PODCAST · news
Madsplainers
by The Capital Times
Confused about a local issue? Madsplainers to the rescue! We’re here to unpack the sometimes complicated issues affecting Madisonians.
Episodes
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Presenting: "Reopening Sardine"
We wanted to share the first episode of an exciting new project from The Corner Table podcast that is co-hosted by Cap Times food editor Lindsay Christians and Cap times contributor Chris Lay. ------------- When quarantine kicked in last spring, we refocused The Corner Table to examine and…
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Is now the time to reopen Madison's schools?
We're back! With epidemiologist and Madsplainers regular Malia Jones! If you listen to this podcast regularly, you’ve probably heard Malia talk about the pandemic before. Now, halfway through the school year, Madison's public schools again face the big decision: remain virtual or return some...
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On the Cover: 'A fundamental right'
Listeners, we've got some news. We'll start with the bad: This is the last episode of the Madsplainers, at least for the time being, as Abby and Natalie shift gears to focus full-time on reporting. We've loved making this show, and we hope you've loved it too, and we hope to keep Madsplainin' the...
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On the Cover: Another way
When protests broke out across the country this summer in response to the police killing of George Floyd, some argued that the way the police responded to the protests only made things worse. This week on the podcast, reporter Clara Neupert explains what we know about how policing can change...
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On the Cover: How to survive a pandemic
The COVID pandemic has taken an especially fierce toll on Madison’s Latinos, who have disproportionate infection and hospitalization rates and fewer safety nets. But for every way this virus and its fallout have unevenly hit them, they've punched back, working together to protect themselves and...
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In a pandemic election, how do you ensure everyone can vote?
Across the country, local officials faced an extraordinary challenge this year: How to allow Americans to cast ballots in the November election without exacerbating the ongoing pandemic or overwhelming the postal system. That meant changing everything from how ballots were collected to how…
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On the Cover: Affordable for whom?
It's no secret that Madison doesn't have enough housing for its low-income residents, and as the city grows and rents rise, the need is only growing — to say nothing of the challenges posed by a pandemic that's put many out of work. This week on the podcast, Cap Times metro reporter Nicholas…
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On the Cover: Frontline fighter
Before the coronavirus pandemic, most Americans probably didn't spend a lot of time thinking about how to avoid getting a highly contagious and potentially life-threatening disease. But as an environmental services technician at University Hospital, tasked with cleaning and sanitizing everything...
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On the Cover: Cold comfort
When the coronavirus pandemic took hold in Wisconsin in spring, many restaurant owners, like many of us, thought maybe things would go back to normal in a couple months. Boy, were we all wrong. As winter sets in and the pandemic continues to rage in Wisconsin, Madison area restaurants that have...
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On the Cover: This is what a battleground looks like
In the lead-up to Election Day, all eyes are on Wisconsin, a key battleground state, and Cap Times reporters have been digging into the various factors that might affect the outcome to help Dane County residents know what to expect. This week on the podcast, city and county government reporter...
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What should I know about the Madison schools referenda?
As Madison voters cast their ballots for the Nov. 3 election, they're being asked to decide whether to increase local property taxes to provide additional funding for the city's schools. Madsplainers hosts Abby Becker and Natalie Yahr wanted to better understand how these kinds of questions end…
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On the Cover: Work to do
Black student athletes, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and beyond, have long demanded more seats at the table within a college athletics system that uniquely depends on them for success and survival. Now, amidst growing national concern over racism, UW students and athletic staff are...
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On the Cover: Ground game
Caught in a polarizing national environment and located in one of the nation’s COVID-19 hotspots, Wisconsin organizers and campaigns are taking different approaches to reaching voters in this key swing state. Cap Times political reporter Briana Reilly shares what she's learned by following them...
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On the Cover: Finding the right fit
It's been a year since Madison had a permanent police chief, and as police killings and the ensuing protests have prompted growing numbers of people to question the role of police in their communities, it's certainly an unusual moment to be filling the vacancy. Cap Times local government reporter...
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On the Cover: Powder keg
Across the nation and in Wisconsin, the militia movement is flourishing, fueled by outrage over stay-at-home orders, mask mandates and public unrest. In increasing numbers, armed militia members and vigilantes have inserted themselves into highly charged confrontations between protesters and...
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On the Cover: Unique challenges
Virtual school hasn't been easy for anyone, but for students with disabilities, it's posed some extra challenges. Those students often depend on school for therapy and other specialized services that can't easily move online, and their parents have had to figure out not only how to tutor their...
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On the Cover: Unreasonable suspicion
Earlier this summer, an incident in Monona made headlines when a neighbor called police on a Black man for being “suspicious,” when, as he explained at gunpoint, in handcuffs, he had permission to be in the house. Incidents like these are unfortunately all too common. With police killings in the...
