Best Door County Pulse Podcasts (2025)

1
Steel Bridge Songfest Celebrates 20 Years with pat mAcdonald 52:57

23h ago52:57

52:57

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 found…

1
The Life’s Work and Lasting Legacy of Terrie Cooper 53:08

3d ago53:08

53:08

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 20…

1
Life on the Lake with Carin Hickey-Stuth 38:32

8d ago38:32

38:32

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 Coun…

1
Something in the Water with Writer Matt Zembroski 34:22

9d ago34:22

34:22

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 gen…

1
The Future of the Baileys Harbor Marina With Dave Eliot 38:07

18d ago38:07

38:07

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 potentia…

1
Parvinder and Renuka Jandu: Building A Business Through Community 33:17

23d ago33:17

33:17

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 Myle…

1
What’s Next for the Alpine Golf Course and Former Resort Properties? 41:47

25d ago41:47

41:47

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 u…

1
Sustainable Farming 35:32

1M ago35:32

35:32

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 incorp…

1
Commercial Fishing with Charlie Henriksen 44:37

1M ago44:37

44:37

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…

1
The NFL Draft Comes to Town, with Aaron Popkey of the Green Bay Packers 32:14

2M ago32:14

32:14

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 ab…

1
From Soup Bar to WDOR with Paul Wanish 38:03

2M ago38:03

38:03

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 Rog…

1
Saving the Potawatomi Tower with Christie Weber 57:11

2M ago57:11

57:11

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 Ch…

1
The Ingwersen Legacy with Pen Art’s Adam Erickson 30:14

2M ago30:14

30:14

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 paintin…

1
St. Patrick's Day in Sturgeon Bay with Cam Ehlers-Kwaterski 15:12

3M ago15:12

15:12

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.…

1
The Big Draft with Big Brothers, Big Sisters 32:35

3M ago32:35

32:35

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 kid…

1
A Farewell to the Old Gym: The Last Dance at Gibraltar School 32:15

3M ago32:15

32:15

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…

1
Owen Alabado Can't Sit Still 34:20

3M ago34:20

34:20

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 …

1
Cell Phones in the Classroom, Immigration and More with Rep. Joel Kitchens 43:51

4M ago43:51

43:51

Debra Fitzgerald talks with Wisconsin Rep. Joel Kitchens (R-Sturgeon Bay) about his priorities as chair of the Assembly Committee on Education, and a new bill he’s introduced that would ban cell phone use in K-12 classrooms. They also talk about immigration policy and how it would impact Wisconsin farmers; priorities for crafting the new, biannual …

1
Roy Thilly on Why Door County Could See Electrical Shortfalls 48:26

4M ago48:26

48:26

Door County is in an electrical region that is considered high risk for shortfalls occurring at normal peak conditions this summer and for the next 10 years based on assessment data. Door County resident Roy Thilly, who spent a career working in the electricity sector – attorney, CEO of WPPI, board member and chair of NERC – talks with Debra Fitzge…

1
The Writing Life with Author TJ Klune 1:05:20

4M ago1:05:20

1:05:20

TJ Klune, author of The House in the Cerulean Sea, talks with Debra Fitzgerald about his (extremely well-written) book that was selected for this year’s Door County Reads program, which began Jan. 18 and runs through February). Klune talks about his writing process, why he writes, who he writes for – and life on a remote 10 acres in Washington stat…

1
Crafting the Future: New Glarus Brewing's Bold Expansion Plans 50:05

4M ago50:05

50:05

The craft beer industry is at an inflection point. Many upstart breweries have shuttered not long after opening, and even some of the original stars of the craft beer scene have gone bottoms-up in the last couple years. But one of the original craft breweries and most famous is doubling down. New Glarus, brewers of Spotted Cow, Moon Man and some of…

1
All Too Clear - How Mussels Transformed the Lakes with Zach Melnick and Yvonne Drebert 27:12

4M ago27:12

27:12

The husband-and-wife filmmaking team of Zach Melnick and Yvonne Drebert join Myles Dannhausen Jr. to discuss their new documentary film, All Too Clear, which explores how quadrillions of tiny invasive mussels, known as quaggas, are re-engineering the ecosystem of the Great Lakes at a scale not seen since the glaciers. To capture this epic change, t…

1
Next steps for Fish Creek's Redmann property 30:20

5M ago30:20

30:20

The Town of Gibraltar has finally closed on its purchase of the 118-acre Redmann property to expand Fish Creek Park. Administrator Travis Thyssen joins the podcast to talk about property and discuss what the process will look like as the town embarks on trail and park improvements for what will now be a 150-acre public space.…

1
Better Public Meetings with Planners John Kamp and James Rojas 1:02:06

5M ago1:02:06

1:02:06

Most public “input” sessions aren’t actually designed to put constituent feedback to use. John Kamp and James Rojas, authors of the book “Dream, Play, Build” argue that most of these sessions are used simply to tell the public what has already been decided. The sessions are usually intimidating to the average resident and aren’t designed to build c…

