Maureen McCollum
Maureen McCollum is the host and producer for Wisconsin Life on Wisconsin Public Radio. She loves live music, the bluffs along the Mississippi River, and eating too much cheese.
Latest Contributed Stories
September 19, 2023
The most secret home on Earth: Kimberly’s Pao Lor for ‘Home Is Here’
How do you define home if you’ve grown up in multiple places? It’s a question Pao Lor of Kimberly has grappled with for years. So, he went to visit his ...
September 12, 2023
Taking on an accent: Green Bay’s Carina Abrego-Koch for ‘Home Is Here’
How do you travel halfway around the world and still feel connected to home? For WPR’s Carina Abrego-Koch of Green Bay, she listened to the sound of her own voice ...
August 29, 2023
‘That is how you turn hate into love’: Appleton’s Jesús Gregorio Smith for ‘Home Is Here’
What's one of the best ways to combat hate? For Jesús Gregorio Smith of Appleton, it's to push back with love. He shares his story as part of the “Home ...
August 15, 2023
‘Traumatized curls’: Green Bay’s Miriam Brabham for ‘Home Is Here’
Feeling like you're different from your peers can have a big impact on your self-acceptance. But as Miriam Brabham of Green Bay tells us, a nurturing community helped her learn ...
August 1, 2023
‘Home is where I am safe’: Appleton’s Mai Lo Lee for ‘Home Is Here’
Home means different things to different people. Home can be the house you grew up in, a quiet spot in the woods, or right beside your favorite person. For Mai ...
March 23, 2023
‘Food memories’: James Beard Semifinalist Jamie Hoang shines through family recipes
It's one hour before Madison's Ahan restaurant opens and the small kitchen is buzzing. Water is boiling, chicken is roasting and dumplings are frying. Before they even begin taking orders ...
January 24, 2023
“We just want to be part of the American dream”: Cuban exile talks troubled past and hopeful future
(This story is an excerpt from the podcast, “WPR Reports: Uprooted.”) Osvaldo Durruthy was sitting in a Wisconsin prison in the mid-1990s. He was in his 30s and he was ...
November 8, 2022
Madison’s Ricardo Gonzalez and the Cuban Salsa Band
(This story is an excerpt from the podcast, “WPR Reports: Uprooted.”) Ricardo Gonzalez was 12 years old the day the Cuban Revolution prevailed and Fidel Castro took power. Gonzalez grew ...
November 1, 2022
Refugee in La Crosse dreams of returning to Cuba
(This story is an excerpt from the podcast, “WPR Reports: Uprooted.”) A group of musicians are jamming in their living room in La Crosse, playing the popular song “Guantanamera.” One ...
October 18, 2022
Cuban exile reflects on time with sponsor family in Sparta
(This story is an excerpt from the podcast, “WPR Reports: Uprooted.”) When Ernesto Rodriguez of La Crosse was 24 years old he was sitting in a prison cell and was ...
October 11, 2022
Cuban in Wisconsin: Introducing ‘WPR Reports: Uprooted’
In 1980, there was a mass exodus of Cubans who left their homes for the United States as part of the Mariel Boatlift. It was a rare opportunity for people ...
February 7, 2022
Pulaski native Deedra Irwin makes Olympic debut in biathlon
If you’re competing in the biathlon at the Olympics, you have to be really good at not just one, but two different sports: Nordic skiing and rifle shooting. Competitors skate ...
January 26, 2022
‘Dying From COVID Is Not Pretty’: A poet grieves the loss of her sister
Pam Gustafson of Milwaukee loves to write poetry. It helps her process everything she reads and sees in her life, since she can't cry due to an autoimmune disorder. So ...
September 15, 2021
My Brother, Thomas: By Cierra Riederer
Earlier this year, “Wisconsin Life” started working with students at Monona Grove Liberal Arts Charter School, or MG21. The goal was to get more high school student stories on the ...
September 8, 2021
Remembering Gene Purcell: My Brother’s Brief Stint As A Rock Star Manager
Gene Purcell dedicated almost his entire professional life to public media. His passion began in La Crosse, where he started as a student reporter at WLSU-FM. Through the decades, he ...
December 16, 2020
‘Every Single One Of Them Changed Lives’: 6 Nuns At Greenfield Convent Die Of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed the lives of more than 4000 in Wisconsin. This week, WPR is profiling some of the people we lost. Today, "Wisconsin Life's" Maureen McCollum tells ...
