Door County Pulse Podcast

Newport State Park is the only dark-sky designated park in Wisconsin, but if light pollution continues to grow in the surrounding area, it may be hard to keep it that way. Debra Fitzgerald joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to discuss recent efforts to stop light pollution from encroaching on the park in northern Door County, and what individual property owners can do to help. Plus, they discuss why a bill was needed to stop people from throwing batteries in the trash, and why the city of Sturgeon Bay did not renew a contract with a security camera company.

The Door County Maritime Museum is celebrating a record-breaking year with a free community appreciation day and celebration on Friday and Saturday, April 3 and 4. Sam Perlman joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about the growth of the museum and the hidden treasures available to explore within its walls this weekend and beyond.

Winter Storm Elsa was a historic experience for Door County residents this week, dropping 2-3-plus feet of snow on the peninsula. Debra Fitzgerald and Myles Dannhausen Jr. discuss how it hit residents and how the county responded – and how we're still digging out of the mess.

Artificial Intelligence is changing the world in ways that seemed unthinkable to most of us just a few years ago. With each week the advancements appear to be changing new aspects of our lives. To discuss the rapid advancement, Myles Dannhausen Jr. talks to Prof. Thomas Baer of Stanford University, who will be leading a seminar series at Björklunden about AI and its implications in June. They discuss its growing impact on programming, health care, the workplace and creative pursuits. They also discuss its role in the Iran War and the growing ethical concerns about its use in warfare and the resources it consumes. ,

Jason Estes joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about life in the kitchen at Sonny's Pizzeria in Sturgeon Bay as they near their 30th year in business. They talk about Jason's path to the kitchen, opening a brewery, go-to pizzas and why deep dish isn't the Chicago staple most think.

Debra Fitzgerald talks with Vanessa McGowan, the New Zealand-born, classically trained bassist, band leader, and music-industry veteran whose career spans over two decades. A Baileys Harbor resident since 2020 via Nashville, Vanessa shares stories from her extensive touring experience, including working with Grammy-winning artists like Sugarland, Jennifer Nettles, Brandy Clark, and currently leading the band for multi-Grammy-winning Molly Tuttle. She also gives listeners a behind-the-scenes look at life as both musician and manager – on stage, on TV shows, on the tour bus, and reflecting on lessons learned since first landing in Nashville. Photo by Eli Spotts.

Painter Ram Rojas joins Debra Fitzgerald for a conversation about his journey from Venezuela to Door County, his classical training around the world, and the people and landscapes that have shaped his work. He reflects on what decades of painting have taught him about place, memory and community – from his studio practice in Ellison Bay to the public murals he's created across the peninsula, including the former Nelson True Value mural in Baileys Harbor, as well as works at The Clearing and the Door Community Auditorium.

Door County’s large, educated retirement population is a curious, engaged, and eager-to-learn crowd who share knowledge, making Door County’s version of Learning in Retirement a model for the rest of the state. Jeff Schmeckpeper, the nonprofit board’s current president, talks with Debra Fitzgerald about how the program has evolved, the numerous courses offered, the peer leaders who offer the courses (including the most popular) and why the program is vital in a place like Door County.

The tables are turned in this episode, when Annika Johnson interviews Myles Dannhausen Jr. about his journey from pizza tosser to reporter and many steps in between. Originally produced for the Al Johnson's YouTube series Door County Girl, this episode features two people who grew up in businesses at the feet of their parents and includes a look at life growing up here, the restaurant life, and why all politicians should have to bartend.

Dominic Frandrup, Director of Door County Libraries, sits down with Debra Fitzgerald to discuss the future of the Door County Library system. The conversation explores how these public, community-centered spaces are governed, funded and operated, as well as ongoing efforts to strengthen the library system. Consultants from Rethinking Libraries have been working with the county and the Library Board to identify opportunities to improve efficiency. With more than 75% of Door County residents holding library cards, Frandrup highlights the strong community support for local libraries, trends in circulation, and how these vital public spaces continue to evolve.

Few restaurant openings have been as hotly anticipated as that of La Sirena last summer. And no wonder - it’s the first time a restaurant has opened with a Michelin and James Beard pedigree. Chef Carlos Salgado and his wife and business partner Emilie Coulson Salgado join Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about what called them to Door County from California, how their restaurant vision was formed, life in family restaurants and what’s to come from the kitchen at La Sirena.

