John DenBoer grew up in Waukesha raised by his mom and grandmother, which sparked his lifelong passion for working with older adults - he eventually became a geriatric neuropsychologist specializing in detecting dementia way before symptoms show up. After studying at places like Harvard and building a successful digital health company out west, he and his wife decided to make Milwaukee home (funny how he had to move to Phoenix to meet someone from down the road!). Now he's launching a venture st...
Jun 25, 2025•16 min
In this episode of the Experience Milwaukee podcast, Steve sits down with Carlo Emanuele, a Milwaukee business executive turned novelist, to discuss his debut book "The Sins We Inherit." Carlo’s novel began as therapeutic journaling during his divorce and evolved into a Milwaukee-set crime family drama inspired by his own Italian-American family history. The story follows a man who avoided his grandfather's mafia connections but gets pulled back into that world after personal trauma. For more ba...
Jun 19, 2025•18 min
Welcome to STEAM in MKE, where we explore Milwaukee's thriving science, technology, engineering, art, and math ecosystem and infrastructure. This episode features Joe Poeschl, who was just named the new Executive Director of the Milwaukee Tech Hub Coalition. The conversation traces Joe's journey from co-founding Startup Milwaukee to leading The Commons innovation program for nearly a decade, where he facilitated hundreds of tech-based innovation experiences for thousands of people across the reg...
Jun 17, 2025•31 min
Summerfest TechAI 2025 is the can't-miss tech event this summer (June 23-26)! In this episode, Adam and I chat with Lena DeLaet from Summerfest TechAI and Jonah Turner from Molson Coors about the revamped pitch competition, which is broken into four industry tracks, plus new additions like "Entrepreneur Alley" for founders and a tech talent lounge for job hunting. What makes it especially cool is that corporate sponsors like Molson Coors aren't just writing checks - they're guaranteeing actual m...
Jun 16, 2025•32 min
In this jam-packed episode of the Experience Milwaukee podcast, we dive deep with Patty Pritchard Thompson from the Bayview Neighborhood Association in our Hometown Voices segment sponsored by Habush Habush & Rottier. Patty reveals the magic behind Chill on the Hill – from rubber chicken symphony performances to how this all-volunteer operation draws 5,000 people weekly with help from 75+ local sponsors! Then, in our VISIT Milwaukee segment, John Blust delivers the ultimate June festival gui...
Jun 15, 2025•1 hr 8 min
In this action-packed episode of the Experience Milwaukee podcast, we kick things off with John Blust from Visit Milwaukee delivering the scoop on this month's can't-miss events – from Mother's Day festivities to the metal-meets-birds contrast of Milwaukee Metal Fest and the Brew City Birding Festival! Then, tech guru Peter High from Metis Strategy drops knowledge bombs about AI's future and shares how "infinite interns" might just be the perfect analogy for understanding today's tech revolution...
May 11, 2025•1 hr 10 min
This episode of the Experience Milwaukee podcast is all about Summerfest TechAI 2025! Of course Adam and I are joined by Lena DeLaet from Summerfest TechAI who enthusiastically reveals this year's expanded programming at the Potawatomi Casino Hotel. We’re also joined by tech powerhouses Tim Dickson (Regal Rexnord) and Sri Kantamneni (Schreiber Foods) share how Wisconsin manufacturers are already delivering real AI value, while EJ Sesselmann from Salesforce brings national expertise to the local ...
May 05, 2025•51 min
This episode serves up a feast of laughs and local gems! Tim and Jeffrey from Milwaukee Wine Academy dish on their mission to make wine less intimidating while hosts joke about finding wines for "beer guys." The tech segment goes hilariously off-the-rails with AI confessions, including Ryan admitting he has philosophical car conversations with ChatGPT about engine braking! Admiral's VP "Bitter" receives hilarious catchphrases like "You're just experiencing the bitter truth!" And VISIT Milwaukee'...
Apr 06, 2025•58 min
Welcome to STEAM in MKE, where we explore Milwaukee's thriving science, technology, engineering, art, and math ecosystem and infrastructure. Today, we're diving into the grassroots movement transforming our city's tech landscape with Joe Murphy and Allan Wick, the passionate minds behind Mitobyte ( https://mitobyte.com ). For nearly a decade, they've been building Milwaukee's tech community one meetup at a time—creating spaces where developers, designers, and entrepreneurs connect, collaborate, ...
Apr 05, 2025•17 min
In this spirited March 2025 installment of EXP MKE, hosts Steve and Adam celebrate International Women's Month with a lineup of Milwaukee's finest (even though they kick things off with a dude hockey defenseman Kevin Gravel of the Admirals). The tech spotlight shines on Dana, Lori, and Bella, who share their digital triumphs and Women in Tech adventures. Claire buzzes through Milwaukee's March calendar, from fish fry Fridays to NCAA madness, And it wraps up with Julianna from Three Sheeps Brewin...
