Snow storm and Christmas specials are here!

Listen to the SNOW STORM Special RIGHT HERE and

Listen to the CHRISTMAS special RIGHT HERE

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Snow storm special featured conversations with our regular correspondents, Cathy Myers and Eric Kuznacic, and music involving end of the world, storms and holidays (what a mix, right?)We were also joined by our newest correspondent, Teresa Nguyen who updated the listeners on the cultural and community highlights of the weekend.

Of particular interest, is the interview with Dave Warren, owner of Dave's Ace Hardware store in Milton, Wisconsin. Dave shared several great tips for business owners (and others) on how to effectively use Facebook to help your business or project grow and reach more people. 95 minute mark

Christmas special features piano music by yours truly, throughout, and performances from Stage One Town Hall Christmas, which took place on December 22 at Janesville Performing Arts Center.

Day Lillies: 5 minute mark


Pastor Bruce Gray: 9 minute mark

The Peyer Choir: 29 minute mark

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 36 minute mark

Winds of Kislev, read by Yuri Rashkin & Edie Baran: 50 minute mark


Ray Jewell: 60 minute mark

Anna Schuette-Reid: 66 minute mark

Why the Evergreen, told by Edie Baran: 72 minute mark

'Twas Night Before Christmas, read by David Graham, 82 minute mark

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 89 minute mark

Heavenly Harp and Hammers with Anna Schuette-Red, Joan Heinze, and Nancy Hasse: 97 minute mark

I hope this season finds you well and in good company. Though it is not about the gifts, I hope you have received that which you were hoping for. As Discover Janesville is now done until January, I want to thank everyone who has supported me throughout this year in many different ways, and in the many different projects and endeavors I undertook. I look forward to more adventures that 2013 will bring and thanks for being along for the ride!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukkah, and Happy New Year!

Yuri

DJ in JM: Moscovites in Janesville

Here is my latest Janesville Messenger column:

This November, around Thanksgiving, something very unusual happened: my cousin from Moscow, Sergei, who I haven’t seen in nearly 25 years, came over with his wife Lala, to visit.  Every night we stayed up catching up, but the cool part was that it felt like we never parted.  We picked up right where we left off, and he called me “old man”, once again, just like when I was 13. 

Since my cousin and his wife live in Moscow, and we live in Janesville, I wasn’t sure about what to show the visitors.  So what I decided to do, was to show them the America we live in, the best I could. 

We went to an American courthouse where I work as an interpreter, and sat in on different hearings.  On Sunday morning, we went to an American church where I work.  We went to an American nursing home where I play music and we went to my daughter’s parent teacher conference at an American school. 

My Muscovites were fascinated by all of it, but seldom for reasons I expected.  After exiting the school building, for instance, my cousin remarked how amazed he was that the money budgeted to build the school, was actually used to construct a quality building and not to line someone’s pockets. 

Still, most of our time was spent at department stores. Prices, selection and quality of products we get in Janesville are way better then in Moscow, and customer service here is infinitely friendlier.  Overwhelmed, visitors from distant lands wondered through the aisles at Kohl’s in some sort of a happy daze.  Then, after trying on different outfits and finding just the right size and color, they discovered the second joy of shopping: returning the merchandise.

 

Being able to return that which you purchased but for whatever personal decision decided not to keep, is a luxury that evidently was not familiar to Russian travelers. Speaking of which, the fact that in the middle of a cold spell, young women could be seen walking around, particularly on State Street in Madison, in mini-skirts, was simply astonishing to visitors from the north who are raised to dress warm! 

After he left, my cousin told me he started missing Janesville already in Chicago.  You see, he said, going to a supermarket and getting whatever you need at a reasonable price at any time, or enjoying a justice system that respects its own laws, or living in a society not rotten by corruption, is very nice and enviable.  I guess living in a fast paced urban jungle, even with its great variety of experiences and opportunities, can be tiring.

Why am I telling you all this?  Because in this season of celebration, shopping, travel, family and whatever other stress we have in our lives, having someone take a look at it from the outside, was surprisingly reassuring. And not even because of the selection of sausages in our stores, but by the extent to which store clerks are generally happy to help a customer, by the extent to which the justice system respects the process, and government cares about accountability.

No system in the world is perfect, but what we have in America is so much better then where many other people exist, it deserves a certain degree if not of gratitude, at least appreciation.  No roses grow in winter, unless you go to your neighborhood florist or grocery store.  They are always there, nice and fresh.  Stop and smell the roses, sometimes.