Northern Door County lost a big part of the community Monday when Sister Bay/ Liberty Grove Fire Chief Chris Hecht died from complications of an aneurysm he suffered in April. In this episode, Myles Dannhausen Jr. reflects on the many ways Hecht made an impact on the community, but also on him personally. Read more about Hecht here>>

Leadership Door County has been quietly shaping the future of our community for more than three decades. Since 1990, the all-volunteer organization has brought together professionals from across industries for an immersive, nine-month experience that goes far beyond traditional leadership training. Regan Hendrickson, the current class representative (who works as the Door County Family Court Commissioner and Register in Probate), and Kyle Veeser, alumni and Leadership Door County board president (who works as the Chief Deputy and Undersheriff with the Door County Sheriff’s Office), talk with Debra Fitzgerald about leadership, service and why investing in people is one of the most important things a community can do. (edited)

In a village with the historic pride of Ephraim, every change is made under a microscope, so when a number of major projects had piled up 10 years ago, the village had to make a plan to address them that took that pride and history into account. Brent Bristol and Ken Nelson join Myles Dannhausen Jr. to discuss how the village prioritized the highway project, north end path, village hall, Anderson Dock, and maintenance building needs to allow for as much community input as possible in the process.

Now that the calendar has turned, it’s now that special time of year we all look forward to: tax time! If it stresses you out, help is on the way. Steve Hellmann joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about the AARP Tax Aide program that is available to help Door County residents file taxes for free.

As the year comes to a close, we look back on the most-read stories of 2025 and the news that defined 2025 in Door County. Debra Fitzgerald and Myles Dannhausen Jr. also discuss the stories that readers should have read more of that will continue to make waves into 2026.

How can a marathon runner be overweight? That was one of the questions that led dietician Jennifer Sherman of Gills Rock to leave a 20-year career in civil engineering and earn a master’s degree in human nutrition. In conversation with Debra Fitzgerald, Sherman shares her own 40-pound weight loss (she’s the marathon runner) and how she now helps clients reach personal goals – from reversing high cholesterol or hypertension to boosting energy and overall health. Part of the 2026 Door County Talks Series exploring the Blue Zones, her talk on nutrition and healthy eating will take place Jan. 10 at the Door County Auditorium.

Dr. Simon Gilroy of UW–Madison joins Debra Fitzgerald to reveal the fast, unseen sensory lives of plants – how they detect danger, send signals through their entire bodies within seconds, and respond intelligently without anything resembling a brain. Gilroy also takes us into orbit, where his NASA-partnered research explores how plants behave in space. If you’ve ever wondered whether your plants are, in their own way, listening – or if they feel pain – this conversation will change how you see the green world around you.

In September, Executive Director Cindy Trinkner-Peot celebrated the expansion and renovation of Northern Door Children’s Center’s facility in Sturgeon Bay, increasing the center’s capacity by almost 30%. She joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to discuss what the expansion means for meeting the demand for child care in northern Door County and the many challenges that remain. They’re joined by Molly Gary of the United Way Child Care Task Force to look at how people on the ground stepped up to take on a seemingly intractable issue and change the conversation.

As the Door County Housing Partnership nears the completion of its seventh home, board members Scott Bader and Mariah Goode join Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about the long road to putting people in homes and the long-tail impact on the community. But for Bader and Goode, the project is also an example of how people from different ends of the political spectrum can put politics aside to address community problems.

The South is often characterized as resistant to change, but there have always been Southern writers willing to speak out, even if at great personal cost, to the injustices in their communities and the South at large. Writers Melanie Ritzenthaler, assistant professor at Doane University, and Jenn Alandy Trahan, a lecturer at Stanford University, join Myles Dannhausen Jr. to discuss Southern writers and their upcoming presentation at Write On, Door County on Dec. 6 at 10 am.

Yes, there are black bears in Door County, but we don’t yet know where the one that washed ashore in Egg Harbor came from. Myles Dannhausen Jr. talks to Debra Fitzgerald about that bear, but first they dig into the news that the U.S. Navy has cancelled contracts for four Constellation-class frigates being built by Fincantieri Marinette Marine with assistance from its Sturgeon Bay yard. What does it mean for local workers when a multi-billion dollar contract ends?

Colin Welford has served as the music director for theater hits like Wicked and Hamilton during their Chicago productions and traveled the world as a music supervisor for The Lion King, but a stint with Northern Sky Theater hooked him on Door County. Now, he has returned to his first musical love playing the organ and shares that passion through his Colin & Friends community concerts. He joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to discuss his journey, leaving the big stage, and finding joy in plying his craft in a tight-knit community.

Angostura Bitters is the essential ingredient in many cocktails, including the Wisconsin staple, the Old Fashioned. And it is the concoction that made Nelsen’s Hall and Washington Island famous. But the company and the beverage have always been a bit of a mystery. Robert Simonson, cocktail writer for the New York Times, journeyed to the distillery in Trinidad to get answers about Angostura, and even found some. His story about the journey appears in the winter edition of Door County Living. He joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk bitters, the rebirth of cocktails, and the evolution of the bartending craft.

