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Our guest today is Julia Griffith, Program Director at Historic Milwaukee – back for the second time to follow up on her 2020 appearance, which was our most popular episode ever. We get started by answering question #414 from Mac’s book of 1,001 conversation starters: If you could do something very daring without fear, what would you do? (Answers include swimming, jumping out of an airplane, hiking the Appalachian Trail.) Then, we talk about the pilot programs launching in San Francisco and St. Paul to provide a universal basic income to sets of artists for the next six to eighteen months.  Julia joins at 20:30. Historic significance of 414 as our area code, and how rotary phones work (22:20), 414 Day start in MKE in 2010 (25:00), how Historic Milwaukee has innovated during pandemic times (29:46), what lessons might Historic Milwaukee take with them moving forward (35:00), where is Julia looking forward to getting back into and how might Milwaukeeans relate to space moving forward (38:20), Julia's thoughts on how we’ll look back on this time (42:45), Julia answers question #414 from Mac’s book and we are surprised to find out that Julia loves sharks (48:10), where to find Historic Milwaukee, and about their new walking tours app (52:35), and who is the next John Gurda and is it Julia (55:00)? Stick around for a totally whimsical, mainly space camp focused after-pod hang with Julia (and David comes back) starting at 59:41. Historic Milwaukee: Website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter For the app, search Historic Milwaukee Inc on Apple Store or Google Play Historic Milwaukee 414 Day Sale E2 Ephemera 414 Day Activities in Milwaukee Imagine this Podcast, E.7 w/ Julia Griffith, the last time we had someone in the studio What is a rotary phone? A Life Saving Tip: Bop a shark on the nose Why do rockets launch from Florida? Correction: Space Camp was saved by private fundraising (look out class of 2022)! Space elevators 

Our guests today are Jenny Gropp and Laura Solomon, Executive Directors of Woodland Pattern Book Center - and perfect timing, as we start National Poetry Month! We get started with a challenge for our listeners: let us know if you’d come to an in-person, outdoor podcast recording someday. Then, we talk about the American Rescue Plan Act money coming to Milwaukee and what we’re working on proposing for how it could support artists. And Mac shares how the Arts and Culture Advancing Public Health cohort is kicking off (which you can still sign up for here). Plus, Lindsay previews a new video that will be coming on 414 Day. Jenny and Laura join us at 12:00. We start with a couple poetry readings to center us. Past cultural memories that were powerful opportunities for connection and healing (18:35); finding the balance between in person and virtual events moving forward (29:00); what’s can be the role of poetry for Milwaukee moving forward (32:35); news about a Milwaukee Youth Poet Laureate program starting (35:40); what Jenny and Laura hope we’re all talking about a year from now (38:16); how will we handle sharing space together moving forward (41:10); Jenny and Laura’s reigns as the Czar of Arts and Culture (44:15).  Woodland Pattern: Instagram and Web Music Transitions: “All of Everything at Once” Ruth B8r Ginsburg at Woodland Pattern’s 39th Anniversary Gala E220 Ephemera: An American Tail Arts and Health Cohort Life in Motion Natalie Diaz  Bruise Bullet Flower 

This week, we start off with Lindsay’s new piano variations on the tropical house beats, David (Lee’s) invitation to audition for a reality TV show, Mac asking Lindsay and David to interpret his dream, and the Bloomberg article about The New York Times NFT. David Najib Kasir (and the only David reference in the rest of this paragraph, not to be confused with David Lee) joins the podcast at 14:27. Reconnecting after a year and sharing some love for the Bulls; going to see the Bisa Butler exhibit at Art Institute of Chicago (19:24); David’s work and how it helps change the narrative for Arabs (23:29); how David has dealt with the last year (28:43); going to the studio every day during the pandemic (33:50); David’s sculpture-turned-NFT made at our last in-person work group meeting (36:00); David’s take on NFT’s (41:30); and what would help make Milwaukee better for artists to create? (50:14) David Najib Kasir: Instagram, Website Music Transitions: “Tropical House Variations,” Lindsay Sheridan E2 Ephemera Beeple’s $69 Million JPEG (Planet Money) Bisa Butler (Chicago Institute of Art)  David Park  The Ratio of Percents in Ghosts  (David Najib Kasir) Epstein Was Murdered (Rarible) NFTs Are a Pyramid Scheme (FStoppers) NFTs (SNL) 

