A Public Affair
@apublicaffair.bsky.social
We're the noon-hour talk show on your favorite radio station, WORT 89.9 FM Madison.
Online anytime at wortfm.org/news-talk/talk/public-affair/
Online anytime at wortfm.org/news-talk/talk/public-affair/
🎙️ Guest host Juliana Bennett speaks with Native leader Art Shegonee about his early childhood in foster care, organizing for treaty rights, and the Thanksgiving holiday.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/welcome-to-m...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/welcome-to-m...
“Welcome to My Country,” says Native Activist Art Shegonee - WORT-FM 89.9
Juliana Bennett speaks with Native leader, Art Shegonee, about his early childhood, years of dancing, and organizing for treaty rights.
www.wortfm.org
November 14, 2025 at 8:12 PM
🎙️ Guest host Juliana Bennett speaks with Native leader Art Shegonee about his early childhood in foster care, organizing for treaty rights, and the Thanksgiving holiday.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/welcome-to-m...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/welcome-to-m...
🎙️As police forces act with impunity against civilians and immigrants, brian bean’s new book, Their End is our Beginning: Cops, Capitalism, and Abolition, is a timely argument for getting rid of the institution of police.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/how-the-poli...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/how-the-poli...
How the Police Uphold Capitalism - WORT-FM 89.9
Allen Ruff speaks with brian bean whose new book is a timely argument for getting rid of the institution of police.
www.wortfm.org
November 13, 2025 at 8:01 PM
🎙️As police forces act with impunity against civilians and immigrants, brian bean’s new book, Their End is our Beginning: Cops, Capitalism, and Abolition, is a timely argument for getting rid of the institution of police.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/how-the-poli...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/how-the-poli...
🎙️Lydia McComas is Madison's new City Clerk. She tells host @alimuldrow.bsky.social that she's excited to be in Madison, a city with high voter engagement. They talk about the Spring elections and the challenges of being an election official.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/get-to-know-...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/get-to-know-...
Get to Know Lydia McComas, Madison’s New City Clerk - WORT-FM 89.9
Madison’s new City Clerk, Lydia McComas, discusses her role in making sure our local elections are accurate and secure
www.wortfm.org
November 12, 2025 at 8:18 PM
🎙️Lydia McComas is Madison's new City Clerk. She tells host @alimuldrow.bsky.social that she's excited to be in Madison, a city with high voter engagement. They talk about the Spring elections and the challenges of being an election official.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/get-to-know-...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/get-to-know-...
🎙️Today we’re talking about the artform of burlesque and how BIPOC performers like Cocoa Pearlesque are advocating for diversity and accountability in the local burlesque scene.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/diversity-in...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/diversity-in...
Diversity in Burlesque with Cocoa Pearlesque - WORT-FM 89.9
Today we’re talking about the artform of burlesque and how BIPOC performers are advocating for accountability in the local burlesque scene.
www.wortfm.org
November 11, 2025 at 7:44 PM
🎙️Today we’re talking about the artform of burlesque and how BIPOC performers like Cocoa Pearlesque are advocating for diversity and accountability in the local burlesque scene.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/diversity-in...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/diversity-in...
🎙️Services at The River Food Pantry are up 27% from October, and the Badger Prairie Needs Network has seen 40% more clients this year. Leaders from these organizations along with Dr. Lindsey Haynes-Maslow join us to talk about food insecurity and SNAP.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/snap-whiplas...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/snap-whiplas...
SNAP Whiplash and the Rollercoaster of Poverty - WORT-FM 89.9
To talk about food insecurity and the status of SNAP funding, we're joined by two local food pantry leaders and a national expert on public policy.
www.wortfm.org
November 11, 2025 at 5:22 PM
🎙️Services at The River Food Pantry are up 27% from October, and the Badger Prairie Needs Network has seen 40% more clients this year. Leaders from these organizations along with Dr. Lindsey Haynes-Maslow join us to talk about food insecurity and SNAP.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/snap-whiplas...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/snap-whiplas...
