Claim OwnershipNite Lite with Pete Schwaba and Greg Bach
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From Washington to Hollywood and right back to Wisconsin, it’s Nite Lite with Pete Schwaba (SHWAH-buh) and Greg Bach (Bock)— connecting the dots on the stories shaping our world. With smart takes, sharp humor, and plenty of personality, it’s news and culture without the noise.
Trying to make sense of what’s happening in the world? It’s Nite Lite with Pete Schwaba and Greg Bach—tackling the day’s headlines, the latest in culture, and the stories everyone’s talking about. Smart, funny, and always entertaining, it’s a conversation you want to be part of.
This is Nite Lite with Pete Schwaba and Greg Bach. Big stories, bold opinions, and a little fun along the way. From the headlines to the culture shaping your day, they’re breaking it down and keeping it moving. Listen Live: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Trying to make sense of what’s happening in the world? It’s Nite Lite with Pete Schwaba and Greg Bach—tackling the day’s headlines, the latest in culture, and the stories everyone’s talking about. Smart, funny, and always entertaining, it’s a conversation you want to be part of.
This is Nite Lite with Pete Schwaba and Greg Bach. Big stories, bold opinions, and a little fun along the way. From the headlines to the culture shaping your day, they’re breaking it down and keeping it moving. Listen Live: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
1231 Episodes
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Martín Alvarado, Community Engagement Librarian at Madison’s Central Library, joins Pete and Greg in the second hour to talk about National Library Week and the value libraries bring to the community. He highlights free resources, programs, and services people might not even realize are available, along with his latest book picks—from inspiring nonfiction to immersive mystery novels.
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https://action.everylibrary.org/it_s_called_a_public_library_here_s_how_it_works Guest: Martin Alvarado
Frank Hermans of Let Me Be Frank Productions joins Pete and Greg in the first hour to talk about bringing live comedy to Wisconsin audiences and his latest show, Shopko, Say Hello to a Good Buy. Frank shares what makes his productions so uniquely local, how he connects with crowds, and what fans can expect from the upcoming run.
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Stuff mentioned:
https://letmebefranks.com Guest: Frank Hermans
Writer and comedian Greg Schwem joins Pete and Greg in the second hour to share stories from his syndicated column Hotel Humor. He dives into the funny side of travel, business life, and the everyday moments that somehow turn ridiculous.
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Stuff mentioned:
https://forward-analytics.net/
https://www.gregschwem.com/
Guest: Greg Schwem
Kevin Dospoy, Director of Forward Analytics, joins Pete and Greg in the first hour to break down a new report on Wisconsin’s economic performance since 2017. He explains where the state is falling behind nationally, what’s driving those trends, and what it could mean moving forward.
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Stuff mentioned
Forward Analytic's recent report
Wisconsin’s economy lags behind the rest of the country, new report shows - WPR
Guest: Kevin Dospoy
Steve Burrows joins Pete and Greg in the second hour to talk about his documentary Bleed Out and the unexpected journey from comedy writing to telling a deeply personal story. He dives into the film’s origins, its impact, and what it’s been like bringing it to audiences at festivals like Beloit.
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Stuff mentioned:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bleed_Out_(film)
https://www.burrowsofhollywood.com/bleed-out/
His website.
Guest: Steve Burrows
Madison musician Robert J joins Pete and Greg to talk about his journey in the local music scene and the personal story that led him to give back in a big way. Robert shares how his son’s health battle inspired the creation of MAMA Cares, how the program supports fellow musicians in times of need, and what to expect from the upcoming fundraising show at High Noon Saloon in Madison.
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Stuff mentioned:
Robert J’s website
https://www.themamas.org/mama-cares/
Madison Music Mainstay Robert J. Celebrated for a Lifetime of Songs—and Giving Back - The MAMAs Guest: Robert J
In this hour of the Civic Media Spotlight, we feature a special “Best of” edition of Nite Lite with Pete and Greg. The hosts are joined by Mary Mack, who shares insights into her comedy routine, what makes for a fun night, her personal favorite kind of evening, and her unique take on the Oscars.
Also in this hour, Pete and Greg speak with Keith Poulsen, who discusses the latest developments surrounding bird flu in Wisconsin. He breaks down the facts, addresses common misconceptions, and explains the ongoing challenges and risks involved in managing the spread of the virus.
To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow Civic Media on Facebook, X, Instagram, and Blue Sky to keep up with all of our shows! Guests: Mary Mack, Keith Poulsen
On the second hour of Nite Lite, Heather Hopfensperger, Director of Business Development at the Children’s Museum of Green Bay, joins Nite Lite with Pete and Greg to talk about an exciting new benefit event for the museum featuring animatronic dinosaurs. She shares what attendees can expect, how the event supports the museum’s mission, and why it’s shaping up to be a can’t-miss experience for families and the community.
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Stuff mentioned:
See this announcement
Children's Museum website.
Official event on April 10th, see HERE. This event is to benefit the Children’s Museum of Green Bay.
https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/40190601/dinosaur-dimensions-green-bay-epic-event-center
Guest: Heather Hopfensperger
On the first hour of Nite Lite, higher education reporter Becky Jacobs joins Nite Lite with Pete and Greg to break down the latest developments in NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) legislation in Wisconsin. Drawing from her reporting, including coverage of Chris McIntosh urging lawmakers to pass an NIL bill, Becky explains what’s at stake for student-athletes, universities, and the future of college sports.
