365 Amplified

Madison365
  • 5.0 (111)
  • NEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

From Madison365, weekly discussion of the news for and from Wisconsin's communities of color and allies.

  1. 2D AGO

    "Some of my best friends are dead"

    On this week's 365 Amplified, Omar and Rob talk through the new initiatives of Improve Your Tomorrow, a program targetted at students of color in Madison that we first reported on a few weeks ago which has now expanded into Verona and which will host an information session next week. Then, they go over the latest polling on the race for Wisconsin governor. Next up, Tony Castañeda joins to talk about his run for State Assembly, his long history in leftist politics and social justice, and what he brings to the race as a musician. Finally, a bit about the upcoming Forward Madison season. Read Omar's reporting on Improve Your Tomorrow here and here. Check out the Marquette University polling here. Listen to the latest Black Oxygen here and 608 Soccer here.

    47 min
  2. You Might Also Like: Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

    2D AGO · BONUS

    You Might Also Like: Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

    Introducing "Chi-Con" (w/ Maggie Winters) from Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. Follow the show: Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang Live, laugh and love along with Matt, Bowen + their guest, comedian and Chi-con (Chicago icon) Maggie Winters! She's in the studio to say, "hey! watch my solo show MARGUERITE on YouTube on March 17th!" And with THAT said, the girls get into it all: the bean soup theory, spices, spice racks, Padma Lakshmi, being Irish, drinking young, and what it means to be Chicago Fried. Also, HBO's Industry, TGIF pizza night and the theme songs of Nickelodeon. All this, having Paris Hilton feet (laudatory), Ghostfaces' various reasonings, and the question, 'are substacks blogs?' Find out (but not really) on this episode of... Las Culturistas! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

  3. FEB 27

    Podcast history, hip-hop ed, local budget woes

    Hosts: Rob Chappell, Stephanie Díaz de León, Omar Waheed Dee Star's big moment: Three major milestones for Dee Star, host of the OuttaDeeBox podcast: February 3 has been declared Dee Star Day in Sun Prairie; the Out of Dee Box podcast will be the first podcast enshrined at the Wisconsin History Museum and the Sun Prairie Historical Society; and he's receiving a legislative citation for community impact. Omar caught up with him about what it all means. Hip-hop in the classroom: Omar visited Kennedy Elementary to check out a hip-hop artist residency featuring Lex, a clean hip-hop artist, author, poet, DJ and educator. Lex spent two weeks visiting 16 MMSD schools, performing and helping kids process emotions through music — and it was anything but a corny after-school special. School funding crunch: MMSD is already laying groundwork for next year's budget, and the outlook isn't great. The hosts dig into why: a state legislature that funds only about 5% of school district budgets (compared to 60-70% in Minnesota), federal special education cuts, and a new lawsuit challenging Wisconsin's funding model as unconstitutional. Dane County's $31 million problem: Rob obtained a budget memo showing the county faces a roughly $31 million deficit heading into 2027, as post-COVID surpluses dry up and health insurance and employee costs climb. Balancing the budget could mean cutting around 241 full-time positions. Only one county supervisor responded to Rob's request for comment. County contracting review: County Executive Melissa Agard has ordered a comprehensive review of county contracting practices. Rob spoke with Agard, Human Services Director Josh Luter, and several nonprofit leaders. The recurring theme: a need for greater transparency in bidding, scoring and feedback — plus structural issues like one-year contracts for five-year projects with no built-in cost-of-living increases. On the radar: Stephanie flags the November 3 election, which will include a Republican-backed constitutional amendment that would prohibit DEI policies at any state government entity, including UW. Also coming up: spring county board elections with a few competitive races. Question of the week: How big would a worm have to be before you'd tell somebody about it? We're hiring!

    28 min

  4. FEB 20

    Stay Gold: the local kid making his Broadway debut in The Outsiders

    _*]:min-w-0 gap-3 font-claude-response"> This week, Rob, Stephanie, and Omar dig into the ICE detention of Noel Quintana, co-owner of Madison's beloved Señor Machete's restaurant — and what his family is facing as they fight for his return. Plus: results from Tuesday's local primaries, including a Mount Horeb village board race where the top three candidates were separated by just two votes. Then Rob sits down with Caleb Mathura, a Verona High School graduate who is making his Broadway debut next month playing Johnny Cade in The Outsiders. And the crew answers the big question: if you were a weather pattern, which one would you be?