🎙️Emily Widra of the @prisonpolicy.org and James Morgan of MOSES Madison talk about the inequities of the carceral system and how Medicaid cuts will reduce access to life-saving healthcare for incarcerated people in rural areas.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/when-rural-h...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/when-rural-h...
When Rural Hospitals Close, Incarcerated People Lose Healthcare - WORT-FM 89.9
Today’s guests talk about how Medicaid cuts will reduce access to life-saving healthcare for incarcerated people in rural areas.
www.wortfm.org
November 6, 2025 at 7:58 PM
🎙️Emily Widra of the @prisonpolicy.org and James Morgan of MOSES Madison talk about the inequities of the carceral system and how Medicaid cuts will reduce access to life-saving healthcare for incarcerated people in rural areas.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/when-rural-h...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/when-rural-h...
🎙️Host @alimuldrow.bsky.social speaks with poet Sasha Debevec-McKenney about her loving, tender, and hilarious new collection, Joy Is My Middle Name. They talk about new and better reasons to cry, service work, and yesterday's election results.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/crying-for-j...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/crying-for-j...
Crying For Joy with Poet Sasha Debevec-McKenney - WORT-FM 89.9
Ali Muldrow speaks with poet Sasha Debevec-McKenney about her loving, tender, and hilarious new collection, Joy Is My Middle Name.
www.wortfm.org
November 5, 2025 at 7:42 PM
🎙️Host @alimuldrow.bsky.social speaks with poet Sasha Debevec-McKenney about her loving, tender, and hilarious new collection, Joy Is My Middle Name. They talk about new and better reasons to cry, service work, and yesterday's election results.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/crying-for-j...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/crying-for-j...
🎙️Dana Pellebon celebrates the magic of theater with Dr. Erica Halverson who has dedicated her career to studying how people learn in and through the arts.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/a-whoopensoc...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/a-whoopensoc...
A Whoopensocker Show with Erica Halverson - WORT-FM 89.9
We celebrate the magic of theater with Dr. Erica Halverson who has dedicated her career to studying how people learn in and through the arts.
www.wortfm.org
November 4, 2025 at 10:10 PM
🎙️Dana Pellebon celebrates the magic of theater with Dr. Erica Halverson who has dedicated her career to studying how people learn in and through the arts.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/a-whoopensoc...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/a-whoopensoc...
🎙️ The UW-Platteville campus at Baraboo is the 13th UW school to close since 2023. Rep. Karen DeSanto and Neil Kraus discuss how shrinking educational opportunities are hurting rural and first-gen students across the state.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/uw-system-be...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/uw-system-be...
UW System Betrays the Wisconsin Idea - WORT-FM 89.9
Wisconsin State Representative Karen DeSanto and Neil Kraus discusses closure of the UW-Platteville Baraboo campus.
www.wortfm.org
November 3, 2025 at 11:16 PM
🎙️ The UW-Platteville campus at Baraboo is the 13th UW school to close since 2023. Rep. Karen DeSanto and Neil Kraus discuss how shrinking educational opportunities are hurting rural and first-gen students across the state.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/uw-system-be...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/uw-system-be...
🎙️Palestinian writer and human rights activist, Ahmed Abu Artema, joins us from exile to talk about the genocide in Gaza, the ceasefire, and the hardships in Gaza prior to October 7.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/we-are-here-...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/we-are-here-...
“We Are Here” Says Palestinian Activist Ahmed Abu Artema - WORT-FM 89.9
Ahmed Abu Artema is a Palestinian writer and human rights activist who joins host Esty Dinur from exile to talk about the genocide in Gaza.
www.wortfm.org
October 31, 2025 at 7:12 PM
🎙️Palestinian writer and human rights activist, Ahmed Abu Artema, joins us from exile to talk about the genocide in Gaza, the ceasefire, and the hardships in Gaza prior to October 7.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/we-are-here-...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/we-are-here-...
