Supermarket Super History, Bring Your Own Pollinators, Fixing The Postal Service

Air Date:
Heard On Central Time
A U.S. Postal Service truck
A U.S. Postal Service carrier delivers mail in Fitchburg, Wis., on Aug. 19, 2020. Delays in mail delivery in Wisconsin and nationwide are prompting concerns about the ability of the postal service to manage an expected flood of absentee ballots in November. Dee J. Hall / Wisconsin Watch

A food journalist shares some of her research into the history of the grocery store, and offers perspective on how we’re currently viewing trips to the supermarket during a pandemic. Then the Appleton area has some crusading biologists working to increase the area’s bee population, and we hear from the group’s leader. And an expert on government management and institutional analysis joins us to discuss some of the problems facing the USPS, and how they could be solved.

Featured in this Show

  • The Grocery Store Trip Has Become Special, But It's Been Secretly Shaping Our Lives For A Long Time

    Over the last few months, grocery shopping has gone from being a necessary-but-not-beloved errand to being at times the only errand, an excursion even. We talk with a journalist about her deep dive into the history of the supermarket, a frequently visited, but underappreciated, part of American society.

  • Pollinator Project Works To Get More Bees Buzzing Around Appleton

    A Lawrence University-based project is working to expand the number of bee pollinators in the area, working with community members and students.

  • Now That The Postmaster General Sat Before Congress, What's Still Wrong With The Postal Service?

    Postmaster General appeared before several Congressional committees over the last several days, answering questions about controversial actions he’s taken since taking the reigns of the beleaguered US Postal Service. We look at what he said, and talk about some of the short- and long-term problems facing the USPS.

Episode Credits

  • Rob Ferrett Host
  • Natalie Guyette Producer
  • Tim Peterson Producer
  • Bianca Bosker Guest
  • Israel Del Toro Guest
  • Donald Kettl Guest

Related Stories