Brainstorming a La Crosse Hallmark Christmas movie with Teddy Eck

A Hallmark Christmas movie right out of La Crosse — why not? A fun conversation with Teddy Eck, executive director of Coulee Arts in downtown La Crosse, where we get a little nuts on a La Crosse Hallmark Christmas, talk about the movie industries new tax incentives to come to Wisconsin and how decaying attention spans are ruining movies forever. Eck also broke down everything under the Coulee Arts umbrella — including stand-up comedy classes, stop-motion animation, and a dedicated Dungeons & Dragons room — ahead of its open house from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. on Sept. 12 at their new 422 Main Street space. Episode Highlights: Grandad Bluff Rom-Com: A wild pitch for a La Crosse Hallmark movie quickly spirals into an outrageous, genre-bending trilogy featuring slashers and alien invasions on the bluff. New Downtown Home: Rebranded from RAD to Coulee Arts, the nonprofit is opening its expanded 422 Main Street space with a free, hands-on public open house on Sept. 12. Unusual Hands-On Classes: Offerings span well beyond traditional fine arts to include niche side quests like live music coding, stop-motion animation, and tabletop gaming. Stand-Up Comedy Pipeline: Local adults are taking structured comedy workshops that culminate in live open-mic performances to help build a formal Midwest comedy circuit through La Crosse. Streaming vs. Physical Media: A debate on how digital subscription models erase owned content and why physical formats like CDs and DVDs are making a serious comeback. Wisconsin Film Incentives: The state's new five-million-dollar tax incentive package aims to lure outside productions while building up local independent filmmakers. Adventure Film Fest: Four days of outdoor storytelling and extreme sports thrillers kick off October 14 across multiple local venues (schedule here). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.