Cream City Dreams

Sharing the Digest this week with Harmonie Baker who challenges us to step away from the spotlight from time to time to let others shine. A short and sweet reflection from this week's full episode on being the cheerleader for someone else. Who could that some else be in your life? A digest worth pondering. 

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People often describe Milwaukee as a small city with big city amenities … and they are often talking about our theater and arts scene. And this includes the incredible opportunities children have in the theater as well. This week, I talk with Harmonie Baker, Executive Director of the Milwaukee Youth Theatre, about the important role that theater plays in the lives of the Milwaukee youth she serves. The Milwaukee Youth Theatre provi...

Why DO we need a place to store ancient relics and artifacts? What do museums tell us about ourselves, and why should we keep them around? Dr. Ellen Censky answers this question in two parts. 


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This week, meet the woman behind our beloved Milwaukee Public Museum, Dr. Ellen Censky (though as she is quick to point out, it takes an incredible team to run an institution that is home to more than four million objects). Listen as we talk about the trajectory that took the tall ‘tom girl’ from Cedarburg across the US as a museum scientist and director, herpetologist, published author, BioBlitz creator, and now Executive Director...

New this week, a reflection from yours truly on the fears of going solo on this podcast. What gave me pause, what made me nervous, and ultimately, how I decided to go for it anyway. Two big saving graces that got me over the hurdle of feeling like I couldn't do it. They helped me, maybe they can help you too?



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Season Five begins, but not quite as expected when we left off at the end of Season Four. Why? Shelly’s leaving the podcast! (insert sobs here). But it’s not all doom and gloom, she’s found something incredible and is excited to devote more time to her new Cream City Dream. Listen to find out more!




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Two years, four seasons, and 53 episodes later, here we are! This is the last episode before we take a (tiny) break and return for Season Five. No guest today, just your inimitable hosts talking about dreams. 

Listen as we talk about … 

• How we’re feeling about the podcast and where we might go next with it. 
• A recap and mashup of all the INCREDIBLE guests we’ve had on from season four and the gems they’ve left us thinking about lo...

If you have ever struggled to connect with someone you love, this episode is for you. Sometimes we just need to look at things from a different perspective. This is exactly what this week’s guest - MacArthur Genius, UWM Professor, and founder of the non-profit, Timeslips - Anne Basting discovered when she began working with those living with dementia. Instead of counting on memory, Anne uses her ‘beautiful questions’ to encourage c...

Look up mover, shaker, connector, change agent in the dictionary and you are SURE to find this week’s guest, Julia Taylor. Past President of both the Greater Milwaukee Committee as well as the YWCA of Greater Milwaukee, Julia is a dream MAKER in the Cream City. She is also a consummate connector of people and builder of relationships across the city getting things done at the “speed of trust,” which we both agree is exactly the rig...

You’ve probably noticed if you’ve been following us for some time, that we have a slight bias for women who are working hard to make Milwaukee a better place for EVERYONE. We love a good DIY story, and this week’s guest Symphony Swan is literally building her dream from the ground up. Or should we say, giving her dream a makeover. Voted Milwaukeean of the Year by The Shepherd Express, Symphony is turning her childhood home into The...

 In need of a bit of respite and rest to reflect on those resolutions (how's that for alliteration?)  You’ll definitely want to tune into today’s episode with Sevan Arabajian-Ries of Mother Lion. Mother Lion is a special place in Bayview open for hosting workshops, retreats, overnights, and other intimate gatherings. It was created with the deep intention of both nurturing and nourishing its guests. Get a glimpse into this sac...

Happy New Year to all the Cream City Dreamers out there! We’re kicking off 2024 with a delicious episode featuring the owner and founder of The Real Good Life, Maggie Joos. What can you take off your plate so that you’ve got time to enjoy the real good life? This episode may just inspire you to dream big this year by prioritizing what (and who) you love and what matters most! 

Listen as we talk about … 

• What I...

Short and sweet this week, we wanted to hop on the airwaves to wish you the happiest of New Years! We hope this year is full of DREAMS of all shapes and sizes for you. And we’d love to hear what you’ve got in store, if there’s a big dream you want to share with us, drop us an email here! 

Listen as we talk about: 

• What our guests are up to for 2024 - we’ve got a few updates from some of them! And some updates on what they’ve...

A lawyer walks into a podcast this week. Listen to this delightful conversation with Makda Fessahaye where we talk about how and when dreams begin … in her case, with an inciting incident across the world. This is yet another conversation where we see how our values determine the way we live and the choices we make. 

Listen as we talk about … 

• How an experience for Makda in 7th grade set her on her path to law school (and so much...

You are going to want to pull up a seat at the table for this conversation with Christie Melby-Gibbons, Founder and Executive Director of Tricklebee Café on North Avenue. This is NOT just your average café, in fact, it’s anything BUT average. A pay-what-you-can model offers patrons the chance to give and receive with a spirit of generosity, dignity, grace and abundance. This is a place to nourish your mind, body and spirit, and you...

We need more people like Samantha Starr in this city: organizing events that build community with intentionally curated themes that bring people together (often over food!). Samantha is the powerhouse behind Battle of the Chefs and Dining with Friends, as well as local events like MKE Fest.  And she's soon to be the host of a new podcast Flavor Fix Radio Show with @wnov860 launching in January 2024!! 

Listen as we talk abo...

Money sense is something many of us take for granted. Not today’s guest, Brenda Campbell, CEO and President of SecureFutures, an organization determined to empower teens with the money management skills needed to make sound financial decisions by providing school programs, coaching, and mentorship. This organization is changing the way teens in Milwaukee (and especially those from under-resourced backgrounds) approach money. 

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Tables are turned this week and WE are in the hot seat! If you’ve ever wondered how we got our start with the podcast, why we decided to take the plunge and launch Cream City Dreams, and what keeps us going, listen in to this conversation with Stephanie Melnick, of Melnick & Melnick.

Listen as we talk about … 

Who were Shelly and Meagan BEFORE Cream City Dreams? Find out a little bit about how we both landed in Milwaukee

• Our m...

Another week, another creative and inspiring Milwaukee woman! Listen as we talk to yet another champion of our city, Brit Nicole. Brit is a spoken word artist, healer, performer, author, film maker, musician, and facilitator who uses her voice to lift up our community. But more than that, she’s working to change the narrative around Milwaukee through storytelling and connection.

Listen as we talk about … 

• What does it mean to mat...