This week, we welcome Brianna Lynn Hernández Baurichter, a Chicana artist, curator, and educator whose background includes experience working in community organizations, gallery, museum, and higher education settings, and as a consultant with public health researchers. Brianna is also currently the Director of Cultural Transformation at the Milwaukee Artist Resource Network. In the intro, the NFT exploration continues with the actual minting of the photo of David Najib Kasir’s fidget toy sculpture. You can bid on it on Rarible now, and we have a lot to share about what we’ve learned about Ether. We also share an article about the Netflix documentary “Made You Look,” which talks about the sale of a fake Rothko and how we place value on art. To wrap it up, the crew reflects Lindsay reflects on some arts and culture spaces that have felt most like home to them. At 19:45, Brianna joins: being influenced by the work of Guillermo Gómez-Peña’s The New World Order; work that has exemplified the spirit of proclaiming mixed identity (22:55); how audiences interact with her large-scale work personally (25:50); creating work that helps enter into conversations around death and end-of-life care (30:20); building new realities through hybridity in identity and art (33:30); Brianna’s experience of telling story of her role as a caregiver and helping other grievers express what is not normally expressed (35:22);  Brianna’s work as a consultant with public health researchers and using arts as a tool for healing from emotional trauma (40:00); navigating differences between the arts and health (41:45); how Brianna combines her work as an artist and consultant with her role as Director of Cultural Transformation at MARN (44:53); how different parts of the system affect each other (48:00); what's keeping our arts and culture sector from achieving greater equity for Milwaukee? (50:45); Brianna is the Czar (55:00). Learn more about Brianna on her website or Instagram.  Music Transitions: “Caroline’s,” by Amanda Huff E2 E18 Ephemera Epstein was Murdered NFT on Rarible  “The Art World Has Bigger Enemies Than Forgers” (Defector)  

This week on the pod, we welcome two guests – Jeffrey McAlister of FashionSense and Beth Weirick of the Downtown BID #21 – to celebrate the release of the Winter 2021 Lookbook. The MKE It Local Lookbook is a visual representation of style and fashion from Milwaukee's local designers, shops, and boutiques in gorgeous Downtown locations, and can be viewed here.  Mac, David, and Lindsay start off reflecting on the start of the pandemic in Milwaukee one year ago, and ask the question “Is it time for Imagine This Podcast to start a NFT?” We also announce Imagine MKE’s Arts and Culture Advancing Public Health cohort, which is starting up now. At 21:26, Jeffrey and Beth join. Sharing arts and culture memories that left an impact (23:10), how Jeffrey and Beth connected over the years to lead to this current partnership (28:00), COVID-time changes to the plan to highlight fashion Downtown that led to the Lookbook (34:00), turning the project into a photoshoot (38:10), the perception of Milwaukee fashion right now (41:50), relationship between place and fashion in Milwaukee (43:55), the balance of fashion being elite and accessible (48:15), what’s next for Downtown in 2021 (51:50), what they hope for in fashion and place in the coming year (55:50), Jeffrey and Beth’s reign as Czar of Arts and Culture (57:20).  Music Transitions: “Love Song (ft. 311),” B. ALXNDR  E217 Ephemera “Epstein Was Murdered,” David Najib Kasir, 2020 (Sculpture made with fidget toys at last in-person Imagine MKE meeting) What is an NFT? Article  How to Make an NFT Video  $405 Million in aid to Milwaukee Arts and Health Leaders Cohort Sign Up Social:  Jeffrey McAlister/ FashionSense – Facebook and Instagram Milwaukee Downtown – Facebook, Instagram, Twitter 