November 20, 2020
Uff Da! Charlie Berens & Adam Greuel Release Debut Album ‘Unthawed’
Two proud Wisconsinites have joined forces to create an album celebrating all things Wisco. Comedian Charlie Berens, of Manitowoc Minute fame, and musician Adam Greuel, with the bluegrass darlings Horseshoes ...
September 11, 2020
Cinthia Téllez Silva Wants To Create A Healthier Milwaukee
Cinthia Téllez Silva moved to the United States from Mexico on her 12th birthday. It was also St. Patrick’s Day, a new holiday for Téllez Silva. “My cousin went to ...
August 26, 2020
‘Tomboyland:’ A Love Letter To Midwestern Strength, Complexities
Even though 2020 has been *A YEAR*, Melissa Faliveno has had some bright spots this summer. The New York City writer released her debut essay collection, "Tomboyland." It’s a deep-dive into identity, ...
August 13, 2020
Meet The Nine-Year-Old Entrepreneur Behind Kyric’s Lemonade
One of the quintessential summer activities for kids is setting up a lemonade stand. You can find them all over Wisconsin. And one budding entrepreneur in Milwaukee has taken her ...
August 12, 2020
‘Joy Is A Deep-Seated Thing That He Had’: Foster Youth Advocate Is Among Over 1,000 Dead From COVID-19 In Wisconsin
Wisconsin has crossed a sobering threshold. As of this week, more than 1,000 people in the state have been killed by the coronavirus. This includes Dosha "DJay" Joi, a 28 ...
June 17, 2020
Raised on Raw
Food can conjure up vivid memories of childhood. The tastes and smells can send us to another place, while creating new memories in the moment. Writer Nancy Jorgensen has been ...
June 9, 2020
‘It’s Not The Way It Was Supposed To Be’: Graduating High School During A Pandemic
Many of Wisconsin’s high school seniors have now graduated, capping off one of the strangest ends to a school year ever. The coronavirus pandemic led to the cancellation of in-person ...
June 4, 2020
‘We’re Protesting For A Better Future’: Madison Demonstrators Show Up For Black Lives, Equality
Demonstrations supporting Black lives and calling for police accountability have taken place in dozens of Wisconsin communities over the last week. While there has been some looting and incidents with ...
June 2, 2020
‘I Think About My Friends Every Day’: Third Graders Wrap Up School Year From Home During Pandemic
School is ending for many Wisconsin students this week. In an extraordinary year, many had to adjust to online learning. That includes the third graders at Madison Country Day School ...
May 21, 2020
Artist Zhalarina Sanders Explores Love, Identity With ‘The Light’
Zhalarina Sanders is an artist who does it all. Her craft is steeped in theater and music — so lyricist, music composer, instrumentalist, playwright, actor and graphic and visual artist. ...
April 30, 2020
Meet The Wisconsinites Who Build Their Own ‘Star Wars’ Droids
“Star Wars” is one of the most beloved movie franchises in the world. And a big part of those movies are the droids who fight alongside the Rebel Alliance and ...
April 23, 2020
Acts Of Kindness: Wisconsinites Share Stories Of Joy And Generosity
We’ve heard stories lately about people creating sidewalk and window art for neighbors passing by. A friend delivering flowers to a buddy who’s homebound. Teenagers running errands for the elderly. ...
March 24, 2020
Living (And Working) In Isolation During a Pandemic
Life in the era of COVID-19 is really weird right now. It’s tough. Sometimes it’s hilarious, sometimes it’s really scary. People have lost their jobs. Others are working from home. ...
March 3, 2020
What Was Milwaukee’s First Hip-Hop Song? ‘Backspin’ Podcast Digs Into History
If you’re a big music history nerd, you know there’s a ton of information out there about hip-hop’s roots in New York City. But what about hip-hop in Wisconsin? Our ...
February 14, 2020
The Search For The Synthesizers Behind The ‘All Things Considered’ Theme
Don Voegeli wrote one of the most famous songs in public radio history — the theme for NPR's "All Things Considered — from his office in Madison, Wisconsin. But, the synthesizers behind ...
October 18, 2019
Why Do People Wear Cheeseheads?
Many Wisconsinites have personal reasons for plopping giant triangles of yellow foam on their heads or wearing wedge earrings to every Wisconsin sporting event — from football to baseball. But ...
June 26, 2019
Collecting At Dave’s Guitar Shop
When Dave Rogers opened his first guitar store in the early 1980s in downtown La Crosse, it was in a tiny former dental office. He filled it with Fenders and ...
June 8, 2019
Classroom Frequency: Student Voices From Wisconsin
When I took on the role as host and producer of "Wisconsin Life" on Wisconsin Public Radio, I wanted to incorporate more young voices on the program. So at the ...
