Our Editor-in-Chief Picks Her Milwaukee Superlatives

READ MORE OF OUR “BEST OF MILWAUKEE 2025” FEATURE HERE.

For our Best of Milwaukee feature, our editor-in-chief chose a few of the people she thinks deserve recognition. There’s WUWM radio host Rob Larry for Best Voice Alice’s Garden Urban Farm executive director Venice Williams for Best Hugger; and last but not least The Glow Land founder Andy Nelson for Best Hair.

Here’s what they had to say.

Best Voice: Rob Larry 

WUWM radio host Rob Larry’s baritone is so soothing, it sounds more like he’s about to introduce a cut by Coltrane than read the news. And yet, it works. “I may not have the traditional sound, but I firmly believe that people will naturally gravitate to something that they feel is real, regardless of how it sounds,” Larry says. 

How would you describe your voice?

I would describe my voice as deep and uniquely distinct. I like to also think that it’s warm and inviting. It has a presence and character to it that allows me to grab people’s attention. I understand that I have an ability to speak in a register that is not typically common, and I’ve really grown to appreciate that aspect of it.      

Was there a moment in your life when you realized that you had a voice for radio?

Probably my first on air sound check. I had heard that I would do well in radio since my voice settled into its adult register in my mid-teens. But it wasn’t until 2020 when I had my first stint in radio that I was able to truly see for myself. Radio wasn’t anything that I really considered pursuing initially. But once I found myself in the field and heard myself on-air for the first time, I felt that I had found an area that I could really excel in professionally. 

Your voice has a smooth, suave and unflappable quality that one might think would be better suited for a late-night jazz program than for news, and yet you make it work. What’s the secret?

Authenticity. Radio is such a deeply personal format where, as a host, I have to establish a connection with the listener(s). With that in mind,  it’s impossible to form any real connection without being fully authentic. I may not have the traditional sound, but I firmly believe that people will naturally gravitate to something that they feel is real, regardless of how it sounds. The secret to making my voice work in news radio is the same secret to making any voice work in any radio format: affording the listener the opportunity to truly connect with the authentic version of their host.  

What tips would you give our readers to help them develop their own “Rob Larry Voice”?

I believe the most defining characteristic of the “Rob Larry Voice” (aside from its audible tone and register) is that it’s confident and genuinely loved and appreciated by the person who has it. Our voices are as unique as our fingerprint. And while there may be strong similarities, no two are identically alike. I believe that’s something that should be celebrated. No one can sound like you. So, be you. Our voices are tools that allow us the chance to express ourselves and form meaningful connections with others. And yours matters. So, love the one that you have.

Best Hugger: Venice Williams

A hug from Venice Williams speaks to your soul. Fall into one of her reassuring, nurturing embraces, and you’ll want to linger. “People will say, ‘I just came here to get a Venice hug,’” says Williams, the executive director of Alice’s Garden Urban Farm. 

Have other people told you that you are a great hugger? 

Indeed! I have heard more often than I am able to tally, “You give the best hugs.”  Throughout any day that I am engaging the public, people will say, “I just came here to get a Venice hug,” or “I really need a hug from you today.”

What makes a great hug?

The best hugs are full body, both arms wrapped around the person, front-facing hugs, even if they do not return the fullness of the embrace.  I also may rub the person’s back or shoulders. And, of course, I may whisper something in their ear, depending upon the situation: “So glad to see you.” “How wonderful it is to meet you!”  “What a blessing that our paths crossed today.” 

Can you offer some tips so readers can improve their hugging skills?

A meaningful hug lingers for several seconds, at least, without feeling creepy.  Make eye contact first. Understand the moment. Is it a hug of welcome? One of sympathy or sorrow? A celebratory embrace? A hug is more than a gesture. It should be an invitation to some level of connection or awareness. We are here in this moment together. I see you. You matter.

Best Hair: Andy Nelson

Andy Nelson’s coif is a sight to behold. Over the years, the PR rep has evolved his enviable mane step by step into what is now a rockstar-worthy poof, while managing to avoid the easy trap of seeming too done. “There’s this unspoken, dated idea that men shouldn’t care too much about how they look, and I love breaking that rule,” Nelson says. 

With regards to hair, there is the raw material (the hair that grows out of your head) and then there is how you style it. What are your thoughts about the “raw material”?

My hair is really, really thick and has a mind of its own. So, styling it isn’t optional. I’ve come to appreciate its texture and volume because it gives me freedom to create different looks. I think part of the journey is learning to work with what you’ve got and then turning that into something that reflects who you are.

How has your hairstyle evolved over the years?

I grew up with a big brother that looked like Uncle Jesse from “Full House” and spent a lot of time in front of the mirror. I think that that had a positive effect on me. It was ok for a man to spend time on themselves.

I was always experimenting. I had a rat tail with “steps” shaved into the sides. In middle school, I fell in love with lots and lots of hair gel, everything was matted down with a wave in the front. In high school my hair was as tall as possible. Growing up I had posters of James Dean all over my bedroom so you can see where that inspiration comes from.

Who cuts it? What’s involved in styling it?

Tyler Martell at Lucent in Downtown Milwaukee cuts my hair – he’s the best in Milwaukee for guys that are looking to level up. He looks at hair like a piece of art but also a very down to earth, sweet guy.

After I shower, I towel dry and spray in a powder liquid to help with hold and volume. Then I blow-dry it hot, parting it off to the side to give it that classic structure. I add a little texture paste so I can still run my hands through it—it’s not stiff, it’s got movement. Then a light mist of hairspray just to lock it in.

Can you tell me how your hairstyle personifies who you are?

“I’m a loner, Dottie. A rebel.” People will laugh at this, but I think it’s punk rock for a man to care about their hair. There’s this unspoken dated idea that men shouldn’t care too much about how they look, and I love breaking that rule. My hair is a little rebellious, a little old Hollywood, and very much mine. Doing nothing or doing what everyone else is doing is not freedom to me. Being yourself unapologetically is real freedom. 

For readers who want to develop their own signature style, what do you suggest?

Start with learning to love yourself. In our society we’re taught, knowingly or unknowingly, to fit into little boxes and follow societal norms. We need to unlearn so much of that as we get older and to know our true selves and the self we want to share with the world.

Once you’re able to free your mind and find a little internal peace, you can start to really come alive through personal expression which takes some experimenting. Spend a few hours at a thrift store, find what colors work well with your skin tone, what brings out your eyes, what works with your unique body shape. Discover a look that matches the type of energy you want to put out in the world. The world needs more of that energy. It tells others “it’s okay, it’s safe to be yourself.”