🎙️Latin American expert, @rodrigoac7.bsky.social discusses the context for the US air strikes on small vessels in the Caribbean and off the Pacific coast of Columbia. He calls this yet another instance of the US engaging in regime change.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/the-long-his...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/the-long-his...
The Long History and Dangerous Prospect of US Interference in Venezuela - WORT-FM 89.9
Rodrigo Acuña discusses the context for the US air strikes on small vessels in the Caribbean and off the Pacific coast of Columbia.
www.wortfm.org
October 30, 2025 at 6:46 PM
🎙️Latin American expert, @rodrigoac7.bsky.social discusses the context for the US air strikes on small vessels in the Caribbean and off the Pacific coast of Columbia. He calls this yet another instance of the US engaging in regime change.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/the-long-his...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/the-long-his...
🎙️There are more trans candidates running for office than ever @josierosec.bsky.social tells host @dinaninaxo.bsky.social. They talk about the courage of trans leaders and the chaos the Trump administration is sowing.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/trans-leader...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/trans-leader...
Trans Leaders Support Community Amidst Political Chaos - WORT-FM 89.9
There are more trans candidates running for office than ever, Josie Caballero tells guest host Dina Nina Martinez Rutherford.
www.wortfm.org
October 29, 2025 at 7:09 PM
🎙️There are more trans candidates running for office than ever @josierosec.bsky.social tells host @dinaninaxo.bsky.social. They talk about the courage of trans leaders and the chaos the Trump administration is sowing.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/trans-leader...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/trans-leader...
🎙️In the last week of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we discuss the role that UNIDOS plays in breaking barriers for Latinx survivors of domestic violence in Dane County through direct services and community education.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/local-non-pr...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/local-non-pr...
Local Non-profit Breaks Barriers for Latinx Survivors - WORT-FM 89.9
For Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we look at the role that UNIDOS plays in breaking barriers for Latinx survivors in Dane County.
www.wortfm.org
October 28, 2025 at 6:48 PM
🎙️In the last week of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we discuss the role that UNIDOS plays in breaking barriers for Latinx survivors of domestic violence in Dane County through direct services and community education.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/local-non-pr...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/local-non-pr...
🎙️ Reporter @nicolefoy.bsky.social of @propublica.org discusses her investigations into ICE sweeps and the growing number of US citizens who are being violently detained by federal immigration agents.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/ice-raids-te...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/ice-raids-te...
ICE Raids Terrorize Citizens and Immigrants Alike - WORT-FM 89.9
Nicole Foy discusses her investigation into the growing number of US citizens who are being detained by federal immigration agents.
www.wortfm.org
October 27, 2025 at 9:04 PM
🎙️ Reporter @nicolefoy.bsky.social of @propublica.org discusses her investigations into ICE sweeps and the growing number of US citizens who are being violently detained by federal immigration agents.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/ice-raids-te...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/ice-raids-te...
🎙️Inspired by our guest, @robintransition.bsky.social author of How to Fall in Love with the Future: A Time Traveller’s Guide to Changing the World, listeners share their visions of the future. What are yours?
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/running-joyf...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/running-joyf...
Running Joyfully Toward the Future - WORT-FM 89.9
Today's guest, Rob Hopkins asks, what would our activism look like if we had a longing for the future? He joins Esty Dinur to talk about his new book.
www.wortfm.org
October 24, 2025 at 7:18 PM
🎙️Inspired by our guest, @robintransition.bsky.social author of How to Fall in Love with the Future: A Time Traveller’s Guide to Changing the World, listeners share their visions of the future. What are yours?
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/running-joyf...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/running-joyf...
