Little Big Chats: The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee Podcast
At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee, we create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. We match children in Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties who are facing adversity… with a caring adult mentor. All of BBBS mentors are volunteers. Big Brothers Big Sisters focuses on 3 areas: Educational success Avoidance of risky behavior Strengthening personal relationships And on the Little Big Chats Podcast, we highlight a new match every month so you can learn from their inspiring stories of friendship and growth. Visit bbbsmilwaukee.org to learn more.
Episodes
June 25, 2025 • 24 mins
When they were first matched in 2005, Big Sister Sheree and Little Sister Gabrielle didn't realize they were beginning a friendship that would carry them both into new decades of their lives.
Through elementary school, middle school and high school, Sheree was there for Gabrielle as a mentor.
But then, when Gabrielle turned 18 and her BBBS mentorship was set to officially end, they discovered they weren't ready to move on yet. ...
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May 28, 2025 • 20 mins
Big Brothers Big Sisters is all about putting one caring adult mentor together with a young person and letting them work and grow together.
But sometimes, these matches... match up AGAIN with another pair.
One big and little match pairs up with another, and the two groups end up spending as much time together as they do in their individual duos.
So in this episode, we meet Taylor and Xavier, a Mentor 2.0 match who have been t...
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April 30, 2025 • 27 mins
Many grown-ups look back on their time in school and wish they could go back and do it differently. Big Sister Gabbi is no exception.
But, with her Little Sister Lupe winding down her time in high school, Gabbi actually has the chance to provide Lupe with all the advice and guidance that could have helped her thrive in the transition to college.
And here's the kicker... Lupe is listening, EAGERLY.
Together, this pair is touri...
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March 26, 2025 • 23 mins
For Little Brother Nazir, having a Big Brother isn't just about having someone to explore and be active with.
It's about having someone challenge him to think, solve and be curious about the big questions in life.
Whether it's playing mind-bending puzzle games, reading books on self-improvement, or asking big questions about the nature of the cosmos, his Big Brother Dan is ready to join him in every pursuit.
And together, there's n...
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February 26, 2025 • 20 mins
For big brother Josh and little brother Nathan, having a brother was a new experience. Neither of them grew up with a brother in their immediate family.
But when they got matched up several years ago, they quickly fell into seemingly familiar roles as one another's chief supporters, rivals and antagonists.
This pair loves to play games, spend time outside, and give each other a good-natured hard time.
And now as 2025's School-Based...
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In this episode of Little Big Chats, we speak with Lanelle Ramey and Betty Hill from Mentor Greater Milwaukee about the importance of mentoring relationships, the challenges faced in the mentoring community, and the impact of mentorship on both youth and mentors.
We'll discuss our personal stories of mentorship, the importance of cultural humility, and the upcoming National Mentoring Month events aimed at promoting mentoring in the...
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December 18, 2024 • 23 mins
For some people, being on a microphone or on-camera is an absolute nightmare.
But not Little Brother Josiah; he eats it up.
Whether it's his budding interest as a gaming streamer, or the catalogue of music tracks he's voiced and mixed, Josiah's aspirations as a digital creator have him pursuing stardom.
And with the support of his Big Brother Miles, an entrepreneur and restauranteur, Josiah's dream-big ambitions can take root in...
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November 27, 2024 • 47 mins
Mentoring relationships supported by Big Brother Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee can end up being some of the most meaningful relationships in participants' lives.
So, when someone's Little Brother or Sister ages out of the program, it can be a minute before they're ready to jump back in and volunteer again.
But many former Bigs still want to find other ways to stay engaged with BBBS.
So in this episode of Little Big Chats, Dusty...
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October 30, 2024 • 23 mins
10-year-old Little Sister Ocean is always looking for little experiments.
It doesn't have to be the kind of big, flashy science experiments you see at school or on social media.
Ocean is happy to take what life gives her, try something new, and see what happens.
And with her Big Sister Siobhan, the world is their laboratory.
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August 28, 2024 • 21 mins
With two brothers and two dads, Little Sister Asia was starting to feel like there was nowhere to turn for a little "girl talk."
That is, until she met her Big Sister Anna five years ago.