    37 min

  5. FEB 13

    Mandela Barnes on policy, organizing and the path to 2026

    This week's episode of 365 Amplified features two in-depth conversations centered on Wisconsin politics and community response to homelessness, plus local nonprofit and business updates. Rob Chappell opens with a look at a bankruptcy case involving a nonprofit donation platform that reportedly owes millions of dollars to organizations nationwide, including dozens in Wisconsin. The discussion includes how the case came to light through nonprofit newsroom collaboration and how at least one Madison organization was affected. The episode also highlights the opening of Luna's Groceries' new, larger South Park Street location, expanding fresh food access and community space in a historically underserved area. The first featured interview is with former Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, now a candidate for governor. Barnes discusses his campaign priorities, including health care expansion, public school funding, affordability pressures, and his outlook on working with the state legislature and the broader Democratic coalition. In the second segment, Omar Waheed speaks with Brandi Grayson and Alex Lindenmeyer of Urban Triage about "Seen and Unseen," a March 3 public art installation around Capitol Square. The four-site walking tour is designed to illustrate both visible and hidden causes and consequences of homelessness, and to highlight systemic barriers and community-based solutions. The event will include speakers, artists, and community partners, and coincides with The Big Share Day of Giving.

    47 min

  6. FEB 6

    "I have Black friends" but bigger

    This week, we have the (more or less) final update on the proposed harm reduction center on Madison's East Side. Turns out, the organization recommended to get $2.4 million to run it listed a bunch of partnerships and collaborations with organziations that never agreed to be partners or collaborate -- a fact we exclusively reported this week. The Board of Health ultimately rejected the contract. On the podcast today, we go through the details and dig into just how problematic it is for white leaders to claim more connection to Black and brown communities than nthey actually have. Then, well-known Ho-Chunk chef Elena Terry is finally opening a brick and mortar restaurant at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. Omar Waheed spoke with her and catches us up on her plans. Next up, Madison seventh-grader Iliyan Hoskins is just back from his first international judo competition, where he won a bronze medal for Team USA at the Pan American Judo Championships in Lima, Peru. He and his mom Ivanka join the show to educate Rob about the sport, recap the Pan Am championship, and talk about his Olympic Dreams. 365 Amplified is produced by Rob Chappell for the 365 Media Foundation, a nonprofit local media organization in Madison, Wisconsin. Follow Madison365 on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Threads.

    55 min

  7. JAN 30

    AI Massage Robot

    On the podcast this week, we have: An update on the harm reduction clinic proposed for Madison's East Side, as the org that won the contract seemed to say they're pulling out of the project but then said they're not Our thoughts on the murder of Alex Pretti and a rundown of Wisconsin gun laws An interview with State Assembly candidate Juliana Bennett Rob's experience with an AI massage robot, which is a thing he never expected to type or talk about, much less experience Follow the latest news on Madison365.org and watch for Madison365 on Facebook, Bluesky, LinkedIn, Instagram & Threads.

    50 min

  8. JAN 23

    Who owns "Freedom"? With Isaia Ben-Ami

    On this week's episode, the team talks through two in-progress stories. First, a bankrupt donation platform owes almost $408,000 to more than 50 nonprofits in Wisconsin. Then, Dane County Executive Melissa Agard has announced a comprehesive review of the County's contracting promise, and we consider why and what that means. Next up, Improve Your Tomorrow has started a Wisconsin chapter to capture students with potential and facing obstacles, and Madison College has opened a new early learning center for the children of students and staff. Finally, Assembly candidate Isaia Ben-Ami joins the show to talk about his campaign, the imporant issues facing the downtown Madison district, and how the Democratic Party can reclaim "Freedom."  Follow Madison365 on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn and watch Madison365.org every day for the latest news.

    54 min
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5
out of 5
111 Ratings

About

From Madison365, weekly discussion of the news for and from Wisconsin's communities of color and allies.

Information

  • Creator
    Madison365
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    101
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 365 Media Foundation Inc
  • Show Website
    365 Amplified

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