Podcasts by Bubbler Talk
What's got you scratching your head about the Milwaukee area? WUWM investigates your questions.
Further podcasts by WUWM 89.7 FM - Milwaukee's NPR
Podcast on the topic Reisen und Orte
All episodes
How Enderis Park neighborhood's namesake, Dorothy Enderis, shaped Milwaukee Recreation from 2023-12-01T08:43:36
Dorothy Enderis was the second, and arguably most influential, leader of the Milwaukee Recreation Department. Learn about her and the neighborhood named in her honor.Listen
Meet Ringo: The star, artist and friend of Bradford Beach from 2023-11-17T05:00
Meet a Milwaukee character you've likely seen hanging out at Bradford Beach.
The story of an intriguing Sherman Park home begins with 1933 award-winning design from 2023-11-10T13:49:26
The sleek, striking, boxy home's contemporary style stands out in the sea of more traditional Milwaukee homes that surround it.
Listen
A look back at Oriental Drugs, a fountain of Milwaukee memories from 2022-04-15T05:00
Once located on the corner of Farwell and North on Milwaukee's East Side, Oriental Drugs' hodgepodge of offerings served customers for nearly 30 years. Since closing in 1995, the place became etche...
Listen
Unpacking the history of Milwaukee's Eagles Club from 2022-04-08T08:36:56
What was the Eagles Ballroom before it became The Rave? That’s a question we’ve heard a lot at Bubbler Talk and it turns out there are a lot of answers.Listen
From cheese curds to custard, which signature food originated In Milwaukee? from 2022-04-01T08:18:08
Butter burgers! Think Kopp's, Culver's and, of course, Solly's Grille — which was recently recognized by the James Beard Awards as an American classic.Listen
Art? Landing site for aliens? The story behind the giant metal circle at Milwaukee's Cupertino Park from 2022-03-25T05:00
Bubbler Talk question asker Tom Roberts has been wondering about the circular, metal structure in Bay View's Cupertino Park — what is it and why is it near Lake Michigan.Listen
Is it just me or does Wauwatosa have a lot of water towers? from 2022-03-18T05:00
Water towers are a routine part of the scenery in Wauwatosa. Bubbler Talk question asker and Tosa resident Brice Smith wants to know why there are so many of them.Listen
How Milwaukee's Washington Park bandshell became a temple of music from 2022-03-11T15:12:57
In 1938, the heir of the Blatz Brewing Company wanted to bring his love of classical music to Milwaukee. Emil Blatz provided $100,000 for the construction of a bandshell that would soon become a te...
Listen
Fossils to a World War II-era dog tag: Exploring the interesting finds on Lake Michigan's shore from 2022-03-04T12:38:51
The waves of Lake Michigan bring in an unknown number of things onto the shore — trash, trinkets and sometimes treasures, as Erin Christie learned while beach combing. Erin and her husband regularl...
Listen
The journey of the ancestral pole that once stood outside of the Milwaukee Public Museum from 2022-02-11T04:00
For this week’s Bubbler Talk, question asker Dan Currier of Whitewater wants to know about a past iconic figure of Milwaukee: Where did the totem pole that stood in front the old and the new Milwau...
Listen
Remembering when Marian Anderson, world-famous contralto, shared her voice with Milwaukee from 2022-02-04T15:53:33
On this Bubbler Talk, WUWM's Teran Powell looks into this question: Did Marian Anderson ever visit and sing in Milwaukee? If so, where did she stay, as individuals who were Black were not allowed t...
Listen
Next time you're at Milwaukee's airport, look down at the intricate mosaics at your feet from 2021-11-26T04:00
Imagine you’re rushing to catch a flight at Milwaukee County's General Mitchell International Airport — maybe for business or a long-anticipated vacation. What's on your mind? If you’re Dan Schley,...
