Door County Pulse Podcast

Author Meghan O'Gieblyn joins the podcast to discuss her book, God, Human, Animal, Machine: Technology, Metaphor and the Search for Meaning. She is one of the featured authors at the Washington Island Literary Festival, which takes place Sept. 21-23.

Eric Lewis joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about the Camp David Reunion Concert at Fishstock, where Lewis has been packing the barn for 25 years for the Labor Day concert. He returns to the state Sunday night. They talk Fishstock, the legend that is Dave Ellmann, and the way the Fishstock thread of musicians changed the county’s live music scene in the early 2000s.

Andrew Kleidon is joined by Eric Simonson to talk about the 2023 Door Kinetic Arts Festival, a celebration of a diverse range of performance styles. From Cocktails to short films, dance to opera, and everything in between.

What does the raid of a Kansas newspaper in early August say about today's society? Has journalism, citizenship and civic discourse disintegrated to such a degree that our democracy is threatened? Here to talk about that with Debra Fitzgerald is Mike Killenberg and Rob Anderson, former professors of journalism and communications, current Jacksonport residents, and authors of the newly released book, Democracy's News: A primer on journalism for citizens who care about democracy.

Few things shape the look and economics of our communities more than parking requirements. Unfortunately, most villages, towns and cities write their requirements to produce the exact opposite of the communities they want to encourage. Myles Dannhausen Jr. talks to UCLA professor and author Donald Shoup about why parking minimums hurt communities and how thinking differently about parking can help businesses, ease congestion and help pay for other services.

Are municipalities and school boards abusing the spirit of transparency in open meetings and records? Debra Fitzgerald and Myles Dannhausen Jr. discuss the disturbing trend of local boards using closed session meetings for dubious reasons. Plus, a look at Sister Bay’s new facilities plan draft, the search for a pigeon and an update on reporter Sam Watson.

Andrew Kleidon talks with Pulse intern Emma Chamley about her favorite stories and experiences from the summer.

Getting people to engage in democracy and government has been a central theme in the work of artist Bronwyn Mauldin. She joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to discuss the intertwining of art and democracy and her upcoming seminar at Bjorklunden Aug. 6-11. Mauldin is a writer, zine maker and researcher. She serves as director of research and evaluation at the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, where she leads a team that utilizes data and research methods to strengthen the arts ecology and ensure all residents have equitable access to the arts.

Pulse assistant editor, Grace Johnson, is joined by author Edward McPherson who is the nonfiction judge for the 2023 Hal Prize. The two talk about how McPherson got into writing, his three books and what he is working on as a newly minted Guggenheim Fellow.

Myles Dannhausen Jr. sits down with Paige and Cam to talk about Sturgeon Bay’s big maritime celebration Aug. 1-12.

Andrew Kleidon hangs out with Matthew Gordon, one half of the band Chicago Mule, to talk about what it takes to make your band your full time job, gigging in Door County, and much more.

Myles Dannhausen Jr. catches up with Matt Sampson, the brewer and owner of Sway Brewing and Blending, the small brewery that just celebrated its first birthday in Baileys Harbor. Sampson talks about his vision for the brewery, his path to helming his own shop and partnering with others to create a place for beer, food and community.

Door County may seem like paradise to many, but those who work in the wellness and mental health fields understand that trauma, anxiety and depression are just as common here as in other rural communities where there's more isolation and access to services. Local professionals want to help our community become more resilient and are starting with a day-long conference, Aug. 15 in Sturgeon Bay: Hope Beyond the Hurt. Debra Fitzgerald talks with two of its organizers: Rebecca Nicholson, community connector with the Door County Partnership for Children and Families, an internal program of United Way of Door County; and Sophie Sielen, Door County coordinator and victim advocate for the Sexual Assault Center through Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin.

In this episode, Pulse assistant editor, Grace Johnson, is joined by Sean Hill, poet and judge for the Hal Prize in poetry. They talk about his first steps into poetry, the themes he explores in his work and what he’s looking for in Hal Prize submissions.

Andrew Kleidon and Myles Dannhausen Jr. have a few updates to some long-term stories, including Fish Creek’s second chance to purchase the Reddmann Property. Also, Door County will welcome athletes to challenge their bodies in the Door County Triathlon this weekend.

Acclaimed actor Billy Bob Thornton is coming to Door Community Auditorium next week in a new role – as the lead singer of his band the Boxmasters. He joins the podcast with bandmate J.D. Andrew to talk to Debra Fitzgerald about his love of music, performing and creative influences.

The bookmobile was a conduit to the outside world for thousands of Door County children in the days of one-room schools and before satellite libraries existed in every community. Now a committee of the Egg Harbor Historical Society is raising funds to bring it back to life to educate people about the history of education in the county, support literacy programs on the peninsula and revive a cherished piece of local history.