This year’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Jacksonport will benefit eight-year-old Lucia Ramirez, who is battling leukemia. Her mother, Melanie, joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about how Lucia is fighting and how she and her husband and seven daughters are juggling life and trips to the hospital as they support her, and how the support of the community is helping them beyond finances.

In the early twentieth century, a mysterious ecological crisis nearly wiped out the fish that most people cared about in the Great Lakes. The impact reverberated across the region, ruining local industries, damaging small town economies and indigenous communities, and destroying the livelihoods of people in the United States and Canada. Myles Dannhausen Jr. talks to Lindsey Haskin, the producer of the film The Fish Thief, about how the mystery was solved and the creativity that saved the Great Lakes Fishery and continues today.

The lodging tax numbers are in for this year’s summer tourism season and Debra Fitzgerald and Myles Dannhausen Jr. dive into some of the data, discussing what can – and can’t – be known about the world of lodging revenues, average nightly rates and occupancy averages. They also talk about the corrected beach monitoring data for the 2025 season – the reasons for it and what it reveals compared to the original data about Door County’s beach-water quality.

Cynthia Germain is a true catalyst for creating livable, age-friendly communities – not an easy feat in the essentially rural villages and towns of Door County. As the founder and president/CEO of the nonprofit Do Good Door County, she leads initiatives that empower older adults to age in place, living safely, independently, and confidently while strengthening community connections. She talks with Peninsula Pulse Editor Debra Fitzgerald about the proven programs that have made a real impact, explores the work that still lies ahead, and highlights ways residents of all ages can get involved to shape more supportive communities.

As Congress and the President battle over funding the government, nearly 2,000 Door County residents who receive foodshare assistance are wondering if they’ll be able to cover the next grocery bill. Myles Dannhausen Jr. talks to Debra Fitzgerald about who those residents are and how they’ll be impacted if a funding solution doesn’t come to pass. Plus, the Clippers head to state in soccer, a Halloween thank you and an update on the future of Rowleys Bay Resort.

Peninsula Pulse reporter Eleanor Corbin joins Debra Fitzgerald to discuss the Nov. 5 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) public hearing on the proposed expansion of Gilbert Farms to CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation) size, which is larger than 1,000 animal units. The hearing will give residents a chance to voice concerns before the DNR finalizes the permit. Eleanor and Debra talk about the expansion, the permitting process and the opposition’s concerns for water quality if the expansion is granted.

Write On, Door County is offering free registration to its upcoming young writers conference on Nov. 8 at Muse in Sturgeon Bay. Artistic Director Jerod Santek and Executive Director Al DeGenova join Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about the conference, the growth of the Juddville writing center, and the ongoing program to collect stories from local residents through the Memoir Mondays program.

Do you remember the Haunted Mansion? Myles Dannhausen Jr. talks to one of the last people to work summers scaring visitors to the Thumb Fun Haunted Mansion. Rian Hill joins the podcast to look back at the legendary house on the hill in Fish Creek, but first, a rapid-fire bounce around the county to preview Halloween events over the next two weekends, including the haunted house in Baileys Harbor.

Debra Fitzgerald, Peninsula Pulse editor, talks with Pulse journalist Eleanor Corbin about her powerful story on homelessness in Door County, centered on Alex Stanelle’s journey through sobriety, housing instability and resilience. The piece sheds light on the often-invisible reality of being unhoused in rural communities like Door County. Eleanor shares what drew her to Alex’s story and what she learned about the gaps – and strengths – in local support systems.

Fuzzy Sunstrom interrupts a busy retirement to join Myles Dannhausen Jr. for a conversation about Fall Fest past and present, what he misses most about Fred & Fuzzy’s, and why he helped bring back the Fall Fest Derby.

When we tell the story of the cherry industry in Door County, are we leaving something out? Sergio M. González is Associate Professor of History at Marquette University and a historian of twentieth-century U.S. migration, labor, and religion. His work has found that we have overlooked the hardships and vital contributions of migrant labor that were indispensable in the growth and survival of the cherry industry in the middle of the 20th century. He joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to discuss his article in the Wisconsin Historical Society Press – The Cherryland Problem, and what we can learn by uncovering the hard truths of our past.

Keeping Door County’s biggest weekend humming is no easy task. Kaaren Northrop has been a part of it from its humble early years, and now her daughter-in-law, Missy, is tasked with pulling together the many businesses, volunteers and vendors that are part of Egg Harbor’s big fall celebration. They join Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about all that goes into the festival and the spirit of community that drives the effort.

Girl Named Tom, a folk-pop band composed of three siblings, made history as the first group to win the reality singing competition show, The Voice. Peninsula Pulse reporter Eleanor Corbin talks with the group, Bekah, Caleb, and Joshua Liechty – who were gearing up for a Door Community Auditorium show in Fish Creek – about that Voice experience, growing up together in Pettisville, Ohio and coming together as a band.