June 7, 2019
For The Love Of Military History
When you walk into a classroom at Monona Grove Liberal Arts Charter School, there’s one desk that stands out. It’s lined with vintage military helmets, all purchased by MG21 student ...
June 7, 2019
The Poetry And Music Of Coyote Johnson
Monona Grove Liberal Arts Charter School sophomore Coyote Johnson does everything. She sings, plays guitar, draws intricate sketches, and she writes poetry in a notebook she carries everywhere. For this ...
June 7, 2019
Why Do We Need Charter Schools?
Monona Grove Liberal Arts Charter School junior Dante Murray really wants to talk about school. Before he came to MG21 his sophomore year, he struggled at the traditional public school. ...
June 7, 2019
A Political Awakening: Jasnen Valencia On Immigration
The following story is about a high school student experiencing a political awakening. Monona Grove Liberal Arts Charter School senior Jasnen Valencia, also known as Jaz, wrote the following letter ...
June 7, 2019
High School Musicians Talk Differences, Shared Love Of Music
There are two students at Monona Grove Liberal Arts Charter School, or MG21, that are really talented. They’re both seniors and want to pursue a music career after high school. ...
June 7, 2019
Lou The Rabbit: The Best Classmate I’ve Ever Had
There’s a very special pair of classmates at Monona Grove Liberal Arts Charter School, or MG21. It’s junior Tierra Byrd and Lou (a.k.a. Nibbler) the rabbit. “He’s really, really soft, ...
May 24, 2019
What is THE Wisconsin Cocktail?
When you think about a cocktail that embodies Wisconsin, what comes to mind? We posed that question to a few bartenders across Wisconsin. These are their responses.
May 17, 2019
Slingin’ Drinks: Bartending At La Crosse’s Iconic Del’s Bar
In a city with never-ending bar options, Del’s Bar in La Crosse sticks out. It’s been open since 1933 in a historic brick building downtown. Step inside on any given ...
April 17, 2019
From Australia to Milwaukee, Kane Pitman Covers The Bucks
Imagine leaving your family and job and moving overseas to Milwaukee to fulfill a dream. That’s exactly what Kane Pitman did. Since arriving in Wisconsin, the Australian freelance writer has ...
February 27, 2019
Remembering UW’s Black Student Strike Of 1969
When Geraldine Hines arrived on the UW-Madison campus as a law student 50 years ago, she had to adapt to the Wisconsin climate, the food, and its people. She had ...
February 15, 2019
The Legacy of Dr. James Cameron: Founder of America’s Black Holocaust Museum
(Editor's note and update: American's Black Holocaust Museum is reopening at its new location on Feb. 25, 2022.) In Milwaukee’s historic Bronzeville neighborhood, a museum is resurrecting. America’s Black Holocaust ...
February 8, 2019
Comedian Brings Dorkdom, Stand-Up Back To Milwaukee
Jackie Kashian fell hard for comedy while attending University of Wisconsin-Madison, but the elements were there while growing up in South Milwaukee….NOT Milwaukee. “I have been explaining to people that ...
January 30, 2019
What is THE Wisconsin Song?
Is there a song that represents or unifies the state? Is it 'On, Wisconsin!'? Bon Iver? Liberace? We got music journalists and historians to weigh in.
December 28, 2018
The Badger Within: Comedian Charlie Berens On Loving, Lampooning Wisconsin
Geez Louise, comedian Charlie Berens has had a big year. As host of the Manitowoc Minute, he’s performing sold out shows across Wisconsin and his online comedy news show is ...
December 14, 2018
Readers Rejoice, A Storylord Comes!
Many Wisconsin students grew up watching "Storylords" in the 1980s and 1990s. They’re part of an enthusiastic fan base who remember the TV cart being wheeled into the classroom for ...
December 7, 2018
Food Traditions: Lutefisk Supper
This story is part of Wisconsin Life's Food Traditions series. Lutefisk is a Scandinavian delicacy. It’s cod or whitefish that's been dehydrated and preserved in lye. To prepare it, cooks ...
November 30, 2018
Appleton Musician Adriel Denae Branches Out To Release Debut Solo Album
About seven years ago, Adriel Denae's brother challenged her to write out a list of life goals. Since then, the Appleton-based musician has been creating partnerships and channeling her independence ...
November 22, 2018
Lutefisk
Lutefisk is a generational dish you can smell from afar — as far as a fjord in Norway, quite possibly. As one lutefisk fan describes it, "The smell one can ...