Happy Holidays!   

Discover Janesville #14

LISTEN HERE

Featuring:

Conversation with City Correspondent Dan Hartung about the new union contracts, possible referendum on increasing property taxes, and sidewalks.

State Representatives Andy Jorgensen (D) 23 minute mark
and Amy Loudenbeck (R) 59 minute mark,

check in to update listeners on the latest developments in the State Legislature, their opinions on redistricting, right to work legislation, and Forbes magazine ranking Wisconsin #42 on its list of states good for business.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 49 minute mark

Madison-based journalist Rebecca Kemble speaks about her article in Progressive magazine, highlighting the State Senate committee led by Senator Tim Cullen, looking to reform mining laws in Wisconsin. 89 minute mark

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 109 minute mark

Cathy Myers announces her campaign for Janesville School Board.  118 minute mark

All that and music by Craig High School acapella, on the next Discover Janesville!

Listen to internet radio with Discover Janesville on Blog Talk Radio

Discover Janesville #13

LISTEN HERE

Featuring:

Conversation with the new director of Rock County Historical Society Mike Reuter about his transition from Milwaukee to Janesville and what lies in the future for the Tallman house.

City correspondent Dan Hartung gets to the bottom of the water rate increase, fire department overtime, and the new business incubator.  18 minute mark

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 42 minute mark

Political correspondent Cathy Myers talks “fiscal cliff”,  updates listeners on the efforts to end same-day voter registration in Wisconsin, and shares with us the results of Rock County Democratic party elections.  50 minute mark

Music correspondent Eric Kuznacic previews upcoming concerts featuring music by High on Fire, Astronautilis and BoDeans.  70 minute mark

In “City Sounds”, highlights of the Diversity Action Team holiday celebration, where representatives of various cultures, shared their holiday traditions.  Learn about Uganda, Norway, China and Iran.  92 minute mark

Music performance by Al Hulick 120 minute mark

An encore presentation of “Farmer Fawns Over Fine China” by Jim Lyke and directed by Edie Baran, from the 24 hour Theater Festival at U Rock.  Starring: Pat Hall, David Graham, Yuri Rashkin and Paul Rubio.  127 minute mark

Listen to internet radio with Discover Janesville on Blog Talk Radio

Discover Janesville #12

LISTEN RIGHT HERE

Featuring:

Highlights from Marshall Middle School production of Seussical the Musical

Discover Janesville editorial in Janesville Messenger 9 minute mark

Announcements: 12 minute mark

Performance by Steve Doiel 17 minute mark

Political correspondent Cathy Myers updates us on upcoming local events, spring elections, the John Doe investigation, and more. 20 minute mark

Music correspondent Eric Kuzancic, previews upcoming concerts featuring music by Mac Lethal, DJ Shadow and Silversun Pickups. 38 minute mark

Sounds of jam session from the Swig in San Francisco. 58 minute mark

Announcements: 85 minute mark

City correspondent Dan Hartung, highlights the Assistant DA shortage in Rock County and talks about what proposed changes on fence placement, can mean for you.  91 minute mark

Music by local rap artist BlueFlame 112 minute mark

Christmas improvisation from the newly released live album by Yuri Rashkin "Christmas in San Francisco, 2012"  116 minute mark

Listen to internet radio with Discover Janesville on Blog Talk Radio

Discover Janesville #11

LISTEN RIGHT HERE

Featuring:

· Conversation about what the future holds for Republican party and the discussion on the proposed dress code for teachers in Janesville schools, with our correspondent Cathy Myers. Also, ideas for what to do between elections for those who love politics.

· Music correspondent Eric Kuznacic previews concerts in the area, featuring music by GWAR, The Four Bitchin Babes and The Brian Setzer Orchestra. 19 minute mark

Announcements: 33 minute mark

· City correspondent and co-editor of Janesville Community Page, Dan Hartung shares the news of an employer looking to create jobs in our area, the latest developments with SHINE Medical, and the decision by Janesville City Council to provide benefits to domestic partners of city employees. 38 minute mark

· Interview with co-owner of Medithin Weight Loss Clinic, Jeff Dedrick. The clinic has been helping its clients reach impressive results and is about to open a new facility in to Madison. 52 minute mark.