🎙️Israeli forces have violated the terms of the ceasefire at least 80 times, killing dozens of Palestinians, since the ceasefire was announced on October 10. On the show, Middle East expert Mouin Rabbani weighs in on the ceasefire and what might come next.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/dont-mistake...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/dont-mistake...
Don’t Mistake the Gaza Ceasefire for a Peace Plan - WORT-FM 89.9
Allen Ruff speaks with Mouin Rabbani, about the tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and where it might lead.
www.wortfm.org
October 23, 2025 at 7:00 PM
🎙️Israeli forces have violated the terms of the ceasefire at least 80 times, killing dozens of Palestinians, since the ceasefire was announced on October 10. On the show, Middle East expert Mouin Rabbani weighs in on the ceasefire and what might come next.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/dont-mistake...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/dont-mistake...
🎙️A new book by @prof-ishimaru.bsky.social and Dr. Decoteau Irby looks at the outcomes of equity initiatives in public schools. They join us to discuss how educators can do equity work at a time of increased attacks on DEI and education more generally.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/standing-up-...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/standing-up-...
Standing Up for Equity in Education - WORT-FM 89.9
Amidst attacks on equity by the federal government, today's guests support the vital work of equity in P-12 education.
www.wortfm.org
October 22, 2025 at 7:03 PM
🎙️A new book by @prof-ishimaru.bsky.social and Dr. Decoteau Irby looks at the outcomes of equity initiatives in public schools. They join us to discuss how educators can do equity work at a time of increased attacks on DEI and education more generally.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/standing-up-...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/standing-up-...
🎙️ Dana Pellebon speaks with Dr. Robyn Koslowitz about how the experience of parenting can be an opportunity to heal from trauma, break from patterns of perfectionism or disassociation, and build stronger relationships with your kids.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/your-trauma-...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/your-trauma-...
Your Trauma Doesn’t Need to Define Your Parenting - WORT-FM 89.9
Dr. Robyn Koslowitz offers advice for post-traumatic parents to heal and develop strong relationships with their children.
www.wortfm.org
October 21, 2025 at 7:29 PM
🎙️ Dana Pellebon speaks with Dr. Robyn Koslowitz about how the experience of parenting can be an opportunity to heal from trauma, break from patterns of perfectionism or disassociation, and build stronger relationships with your kids.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/your-trauma-...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/your-trauma-...
🎙️Though there are millions of caregivers in the US, the nation faces a crisis in caregiving that includes a shortage of paid workers to meet the growing need and unpaid caregivers are feeling burned out, say today's roundtable guests.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/finding-resp...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/finding-resp...
Finding Respite While Caregiving: A Wisconsin Roundtable - WORT-FM 89.9
Douglas Haynes hosts a roundtable on about caregiving, aging, and community support with four caregiving professionals.
www.wortfm.org
October 20, 2025 at 9:12 PM
🎙️Though there are millions of caregivers in the US, the nation faces a crisis in caregiving that includes a shortage of paid workers to meet the growing need and unpaid caregivers are feeling burned out, say today's roundtable guests.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/finding-resp...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/finding-resp...
Today, Host Esty Dinur speaks with cultural anthropologist and professor @uehling.bsky.social about her book Decolonizing Ukraine: the Indigenous People of Crimea and Pathways to Freedom.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/the-struggle...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/the-struggle...
The Struggle and Triumph of the Crimean Indigenous People - WORT-FM 89.9
Today, Host Esty Dinur speaks with cultural anthropologist and professor Greta Uehling about her book Decolonizing Ukraine: the Indigenous People of Crimea and Pathways to Freedom.
www.wortfm.org
October 17, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Today, Host Esty Dinur speaks with cultural anthropologist and professor @uehling.bsky.social about her book Decolonizing Ukraine: the Indigenous People of Crimea and Pathways to Freedom.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/the-struggle...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/the-struggle...
Today @annalekasmiller.bsky.social joined Allen Ruff to talk about the impact of immigration policies on couples and families and her book Love Across Borders.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/anna-lekas-m...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/anna-lekas-m...
