PODCAST

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews

WIZM News Staff

WIZM"s LaCrosse Talk. News and talk about the issues of the day for Western Wisconsin.

news

All Episodes

22:54

Rep. Doyle talks contentious local elections,...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/09/26

Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Steve Doyle in studio discussing rigging election maps, the governor’s race, data centers, and a pair of bills he’s working to pass. Doyle also serves on the La Crosse County Board, in which we talked about the contention of those elections, road funding and the proposal to set $1 fines for marijuana possession. We began the show with the Wisconsin governor’s race, which now has five Democratic candidates — though not the biggest name —

en-US

26:47

La Crosse Mayor Washington-Spivey on $3M budget...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/09/25

La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey joined us in studio discussing efforts to close a $3 million gap in the city’s 2026 budget, the recent closure of two parks due to drug activity and violence, and his upcoming “15 Minutes with the Mayor” sessions. We began with the public engagement sessions, as Washington-Spivey noted that 16 resident interviews are scheduled for Oct. 8, covering a range of community concerns. A second session is tentatively planned for November, though

en-US

8:12

We introduce Oktoberfest Royalty to La Crosse led by...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/09/25

The Oktoberfest La Crosse royalty stopped in the WIZM studio to kick off the weekend. We asked Festmaster Brent Smith and Mrs. O, Michelle Skemp, about how they were told of their positions and the ability to keep that a secret for half a year. We also talked about their history in Oktoberfest and what they're looking forward to for the weekend and over the next year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

28:25

Republican Josh Schoemann talks priorities in bid for...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/09/24

We got to know Republican Josh Schoemann, as he continues his bid to be Wisconsin’s next governor. Schoemann has been Washington County executive since 2020, after serving six years as the county administrator and manager. We started the conversation talking about his work as county exec, plus his time serving in the Army National Guard and being deployed to Iraq. On the political side, we asked what his top three priorities would be as governor, which included a lot of discussion about

en-US

22:10

UW-La Crosse biology professor Dr. Sierra Colavito...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/09/24

She’s a biology professor who, in her spare time, just does breast cancer research on the UW-La Crosse campus. Dr. Sierra Colavito joined to discuss her work at the UW-L breast cancer research lab, focusing on a somewhat rare and aggressive form of the disease called triple-negative. From the discussion, it was apparent that Colavito is not only dedicated to this type of research but also fosters an environment that inspires her students to get involved in the lab. Colavito, who explained that

en-US

24:56

Coats for kids campaign and a shelter update from the...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/09/24

An update on the shelter and an ongoing campaign called Coats for Kids with the Salvation Army’s Jeff Russell A Coats for Kids campaign taught us there are 27 Kwik Trips in La Crosse County, as Major Jeff Russell from the Salvation Army of La Crosse joins. We talked about that, plus an update on the shelter on Wednesday’s La Crosse Talk. Russell explains some of the things they do at the shelter, but also how they’re trying to expand for the next 18 months as part of the Pathways

en-US

23:02

La Crosse city budget talks, committees and the...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/09/23

Mac Kiel in studio for La Crosse Talk discussing some of the different things going on with city government, including the ongoing zoning changes occurring, looking at next week’s committee meetings, and what the school district is doing with 4-K. The city is also having a meeting today over the budget, where it looks like there needs to be about $1.5 million in cuts. La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey will be on later this week to help break that down more than we went over on the

en-US

23:04

Previewing Oktoberfest and giving Hannah Amundson...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/09/23

Oktoberfest La Crosse executive director, Hannah Amundson, joins to preview this year’s event, which includes voting for the best “act” in the two parades — called the People’s Choice awards. We also discuss her job and promoting Oktoberfest year long, plus one good and one bad idea to bring to fest. Amundson, who has been the executive director for four years, breaks down all of the different aspects of fest that she said has something for everyone. We also propose her

en-US

26:22

From paratrooper to Viterbo president: Dr. Trietley...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/09/22

Viterbo University President, Dr. Rick Trietley, joined us in studio to discuss the challenges and opportunities of running a private university, his 22 years of military service — including jumping out of airplanes — and the importance he places on building community. Trietley has served as Viterbo’s president since 2022 and has been with the university since 2017. He is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel who served for 22 years, including deployments to Afghanistan, and was a

en-US

27:21

Brad Quarberg on when Oktoberfest La Crosse featured...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/09/22

Just a few days before Oktoberfest and Brad Quarberg, an expert historian on the event, in studio telling some interesting stories from years passed, including the year they raced the big paddle wheelers down the Mississippi River or when the medallion was held hostage. Quarberg, who was the 2016 Maple Leaf Parade Marshall and the 2001 Oktoberfest president, was also a co-author of the book, The Fest of Times — a history of La Crosse’s Oktoberfest from 1961-2009. Some other topics we

en-US

13:07

The impact of Oktoberfest, NFL draft and negotiating...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/09/19