Announcements: 74 minute mark

· Psychic healer and Janesville resident, Kris Abelman, shares stories and perspective on healing. 82 minute mark

· The people behind a popular Janesville fetish/kink website. Join Yuri as he interviews Lady Becca, Sweet Devil Woman and the Lord.  99 minute mark

· The secrets of the Mayan calendar and arguments against involvement from outer space in construction, revealed by Professor Roland Rodell. 122 minute mark

Listen to internet radio with Discover Janesville on Blog Talk Radio

Discover Janesville #10

LISTEN RIGHT HERE

This week's podcast features:

* Part two of conversation with Simon Davison, who came to Janesville from Great Britain, to campaign for President Obama.  Here, Simon talks about the retreat center he is running, and his concept of The Relational Gold Standard.

*Co-editor of Janesville Community Page Dan Hartung checks in with the status of SHINE Medical, the latest on the sidewalks, the city budget, election impact on Janesville and the city website. 17 minute mark

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 35 minute mark

*Adam Rutherford shares with the listeners his expertise in Facebook marketing for businesses.  Adam gives practical tips on how to make your Facebook page do what you want it to do. 40 minute mark

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 53 minute mark

*Cathy Myers shares her thoughts on the election and its possible outcomes, doing live radio, as well as invites the listeners to check out the volunteer fair at JPAC, this weekend. 55 minute mark

*Beth Wheelock Tallon from YWCA of Rock County, checks in to give the listeners an update on what is going on at the YW these days, what surprised her when she first joined the organization, and the ways in which you can get involved and help out. 71 minute mark

*Roxanne (Roxie) Neat, is a folk performer from Stoughton,Wisconsin.  Recently, Roxie performed at Mocha Moment.  Discover Janesville is glad to be able to share two of her songs with you. 84 minute mark

*Pam Van Brocklin has been involved with the Friends of the Riverside Park for years, and today she gives us an update on the latest improvements in the park, and the group’s plans for next year. 91 minute mark

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 104 minute mark

*Dave Haldiman uses the community line (608-352-0287) to call in with his editorial on the possible effect of the 2012 elections: secession by the red states. 108 minute mark

*Our music correspondent Eric Kuznacic checks in with his show of the year: the Turkey DubTucular featuring music by Passifire, Jon Wayne & The Pain, and Wookiefoot. 112 minute mark

*"Liz v. Wade"  is back with contributors Liz Martiniak and Wade Hallett, talking about the results and lessons of presidential elections. Then, they address FEMA and the amount of control that states should exercise over this federal agency. 130 minute mark

Listen to internet radio with Discover Janesville on Blog Talk Radio

DJ in JM: Let's break with "Footloose"!

Here is the latest Discover Janesville column in the Janesville Messenger.

Welcome back to Discover Janesville, the column! It will come as a surprise only to those who don’t know me, but I like live music, and specifically listening to live bands. And if you also like live music, you will agree that there isn't much variety in what we hear at our local establishments these days, though some bands are clearly better than others.

On one night this past summer, I went to a local bar to listen to a band. They were pretty good, and as I was walking out the door, I heard the band play theme from "Footloose". When I walked in to the other local bar where I was meeting my friends, 20 minutes later, there was a band playing there, also. Guess what: they were playing the theme from "Footloose", as well. It's not that it's a bad song, I was just hoping for more variety, then to have two great local bands playing the same song on the same night at different bars in town.

There are several genres that can be hard to find in Janesville. Among these: original music, jazz, blues, and pretty much anything but classic rock, top 40 covers and country. The other night, I heard Jazzguise at O'Riley & Conway's and couldn't believe how unusual it felt to hear jazz music in Janesville. For that matter, I can’t really remember the last time I heard a band performing an original song.

Now, the entrepreneur in me says that we hear what the market supports, which explains the classic rock, top 40 covers and country that you can hear all over town on the weekends, but I am not entirely certain that that approach is totally accurate. There are enough people in the area who will go to a live jazz performance once a month, if only there was a local place to find it!

Still, the music scene in Janesville is one thing that I do like, and it’s not always about music. Being a working musician in town, allowed me to meet many new people with whom I would have a difficult time connecting were it not for music, including teachers, doctors, attorneys, business owners, and many others, all of whom play and write music in their spare time. Music brings us together, and having opportunities to perform means that it’s not only people who love the performer’s music who will come, but people who know these musicians personally and professionally.

