Bird on a Wire

“Meet Garrett Smith, a remarkable US Navy Veteran who defied the odds when he was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) during his military service. Doctors initially gave him a grim prognosis of six to 18 months to live, but here he is, more than six years later, sharing his incredible journey. Despite losing the […]

Sarah Blonsky, mom, teacher and advocate for persons with disabilities tells her story about difficult pregnancies: losing her first child, having a child with down syndrome, losing her third child, a daughter, and having her fourth child, her second daughter. Having the choice available to have an abortion should she need it made all the […]

  In this episode Quin Brunette talks about the challenges and triumphs of serving on the School Board. The District is in a better place than when he started twelve years ago, but the recent takeover by outside groups has him concerned.  How do we stop the efforts that might undermine public education?  How can […]

All five Bird brothers served in the military at different times.  After enlisting John became ill with Guillain-Barre syndrome. Phil and Joe served in Vietnam. As is typical, they never talked much about their experiences together. In this episode, they share their stories and talk about the life-long impact of serving in the military.  Learn the […]

Tanya Atkinson is the president & CEO of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, a nonprofit health care provider.  A social worker (and stand-up comedian), Tanya began her career working with youth (and in tiny comedy clubs).  She has volunteered for a number of area nonprofits, and is currently on the board of The Lesbian Fund, a […]

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan, nonprofit, political organization founded in 1920, encourages informed and active participation in all levels of government. LuAnn joined 30 years ago to learn how to take action on a variety of issues like disability rights after her husband’s paralyzing construction accident. Recent efforts to disenfranchise voters by making it […]

LuAnn Bird sits down with Mandela Barnes, former Lt. Governor and resilient advocate and organizer. In a candid conversation, Barnes shares his journey from State Assembly to a close U.S. Senate campaign loss by 1%, highlighting the enduring power of community engagement. Explore the captivating dialogue between LuAnn Bird and Mandela Barnes, where they uncover […]

“It’s not okay to bully. It’s not okay to show disrespect. It’s not okay to have easy accessibility to drugs and guns, but it’s more than okay to be gay and be a valued member of the community.” Listen to Will Radler, a proud gay man and creator of Knockout Roses, share the story of his journey through prejudice, […]

Guest: Alan Borsuk

Alan Borsuk, Senior Fellow in Law and Public Policy at Marquette University and longtime education columnist for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel talks about the status of education in Milwaukee.  Are we closing the gaps in learning? According to Alan, “We can do better.”

Guest: Tyler Kelly

The Parkland School Shooting catapulted Tyler Kelly, a student activist to get involved in advocating for common sense gun reforms that will save lives. This conversation highlights the absurdity of counting on lock-downs in our schools to save children’s and teachers’ lives instead of passing researched legislation that would reduce gun violence.