Door County Pulse Podcast

Iuscely Flores – an undocumented immigrant, DACA recipient, and powerful advocate for immigrant rights – joins Debra Fitzgerald to share her personal journey navigating life in the U.S. as an undocumented immigrant. Originally from Mexico, she discusses identity, resilience, and the ongoing fight for justice and belonging, regardless of legal status. From her work in policy and community organizing to her writing – including a poignant 2024 commentary in the Wisconsin Examiner – iuscely sheds light on the emotional and political toll of living in “the golden cage” under DACA.

Our podcast editor Hans Christian steps out from behind the sound board to join Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about his civic involvement, building a business as a producer in a small town, and helping other artists find their own sound and voice. Christian owns Studio 330 in Sturgeon Bay, where artists from the peninsula and afar come to record albums and voiceovers, and where this podcast is edited each week.

Don Weise is a veteran trail builder, author and advocate with the New York–New Jersey Trail Conference, where he helps care for an extraordinary 2,200-mile trail network. He joins Debra Fitzgerald on the podcast, with Amanda Stuck, Door County Trails board member, to talk about his experience and larger perspective on how trails transform places and connect people, while preserving biodiversity and boosting local economies. Amanda also talks about the local nonprofit that’s working to create a safe, connected county-wide trail for both recreation and transportation – and how they’re learning from professionals like Don along the way. Don will also give a presentation on trail building on Oct. 13 at the Kress Pavilion in Egg Harbor at 9:30 am and again at 5:30 am. Learn more at doorcountytrails.org.

The Door County Granary, built in 1901, carries a rich legacy – from its role in a bygone agricultural era to a near-demolition, and ultimately, a community-driven effort to save and repurpose it as a public gathering space. James Dallman, the lead architect behind the Granary’s ambitious restoration and transformation, was recently in town working on a model that will be unveiled to the public on Sept. 20. He spoke with Debra Fitzgerald about the political and technical journey that brought the structure back to life, the challenges of balancing historic preservation with modern functionality, and what it means to him to reimagine a building so deeply tied to the community’s identity and sense of place.

Rick Cleveland won an Emmy for his writing on The West Wing and has also written for Six Feet Under and several other television shows, in addition to writing for the stage. This month he’ll be taking part in the Door Kinetic Arts Festival, where he’ll stage a reading for his new play for Deaf West Theater. He joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about working in a writer’s room, the future of television writing, and the personal story behind the episode of the West Wing that won him an Emmy Award. Then they discuss his new play, Lulu, about a Gorilla who is the only witness to a murder and must communicate through sign language. Cleveland will be in Door County next week for the Door Kinetic Arts Festival, joining fellow writer Chris Nee for a discussion about writing for film and screen at Write On, Door County on Sept. 23 at 4 pm, and then a reading of his play on Sept. 26. Get more details on DKAF at Doorkinetic.com.

At last year’s Door Kinetic Arts Festival, David Maraniss and Eric Simonson came together for a fascinating discussion about turning Maraniss’s biography of Packers legend Vince Lombardi into a Broadway play. Moderated by Jacob Janssen of Third Avenue Playworks, the writers bring you a great discussion not only about Lombardi and the Packers, but also about the creative process and the choices they made to bring a sprawling biography of one of history's most compelling sports figures to the stage.

Fair representation is fundamental to Democracy in the United States. In Wisconsin, the way voting districts are drawn has long been a source of controversy and debate. But a dedicated group of advocates is working to change that. Debra Fitzgerald sits down with Nicole Gabrail and iuscely Flores, both with the Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition about the organization’s nonpartisan movement to create transparent, impartial maps through an Independent Redistricting Commission. Their mission is simple: to ensure that every vote counts equally and that voters choose their representatives, not the other way around.

Mark Honold didn’t plan to take on another job in retirement, but after his teaching career ended, a more challenging chapter began when his wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He talks to Myles Dannhausen Jr. about the difficult journey of navigating the disease, watching his wife’s decline and navigating a maze to find resources and assistance. He also discusses what he’d do differently if he could go back to the beginning, and how he was able to gain the perspective to get help before tthe burden of caregiving took an irriversable toll on him.

