Rooted Wisconsin

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...

Prescott Balch is a retired technology executive and community advocate who has become a leading voice for Wisconsin residents navigating the arrival of large-scale data centers. With a 38-year career in technology, including 18 years as a senior executive at U.S. Bank, Prescott brings a unique "insider" perspective to the debate over industrial land use and rural preservation. Drawing on his exte...

At 21, Lauren Ripley was diagnosed with a brain disease that changed her life. Instead of giving up, she dug in and got to work, learning how powerful food could be in healing the body and mind. Now at 28, she’s about to be Mom (any day) and three years into opening The Farmacy, a Green Bay restaurant built on her mission to help others feel better, eat better, and live better. In this episode, Br...

Austin Skalecki is a Wisconsin-based (Door County) songwriter whose music blends Americana, blues, and folk. Grounded in nostalgic, authentic storytelling, his songs capture the worn-in truths of everyday life—echoing the sounds and stories that linger long after the song ends. In this episode, Austin and Brad talk about his music, the craft of songwriting, playing music until he's gone, trave...

Dan Infalt, aka "The Hunting Beast", is an absolute legend of the Wisconsin Whitetail woods and marshes. Growing up in Southeast Wisconsin the youngest of 11 siblings, hunting, fishing, trapping, and gathering were more than an outdoor passion. They were a key to surviving. Putting that food on the table was the foundation of decades of development as an outdoorsman, including his primar...

Born in Beaver Dam and raised in Reeseville, Sara Hankes is a Wisconsin-based artist who has been dabbling in drawing and painting since she was able to grasp a pencil. Guided by her grandmother (a very talented artist) who taught her different painting techniques as a teen. After buying a little farm on the Manitowoc river in 2021, she has used the animals and the beauty that surrounded her to in...

Up North Jake, a.k.a. Jake LaCoste, is a dynamic rapper and singer hailing from Northern Wisconsin. Drawing inspiration from his experiences with hunting, fishing, back roads, lakes, family, and addiction recovery, Jake crafts authentic and heartfelt songs that resonate with listeners from all walks of life. In this episode Brad and Jake talk about his passion for Wisconsin and being an independen...

Justin Schmick is a a former police officer, current insurance agency owner, Alderman in the city of Omro, and social media content creator. In this episode Brad and Justin discuss leaving a career as a police officer to find more passion and enjoyment in his work, being an entrepreneur, virality and developing a large social media following that started with a few "dad jokes" with a cow...

Jeff Pritzl is the recently retired Deer Specialist with the Wisconsin DNR. Following formative years growing up in Marshfield, then earning bachelor's and master’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin – Steven’s Point in natural resources and wildlife management, Jeff began his career with the DNR in 1988. After multiple promotions, and spending almost 19 years as a Wildlife Program Super...

Tim Sternitzky, aka "The Maple Dude", is a Wisconsin based entrepreneur and maple syrup producer harvesting and distributing some of the finest liquid gold Wisconsin maple trees have to offer. In this episode, Brad and Tim discuss harvesting maple syrup and taking it from a hobby to a full-time business(of course), the positive and negative impacts of technology and social media, being a...

Kendall Casey is a retired World Champion Cheerleader, influencer, and entrepreneur based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. In this episode, Brad and Kendall talk about the connection between social media and mental health, the challenges and benefits of being a young entrepreneur, how relationships and social interactions change as an audience grows, starting influencing and social media with intention as...