Stream of Consciousness with Dan: Stories from the Midwest

Send us Fan Mail This episode of Stream of Consciousness w/ Dan dives into a fast‑moving, no‑nonsense conversation with coach Kurt Bush — a coach who works with people from every walk of life, not just athletes. We get into what real coaching looks like today: cutting through excuses, building trust, challenging people without breaking them, and knowing when to push versus when to pull back. Kurt...

Send us Fan Mail  This week on Friday’s w/ Dan, we talk about a week that felt heavier than most. The sudden loss of Kyle Busch, a driver woven into the fabric of my childhood, brings a reminder of how fragile life really is. From there, we shift into the perseverance of Apollo 13 — what it means to keep going when everything goes wrong, and how that mirrors the daily work of sobriety. And we clos...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Stream of Consciousness w/ Dan , Dr. Caroline Crocker joins the show for a conversation that moves effortlessly between science, story, and the human heart. A former microbiologist, professor, CEO, and international speaker, Caroline brings a lifetime of experience shaped by her family’s World War II history and her own journey through truth, trauma, faith, and...

Send us Fan Mail  This episode of Stream of Consciousness w/ Dan features a conversation with Rebekah Henshel from Henning’s Cheese, part of the family behind one of Wisconsin’s long‑standing cheese companies. We talk about what it’s like to grow up around a multi‑generation family business, what people don’t see behind the Henning’s name, and how much work goes into keeping a place like that runn...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Friday’s w/ Dan , we start with family and legacy. I talk about my Uncle Jim, who passed in 2018 in a tragic accident near the farm he loved. In his honor, my family created the James R. Backes Memorial Scholarship , awarded each year to a hardworking FFA student at Westin High. We just had the ceremony Wednesday night — my dad presented, two of his brothers were ther...

Send us Fan Mail  This week on Friday’s w/ Dan, I sit down with Al Bekkum of Nordic Creamery — a licensed cheesemaker, buttermaker, and the heart behind one of Wisconsin’s most beloved family dairies. We talk about his family’s century‑long farming legacy, the craft behind award‑winning cheese and butter, life in the Driftless Region, and what it takes to keep a small creamery thriving. It’s a con...

Send us Fan Mail  After a week in the hospital, I’m recording from Brodhead, Wisconsin, where I’m staying with my parents and rebuilding my strength. In this episode, I talk about being discharged, starting AA, and reaching two weeks of sobriety. From quiet walks to waking up clear‑headed, I’m learning what choosing a new path really looks like. If you’re struggling, I hope this reminds you that c...

Send us Fan Mail This week’s episode comes from Methodist Hospital in Omaha, where I’m recovering after years of alcohol abuse finally caught up with me. I talk honestly about facing the reality of my condition, beginning sobriety, and reconciling with God, my family, and myself. I also share real gratitude for the doctors, nurses, techs, and staff who are helping keep me alive. It’s a raw, unpoli...

Send us Fan Mail Today we’re heading to Decatur, Wisconsin to talk with someone who’s been shaping the state’s cheese story for decades. Steve Stettler is a Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker, but what really stands out is the way he approaches the work — steady, consistent, and rooted in the community around him. Decatur Dairy isn’t flashy; it’s a place built on craft, good milk, and people who care ab...

Send us Fan Mail  This week on Friday’s w/ Dan, I share an update on Chuck Bigler, who recently suffered a serious stroke but has now been moved out of the ICU and is receiving good care at St. Mary’s in Madison. If you’d like to send prayers or a card, his family welcomes them at PO Box 508, New Glarus, WI. I also talk about learning the Our Father in Swahili, celebrate Brian Voltaggio’s first-ev...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we head to Thorp, Wisconsin, to explore the story behind Marieke Gouda — a creamery built on Dutch heritage, Wisconsin soil, and a relentless commitment to craft. We talk about the traditions, techniques, and passion that turned a family dream into one of the country's most celebrated cheesemakers. It’s a conversation about roots, resilience, and what it take...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with Nelson Schrock , General Manager of Kingston Creamery in Cambria, Wisconsin. Nelson brings a quiet, grounded presence as he talks about the craft of cheesemaking, the values that guide their work, and what it means to run a small, tradition‑driven creamery in the heart of dairy country. It’s a conversation about community, heritage, and the kind of...

