Beans & Banter

Send us Fan Mail Shifrah Morgan joins us to discuss her experience with the Rama Cult.  She describes what it was like to grow up inside: the punishments, the constant hypervigilance, and how the outside world treated cult kids.  She also talks about the few kind people who showed up for her, the violence she witnessed and how it shaped her, the trauma responses she still works through, and the ab...

Send us Fan Mail This week we sat down with Alex Hartwig, wife of Lucas Hartwig of Twig's Beverage, and an adoptive mom of three who also works as an adoption consultant.  She tells us how her family got started, what it was like when a placement fell through, and why open adoption means so much to her.  We also talk about what adoption actually costs, the anti-adoption conversation, and some...

Send us Fan Mail Growing up in Wisconsin comes with plenty of stories, questionable decisions, and memories that still make us laugh. From BB gun wars and summer farm work to high school parties and run-ins with the law, we're looking back at the wild, ridiculous, and unforgettable moments of growing up in a small town. Grab your Mill mug, pick a smoking or non section, and settle in for some...

Send us Fan Mail We loved having Big Daddy & Holo of Live From the 715 on our show! We swap stories about hometown memories, community events, questionable conspiracy theories, UFO sightings, and the strange things people do when something is free. Grab your Mill mug, pull up a chair, and join us for another round of laughs, opinions, and conversation that probably should have stayed at the ba...

Send us Fan Mail This week, we sit down with Kaci and Allan of Bloomed on Dairy to talk about dairy farming, flowers, family, business, social media, burnout, marriage, motherhood, and the stories that shape who we become. Allan is a third-generation dairy farmer, while Kaci went from corporate HR to stay-at-home mom to building her own flower business.  Their conversation covers the realities of...

Send us Fan Mail Our conversation with Pastor Fehrmann continues and he answers all of our questions about faith. We didn’t stump him at all.  We dive into demons, prayer, doubt, suffering, God’s will, and what loving people looks like.  Grab a coffee, pull up a chair (pew) and get to know Pastor Fehrmann with us. Support the show Connect with us!  Website Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube beansan...

Send us Fan Mail Pastor Ryan Fehrmann joins us for a conversation that goes into some of the strangest questions surrounding the Bible and the supernatural.  We talk about UFOs and aliens, giants, demons and spiritual beings, and what any of this might have to do with God. This conversation goes all over the place. Are you surprised? Grab a coffee, pull up a seat, and get to know Pastor Fehrmann w...

Send us Fan Mail We continue our conversation with Coach Adam Gafner.  This is the longest conversation we've had on the show and we didn't want to condense it down. So enjoy part 2! This one is full of wisdom.  Grab your Mill mug, pull up a chair, and get to know Coach Adam Gafner with us. Support the show Connect with us!  Website Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube beansandbanterpod@gma...

Send us Fan Mail Coach Adam Gafner has spent decades around hockey, including years as a coach and parent, but for him the sport has always been about more than winning.  We talk about pressure, losing, adversity, parenting, coaching teenagers, competition, and teaching kids how to become better humans.  Adam also opens up about his battle with stage 4 neuroendocrine cancer and how that experience...

Send us Fan Mail Dustin and Brittney Dorsey sold their home, vehicles, and business to travel the country and follow wherever God led them. What they didn’t expect was to find a new home and calling at Givens Farm Estate in Hortonville, WI. Grab a coffee, pull up a seat, and get to know the Dorsey's with us. _______________________ Stay Connected with Givens Farm Estate: Website - https://giv...

Send us Fan Mail Three brothers. One family business. A whole lot of Sun Drop. We sit down with the Hartwig brothers to talk about growing up around Twigs Beverage, their wildly different paths, and what it means to carry on a family business that has been part of Shawano since 1951. The future of Twigs Beverage is in good hands! Grab a coffee (or Twigs Soda), pull up a seat, and get to know the H...

Send us Fan Mail Meet our friend Lisa Sorlie. Our pastor Keith Sorlie's wife. And she is so much more than just a pastor's wife.  Lisa has donated a kidney, worked in public service for a number of years, been an amazing middle school teacher, an incredible mom, and so much more.  She's a good one and we love her.  Grab a coffee, pull up a chair, and get to know our friend Lisa Sorl...