Just look at Docs Who Rock which has sold out for 3 years in a row. Are these incredible musicians? Some for sure, but selling out Janesville Performing Arts Center takes more than talent. Being well-known in the community, and having many clients (or patients) is a huge plus. By the same token, why wouldn’t a club cater to a jazz group or a band performing original songs if the cost to hire a band are low and chances of band members bringing friends and building a following are not just good, they are an investment both in marketing, and in the future, for the establishment.

I, as much as anyone, appreciate the fact that there are still a number of places that look for live music, but in order for our community to make leap to the future, we need to make break with the past, and that’s where theme from “Footloose” belongs.

Discover Janesville #9

LISTEN RIGHT HERE

Featuring:

*Not sure about who to vote for on Tuesday?  You won't be after listening to this interview with Simon Davison who came from England to knock on doors and to help ensure President Obama's re-election.  This week is part one of our conversation centering on Simon's view of Barack Obama and Mitt Romney's likely impact on the United States and the world.  Next week, listen for part two when we will learn about Simon's life traveling the world, serving as a head hunter interviewing executives for some of the top companies in the world, and running a retreat meditation centers in England and India.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 30 minute mark

* Co-editor of Janesville Community Page, Dan Hartung, checks in on the status of the parking plaza over the Rock River, discusses the city’s survey of residents, the future of the city’s parks, and weighs in on the question: are there enough coffee shops in Janesville? 39 minute mark

ANNOUNCEMENTS  30 minute mark

 

Link to The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari with musical accompaniment by Yuri Rashkin from October 30, 2012 performance at Raven's Wish.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYQY4wtRDIc


* Poltical correspondent Cathy Myers, updates us on the upcoming elections and all the events and rallies between now and Tuesday. 61 minute mark

* Music correspondent Eric Kuznacic tells us about upcoming concerts. 76 minute mark

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 90 minute mark

* In the “Liz v. Wade” segment, Liz Martiniak and Wade Hallett start by disagreeing about what Obama or Romney administrations will mean for America, and proceed to arguing about the issue of race and the role it plays in presidential politics. 99 minute mark

* Finally, Vivian Creekmore author of the blog “Vivian’s Love Letters” joins us to share her thoughts on Wade Hallett, and whether she will ever be able to talk to Republicans about politics, again. 127 minute mark

All that and music by Soul Assylum, State Radio and Pentatonix

More Announcements:

Thanks to all of you for listening and sharing the program - episodes #7 and #8 were heard over 1,200 times - and program as a whole was now heard over 7,000 times!

Don't forget to check out Discover Janesville column now in the Janesville Messenger!

Tune in on election eve on Tuesday, November 6 towww.blogtalkradio.com/discoverjanesville to hear our live election night coverage of all the local, state and national races, as the show will be broadcast live!  Featuring interviews and comments from former Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan, and many others, and of course your phone calls!

First membership meeting of Discover Janesville with Yuri Rashkin will take place on November 11, Sunday, from ;6 til 8 pm at St.Lawrence Ave in Janesville.  Hope to see you there!

Interested in becoming a sponsor of a fast growing, popular podcast for and about Janesville, Wisconsin?  Email DiscoverJanesville@gmail.com

Listen to internet radio with Discover Janesville on Blog Talk Radio

DJ in JM: Are there enough coffee shops in Janesville?

Discover Janesville is not just a radio podcast, it is also a column in the Janesville Messenger.  Here is the first column, which appeared in the October 28th edition of the Messenger.

"Welcome to Discover Janesville, a new addition to the Janesville Messenger. As the author, I get to pick what the subject of each column, but more than likely, it will be about Janesville and Rock County. Some of you may be familiar with the name "Discover Janesville" because when I first got on the Council, in 2008, I looked around and was amazed because for all the bad news about the economy, I kept meeting so many people, who were playing a leadership role in our community, people who were determined to make Janesville a better place. I wanted to shine the spotlight on these people, and for 3 years, I hosted a program, which you can still view on the internet, interviewing people making a positive difference in our community. A few weeks back, I brought Discover Janesville back, but this time, as a newspaper column, and as a regular online radio talk-show.

