Spring has a way of energizing the five senses. And when it comes to the sense of smell, there are a few scents that we only have a brief time to enjoy, like the lilacs. Author Chris Hardie brings us this essay, “Lilacs: The sweet smell of spring.” It’s featured in his book, “Back Home: Country Tales Through the Seasons.”

Athletes in youth sports are often told things like, “It’s not about winning, it’s about having fun!” Sure, but what if you haven’t won a single game all season? That’s something Eau Claire Writer in Residence Ken Szymanski dealt with as a soccer coach. He shared a story, “As the Sun Sets on Summer Soccer,” at a live storytelling event hosted by Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Wisconsin Life” and the Chippewa Valley Writers Guild. It was held on Nov. 14, 2024 in Eau Claire at The Lakely.

As we get older, our relationships with our parents evolve. Poet Karl Michael Iglesias knows this and has been reflecting on how he’s grown into another version of his mother’s son. Iglesias explores this evolution, along with his own gratitude, in the poem, “Satellite.” It comes from his poetry chapbook called, “The Bounce.”

Some professions run in the family. For writer Nancy Jorgensen of Waukesha, she spent her career as a teacher — just like her aunt and just like her daughter. She explores their vocations in this essay, “Rebel Trio.” It’s in honor of National Teacher Appreciation Week, which runs May 5-9, 2025.

As people enter the Driftless Area of southwestern Wisconsin, they’re transported from a relatively flat region to a sudden maze of rolling hills. Roads wind up the sides of bluffs and then back down to the valleys below. Its beauty is without question. But where does the name Driftless come from? WHYsconsin went to find the answer.

There’s a certain point every spring in Wisconsin, when it seems like winter is finally gone for good. We put our heavy coats away for the season. Trees and flowers begin to bloom. And, as WPR’s Bridgit Bowden tells us, we begin to hear songbirds welcoming warmer weather.

The movie “Stop Making Sense” has been hailed as one of the greatest concert films of all time. Directed by Jonathan Demme, the film unfolds as members of the Talking Heads take the stage one by one, culminating in an explosive dance party. One of the band’s core members, keyboardist and guitarist Jerry Harrison, is a Shorewood, Wisconsin native. WPR BETA host Doug Gordon talked with Harrison about the legacy of the Talking Heads and their iconic movie. Harrison will be back in his home state this weekend, hosting screenings of “Stop Making Sense” in Madison and Milwaukee.

Writer McKenna Scherer is a proud Wisconsinite. Sure, that love is tied to cheese and Spotted Cow. But at the root of that love is her family. Scherer shared a story, “The Largest Gathering of Norwegians in Northwestern Wisconsin, Probably: Gierefest,” at a live storytelling event hosted by Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Wisconsin Life” and the Chippewa Valley Writers Guild. It was held on Nov. 14, 2024 in Eau Claire at The Lakely.

As winter fades and Wisconsin begins to thaw, the changing season brings renewal not only to the land but also to the human spirit. Writer Ron Weber explores how the arrival of spring awakens long-forgotten memories, and invites us to rediscover the sense of wonder that often lies dormant within us.

We all grieve differently, often facilitating between these worlds of wanting to talk about our loved ones to wanting to be left alone in silence. Writer Yia Lor of Eau Claire gets this. She tells us about finding her place while grieving the loss of her sister, Jer Lor.