When Mitch Larson agreed to give a friend a ride to a clothing show in Chicago nearly 40 years ago, he didn’t know it would change the direction of his life. The founder of On Deck Clothing Co. joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about how that trip hooked him on the clothing industry, why his stores have their unique style, and his passion for historic preservation and rejuvenating spaces.

An important hearing is coming up Sept. 4th about the waterfront portion of the former Alpine Resort property (25:04), so Debra Fitzgerald and Myles Dannhausen Jr. hop on the mics to give listeners to the lowdown on where things currently stand on the two Alpine properties and the many issues in contention between the property’s different owners and the village. But first they discuss Marina Fest, the big weekend event in Sister Bay, and the community value of local festivals.

This summer, Wisconsin lawmakers approved a major increase in special education funding — something districts across the state have been requesting for years. But while that’s good news for special ed programs, there’s a catch: general school aid is staying flat. In fact, several districts in Door County are seeing cuts. So what does that mean for schools, and for your next property tax bill? Eleanor Corbin, Peninsula Pulse reporter who covers schools across Door County, joins Debra Fitzgerald to unpack it all.

“Why don’t immigrants just get in line?” is a common refrain when people discuss the illegal immigration problem. But if you ask where the line is nobody can tell you - because it doesn’t exist. Immigration attorney Luca Fagundes joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to discuss the many nuances of the U.S. immigration system and the laws that make solving the riddle so complicated. They'll discuss Luca's path to becoming an immigration attorney, why it's so hard for those already here to start the legal process to become a citizen and the misconceptions people have about how the United States immigration system works.

It will probably come as no surprise to anyone that Door County’s robust music scene includes world-class chamber music. Allyson Fleck, executive director of Midsummer’s Music, and a talented violist herself, talks with Debra Fitzgerald about the organization’s roots, its mission, what chamber music means and the musicians who bring their music to the Door County community. Stay tuned: she also brought along her viola and plays a short piece by Bach.

Rural birthing centers are closing at an alarming pace in Wisconsin and across the country, but Door County Medical Center CEO Brian Stephens says their birthing center isn’t going anywhere. Stephens and Dr. Dorene Dempster join Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about why rural hospitals struggle to keep the service going and what the Medical Center does to keep theirs open to serve our isolated community.

The Door County Drug Treatment Court has been in operation since 2020. Earlier this year, the county paused new admissions to the program, and in May, announced it would be shut down due to staffing shortages. But last week, new developments suggested the program may continue after all. Joe Krebsbach, director of the Door County Health and Human Services Department and the person who oversees the program, joins Debra Fitzgerald to talk about the program, why it’s important and what’s next.

Myles Dannhausen Jr. and Debra Fitzgerald discuss the Pulse’s approach to covering difficult stories and how we choose what merits a story. But first, a look at the growth in live music on the peninsula, the smoky haze settling in the air, and a potential third round-about coming to Sturgeon Bay.

Dr. Kristen Raney, President of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC), talks with Debra Fitzgerald about how the college is transforming education into opportunity in Door County and elsewhere within the systems’ communities. Dr. Raney shares what makes NWTC her favorite college to lead, how job-focused programs are tailored to local workforce needs, and how the school is partnering with employers, K-12 districts, and even correctional facilities.

Few people will put more planning and time into catching a great photograph than Kevin O’Donnell, who shared the story of his pursuit of a very particular photograph in the Summer edition of Door County Living Magazine. He reads his essay, “The 40-second Window” on the podcast this week, but first John Mielke joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to discuss his story on the fishing guides who steer people to the catch of their lives on the lake and the bay in Door County.

It’s becoming difficult to ignore the Canadian and western U.S. wildfire smoke that is causing an increasing number of air quality alerts throughout the Midwest, including within Door County. To help us understand what’s going on, a leading air quality expert at UW-Madison, Brad Pierce, (Director of Space Science and Engineering and former NOAA physical scientist and NASA research scientist), joins Debra Fitzgerald to talk about why we’re seeing more Door County days flagged for poor air quality, what people can do to keep themselves and their families safe, and what the future may hold for the air we breathe.

Peninsula Pulse interns Betsy Lecy and Cassidy Johnson sat down with Debra Fitzgerald to share what it’s like to cover Door County through the eyes of the next generation of reporters. From unexpected community insights to the stories that left a lasting impression (so far), they reveal what surprised them most, how their perspectives have changed, and what they discovered about the peninsula that only a reporter on the ground could know.