Send us Fan Mail What does an agriculture teacher actually do? We talk about FFA, farming, livestock, the greenhouse, the county fair, student safety certifications, and why agriculture education is about much more than farming.  This is a funny, candid conversation about teaching, agriculture, and small-town life. Grab a coffee, pull up a chair, and get to know Miss Mandi McClone with us. Support...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when you look at your kid and realize they're becoming their own person? In this episode, we sit down with our son Cubby for a conversation about growing up, family, sports, work, and figuring out what comes next. At 15, he's already working, building a small business, and learning lessons that will stick with him long after high school. We talk about the ro...

Send us Fan Mail From environmental impacts to economic promises, data centers have become one of Wisconsin's biggest emerging topics. Quinn of @WisconsQuinn joins us for an honest discussion about the concerns and unanswered questions surrounding this rapidly growing industry. This is an eye-opening episode.  Grab a coffee, pull up a seat, and get to know Quinn with us. How to Contact Quinn:...

Send us Fan Mail What do computer programming and law enforcement have in common? For Chief Deputy John Rousseau of the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, more than you'd think. After walking away from a career in software to pursue public service, he found himself using both passions to improve policing from the inside out. In this episode, John shares about his journey from computer programmer...

Send us Fan Mail Our audience asked to hear more from our family, so this week we invited our son Knox to join us on the podcast. We talk about baseball (of course), Minecraft, school, church, future dreams, friendship, and why kindness matters. Along the way, you'll also hear Knox's thoughts on the moon landing, aliens, and plenty of random family stories that had us laughing (and possi...

Send us Fan Mail Warning: This video discusses sexual abuse, molestation, and spiritual abuse. It may include difficult or triggering subject matter. Viewer discretion is advised. Please take care while watching, and don't hesitate to pause or stop if needed. This is the episode you've all been waiting for. We won't lie, this is a tough watch.  In this episode, we start to scratch t...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we dive into her career, how she and NiCole became friends (it's a story involving gum and a slap threat), and what life is like in retirement.  Like all our episodes, this one goes in many directions and it's a really fun conversation. (There's even a story about murder for all you true crime fans). Grab a coffee, pull up a chair, and get to know o...

Send us Fan Mail We'll be honest, this episode is very random. We had two guests who had to reschedule (we'll talk about why). So what you get is a fairly unfiltered, random conversation between Keith and NiCole. We share stories about embarrassing childhood moments, parenting, hopes for our small town, and more. If you need to listen to some banter, this is the episode for you. Grab a c...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Brad and Courtney of Duo Couture. We dive into the realities of buying inventory at wholesale markets, the logistics of shipping and storage that come with rapid growth, navigating tricky customer return situations, and the ongoing challenge of balancing a marriage with being full-time business partners. Whether you're a small business owner...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the first episode of our side series, "Beers & Banters". Nothing is off the table. Nobody is safe from getting called out. And the beers are cold. On this episode, we're diving headfirst into the rabbit holes that keep us up at night. From the collapse of Building 7 and the missing $2.3 trillion at the Pentagon, to why no mummy was ever actually found...

Send us Fan Mail Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of suicide, mental health, and emotional distress. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988 in the United States to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. What would make someone volunteer to give away part of their liver to save another person's life? In thi...

Send us Fan Mail Every small town has stories, and this episode has plenty of them.  In this episode, we hang out with our friend Justine who is one of the reasons The Mill’s Closet exists. You’ll hear about unforgettable first dates, family memories, paranormal encounters, and just the moments that make a community feel like home.  This is a conversation full of laughter, honesty, and stories you...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Jaime Lee, better known to many as “The Sun Drop Girl”, shares her journey of embracing creativity, small-town roots, and the unexpected paths life can take.  From building “Shawano News” from scratch to preserving local stories and moments that matter, the conversation explores what it means to stay true to yourself, even when people don’t fully understand your v...