Rooted Wisconsin

Brad Zima

Connecting Wisconsinites one guest at a time.

  1. Prescott Balch - Data Center Impacts to Wisconsin Communities - Episode #68

    1H AGO

    Prescott Balch - Data Center Impacts to Wisconsin Communities - Episode #68

    Prescott Balch is a retired technology executive and community advocate who has become a leading voice for Wisconsin residents navigating the arrival of large-scale data centers. With a 38-year career in technology, including 18 years as a senior executive at U.S. Bank, Prescott brings a unique "insider" perspective to the debate over industrial land use and rural preservation. Drawing on his extensive background in software development and data center operations, Prescott helps communities understand the complex realities behind these projects, from tax implications and utility rate impacts to the long-term sustainability of the buildings themselves. A resident of Caledonia, Wisconsin, he gained statewide attention for his role in educating local citizens and advocating for transparency in negotiations with major tech corporations. In this conversation, Brad and Prescott objectively discuss the balance of power between tech companies and Wisconsin communities, the considerations that should be had when a proposal comes to your community, Prescott's experience organizing and advocating against a data center coming to his community, insights into municipal funding and where incentives exist, power rate impacts and the art of budgeting, and much, MUCH more. https://www.linkedin.com/in/prescott-balch-088681/ As always, a massive shout out to our sponsors at: Karouser - NA social bevvies delivered to your door! https://www.karouser.com/ Epic Mortgage – Your partner in homebuying, empowering communities and supporting home ownership https://www.yourepiclender.com/ Genuine Lynn – Custom apparel, decorative engravings, and one of a kind pieces where Lynn brings your vision to life! https://genuinelynn.com/

    1h 42m
  2. Lauren Ripley - Rat Lungworm, Restorative Eating, Faith & Path to the Farmacy - Episode #67

    FEB 23

    Lauren Ripley - Rat Lungworm, Restorative Eating, Faith & Path to the Farmacy - Episode #67

    At 21, Lauren Ripley was diagnosed with a brain disease that changed her life. Instead of giving up, she dug in and got to work, learning how powerful food could be in healing the body and mind. Now at 28, she’s about to be Mom (any day) and three years into opening The Farmacy, a Green Bay restaurant built on her mission to help others feel better, eat better, and live better. In this episode, Brad and Lauren discuss culinary school and travelling, contracting Rat Lungworm Disease in Hawaii, using food as a tool for health, the evolution of her faith, opening the Farmacy, impending Motherhood, and fighting all of life's battles. https://thefarmacygb.com/ As always, a massive shout out to our sponsors at: Karouser - NA social bevvies delivered to your door! https://www.karouser.com/ Epic Mortgage – Your partner in homebuying, empowering communities and supporting home ownership https://www.yourepiclender.com/ Genuine Lynn – Custom apparel, decorative engravings, and one of a kind pieces where Lynn brings your vision to life! https://genuinelynn.com/

    1h 44m
  3. Austin Skalecki - Songwriting, Letting IT Happen & Doing it Until He Dies - Episode #66

    FEB 16

    Austin Skalecki - Songwriting, Letting IT Happen & Doing it Until He Dies - Episode #66

    Austin Skalecki is a Wisconsin-based (Door County) songwriter whose music blends Americana, blues, and folk. Grounded in nostalgic, authentic storytelling, his songs capture the worn-in truths of everyday life—echoing the sounds and stories that linger long after the song ends. In this episode, Austin and Brad talk about his music, the craft of songwriting, playing music until he's gone, travelling, the line between motivation and being forceful and letting things happen, and so much more thoughtful conversation. As always, a massive shout out to our sponsors at: ⁨ Karouser - NA social bevvies delivered to your door🥂https://www.karouser.com/Epic Mortgage – Your partner in homebuying, empowering communities and supporting home ownership https://www.yourepiclender.com/ Genuine Lynn – Custom apparel, decorative engravings, and one of a kind pieces where Lynn brings your vision to life! https://genuinelynn.com/

    1h 23m
  4. Dan Infalt - Chasing Mature Bucks, the Values of Hunting & Sharing the Craft - Episode #65

    FEB 9

    Dan Infalt - Chasing Mature Bucks, the Values of Hunting & Sharing the Craft - Episode #65

    Dan Infalt, aka "The Hunting Beast", is an absolute legend of the Wisconsin Whitetail woods and marshes. Growing up in Southeast Wisconsin the youngest of 11 siblings, hunting, fishing, trapping, and gathering were more than an outdoor passion. They were a key to surviving. Putting that food on the table was the foundation of decades of development as an outdoorsman, including his primary pursuit, chasing mature whitetails on pressured Wisconsin Public Land. Today, when he isn't in the woods himself, Dan makes extraordinary, REAL, content aimed at sharing the knowledge he has gained over the years beating brush and wading through marshes to bedding areas. In this episode, Brad and Dan talk about those meager early years where hunting was necessary (including the story of his first deer which is a prime example of that), the origins of him creating "content" and sharing the craft and the gift of the outdoors (before it was so cool to do so), satisfaction in the process of chasing mature deer, the "seasons of life" and evolution of a hunter, hosting hunting workshops and the unique and diverse blend of folks he's has join them, a lot about the X's and O's of hunting and tips and tricks to get CLOSE to big bucks bedded down, turning hunting into a career and some of the WILD stories that came with it, and much, MUCH more. https://www.thehuntingbeast.com/ https://www.huntingbeastgear.com/ Huge shoutout to the great sponsors of Rooted Wisconsin that keep these episodes coming: Karouser - Non-Alcoholic social beverages delivered to your door https://www.karouser.com/ Epic Mortgage – Your partner in homebuying, empowering communities and supporting home ownership https://www.yourepiclender.com/ Genuine Lynn – Custom apparel, decorative engravings, and one of a kind pieces where Lynn brings your vision to life! https://genuinelynn.com/

