A Heartfelt Reflection on Resilience after the Election 

It’s a poignant message. It’s not always easy to be a Wisconsinite. And after the election results showed a significant victory for former President Donald Trump, Todd Allbaugh, host of The Todd Allbaugh Show, did not ignore the mix of disappointment and frustration many listeners are sharing.

Allbaugh takes a step back during his show to share a story of resilience from his own family. His grandmother grew up on a dairy farm in southwest Wisconsin. It was a time when women’s education was often dismissed. But Marge Wallace defied her father’s expectations. She became the first female dean of a University of Wisconsin school. Her loud, determined and “Bohemian” spirit led her to challenge the very people who would otherwise deny her access to decisions that shaped Wisconsin’s educational landscape.

And while reflecting on her journey, Allbaugh also relates an unapologetic attitude.

“Diplomacy didn’t always get the job done,” Allbaugh says. “Marge’s loud persistence allowed her to break barriers and push her way into spaces where women were often shut out. I saw her fight echoed in this election.”

His grandmother passed away six years ago. But her legacy of “never giving up” has left a mark on Allbaugh. 

And his message resonates, too. Listeners call in for a conversation about feelings of sadness, anger, and confusion as they process the election. Alba reminds everyone the struggle for truth, equity, and resilience must continue. And he knows his grandmother would agree.

“Continue to do the good work and be a vessel of nourishing joy even amid disappointment,” Allbaugh says, quoting Milwaukee community leader Venice R. Williams.

It’s a day of reckoning. But it’s also a day of renewal in Wisconsin, where even after a bitter defeat, hope will find a way to prevail.

---

LISTEN to the entire episode here:

---