This week on the pod, we welcome Wendell Willis, Executive Director of the Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation – and, to Mac’s delight, fellow Northwestern alum. The crew talks about Wendell’s own artistic upbringing, his varied career in business and nonprofit work, and his vision for how the arts should be integrated into education and civic infrastructure. Mac, David, and Lindsay kick it off with a reflection on democratizing art through listening to a 1996 clip of Charlie Rose with Bowie (#rip) and Schnabel talking about the art of Basquiat (1:20), then visiting Jane Fonda’s Golden Globes acceptance speech (15:15). Wendell’s interview starts at 23:27: moving to Milwaukee, growing up with artistic family members, and graduating from Rufus King (24:15); going to Northwestern and studying arts and business (26:52); exploring careers in the business and nonprofit worlds (34:10); art as a tool to look at business problems differently (36:25); scaling up Ways to Work and building great teams (38:42); the role of arts and culture in public education (44:10); arts integration across subjects (49:40); changing the narrative of why the arts are important to our communities (54:40); civic pride in Milwaukee (59:00); Czar of Arts and Culture turn (1:02). And finally, we ask Wendell for some dish on Esteban – a Public Ally currently with Imagine MKE and formerly with MPS Foundation!Follow Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Music Transitions: “Tennessee,” Capitol Drive E216 Ephemera David Bowie & Julian Schnabel on Charlie Rose Jane Fonda at the Golden Globes Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) and Crypto Art Kings of Leon NFT Album  NBA Top Shot 

This week, the gang welcomes Dan Shafer from the Recombobulation Area to discuss the Milwaukee narrative in the 21st century and the political dynamics in the state, and after the credits a special guest from the wizarding world of Harry Potter joins the pod to deliver a very special message to our very own Lindsay Sheridan.  News rundown! (:50) Calling out our competitors at Pod Save America and controversial food takes (9:17); Dan Shafer joins the pod and shares a story about his love of music (16:55); Milwaukee’s story in the 21st century (23:46); How political and geographic polarization, and being conflict averse limit growth (32:07); Governor Evers’ Executive Budget (41:35); State investments in the Public Museum (45:20); Ranked choice voting legislation (49:05); Arts and culture czar reign (56:45); #DanforDavid solved! (59:39); Harry Potter-heads alert! What - that’s Percy Weasley’s music. What’s he doing running in on the pod? (1:04:29) Follow Dan Shafer: Recombobulation Area | Twitter: @DanShafer Music Transitions: “Green Eggs and Ham” Wes Tank E215 Ephemera 2021 – 2023 Governor Evers Executive Budget Proposal USA Today on naming a Secretary for Culture and Creative Industries  “State Should Invest in Creative Economy,” Urban Milwaukee  “Imagine MKE Wins National Funding to Explore Intersections of Arts and Health,” Milwaukee Business Journal Light the Hoan – Dedicate a Bulb Samer’s video of the Hoan lit up for Imagine MKENotable Minority Executives List (BizTimes) The Old Fashioned is Wisconsin’s state cocktail Why Cheese Curds are Special Pod with Sara Eskrich, Democracy Found 

This week, the gang takes on all of the news in federal, state, and local arts and culture, including the President visiting Milwaukee at The Pabst, the Governor’s proposed budget, local public health regulations, and David’s favorite thing from last week.  Then, Milwaukee-based artist Kelly Hammann, aka Queen Kel the Creator, joins the gang to talk about her design for Imagine MKE’s poster in the Light the Hoan’s Shine a Light program. The Hoan gets lit up for Imagine on 2/25 from 5 – 2 am! Find a #DanforDavid (:47); Biden Town Hall at the Pabst Theater (2:27); Governor Evers’ budget proposal (11:00); Museums re-opening (17:30); Dasha Kelly Hamilton on Google Arts and Culture’s Black History Month feature on Gee’s Bend Quilters (20:00); Shine a Light at Light the Hoan (24:07); Kelly Hammann, aka Queen Kel the Creator joins the pod and shares her origin story about Kello Kat (27:11); Kelly talks about her poster design for Imagine MKE (33:10); Being an artist in Milwaukee during the pandemic (35:45); Plugs and artists that Queen Kel loves (42:18); Outro Easter Egg: what happens when Lindsay joins the team (48:40). Follow Kelly Hammann: Insta @QueenKelTheCreator | Web www.queenkelthecreator.com Music Transitions: “Winter in Wisconsin,” Joe Quinto, featuring Keegan Calmes (Spotify) IG: @joequintomusic E214 Ephemera Downtown lit up for the President’s Town Hall at the Pabst 2021 – 2023 Governor Evers Executive Budget Proposal USA Today on naming a Secretary for Culture and Creative Industries  Milwaukee’s Google Arts and Culture page (Google Arts and Culture) Pod with Google Arts and Culture Dasha Kelly Hamilton on Gee’s Bend Quilters (Google Arts and Culture) Dasha Kelly Hamilton Profile (Google Arts and Culture) Pod with Light the Hoan Imagine MKE Shine a Light Dedicate a Bulb on the Hoan and select Kelly’s poster design Kello Kat  