Covered a lot of the event scene with AJ Frels, executive director of Explore La Crosse, from the impact of having 150,000 people attend an Oktoberfest parade to keeping the WIAA state track meet at UW-L. Frels explains a little bit of Explore La Crosse's role in tourism and events in the area, and discusses how things like Oktoberfest and the NFL draft in Green Bay impacted the area. UW-L has hosted state track since 1990 and the newest contract expires after this season. Frels discusses Explore La

en-US

12:25

Explore La Crosse's Burish on landing state wrestling...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/09/18

Jeremiah Burish, director of sports sales at Explore La Crosse, joined WIZM's La Crosse Talk to discuss some of the area big events and the impact they have to the region. La Crescent is hosting USA Cycling’s gravel nationals on Saturday — the first of back-to-back years it will be held in the area. A big deal in the cycling world and for the Coulee Region, as it could bring more cycling events here. Burish did mention the event follows nationals last year in Nebraska, and we joked that

en-US

27:46

Mac Kiel on La Crosse council postponing operations...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/09/17

Mac Kiel in studio recapping last week’s quick city council meeting, including putting off the operations director vote, plus how the Pathways Home update went. Last week’s council voted 9-4 to put off a vote on hiring an operations director, which comes alongside an upcoming decision in February on a city administrator position. So, we get into some of the differences between the positions and how the council has gotten to this point with the two positions. Kiel also talked about the

en-US

28:04

What it's like owning a movie theatre, with Rivoli...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/09/17

Ahead of Rivoli Theatre’s 105th birthday Friday, co-owner Jonathan Gelatt stopped in studio to talk about what it’s like owning a theatre and the way they’re building community. We also, of course, nerded out on classic movies. On the show, Gelatt talks about why the Rivoli doesn’t always have the big blockbusters right away and, instead, does things like Cult Movie Night or Adventure Films Night to be a better part of both the La Crosse Community and old-school moviegoers

en-US

26:30

La Crosse County admin Klekamp on $200M budget, road...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/09/17

La Crosse County administrator, Jane Klekamp, back in studio discussing finalizing the $200 million budget, the situation with a county board member over a social media post, distributing $7 million in opioid settlement money and a potential new $1 fine for marijuana possession. We also asked Klekamp about the Water Notification Act, a bill Wisconsin Assembly Rep. Jill Billings (D-La Crosse) is trying to get passed, plus her thoughts on the Pathways Home presentation last week and whether the county

en-US

30:32

From her work at the border, Sister Eileen McKenzie...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/09/17

After a drive up from the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona, Sister Eileen McKenzie stopped in studio to talk about immigration and her work with those that have really gone from fleeing violence south of the US border to now being detained or deported from the U.S. She was in La Crosse ahead of Wednesday’s Coulee Region Immigration Summit — the third year of the event, hosted by the Coulee Region Immigration Task Force. The summit is already at capacity with a waiting list, so we tried to

en-US

5:46

Previewing 20th Chaseburg cancer walk with Monty...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/09/16

Monty Gilbertson in studio helping preview the 20th Annual Chaseburg Area Cancer Walk, which is basically an all-day party that happens Saturday. The event is titled “20 years of Hope.” Gilbertson says the money brought in will stay local and go toward things like gas and food cards, as well as cancer research in the area. Over the past 19 years, the event has raised $19 million. Same day registration begins at 11 a.m. and the event starts up at 4 p.m. with recognition of cancer

en-US

5:33

Previewing the Oktoberfest Ladies Day Luncheon with...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/09/16

Mrs. Oktoberfest 2009, Barb Larsen, joined to hype up this year’s Ladies Day Luncheon — what she calls the Oktoberfest finale. It happens Sept. 28 at theCargill Room. Larsen said this fundraiser has been happening about 25 years and this year’s guest speaker is Lisa David Olson, whowill be presenting two, what she calls, interactive speeches titled "Untangle my Pretzel" and "How Do You Wash Lederhosen." Tickets are $40. The event includes lunch and door prizes. Deadline for tickets

en-US

29:39

Economist Hoffer on the uniqueness of owning the...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/09/15

We dive into how the Green Bay Packers are owned — the only team in the US owned by its shareholders — with Dr. Adam Hoffer, a sports economist and director of excise tax policy at the Tax Foundation. We also discuss on WIZM's La Crosse Talk what’s called recovery fees — those “additional overcharge” fees you might see on a cellphone bill. Hoffer shares a recovery fee story he noticed recently on is Uber bill, as these charges are appearing more and more on

en-US

23:20

La Crosse Rep. Billings on why Democratic bills are...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/09/15

Covered a bunch with Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Jill Billings last week on La Crosse Talk — from Democratic bills being ignored and a new water law she's introducing, to state regulations on public schools, La Crosse's newest arts district, and a set of worker-related legislative packages. We began the show discussing how Wisconsin law requires public schools to start on Sept. 1 because of the tourism industry, but has no such rule for private schools. Currently, the La Crosse School

en-US

1,965 results

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews

All Episodes

Similar Podcasts

Expres Ráno

Expres FM

PBS News Hour - Full Show

PBS NewsHour

CD Voice

China Daily

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report

Noa Levi

Jeffrey Epstein: The Coverup Chronicles

Bobby Capucci