    1h 49m
  5. Sarah Hankes - Wildlife Woodburning, Grandma's Feedback & Finding Your Style | Episode #64

    FEB 2

    Sarah Hankes - Wildlife Woodburning, Grandma's Feedback & Finding Your Style | Episode #64

    Born in Beaver Dam and raised in Reeseville, Sara Hankes is a Wisconsin-based artist who has been dabbling in drawing and painting since she was able to grasp a pencil. Guided by her grandmother (a very talented artist) who taught her different painting techniques as a teen. After buying a little farm on the Manitowoc river in 2021, she has used the animals and the beauty that surrounded her to inspire the creation of beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces.I n this episode, Brad and Sara talk about the beauty of animals and nature, growing up in a small engine shop, the amazing influence her Grandmother had on her development as an artist, woodburning art tools and processes, accidental meditation and getting "lost" in the art, learning and growing on social media, types of wood good for woodburning, the value of honest feedback, and much, MUCH, more! https://bluehorsefineart.net/ Huge shoutout to the great sponsors of Rooted Wisconsin that keep these episodes coming: Karouser – Non-Alcoholic social beverages delivered to your door https://www.karouser.com/ Epic Mortgage – Your partner in homebuying, empowering communities and supporting home ownership https://www.yourepiclender.com/ Genuine Lynn – Custom apparel, decorative engravings, and one of a kind pieces where Lynn brings your vision to life! https://genuinelynn.com/

    1h 30m
  6. Up North Jake - Life's Packages, Rock Bottom, and Following Through - Episode #63

    JAN 26

    Up North Jake - Life's Packages, Rock Bottom, and Following Through - Episode #63

    Up North Jake, a.k.a. Jake LaCoste, is a dynamic rapper and singer hailing from Northern Wisconsin. Drawing inspiration from his experiences with hunting, fishing, back roads, lakes, family, and addiction recovery, Jake crafts authentic and heartfelt songs that resonate with listeners from all walks of life. In this episode Brad and Jake talk about his passion for Wisconsin and being an independent artist here, sobriety and his path quitting drinking, mentality and mindset, Fatherhood and evolving through life, social media and marketing, songs that mean something and move people's emotions, frequencies and Jake's roots in his faith, and MUCH more! https://www.instagram.com/up_north_jake/?hl=en Huge shoutout to the great sponsors of Rooted Wisconsin that keep these episodes coming: ⁨ Karouser – Non-Alcoholic social beverages delivered to your doorhttps://www.karouser.com/ Epic Mortgage – Your partner in homebuying, empowering communities and supporting home ownership https://www.yourepiclender.com/ Genuine Lynn – Custom apparel, decorative engravings, and one of a kind pieces where Lynn brings your vision to life! https://genuinelynn.com/

    1h 41m
  7. Justin Schmick - Dad Jokes, Social Media, and Everybody Hates Insurance - Episode #62

    JAN 19

    Justin Schmick - Dad Jokes, Social Media, and Everybody Hates Insurance - Episode #62

    Justin Schmick is a a former police officer, current insurance agency owner, Alderman in the city of Omro, and social media content creator. In this episode Brad and Justin discuss leaving a career as a police officer to find more passion and enjoyment in his work, being an entrepreneur, virality and developing a large social media following that started with a few "dad jokes" with a coworker, the insurance industry, his self-described "beef" with Russell Nicolet, and much, MUCH, more. https://www.facebook.com/justin.schmick.3 Huge shoutout to the great sponsors of Rooted Wisconsin that keep these episodes coming:  Karouser – Non-Alcoholic social beverages delivered to your door https://www.karouser.com/ Epic Mortgage – Your partner in homebuying, empowering communities and supporting home ownership https://www.yourepiclender.com/ Genuine Lynn – Custom apparel, decorative engravings, and one of a kind pieces where Lynn brings your vision to life! https://genuinelynn.com/

    1h 21m
  8. Jeff Pritzl - Deer, DNR Career, CWD, Hunter Numbers, and Aldo Leopold - Episode #61

    JAN 12

    Jeff Pritzl - Deer, DNR Career, CWD, Hunter Numbers, and Aldo Leopold - Episode #61

    Jeff Pritzl is the recently retired Deer Specialist with the Wisconsin DNR. Following formative years growing up in Marshfield, then earning bachelor's and master’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin – Steven’s Point in natural resources and wildlife management, Jeff began his career with the DNR in 1988. After multiple promotions, and spending almost 19 years as a Wildlife Program Supervisor, Jeff ultimately voluntarily accepted a “demotion” by taking the Deer Specialist position, wanting to spend his last few years giving back to the Wisconsin outdoors folks that gave him so much support. In this episode, Brad and Jeff talk about their shared appreciation for Aldo Leopold, his Land Ethic, and the Sand County Almanac, conservation and passion for the outdoors, Jeff’s waterfowl hunting roots and career with the DNR, our shared fond connection of the Wisconsin Northwoods, and DEER (of course). https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-pritzl-131b6b5a/ Huge shoutout to the great sponsors of Rooted Wisconsin that keep these episodes coming: Karouser – Non-Alcoholic social beverages delivered to your door https://www.karouser.com/Epic Mortgage – Your partner in homebuying, empowering communities and supporting home ownership https://www.yourepiclender.com/Genuine Lynn – Custom apparel, decorative engravings, and one of a kind pieces where Lynn brings your vision to life! https://genuinelynn.com/

    1h 39m
See All (68)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Connecting Wisconsinites one guest at a time.

Information

  • Creator
    Brad Zima
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    68
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Brad Zima
  • Show Website
    Rooted Wisconsin