Mar 02, 2025•43 min
Welcome to STEAM in MKE, where we explore Milwaukee's thriving Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math ecosystem and infrastructure. In Milwaukee, tech is transforming lives and careers through powerful partnerships. In this episode of STEAM in MKE, a reuse of an episode previously recorded at Summerfest tech 2024, we sit down with Blanca from i.c stars Milwaukee, where a 16-week immersive program is turning non-traditional talent into tech professionals. ( more about i.c. stars Milwauke...
Feb 22, 2025•14 min
We're back with a new episode that includes four action-packed segments! Milwaukee Admirals President John Greenberg reveals their wild transformation into the " Milwaukee Cowbells " featuring SNL's Chris Kattan. Dive into the city's tech landscape with nvisia's Tracy Barrett, exploring how Milwaukee competes in the global tech arena. Get the inside scoop on February events from VISIT Milwaukee's Claire Hanan, including the Mama Tried Motorcycle Show. Cap it off with Summerfest's Jerrod Woods dr...
Feb 05, 2025•42 min
Welcome to STEAM in MKE, where we explore Milwaukee's thriving Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math ecosystem and infrastructure. Today, we sit down with Katie Schober and Leah Rosenbaum, the innovative minds behind STEAM Milwaukee ( https://www.steammilwaukee.com ) As champions of hands-on learning, they're revolutionizing how Milwaukee's students engage with STEAM education by providing crucial resources to schools and teachers. From robotics kits to laboratory equipment, they're br...
Jan 15, 2025•24 min
Step into 2025 with Milwaukee's favorite local podcast, presented by Summerfest and Crescent9 THC Seltzers ! Steve and Adam start with "In the Corner with the Milwaukee Admirals" and drops you rinkside with star player Cal O'Reilly for a candid conversation about team culture, on-ice intensity, and what makes Milwaukee feel like home, presented by the Milwaukee Admirals . Next, sponsored by NVISIA , get an insider's look at Milwaukee's booming tech revolution with visionary Milky Way Tech Hub fo...
Jan 04, 2025•50 min
Welcome to another episode of our Milwaukee Legends Series, presented by the iconic Harley-Davidson, a committed partner not only to this podcast, but to our local and global communities. The Milwaukee Legend Series has been presented in partnership with Harley-Davidson’s 2024 Homecoming Celebration. This episode features Milwaukee legend Ian Abston, one of the founders of Newaukee, the Hoan Group (connecting executives in Milwaukee and Madison) and Forward48 (developing young leaders around age...
Dec 30, 2024•27 min
Welcome to another episode of our Milwaukee Legends Series, presented by the iconic Harley-Davidson, a committed partner not only to this podcast, but to our local and global communities. The Milwaukee Legend Series has been presented in partnership with Harley-Davidson’s 2024 Homecoming Celebration. This episode features Milwaukee legend Beth Weirick, CEO of Milwaukee Downtown - Business Improvement District 21. My conversation with Beth reveals her deep personal connection and nostalgia for Mi...
Dec 23, 2024•19 min
In this episode, Adam sits down for a great conversation with Ike Winter, a Milwaukee wood artist who creates elaborate pieces using only found materials and minimal tools. Ike has gained national attention through viral works like a giant Crayola box, driven by his philosophy of "delusional optimism" - the belief that any day could bring amazing opportunities while staying authentic to his creative vision. It’s an inspiring story of how focusing on what naturally interests you, combined with an...
Dec 22, 2024•58 min
In this interview, Steve and Adam talk with Stephanie Grady, a former Fox news anchor turned entrepreneur who co-founded Influential Athlete, a company helping high school athletes navigate Name, Image, Likeness or NIL opportunities through coaching and education rather than traditional sports agency services. The conversation explores both her professional transition and her personal journey from competitive figure skating to broadcasting, with humorous moments including a co-anchor literally d...
Nov 24, 2024•37 min
Welcome to another episode of our Milwaukee Legends Series, presented by the one and only iconic Harley-Davidson, a committed partner not only to this podcast, but to our local and global communities. The Milwaukee Legend Series has been presented in partnership with Harley-Davidson’s 2024 Homecoming Celebration. This episode features Milwaukee legend Fred "Freedo" Berry, a former Milwaukee Admirals hockey player from Edmonton who came to Milwaukee in the 1980s and never left, eventually opening...
Nov 16, 2024•18 min
This episode, featuring our friends Jonah from Molson Coors and Blanca from i.c.stars, was recorded LIVE at Summerfest Tech 2024. Since 2018, Summerfest Tech has been shining a spotlight on Wisconsin's growing tech scene, bringing together industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries to network, educate, and celebrate tech in our great city. In this episode we learn more about how i.c.stars builds successful partnerships with companies like Molson Coors through a 16-week technology internshi...