Debra Fitzgerald joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to give a brief rundown on everything going on for the 4th of July holiday week in Door County. Then they dive into the news, including a roundabout that is likely coming to the Culver’s intersection, a graffiti crackdown at Anderson Dock, and the latest on broadband expansion projects.

Debra Fitzgerald talks with state Rep. Joel Kitchens about the Right to Read Act he authored and is on track to becoming law. The bill would transform the way reading is taught in Wisconsin. They also discuss another of his bills that has passed the Assembly that would make hormonal contraceptives available without a prescription and what is and isn't in the 2023-2025 budget, that's expected to go to a vote June 29 and 30.

Wolfe broke onto the Chicago literary scene in 2022 with the release of her debut novel, Last Summer on State Street. Since then, the awards have been piling up for the author, educator and judge for the 2023 Hal Prize in fiction. Now with the Chicago Book Award under her belt, Wolfe is looking towards a year of new writing projects. In this episode, she is joined by Pulse assistant editor, Grace Johnson, to discuss those new projects as well as the upcoming Hal Prize.

Scott Watts joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about his restaurant, Hill Street, and the many twists and turns it took to get it open. Watts shares his theories on how to run a restaurant that doesn’t suck your soul and attracts staff; serving nightmares; business succession challenges; and creating a menu that you actually want to cook.

Debra Fitzgerald talks with Emma Chamley, the 2023 summer intern for the Peninsula Pulse, who arrived a few weeks ago and is already into her beat covering various entertainment and outdoor activities. Emma is a double journalism/political science major going into her junior year at Butler University in Indianapolis who has spent summers in Door County since she was a baby. She talks about her interests in journalism, why she applied for the internship and what she's looking forward to experiencing while spending a summer with us. Also see Chamley's introductory column in the June 9 issue of the Peninsula Pulse.

Pulse assistant editor, Grace Johnson, is joined by author and professor Liam Callanan to discuss his new book, When in Rome. Callanan will be in Door County June 8, 7 pm, at the Kress Pavilion for an author reading and Q&A.

Morgan Rusnak, Community Engagement manager with Destination Door County and Krista Lutzke, Department of Natural Resources district natural resources educator based out of Peninsula State Park, have paired up to meet the challenge of record visitation to provide a multi-day, on-site education and programming through the Leave No Trace Spotlight event that will come to Peninsula State Park, June 8-10. The two partnered on an application that was selected by the Colorado-based Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics – one of about 15 sites the organization selected this year. Debra Fitzgerald talks to the two about the upcoming programming.

Andrew Kleidon and Myles Dannhausen Jr. preview the big Memorial Day weekend coming up. Plus, an update on Sister Bay’s short-term-rental debate, and a look at the long list of new restaurants coming our way this summer.

The Door County club merged with the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Bay and Lakes Region (Green Bay and Shawano) in March, creating the region's largest youth development agency that serves some 3,000 children annually. Debra Fitzgerald talks with Lisa Kogan-Praska, CEO, and Chelsea Dahms, local director of programs and operation, about the merger and the Club's uninterrupted role in enabling young people to achieve their full potential.

This week we’re bringing you four interviews with the honorees from the Door County Economic Development Corporation’s 33rd annual business awards. Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding was the winner of the Lighthouse Award for established business of the Year Award. In this episode, we talk with Bay Ship’s Tom Martin, director of purchasing and facilities and Justin Slater, director of sales and marketing, about the shipbuilder’s history, its role within the community, and how the shipbuilding business has changed and grown over the years.

This week we’re bringing you four interviews with the honorees from the Door County Economic Development Corporation’s 33rd annual business awards. This episode features Christiana Trapani, the owner of Door County Candle Company, who was named the Lightkeeper Award for woman or minority-owned business of the year for her work building her business and using it to raise more than a million dollars for the people of Ukraine.

This week we’re bringing you four interviews with the honorees from the Door County Economic Development Corporation’s 33rd annual business awards. In this episode we talk to Jason and Sarah White of Peach Barn Farmhouse and Brewery, the winners of the Range Light Award for best new business. We discuss their journey to Door County, a brewery as a family business, and diving into a new community.

This week we’re bringing you four interviews with the honorees from the Door County Economic Development Corporation’s 33rd annual business awards. In this edition we talk to Brad Andrae of Thermotronx, the winner of the Lifetime Achievement award from Door County Economic Development Corporation for his contributions to the local economy and community.

Chris Drosner, the Wisconsin Beer Baron columnist for the Wisconsin State Journal and executive editor of Milwaukee Magazine, joins the podcast to talk about the growth, evolution and future of Wisconsin’s craft beer scene. He talks to Myles Dannhausen Jr. about the state scene and how Door County's growing beer palate fits into the mix.

Myles Dannhausen Jr. talks to reporter Sam Watson about yet another no for affordable housing in Door County, this time in the Town of Gibraltar, where a 49-unit studio complex was nixed by the Fish Creek Sanitary District before it could go to the county for rezoning consideration.

