Door County Pulse Podcast

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.

Andrew Kleidon talks with Pulse editor Debra Fitzgerald about two islands reported in the March 10 issue of the Peninsula Pulse. One of the islands is the creation of artist Lee Mothes, yet has all the trappings of a real place, including the ability to buy and develop land. The other island off the tip of the Door peninsula is, depending who you talk with, a stinking outpost with inhabitants that pollute the water and deplete the fishery, or a necessary sanctuary and nesting spot for colonial birds.

Andrew Kleidon is joined by Mike Orlock, author of the Peninsula Pulse’s film column Mike at the Movies, to round up all of the best picture Oscar noms before the Academy Awards.

Myles Dannhausen Jr. talks to the restaurateur about a new model he has launched for his food truck court in Baileys Harbor. They touch on Schoenfeld’s background, the barriers to entry in the industry, and how COVID forced some lasting positive changes on restaurants in Door County.

Andrew Kleidon talks with Pulse editor Debra Fitzgerald about the latest developments to save Potawatomi State Park Observation Tower, and recent UFO sightings Door County residents are talking about.

Gibraltar School is asking voters to approve a $29.8 million referendum to renovate and reconstruct the aging portions of the high school and the middle school gym. Superintendent Brett Stousland and school board president Stephen Seyfer join Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about the project.

Andrew Kleidon is joined by Destination Sturgeon Bay Executive Director Cameryn Ehlers-Kwaterski to talk about everything folks can look forward to this weekend when Sturgeon Bay celebrates Fire & Ice.

Pulse Editor Debra Fitzgerald talks with Darrick DeMeuse. The Sevastopol native and current resident makes his community a better place through his numerous volunteer efforts, yet does so quietly beneath the radar and behind the scenes. If you know a Difference Maker we need to talk with, email [email protected].

Andrew Kleidon talks with Pulse Editor Debra Fitzgerald about the new child care facility that will be constructed on the Sevastopol/Sturgeon Bay border, and several of the larger developments in various stages of planning in Sturgeon Bay, including Fleet Farm on Hwys. 57/42 and a 62-room, four-story hotel on Egg Harbor Road.

A little over a year since the James Webb Space Telescope was launched, Myles Dannhausen Jr. catches up with Dr. Heidi Hammel, one of the project’s leading scientists, to find out what we’re learning from the incredible photographs that Webb is creating.

Myles Dannhausen Jr. discusses the future of Scandia Village, the Sister Bay nursing home and retirement community that is now up for sale, with Andrew Kleidon. Plus a preview of this weekend’s Fish Creek Winterfest.

This year's Door County Reads features Raft of Stars by Andrew Graff. He joins Pulse assistant editor Grace Johnson to discuss the upcoming Door County Reads programming, his book and writing stories that are hopeful.

Hope and Brandon Bogenschutz – members of the new improv group, The Knobs – join Pulse assistant editor Grace Johnson to talk about the art of improv.

Mariah Goode, director of the County of Door's Land Use Services department, sits down with Pulse editor Debra Fitzgerald to talk about the county's role related to zoning and development and what local towns can do if they're interested in guiding not only where something is built but how it looks. They also talk about growth and existing ratios for what's protected versus what's developed on the peninsula.

Jerod Santek, artistic director at Write On, makes his first Pulse Podcast appearance and discusses new, free programming offered at the Writing Center with Pulse assistant editor, Grace Johnson.

When Dustin Renwick went to work at National Geographic in 2017, he almost immediately set out to find out what the magazine’s extensive archives might include about Door County, a place his family has visited for years. He joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about what he found, how our forgotten archives can help connect generations and how he uses them to tell new stories.

Rep. Joel Kitchens (R-Sturgeon Bay) sits down with Pulse editor Debra Fitzgerald to talk about the new legislative session, his priorities and committee assignments, the budget that will be built this year, a CAFO expanding in Forestville, the recently released plans for Potawatomi State Park Observation Tower, and what Republicans may be planning for the state's abortion law.

Door Community Auditorium releases a slate of winter main-stage shows, coffeehouse concerts and talks. Plus, Andrew Kleidon and Myles Dannhausen Jr. discuss Ephraim’s decision not to expand alcohol licenses in the village and Sturgeon Bay’s tribute to Jim Benesh.

The Door County Granary project and the Sister Bay-Liberty Grove Fire Department both won big awards in the $1.7-trillion Omnibus Appropriations Act that Congress passed just before Christmas. Myles Dannhausen Jr. talks with Debra Fitzgerald about how these projects were funded and about Congressional earmarks in general. They also dive into Destination Door County's new Community Investment Grant program that will spend $1 million annually on local projects that benefit local people.

It looks like rental companies will be staying at the Sister Bay Marina after a December hearing brought dozens of people out in support of the operators. Myles Dannhausen Jr. talks to Andrew Kleidon about that issue, plus three big decisions coming up for Ephraim. But first they introduce a new column debuting in this week’s Pulse and the aerial photography of Dan Anderson.

When Lawrence University found a new director for its Door County campus, Bjorklunden, it brought home a familiar face. Tom McKenzie talks to Myles Dannhausen Jr. about returning to the county where he co-founded the Pulse and how locals can get to know the 441-acre campus south of Baileys Harbor.

Dan Kane, Door County Director of Emergency Management and Communications, talks with Pulse editor Debra Fitzgerald about the critical employee shortage at the county's 24-7 dispatch operation that receives about 50,000 calls for help annually, and what the county is doing to attract and retain employees while filling the gaps in the short-term.

The real estate market has changed quite a bit since the Door County Board of Realtors (DCBR) was first founded 60 years ago. Debra Fitzgerald talks with Mary Kay Shumway, DCBR treasurer, and Jeff Isaksen, DCBR president, about the past, present and future of Door County real estate.

Tom Groenfeldt has written about the arts, business and technology for the Peninsula Pulse, but he got his start in Door County many years earlier as an intern for the Resorter Reporter. He talks to Myles Dannhausen Jr. about his stint as Chan Harris’s roving summer photography intern whose job was to capture scenes for the cover and inside pages of the publication.