Green Cheese is our live, call-in trivia show.
No prizes and no call screeners — just lots and lots of fun. Callers form teams with unique names and individual monikers. This popular program has been airing, according to legend, since 1981.
The Grand Rapids studio line is 218-326-1234. Bemidji's studio line is 218-333-9005.
Got questions and answers you want to submit? Send them our way!
Thank you for being a part of the Green Cheese community!
Green Cheese Picnic
We celebrate Green Cheese with an annual picnic and live show in front of an audience in August. Check back later on this page for details of the Green Cheese Picnic in 2024!
At the end of the evening, a new king and queen of Green Cheese will be crowned!
"Green Cheese is the best thing I do. From International Falls to Red Wing and all points in between. Also THE ENTIRE GLOBE. I've heard you all, for roughly 30 plus years. Bill McKeever's shoes were hard to fill. He started it, but being apart of it has been my honor. Thank you Cheezers. I sure love you all."Julie Crabb
Who's to Blame for Green Cheese?
One night in the early 1980s — 1981, at best guess — Scott Hall was on the air with Bill McKeever at the small, cramped studios on the campus of Itasca Community College in Grand Rapids. And someone didn't show up for the next shift.
Scott quickly put on the Merle Travis song "Green Cheese." While it played, he looked at Bill and said, "What the hell are we going to do?"
Scott grabbed the newspaper, and they started doing a crossword puzzle on the air, asking callers for help.
Within 10 minutes listeners had solved the crossword. It was a hit! And the tradition continues, now all across the world with the help of streaming!
Your Green Cheese hosts
Mike Berre
Mike Berre and wife Beth moved to Northern Minnesota in 2013 and he discovered KAXE while flipping stations in the car radio, one of his most prized skills.
He soon became a member after that, proudly wearing KAXE swag across Becker County. After hearing a PSA for new volunteers he said, “Why not?” and has thoroughly appreciated every minute of it. Mike is now a regular host of Green Cheese.
His early influences include old Steve Martin records, The Muppet Show, Animal House and The Blues Brothers the Bill James Baseball Abstracts, and the old Miller Lite beer commercials. He is now consumed by NBA Twitter and a Weber grill with a camp chair nearby.
Mike and Beth continually battle the urge to add to their collection of rescue animals, it’s a daily struggle.
“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts. – John Wooden” – Earl Weaver – Mike Berre
Brandon Chase
Born March 8, 1965, in Hudson, Wisconsin, Green Cheese host Brandon Chase grew up mostly in the St. Croix Valley.
He married the beautiful and wildly talented Sandy in 1985. Together, they raised three children and boast 14 grandchildren. They have resided in Park Rapids since 1987.
Brandon is a master electrician with a strong background of troubleshooting. It is said he can figure out and fix almost anything. He has offered his services to KAXE/KBXE several times over the years.
Wiring both transmitters (so if there is a failure, you'll know who to blame), was a highlight in his career.
He started volunteering at KAXE in the early '90s, focusing on playing music and expanding his musical repertoire. After the passing of the honorable Phil Collins, he was approached by the volunteer coordinator to lend his male voice to the mix of Green Cheese hosts. He accepted and in short order, he was hooked.
"It's true I love to solve problems, and trivia is sometimes all about solving problems," Brandon says. "I love to hear all the smart people that make up our audience, answering questions and sharing a moment of their lives with me. Getting to know you through a radio program is definitely a unique situation."
Julie Crabb
Julie Crabb is the longest running host of Green Cheese trivia, taking over after the passing of creator Bill McKeever. Now hosting with her sister Betsy, Julie personifies the friendly, curious and inclusive nature of Green Cheese trivia.
Julie follows in the footsteps of her mom to world of radio, and is also the Mom of Pop Culture on the KAXE Morning Show and hosts some killer music shows, including the annual tribute to The Dark Side of Love on Valentine’s Day.
If that wasn't enough, Julie has also given her time as a longtime member of the Board of Directors.
Julie says, "Green Cheese is the best thing I do. From International Falls to Red Wing and all points in between. Also THE ENTIRE GLOBE. I've heard you all, for roughly 30 plus years. Bill McKeever's shoes were hard to fill. He started it, but being apart of it has been my honor. Thank you Cheezers. I sure love you all."
Kristi Miller
Green Cheese host Kristi Miller has been a member and listener since 1977.
She has hosted music programming, played for fundraisers, been a member of the Board of Directors and remembers when KAXE was located at Itasca Community College.
When KBXE was established, she trained and started hosting Cheese in that studio.
"Green Cheese has a long history with Northern Community Radio and I'm happy to contribute when and where I can. Plus the folks who call in are fantastic!" Kristi says.
Mike Spry
Mike Spry is a host of Green Cheese trivia.
