Little Big Chats: The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee Podcast

Hosted by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee

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Sep 2026

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About the show

At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee, we create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. We match children in Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties who are facing adversity… with a caring adult mentor. All of BBBS mentors are volunteers. Big Brothers Big Sisters focuses on 3 areas: Educational success Avoidance of risky behavior Strengthening personal relationships And on the Little Big Chats Podcast, we highlight a new match every month so you can learn from their inspiring stories of friendship and growth. Visit bbbsmilwaukee.org to learn more.

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51 recent

September 30, 202626 min

50. Promoting Mentorship at Carroll University, with Ellie, Paige, Gabby & Cearstin

Mentoring is more than just an opportunity to volunteer and give back to the community. Students in the Big Brothers Big Sisters club at Carroll University in Waukesha have leveraged their shared experience as mentors to create a campus organization. Together, they make meaningful connections, support one another on their mentorship journeys, and recruit new volunteers for the organization. And in this episode, we chat with four Big Sisters from Carroll University—Ellie, Paige, Gabby, and Cearstin—to discuss what inspired them to join the organization, how they navigate their matches alongside busy academic schedules, and the common myths about volunteering that stop some people from getting involved.

August 26, 202630 min

49. The Match Process "Secret Sauce," with BBBS Staff Members Anthony and Adrian

No matter who you ask, anyone involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee will tell you that the organization's real magic boils down to two words: Match process. By carefully tailoring each mentoring pair, BBBS staff ensure that every match has the highest chance of success. So in this episode, we speak with Anthony and Adrian, our Recruitment & Outreach Coordinator and our Bilingual Enrollment & Match Support Specialist, respectively. They'll talk about the lengths to which they go to to match Bigs and Littles with similar interests, what the match process looks like for aspiring participants and volunteers, and what BBBS needs to continue to succeed for years to come.

July 29, 202643 min

48. How Mentoring Can Brighten Retirement, with John, Anton & Glen

Study after study shows that the one of the best ways to ensure a happy and healthy retirement is to give back and stay active in your community. And this group of seniors wants Baby Boomers to understand that they still have so much to give as mentors to a little brother or sister. John, Anton and Glen all volunteer their time to a Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. And in this episode, they share their inspirational stories as seniors who realized that "retired" doesn't have to mean "disengaged."

June 24, 202619 min

47. A World Cup-Worthy Duo Soars in Their First Year As a Match, with Juan & A'Zir

It's World Cup time, and the incipient season of soccer has this month's featured match super excited to root for their favorite teams. Big Brother Juan and Little Brother A'Zir matched last fall. And so they're not only talking about soccer with one another. The arrival of warm weather means they get to play the game together as well. And even though it's early in their match, they're already finding other things that they have in common, and discovering the growing value of mentorship in each of their lives.

May 27, 202619 min

46. A Forever Book Club, with Hailey and Cat

Even before Little Sister Cat met Big Sister Hailey, she loved to read. But she didn't always have someone with whom to share her passion for books. Now that they're matched, they each have a constant outlet for their literary criticism and a source for new reading recommendations. And this pair is equally at home in the great outdoors as they are in a library, already planning many new adventures for the summer ahead.

April 29, 202620 min

45. Planning College Visits After Eight Years Together, with Rafael and Shawndell

With graduation nearing, it's that time of year when high school seniors are starting to think about what comes next. And for Little Brother Shawndell, he enters this period of uncertainty with the extra assurance of having a Big Brother of eight years who's been there and done that. Shawndell says his Big Brother Rafael is a "real man" who's been successful in life, family and his career. And now, Rafael is using that experience to help Shawndell make campus visits and enter the next phase of his life with confidence, setting him up for success no matter what the future holds.

March 25, 202629 min

44. Giving Back to an Organization That's Given Them So Much, with Glen & Preston

The time and talents of generous volunteers are what makes it possible for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee to pursue its mission. But this year's Community-Based Match of the Year is going above and beyond in their support for the program that supports their match. Big Brother Glen and Little Brother Preston have taken it upon themselves to organize a Pickle Ball fundraiser in support of the BBBS organization. And Preston has even launched the first Little-managed REACH activity: a chess club for interested Littles who want to learn the game. So in this episode, we meet this remarkable match, learn what drives them, and hear how they've grown in their four years together.

February 25, 202625 min

43. Finding Support for the Journey Ahead, with Sara and Mariyah

Little Sister Mariyah has always been interested in art. But she never saw herself getting up at a fundraiser and SELLING her art, until Big Sister Sara gave her a little nudge. Over three years together in the Mentor2.0 program, they've always worked together to chart Mariyah's path into the future. And now, they can add Mentor2.0 Match of the Year to their list of wins.

January 28, 202628 min

42. Meeting the Big Impact Group During January's National Mentoring Month

In this episode of Little Big Chats, we celebrate January as National Mentoring Month by meeting three members of the Big Impact Group from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee. With Keith, Olivia, and Carlos, we'll discuss the importance of mentorship, the challenges faced in recruitment and program development, and personal stories of mentorship that have shaped their lives. The conversation highlights the organization's goals for the future, especially in light of National Mentoring Month, and encourages community involvement to support local youth.

December 30, 202524 min

41. Two More Stories From the Big Bash 50th Anniversary Party

As we look back on 2025, we're grateful to have celebrated our 50th anniversary with so many friends of the BBBS program at the Big Bash event this summer. So many people came out and shared stories of how Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee has changed their lives for the better. In this episode, we hear from Big Sister Bailey, her Little Sister Davonna, and Davonna's real-life sister Chamiya, about a mentoring relationship that culminated in a trip to Alabama to stand up in Bailey's wedding. And then, we meet Big Brother Rafael and Little Brother Shawndell, to hear about a time when Rafael's been-there-done-that advice empowered Shawndell to effectively advocate for himself in a situation where it would have been easy to lose his temper.