Since 1972 a unique cultural exchange program has connected Southern Door with Belgium, where many of its first settlers came from. Muraelle Havet, an exchange visitor from Brussels, Belgium, joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. and her host, Bill Chaudoir, to talk about her impressions of Door County and the strong connection between Wisconsin’s Belgian settlement and Wallonia.

Wilkins & Olander has been a familiar name to local residents, particularly in Sturgeon Bay, since the clothing store opened its doors in 1990. Now in its 35th year, the store is owned by Dawn Fischer, who took over from her stepmother, Carol Overland, who died in 2019. In April, the Door County Economic Development Corporation honored Fischer with its Light Keeper Award for women, minority or veteran-owned business of the year. She joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. on the podcast to talk about her business, the evolution of 3rd Avenue, and the lessons she learned from Carol Overland.

The Door County Food Pantry coalition has raised awareness that this year, people have been using, at unprecedented rates, the nine food pantries across the county. Debra Fitzgerald talks with Adam Peronto with the Door County Community Foundation and Heidi Penchoff with the Door to Life Food Pantry in Sister, about the rising need, what’s driving it and how federal funding cuts would impact the food insecure. They also talk about solutions, community generosity and how people can access the resources they need.

Jeff Lutsey of the Climate Change Coalition of Door County joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about the effort to add 50 new solar installations on the peninsula this year. The Coalition is hosting several informational sessions in the coming weeks for people to learn more about the possibilities for solar energy and potential savings through a group buying program.

Sportswriter Herb Gould spent years covering Chicago sports with the Chicago Sun-Times, but in retirement he turned his eyes toward an icon of a Chicago rival – Curly Lambeau. He joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about his new biography on Lambeau and digging up new stories on a legend.

Leroy’s holds a special spot in the hearts of many, especially kids of the ‘90s. It was sad to see the coffee shop languish the last few years, but now Jennifer and Bjorn Larson have brought it back, keeping it the same as it always was. Larson joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about why she took it over and why it's so important to so many.

Jess Farley-Nielsen took several stabs at moving away from her hometown, but family brought her back to stay. The Peninsula Pulse sales manager joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about working all kinds of jobs on the peninsula, her love of cooking and family gatherings and the beauty of Jacksonport.

Get the scoop on fireworks, celebrations and more, plus, everyone has their own Door County 4th of July Traditions. Myles Dannhausen Jr. talks to Betsy Lecy about their 4th traditions, what makes each community celebration unique, and where to go to avoid the crowds as Door County celebrates America next week.

Ellison Bay Day is back with a day of events to celebrate a community that’s truly unique on the peninsula. Maureen Mercier joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk not just about what to expect at the event, but also about what makes Ellison Bay so different from the rest of the peninsula.

This spring the tools and supplies from Door County's last feed mill were auctioned off. Myles Dannhausen Jr. talks about what the closing of Brussels Milling and Supply marks, and the roll the feed mills used to play in our communities. Plus, a look at Door County History Days and the value of historic preservation. Additional sound courtesy of IndustrialNoiseRhitmic 140106_02.wav by klankbeeld -- https://freesound.org/s/213228/ -- License: Attribution 4.0.

Last month, celebrated poet and author Mark Turcotte was named the sixth Poet Laureate of Illinois, joining the ranks of literary icons like Carl Sandburg and Gwendolyn Brooks. Even early in his career, Turcotte’s powerful voice was drawing attention, particularly through his books Road Noise (1998) and Exploding Chippewas (2002) – works he published during his decade living in Door County. In this conversation, Debra Fitzgerald speaks with Mark about his journey from the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Reservation in North Dakota to his current role as Poet Laureate. They also reminisce about his years in Door County.

There's a lot more to Al Johnson's restaurant than the goats on the roof. What's most special about the Sister Bay restaurant is what happens beneath the sod. In the latest installment of our conversations with the 2025 winners of Door County Economic Development Corporation's annual awards, Rolf Johnson talks to Myles Dannhausen Jr. about the legacy of his parents, Al and Ingert Johnson, and how life in the restaurant – especially the kitchen – shaped him and so many others. Get a glimpse into how the Al's kitchen works, the banter on the line, and the role a restaurant can play for a staff and a community that leaves a mark well beyond the dining table.