Life, these days in Janesville is a mixed bag of slowly improving economy, political polarization (which really just means that people who disagree politically, look at the world through completely different sets of lenses) and a constant stream of community events. From high school sports, to theater productions, from political rallies, to non-profit fundraisers, from neighborhood revitalization efforts to church festivals, the list of ways to stay busy and entertained is nearly endless. What I look forward to covering in this space, and on my radio program, is the variety of experiences that make up living in Janesville. Not to mention our great location, which allows local residents to go and see shows and festivals in Chicago, Madison, Rockford and Milwaukee.

Today, I would like to raise a question is I feel warrants greater discussion in our Janesville: are there enough coffee shops in town?

Janesville is not that different from other places, where much business is done in the coffee shop setting. It is an inexpensive way to get together with a friend or a business contact at a neutral location.  No need to clean up the house or worry about having no office outside of the one in your basement.  Now, there are clearly quite a few bars in town, and I do not intend to ignore the reality that much business is done there as well. However, it is the coffee shop that functions as that virtual office and meeting space, and we could stand to have more of these in Janesville.

Mocha Moment is wonderful and quaint, but it can also be crowded. Starbucks near the IHOP, looks like its doing bulk of its business in the drive-thru lane and the small space inside is frequently packed.
There are finally more than one coffee shop in the downtown with 29 South Main, and Lemonade Coffee practically across the street from each other. Java Joys is still being missed, and GR's Sandwich Shoppe (the latest venture of Georges Hanna, best known for his"Metropolitan" restaurant) on East Milwaukee, is a welcomed up-and-comer. Still, in a city of 60,000 residents, we could stand to have a few more outlets where people can gather, listen to music and have a warm (or an iced) caffeinated (or not) beverage. If you still don’t believe me, just walk into Mocha Moment when it is taken over by a book club, and you will agree with me. Seems like what we need is either for Mocha Moment to open a second location, or for the rest of us to support all the coffee shops we already have in town."

Discover Janesville #8

*Janesville City Manager Eric Levitt speaks about the city budget, emerald ash bore and its cost.  Eric also gives the latest update on SHINE Medical and its plans to build a facility in Janesville. 

*US Senator Herb Kohl shares his plans for retirement and speaks in support of Tammy Baldwin and Rob Zerban.  20 minute mark

*Rob Zerban running for Congress against Paul Ryan and Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin speak at a canvassing rally in Janesville.  22 minute mark

*Director of the new mockumentary "Janeane from Des Moines", Grace Lee and star of the movie, Jane Edith Wilson, share their experiences and answer questions about the movie following the movie's Janesville screening.  Jane Edith Wilson has appeared in TV shows such as "Seinfeld", "ER" and movies including "Catch Me If You Can."  43 minute mark

*Former US Senator Russ Feingold fires up the crowd of Janesville residents at an early voting rally in Janesville. 66 minute mark

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 80 minute mark

*Political correspondent, Cathy Myers checks in with the latest local political news and events around town.  84 minute mark

*Music correspondent, Eric Kuznacic updates us on upcoming concerts featuring Red Hot Chili Peppers, G Love & Special Sauce, and Kinetix.  101 minute mark

*State Representative Andy Jorgensen checks in about the state of his campaign. 119 minute mark

*On our controversial segment "Liz v. Wade", Wade Hallett responds to stinging criticism from Vivian Creekmore, as he and Elizabeth Martiniak pick up last week's discussion of women's rights, and  cover the last debate between President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney. 130 minute mark

****

You may notice that this list is long. There are a couple of reasons for that: 1. It was a busy week in Janesville. 2. As strange as it may sound, I do not expect you to listen to the whole show.  I would love it if you would, but people are busy. I'd love to read every "Atlantic Monthly" from cover to cover but let's be realistic. 

So, here is the first thing I would hope you will do: Look at the show as a weekly news magazine, available to you at no cost. Each show is full of information and this week, you can even hear Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl speaking in Janesville.  

Next, look at the list of interviews, pick the ones you really want to hear, first, and then come back for more later.  

Thanks for reading and listening.  Please tell your friends.

Yuri Rashkin

Listen to internet radio with Discover Janesville on Blog Talk Radio

VIDEO: Russ Feingold speaking in Janesville

On October 22, 2012, former US Senator Russ Feingold was in town to speak at the early voting rally.

Janesville is the hometown of both Russ Feingold and Paul Ryan.

EXCLUSIVE: Kohl, Baldwin, Zerban speaking in Janesville

Today, US Senator Herb Kohl, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin and US Congress candidate Rob Zerban appeared at a Janesville canvassing location and spoke to volunteers. In an exclusive interview with Discover Janesville, Senator Kohl spoke about his plans for the future following his retirement from the senate. In his speech, Senator Kohl said that he confirs the title of "People's Senator" to Tammy Baldwin.

