Bubbler Talk

The Midwest was a major hub for industry — middle wage jobs, strong unions, thriving neighborhoods. And then, over decades, they went away, and whole cities were devastated. 

Why do Midwestern cities have such strong associations with certain hot dogs or sausages? In Milwaukee, it’s the bratwurst. In Chicago, the Chicago dog. Detroit has the Coney dog. 

Have you ever wondered how the art you admire gets to the museum? Bubbler Talk explores the art of moving masterpieces.

A WUWM employee noticed a pattern on her drives between Milwaukee and Illinois, and wondered whether Walworth County is a magnet for severe weather. 

Bowling is a beloved American pastime. The sport's roots run deep in Milwaukee, which previously held the title of "America’s Bowling Capital."

Steampunk is a subculture where people express themselves through Victorian-era costumes with a science fiction twist. For Bubbler Talk, we’ll learn about how southeastern Wisconsin is a major steampunk hub.

In urban areas, parcels of undeveloped land are becoming rarer and rarer. One of them is Seminary Woods in St. Francis.

In the mid-1900s, a Racine man named Anton Kratochvil built more than 20 round or semi-circular houses and apartments in southeast Wisconsin. But why round?

WUWM is celebrating 10 years of Bubbler Talk, our series driven by listeners’ curiosity. We’re listening back to some of our favorite episodes from the last decade and talking with the reporters who brought them to life. To close out the season, we listen to Maayan Silver’s story about  ice cream cocktails and their connection to Milwaukee. Stories mentioned in this episode: Ice Cream Cocktails, M...

WUWM is celebrating 10 years of Bubbler Talk, our series driven by listeners’ curiosity. We’re listening back to some of our favorite episodes from the last decade and talking with the reporters who brought them to life. This week, we listen to Ann-Elise Henzl’s 2017 story about how Milwaukee got the nickname “Cream City.” Mentioned in this episode: How Milwaukee Got The Nickname 'Cream City' Crea...

WUWM is celebrating 10 years of Bubbler Talk, our series driven by listeners’ curiosity. We’re listening back to some of our favorite episodes from the last decade and talking with the reporters who brought them to life. This week, we listen to Susan Bence’s stranger-than-fiction 2018 story about a restaurant where you could dine with dolphins. Stories mentioned in this episode: Dining With Dolphi...

WUWM is celebrating 10 years of Bubbler Talk, our series driven by listeners’ curiosity. We’re listening back to some of our favorite episodes from the last decade and talking with the reporters who brought them to life. This week, we listen to Lake Effect executive producer Becky Mortensen’s story about the legend of the Pfister Hotel being haunted. Stories mentioned in this episode: The legend o...

WUWM is celebrating 10 years of Bubbler Talk, our series driven by listeners’ curiosity. We’re listening back to some of our favorite episodes from the last decade and talking with the reporters who brought them to life. This week, we listen to Xcaret Nuñez’s 2024 story: “What happens when an animal at the Milwaukee County Zoo dies?” Stories mentioned in this episode: What happens when an animal a...

WUWM is celebrating 10 years of Bubbler Talk, our series driven by listeners’ curiosity. We’re listening back to some of our favorite episodes from the last decade and talking with the reporters who brought them to life. This week, we listen to Teran Powell’s 2022 story “A look at Milwaukee's early Black settlers,” and talk with Teran about her Bubbler Talk reporting.    Stories mentioned in this...

WUWM is celebrating 10 years of Bubbler Talk, our series driven by listeners’ curiosity. We’re listening back to some of our favorite episodes from the last decade and talking with the reporters who brought them to life. This week, we listen to Audrey Nowakowski’s delicious 2019 story “Cruller Or Kruller? However You Spell It, It's A Milwaukee Doughnut Staple.” Stories mentioned in this episode: C...

WUWM is celebrating 10 years of Bubbler Talk, our series driven by listeners’ curiosity. We’re listening back to some of our favorite episodes from the last decade and talking with the reporters who brought them to life. This week, we listen to Emily Files’ 2019 story “The saga of Milwaukee's water tower dragon.” Stories mentioned in this episode: The saga of Milwaukee's water tower dragon Did you...

WUWM is celebrating 10 years of Bubbler Talk, our series driven by listeners’ curiosity. We’re listening back to some of our favorite episodes from the last decade and talking with the reporters who brought them to life. To kick it off, we listen to the very first Bubbler Talk episode: “Why do Wisconsinites call that a bubbler, anyway?” by Joy Powers. Stories mentioned in this episode: Why Do Wisc...

A bronze statue of an immigrant mother with two children has stood in Milwaukee’s Cathedral Square since 1960. One of our "Bubbler Talk" listeners wanted to know more.

Along I-94 near American Family Field, a group of cemeteries line the freeway. A Bubbler Talk listener wanted to know more about them. 

For this episode of Bubbler Talk, we explore the history of immigrants who made Milwaukee a "German Athens."

Milwaukee's Skylight Music Theater was designed to look like the Théâtre de la Coup d'Or in Rochefort, France. Here's how it happened.

The blind date cookie has been around for centuries. A Bubbler Talk listener wanted to learn how the sweet's origins are connected to Milwaukee.

Marquette University is technically the third home of the St. Joan of Arc Chapel, which was built in France around 1420. 

It’s mostly apartments and offices now, but Milwaukee’s downtown Plankinton Building used to be a grand shopping arcade. 

A group of Milwaukee tumblers has been soaring through the air and wowing crowds. One listener wanted to know more.