Send us Fan Mail This week’s episode sits in that space where heaviness and hope overlap. I talk about the unexpected losses that hit close to home, the people who shaped me, and the reminders of how quickly life can change. But I also share the light that broke through — my novella moving into the editing stage, and the good news I learned about my second cousin’s acceptance to UW–Green Bay. We c...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Wisconsin Makers Series, Daniel sits down with Elle Williams , Director of Sales and Brand Development at Carr Valley Cheese and a licensed cheese grader (#489) — one of the rare people in the state who can literally taste quality at a professional level. Elle brings a blend of deep Wisconsin roots, technical expertise, and genuine love for the craft of chee...

Send us Fan Mail This week’s Friday’s w/ Dan goes deep. I talk about Augie Nieto, the impact he left behind, and why his story hit me harder than I expected. I share my own connection to ALS through my fraternity brothers, the work we did, and the people we lost. I take a moment to reflect on Lou Gehrig’s iconic speech — a reminder of what real courage looks like. Then I shift into a conversation...

Send us Fan Mail Magic Barclay has lived through more than most people could imagine — and she’s turned every chapter of that story into a mission to help others heal. In this episode, Magic opens up about the physiology of trauma, the patterns our bodies hold onto, and the practical steps people can take to reclaim their health. It’s a conversation about survival, resilience, and the science behi...

Send us Fan Mail This one’s a little surprise drop. I sat down with Chuck Bigler of Puempel’s Tavern in New Glarus, Wisconsin — a place with more history and character than just about anywhere in the state. Chuck talks about what it means to keep a place like Puempel’s alive, the stories behind the walls, and the people who make it feel like home. It’s an easy, honest conversation with someone who...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Friday’s w/ Dan , we explore courage in its quietest and most unexpected forms. From the remarkable adaptability of octopuses, to the mystery and responsibility surrounding Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, to the everyday courage shown by the people we love — especially my mom on her birthday — this episode weaves together science, reflection, and faith. We close with a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I’m kicking off the first stop on my Wisconsin Cheese Tour — a project that’s part storytelling, part hometown pride, and part celebration of the people who make this state what it is. Growing up in Wisconsin, cheese was more than food; it was part of the landscape. So today, we start exploring the creameries, the makers, and the cows behind it all. This is the be...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s Friday’s w/ Dan, we start with a simple moment of kindness that turned into something unforgettable — a woman, a case of Spotted Cow, and a reminder of how small gestures can ripple. Then we honor Master Sergeant Noah L. Tietjens and the legacy he left behind. And finally, we talk about Rookie — a story that carries real weight and real heart. This one means a lot. http...

Send us Fan Mail Pine Creek Academy doesn’t make songs so much as they make moments — the kind that hit you in the chest before you even realize why. In this episode, Daniel sits down with vocalist and rhythm guitarist Keith Gensure to talk about the band’s rising momentum, the emotional architecture behind their sound, and the creative instincts that shaped tracks like “Dandelion.” Keith opens up...

Send us Fan Mail This week’s episode is all about the quiet, meaningful moments that snuck up on me — the ones that didn’t make any noise but somehow carried the most weight. We start with the real story of St. Patrick and how his life of humble faithfulness ended up shaping my whole week. From there, we talk about a Wichita State freshman who reminded me what it looks like to do the unglamorous w...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with David McKee for a conversation that unfolds the way the best ones do — naturally, honestly, and with a surprising amount of depth hiding in the quiet moments. We talk about resilience, mindset, the boiling‑water analogy, and the small internal shifts that can change the way you move through the world. David brings this grounded blend of psychology,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I talk with Normand Pothier of Peanut Butter Sunday — the Acadian punk band out of Baie Sainte‑Marie, Nova Scotia that’s been carving out their own lane with heart, grit, and zero pretense. We get into how the band came together, what drives their sound, and why their music feels like a love letter to the place they’re from. With permission from the band, I also s...

Send us Fan Mail In this week’s Friday’s w/ Dan, we sit with the quiet kind of goodness that rarely makes headlines but holds the world together. It’s National Good Samaritan Day, which feels like the perfect backdrop for a conversation about small, steady acts of care — the kind that show up in families, in faith, and in the everyday moments we usually overlook. I talk about Beacon, my seventeen‑...