Around River City Podcast

Oh For The Love of Fudge

By Ken Cooper | April 7, 2022

A few years ago, Linda and Steve decided it was time to retire.  And so….they started a company, making fudge, every day.  Hhhmm, I know what you’re saying, this isn’t…

Spencer Hulsey & UW-L Summer Programs

By Ken Cooper | March 11, 2022

Question: What do photons, chickens and your kid’s summer fun all have in common?  Answer:  Spencer Hulsey Spencer is UW-L’s Youth & STEM outreach programming specialist, so she knows LOTS…

The Polar Plunge, A Cool Event For Warm Hearts

By Ken Cooper | February 23, 2022

This time on Around River City I sat down with Kerry Gloede and Aimee Schmidt to talk about The Polar Plunge and Special Olympics of Wisconsin.

The Pump House and Allison Krzych

By Ken Cooper | February 15, 2022

Allison Krzych is the Assistant Director and the Non-Profit Arts Administrator for The Pump House and she’s excited about what they’re doing and what we can all do at The Pump House.

The La Crosse Winter Roots Festival

By Ken Cooper | February 2, 2022

Music.  Food.  Art.  Drink. That’s what The La Crosse Winter Roots Festival is about and this is the story of how it came to be. 

Jerry Roesler: Compassion is Always in Style

By Ken Cooper | January 28, 2022

After a lifetime as a volunteer firefighter for the Town of Shelby, Jerry Roesler says it really all comes down to a simple philosophy.  “Compassion is always in style”.  Jerry was recently honored for his decades of commitment to the Shelby Fire Department and I was honored to meet him and sit down for this conversation.

Sam Strong: Broadcaster, Trailblazer & Mom

By Ken Cooper | January 13, 2022

Ya, she’s all of that and more.  You’ve listened to Sam on the radio, you parents probably have, too.  Now, as Sam finally retires I sat down with her to get a little perspective on things.

4th Street Stage

By Ken Cooper | January 7, 2022

This is a fun conversation I had with Sam Bachmeier and Karl Green about a new, unique performance space in downtown LaCrosse. 

Jen Barney @ Meringue Bakery

By Ken Cooper | December 8, 2021

This lady is one of a kind.  Intelligent, quirky, insanely talented and even though she tries to hide it, super competitive.  Jen Barney is representing our River City in a big way as a competitor on Food Network’s Holiday Wars.  You can check it out Sunday nights at 8:00pm

Aiden Hessleberg, Artist at Large

By Ken Cooper | December 2, 2021

Aiden Hessleberg is a talented local artist. Listen to our conversation about art, creativity and inspiration.

Tommy Prine at Leo and Leona’s

By Ken Cooper | November 16, 2021

I had a chance to talk about 2 of my favorite subjects recently, music and creativity.  The conversation is with Tommy Prine, son of the great John Prine.

Sara, Syd and Slang: Part II

By Ken Cooper | October 22, 2021

This started as a conversation about slang words, then it drifted and then it veered.  Just like a good conversation should.

Sara, Syd and Slang

By Ken Cooper | October 7, 2021

Slang, it’s defined as language peculiar to a particular group, composed of arbitrarily changed words and extravagant figures of speech.  That sounds about right.  It’s also a way we define…

Steppin Out in Pink 03: Emily and Dave, A Love Story.

By Ken Cooper | September 10, 2021

There’s love of all kinds on display in the wonderful conversation with Emily and Dave Hansen.  Emily is a breast cancer survivor, a mom, a wife and a real dynamo.    She and Dave share the truly frightening things they went through together but also the good things that this experience has brought to their lives.  Ya, it’s about breast cancer but it’s really a love story.

Steppin’ Out In Pink 02: Dr. Leah Dietrich

By Ken Cooper | August 27, 2021

Dr. Dietrich is an oncologist at Gundersen Health System, specializing in breast cancer.

Steppin’ Out in Pink 01: Dr. Paraic Kenny

By Ken Cooper | August 12, 2021

Did you know that Steppin Out in Pink offers a unique and beneficial form of funding that allows need + research to = treatment at a lightning pace?  You’ll hear how that all happens and also about what drives Dr. Kenny to devote his career to breast cancer research here at the Gundersen Medical Foundation in La Crosse.

A Lead Balloon Tribute to Mike Kearns

By Ken Cooper | July 27, 2021

Mike Kearns was and is a legend in the Coulee Region. Find out why and enjoy this tribute from his friends, and family.

Yes, and…

By Ken Cooper | July 22, 2021

What do a software development consultant and an improv actor have in common? Well, when they’re the same person, a lot as it turns out.

I don’t know what I don’t know

By Ken Cooper | July 1, 2021

Have you ever thought about all the things you don’t know about everyone else? And how about the things we don’t know about ourselves?

Music Equals Hope: Andy and Alexander pt 2

By Ken Cooper | June 2, 2021

This is part two of my conversation with Andy Hughes from Tugg and Alexander Platt from the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra.  Trust is a big part of performing on stage, we’ll talk about how it lets you be in the moment.

Tim Dale Pt 2: Democracy by way of Aristotle and Homer (Simpson)

By Ken Cooper | May 19, 2021

What do Aristotle and The Simpsons have in common?  Listen to part 2 of my conversation with UW-L Political Science Professor, Tim Dale and find out. 

Tim Dale Pt 1: Democracy is a way of living

By Ken Cooper | May 6, 2021

Tim Dale is a UW-L Professor of Political Science.  I know, I know, you think this is going to be a “lecture” on government stuff.  Actually, this is going to be fun, interesting and eye opening.

The need isn’t going away so Erin Waldhart and everyone at WAFER will keep on working.

By Ken Cooper | April 21, 2021

One day, at a new job Erin Waldhart had a “Woo Hoo” moment. It was sparked by the physical act of giving another person a box of food.

Music: It’s All the Same Damn Thing for Andy Hughes & Alexander Platt, pt. 1

By Ken Cooper | April 8, 2021

There are so many different kinds of music.  You can call them “genres” I suppose.  Or, maybe there is just one Music.  That was the idea I had when I asked Alexander Platt, Music Director for the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra and Andy Hughes, from Tugg and Andy Hughes & the Mighty Few, to sit down with me.