Since then, they've developed an indelible bond, cemented in their mutual love of dogs, their senses of humor, and the kind of advice that can only pass from a grown woman to a growing girl.
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July 31, 2024 • 17 mins
One of the hardest things to do in life is change your habits for the better.
And screen time is a habit than many people--not just kids--struggle to regulate.
But in this episode, we meet Little Brother CJ, who has taken a proactive approach to his screen time habits with the support of his Big Brother Matt.
A community-based match, they also discuss their shared interests such as sports, video games, and trying new food.
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April 24, 2024 • 23 mins
When Betsy bought her first house a few years ago, she decided it would be a practical adventure to do some of the renovations herself.
And, fortunately, she had a perfect carpenter's assistant waiting at the ready in her little sister Aaliyah.
Together, they've swung hammers, worked miter saws and built noodle boards.
And in the course of learning new skills and expanding their horizons, they've built a remarkable friendship as...
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In order to make sure that key perspectives are represented in its decision making, the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee Board of Directors appoints three "Voices of the Mission" to its membership.
These leaders represent the Littles, the Bigs and the parents of Littles, and help the board understand how their policy-making impacts the BBBS mission on a granular level.
So in this episode, we meet the current "Voices of t...
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February 28, 2024 • 20 mins
Years ago, when they matched with their Little Brother DayDay, Charles and Sarah were taken aback by how shy he was.
Now a bombastic high schooler, it suffices to say that DayDay has really come out of his shell.
But with the love and support of mentors like Charles and Sarah, and dozens of horizon-expanding experiences along the way, it's no surprise that this young man has found his voice.
And this trio is now celebrating their s...
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January 31, 2024 • 21 mins
Starting high school after the Covid pandemic was enough to make Briya cry.
For a self-proclaimed introvert, all the new people and situations just seemed so overwhelming.
But when she matched with Maddie through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee's Mentor 2.0 program, that all began to change.
In her big sister, Briya found a new source of confidence and inspiration. She chanced upon an eager compatriot for sharing her un...
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November 29, 2023 • 35 mins
Fellas, we've gotta have a hard talk.
Because, frankly, not enough men are stepping up to the plate to volunteer as mentors with Big Brother Big Sisters.
And at BBBS of Metro Milwaukee, there are hundreds of young men just sitting on the waiting list.
Maybe you're scared you don't have what it takes, maybe you're afraid of the time commitment, maybe you just don't think you can make a difference.
But in this episode, we're going to...
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October 25, 2023 • 23 mins
If you call Little Sister Tahlia a multi-sport athlete, she WILL correct you.
She's also an artist, and an entrepreneur, and a high honor roll student, and a member of various clubs and student orgs.
And, when she joined BBBS of Metro Milwaukee's Mentor 2.0 program, she hoped she was getting another life-shaping experience.
She was not disappointed.
As a match with her Big Sister Lauren, these two fast friends have broadened their ...
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September 27, 2023 • 29 mins
When he took the reins as BBBS of Metro Milwaukee's new CEO earlier this summer, Neil Willenson had one goal at the top of his list:
Make the life-changing mentoring relationships that BBBS facilitates available to more kids in the Milwaukee area.
From the caring adult mentors who shaped his own upbringing to his personal experience as a Big Brother, his unique background as a founder of other charities for young people to his gr...
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August 23, 2023 • 21 mins
Sure, Big Sister Natalie has been there for her Little Sister Bre. In seven years together, Bre has changed schools several times, including the big step up to middle school, and her family has weathered some disruptive events as well.
But just as much as Natalie supports Bre, Bre is there for Natalie, too. Because in that time, Natalie got married, added a dog to her family, and then became a Mom with the birth this year of her da...
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July 26, 2023 • 27 mins
Having begun their mentoring relationship during the Covid pandemic, Brian and Alfredo developed a deep friendship long before they actually met one another face-to-face.
But when you speak with them now, it's clear why the Mentor 2.0 program is such an asset. And they have the added distinction of being selected as 2023's Mentor 2.0 Match of the Year, to boot.
Both Brian and Alfredo share an enduring love of the sport of soccer, w...
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