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On the Cover: Cops, kids and trust
Across the country, Black communities are pleading with police to treat them with respect, while police are pleading with Black communities to trust them. In Madison, where the police department has earned national recognition for its approach to community policing, Black youth still feel...
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On the Cover: Stress test
As UW-Madison students head back to school this week with a mix of in-person and online classes, lots of eyes are on students’ physical health. The university has mandated coronavirus testing for students living in dorms and has been posting the number of tests and virus cases they detect online....
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On the Cover: Seeking 'lasting justice'
National attention has been focused on Wisconsin since Sunday evening, when Kenosha police shot Jacob Blake, a Black man, in the back, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. In the days since, protesters have filled the streets of Kenosha and Madison calling yet again for an end to police...
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On the Cover: Sustained objection
The protest movement sparked by the death of George Floyd has led to increasing scrutiny of police. But, as Cap Times investigative reporter Katelyn Ferral reports in her latest cover story, there’s been comparatively little attention to prosecutors, who play an outsize role in the legal system.…
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On the Cover: The Belmore chronicles
Jane Belmore retired in 2005 after nearly three decades as a Madison teacher and principal. But, it turned out, that wasn't the end of her career with the Madison Metropolitan School District: She's since been asked twice to lead when the district has found itself between superintendents, and…
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On the Cover: With this mask, I thee wed
COVID-19 has thrown a wrench in Wisconsin weddings. This summer, brides and grooms mask up, move outside and juggle dates while vendors struggle to survive. This week on the podcast, we hear from Lindsay Christians, Cap Times' food editor and arts writer, who talked to couples who have postponed...
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On the Cover: Voices of protest
The police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor are only the more recent high-profile examples of a long history of Black American death and mistreatment at the hands of police. Their deaths and others set off a protest movement across the country, and right here in Madison, with activists...
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On the Cover: Hungry city
The coronavirus pandemic has triggered record unemployment and financial strain, and with those challenges comes hunger. Across the country, Americans who've never visited food pantries are seeking help. Here in Dane County, food banks and pantries faced a spike in demand just as grocery…
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Is it safe for kids to go back to school?
On Friday, the Madison Metropolitan School District announced that the school year would begin with only virtual instruction ﹘ a decision that eased some worries and prompted others. Scott Girard, the Cap Times K-12 education reporter and a Madsplainers regular, noticed that another Madsplainers...
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On the Cover: Back to school
Back in March, colleges and universities across the country uniformly decided to shutdown in-person instruction. But as the fall semester approaches and coronavirus case counts rise in much of the U.S., there's been far less agreement about what higher education should look like in this phase of...
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On the Cover: The seat of power
In the Madison area, state legislators regularly hold onto their jobs for a decade or more, so having four seats on the ballot this year is an anomaly. This week on the podcast, Cap Times state government reporter Briana Reilly explains how these openings could further diversify the statehouse…
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On the Cover: Reaching out to dads in jail
Parenting is never easy, but parenting from behind bars is tough in a way all its own. Cap Times local government reporter Abigail Becker breaks down her latest cover story, exploring how two programs at the Dane County Jail are trying out new ways to support incarcerated dads and, in turn, their...
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On the Cover: MMSD class of 2020 laments lost traditions and looks ahead
Because of the novel coronavirus, Madison's high school seniors will celebrate their graduation this year not with applause and the rogue air horn in the packed Kohl Center, but by watching a a televised ceremony from their couches. It's just one of the many ways the pandemic has reshaped the end...
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On the Cover: "No justice, no peace"
On Memorial Day, George Floyd died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes as Floyd cried and said he couldn’t breathe. Floyd’s death has drawn renewed outrage over police violence toward black Americans, sparking protests across the country, and right…
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On the Cover: Madison teachers miss their students as they adjust to virtual learning
Cap Times K-12 education reporter Scott Girard explains how Madison teachers are managing the sudden switch to remote teaching, why the shift turned even the most experienced educators into novices overnight, and what bright sides they're finding amidst the many challenges. Support the show:...
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On the Cover: Madison's new nightlife
Cap Times visual journalist Ruthie Hauge spent the last three weeks going out while the rest of us were staying in. She photographed normally lively locations in a new state of emptiness, and caught families and friends at play in their illuminated homes and apartments. This week's cover reveals...
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On the Cover: Racial disparities, and anxieties, heightened with COVID-19 crisis
Cap Times metro reporter Nicholas Garton explains how everything about the COVID-19 pandemic — from mask-wearing guidelines to anti-shutdown protests — is taking a disproportionate mental and emotional toll on African Americans, and where black Madisonians are finding support. Support the show:...
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On the Cover: State labs could test more COVID-19 samples but supply shortage hampers efforts
Cap Times investigative reporter Katelyn Ferral explains what Wisconsin really means when it talks about its COVID-19 testing capacity (hint: it's not what you think) and how supply shortages are preventing the state from making that number a reality. Support the show:...
