Title:Wisconsin Idols: 100 Heroes Who Changed the State, the World, and MeDate: 9/18/2025
Description:Dean Robbins discusses his essay collection Wisconsin Idols: 100 Heroes Who Changed the State, the World, and Me, offering a unique perspective on legendary figures with often surprising connections to the state, including Jackie Robinson, Oprah Winfrey, Harrison Ford, Elvis Presley, Orson Welles, Ann Landers and Joni Mitchell. With photos, videoclips, and humorous anecdotes, the presentation establishes Wisconsin as a notably influential place: a crossroads for people who changed the world. Attendees will learn more about the Wisconsin heroes they know and discover new heroes to fall in love with.
Dean Robbins is a journalist who has contributed to USA Today, The New York Daily News, GRAMMY magazine, and other national media outlets, as well as serving as editor in chief of Isthmus and On Wisconsin magazine. He is also a children’s author whose books have appeared on many best-of-the-year lists, earning praise in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal. NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar calls his essay collection Wisconsin Idols “insightful and entertaining: a passionate and poetic homage.”