Third spaces are an ever-growing need for communities, and Jake Erickson leads an organization that’s providing these spaces for kids across La Crosse County.

Erickson, the CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater La Crosse, stopped in studio to talk about how their facilities serve as these unique social hubs — but also how they prepare youth for their "second spaces," like school and future careers.

With a reach of 5,000 kids a year and 1,000 daily across Holmen, Onalaska, West Salem, and La Crosse, the organization is entering a landmark 60th year.

And the biggest thing to happen during this anniversary is the upcoming opening of the 16,000-square-foot Workforce Readiness Center, which Erickson describes as a transformative space designed to help kids from middle school to their early 20s prepare for life across multiple career fields. The center is set to fully open this spring.

Beyond the new facility, Erickson discussed the structured and extensive programming that defines the B&G Clubs — running from comprehensive sports leagues to creative art and music initiatives.

To learn more or get involved, visit the Boys and Girls Club website at bgclax.org.

Third spaces are an ever-growing need for communities, and Jake Erickson leads an organization that&rsquo;s providing these spaces for kids across La Crosse County.
Erickson, the CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater La Crosse, stopped in studio to talk about&nbsp;how their facilities serve as these unique social hubs &mdash; but also how they prepare youth for their "second spaces," like school and future careers.
With a reach of 5,000 kids a year and 1,000 daily across Holmen, Onalaska, West Salem, and La Crosse, the organization is entering a landmark 60th year.
And the biggest thing to happen during this anniversary is&nbsp;the upcoming opening of the 16,000-square-foot Workforce Readiness Center, which Erickson describes as a transformative space designed to help kids from middle school to their early 20s prepare for life across multiple career fields. The center is set to fully open this spring.
Beyond the new facility, Erickson discussed the structured and extensive programming that defines the B&amp;G Clubs &mdash; running from comprehensive sports leagues to creative art and music initiatives.
To learn more or get involved, visit the Boys and Girls Club website at <a href="https://www.bgclax.org/" data-hveid="0" data-ved="0CAAQ_4QMahcKEwiG4d77ovaRAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQXA">bgclax.org</a>.

Listener conversations about the days events in and around the La Crosse area.  Weekdays from 5-6pm on WIZM 1410AM and 92.3FM

La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

Rick Solem talks about the days events in and around the La Crosse area. Weekdays from 5:07-6pm on 1410 WIZM

Rick Solem talks about the days events in and around the La Crosse area. Weekdays from 5:07-6pm on 1410 WIZM

WIZM - La Crosse

B&G Clubs' Jake Erickson on importance of 'third spaces' for youth and impact of new workforce readiness center

Rick on 3rd spaces

Kelda on 3rd spaces

Kelda on education

Legislative priorities in 2026

What to do about data centers

Handling the Trump admin, federal gov

Wisconsin governor candidate and state Sen. Kelda Roys stopped in studio, and we got into discussions on minimum wage, the GOP argument over Tony Evers 400-year "property tax increase "vs. public school funding, and what to do with AI data centers.

Before that, however, since we're doing shows all week about third spaces, that's where I began. For those who don't know, a third space would be — not home, not work, but where else you can go to be social, be part of a community.

And, once we brought Roys on, we asked about her third spaces, and if — or how — the state might prioritize making third spaces more available. 

In the last segment, Roys talks about Venezuela, the Trump administration, the "anniversary" of the insurrection and what she would do as governor in dealing with federal government issues. 

Wisconsin governor candidate and state Sen. Kelda Roys stopped in studio, and we got into discussions on minimum wage, the GOP argument over Tony Evers 400-year "property tax increase "vs. public school funding, and what to do with AI data centers.
Before that, however, since we're doing shows all week about third spaces, that's where I began. For those who don't know, a third space would be &mdash; not home, not work, but where else you can go to be social, be part of a community.
And, once we brought Roys on, we asked about her third spaces, and if &mdash; or how &mdash; the state might prioritize making third spaces more available.&nbsp;
In the last segment, Roys talks about Venezuela, the Trump administration, the "anniversary" of the insurrection and what she would do as governor in dealing with federal government issues.&nbsp;

Wisconsin governor candidate Kelda Roys on 3rd spaces, minimum wage, education, data centers and Trump

Protein chips, fiber-fortified popcorn, the Midwest "meat and potatoes" trap — those are just some of the topics we discussed with Laura Birkel, a registered dietitian at Emplify Health.

Birkel is also 23 weeks pregnant, so we had to ask her what a dietitian does with those weird food cravings.

Other topics discussed on the show included a rapid-fire segment on how good or bad these items are for you: coffee, milk, wine, soda, probiotics, and cooking oils.