A third of caregivers die before the person they are caring for. Former Wisconsin Governor Marty Schreiber has made it his mission to help caregivers find the resources they need to provide the best care for loved ones but also to take care of themselves. He talks to Myles Dannhausen Jr. about his journey caring for his wife as she succumbed to Alzheimer's disease.

Andrew Kleidon sits down with David Eliot and Myles Dannhausen Jr. as the they prepare to welcome well over 2,000 runners to Peninsula State Park this weekend for the Door County Half Marathon and Nicolet Bay 5K.

The debate over how to control the growth of short-term-rental properties is heating up again. Andrew Kleidon is joined by Myles Dannhausen Jr. and Deb Fitzgerald to talk about Sevastopol’s new ordinance, proposed changes in Sister Bay and Liberty Grove, and how those changes might impact the local economy and housing market.

For 25 years Carrie Baldwin-Smith of Door County Event Planners has been helping people achieve their dream wedding. She talks to Myles Dannhausen Jr. about making a career out of someone’s biggest life event, destressing couples and the growth of the wedding industry.

A face familiar to those who love the Ridges Sanctuary will be taking over the leadership of the organization in June. Katie Krouse will move into the executive director position, taking over for interim director Andy Gill, whose family will be moving to the Milwaukee area. Gill and Krouse talke to Myles Dannhausen about the transition, Gill’s next role with the organization, and other big news for the Ridges.

In the 2023 Sustainability Issue, we highlight some of the volunteers who give so many hours to help support our local environmental organizations and lead the stewardship of our most special places. Myles Dannhausen Jr. talks to Deb Fitzgerald about this year’s issue and what those volunteers mean to our community.

Pulse assistant editor, Grace Johnson, is joined by photography judge, Allen Morris, to talk about alternative photography methods, the photo categories for this year and advice for submitters.

Through waves of development pressure over a century, people have stepped up to find ways to preserve much of Door County’s most sensitive habitat and most beautiful land. The new documentary, Ridge and Swale, tells their story. Producer David Eliot talks to Myles Dannhausen Jr. about what inspired the project and what he hopes it achieves.

It's not just desirable plants, insects and animals ready to spring forth into a new season, it's also the invasive species that don't belong here and have no natural predators, often hitchhiking their ways into our lives, lands, air and waters. Pulse editor Debra Fitzgerald talks with Sam Koyen, County of Door's invasive species coordinator, about the county's biggest invasive threats and what's being done to help mitigate their spread.

Andrew Kleidon is joined by Pulse editor Debra Fitzgerald to talk about some historic firsts from this weeks election results. Also, some long awaited updates on the Forestville Mill Pond and Egg Harbor’s highway project.

Pulse assistant editor, Grace Johnson, is joined by Jerod Santek, founding & artistic director at Write On, Door County, to talk about the judges for the upcoming contest and a few key dates to keep in mind for submitting.

Sister Bay Health Care is about to look a lot different with the opening of the new Door County Medical Center clinic in Sister Bay. Myles Dannhausen Jr. talks to Andy Anderson and Lindsay Donohue about the transition to the new clinic and what it will mean for patients and staff. But first, Dannhausen talks to Debra Fitzgerald about April’s local elections.

Voters will weigh in on two constitutional amendments April 4 that pertain to the criminal justice system and Joan Korb – a career criminal prosecutor, executive director of the Wisconsin District Attorney’s Association, and author of the periodic Legal Brief column for the Peninsula Pulse – talks with Debra Fitzgerald to explain what those amendments mean and what a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote would achieve.

Brian Kelsey, managing director of Peninsula Players and chair of the Wisconsin Arts Board, joins Pulse editor Debra Fitzgerald to talk about state supported funding for the arts: what's in the budget to start the process in Madison, what Door County could receive, why Wisconsin ranks 50th in the nation when it comes to arts funding; and how the arts contribute to our economy and quality of life.

Myles Dannhausen Jr. talks to reporter Sam Watson about cobbling together housing and carving into the county’s art scene in her first winter in the Door.

Bob Atwell, executive chairman and co-founder of Nicolet National Bank, walks Pulse Editor Debra Fitzgerald through the recent bank failures – what caused them and what the collapses say about the stability of America's banking system in general, and Wisconsin specifically.

Trent Snyder didn’t set out to be a brewer, but a chance conversation led him to opening not one, but two Door County taprooms in a three-year span. He talks to Myles Dannhausen Jr. about his journey into the brewing business, how the industry has changed, and what makes a great public restroom…really.

Myles Dannhausen Jr. and Andrew Kleidon feed the birds, give a novice’s recap of the Oscars, and fill us in on restaurant changes in Baileys Harbor. Plus, an update on the conversation around Sister Bay’s Village Hall.