This week, the gang survives two run-in's before welcoming Bryce Lord, from the Helen Bader Institute for Non-Profit Management, for a conversation on the role of arts and culture organizations in the broader non-profit landscape in Milwaukee and beyond.Mac and David welcome Lindsay to the gang and a special someone drops by to wish Mac a happy birthday (00:17), Bryce joins and shares his origin story (9:25), Taking stock of arts organizations in the context of the non-profit world and measuring impact (17:51), Technology and the arts coming out of the pandemic (30:25), What makes Milwaukee unique and exciting (44:59), Arts and Culture Czar reign (47:34), Outro Easter Egg and shout out to Dan (55:18)Listen and subscribe: Non-Profits and Java Audio Transitions: "Green Eggs and Ham," Wes TankEphemeraThe Journey of Natty GannBarry Horowitz wishes Mac a happy birthday and shouts out Milwaukee and the BucksBarry Horowitz: The Greatest Jobber in WWE History

In the one year anniversary of Imagine This Podcast, the gang chooses not to do an anniversary show and instead reflects on the challenges of making sense of all of the choices we have before us. Whether it's choosing which shows to watch, choosing the next step in advancing a strategy at work, or choosing how we engage as members of a civic community. Stay tuned after the credits for the bonus Super Bowl commercial/cultural conversation pod.Winter has come (:20); Mac and David take on the ennui of abundance and defaulting to known quantities (3:50); Making choices and action commitments to make progress on a shared agenda in uncertain environments (12:15); The Civic vs. Consumer frame and the myth of efficiency (23:07); Revisiting the pod's mission statement (35:01); David and Mac's hilariously wrong Super Bowl predictions (38:30); Bonus pod: the Super Bowl's role in our nation's cultural conversation (39:35)Episode EphemeraPilot episode (Feb 11, 2020)"Why Government Should Not be Run Like a Business" (Forbes)2021 Super Bowl commercials (Vulture)Milwaukee in Super Bowl LV Intro (Shepherd Express)"The Chorus of Captains," Amanda Gorman (Youtube)NFL Films Best Shots from 2020 (YouTube)

This week, the gang welcomes Xela Garcia, Executive Director of Walker's Point Center for the Arts and candidate for Milwaukee Public Schools District 6 School Board Director, for a wide ranging conversation on how arts, culture, and socio-political identity drive her leadership and vision for a more equitable Milwaukee. David and Mac take on Stonks, GameStop, and the impact on arts and culture (00:21); Overview of 2021 work group launch (6:29), Xela joins the pod and shared an incredible origin story about how she was inspired by and connected with Alma Lopez (13:25); WPCA's role in Milwaukee's arts and culture system (28:07); Xela's role as an arts and culture leader in Milwaukee and nationally (37:38); Why Xela is running for school board (47:40); Arts and Culture Czar (1:00:08)Follow:Xela Garcia: @B4TrendzXela For School Board: @Xela4MPSWalkers Point Center for the Arts: @WalkersPointArtAudio Transitions: "Milwaukee Strong," featuring the Milwaukee All Stars E211 Ephemera:Can't Stop Gamestop (Planet Money)The end scene of "Trading Places" (YouTube)The ending of "Trading Places" explained (Business Insider)Winter Work Group MeetingsAlma Lopez"Fade Away," by Narysal (Spotify)

This week the gang keeps its run of returning guests going with Gabe Yeager from Downtown BID #21 and Milwaukee-based photographer Samer Ghani to talk about all of the work done to highlight Milwaukee - and our City's arts, culture, and civic pride - as part of the National COVID-19 Memorial and the inauguration events last week. Mac and David take on Bernie mittens (00:43); Mac's experience hosting Ex Fabula's Re-Imagining Milwaukee online event (3:40); Samer and Gabe join to chat about arts and culture's role in highlighting our City during national moments of reflection (14:37); That time last week when Rachael Maddow's producers slid into Samer's DM (23:50); No longer content with being the underdog (26:36); The role of arts and culture in institutional life (32:59); Don't Hibernate, Celebrate Safely and MKE It Local Winter Activations (45:14); How does Milwaukee unify in 2021? (55:02). Samer Ghani: Web | Instagram Gabe Yeager: Downtown BID #21 | Massimals! | MKE It Local | Road of DemocracyAudio Transitions: "Milwaukee Strong," featuring the Milwaukee All StarsS210 EphemeraLight the HoanSamer's IG story with video from MSNBCBango in the Parade Across America"Pursuing the Vision," Tia Richardson, Parade Across America 

