Rooted Wisconsin

Anna Murphy-Pociask is the Marketing Coordinator for Discover Oshkosh, where she helps tell the stories of the local businesses, restaurants, and attractions that make Oshkosh special. A UW Oshkosh grad, Anna built her career by saying yes to every opportunity, from sales and PR with the Wisconsin Herd, to driving the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile across the country as a Hotdogger, to working on the Gr...

Joe Woldt is a Wisconsin based artist whose work brings golf courses to life in pen, charcoal, watercolor, and pastel. His love of drawing started in childhood with sketches of athletes and cartoons, and it took on new depth after a 2010 trip to Italy pushed him to try new mediums and subjects. A physical therapist by day and an avid golfer, Joe has built a growing following for his signature scor...

Based out of Door County, Dale Strochein is a Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame inductee and the founder of Wacky Walleye Guide Service. He has been guiding anglers on the waters of Green Bay and the Door Peninsula for over three decades, specializing in trophy walleye, smallmouth bass, perch, and whitefish. Beyond his charter business, he is well-known for his competitive fishing career, educationa...

Dr. Todd Frisch is a doctor of chiropractic, functional medicine practitioner, author, and speaker with over four decades of experience in restorative health and holistic wellness, integrating functional medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, kinesiology, and facial diagnosis to help patients uncover the root causes of their health challenges. He is the founder and technical advisor...

Dr. Michelle Thaller is a renowned astrophysicist, author, and science communicator who spent 27 years at NASA, serving as the Assistant Director for Science Communication at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. A native of Waukesha, Wisconsin, Michelle’s fascination with the night sky began here in the Midwest before leading her to Harvard, and ultimately, NASA. Throughout her career, Michelle has...

Keagan Keddell is a wildlife photographer, filmmaker, and outdoor guide behind WildlifePhotogMedia. Known for his keen eye, relentless drive, and willingness to do the hard stuff, Keagan travels from the wilds of Alaska to the remote marshes of Mexico documenting high-stakes hunts, conservation stories, and the beautiful and unpredictable nature of the outdoors. In this episode, we discuss life be...

Samantha Benish is a social media marketer for Kwik Trip, ASMR content creator, and former Oscar Mayer "Hotdogger." Raised in Nelson, Wisconsin, Samantha graduated from UW-Madison with a degree in Journalism & Strategic Communication, where she served as the Life & Style Editor for The Daily Cardinal and contributed to Curb Magazine. After graduation, she was chosen as one of jus...

Olivia Lulich is an agriculture educator, FFA advisor, and the reigning Miss Wisconsin USA. A Lyndon Station native who grew up showing cattle and sheep on the county fair circuit, Olivia has devoted her career to bridging the gap between rural farming communities and the general public. After earning her degree in Agricultural Education from Iowa State University, Olivia returned home to inspire...

Travis Hasse is a Wisconsin-based entrepreneur who turned a Midwest tradition into an international brand. In 2008, inspired by his family’s homemade recipe, he launched Travis Hasse’s Apple Pie Liqueur. Now exited from that business, Travis owns a company focusing on last mile delivery, invests in real estate, and is an avid outdoorsman. In this episode, Brad and Travis talk about his experience...

Garrett Thorn is an Nashville-based independent singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and touring musician. Originally hailing from the Northwoods of Wisconsin in Three Lakes, Garrett has taken his rustic, soulful sound from small-town Midwestern stages to performing across the United States, Europe, and beyond. In this episode Brad and Garrett talk about taking the leap from a "safe&quot...

Chris Herriot is a high school educator and state-champion track coach at Arrowhead High School, and the creative eye behind My Wisconsin Photography. In this episode we talk about his journey as a coach, mentor, and educator, how his deep roots in the Wisconsin outdoors shape his artistic vision, perspective that comes with travelling the globe, parenting, passion and his love for what he gets to...

Heather Golden is the owner of the new Range TwentyFORE in Wrightstown, Wisconsin and a former basketball player at UWGB. In this episode, Brad and Heather talk about her hoops career and winning a Wisconsin high school basketball state title at De Pere, her D1 recruitment and commitment to play at UWGB, the evolution of her career post college, taking up golf and how it satisfies the competitive...