Listen
How WPA projects expanded the Milwaukee County Parks System from 2021-11-05T13:01:28
For this week's Bubbler Talk, we look at how the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps expanded the Milwaukee County Park system in the 1930s.Listen
A Celebration Of Milwaukee's Home Basement Bars from 2021-10-29T12:38:38
A WUWM listener, Erin Christie, enjoys the company of friends at her basement bar, so she requested an appreciation segment on the prevalence of basement bars in Milwaukee.Listen
Inflatable reindeer provide comfort and humor at Milwaukee COVID testing and vaccination sites from 2021-10-22T13:18:21
For this week’s Bubbler Talk, listener Connor Bowman asked us — “What’s the story with the reindeer I’ve been seeing at COVID testing and vaccination sites around Milwaukee?”Listen
Oconomowoc, Nagawicka, Okauchee: unpacking Wisconsin's Native place names from 2021-10-08T09:43:11
When you look at a map of Wisconsin, it’s covered in names that remind us of this country’s original inhabitants. Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, Waukesha, Kinnickinnic — all words derived from Native Americ...
Listen
The story behind the mysterious brick pillars at Shepard Avenue&Locust Street on Milwaukee's east side from 2021-10-01T14:21:53
At the corner of North Shepard Avenue and East Locust Street, there are standalone brick pillars. Listener Eric Kowalik wondered where the structures came from and what they were for.Listen
How Animals Get To The Milwaukee County Zoo from 2021-09-17T10:42:31
People have a lot of questions when they come to the Milwaukee County Zoo. But the most the important one may be this: how did all of these animals even get here?Listen
Former Milwaukee Braves And A Local Historian Look Back At Unusual 1957 World Series Celebration from 2021-09-17T10:29:22
With the help of former Milwaukee Braves and a local historian, we look back at the celebrations after the Braves became World Series Champions in 1957.Listen
Getting Reitman And Mueller On An Episode Of 'Cheers' Was Actually Pretty Easy from 2021-07-30T05:00:54
On May 4, 1989, two Milwaukee celebrities — Bob Reitman and Gene Mueller, hosts of the popular WKTI morning show Reitman and Mueller — were featured as barflies on the popular sitcom Cheers. Bubble...
Listen
Strange Plaque Piques Interest On North Farwell In Milwaukee from 2021-07-23T13:27:37
Eileen Hosmanek was walking her dogs with her daughter on Milwaukee's Lower East Side and came across something quite strange: the Near Here plaque.Listen
The Story Of The Bridge That Appears To Lead To Nowhere Along The Milwaukee River from 2021-07-16T10:26:49
Riverwest resident Lindsey Goding came upon a mystery bridge above the Milwaukee River when she moved to the Milwaukee neighborhood a few years ago. Together, for Bubbler Talk, we uncover its purpo...
Listen
Statue, Mural&Today's Young Milwaukee Players Honor Baseball Great Hank Aaron from 2021-07-09T08:57:16
Baseball great Hank Aaron passed away this year and will be honored at the Major League All Star Game on Tuesday. So, we thought we'd finally bring to the plate a Bubbler Talk question from 2017 th...
Listen
How Craft Spirits Gained A Foothold In Brew City from 2021-06-25T05:00:02
Milwaukee is known as a city of breweries. But Bubbler Talk question asker Tom Targos has noticed another alcohol industry growing in Wisconsin — craft distilleries.Listen
Why Is Cheese, Sausage, Mushroom&Onion Pizza So Popular In Milwaukee? from 2021-06-18T05:00:10
For this week's Bubbler Talk, WUWM's Audrey Nowakowski looks into why Milwaukeeans love their pizza topped with cheese, sausage, mushroom and onions.Listen
As Up&Under Pub Replacement Nears, A Check-In On Milwaukee's Brady Street from 2021-06-11T07:29:58
On this week’s Bubbler Talk, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson gives an update on the shuttering of iconic Up And Under Pub on Milwaukee's Brady Street last September.Listen
Luna's Texas Restaurant: The Story Of One Of Milwaukee's Longtime Mexican Restaurants from 2021-06-04T04:00:30
The near south side of Milwaukee has long been home to the city’s Mexican community, where food has always been an important part of the culture. This week's Bubbler Talk explores the history of on...
Listen
An Ode To Craftsmanship: Stained Glass Windows In Milwaukee Bungalows from 2021-05-28T09:06:54
On this Bubbler Talk, we learn about the history behind the stained glass windows found in Milwaukee bungalows.