After a few weeks off, the gang returns this week with Adam Qutaishat, Milwaukee-area theater artist and teacher, to deep-dive into their lifelong passion for the art of professional wrestling, its impact on society, and on their work and practice.This will go down in history as the only podcast episode ever to hint at the work of French philosophers Roland Barthes and Guy Debord, commedia dell'arte, and also namecheck Milwaukee legend Bobson Dugnutt.Review of 2021 Work Group launch (2:00), How does one get from collective impact to pro wrestling? (6:46), Adam joins the show (18:54), Easter Egg (1:22:15)Follow Adam: All In Productions | Sexy Hackers | Music Theater of MadisonS209 Ephemera:2021 Work Group live stream videoSign up for a Work Group meeting"The World of Wrestling," Mythologies, by Roland Barthes, 1972Encyclopedia of Milwaukee: Professional Wrestling, UWM"Hard Times," Dusty RhodesWhich city did Bobson Dugnutt play for in the 1994 Fighting Baseball game? 

As 2020 winds down this week, the gang takes a look back at the year and plays a bit of the "How it started, how's it going" meme while looking back some of their favorite episodes of the podcast. The whole Imagine MKE team joins the podcast to build a 2020 time capsule of arts and culture events. Pod in review (02:00); Team Imagine joins to add their events to the time capsule (15:22); David and Mac's contributions to the time capsule (40:29); Other 2020 time capsule worthy events (48:57); Roasty Easter Eggs (56:23)Audio Transitions: "Milwaukee Strong," featuring the Milwaukee All-Stars and "Auld Lang Syne," United States Marine Band (What does Milwaukee have to do with Auld Lang Syne?)E208 EphemeraE101: Let's Not be Perfectionists About itE107: MKE's Rich History w/ Julia GriffithE112: Movement w/ Mauriah KrakerE129: Road of Democracy w/ Dasha Kelly HamiltonE133: Getting an Assist from the State w/ Joel BrennanE135: Talking to TED w/ Anne Basting"Eat the Rich" by Johanna Rose & Sugar RansomProtest ArtLife in Motion (The 414 Day Video)"Reparations" by Lorde Fredd33"Song of Freedom" by Shonn HintonArtist Relief Fund Thank You VideoTotal Sh!t Show: The World's First Live Streamed Pandemic Music EventGet tickets to The Docksiders NYE Concert at Turner Hall to benefit the Artist Relief Fund and NIVAWant to listen on the go? Subscribe to the show wherever you normally get your pods. Click here.

So for the first ever Imagine MKE Fantasy Draft this week, it probably would have been more appropriate to have a fantasy draft of Christmas songs but as you know, one MacArthur Antigua hates the genre and so here we are on Christmas week with the inaugural Imagine MKE Fantasy Draft: Best Milwaukee Food Day edition (thanks to All Fantasy Everything, who inspired the idea). News and notes (00:50); Fantasy Eats Draft: Drafting Your Perfect Food Day in Milwaukee! (12:25); Mac holds a "random" lottery to assign himself the second pick (18:45); Finally, the first pick of the draft (22:45); Shenanigans with the 24th overall pick (46:20), A few more restaurants that we would have liked to have picked (1:02:58); Easter Eggs (1:13:16)Once you finish listening, cast your vote here for who had the best Food Draft to win a delicious treat from one of the restaurants in the winner's draft slate! Audio transitions: Let Go, by Lex Allen (Spotify)E207 Ephemera:Milwaukee County CARES for Arts and CultureHoliday Artist Relief Fund (buy tickets to the Docksiders NYE show)Annual Event: Looking Back, Imagining Forward