Communities across the county, from Brussels to Washington Island, use the same emergency communications system, owned and operated by the County of Door. The county is in the process of fully upgrading that system from analog to digital formats at a cost of nearly $28 million. This means eight additional towers added to the 13 currently operating, and new equipment needed for all fire departments (radios, pagers, etc). Ashley DeGrave, county technology services project manager, talks with Debra Fitzgerald about why the upgrade is being done, what it will achieve, and the challenges of getting the site locations nailed down for the new towers.

Mayor of Sturgeon Bay David Ward proclaimed the second Saturday in June as Steel Bridge Day, an annual city-wide holiday from this year forward. Steel Bridge Songfest, an event launched in 2005 to help raise money to save the bridge, went on a pandemic-induced hiatus in 2020. This year, it returns to celebrate its 20th anniversary. One of the founding organizers and local music legend pat mAcdonald joins reporter Eleanor Corbin to discuss how the festival came to be and what people can expect from its return.

Terrie Cooper spent 25 years working on the forever-protection of Door County land with the Door County Land Trust, co-authoring $30 million in state and federal land acquisition grants and helping the organization grow from 1,000 protected acres when she began to more than 10,000 today. She retired in October 2024 and, in May 2025, received the 2025 Harold “Bud” Jordahl Lifetime Achievement Award from Gathering Waters, Wisconsin’s Alliance for Land Trusts. She talks with Debra Fitzgerald about her career, how growing up on the peninsula shaped that career, and what we all need to know about this beautiful yet fragile land we call home.

Since the mid-1800s, the Hickey family has been fishing the waters of Door County. Today, fourth-generation owners Carin and Todd Stuth continue that proud tradition. Carin joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about life growing up in a fishing family, her path back to her father and uncle’s business, and the innovation that earned them the Door County Economic Development Corporation’s award for Established Business of the Year at this year’s business awards.

Have you bathed in the rejuvenating waters of Waukesha, Wisconsin? Probably not. But it was once a popular resort town known for its many natural springs, a forgotten bit of history unearthed by writer Matt Zembrowski for his new play at Northern Sky Theater titled "Something in the Water.” Myles Dannhausen Jr. talks to the playwright about the genesis for the story, plowing through doubts as a writer, and the joy of seeing your words brought to life on the stage.

What happens when a community landmark reaches a turning point? In this episode, Dave Eliot – co-founder/publisher of the Peninsula Pulse and chair of the Baileys Harbor Town Board – joins Debra Fitzgerald for an in-depth conversation about the tough decisions ahead facing the town pertaining to the marina. Eliot unpacks the challenges and potential solutions, including a proposal to relocate the marina to Anclam Park.

Parvinder and Renuka Jandu didn’t know anybody on the peninsula when they moved here to run a gas station and convenience store 23 years ago, but that didn’t deter them. Over the years they’v erun nine locations, immersed themselves in the local community, and earned a sterling reputation through hard work, innovation and commitment. They join Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about their journey and what it meant to be honored by the Door County Economic Development Corporation in April.

The Alpine Resort and Golf Course and the former Alpine waterfront parcels are a hot topic in Egg Harbor again as two separate proposals are making their way through village review. Debra Fitzgerald and Myles Dannhausen Jr. outline the proposals and the sticking points for the developers and those who hope the lodge can be saved. They also update us on road construction that will detour traffic around parts of Hwy 57 for the next two months, and the possible end of the Door County Treatment Court.

Jamie Fisher, senior project manager for Farmers for Sustainable Food, and Rachel Malcore Goblisch, PR specialist with the Voice of Milk, were included in this year’s Peninsula Pulse Sustainability issue, out April 18. Here, they talk with Debra Fitzgerald about what ‘sustainability’ means to local farmers and the sustainable practices being incorporated into local operations to create resilient farms that will produce for future generations.

The Peninsula Pulse’s annual Sustainability issue, out on April 18, contains the stories and voices of people across Door County who are working in some aspect of the climate-preparedness realm, whether through observations, data collection or actions. One of those voices and stories comes from Charlie Henriksen, a commercial fisherman for 50 years, owner of Henriksen Fisheries since 1987, and Henriksen’s Fish House, a retail operation, since 2022. In “Changing Waters,” Henriksen wrote for the Pulse about Door County’s fishing industry and how it’s navigating a new normal. Here, he talks with Debra Fitzgerald about the state of the fisheries, sharing knowledge gleaned from a life lived on the water.

