Rooted Wisconsin

Brad Zima

With the aim of building community and connecting people, Rooted Wisconsin shares the unique stories of the people who are writing Wisconsin's.

  1. The Maple Dude - Maple Syrup, Social Media, and Albert the Amish Man - Episode #60

    6D AGO

    The Maple Dude - Maple Syrup, Social Media, and Albert the Amish Man - Episode #60

    Tim Sternitzky, aka "The Maple Dude", is a Wisconsin based entrepreneur and maple syrup producer harvesting and distributing some of the finest liquid gold Wisconsin maple trees have to offer. In this episode, Brad and Tim discuss harvesting maple syrup and taking it from a hobby to a full-time business(of course), the positive and negative impacts of technology and social media, being an entrepreneur and the mindset that comes with it, raising bison, the connection between the dairy industry in Wisconsin and sugar making, creativity, and much, MUCH, more. https://themapledude.com/ As always, a huge shoutout to our sponsors at Karouser delivering a non-alcoholic social beverage right to your door. The new year is a PERFECT time to switch up your norm, try something new, and improve your health! https://www.karouser.com/ Also, a welcome to our new partners at Epic Mortgage! Helping Wisconsin communities navigate home buying and real estate investment, visit their website to learn more about their innovative spirit! https://www.yourepiclender.com/ Finally, a BIG thank you to our friends at genuineLynn for our new Wisco Roots apparel. Hoodies and tees now available! Lynn's mission to serve her customers shines through her great communication and dedication to making your vision come to life through apparel and products. Check out her site to learn more! https://genuinelynn.com/

    1h 24m
  2. Kendall Casey - Social Media, Mental Health, Entrepreneurship & Alix Earle - Episode #59

    12/15/2025

    Kendall Casey - Social Media, Mental Health, Entrepreneurship & Alix Earle - Episode #59

    Kendall Casey is a retired World Champion Cheerleader, influencer, and entrepreneur based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. In this episode, Brad and Kendall talk about the connection between social media and mental health, the challenges and benefits of being a young entrepreneur, how relationships and social interactions change as an audience grows, starting influencing and social media with intention as a young teen cheerleader, getting Alix Earle into a Green Bay bar through the side door, and MUCH more. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendall-casey-social-297191349/ https://www.instagram.com/kendallcaseysocial/?hl=en As always, a huge shoutout to our sponsors ‪‪at Karouser delivering a non-alcoholic social beverage right to your door. The holidays are a PERFECT time to switch up your norm and try something new! https://www.karouser.com/ Also, a welcome to our new partners at Epic Mortgage! Helping Wisconsin communities navigate home buying and real estate investment, visit their website to learn more about their innovative spirit! https://www.yourepiclender.com/

    1h 17m
  3. Keifer Sykes - Hoops Career, Fatherhood, Deep Reflection, & Tight Hugs - Episode #58

    12/01/2025

    Keifer Sykes - Hoops Career, Fatherhood, Deep Reflection, & Tight Hugs - Episode #58

    Keifer Sykes is a professional basketball player known for a decorated college career at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, a championship win in Poland with Legia Warsaw, and his time in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers. He recently became the General Manager for the UWGB men's basketball team and had his #24 jersey retired by the program. His life and career are the subject of the 2018 documentary film Chi-Town. In this episode, Brad and Keifer have a deep and reflective discussion about the contrast of growing up in a safe and loving home but being surrounded by poverty and violence, being a teenage parent and division 1 athlete (at the same time!) when he came to Green Bay, giving the tightest hugs, losing his Father, being introduced to yoga and meditation by Tramon Williams, hoops and jumping out of the gym, the importance of reading and personal growth, and much, MUCH, more. https://www.instagram.com/ksykesyb28/https://www.free10foundation.org/ As always, a huge shoutout to our sponsors at Karouser delivering a non-alcoholic social beverage right to your door. They keep these episodes coming! The holidays are a PERFECT time to switch up your norm and try something new! Also, thanks to Wondersign in Green Bay for making us some cool new Wisco Roots hats. Send a dm if you want to rep the pod!

    1h 3m
  4. Natalie Jansen - Rock Girl, Radio, Milwaukee's North Ave, & Dating Naked - Ep. #57

    11/17/2025

    Natalie Jansen - Rock Girl, Radio, Milwaukee's North Ave, & Dating Naked - Ep. #57

    Natalie Jansen is a morning show host on WIXX, former 102.9 The Hog Rock Girl, and reality tv alum from VH1's Dating Naked. In this episode, Brad and Natalie discuss her radio career, love of the industry, and it getting kicked off by being the Rock Girl, the importance of continuous self-work and mental health, parenthood, her time on Dating Naked, wild times on Milwaukee's North Avenue, serving at the EastSider, and her embarrassing story from on tour with the band Disturbed. https://www.instagram.com/natalie_onair/?hl=en As always, a huge shoutout to our sponsors at Karouser delivering a non-alcoholic social beverage right to your door. They keep these episodes coming! Take advantage of FREE SHIPPING until Black Friday. Also, thanks to Wondersign in Green Bay for making us some cool new Wisco Roots hats. Send a dm if you want to rep the pod!