This week, the gang goes on a smooth sail with Kevin and Erin Sucher and Rob Martin of The Docksiders, America's favorite Yacht Rock tribute band. Together, they shuffle and bounce and have a smooth groove about being Yacht or Nyacht, favorite Yacht Rock songs, and putting on a New Year's Eve show - in the time of COVID-19 - at Turner Hall to benefit NIVA and the Holiday Artist Relief Fund. Imagine MKE news and notes: MKE CARES for Arts and Culture, Holiday Artist Relief Fund, and Holiday Entertaining Tips (1:50); The Docksiders' boat pulls up to the pod marina (11:39); Yacht or Nyacht (30:20); Putting on a show during COVID-19 (36:27); The Docksiders non-negotiable Yacht Rock songs (46:12); Czar of Yacht Rock (48:11); Plugs (54:26); Outro Easter Egg (1:03:51)  Follow The Docksiders (and to buy tickets for NYE): Facebook | Web | SpotifyErin Sucher's EP: "To The Max!" (Spotify)Audio Transitions: "The Marina," The Docksiders (Spotify)S2 E6 EphemeraHoliday Artist Relief FundNIVA: Save our StagesYacht or NyactHit Parade: What a Fool Believes EditionAs listeners of the pod, you, the general public must comment on the rulings of the Yacht Rock Supreme Court. The songs mentioned in this podcast are listed below with their official Yacht or Nyacht score in parenthesis. Let us know if you think these songs are Yacht or Nyacht"Heart to Heart," Kenny Loggins, picked by Rob Martin (99.63 Yacht)"If I Can't Have You," Bee Gees, picked by Erin Sucher (0 Nyacht)"Steal Away," Robbie Dupree, picked by Kevin Sucher (85 Yacht)"Baby Come Back," Player, picked by Erin Sucher (58 Borderline Yacht)"Biggest Part of Me," Ambrosia, picked by Kevin Sucher (72.5 Yacht)"Still the One," Orleans, picked by Rob Martin (31.25 Nyacht)"What a Fool Believes," The Doobie Brothers, picked by Mac (100 Yacht)"Summer Breeze," Seals & Croft, picked by David (21.75 Nyacht)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google / Stitcher

This week, the gang welcomes Sara Eskrich, Executive Director of Democracy Found, to the pod to talk about how growing up in a rich arts ecosystem informed her leadership, the modern story about civics, and her work driving common sense reforms to save our democracy.On behalf of Christmas music, the public declares war on Mac (0:20); Imagine these Holidays: Holiday Artist Relief Fund, MKE CARES for Arts and Culture, Light the Hoan, and Annual Event (7:22); Sara Eskrich joins the pod (17:25); Sara's formative arts experiences (20:00); Going into the family business & the idealism necessary to make democracy work (26:57); Democracy Found (34:43); Interlude: Mac's cleaning service landing 747's (49:19); Helping to put "The Politics Industry" book together (50:15); How elected officials are taking to this package of political innovation (52:25); Arts and Culture Czar reign - apparently Madison has one (56:33); Plugs (1:00:43); Wrap up: making civics less lonely and more artful (1:02:55); Outro easter egg: Why is David fighting Jean-Claude Van Damme? (1:08:39)  Follow Sara Eskrich: @saraeskrichFollow and support Democracy Found: Web "The Politics Industry: How Political Innovation can Break Partisan Gridlock and Save our Democracy" by Katherine Gehl and Michael PorterAudio Transitions: "Lovely Child" by The VUCA Collective and "Let Go," Lex Allen (YouTube)S2 E5 EphemeraMKE Spirits Bright, featuring the Antigua Shahs (0:19) (Facebook)David in a downtown holiday storefront display (Medium)"Black Rain" Trailer (YouTube)Holiday Artist Relief FundMilwaukee CARES for Arts and CultureLight the Hoan's Shine a LightSchool House Rock: I'm Only a Bill (Youtube)Harvard Business School Idea Cast: Applying Porter’s Five Forces to Fix U.S. PoliticsSubscribe: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google / Stitcher