We also dug into the difference between whole foods and ultra-processed items, like why those frozen french fries aren't the same as the potatoes from your garden.

Birkell also shared some strategies — not just with our own diets — but how to help get a loved one to eat better. I shared with her a story on how my dad loves corn, biscuits, and potatoes, thinking these things are healthy since he did grow them in the garden (well, not the biscuits). 

Lastly, we talked AI and meal tracking apps and how those can be utilized to help people with their diets without becoming overly self-critical.

Protein chips, fiber-fortified popcorn, the Midwest "meat and potatoes" trap &mdash; those are just some of the topics we discussed with Laura Birkel, a registered dietitian at Emplify Health.
Birkel&nbsp;is also 23 weeks pregnant, so we had to ask her what a dietitian does with those weird food cravings.
Other topics discussed on the show included a rapid-fire segment on how good or bad these items are for you: coffee, milk, wine, soda, probiotics, and cooking oils.
We also dug into the difference between whole foods and ultra-processed items, like why those frozen french fries aren't the same as the potatoes from your garden.
Birkell also shared some strategies &mdash; not just with our own diets &mdash; but how to help get a loved one to eat better. I shared with her a story on how my dad loves corn, biscuits, and potatoes, thinking these things are healthy since he did grow them in the garden (well, not the biscuits).&nbsp;
Lastly, we talked AI and meal tracking apps and how those can be utilized to help people with their diets without becoming overly self-critical.

Dietitian Laura Birkell on the midwest "meat and potatoes" trap and why fiber is the next big food trend

We recap the most popular genres at the La Crosse Library in 2025, the most checked out books, whether paper can keep up with eBooks and more with the library's Lindsay Schmitt and Bill Ives.

While thrillers remain the most popular genre overall because they are "fast and satisfying," Schmitt said, the single most checked-out book — for the second consecutive year — was Kristin Hannah’s historical fiction novel, The Women.

The La Crosse Library's top 5 most popular books of 2025 were:


The Women by Kristin Hannah


Great, Big, Beautiful Life by Emily Henry


Spirit Crossing by William Kent Krueger


Nightshade by Michael Connelly


The Tenant by Freida McFadden

The episode also explored the rise of "genre-blending," including the popularity of "cozy fantasy" and the "romantasy" trend — which Bill jokingly referred to as "fairy smut".

Of the surprising things we learned, like how library staff have no required reading list, Schmitt also noted that eBooks are not even close to more popular than print. People are checking out the real thing three to four times more than digital in La Crosse.

Getting into another digital style, Ives settled the debate on whether listening to audiobooks is considered "reading." He noted that while it doesn't utilize the same eye muscles, scientific studies show that listening to a story activates the same parts of the brain as physical reading—particularly the areas responsible for imagination and processing oral storytelling.

Other topics discussed were some of the not-so-traditional things the library does, like checking out chainsaws, and how both kids and adults can utilize the library as a "third space" with all kinds of different programming.

We recap the most popular genres at the La Crosse Library in 2025, the most checked out books, whether paper can keep up with eBooks and more with the library's Lindsay Schmitt and Bill Ives.
While thrillers remain the most popular genre overall because they are "fast and satisfying," Schmitt said, the single most checked-out book &mdash; for the second consecutive year &mdash; was Kristin Hannah&rsquo;s historical fiction novel, The Women.
The La Crosse Library's top 5 most popular books of 2025 were:
<ol data-path-to-node="5">
<li>
The Women by Kristin Hannah
</li>
<li>
Great, Big, Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
</li>
<li>
Spirit Crossing by William Kent Krueger
</li>
<li>
Nightshade by Michael Connelly
</li>
<li>
The Tenant by Freida McFadden
</li>
</ol>
The episode also explored the rise of "genre-blending," including the popularity of "cozy fantasy" and the "romantasy" trend &mdash;&nbsp;which Bill jokingly referred to as "fairy smut".
Of the surprising things we learned, like how library staff have no required reading list, Schmitt also noted that eBooks are not even close to more popular than print. People are checking out the real thing three to four times more than digital in La Crosse.
Getting into another digital style, Ives settled the debate on whether listening to audiobooks is considered "reading." He noted that while it doesn't utilize the same eye muscles, scientific studies show that listening to a story activates the same parts of the brain as physical reading&mdash;particularly the areas responsible for imagination and processing oral storytelling.
Other topics discussed were some of the not-so-traditional things the library does, like checking out chainsaws, and how both kids and adults can utilize the library as a "third space" with all kinds of different programming.

B&G Clubs' Jake Erickson on importance of 'third spaces' for youth and impact of new workforce readiness center

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