    1h 41m
  5. Russ Nockerts - Steel Belly BBQ, Passion, Pride, and Trimming Brisket - Ep. #56

    11/03/2025

    Russ Nockerts - Steel Belly BBQ, Passion, Pride, and Trimming Brisket - Ep. #56

    Russ Nockerts is a Pitmaster and the Owner of Steel Belly Barbecue in Algoma, Wisconsin. The decision to take his business full time stemmed from a lunchbreak phone call with his wife, halfway through his day as a welder, where she mentioned that they should talk about taking focusing more energy on Steel Belly. That "talk" ended up happening that night, with Russ giving his two weeks notice when he went back in to work. Today, they are stacking and racking the BEST briskets and barbecue in Wisconsin. In this episode we talk about those things and everything that's happened in between, the value of hard work and passion, Russ's favorite bites, and choosing 1 cheese for the rest of our days. As always, a huge shoutout to our sponsors at Karouser, delivering a non-alcoholic social beverage right to your door. They keep these episodes coming!

    1 hr
  6. Dr. John Utrie - Psychedelic Therapy, Cluster Headaches & Improving Lives - Ep#55

    11/02/2025

    Dr. John Utrie - Psychedelic Therapy, Cluster Headaches & Improving Lives - Ep#55

    Dr. John Utrie is a retired urogynecologist/pelvic surgeon who suffered for decades with the debilitating effects of cluster headaches (also known as suicide headaches). Pushed to the brink of deciding if live was worth living having to deal with the excruciating pain and agitation that comes with cluster headaches, John was down to a decision, leave this life by his own hand or try something illegal after years of "walking the straight and narrow". Ultimately, after much research and deliberation, he chose the latter. Today John has become an informed advocate of the potential of psychedelic therapy, used in a clinical way, to better society. In this episode, Brad and John discuss the debilitating effects of suicide headaches, his vast knowledge around psychedelics and experience with psychedelic therapy, the societal transformation we are witnessing with the growing acceptance of the value of psychedelics, the shifting of view that comes with their use, how NONE of us are omnipotent, and how one of the benefits of psychedelic therapy for him is finding the realization that "life is worth living and you don't have to dismiss yourself by your own hand". Of course, a HUGE shoutout to our sponsor at ‪⁠ ⁨@Karouser⁩ ⁠. They keep these episodes coming. If you dig what we do, please support them!

    1h 5m
  7. Dan Lawrence - Effective Leadership, Losing an Airman, and Karouser - Ep#54

    10/06/2025

    Dan Lawrence - Effective Leadership, Losing an Airman, and Karouser - Ep#54

    Dan Lawrence is a successful founder, entrepreneur, and Unites States Air Force veteran. Following his honorable discharge, Dan started a successful career in the private sector, quickly leading a national lighting and electrical contractor from $11mil in sales to over $46mil in the span of six years. Feeling his value to the organization was outweighing the benefits he was receiving, Dan bet on himself and founded TLL Lighting, which ultimately became TLL Solutions, which supports brick and mortar construction projects for big box retailers. With TLL thriving, Dan has now also founded another passion project, Karouser, bringing to market a N/A lifestyle drink option for those seeking a healthier alternative to alcohol. In this episode, Dan and Brad discuss what goes into effective (and ineffective) leadership, his moving story of taking a stand against Air Force Leadership and ultimately forecasting the senseless loss of an Airman (shining a spotlight on the disparity between those leadership qualities), and his motivation to start Karouser with another thriving and lucrative business already in place. https://www.karouser.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-lawrence-71315123/ As always, a HUGE shoutout to our sponsor Karouser. They keep these episodes coming! Dan is a driving force in our partnership and I'm excited to share some of his story via our platform.

    1h 45m
  8. Dr. Ryan Martin - Anger, Cordial Debate & Deep Connection Through Conflict - Ep. #53

    09/15/2025

    Dr. Ryan Martin - Anger, Cordial Debate & Deep Connection Through Conflict - Ep. #53

    Dr. Ryan Martin (aka the Anger Professor) is a leading expert on emotional wellness and anger management. He helps people master emotional challenges and harness the power of emotions—especially anger—for personal growth and success. His work focuses on delivering practical, research-backed strategies through clear, direct, and actionable advice. In his role as Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Ryan combines academic leadership with a commitment to public scholarship. In this episode, Brad and Ryan discuss anger and aggression, personality versus situation leading to them, normalizing deep communication about beliefs and the importance of cordial debate, and inverse correlation between gratitude and the willingness to share your voice and opinions, the ability to forge deep connection in working through conflict, and much more. Today, maybe more than ever, some of these topics are lessons that I believe are of the utmost importance. Recent events have cast a cloud of doubt over our ability as a society to respect people with opinions other than our own. I hope we are able to make progress on that, for the sake of our children, grandchildren, and future generations. Remember, as Paul Thorn says, "You Might Be Wrong". Preorder Ryan's new book, listen to his Ted Talk, and check out his podcast! https://alltheragescience.com/ Of course, a HUGE shoutout to our sponsor at Karouser! They keep these episodes coming. If you dig what we do, please support them! https://www.karouser.com/

    1h 13m
See All (60)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

With the aim of building community and connecting people, Rooted Wisconsin shares the unique stories of the people who are writing Wisconsin's.

Information

  • Creator
    Brad Zima
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    60
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Brad Zima
  • Show Website
    Rooted Wisconsin