Nov 03, 2024•15 min
In this episode, Steve explores First Stage Milwaukee's production of Pete the Cat through conversations with educators and a couple of kids who, although they had a great experience, were endearingly random in their humorous responses. The two kindergarten teachers, Erin and Andrea, shared their experiences taking their classes to see the show, explaining how Pete the Cat's message of resilience resonates with young students and highlighting First Stage's commitment to high-quality theater for ...
Nov 02, 2024•13 min
In this episode I sit down with Emma and Maria from the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra's (MYSO) philanthropy team to discuss their upcoming Play Your Part event. Side note, in my day job I head up marketing for MYSO. So I have a little inside info on this, too. Anyway, this FREE community celebration on November 9th from 10am to 6:30pm at the Sharon Lynn Wilson Center in Brookfield showcases all of MYSO's ensembles - from orchestras to jazz bands to steel pans - featuring 1,000 talented stud...
Oct 28, 2024•9 min
In September, NVNG, a boutique investment firm based in Madison, WI, hosted a unique event in Milwaukee called Venture North, to showcase how collaboration between venture capital and corporations can further propel Midwestern industries to become engines of economic growth. During the event, I sat down with Nick Fallucca, a speaker at Venture North and Chief Product and Innovation Officer at Milwaukee based Palermo's Pizza. You might know Palermo's as the frozen pizza of choice in your grocery ...
Oct 26, 2024•10 min
October is Wisconsin Tech Month so we’re going to drop a number of special episodes recorded at Summerfest Tech 2024 that took place this summer. Since 2018, Summerfest Tech has been shining a spotlight on Wisconsin's growing tech scene, bringing together industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries to network, educate, and celebrate tech in our great city. This episode features an interview with Betsy Allen-Manning, a keynote speaker, author, and business consultant on workplace communicati...
Oct 23, 2024•15 min
In this episode, Steve and Adam chat with Jacob, the co-owner of Fox Den, a unique smash burger restaurant located inside Great Lakes Distillery in Milwaukee. Jacob shares the ups and downs of the journey from food truck aspirations to establishing a brick-and-mortar location to running a restaurant known for unconventional flavor combinations. Here are a few highlights: Jacob and his partner Sherry Lynn started with a food truck concept, faced challenges, and eventually found a home for their u...
Oct 19, 2024•21 min
October is Wisconsin Tech Month so we're going to drop a number of special episodes recorded at Summerfest Tech that took place this Summer. Since 2018, Summerfest Tech has been shining a spotlight on Wisconsin's growing tech scene, bringing together industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries to network, educate, and celebrate tech in our great city. In this episode, we take you behind the scenes at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, where we chat with Adam, the Information Technology Director...
Oct 17, 2024•16 min
In this episode, Steve talks with his new friend Greg who runs an annual Halloween event and fundraiser, called Scare ALL, with his family and neighborhood in Cudahy. The "ALL" stands for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Here are a few highlights: With the idea coming from his wife, Greg transformed his family's Halloween tradition into a community fundraiser for leukemia research after his 18 month old son’s battle with leukemia. The event, Scare ALL, combines a haunted walk with family-friendly a...
Oct 12, 2024•24 min
Welcome to another episode of our Milwaukee Legends Series, presented by the one and only iconic Harley-Davidson , a committed partner not only to this podcast, but to our local and global communities. The Milwaukee Legend Series has been presented in partnership with Harley-Davidson and their 2024 Homecoming Celebration. This episode features Milwaukee Legend Corey Zetts, Executive Director of the Menomonee Valley Partners: someone you may not know even though her fingerprints are on many of th...
Oct 11, 2024•18 min
In this episode, Steve and Adam talk with their friend Jamie who founded Nourish Natural Products ( https://nourishnaturalproducts.com ). Here are a few highlights: Jamie started the company after being laid off and has grown it from a DIY lip balm project into a successful natural products company over 6.5 years. The company focuses on 100% clean and natural products, collaborates with local businesses, and receives support from larger Milwaukee-based companies, demonstrating a strong commitmen...
Oct 05, 2024•28 min
Welcome to another episode of our Milwaukee Legends Series, presented by the one and only iconic Harley-Davidson, a committed partner not only to this podcast, but to our local and global communities. The Milwaukee Legend Series has been presented in partnership with Harley-Davidson and their 2024 Homecoming Celebration. This episode features Milwaukee Legend, Julia Taylor - someone you may not know even though her fingerprints are on many of the things you experience in Milwaukee today. And she...
Sep 28, 2024•22 min
