Real Stories MKE

Death isn’t always easy to talk about, but our approaches to death and dying say so much about who we are.

Even when two people are in love, it’s not always enough to get and stay married. In this episode, Iuscely Flores and Molly Snyder share stories that explore the messiness that happens when love and other institutions collide.

Some people see their culture and heritage reflected everywhere around them; others have had to work a little harder to discover, embrace and celebrate their culture.

Driving can be and often is an entirely mundane activity; occasionally, however, driving is an adventure or even a rite of passage.

Real Stories MKE explores connection — what it means to feel connected to a community or face the loss of that support.

Our names are so personal. They can be ways to show affection and even give us insight into culture and history. This episode includes stories about names from Eno Meier, Julie Hoppe, and Clayborn Benson.

Relationships between siblings can really run the gamut: best friends or constantly fighting, super close or separated by years or distance. Not everyone has siblings of course, but those who do often have plenty of sibling stories to share.

Climbing doesn’t happen by accident -it takes effort and determination. This week, we hear 3 stories about challenging but often rewarding treks -from Debbie Sajnani, Stephanie Pyfer and Laura Halfmann, and Thomas Jansen

Teachers help shape how we learn, what we learn, how we view ourselves and how we interact with the world. Sometimes, they even inspire us to teach others! This episode includes stories from Michelle Streed and Arleth Villagran, Rocky Kingsley, Sophie Floyd, and Rissie Lundberg.

Our lives are full of music - from lullabies to concerts to funeral dirges. Music can be a form of individual self-expression - or a way to bring a group together, perhaps even in harmony. This episode features stories about music from Kyla Hernandez, Elaine Maly, and Camille Davis.

Drugs can alleviate pain and suffering, but they can also cause it.

This episode looks at a variety of celebrations. Some are larger planned events, and others are spontaneous, but either way, celebrations offer us the chance to take a break from everyday life and share a meaningful moment.

Our theme this episode is Divorce. While all divorces involve ending a legal contract, in other ways divorces can vary greatly. They can be painful, bittersweet, or freeing, and they can be cooperative or full of drama. This episode features stories from Toni Edwards, Julie Cole, and Gregg Chambers.

This episode celebrates the LGBTQ+ community with stories of Pride. These stories explore authenticity, identity, and the importance of both being yourself and finding community. They also highlight past and present efforts to advance equity for the LGBTQ+ community - and the work that still remains. This episode features stories from Matthew Lewis, Laura Martin, and Tim Clark.

This episode is all about bicycles and cycling. For some, learning to ride is all about the bond formed while achieving something difficult through practice, with the support of a parent, sibling or friend. For others, a bike is a gateway to personal freedom and a ticket to adventure. This episode features stories from Dotty Posto, Athena King and Michael Stodola.

This episode is all about dating. For many, it’s a rocky, yet rewarding road. A precursor to romance, an awkward dance between conflicting expectations and miscommunications. It can be both exhilarating and humiliating. This episode features stories from Matthew Konkel, Becca Segal and Angela Harris.