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Stuff mentioned:
Her website
Written by Becky: Pass NIL bill, Chris McIntosh urges Wisconsin lawmakers | Education | captimes.com
Wisconsin Senate passes bills to legalize online sports betting, establish college athlete NIL rules • Wisconsin Examiner
Guest: Becky Jacobs
Jesse March from Festival Theatre joins Pete and Greg to talk about the theater’s work bringing live performance to local communities. Jesse shares what makes Festival Theatre unique, how it connects with audiences, and what’s coming up this season.
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Stuff mentioned:
https://www.festivaltheatre.org/
Guest: Jesse March
On the first hour of Nite Lite, Maria Haskins, a Regional Tribal Organizer with Wisconsin Native Vote and Wisconsin Conservation Voters, joins Pete and Greg to talk about a recent Native community meeting in Menominee. The discussion focused on the upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court election and how the court’s decisions could impact Native communities across the state.
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Stuff mentioned:
Maria’s quoted in Native News Online.
Maria’s Linkedin
Podcast appearance in 2025
Guest: Maria Haskins
On the second hour of Nite Lite, Pete and Greg dive into a rich conversation with Winter Williams and Matthew A. Brown, founders of In the Pines Studio in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. The duo shares their bold move from L.A. to Wisconsin to establish a creative hub for filmmaking and learning, emphasizing storytelling and community engagement.
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Stuff mentioned
In The Pines Studio, a midwest film studio.
Guests: Winter Williams, Matthew A. Brown
Pete and Greg talk to Iranian-American journalist and author Hooman Majd provides a unique perspective on the American-Israeli conflict with Iran, highlighting the deep emotional turmoil faced by Iranian-Americans.
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Stuff mentioned
His website
“This is my war” in LA Review of Books.
His Wikipedia
Analysis of the US-Israel War on Iran with Hooman Majd - WORT-FM 89.9
The Iran Nobody in Washington …–Talk Cocktail – Apple Podcasts
Iran and the Fog of Regime Change (w/Hooman Majd)- The Fifth Column #547
From Dec 2025: Iranian-American journalist offers an inside look at the protests sweeping Iran : NPR
From 2017: Opinion | What Happens in Tehran Doesn’t Stay in Tehran - The New York Times
Guest: Hooman Madj
On the second hour of Nite Lite, Greg and Pete discuss the Oscars, with film critic Rob Thomas weighing in on awards surprises, like Michael B. Jordan's win over Timothy Chalamet. The hosts dive into the Wisconsin Film Festival highlights and chat about the new comedy-horror film 'Cold Storage.'
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Stuff mentioned:
St. Patricks Day
Rob's Substack
Here are Rob's movie reviews
Guest: Rob Thomas
On the first hour of Nite Lite, Meteorologist Mace Michaels breaks down the intense snowstorm gripping northern Wisconsin, while the Greg and Pete debate St. Patrick's Day favorites and the merits of Taco Tuesday.
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Stuff mentioned:
St. Patricks Day
Baywatch actress Alexandra Paul arrested in Wisconsin beagle farm break-in
Is America’s ‘Strongest Town’ Madison, Wisconsin?
Mace Michaels
Guest: Mace Michaels
Comedian Mary Mack talks with Pete and Greg about her comedy routine, what she thinks makes a fun night, her favorite night, and her interesting take on the Oscars.
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Stuff mentioned:
Mary Mack’s website.
Guest: Mary Mack
Dr. Keith Poulsen talks with Pete and Greg about the latest with the bird flu in Wisconsin. Dr. Poulsen breaks down the facts, misconceptions, threats, and challenges around managing bird flu.
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Stuff mentioned:
Dr. Poulsen’s professional page at University of Wisconsin, Madison.
H5n1 Bird Flu Updates - STAT Coverage of the Avian Flu Outbreak
GOP lawmakers want to allow sale of public lands near egg farm amid bird flu outbreaks - WPR
'We've seen this before': Bird flu again hits Wisconsin poultry farms - WPR
Avian flu found in three southern Wisconsin counties • Wisconsin Examiner
UCLA African American Literature Professor Adam Bradley joins Pete and Greg to chat about the importance of pop music. Bradley is the author of several books including The Poetry of Pop.
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Stuff mentioned in this hour:
Adam's website
The Poetry of Pop
Filmmaker Nathan Deming and former Miramax executive Jeffery Kurz join Pete and Greg to talk about their experiences and latest films. Later, they give their Popcorn Picks of the night!
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Stuff mentioned in this hour:
Nathan Deming | Filmmaker
Jeffrey Kurz
Winter Hymns | Official movie website
Wisconsin Film Festival – UW–Madison
Secrets & Lies (1996) - IMDb
Watch Train Dreams | Netflix Official Site
Dr. Kristin Lyerly joins Pete and Greg to talk about how -- and why -- fewer teens got vaccinated in Wisconsin this past year.
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Stuff mentioned in this hour
Tony Evers vows to resist any effort to seize 2020 Milwaukee ballots
Late winter storm could drop up to a foot of snow in Milwaukee this weekend
Iran appears to have conducted a significant cyberattack against a U.S. company, a first since the war started
Security to Be Increased at 2026 Oscars Amid FBI Alert About Iran’s “Surprise Attack” Plan on California
From Wisconsin Examiner: "Rates for most vaccines in children and teens are declining, Wisconsin health officials say"
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