Adriana Vander Leest is the owner and founder founder of the Wisconsin-based pet products brand, Oat & Paw. In this episode, Brad and Adriana discuss marketing and social media, an unexpected career transition and her path to entrepreneurship, "sticking it to the man," parenthood and partnership, the value of authenticity, and much more! Check out Oat & Paw for awesome products f...

I am taking the first "break" EVER from regularly scheduled episodes. I didn't want to leave you hanging though! Just a quick few thoughts and another podcast you can check out to see me in the "opposite" chair with the fellas at Okayest Hunter. Okayest Hunter podcast link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4oDoFUlKOQ Sand County Almanac: https://www.amazon.com/County-Almanac-Outdoor-Essays-Reflect...

Lindsay Huehns is a Wisconsin-based ceramic artist, entrepreneur, and educator who is passionately making the world a little more beautiful and a little more tactile) through her brand, Art is Dirty, specializing in thoughtful, small-batch pottery and custom ceramic art. In this episode, Brad and Lindsay talk about her path to the arts and business ownership, making art a career, teaching others,...

Lauren Griepentrog is the founder of Lauren Mackenzie photography and co-owner of Bridgeview Studios in Green Bay. In this episode, Brad and Lauren discuss her recent trip to Peru and the perspective that travel brings, ancient civilizations, her path from wanting to be a physical therapist to deciding to follow her passion for photography, entrepreneurship, the value of confidence and hard work,...

Russ Allen is a lifelong dairy farmer and the author of the memoir, "The Missing Wire". His story is a powerful testament to resilience in the face of unimaginable loss and a David-vs-Goliath legal battle that shook the Wisconsin utility industry. Russ’s life was upended when his cattle began to fall ill and die at an alarming rate (for decades). His search for answers led him to uncover...

Cameron Teske is an author, podcaster, storyteller, and founder of the Remember to Live Foundation. Shortly after relocating to Green Bay in 2015, he and his then wife found out they were going to have a child. Soon after that, his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, ultimately passing after a two year battle. Out of this tremendously difficult time of life, he realized the value of family trip...

Wes Hodkiewicz is a Senior Writer for the Green Bay Packers and a lifelong Wisconsinite who has spent his career documenting the pulse of Titletown. A 2006 graduate of Bay Port High School and an alumnus of UW-Green Bay, Wes worked his way up from taking calls at the high school sports desk for Gannett to becoming one of the most trusted voices in Wisconsin sports journalism. Before joining the Pa...

David Paul Martin is a Neenah-based singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist whose music captures the quiet introspection and rugged beauty of life. With lush arrangements and evocative storytelling, David’s sound sits at the intersection of folk, indie-pop, and Americana, marked by soaring melodies and honest, relatable lyrics. In this episode, Brad and David talk about the release...

Lauryn Lavelle is a national champion and 2x American record holding powerlifter and Northeast Wisconsin entrepreneur. In this episode, Brad and Lauryn discuss her journey from having a severe eating disorder to being a national champion powerlifter, moving on from powerlifting when becoming a Mom, pregnancy and Motherhood, transitioning to entrepreneurship, social media and marketing, finding her...

Mariah Ann Maass is a Madison-based, up-and-coming country artist and singer-songwriter known for her high-energy performances, authentic storytelling, and viral lyric switch-up of an Ella Langley tune on social media. In this episode, Brad and Mariah talk about her decision to "go for it" following a trip to Nashville, her musical history, balancing her music goals and "normal" career treating ca...

Patrick Durkin of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, is an award-winning outdoor writer, newspaper columnist, and general outdoors reporter. He has been MeatEater's wildlife research contributor since June 2018, and writes frequently for national archery and hunting magazines. Durkin also provides editing services for books and magazines, and served as contributing editor/writer for the Archery Trade Asso...

John Plageman is a community advocate, social worker, and the founder of Sober Green Bay and Section Yellow. After finding his own path to sobriety in 2009, John dedicated himself to changing the narrative around alcohol in a city often cited for its heavy drinking culture. Inspired by the "Phellowship" (sober fans of the band Phish), John launched Section Yellow in 2019 to provide a saf...

Spencer Young is a Shiocton, Wisconsin native and the creative force behind Forever Young Designs, where he bridges the worlds of professional athletics and fine art. A former offensive lineman for St. Norbert College, Spencer traded his cleats for a paintbrush in 2014, turning a lifelong passion into a career that has made him the "go-to" artist for the Green Bay Packers. In this episode Brad and...