This week, the gang welcomes Carl Atiya Swanson, Associate Director, Communications and Operations at Springboard for the Arts to the pod...but on the interview, MacArthur goes solo like McCartney...While Carl and Springboard for the Arts are located in Minnesota, they are definitely kindred spirits, and Mac and Carl chew on how the arts and creativity extend our imagination by allowing us to get a little lost, the demands of funding change, the Upper Midwest Emergency Fund Coalition, and how caring for artists and creative workers is part and parcel of caring for the community. David gives Mac the business about his solo pod and Mac diverts by declaring war on Christmas music (1:13), The Holiday Artist Relief Fund is live! (5:00), Our partnership with Light the Hoan to Shine a Light on Milwaukee's artists and non-profits (9:48), Carl Atiya Swanson joins and shares his origin story (14:20), Efficiency vs. getting lost (23:46), Emergency funds during the pandemic and the launch of the Upper Midwest Emergency Fund Coalition (37:04), What arts and culture public policies have worked in Minnesota (49:30); Plugs (55:05). Follow Carl Atiya Swanson:  Web | Social: @catiyas Follow Springboard for the Arts: Web | Social: @SpringboardArts | Toolkits to Inspire Change and Create Impact: Springboard Creative Exchange  Audio Transitions: "Let Go," Lex Allen (YouTube)S2 E4 Ephemera"Wonderful Christmastime" Paul McCartney and Wings (YouTube)Happy Days Spin-Offs (Wikipedia)That time Mork from Ork came to Milwaukee (YouTube)Holiday Artist Relief FundLight the Hoan's Shine a LightBeing a Third Culture kid (NY Times)"Specter of The Artless City," by Andrew Zitcer, Drexel UniversitySubscribe: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google / Stitcher

The week on the pod, the gang welcomes Suzan Fete, Artistic Director, and Lisa Rasmussen, Managing Director, of Renaissance Theaterworks to talk about their origin stories at the nation's 2nd oldest theater with a mission to promote gender equity and to promote "Belonging," their exciting new collection of short plays that aims to explore the question of who belongs. Imagine This Week (1:49), David and Mac's Rekindle flash fiction (3:12), Welcoming Suzan and Lisa (15:34), Growing up in strong arts eco-systems in Chicago and Northern Wisconsin (17:26), Gender equity in theater in 2020 (31:38), Sustainability in small theatre through uncertainty (42:55), "Belonging" as a live theater event and testing the limits of Zoom as a medium (48:15), Arts as a driver for health (1:01:55), The reigns of two arts and culture czarinas (1:09:15), Plugs (1:13:16)Follow Renaissance Theaterworks: Facebook | Web | "Belonging" Live via Zoom 12/4 - 12/6 and then streaming through 12/20 | More with Suzan and Lisa on E5 of You Got a ThingAudio Transitions: "Caroline's" by Amanda Huff (Spotify)S2 E03 EphemeraTWIB Notes with Mel Allen (YouTube)Jonathan Cardew (Twitter)"Milwaukee Arts Groups Demand Better COVID Rules Communication from City" (Journal Sentinel, subscription required)Broadway by the Numbers 2019The KilroysSquare peg in a round role scene from Apollo 13 (YouTube)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google / Stitcher

The week on the pod, the gang welcomes County Supervisor Jason Haas for a quest to defend and invest in Milwaukee County arts and culture organizations. We learn about why he is such a great advocate for the County's arts and culture organizations and how in the last two weeks as the Chair of the County's Finance Committee, he was able to both defend against proposed cuts to County funding for the arts and secure CARES Act funds for our region's arts groups. #ModernLife Imagine Fitness mini-pod (00:59), Wisconsin Order 94 and the COVID surge (3:00), New artist relief fund efforts (10:32), Supervisor Jason Haas joins the pod (14:14), Formative arts and culture experiences (18:57), Cultural exploration and leadership development through video games (24:01), The intrinsic value of arts and culture (31:44), Potential opportunities to increase public funding for the arts (40:44), El joins conversation on state tax policy (45:05), County CARES Act funding for arts and culture groups (46:00), How the $700,000 allocation came together (52:50), The importance of CAMPAC (56:20), How everyday Milwaukeeans can ensure that arts and culture is supported through public policy (58:58), Best kept secrets in Ultima and in Milwaukee (1:04:43), Plugs (1:09:56) Follow Jason Haas: Facebook | 14th District | Milwaukee County Legislative Info Center (CLIC)Audio Transitions: "Milwaukee Strong" by Shonn Hinton, featuring The Milwaukee All Stars (SoundCloud)S2 E02 EphemeraFull Rocky IV Training Montage (YouTube)LukeyDPT (Instagram)UWM Rapid Testing pilotSilkwood Shower (Youtube)The Open Fund (Deadline 11/28)Commodore 64Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar$700,000 in County CARES Act funding for arts and culture groups Subscribe: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google / Stitcher