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On the Cover: Closed by COVID, Madison's theaters keep the light on
Cap Times features editor Rob Thomas interviews arts writer Lindsay Christians about how Madison's theaters, dance companies, musicians and other performing artists are coping with closures due to coronavirus. Support the show:...
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On the Cover: Wisconsin allows drillers to flout state law — sometimes with deadly results
Cap Times public affairs reporting fellow Parker Schorr explains how Wisconsin's lax regulations let drillers and diggers hit utility lines, why the consequences can be both costly and dangerous, and what other states are doing to promote safer practices. Support the show:...
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On the Cover: Madison makers build safety equipment for frontlines of COVID-19 fight
Cap Times reporter and podcast producer Natalie Yahr explains how local makers — from engineers and designers to sewists and 3D printing aficionados — are putting their skills to work to protect essential workers, and why this community is so eager to help. Support the show:...
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On the Cover: How UW communities are adjusting to college life during COVID-19
Cap Times higher education reporter Yvonne Kim explains how COVID-19 has upended everything from research and teaching to voter outreach at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and what the school is doing to keep its spirit going strong. Support the show:...
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What's next with this pandemic?
It's been three weeks since we sat down with epidemiologist Malia Jones to talk about how to slow the spread of COVID-19, and that feels like a world away. Now, by popular demand, we've got her back with us — virtually this time — to talk about what's changed since we last talked and what could…
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On the Cover: Madison businesses struggle to deal with the coronavirus fallout
Cap Times state government reporter Briana Reilly explains what we know so far about how the COVID-19 pandemic is changing Wisconsin's economy and what Madison businesses are doing to cope. Support the show:...
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On the Cover: A teacher-student incident strains trust between school, parents
Cap Times K-12 education reporter Scott Girard explains how a December altercation at a Madison elementary school led parents to question school leadership, and what this incident tells us about the sometimes fragile relationships between families and schools. Support the show:...
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What can I do to slow the spread of COVID-19?
COVID-19 is on a lot of minds, and the Madsplainers are here to help you understand what's going on. On today's episode, Abby sits down with epidemiologist Malia Jones of UW-Madison's Applied Population Lab to find out what "flattening the curve" means and why it matters, how we can do our part…
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On the Cover: ‘Big data’ spurs cuts in Wisconsin hospitals
Public policy fellow Parker Schorr explains how staffing algorithms borrowed from the manufacturing sector are changing hospitals, what local nurses are worried about, and why those concerns have pushed them to unionize. Support the show:...
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What's up with the Madison Public Market?
Madison has been talking for years about creating a public market, a permanent home for local vendors selling food and crafts, and the project may finally break ground this year. But what exactly can we expect from this project, and who's paying for it? On today's show, Abby and Natalie answer...
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On the Cover: Sobering news on Madison's racial disparities
Reporter Steve Elbow breaks down this week's cover story, explaining what hasn't changed in Madison's metrics, what the city's fiercest advocates for equality say needs to be done, and why there's little reason to think it'll happen any time soon. Support the show:...
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When it comes to selling alcohol in Madison, who calls the shots?
Madison's Alcohol License Review Committee — ALRC to its friends — had a brief moment in the spotlight last month when an exchange between Austin Carl, prospective nightclub owner, and ALRC Vice Chair Michael Donnelly went viral. On today's show, Abby and Natalie break down this committee's role,...
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On the Cover: How bail jumping became Wisconsin's 'most charged crime'
Cap Times reporter and podcast producer Natalie Yahr breaks down this week's cover story, explaining what bail jumping charges are, how they've surged in Wisconsin in recent years, and why some are calling for change. Support the show:...
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On the Cover: South Madison is changing, and some worry they'll be priced out
Cap Times Local Government Reporter Abigail Becker breaks down this week's cover story, explaining what's changing on Madison's south side, why some residents are worried, and what the city can do to keep the area affordable. Support the show:...
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On the Cover: Local businesses reconsider the use of native names
Cap Times Food Editor Lindsay Christians breaks down this week's cover story, explaining why Kickapoo Coffee and the Winnebago Arts Café have decided to change their names, what kind of work and expense go into such a change, and why this shift is happening now. Support the show:...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Confused about a local issue? Madsplainers to the rescue! We’re here to unpack the sometimes complicated issues affecting Madisonians.
HOSTED BY
The Capital Times
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Madsplainers have?
Madsplainers currently has 78 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Madsplainers about?
Confused about a local issue? Madsplainers to the rescue! We’re here to unpack the sometimes complicated issues affecting Madisonians.
How often does Madsplainers release new episodes?
Madsplainers has 78 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Madsplainers?
You can listen to Madsplainers on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Madsplainers?
Madsplainers is created and hosted by The Capital Times.
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