Interviews I Led

Milwaukee Magazine • 13th October 2026

Q&A: Allison Jornlin Talks Milwaukee Ghosts in Her New Book

Milwaukee’s history of the paranormal stretches beyond the walls of The Pfister Hotel, to the Miller Inn, Milwaukee Public Museum and all along Wisconsin Avenue. Our city’s rich history isn’t all suds and sunshine with our oldest buildings haunted by tragedy, mishap and scores still unsettled.

Milwaukee Magazine • 16th September 2026

Celebrate 150 Years of the Woman’s Club of Wisconsin

When it comes to honoring the Woman’s Club of Wisconsin, three is this Thursday’s magic number: Led by three-time Grammy winning composer Missy Mazzoli, “Composed for WCW” features a trio of world premier performances to celebrate a truly Cream City trinity: the 150th anniversary of Woman’s Club of Wisconsin, the 45th season of Present Music, and the 10th anniversary of Luna Composition Lab.
Thursday night’s “Composed for WCW” will highlight Milwaukee’s past, present and future of modern classic...

Milwaukee Magazine • 15th September 2026

Q&A: Paul Maceri Talks Curating Weird Music and More

Milwaukee Music Notes returns with Brain in the Cupboard, an experimental music festival bringing sounds from all over the country to the 414.Along with the changing of the season, September promises weird sounds for Milwaukee: One of the weirdest and most wonderful will come from The Brain in The Cupboard, “a quarterly electronic, world fusion, and experimental sound festival”, hosted by The Milwaukee Jazz Gallery this Saturday, Sept. 19, at 6:30 P.M.
The Brain in The Cupboard is a music festiv...

Milwaukee Magazine • 21st August 2026

Q&A: Composer Lia Kohl Talks the Importance of Free Art

Known for staging unexpected public performances, this Chicago artist is bringing the surprise to Milwaukee, with swan boats. The Out There Series is “dedicated to fostering deep listening, artistic exploration, and ecological awareness through outdoor performances in Milwaukee’s green spaces.”

Milwaukee Magazine • 1st July 2026

Take it Away, Vinny: Q&A with Brewers TV’s Vinny Rottino

Having played in every conceivable environment throughout the world in between stints in the majors, Rottino understands how difficult it is to play baseball. As a Brewer announcer, Rottino brings his hard-won wisdom to the broadcast. Vinny and I chatted about his baseball life & how Bob Uecker made everybody feel like the cleanup hitter...

Milwaukee Magazine • 19th June 2026

Q&A: Juneteenth Parade Grand Marshal Reuben Harpole Talks Black History

Few people have contributed more to the lives of Black Milwaukeeans over the last sixty years than Reuben Harpole. From collaborations with Milwaukee Public Schools with long-running initiatives like Homework First, to bringing the pride and principles of African heritage to Milwaukee youth with the Rite of Passage Program, to his contributions to our city’s pioneering Black newspaper, the Milwaukee Star, Harpole has helped to empower Milwaukee’s Black youth since the 1960s. .

Milwaukee Magazine • 7th May 2026

A Wisconsin Man Is Determined to Solve the 1983 Murder of Eric Hansen

Clark Williams, who played an instrumental role in solving the murder of Wisconsin native Billy Newton, has set his sights on another cold case involving a gay man. Clark Williams and I walk the woods through Kenosha’s Petrifying Springs Park on a bright Monday, the April sun splitting the slender trees. Parents stroll their babies, joggers prattle past, and a lithe doe keeps her distance, all unaware Clark and I search the leaves for signs of human remains.

Milwaukee Magazine • 27th April 2026

Jane Kaczmarek on Finding Love Again, Malcolm Reboot & the Best Makeout Spots in Greendale

After a whirlwind of national press following the reboot, Kaczmarek took time to chat with a fellow Greendale native about the important things in life: Milwaukee’s top butter pecan custard, the best places to make out in Greendale, co-stars in underwear and the importance of Nuns in Pink Flannel Pajamas.

Milwaukee Magazine • 16th April 2026

Milwaukee Music Notes: Little Blue Crunchy Things Return!

I dug seeing Little Blue Crunchy Things and still do.
They were everywhere in the mid-to-late-’90s, demanding that Wisconsinites “Set Your Booty Free” with intoxicatingly funky, punky, hip-hop-infused all-ages shows. The LBCT vibe was inclusive, energetic and capable of forcing folks to converge with zero inhibition.

Milwaukee Magazine • 10th April 2026

Song Sung Blue with Claire Sardina: How She Made It to the Big Screen

From the taverns of West Allis to the spotlight of the then Marcus Amphitheater, “Lightning and Thunder” are now immortalized in Hollywood.

Milwaukee Magazine • 5th March 2026

Dea Wright Is Making Small Moments Mighty for Milwaukee Families

Wright has some advice for parents of young children: “Let them spill milk.” Wright, director of the city of Milwaukee’s Office of Early Childhood Initiatives, believes that if we let kids make little decisions now, the experience will help them build the ability to make bigger and better decisions later.

Milwaukee Magazine • 19th February 2025

Q&A: Jon Adler on Radio Milwaukee and the Future of Local Radio

The former longtime morning host at 102.1 FM shares why his new role at 88.9 Radio Milwaukee has been such a great fit. Milwaukeeans may have noticed a familiar voice on an unfamiliar frequency on the FM dial. We chatted about his new FM home, the importance of local music and the future of Milwaukee radio.