A book club is a great way to build community—bringing people together around shared interests, while also introducing them to new perspectives and ideas.

Today, Bill Tishler hosts his inaugural episode centered on community. Tishler, who is also a local elected official, has been hosting book clubs in his district. On today’s episode, four area residents join him in the WORT studio to share their thoughts on recent book clubs they participated in this year and how the books they read raised awareness about issues in our city.

Those issues range from pedestrian and bicycle safety to the health effects of loneliness and social disconnection, to the dangers of too much road salt and PFAS contamination in our area lakes and drinking water. The books discussed included The Art of Community: Seven Principles for Belonging by Charles Vogl (Oakland, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2016); Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (Houghton Mifflin, 1962); and Killed by a Traffic Engineer: Shattering the Delusion that Science Underlies Our Transportation System by Wes Marshall (Washington, D.C.: Island Press, 2024).

Guests on the show include:

• Joe Grande, Water Resources Manager at Madison Water Utility, where he oversees both the Water Supply and Water Quality units;

• Patrick Cunningham, best known as Madison’s beloved children’s entertainer Pogie the Yogie. He is also a dedicated community wellness teacher who combines yoga, strength training, and meditation to promote joyful movement and mindful living for all ages.

• Amani Latimer Burris, who has worked as an investigative journalist and a grassroots organizer on campaigns at the local, state, and national levels. She most recently served on the Madison Common Council as the Alder for District 12.

• Ben Varick, who works for the Wisconsin Bike Fed as the Youth Programs Manager in Dane County. He helps students walk, bike, and bus to school and to wherever they want to go.