1
Emily Wood On A Record Year for Conservation at the Land Trust 59:48

5M ago59:48

59:48

Door County Land Trust Executive Director Emily Wood talks with Debra Fitzgerald about the organization’s record year of land conservation in Door County (17 projects concluded in 2024); the role the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund plays in accomplishing the organization’s mission; and how they balance conservation with other priorities, such as ec…

1
Unidentified Aerial Phenomena with Ryan Mueller 56:26

5M ago56:26

56:26

Ryan Mueller talks with Debra Fitzgerald about his frequent UAP (unidentified aerial phenomena) sightings in Ellison Bay; his evolving ability to summon their appearance; his theory about what they are and how that relates with the heightened drone activity on the East Coast (and around the world); and what he believes these sightings and experienc…

1
Home for the Holidays with Karen Mal 44:34

5M ago44:34

44:34

Northern Sky veteran Karen Mal joins Debra Fitzgerald to talk about her upcoming show at the Gould Theater, Dec. 28, 29, 30 and 31, to play some original music, and to talk about her career as a singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/actor. Mal found a community in the Northern Sky team back when it was American Folklore Theater, and their fall se…

1
30 Years on the Beat with Chief Deputy Pat McCarty 51:22

5M ago51:22

51:22

The second in command at the Door County Sheriff’s office, Pat McCarty, Chief Deputy/Undersheriff, will retire Jan. 17, 2025 just short of 31 years with the department. He talks with Debra Fitzgerald about his years in law enforcement, including as a patrol officer, and the changes and differences that have occurred over his three decades in law en…

1
Digging Into Sister Bay's Property Tax Mess 21:04

6M ago21:04

21:04

Sister Bay property owners were shocked when they got tax bills showing a 10.8% increase for village property taxes this month. Debra Fitgzerald joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to discuss what we know about what mistakes were made when the village promised that taxes would be flat this year during the budget hearings just one month earlier.…

1
Door County Drinking Water Quality with Greg Kleinheinz 1:04:07

6M ago1:04:07

1:04:07

Dr. Greg Kleinheinz, director of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Environmental Research and Innovation Center, has overseen beach-water testing in Door County for more than 20 years. For the past five years, he’s also worked with the County of Door on a well-testing program designed to learn what’s in private-well drinking water. He goes over t…

1
Behind the Line with Photographer Kayla Larsen 57:28

6M ago57:28

57:28

Kayla Larsen spent 25 years working in the restaurant industry before stepping into photography. For the winter edition of Door County Living magazine, Larsen turned her eye toward her old industry, providing a glimpse into the restaurant and food world that most diners never see. She joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about the project and their l…

1
Reconsidering Local Wine and Spirits with Hatch Distilling 46:43

6M ago46:43

46:43

Reconsidering Local Wine and Spirits with Hatch Distilling by Door County Pulse PodcastBy Door County Pulse Podcast

1
Playing Santa with Trent Snyder 15:46

6M ago15:46

15:46

Trent Snyder of Bridge Up Brewing Company joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about the Toys for Kids drive and what it’s like to play Santa. But first, a rundown of this weekend’s coming Christmas festivities in the county.By Door County Pulse Podcast

1
Behind the Scenes with “Wisconsin Lighthouses” Producer Jeff Pfeifer 26:14

6M ago26:14

26:14

A new documentary about Wisconsin’s lighthouses premiers on PBS Wisconsin on Dec. 2, and as you’d expect, Door County’s lights feature prominently in the episode. The film’s producer, Jeff Pfeifer, joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about why these structures have such a pull on our psyche and shares some of the stories he used to bring the histori…

1
Baking Mad with Eleanor Corbin 35:12

6M ago35:12

35:12

Baking is a science, according to Peninsula Pulse reporter Eleanor Corbin, who has a long lineage of bakers in her family, and was herself bit by the baking bug as a young girl helping in her mom’s kitchen and pie shops. Eleanor offers some great baking tips, utensils she can’t live without, how to roll the perfect pie crust – and so much more that…

1
The Art of Music with Grammy Nominee Hans Christian 49:46

6M ago49:46

49:46

Hans Christian, classically trained as a cellist in his native Germany, emigrated to 1980s Hollywood to study bass guitar and pursue a career as a rock musician. More than three decades later, the performer, recording engineer, producer and multi-instrumentalist has lived a fascinating story (complete with famous people like Billy Idol, Red Hot Chi…

1
Mapping A Bike Future with Sophie Parr 39:20

6M ago39:20

39:20

When the Door County Trails group was formed, it turned to urban planner Sophie Parr to create inventory and vision maps for Door County's bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. Parr joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about the process she used to create the maps and how the future could look for non-motorized transportation in the county. They als…

