Zorba Paster, MD
Family doc Zorba Paster's enthusiasm and contagious laugh have made him a favorite with health conscious public radio listeners for over a decade.
The Chicago native first appeared on radio as a guest expert on Wisconsin Public Radio's statewide newsmagazine "Morning People" with Tom Clark. The two clicked, and Zorba became a regular guest on Clark's statewide, morning drive-time call-in show. They were so well received, WPR teamed the two for the weekly national talk show Zorba Paster on Your Health.
These days, in addition to hosting a national show, Zorba mentors medical students as a clinical professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He also keeps busy with a family practice, numerous speaking engagements, and travels abroad.
His book, The Longevity Code: Your Personal Prescription for a Longer, Sweeter Life, was published in February 2001 by Clarkson Potter, with a forward by the Dalai Lama. It's available from Amazon.
In his free time, Zorba's an avid traveler but always makes time for cooking, baking and spending time with his wife and family in rural Oregon, WI. He admits to indulging in junk food and a passion for good coffee and good chocolate. But Zorba says he makes up for his occasional indulgences by swimming and biking in summer and, in winter, enjoys downhill skiing in Northern Wisconsin and Colorado.
Dr. Zorba Paster is a physician at the Dean Clinic in Oregon, Wisconsin. Since 1980, he has participated in more than 100 studies of new pharmaceuticals. He has worked with companies such as Merck, Pfizer, Takeda, Endo, GlaxoSmithKline, Lilly, Novartis and Boelinger Engleheim. He gives continuing medical education talks and has been on the speaker's bureau for most of these companies. He generally speaks about the pharmaceuticals he has been directly involved with. He receives compensation for his research, continuing medical education and speaking activities. He mentions these relationships during the show identifying them using the term "Full Disclosure."
Karl Christenson - Co-Host
Karl Christenson was born and raised in the Twin Cities area where he grew up as a "backseat NPR kid" listening to Minnesota Public Radio. Moving just out of MPR's signal to Wisconsin for college, Karl earned a journalism/advertising degree from UW-Eau Claire.
Karl joined "Zorba Paster on Your Health" as executive producer in 2013. Along with his work on "Zorba Paster on Your Health," Karl has been a contributing producer for Wisconsin Public Radio programs "Central Time" and "Wisconsin Life." He keeps his passion for music fueled by composing and scoring music for WPR podcasts.
An award-winning audio producer, writer and composer, Karl has been recognized by the Public Media Journalist's Association, Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association, Milwaukee Press Club and nominated for a regional Emmy™ award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Midwest/Chicago chapter.
Karl lives in the Madison area with wife Christine and elementary-school-age son and daughter. When he's not behind the keyboard or the microphone, Karl's hobbies include travel, tennis, making music, getting out on the lakes, and attending area demolition derbies.
Tom Clark - Retired Co-Host
Tom Clark retired from the program in September 2023.
Tom may be known for his quick wit, spirited banter and love of junk food on "Zorba Paster on Your Health," but that's just part of Tom's story. Listeners in Wisconsin remember him jousting with policy-makers and politicos, as with the good doctor Paster.
In 1990, Tom's three-hour, issue-oriented talk show replaced NPR's "Morning Edition" on WPR's statewide Ideas Network. He received a "Citizen of Distinction" award from the League of Women Voters and, in April 1992, appeared on NBC's "Today Show" to discuss Wisconsin's Primary Election. In December 1992, University of Wisconsin-Extension educators honored him with an "Award for Excellence."
In 2004, Tom's radio work was honored with a prestigious "Headliner Award" from the Milwaukee Press Club, the oldest continuously operating press club in the nation.
Tom lives with his wife in Madison, WI, where he makes it a point never to cook and never to go a day without a taste of chocolate. Despite being a self-described couch potato, he admits to getting in his 10,000 steps a day walking his basset hound, Cooper. In his off-time, Tom also plays French Horn and blues harmonica, enjoys traveling with his wife and taking solitary (he calls them "Zen") motorcycle trips to the South.
Tom Clark will officially retire from "Zorba Paster on Your Health" after the broadcast on Sept. 9. Karl Christenson, who has served as a regular fill-in for Tom over the years and has been executive producer of the program since 2013, will now officially take on the role of co-host with Zorba each week - find more here.