WTMJ Conversations

Milwaukee radio legend Bob Reitman joins Libby Collins to reflect on his remarkable career, from underground and public radio to his long-running partnership with Gene Mueller. Reitman also discusses his new spoken-word vinyl album, 12th House in Twilight, and the Reitman Radio Camp it supports at WUWM.

WTMJ’s Libby Collins talks with Kris Leonhardt Kobs and Mike Kobs about their book, Lambeau: The Boy Behind Green Bay Football, and the fascinating life and legacy of Packers founder Curly Lambeau. They discuss Lambeau’s early years, his role in building the Packers, his impact on professional football, and the controversies that eventually led to his departure from Green Bay.

Freedom of the press is a long-held first ammendment right, but does it apply in every situation for journalists? Kevin Mathewson, editor of the Kenosha County Eye, has been "ruffling the feathers" of city and county officials for several years. Does his online publication stand up to the same journalistic standards as other media? He tells WTMJ's Libby Collins about his unconventional path to becoming a journalist and why he feels a Kenosha County judge is treating him unfairly on this edition of WTMJ Conversations.

Ruth Heller still does not know what happened to her brother Orin Anderson, who was last seen 53 years ago. But John Wayne Gacy's reported presence in Wisconsin in the 1970s is worth a second look.

Karen Conti represented Gacy during part of his death penalty appeal. In her conversation with Collins, Conti said she believes there may be more victims beyond the 33 young men and boys Gacy is known to have murdered.

According to Conti, Gacy may have killed while traveling for business, including areas where she believes it may have been easier to abduct people and dispose of bodies. Some of those other victims may even have Wisconsin ties.

"I got a call from a young person in Mequon, who said that a friend of hers went missing, age 14 or 15... he looked like one of Gacy's victims. Same kind of build, blonde hair, it was after school" Conti said.

"And I knew that Gacy was in that area somewhat around that time."

Conti also told Collins that she believes others may have been involved in at least some of the murders. She pointed to Gacy's business records, which she said showed he was out of town for at least seven of the murders, and questioned whether people who lived with him could have been unaware of what was happening.

Susan Falkman's sculptures have been recognized throughout the world and you can find her work throughout southeast Wisconsin.  She told WTMJ's Libby Collins about living and studying in Greece and Italy, creating her award-winning pieces, and why she has made Milwaukee her home on this edition of WTMJ Conversations!

Patrick O'Donnell spent years on the Milwaukee Police Department.  He now writes books about his experiences and advises other authors how to realistically write about cops. He shares real-life anecdotes from his time with MPD and how he transitioned from police work to the literary world on this arresting edition of WTMJ Conversations!

It’s estimated that 75 million women in the U.S. are in perimenopause, menopause or postmenopause. With funding from the Institute of Women’s Leadership faculty fellowship award and an Explorer Challenge grant, Dr. Allie Kriofske Mainella, Assistant Professor at Marquette University and Director of Counselor Education, started gathering research with the hopes of developing a menopause transition tracking app to provide a tool for women in those life stages. The ongoing study now has data from over 300 women. Kriofske Mainella is this week's featured guest on WTMJ Conversations.

Wauwautosa Fire Chief Barbara Kadrich was one of the first women in Wisconsin to become a professional firefighter. She told WTMJ's Libby Collins how she ended up in fire service, why it's a great career for both men and women, and why the Tosa and West Allis departments are merging on this blazing hot edition of WTMJ Conversations!

Ken-David Masur has conducted orchestras throughout the world, yet spent seven years as the music director of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. He talked with WTMJ's Libby Collins about growing up in East Germany, how he ended up in Milwaukee, and what the future holds for him on this edition of WTMJ Conversations!