This week’s Best of John and Gordy opens with a visit from Abby Abramovich of Doundrins Distilling. Abby shares the details of their big appreciation party, which promises to be a celebration of community, craft, and creativity. We talk through what guests can expect to the impressive selection of drinks that will be available. Abby highlights not only the distillery’s spirits but also the wide variety of wines that could make an appearance at the event, ensuring that there’s something for everyone’s palate. The conversation takes an unexpected but fascinating turn when we dive into a discussion about GROK, the new artificial intelligence system that’s been generating buzz.

After that, we turn to the skies with Civic Media Meteorologist Brittney Merlot. Brittney joins us to make sense of the recent stretch of soggy days and explains why the rainfall we’ve been experiencing is more than just an inconvenience — it’s starting to break records. Whether you’re someone who loves following the weather closely or just wants to know if you’ll need an umbrella tomorrow, Brittney’s perspective provides clarity and context to the record-setting rain.

Rounding out the show, we welcome back Sub stack blogger Mike McCabe, who brings a thoughtful and provocative perspective to the table. Mike argues that in an era saturated with spin, propaganda, and outright lies, fiction often does a better job at revealing deeper truths than supposedly factual reporting. By turning to stories and novels, he suggests, we can sometimes pierce the fog of deceit and see human nature more clearly than the daily news allows. It’s a challenging, reflective discussion that leaves listeners with plenty to think about, encouraging them to question not only what they’re told but also how they process truth in an age of endless information.

The John and Gordy Show is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Monday through Friday from 6-8 am on WMDX in Madison. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook and X to keep up with John & Gordy!