Discover Janesville #7

Featuring:

* Co-editor of Janesville Community Page Dan Hartung fills us in on what is going on with the city budget, school district’s attempt to lower taxes, what local businesses do to effectively promote themselves using social media, and together we debunk some of the urban myths about people from other countries who own businesses in Janesville.

* UW Rock County CEO and Dean Carmen Wilson, talks about the newly created Dean’s Community Council, and the upcoming market study on the possibility of building dorms on campus.

* Our music correspondent, Eric Kuznacic previews upcoming concerts featuring music by bands with great names like Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Roster McCabe and Matisyahu.

* We begin our series of talks from Janesville Noon Lions club, today featuring Lion Al Bates (aka Judge Bates), speaking about the Wisconsin Nicaragua Partnership and the amazing story of a live that was saved by Janesville doctors.

* Milton teacher, Mike Hoffman previews the upcoming Children's World Impact concert at Charming B’s coffee shop, and talks about the little non-profit from Elkhorn that built a shea butter processing plant in Ghana.

* Staci Abrahamson shares with us breaking entertainment news involving Guys, Ice and the Janesville Performing Center.

* Turning to politics, Cathy Myers talks about upcoming events in Janesville featuring Tammy Baldwin and Russ Feingold, gives advice on what to do on election day in case anyone has problems casting their ballot, and we discuss the latest attack by Joe Knilans against Deb Kolste in the race to represent  the 44th Assembly District.

* Yuri previews of a new mockumentary "Janeane from Des Moines", which will be screened on Thursday, October 25th, at Basics, on tour of swing states, featuring Q&A with director Grace Lee, and actress Jane Edith Wilson.

* “Liz v. Wade” get personal arguing about contraception, Planned Parenthood, abortion and Viagra.

* Ryan Schroeder, who is running against Rep. Amy Loudenbeck in the 31st Assembly District, joins us to talk about why he is running, his experience, and the important issues in the race.

All that and music by the Jazzguise and ABBA on the Discover Janesville podcast #7.

Listen to internet radio with Discover Janesville on Blog Talk Radio

Discover Janesville #6

Featuring:

Broadcasting from Lemonade Coffee in Hodge Podge Place on the Janesville Mile.

*Conversation with our political correspondent, Cathy Myers about "As Goes Janesville", upcoming events, union / school board politics, and Tammy vs. Tommy.

*Reaction by Jim Reif, one of negotiators for teachers in Janesville School District, to Janesville School Board refusal to negotiate with teachers on any concessions. 19 minute mark

*Discussion with Dan Hartung aka Janesvillean, about city budget and As Goes Janesville. 31 minute mark

*Report on upcoming concerts, with Eric Kuznacic, featuring music by Tomorrow's Bad Seeds, Flobots and the Wallflowers. 44 minute mark

*"Liz v. Wade" starts with discussion of unemployment, and hits on auto bailout, whether Wade would follow President Obama across the street, and who has the right to criticize the military. 63 minute mark

*Vivian Creekmore reports from the site of the Biden/Ryan debate watch party at the UAW hall, and explains what Paul Ryan would have to do to earn her respect. 85 minute mark

*Behind the scenes with the cast and crew of Stage One production of "How I Learned To Drive" by Paula Vogel. 96 minute mark

Listen to internet radio with Discover Janesville on Blog Talk Radio

Thanks to you, Discover Janesville was heard live and downloaded over 3,000 times!

Interested in becoming a sponsor of a fast growing, popular podcast for and about Janesville, Wisconsin? Email DiscoverJanesville@gmail.com

Introducing: The Real Sound Off!

The idea is quite simple: call 608-352-0287 and record a message.  Then, listen for it on the next podcast!  If the past is any indication, your rant will be heard by hundreds and hundreds of people!  You may choose to use, though you do not have to, your real name, and of course standard requirements of basic decency, apply.  

Discover Janesville #5

Featuring:

*Discussion of Rep. Joe Knilans backing out of League of Women Voters debate, featuring reaction from Deb Kolste and Representative Andy Jorgensen.

