Essay
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This American Life
My grandmother left Germany for the United States when she was a toddler. She served as a Marine in World War II and remained an American patriot until she died at 86. Yet she was never recognized as a U.S. citizen.
Fish story
“In Wisconsin, you either fish or you know someone who does. It’s a cultural touchstone, like hunting or the Packers.â€
Jun 12, 2025
Never do for a boy…
One of Joe Steen’s favorite sayings guided a significant chunk of my youth: ‘Never do for a boy what a boy can do for himself.’
May 7, 2025
Life in transit
“Before long, my Taos turned into a rolling confessional. A sanctuary for late-night truths. Strangers poured out their lives in the quiet anonymity of the dark.â€
Apr 9, 2025
Living with the living building
The very phrase ‘living building’ seemed a clever combination of words, softening the idea of brick, mortar, and glass with the word ‘living,’ evoking a natural landscape.
Mar 14, 2025
What is important?
“Given the pressure to get the rent paid, I agreed to let someone move in despite my gut feeling that they were going to be difficult. On each occasion, I was right, and we ended up dealing with that person’s problems for months or years."
Feb 12, 2025
Old friends
‘But what young person thinks about their later years? Who thinks a conversation with an older person about their losses and challenges sounds like fun?’
Jan 9, 2025
Selfie truths
‘So that desire — to see, be seen, decide where we belong and document it — existed long before the quick-shot world of today.’
Dec 10, 2024
8:00 AM
The “A†word
“I didn’t mind the checkout guy’s patter. It was rote, but not meaningless. It gave a rhythm to our interaction, moved things along.â€
Nov 11, 2024
8:00 AM
Letter from a childless cat lady
In this month’s essay, Rebecca Jamieson declares “I’m a childless cat lady who cares about our future.â€
Oct 7, 2024
9:00 AM
What’s the rush?
“Listening to slow talkers can indeed be exasperating. Fast talkers sometimes try to finish our sentences, occasionally helpful when a word is hard to recall, but also annoying.â€
Sep 12, 2024
8:00 AM
There once was a tree that lived on top of the factory
“Garver Feed Mill wasn’t always a nice spot to take your family or get some work done. It was once an abandoned building, but one that teemed with life, a playground for those brave enough to enter.â€
Aug 7, 2024
8:00 AM
In the July issue
Downtown Madison fills out
Five years after the COVID lockdown, business in downtown Madison is booming. But with that growth comes inevitable pains.
‘Scraping by’
Everyone loves Madison’s free music events. But the organizations behind them say additional support is needed to keep their finances stable.
UW-Madison investigates police officer who students say acted inappropriately
A student journalist uncovered examples of late-night texts, free rides, and sharing of police intel to help students avoid bar raids.
Du-plex the right thing, city officials urge
Homeownership and affordable housing will become more accessible under a new package, city officials argue.
Dedication to the institution
Justice Ann Walsh Bradley is retiring from the Wisconsin Supreme Court at the end of July after 30 years of service.
