund directly benefits the Kenosha Symphony Orchestra. Part two of today's program, appropriately enough, features the author of a children's book titled "Welcome to the Symphony." (From 2015.) Carolyn Sloan has written similar books such as "Welcome to the Opera" and "Welcome to Jazz."

Leslie Ehm talks about her book "Swagger: Unleash Everything You Are and Become Everything You Want." She is using the word 'swagger' a bit differently than we tend to use it in everyday speech. She sees it as an essential quality for making our way through the world successfully and joyously.

Jason and Erica Redman talk about their book "Mission: Invincible Marriage- A Battle-Tested Guide to an Enduring Relationship." Jason Redman is a former Navy SEAL who was seriously injured during his deployment in Iraq. Their marriage endured through that incredibly difficult period.

From 2011- paralegal and environmental activist Erin Brockovich talks about the novel "Hot Water" that she co-authored with C.J. Lyons.

From 2017 - best-selling author Don Winslow talks about his novel "The Force."

We began today's Morning Show with Tyler August, Wisconsin State Representative for the 31st Assembly District (in Walworth County) and the current Majority Leader for the State Assembly. Our interview includes a conversation about Governor Evers's proposed state budget and the republicans' response to it.

From 2012 - Benjamin and Christopher Wagner talk about their documentary film about Fred Rogers, "Mr. Rogers and Me."

From 2019- Sarah Steward Holland and Beth Silvers, co-hosts of the podcast "Pantsuit Politics" and author of "I think you're wrong- but I'm listening: A Guide to Grace-filled Political Conversation." These two friends are from opposite sides of the country's political divide but have found a way to be respectful of each other's political views.

We speak with writer Samuel Ashworth about his novel "The Death and Life of August Sweeney." The title character is a famous (and infamous) TV chef .... the other main character is the doctor who is performing his autopsy and seeking to learn more about how he died- and, more importantly, how he lived. The story lines of these two character intersect in remarkable fashion- and along the way, we learn a great deal about the world of fine cuisine as well as the work done by forensic pathologists. Ashworth is an award-winning writer, screenwriter, and professor of creative writing.