* Political report from Cathy Myers covering activities in Janesville.  Cathy recaps local reaction to the first presidential debate, describes Tommy Thompson as a bully, and talks about the race between Representative Janis Ringhand and Beth Schmidt in the 45th Assembly District. Cathy also lists upcoming opportunities for progressives who want to get involved in the local, statewide and presidential political races.

*Discussion of upcoming comedy concerts with Eric Kuznacic, featuring the comedy of Dana Carvey, Jerry Seinfeld and Weird Al Yancovic, LouisCK is also coming to Milwaukee but we couldn't find any "clean" audio of him to play on the show.

*Update from Executive Director of Janesville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, Christine Rebout about the upcoming Art Infusion... along the Janesville Mile, a chalk art festival, happening in downtown Janesville this Saturday and Sunday!  There is also a free class today at Helen Jeffris Wood Museum at 5:30 pm for those who want to learn more about painting with chalk.

*Jim Lyke checks in, while in costume and make up and waiting to go on-stage, about the 3-man play "Guys on Ice", he's doing at Beloit Civic Theatre.

*Wade Hallett and Elizabeth Martiniak wasted no time locking horns over whether the auto bailout was a good idea or not (among others), while Elizabeth expressed her deep disappointment with how the President chose to handle Mitt Romney's attacks.

*Parker High School History teacher and blogger, Steve Strieker shares his concerns about the state of education and says there are so many students in his classes, he has ran out of desks and sat a student at the teacher's desk.  Steve calls student poverty to be the biggest problem facing the district.

*Finally, a conversation with Janesville resident Ryan Skinner, who on his quest to document the supernatural, has extensively traveled, including making several trips to the state of Utah, where Ryan believes, an area important for his research, is located.  In our interview, Ryan shares dramatic details of his encounters.

*All that and music by Emerald City, Category X (coming to Tremors this weekend), and Weird Al, coming to Milwaukee.

Listen to internet radio with Discover Janesville on Blog Talk Radio

BREAKING NEWS: Deb Kolste reaction to Joe Knilans dropping out of debate

When Representative Joe Knilans backed out of League of Women Voters debate, Discover Janesville was there to get Deb Kolste's reaction.  Deb Kolste is running against Joe Knilans to represent the 44th District in the Wisconsin State Assembly.

Discover Janesville, podcast #4

Check out Discover Janesville with Yuri Rashkin podcast #4 featuring:

*Part two of interview with Brad Lichtenstein, director of the upcoming PBS "As Goes Janesville" documentary.  Brad talks about the anxiety in the community connected with the film, and shares the reaction to the movie from screenings across the country.

*Interview with Steven Trueblood, the man behind Janesville Project, a vision for an alternative energy powerhouse development center in the vacant GM plant.

*Discussion of upcoming concerts, with Eric Kuznacic, featuring the Holdsteadys, Mike Pinto Band, and Brother Ali.

*Political report from Cathy Myers covering activities in Janesville.  Cathy talks about the race between Representative Amy Loudenbeck and Alderman Ryan Schroeder, and even comes to the help of Congressman Ryan.  

*Discussion with Dan Hartung aka Janesvillian, co-editor of Janesville Community Page, about the latest council actons including sidewalks, allowing further expansion of digital billboards, and how Janesville Police Department sees their role in our community going forward.

*Update from former Janesville resident, Roberta Retrum, who filed a complaint with the Government Accountability Board in Madison, accusing Representative Robin Robin Vos's wife of voter fraud.  Roberta traveled from Eagle River to Madison to file the complaint, and now will go to Racine to file charges with the DA there.

*Conversation between two Janesville residents: Wade Hallett and Elizabeth Martiniak about the future of Medicaid.  Interestingly, while both agree on the problem and the solution, they strongly disagree about which presidential candidate will actually bring about the needed changes.

*All that and music by Emerald City.

Discover Janesville with Yuri Rashkin welcomes new sponsors:

Merry Law Offices
CE Wurzer Builders
GR Sandwhich Shoppe

Interested in becoming a sponsor of a fast growing, popular podcast for and about Janesville, Wisconsin?  Email DiscoverJanesville@gmail.com

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/discoverjanesville/2012/09/28/discover-janesville-with-yuri-rashkin

Listen to internet radio with Discover Janesville on Blog Talk Radio

Discover Janesville, podcast #3

Check out Discover Janesville with Yuri Rashkin episode #3 podcast featuring:

*Discussion with Dan Hartung, co-editor of Janesville Community Page, about how our lives will be changed with the proposed interstate changes and the class differences between those for, and against chickens.