Anna Lekas Miller On the Impacts of Immigration Laws on Families - WORT-FM 89.9
Anna Lekas Miller talks about the effects of the new ICE immigration policies along with her book Love Across Borders, which explores the human stories and the consequences of couples with mixed citiz...
www.wortfm.org
October 16, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Today @annalekasmiller.bsky.social joined Allen Ruff to talk about the impact of immigration policies on couples and families and her book Love Across Borders.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/anna-lekas-m...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/anna-lekas-m...
Co-founders of @autonomynews.co @susanrinkunas.com and @garnethenderson.com join Ali Mudrow for a wide-ranging conversation about the changing landscape of abortion across the world.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/founders-of-...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/founders-of-...
Founders of Autonomy News Discuss the Changing Landscape of Abortion in Wisconsin - WORT-FM 89.9
Susan Rinkunas and Garnet Henderson are co-founders of the independent reproductive rights and justice publication, Autonomy News. They joined Ali Mudrow today in a wide-ranging conversation about the...
www.wortfm.org
October 15, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Co-founders of @autonomynews.co @susanrinkunas.com and @garnethenderson.com join Ali Mudrow for a wide-ranging conversation about the changing landscape of abortion across the world.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/founders-of-...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/founders-of-...
Today we were joined by two guests, Dexter Patterson @wiscobirder.bsky.social and Scott Spoolman who discussed the books they will present at the Wisconsin Book Festival: Birds of the Great Lakes, and Wisconsin State Parks.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/wisconsin-au...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/wisconsin-au...
Wisconsin Authors Discuss Birds, State Parks, and Wisconsin Ecology - WORT-FM 89.9
Today we were joined by two guests, Dexter Patterson and Scott Spoolman who discussed the books they will present at the Wisconsin Book Festival: Birds of the Great Lakes, and Wisconsin State Parks. ...
www.wortfm.org
October 13, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Today we were joined by two guests, Dexter Patterson @wiscobirder.bsky.social and Scott Spoolman who discussed the books they will present at the Wisconsin Book Festival: Birds of the Great Lakes, and Wisconsin State Parks.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/wisconsin-au...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/wisconsin-au...
🎙️Today we flip the script, and host Esty Dinur takes the guest seat to be interviewed about her time on the air, love of radio, and her vast catalog of shows with guests like Judi Bari, Richard Powers, Gary Webb, Noam Chomsky, and many more!
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/honoring-30-...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/honoring-30-...
Honoring 30 Years of Esty Dinur in your Ears - WORT-FM 89.9
On the show today, long time-host Esty Dinur celebrates 30 years on A Public Affair. She says her driving motivation has always been to focus on issues that aren’t covered by mainstream media and to c...
www.wortfm.org
October 10, 2025 at 7:42 PM
🎙️Today we flip the script, and host Esty Dinur takes the guest seat to be interviewed about her time on the air, love of radio, and her vast catalog of shows with guests like Judi Bari, Richard Powers, Gary Webb, Noam Chomsky, and many more!
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/honoring-30-...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/honoring-30-...
🎙️Award winning historian, Greg Grandin, talks about his new book, America, América: A New History of the New World and how the US came to understand itself as a nation in relation to the rest of the Western Hemisphere, not just to Europe.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/how-latin-am...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/how-latin-am...
How Latin America Shaped US History - WORT-FM 89.9
On today’s show, host Allen Ruff is joined by award winning historian, Greg Grandin to talk about his new book, America, América: A New History of the New World.
www.wortfm.org
October 9, 2025 at 7:20 PM
🎙️Award winning historian, Greg Grandin, talks about his new book, America, América: A New History of the New World and how the US came to understand itself as a nation in relation to the rest of the Western Hemisphere, not just to Europe.
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/how-latin-am...
Listen here: www.wortfm.org/how-latin-am...