Uniquely Milwaukee

Radio Milwaukee

4.6 (18)
SOCIETY & CULTURE
UPDATED WEEKLY

Our flagship program finds the stories in Milwaukee that lift your spirits, prompt you to think, make you feel grateful and inspire you to do more. They connect you to our community, shining a spotlight on what is good about the city, what still needs work, and what makes it Uniquely Milwaukee.

4D AGO

Sherman Park Grocery Store asks for help to keep serving the community

We’re changing things on the podcast this year, with shorter stories and themed months, each one with a different topic. For January, it’s Health & Wellness. In this episode, we focus on yet another Milwaukee grocery store in danger of closing, and it's in one of the city’s food deserts. Earlier this month, the owners of Sherman Park Grocery Store asked the public for support — a message that came amid a string of other grocery stores closing last year and just days before a nearby Aldi on the north side shut down. Maurice “Moe” Wince and his wife, Yashica Spears, have owned the store since July of 2022 and are dealing with setbacks that threaten its future. A drop in customers, theft and nearly $100,000 in damage from historic flooding in August have left Wince and Spears in a difficult position. So they've turned to the community --- looking for grants, asking for help from business and marketing experts, inviting new customers into the store, and exploring whether vendors can be more flexible with delivery payment options. On this episode, we talk with Wince and one of his regular customers who relies on Sherman Park Grocery Store to help her put food on the table. ##### Episode host: Kim Shine Uniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members.

4 min
JAN 8

Encore: Mixing drinks and Dry January at Milwaukee's first hybrid bar

Join us for this encore edition of Uniquely Milwaukee as we grab a drink at Agency, Milwaukee's first hybrid bar and a 2025 James Beard Award finalist. Immerse yourself in the choice of indulging in an alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage. Plus you'll hear from the founder, Ryan Castelaz, as he shares the story of how this innovative concept came to fruition. Click here to learn more about Agency. ##### Podcast host: Kim ShineEncore host: Salam Fatayer Uniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members and sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library.

24 min
JAN 1

Encore: Starting the year by getting rejected ... on purpose!

Happy New Year! This Uniquely Milwaukee throwback goes beyond the age-old question: "What's your New Year's resolution?" For this episode, we embraced the idea of rejection therapy by trying new things we were pretty sure would end in failure ... and bust a little ego in the process.##### Podcast host: Kim ShineEncore host: Salam Fatayer Uniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members and sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library.

33 min
12/25/2025

A big thank you and an even bigger year ahead

Thank you for listening and supporting Uniquely Milwaukee! In this episode, we have a special message of gratitude from Radio Milwaukee executive director Jordan Lee as he reflects on the triumphs and changes of 2025, and looks ahead to a brand new year. ##### Podcast host: Kim ShineGuest host: Jordan Lee, Radio Milwaukee executive director Uniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members and sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library.

6 min
12/18/2025

From hope to home: The generational impact of one city program

A few years ago, Radio Milwaukee's Tarik Moody tried to buy a house in the city. Every offer got outbid by LLCs with out-of-state addresses and cash offers that closed in two weeks. He gave up. Recently, Tarik spent time with someone else who went on that journey — with a very different outcome. Keilyn Borrero, a single mom of four, was in the same headspace Tarik was at the start. She convinced herself it would never happen. One income. Prices spiking. The math just didn’t work. Of course, she said all of that while standing in the house she now owns thanks to the City of Milwaukee’s Homes MKE program. Then she walked Tarik through her new place on the north side: the pantry she insisted on, the big yard where her 10-year-old finally has space to kick a soccer ball, the spot where she wants to plant lavender next spring. "I was crying the whole time," she said about the closing day, when she thought to herself, "This is finally happening, for me and for my kids." ##### Podcast host: Kim ShineGuest host: Tarik Moody This story was reported with the assistance of A.I. tools, which were used primarily to outline and create a working draft. Radio Milwaukee staff conducted all interviews, compiled all of the audio and edited all of the media involved with the project. Uniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members and sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library.

23 min
12/11/2025

Making the scene: How DIY artists and venues get down to business

Every DIY scene needs its supporters. In Milwaukee, Bay View’s Cactus Club is a big one. This beloved music venue is one of the scene’s most revered spots, and headlining there is a dream for bands from all genres. So far, you’ve met Fake My Death, an alternative rock/punk DIY band here in Milwaukee. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, go listen to part one right now. In that episode, our former Radio Milwaukee intern and current freelancer, Jonathan Joseph introduced you to the group and their not-so-sexy "other" hustle of day jobs. To round out this two-part series, Jonathan talks with Cactus Club’s owner about the business of DIY, and then Fake My Death take the stage. ##### Podcast host: Kim ShineGuest host: Jonathan Joseph Uniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members and sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library.

11 min
12/04/2025

Day jobs and late nights: The DIY lifestyle of Milwaukee musicians

Milwaukee is a place filled with creatives, especially in the city’s music scene. We’re home to dozens of independent artists and bands who’d rather do it their way than rely on a mainstream framework. For the next two episodes of Uniquely Milwaukee, we’ll dive into this sub-culture with guidance from someone who knows it well: former Radio Milwaukee intern and current freelance contributor Jonathan Joseph. He followed Fake My Death, an alt-rock/punk band whose members mixed their own DIY styles to create a sound all their own. In this first installment, Jonathan introduces us to the band and sheds light on the other hustle of DIY life: the day jobs that help keep the dream alive. ##### Podcast host: Kim Shine Guest host: Jonathan Joseph Uniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members and sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library.

14 min
11/27/2025

A feast for the real ones: How Friendsgiving joined the holiday calendar

As the holiday season begins, we’re honoring the roots of Thanksgiving while also celebrating the traditions we’ve created along the way. "Friendsgiving" is one of the latter. Although its history doesn’t go back quite as far as its namesake, Friendsgiving has grown in popularity over the last few decades as people set aside time for their chosen family. These are gatherings with the people who have supported us, challenged us and carried us through. This episode is a warm reflection on belonging, connection and community with two stops along the way. First, host Kim Shine is joined by Marc Tasman — director of the digital arts and culture program in the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s anthropology department — to dive into the concept of Friendsgiving. Then you’ll drop in on a celebration in Bay View with good vibes … and some really good food. ##### Episode host: Kim Shine Uniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members and sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library.

24 min

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4.6

out of 5

18 Ratings

<3

04/11/2023

Redditor11

Salam is such a good interviewer :’)
Bobby Rivers

06/02/2023

Jeannekozy

I have listened to Bobby interview many people but never heard him being interviewed. Great job! A Trailblazer, yes, but he made us listeners feel he was always having his best day! Thank you for sharing his story!
We love 88Nine!

04/26/2022

deguzmant

Thoughtful and nuanced storytelling that adds some depth to how I look at the city of Milwaukee

Our flagship program finds the stories in Milwaukee that lift your spirits, prompt you to think, make you feel grateful and inspire you to do more. They connect you to our community, shining a spotlight on what is good about the city, what still needs work, and what makes it Uniquely Milwaukee.