Around The 715

The first week of the Northwoods League season is officially in the books, and while the record may not tell the full story, there's plenty of optimism surrounding the Eau Claire Express. During this week's Express update, broadcaster Pete Knutson joined the show to discuss the team's strong pitching, the arrival of key players, improvements at Carson Park, and what fans can expect as the season unfolds.

We kickoff our Top 250 moments in American sports history.  And before we get to players, coaches, teams, and games, we have to start at the beginning. The formation of the leagues.  So in this first episode, we take a look at 10 leagues that began, for many, the start of some amazing sports moments in American history. 

Guests on the May 31st Episode of Newsmakers included:  Jason Boehm, Director of 12 ANGRY MEN for Chippewa ValleyTheatre Guild. Tim Sexton, President Chippewa Valley Veterans Tribute Foundation and Benny Anderson Marketting and Events Consultant Eau Claire Event District  Carol Lendle and Tom Guelzow representing the June 6th ALS Walk in Carson Park 

An interview with James "J.Y." Young of Styx one month before their 2026 performance in Eau Claire, WI, at Summer Jam.  He chats about the band performing live nowadays, Wisconsin, the Chicago Bears, and how the band's music has stayed popular for so long.

On the May 24th Episode of 715 Newsmakers !    Susie Haugley, Communications Manager  FEED MY PEOPLE about the upcoming Empty Bowls FundRaiser on May 28th. Brian Maki, Executive Director of the Northern Wisconsin State Fair  715 Newsroom Director/Anchor and Reporter Morgan McCarthy sits down with Science Whiz and $ 10,000 Scholarship Winner William Engel of Boyceville 

The countdown is officially on for another summer of baseball at Carson Park as the Eau Claire Express prepare to open their 21st season. For owner Craig Toycen, the excitement is building quickly — even if the Wisconsin weather hasn’t quite caught up yet. With Opening Day just days away, the Express organization is entering the season with plenty of momentum. From upgraded dugouts and new staff members to expanded community involvement and exciting promotions, there’s a lot happening around Carson Park this summer.  

Our guy Ty from Slab Factory has made some major news in the sports card hobby world! He hit on a super rare Tom Brady card and it's in auction! Ty joins us to tell us the story of how he pulled this card, the process of getting it on auction, and so much more.  What a cool convo!

Dan and Brandon went down a rabbit hole.  Between Griffey Jr and Bonds, who's career would you rather have? How about Marino, Young, and Kelly? Or Ewing, Malone, or Barkley? Shaq or Kobe? The guys make their cases, but they want to hear from you! Who are you picking?!

Guests on the May 17th Episode of 715 Newsmakers included:  Lisa Wells, Dementia Care Specialist with Eau Claire ADRC Michelle Reinen, Policy Initiatives Advisor, Wisconsin DATP  Tiffany Hoage and Scott Revoir, UW STOUT about Steam Camps this Summer  WAXX 104.5's Jill Welke interviews World Champion Livestock Auctioneer Dean Edge  Travis Hilton, Rock Falls Raceway General Manager 

An interview with Annie Zaleski about her 2026 book "Stevie Nicks in 50 Songs."  They discuss what she learned researching the book, patterns in the song stories, Nicks's influence on younger generations, and more.

Guests on the May 10th Episode included:  Erin Klaus, Executive Director of Downtown Eau Claire, Inc. and Kate Felton, Civic and Strategic Communications Coordinator for Downtown Eau Claire,Inc, Brian Maki,  Executive Director of Northern Wisconsin State Fair Association, Organizer of BBQ FEST, Dan Kasper, Creator of SportsTalk 105.1's BACKYARD DREAMS and Host of The Dan Kasper Show 6-10 am weekdays on SPORTSTALK 105.1 Lisa Wells, Dementia Care Specialist  Eau Claire County ADRC  Tiffany Hoege and Scott Revoir  of UW Stout about STEAM Camps coming to Stout this Summer. 

Joined by Ty from Slab Factory, we answer one of the biggest questions in collecting: is this card actually worth something? We cover: Garage sale and estate sale strategies When PSA grading is (and isn’t) worth it How to read checklists and pack odds Why new card hype spikes—and crashes Playoff and pop culture impacts on value Plus, insights on players like Caitlin Clark, rising NBA stars, and how timing the market can make a big difference. Perfect for collectors, investors, and anyone curious about the booming sports card world.