The 2025 NFL Draft comes to Green Bay April 24-26. Aaron Popkey, public affairs director for the Green Bay Packers, joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about NFL draft preparations, what visitors to the city can expect, and what the Packers hope the big event will bring to the organization and the city. Popkey addresses some of the misconceptions about the draft and a few rumors swirling online about the Packers approach to selections this year.

He spent 25 years working in kitchens, operating a beloved Ephraim soup bar, and defending local service workers from uppity outsiders, but now Paul Wanish is one of the voices of Door County’s oldest radio station, 93.9 WDOR. Wanish joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about how a guy goes from kitchens to the hallowed grounds of Eddie Allen and Roger Levendusky’s mic at WDOR.

The Department of Natural Resources closed the Potawatomi State Park Observation Tower in 2017 and planned to demolish the structure – until Christie Weber took up its cause and the Sturgeon Bay Historical Society Foundation (SBHSF) put its weight behind a fight that would take seven years and end with a fully restored, historic tower. Weber and Chesla Anschutz, another former SBHSF member, join Debra Fitzgerald to talk about the SBHSF’s journey to save the tower.

For 55 years Jim Ingwersen has been one of Door County’s most-acclaimed and prolific artists, painting portraits of Supreme Court Justices, contemporary artists and hundreds of other commissions from his studio on Old Stage Road outside Sister Bay. As he nears his 96th birthday, he has reached an agreement to donate his gallery, hundreds of paintings and home to the Peninsula School of Art to serve as a dynamic home to creativity for generations to dome. Adam Erickson, director of Pen Art, joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about Ingwersen’s gift, his legacy, and what the future holds for the property.

Cam Ehlers-Kwaterski from Destination Sturgeon Bay joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to fill us in on everything going on for St. Patrick's Day in the city on Saturday. Plus, the Pulse was honored with 30 awards at the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Convention last week. Myles shares his thoughts on who's to thank – the readers who support our work.

Debra Fitzgerald talks with Keren Cotter and Jen Aldrich from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Wisconsin about the life-changing work they do matching adult mentors (Bigs) with young people (Littles) in our communities, including Door County. We dive into the organization’s mission, the positive impact these mentoring relationships have on kids, and their new recruitment campaign, the Big Draft, inspired by the upcoming NFL draft in Green Bay. Keren and Jen share insights on why they need 700 new volunteers, how they match mentors with youth and the challenges volunteers face. Plus, hear heartwarming success stories and learn how you can get involved.

As Gibraltar High School prepares for the next stage of its big renovation, the community is gearing up to celebrate its rich history with The Last Dance. The event aims to honor the memories made in the old gym, a cornerstone of the school since its construction in the 1930s. The Last Dance is not just a farewell; it's an invitation for alumni and community members to come together, reminisce, and create new memories. The old gym has hosted countless events, from dances to graduations to Peninsula Music Festival, and it holds a special place in the hearts of many who walked its floors. Organizers have formed the Gibraltar Schools Historical Preservation Committee to ensure that the history of the school is preserved even as renovations take place. This project aims to educate current students and visitors about the rich history of the school and its surrounding areas. The committee is also working to preserve key elements of the old gym, including a beloved tile mosaic and parts of its iconic arches. The Last Dance promises to be a multi-generational event, welcoming alumni from all eras. With music, dancing, and opportunities to walk through the newly renovated spaces, attendees will have a chance to connect with their past while looking forward to the future. Tickets are available for $20, with a reduced price of $15 for alumni, making it an accessible event for everyone. This celebration of community spirit and school pride is not just about saying goodbye; it’s about honoring the legacy of Gibraltar High School and ensuring that its history is not forgotten. The Last Dance is a reminder that while the old gym may be closing its doors, the memories and stories will live on in the hearts of those who have called it home.

Owen Alabado joins the podcast to discuss this weekend’s Northern Door Pride Cabaret at Northern Sky’s Gould Theater. The founder of Northern Door Pride chats with Myles Dannhausen Jr. about bringing locals together for the show on stage and in the audience, the Knobs, and why he’s been so driven to do community work from the day he landed in Door County almost five years ago.