*Results of investigation by our political correspondent Cathy Myers, into the group funding misleading ad blaming President Obama for Janesville GM plant closure.

*Interview with Jim Tropp, Artistic Director of Bower City Theatre, about his production of Next to Normal, musical about mental illness, currently playing at Janesville Performing Arts Center.

*Discussion of upcoming concerts, with Eric Kuznacic, including John Oates upcoming appearance at JPAC.

*Conversation between Wade Hallett and Elizabeth Martiniak as part of our "I respectfully disagree with everything you just said", which ended in agreement.  All it took was a compromise.

*Report from former Janesville resident, Roberta Retrum, who filed a complaint with the Government Accountability Board in Madison, accusing Representative Robin Vos of voter fraud.

*Part one of interview with Brad Lichtenstein, director of upcoming PBS documentary "As Goes Janesville".  In the interview, Brad talks about how he chose the characters for his film, and why Paul Ryan didn't make it.

*All that and music by Lexi Ganong, Gaia Galvan and Matthew Hollingsworth.

Listen to internet radio with Discover Janesville on Blog Talk Radio

Discover Janesville, podcast #2

Check out Discover Janesville with Yuri Rashkin episode #2 featuring:

Discussion with Dan Hartung, co-editor of Janesville Community Page, about the length of time it will take people to accept roundabouts

Conversation with Cathy Myers, our political correspondent, about the Democratic candidates for State Assembly and U.S. Congress

Round up of upcoming concerts, with Eric Kuznacic, featuring music by national artists perform soon near Janesville

Round up of upcoming Janesville theater productions and auditions, with Allen Jeannette

Look at the possible reasons behind the attack on the American Embassy in Lybia, with Wade Hallett, 24 year army veteran who has served in the area

It's Discover Janesville meets Crossfire! Future of Medicare with Elizabeth Martiniak on the left, and Wade Hallett on the right

Checking in with Executive Director of Janesville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, Christine Rebout, about the World Water Ski Tournament, starting tomorrow in Janesville

Interview with Rob Zerban, running against Paul Ryan to represent the 1st Congressional District in the United States Congress. Rob talked about his rise in the polls since Paul Ryan was nominated to be the Republican Party Vice Presidential candidate, Paul Ryan's refusal to debate, and Rob's recent trip to Germany, where he engaged in discussions to bring the next Audi car manufacturing plant to Janesville and the 1st Congressional District.

All that and music by Cash Box Kings, Grey Matter Mechanics, HK and Rainbow Bridge with Jesse Aron!

Listen to internet radio with Discover Janesville on Blog Talk Radio

Discover Janesville, podcast #1

Discover Janesville was launched on September 6 at 6 pm, and with the help of some fine people, it resulted in a show I hope you will enjoy.

Dan Hartung, co-editor of Janesville Community Page on Facebook talked about the sidewalk committee chances of success and the upside of investing in the ice arena.  

Cathy Myers, Discover Janesville's political commentator, spoke about political conventions and Paul Ryan.

Eric Kuznacic, the show's music correspondent, discussed Paul Ryan's favorite songs by Paul Ryan's favorite band "Rage Against the Machine".

Wade Hallett and Norm Aulabaugh discussed whether Paul Ryan's record in Congress, is enough to overturn his Nice Guy status in Janesville.

Democratic candidate for the 44th State Assembly District, Deb Kolste, shared an update on her campaign, and her commitment to preserving the middle class in Wisconsin.   

All that and music of Teresa Nguyen, Knee Deep Band and Blue Olives on the first Discover Janesville!  Click on the link below to listen or to download the show's podcast.

Listen to internet radio with Discover Janesville on Blog Talk Radio

Discover Janesville is back!

Hey everyone!  Discover Janesville is back and it's on the radio.  Well, sort of.  Go to www.blogtalkradio.com/DiscoverJanesville every Thursday from 6 - 8 pm to listen and participate in the live broadcast.  Missed it?  Listen to each episode anytime at your convenience by going to the same website!

What is Discover Janesville now that it's on the radio?  Well, it's the same program hosted by Yuri Rashkin featuring interviews with local news makers, only with more stuff!  For instance, you can now call in and participate in the conversation, and the show will feature music by local performers.  But that's just the beginning.

Tune in on September 6 at 6 pm to find out what happens next!