Slowpitch softball (or beer league softball) was a huge part of our younger lives. While the game is still being played, it's nowhere near the level that it used to be. Dan and Brandon go down memory lane, share some stories, and talk about a game that used to be a bigger deal than it is now.  #SlowpitchSoftball #WeekendWarriors #Softball #Recreation #BeerLeague

Guests on the May 3rd Episode of 715 Newsmakers included:  STAMP OUT HUNGER representatives: Rhea Losano, Creative Director of United Way of Greater Chippewa Valley, Heather Eslinger, Volunteer Recruiter FEED MY PEOPLE, Corey Grotte, Area STAMP OUT HUNGER coordinator for United States Postal System. Elizabeth Hart, Executive Director Literacy Chippewa Valley Nick White, Board Member CAUSE FOR CELEBRATIONS Chippewa Valley Lip Sync Battle. Michelle Reinen, Wisconsin DATCP Policy Initiatives Advisor  Frank Bartella, director of GRUMPY OLD MEN-The Musical for Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild.

Dan catches up with Steve Dayton and B.J Hollars from Fireside Productions to chat about their new, upcoming documentary called: "Kings of Kubb"!  They chat about the beginnings of Fireside Productions, the inspiration behind their latest project, what surprised them the most about Kubb, and more! 

Hutson has no school, so the boys decided to do a quick podcast! Hutson began his new baseball season so they chat about that, his favorite position to play, and the positions he wants to play more and get better at.  Plus they chat a little MLB and the Packers keeping one of Hutsons favorite players. 

Guests on the April 19th Episode of 715 Newsmakers included:  Semone Thomas, Executive Director FAMILY PROMISE OF THE CHIPPEWA VALLEY Chelsea Higley, BOOKED EAU CALIRE  Dennis Graham, Founder/Organizer ROCKONSIN Michelle Reinen, Wisconsin DATCP Policy Initiatives Advisor 

Guests for the April 26th Episode of 715 Newsmakers included: Tammy Schmitz, Organizer/Coach Odyssey of the Mind WORLD FINALS teams from Eau Claire Michelle Reinen, Wisconsin DATCP Policy Initiatives Advisor  Jim Ignarski, Organizer/spokesman SPRINGFEST for Chippewa Falls Rotary Foundation.   

Step inside the Man Cave for a deep dive into the ever-evolving world of sports card collecting — from product hype to pricing strategy and everything in between. This episode centers around the explosive release of Topps Chrome football and what it reveals about today’s card market. From retail shelves being wiped out to resale prices skyrocketing overnight, we break down why new releases create chaos — and how smart collectors can take advantage. We cover: Why new card releases spike (and then quickly drop) in value Real examples of massive price swings on hot inserts The importance of timing when buying or selling singles How hype, headlines, and player performance impact value Plus, a full breakdown of the hobby side: The difference between hobby boxes, blasters, megas, and more What card breaks are — and the risks involved Beginner-to-advanced insights on grading with PSA, Beckett, and SGC When grading adds value… and when it doesn’t We also touch on navigating card shows, negotiating prices, and how to approach the hobby whether you're collecting for fun or treating it like an investment. Whether you're new to the hobby or deep in the game, this episode is packed with practical tips, market insight, and real conversation from inside the card world. No scripts. No forced takes. Just Man Cave talk.

It's NFL Draft season! On this episode, Dan reveals his one and only first round mock draft. The mock of integrity! Then, he does his full Packers mock draft.  And we have something new this year. Dan has asked a Vikings, Lions, and Bears fan to do a mock draft for their favorite team as well! So repping the Vikings is Brandon Berg, the Lions is Tom From Across the Pond, and the Bears is Hetch!

Milwaukee Brewers reporter Hunter Baumgardt joins Dan to discuss the latest in Brewers baseball including: Coleman Crow's debut Brice and Wild Bill leading the charge Offensive production from the left side of the infield Previewing the upcoming series against the Tigers And more!