GridgeFridge

About GridgeFridge

Food for Thought with the Morgridge Center for Public Service The Morgridge Center connects University of Wisconsin-Madison students, staff and faculty to local and global communities to build partnerships and solve critical issues through service and learning. The Morgridge Center was founded in 1996 with the generous support of alumni John and Tashia Morgridge. In the spirit of the Wisconsin Idea, we believe in building reciprocal relationships with our partners and strong citizens among our student population.

Publisher

Morgridge Center for Public Service

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

6 Mar 2021

Latest episode

14 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

57 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   14 Oct 2026

   Community Care and Healthcare Equity with Dua Ci Khang

   In the first episode of GridgeFridge Season 7, we sit down with Dua Ci Khang, the lead for the Pre-Health Professional Development Programming at the Center for Pre-Health Advising at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. With a background in secondary education, multicultural affairs and educator training, Khang has built a career centered on community care, advocacy and social justice. As the proud daughter of two immigrants, her personal experiences and professional journey have shaped her commitment to creating more equitable opportunities for students and the communities they serve. At UW–Madison, Khang works to prepare aspiring healthcare professionals through collaborative programming with campus and community partners. Her work includes initiatives such as the EMT Experience program and the Health Professions Shadowing Program, which provide students with opportunities to explore healthcare careers and gain firsthand experience in the field before graduation.

2. 

   8 Jun 2026

   Combating Food Insecurity: Local Organizations Rooted & Slowfood UW’s Commitment to Community-Led Food Systems

   In this episode of GridgeFridge, we dive into how one local agricultural nonprofit organization, Rooted, runs its multifaceted mission to build community-led food systems, making fresh, quality food accessible to everyone. Urban farms, community gardens and a neighborhood center are just some of the cornerstones to how Rooted strengthens its community outreach and development. Education is a pillar of Rooted’s efforts to integrate community-led food systems, and one of their partnerships is with Badger Rock Middle School, a project-based charter school. Rooted provides the middle school students with gardening and culinary lessons and works with Slowfood UW to get connected with college volunteers to help at the middle school. We spoke with Rooted’s Director of Urban Agriculture Education at its Madison South locations and two UW students who previously worked at Badger Rock Middle School, Kiley Ystenes and Addy Von Bernthal, who now work as executive directors for Slowfood UW. Their unique perspectives offer insight into how community assets, needs and ideas are essential to strengthening food access for all populations. Together, they offer not just a visualized goal of a community-led food system, but the steps a community can take to make fresh, affordable and sustainable food a lasting part of its livelihood.

3. 

   1 Jun 2026

   The Intersection Between Housing, Health, and Life in Madison

   In this episode of GridgeFridge, we explore the burgeoning housing crisis in Madison and the ways in which it intersects with health and well-being for students and community members alike. Through conversations with UW students and staff, affordable housing advocates, mental health professionals, and community leaders, we examine how rising rents, limited availability, and unstable living conditions are reshaping life on and off the UW–Madison campus. From students navigating lease pressure and luxury apartment “affordable housing” units, to longtime Madison residents witnessing the impacts of housing insecurity, we explore how housing instability impacts far more than where someone rests their head at night. It affects physical and mental health, academic and professional success, and someone's sense of stability and belonging. This episode features perspectives from UW–Madison student Angel Delgado, University Health Services Director of Mental Health Services Dr. Ellen Marks, Porchlight Executive Director Karla Thennes, realtor and business owner Tiffany Malone, former Madison alderperson and current Odyssey Project Success Coach Brian Benford, career journalist and professor Sue Robinson, and real estate faculty member Paul Aylesworth. And together, they offer their thoughts and reflections on the pressures, tradeoffs, and systemic challenges that continue to shape who is able to live, stay, and thrive in Madison. As the city continues to grow, the question becomes not just how to build more housing, but how to create housing that is truly affordable, accessible, and sustainable for the people who call Madison home.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 44 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

64

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

60

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.