Milwaukee PBS TV Producer

Drive TIme Three
Some days around the corner ... like today.

I met a guy who works in Milwaukee and lives in Aurora, Colorado. Actually he stays in Milwaukee for weeks at a time at the Knickerbocker Hotel. He asked me if I’ve heard of John McGivern. I said "Yeah he’s a TV local guy with a cute little show about towns in Wisconsin."

Of course he knew that already.

Less than two hours later I met one of the producers of John McGivern’s Milwaukee PBS 10/36 show. It was just he and me in the van for a ride home.

He told me they travel around the state in a van like we were in that very moment. And sometimes most of the guys in the van are named John. John Gurda, the historian who shows up frequently with his bicycle, usually drives himself to locations.

They get in touch with the village or town or small city and contact the powers that be, Chamber of Commerce, mayor etc. and they go in and spend a few days. The crew, depending on the distance from Milwaukee, may come home in the evening. Or they might stay out. It is unscripted and unrehearsed. They don’t use any make up. They don’t use any lights. They just walk in with a camera on the shoulder and let John be John.

Both of the guys I met today said that McGivern is about the same on camera as off.

And here I am talking to a TV producer realizing that I would love to do what he does and what the host does. Travel around to places and ask questions and meet people. Are you kidding?

It occurred to me immediately of course that’s what I do on the job anyway. So I told the fellow that I wrote a couple Drive Time books. Then I told him I was thinking about moving in the podcasting. And he said we’ll maybe you should hook up a Go Pro camera on the dash – and you could interview people while you drive. I said I don’t think that’s going to go over really well back at the base. But I appreciate your thought. And I said so if I get that podcast thing rolling can I call you? He said yes. Cool. Stay tuned.

P.S. If you haven't seen the PBS show it's a great way to get inspired about very local travel.