October 19, 2018
Turnin’ Up The Heat! The History Of A Brewers Anthem
The music world has blessed us with some gems about the Milwaukee Brewers. In light of the team’s success and playoff appearance this season, a few new songs have popped ...
August 15, 2018
Young Farmers Grow And Sell Produce In Sherman Park
On a recent hot and sunny afternoon on the north side of Milwaukee, about half a dozen Young Farmers are hard at work in their garden. There’s a lot to ...
August 3, 2018
Musician Peter Phippen Plays Flutes From Around The World
The flute is one of the oldest instruments in the world, after the human voice. Almost every culture has their version of one and, chances are, flutist Peter Phippen wants ...
July 25, 2018
Students Tackle Diversity And Leadership At Summer Camp
These days, there’s a camp for everything: theater, football, Harry Potter. At University of Wisconsin-Green Bay this summer, a group of teenagers and volunteers decided they wanted to dedicate a ...
June 8, 2018
The Guide For White Women Who Teach Black Boys
White women make up 70% of the teachers in Wisconsin. In Fond du Lac, the percentage is even higher in a city where there are more and more students of ...
May 23, 2018
Hmong Blacksmith Shop: Keeping The Tradition Glowing
In the back of the Hmoob Cultural and Community Agency in La Crosse, there’s a blacksmith shop where people can learn an historic craft. It’s here that master blacksmith Tong ...
May 2, 2018
Kayaking The Mississippi Backwaters
As Maureen McCollum begins her new journey as the producer of Wisconsin Life, we thought it'd be fun to revisit some of our favorite pieces that have aired over the ...
December 8, 2017
Woodworking Elves Bring Holiday Cheer To Kids
On a sunny day along the Mississippi River in Onalaska this past fall, a group of guys got together to make wooden toys. They call themselves woodworking elves and for ...
July 13, 2015
The Legacy of Sister Thea Bowman
Twenty-five years ago, the first and only African-American Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration passed away. This year, Sr. Thea Bowman’s fellow nuns in La Crosse, former students, and friends are remembering ...
March 11, 2015
Bowling and Beer at One of Milwaukee’s Oldest Taverns
Tucked inside the basement of a neighborhood bar in southwest Milwaukee, you'll find the oldest bowling alley in the country. The Holler House has been welcoming customers for over 100 ...
March 14, 2014
Hornpipes, Reels And Slip Jigs: Irish Dancing In Milwaukee
Irish dance is booming in Milwaukee, where there are seven dance schools and counting. Irish dancers typically keep their arms straight at their sides while their legs quickly leap, kick ...
February 10, 2014
George Poage: The First African-American Olympic Medalist
George Poage moved to La Crosse as a young child in 1884. Locally, he was known as a scholar and remarkable athlete. He went on become the first African-American on ...
October 18, 2013
Dancing the streets of La Crosse with Peaches
In a city that lacks celebrities and diversity, someone like Peaches stands out. She's best known for singing and dancing all over La Crosse in incredibly bright outfits. WPR's Maureen ...
August 7, 2013
Naturists in Wisconsin
In southeast Wisconsin, there's a secluded, heavily wooded private area where people like to get away, relax with friends, and share food and drinks. It's like any other campground, except ...
May 8, 2013
Breakfast at Rosie’s
Every morning at 5:30, Rosie Perez and her daughter, Teresa Kerns, open up the quaint and cozy Rosie's Cafe in La Crosse. They've been working together for almost 30 years. ...
March 15, 2013
Playing Broomball In Wisconsin
Broomball is a lot like ice hockey, except players wear shoes and use a ball instead of a puck. The game originated in Canada in the early 20th century and ...
February 8, 2013
Westby Ski Jump Competition
Every year, ski jumpers from around the world gather in Westby for the annual Snowflake Ski Jump Tournament. Last weekend marked the event's 90th anniversary. WPR producer Maureen McCollum braved ...
July 26, 2012
Pack Burro Racing
Today, an introduction to what has to be one of the most unusual sports in the world. Pack burro racing. This weekend, elite runners will compete on a rugged 29-mile ...
November 18, 2011
Cranberries
It's hard to imagine Thanksgiving without cranberries. Unless you’re like Nodji vanWychen — born and raised on a cranberry marsh. Nodji’s a 3rd generation cranberry grower. She and her family ...
October 5, 2011
Celebrating German Culture At The Oktoberfest Parade
People in La Crosse have been decked out in lederhosen and dirndls all week for the city's 51st annual Oktoberfest celebration. Beer-drinking is a big part of Oktoberfest, but for ...
September 27, 2011