'Billie the Brownie' Holiday Radio Show Still Holds A Sweet Spot For Milwaukeeans from 2021-05-21T11:08:04
For more than 20 years, families gathered around their radios during the holidays to hear the Billie the Brownie show, featuring Billie, Santa Claus and Captain Larry.
Listen
Behind The Screens: Who Makes Wisconsin's Witty Traffic Signs? from 2021-05-14T07:28:06
When you’re driving to work, there’s nothing worse than seeing a traffic sign that shows delays ahead. But if you’re like firefighter Drew Schuster, there's one thing you look forward to seeing: th...
Listen
The Story Behind The Mahatma Gandhi Statue Outside The Milwaukee County Courthouse from 2021-05-07T04:00:23
A listener recently discovered a piece of cultural and legal history on a break from jury duty at the Milwaukee County Courthouse, and wanted to know the story behind the Mahatma Gandhi statue.
Listen
The History Of Milwaukee's South Side Churches from 2021-04-09T05:00:37
The south side of Milwaukee is known for having a lot of churches. In fact, depending on where you are, many of those churches dot the Milwaukee skyline with their steeples.
Listen
For Milwaukee's Latino Community, There Are No Historically Designated Landmarks from 2021-04-02T14:00:58
Bubbler Talk inquirer Eloisa Gomez wanted to know: "In the Latino community, what and where are the historic landmarks that people can go to to get a better sense of the local Latino history?" Well...
Listen
How Milwaukee Celebrated The 1971 Bucks' Championship Without A Parade from 2021-03-26T05:00:53
The 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks were one of the greatest NBA teams of their era, but after winning it all in April of 1971 the team never got a victory parade. Instead, Milwaukeeans found their own way...
Listen
The Mystery Behind Walker's Point Giant Metal Boiler from 2021-03-19T05:00:06
What is the rusted metal object sitting across from the Lindsay Bros. Building on South 2nd Street in Milwaukee? The object is big, about the size of one of those storage PODS you see outside some ...
Listen
What's With All The Lion Statues, Milwaukee? from 2021-03-12T12:00
In the The Wizard of Oz , Dorothy famously exlaimed: “Lions and Tigers and Bears!” Well, in Milwaukee, it might just be “Lions!” Our Bubbler Talk question asker Hannah Tahtinen wondered: "I want to...
Listen
How Henry Hempsted Set The Tempo For Milwaukee's First Music Store from 2021-03-05T05:00
On this week’s Bubbler Talk, question asker Craig Steitz wanted to know about the history of music stores in Milwaukee.
Listen
The Jones-Hill House Is Part Of The Fabric Of Milwaukee's Black Culture from 2021-02-26T15:11:44
A Bubbler Talk listener was curious about Black historical sites in Milwaukee. There are many, so I chose to look at one that’s had many lives: the Jones-Hill House in the Harambee neighborhood. Th...
Listen
How Granville Township Became Part Of Milwaukee from 2021-02-19T05:00
In the 19th century, Wisconsin’s Territorial Legislature divided Milwaukee County into seven townships. Five of them eventually became municipalities: Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, Greenfield, Franklin, an...
Listen
Was Milwaukee Once Surrounded By Nuclear Weapons? from 2021-02-12T12:00
The 1950s are seen as a golden age for the U.S., a time when the country was prosperous and the nuclear family reigned supreme. But the nation had another nuclear obsession — a looming, existential...
Listen
The History Of Milwaukee's Old North Side Borchert Field from 2021-02-05T05:00
Milwaukee is known for being a city of neighborhoods. From Bay View on the south side and Washington Heights to the west, each neighborhood has a story — including the Borchert Field neighborhood o...
Listen
Why Wisconsinites Put Soda In Their Old Fashioneds from 2021-01-29T05:07:02
This week’s Bubbler Talk clears up some muddled history of one of our favorite drinks — the Old Fashioned. In a question from listener Lea, she asked:
Listen
Mental Health Care In Milwaukee County Could Include New Emergency Center from 2021-01-22T10:43:44
Today, Bubbler Talk looks at the status of mental health care in the Milwaukee area. Our question comes from listener and Milwaukee resident Scott Bollen. He often drives by the Milwaukee Regional ...
