Wisconsin Public Radio - Ideas Network

The Ideas Network ("Talk about issues that matter to you") is devoted mostly to discussion and call-in shows, focusing on the state of Wisconsin and issues involving the state. The name of the network comes from the Wisconsin Idea concept associated with the UW System.

During the week, the Ideas Network airs locally-produced talk programming, longtime daily reading showcase Chapter a Day, and National Public Radio's Talk of the Nation/Science Friday throughout the daytime hours, while at night broadcasting repeats of the daytime talkshows and Chapter a Day, as well as WBUR's On Point, the CBC's Q and As It Happens, and, overnight, the BBC World Service. On the weekend, it airs WPR-produced shows, such as Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know? and To the Best of Our Knowledge. Weekends also include NPR/PRI/APM entertainment programming such as Car Talk, Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me and A Prairie Home Companion.

The flagship station of the Ideas Network is WHA 970 AM in Madison, one of the oldest existing radio stations in the world, with programming also originating from the Milwaukee studios of Delafield licensed WHAD, an FM station based between Milwaukee and Madison with facilities in downtown Milwaukee. All Ideas Network stations broadcast in analog monaural sound to provide those signals the largest coverage areas possible, while the HD Radio and Internet streaming feeds broadcast in stereo.

Personalities hosting call-in talk shows on the Ideas Network (as of May 2012) include Joy Cardin (early morning weekdays), Kathleen Dunn (mid-morning Monday through Thursday), Veronica Rueckert (mid-morning Fridays), Larry Meiller (late morning and early afternoon weekdays), and Ben Merens (late afternoon/early evening weekdays). On the typical weekday, the Ideas Network broadcasts over nine hours of live, Wisconsin-produced call-in talk shows.