Curiouser

Some artists paint with oils, some with watercolors and some with beeswax mixed with pigments. That last method is known as encaustic painting. To find out more about it and how one artist was led to work in the medium, listen to our intervie with Jessie Fritsch of Jessie Fritsch Encaustics and Buzz in Art Studios. Jessie is talented, accomplished, funny, and has an interesting story to share.

If you or anyone you know is walking around with a pacemaker or other implantable medical device inside their bodies, it may be thanks in part to Curt. Though he's retired, he's been keeping active in the work of setting standards for devices - it's serious work, but as we learned, Curt doesn't take himself too seriously. A great and interesting conversation!

This was a lot of fun - interviewing local radio legend and entertainer Jim King (a.k.a. Jim Schulz). Why a career in radio? It was a way to be an entertainer without winding up dead in the gutter! Lot's of funny and interesting stuff.

Had a blast interviewing Gordon and Carol about moving from Milwaukee to Scandinavia to start a couple of businesses - Odin & Freja's, and The Runestick. Very interesting and funny people.  

Scott Neumann is owner of Waupaca's Piggly Wiggly (a.k.a., The Pig). We talk with Scott about growing up in Waupaca, how he realized his long-held ambition to own a grocery store, and what it takes to run a store with so many moving parts. Fun and educational.

Our guest this week is Joe Udoni, owner of Udoni & Salan Realty Group & Auction Services. We had a great time talking with Joe about his childhood in Chicago, his career, how he ended up in Waupaca, and the dynamics of our local real estate market.

What a fun and interesting conversation we had with Brian Smith, Mayor of the City of Waupaca. Conversation flowed from his youth growing up as one of ten children in Waupaca, to the years he spent teaching, to starting his own tax and accounting business, to public service - first on the City Council, then as Mayor for over two decades.

A fun interview with a great guy, Dean Sondrol - Clinic Director for Advanced Physical Therapy and recipient of the Waupaca Chamber’s inaugural Community Impact Award – an award that recognized Dean for his contributions to our community as a volunteer. We had fun talking with Dean and know you'll enjoy listening to the conversation.

In this episode, we talk with Kelly about growing up in Waupaca, how he got an early start in the construction business, and how he moved from building houses to running a restaurant. We had a great time interviewing Kelly, and expect you'll enjoy listening. 

On this episode, we chat with Tammy Rae Wolter, owner of A Touch of Glass studio. Tammy's journey is inspiring - the sort of thing that happens when a strong need to create meets opportunities and obstacles. A wonderful conversation that we think you'll enjoy.

Over the past couple of years The Indian Crossing Casino (a.k.a., ICC) has transformed into a destination for food, music, celebration, and just hanging out. Andrew Jordan, General Manager has played a key role in that transformation and is our guest on this week's Curiouser. Great guy with an interesting story.

Another week, another great interview. Laura Brackley is the Director of Camp Elsewhere, and man is she a hoot! A great life story that begins acting in community theater in Sheridan Wyoming, makes stops in Seattle and along the Hudson in New York, and winds up in Waupaca, married to Todd Jones, who's been on our show before. Fun to learn about Laura and of course about Camp Elsewhere, which is very cool.

As a bartender and owner of the Grand National Lounge, Jenn Beland is more accustomed to listening than to talking, but we got her to tell her story, and it's fascinating.

Smile and say "cheese;" our next guest is teacher-turned-award-winning-photographer Tim Koll. Tune in to hear about Tim's active youth, the two criteria that led him to choose Waupaca after being downsized out of a teaching job in Minnesota, how he met his lovely wife and business partner Adriana, and what it takes to capture great photographs.

Saturday's guest grew up on a farm outside of New London and experienced first grade in a one-room schoolhouse. She had a career in video production, working in television and doing corporate video work before moving to Waupaca, where she decided to become involved in education. These days you might see her in a community theater production or singing in a choir. She's interesting, she's funny, she's Kay Ellingson.

This man was born in East Chicago, but spent his formative years on a resort property near Eagle River. He took on rowdy college students as a bouncer at the same bar where he met his wife, Mary. He intended to pursue paper science when he entered college, but instead, he chose to major in math and earn his teaching certificate. The lives of those he has taught, as well as our community, are better for it.