Listen
YouTube Court Streaming Leads To Questions About Privacy from 2020-07-10T10:42:17
Over the past four months, lots of systems in Wisconsin have had to adapt due to the coronavirus pandemic. That includes the state court system, which was forced to halt jury trials and move most o...
Listen
Coronavirus: Tracking Your Contacts Is Good, Limiting Your Social Circle Is Better from 2020-07-03T12:38:24
Health officials say it’s possible we won’t see a vaccine or cure for the coronavirus for awhile. So in the meantime, they’re recommending testing and contact tracing as ways to help control the sp...
Listen
How Did Jeffrey Dahmer Harm Milwaukee's Gay Community? from 2020-06-26T09:52:47
Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer rose to infamy after human remains were found dismembered and preserved in his Milwaukee apartment. He murdered at least 16 people in Milwaukee. Fourteen were people of...
Listen
Wisconsin Experts On COVID-19 Recovery, Therapy And Vaccines from 2020-06-19T11:36:56
How many people in Wisconsin have survived a COVID-19 diagnosis?
Listen
These Are The Long-Term Care Facilities In Milwaukee County With COVID-19 Deaths from 2020-06-12T08:41:12
COVID-19 has disrupted many parts of our lives, but it’s also affecting us in death. For Bubbler Talk, WUWM investigated the toll the pandemic has taken on one of Milwaukee’s most vulnerable popula...
Listen
Wisconsin's COVID-19 Death Disparity Is 3rd Worst In America. Is Segregation To Blame? from 2020-05-29T16:35:01
Shortly after the coronavirus pandemic began to spread widely in America, doctors and public health authorities noticed that hospitals were disproportionately treating black patients for the virus....
Listen
'People Are Here To Help': Milwaukee-Area Resources For Those Who Need Support During COVID-19 from 2020-05-15T17:24:28
We’re living in an era when more people need a helping hand due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Listen
Students With Special Needs And Their Families Struggle To Cope With School Closures from 2020-05-08T05:00
School closures triggered by the coronavirus are especially hard on students with disabilities and their families. These students often get one-on-one help at school, along with services like speec...
Listen
Milwaukee County Takes Steps To Reduce Number Of Inmates During Coronavirus Pandemic from 2020-05-01T05:00
At the Milwaukee County House of Correction in Franklin, 94 inmates have COVID-19 as of Thursday – out of an on-site population of about 600. There are three cases at the jail in downtown Milwaukee...
Listen
Underwear Masks, Mandatory Work, And Solitary Confinement: Wisconsin Inmates Under Coronavirus from 2020-04-24T16:29:45
Updated at 1:03 p.m. CT According to Gov. Tony Evers, Wisconsin’s safer-at-home orders are intended to protect “vulnerable communities.” Many vulnerable populations fall directly under the state’s ...
Listen
The Steps Wisconsin Health Care Workers Are Taking To Keep Their Families Safe from 2020-04-24T10:18:39
People across the globe have been showing support for health care workers on the frontlines in the fight against COVID-19. That includes at the Aurora Medical Center in Summit, where parade of fire...
Listen
How Do You Safely Handle Grocery Deliveries Amid The Coronavirus? from 2020-04-17T12:00
For Bubbler Talk , Diane from West Allis asked us how she should handle food deliveries to her door during the COVID-19 pandemic. Can the coronavirus be on those items, and if so, what’s the best w...
Listen
Medical College Of Wisconsin Doctor Answers Your Coronavirus Questions from 2020-04-10T22:12:17
Although conversations about the coronavirus are really inescapable, there are still a lot of misperceptions and questions about the disease. For Bubbler Talk, we've been asking listeners what they...
Listen
Some Non-COVID Patients In Wisconsin Are Asked For Patience In Obtaining Care from 2020-04-10T16:06:20
For this Bubbler Talk , we look into health care services for non-COVID-19 patients. A listener reached out to WUWM to tell us her health care provider had canceled her surgery, leaving her in pain...
Listen