1
Solving the Child Care Crisis with Author Elliot Haspel 36:33

7M ago36:33

36:33

Despite historic investments in early childhood education in Door County, we continue to lag far behind the number of spaces needed for families in our community. Elliot Haspel spoke at the recent Door County Child Care Summit sponsored by the United Way, reminding local leaders that the struggle is not unique to Door County. The author of "Crawlin…

1
Creating a Pipeline to Water Jobs 46:42

7M ago46:42

46:42

Marissa Jablonski, executive director of the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin, talks with Debra Fitzgerald about how her organization is creating a jobs pipeline to strengthen the state’s workforce so that it’s stronger and better prepared to meet the state’s 10 Grand Water Challenges.By Door County Pulse Podcast

1
Choosing Election Letters and the World Comes to Door County 59:26

7M ago59:26

59:26

Choosing Election Letters and the World Comes to Door County by Door County Pulse PodcastBy Door County Pulse Podcast

1
The Influence of Sister Rosetta Tharpe with Cathy Grier and Lachrisa Grandberry 29:40

7M ago29:40

29:40

Musician Cathy Grier joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about the upcoming tribute to singer and guitarist Sister Rosetta Tharpe coming to the Door Community Auditorium on Saturday. Tharpe was credited as an influence by Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry, Elvis and many others. Grier discusses the show and Tharpe’s legacy, followed by a bit of perspective f…

1
US Senate Candidates Eric Hovde and Tammy Baldwin 59:52

7M ago59:52

59:52

With two weeks to go till the 2024 election, we talk to the candidates for U.S. Senate, incumbent Democrat Tammy Baldwin and Republican Challenger Eric Hovde. We discuss some of the top issues in the campaign and ask why each candidate was inspired to run for office.By Door County Pulse Podcast

1
What You Didn’t Know About Fall Fest with Matt Stone 38:03

8M ago38:03

38:03

Do you think you know Fall Fest? Matt Stone joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about Sister Bay’s big celebration this weekend. They run down all the key times and events, but also take you behind the scenes to talk about what it takes to create the party and how it helps businesses, nonprofits and workers all year long.…

1
A Call to Action to Help Save Knowles-Nelson 32:25

8M ago32:25

32:25

Wisconsin’s flagship environmental program, the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund, has invested some $1.3 billion in land acquisitions, trails, outdoor recreation infrastructure and shoreline protection since 1990 across the state – 466 of those projects in Door County alone. But the program is threatened and could go away. One of the state’s primary…

1
Local Party Chairs on Setting the Tone 38:20

8M ago38:20

38:20

Kris Sadur, chair of the Democratic Party of Door County, and Stephanie Soucek, chair of the Republican Party of Door County, meet for the first time when they sit down with Debra Fitzgerald to talk about political unity and party unity and how they’re addressing division within their own party’s ranks. They also talk about their parties’ respectiv…

1
Jon Ellmann of UW-Oshkosh on Coaching and Finding His Path 45:39

8M ago45:39

45:39

UW-Oshkosh women's volleyball coach and Gibraltar High School graduate Jon Ellmann did not take a straight line to his position as the women's volleyball coach at UW-Oshkosh. He joins Myles Dannhausen to discuss his journey from the courts at Nicolet, to design, to business, jewelry and finally back to education and the volleyball court. They talk …

1
Rachel Manek on 30 Years of Morning News, Al Johnson’s and Telling Hometown Stories 54:55

8M ago54:55

54:55

For 30 years Rachel Manek has been a part of people’s mornings in Northeast Wisconsin as the host of Good Day, Wisconsin on Fox 11. But her first jobs were working in Door County at Hotel du Nord and Al Johnson’s. She joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about her love of Door County, what it’s like to be a part of the morning of tens of thousands of…

1
Bret Bicoy on the Strength of our Communities' Ties 55:54

8M ago55:54

55:54

Last week Bret Bicoy wrote in his column about his fear that this election cycle is tearing at the fabric of our community. He reads his column, then joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. and Debra Fitzgerald for a spirited discussion about his column and whether we are as divided as it often seems that we are.…

1
Political Unity with Joel Kitchens & Renee Paplham 42:03

9M ago42:03

42:03

In the wake of a second assassination attempt on Donald Trump, Sept. 15, Joel Kitchens and Renee Paplham, the Republic and Democratic candidates respectively for Wisconsin’s Assembly District 1, talk with Debra Fitzgerald about political unity – what it means, if it’s important, whether it’s achievable in a two-party political system and what’s at …

1
Broadband Service Update with Jessica Hatch 46:37

9M ago46:37

46:37

So much progress has been made by Door County municipalities in a few short years in their quest to bring reliable, affordable, high-speed fiber broadband service to each home and business within their communities. The County of Door’s broadband coordinator, Jessica Hatch, runs down with Debra Fitzgerald where each municipality is today, and how so…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Door County Pulse Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen