On Hand

Sound engineer Mike Fotias recalls his first underground techno party, Detroit's growing warehouse rave scene, and the evolution of its sound. Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Detroit created the musical genre of techno in the early 1980s. It's not the first musical innovation to come out of the city; it enjoys part of a rich musical heritage from Detroit. So how did the history of artistry help inform the birth of techno? And how did Detroit's electronic music influence the world? This episode was produced by Sam Beaubien. GUEST ON THIS EPISODE: Carl Craig, Detroit musician and techno pioneer Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the last episode, we dug into the fiery foundation of the Keweenaw Peninsula. That’s right, some of Copper Country’s most beloved landscapes–and Lake Superior itself–were shaped by a 1.1 billion year old rift volcano. And On Hand listener Kate Lynnes' love of the Keweenaw runs almost as deep as that rift volcano. GUEST: Kate Lynnes from Muskegon Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan's Upper Peninsula might not be the first spot you think of when someone says "volcano," but maybe it should be! Around 1.1 billion years ago, a rift volcano started producing massive amounts of lava. That volcano (with the help of some glaciers around 10,000 years ago) formed some of the Upper Peninsula's most iconic landscapes--including Lake Superior! GUESTS: Erika Vye, geosciences research scientist at the Great Lakes Research Center at Michigan Tech University Daniel Lizzadro-McPherson, geospatial research scientist at Michigan Tech University Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, we took a crash course on the history of the pasty: a savory pocket of dough filled with beef, potato, and rutabaga. The dish has become distinctly regional food in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Today, we shared the story of one particular recipe that made its way into thousands of homes, and the writer that helped make it happen. Cover image: The emerald ring gifted to writer Kathy Gibbons by the owner of Lehto's Pasties. Photo courtesy of Kathy Gibbons. GUEST: Kathy Gibbons, Traverse City-based writer Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When tourists visit the Keweenaw Peninsula two things become evident: the strong influence of Finnish immigrants on the local culture, and prevalence of pasties. But while both have been embraced as part of the local culture, they carry different, but parallel, origin stories! Today, we dig in on the Cornish origins of this iconic regional dish. GUESTS: Trisia Narhi, co-owner at Roy’s Pasties and Bakery in Houghton Roy Narhi, co-owner and baker at Roy’s Pasties and Bakery in Houghton Yvonne Lockwood, folklorist, retired curator of folklife for the Michigan State University Museum, co-founder of the Michigan Traditional Arts Program Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Superman in southeast Michigan to a Jersey Mud sundae in the Upper Peninsula, Michiganders know how to enjoy a scoop. GUESTS ON THIS EPISODE: Mary Jean Raab, Washtenaw Dairy Nate and Nova Wilson Dale Iverson Want to submit a story or a question to On Hand? Do it here! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Superman ice cream feels like a force of nature in Michigan. Food and Wine Magazine recently named it the most Michigan-y ice cream flavor. But is it from here? GUESTS ON THIS EPISODE: Lilly Kraai, Hudsonville Ice Cream Mark Harvey, Archives of Michigan See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Submit your stories and questions to On Hand! Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org We're looking for: 1) Pasty stories! Is there a recipe that you grew up making, and still love to share? Or maybe you successfully completed the Keweenaw pasty trail, and lived to tell the tale? 2) Keweenaw Peninsula stories! Maybe you have an annual camping spot up there that has the absolute best views. Or maybe you’ve weathered the winter up there, and have a story of survival to share? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A couple from Muskegon, who started dating in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, shared the story behind the special rocks that became a symbol of their love. GUESTS: Maggie and Ben Reinhard Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For many a Michigander, Petoskey stones are way more than just a cool looking rock. They’re a physical reminder of happy memories of Michigan summers past. The Petoskey shares a name with the Northern Michigan city, but their distribution–and the story they tell us about our state’s ancient history–is a lot bigger. On this episode of On Hand, we talk to a couple of rockhounding experts about everything you need to know about our state stone. GUESTS: Scot and Jennifer Wack, co-authors of Rockhounding: A Beginner’s Guide to Rock Hunting Around Lake Michigan and co-owners of the NorthPort Trading Post Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A listener shares his story about the lessons in tenderness, abundance and connection a forgotten cherry tree gave him. GUEST: Andrew Harmon originally from Rockford, MI but spent many of his young adult years living in Grand Rapids. He now lives in Boston, MA. Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Come July, cherries are everywhere here. Sweet. Sour. Deep maroon, golden yellow and even blush pink. Michigan is the second largest grower of cherries in the nation and we're home to the National Cherry Festival. But why? In this episode we tell you the story of our favorite little stone fruit, the cherry. How did it get here? And how did Michigan become synonymous with cherries? GUESTS: Chris Reiser, president for the Peter Dougherty Society. Nikki Rothwell, 2025 Cherry Industry Person of the year and Michigan State University's extension specialist in tree fruit integrated pest management. Jim Eckerle, farmer and owner of Eckerle Farms in Leelanau County & Suttons Bay. Zach Eckerle, grandson of Jim Eckerle and future owner of Eckerle Farms. Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Several of you reached out to argue for adding Lake St. Clair as a 6th Great Lake (or 5th if you count Huron and Michigan as one). On this episode, we hear about one man's love for this "heart-shaped" lake — and the song it inspired him to make. Plus, a story about life in the straits of Mackinac. LYRICS: Lake St Clair (Make Her Great) By Guy Sferlazza In a world that rewards hate She has always been great And worth more than a billion billion billion billionaires She surrounds us with her love How many years and still she’s young Mother Earth produced the jewel of Lake St Clair We didn’t have to make her great She’s the heart of all these lakes See it for yourself if you dare When the sun is coming up There’s an ocean full of love From sea to shining sea, And she is there All the service to this land all generations the grand lake Of the sweet fresh water sea Bathed in beauty We, the people shall decide Make it plain in broad daylight That’s a great lake that you may have never seen We proclaimed her a…

Are Michigan and Huron separate lakes – or have we been counting the Great Lakes wrong? There may actually be four Great Lakes: “Lake” Huron and “Lake” Michigan could actually be considered “lobes” of one big lake — big enough to unseat Lake Superior as the world’s largest freshwater lake by surface area. We hear two takes: one from a scientific perspective, and one from a cultural perspective. GUESTS: Eric Anderson, director of hydrologic science and engineering at the Colorado School of Mines. Eric Hemenway, humanities program manager for the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability. Cover image credit: Aaron - stock.adobe.com/302750092 Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MANY of you wrote in to say that the reason the roads are seemingly always in terrible shape in Michigan is because of truck weights - and the fact that Michigan often doubles truck weight limits from those of federal guidelines. Today we're hearing and feeling your anger, and talking to an engineer about what heavy trucks do to roads, and why it's only one part of the equation for road conditions. GUEST ON TODAY'S EPISODE: Craig Atwood, managing director of Allegan County Road Commission Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are Michigan's roads really so bad that we need to be repairing them all the time? What's really going on with our orange-barrel forests? For this episode of On Hand, we tackle a listener's question about road repairs by talking to two actual road engineers. We'll also get externally-verified facts about road quality, and hear some real talk about road politics in Lansing. We even bump into someone who started her own guerilla road crew. Guests: Hamtramck resident Maritza Garibay Brent Schlack, Director of Engineering, Washtenaw Road Commission Adam Lape, Director of Operations, Washtenaw Road Commission Lauren Gibbons, Bridge Michigan reporter Adrian Hemond, CEO, Grassroots Midwest Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For many Michiganders, Up North begins at the north end of the Mackinac Bridge. One listener defends the Upper Peninsula as true north. And another listener says the southern border of the mitten is also Up North for many people. GUESTS ON THIS EPISODE: Ken Raisanen, retired teacher and lifelong Upper Peninsula Michigander Keith Baker, City Manger of Coldwater Want to submit your own story or question to On Hand? Do it here! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a great Michigan debate; what is the line or the place that marks the end of the southern part of the state and the beginning of that mystical land we call Up North? The answers vary from emotional to philosophical. But there's also an ecological answer that helps us better understand why we feel different when we go Up North. Check out the Michigan Natural Features Inventory website for a ton of cool stuff about our natural world. GUESTS ON TODAY'S EPISODE: Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan Joshua Cohen, lead ecologist with the Michigan Natural Features Inventory at MSU Extension Got a question you'd like to have answered on On Hand? Submit your questions about Michigan here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many of us have a road that's more than a line on a map—it's a memory. Maybe it’s the street you grew up on or the dirt road that leads you to a cottage Up North. For listener Tom Topolski, it’s Lake Michigan Drive. GUEST: Thomas Topolski, Hudsonville resident Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund PHOTO CREDIT: City of Grand Rapids Archives and Records Center See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’ve ever gotten directions from a metro-Detroiter, you have probably heard a ‘9 Mile’ or a ‘10 Mile Road’ mentioned. Or maybe even the most famous of them all: 8 Mile. But where did all these boring road names come from? And how did they become a kind of cultural shorthand in the region? GUESTS: Paul Sewick, amateur Detroit historian and part-time Lyft driver. Check out his blog Detroit Urbanism here. Jeff Horner, professor in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at Wayne State University Jamon Jordan, Detroit historian and lecturer in history at the University of Michigan Residential College. Cover photo courtesy of the Archives of Michigan Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We recently weighed the costs and benefits of Michigan's bottle bill. Today, a listener shares just how much the 10-cent bottle deposit meant to Central Michigan University students in the 70s. GUESTS: Andrea Haupt, listener Michael Lehnert, listener Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it really worth our time to haul returnables to the store for just 10 cents each? And is it worth it for Michigan's recycling industry to maintain a bottle deposit system when we already have curbside recycling? See Shelie Miller's "Comprehensive Ealuation of MIchigan's Bottle Deposit System" here Read more from the Container Recycling Institute here See a Reloop and CRI study about the impact of bottle deposits on beverage sales here GUESTS: Susan Collins, president of the Container Recycling Institute Shelie Miller, Jonathan W. Bulkley Collegiate Professor of Sustainable Systems at the University of Michigan; co-director, Center for Sustainable Systems Cover photo by April Van Buren Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In last week's episode, we dug into the history of euchre and whether the quintessential Michigan game was actually created in the mitten. Turns out, not quite. The trick-taking game came to the Midwest — including Michigan — through farmers who visited New Orleans and Pennsylvania and came in contact with Alsatian immigrants, from a region along the Rhine River where France and Germany meet. The Civil War also helped spread the game across the country. From the 1700s to today, the way we play euchre has evolved in countless ways and we heard from some of you on how you've managed to make the game your own. Today, we’re sharing your euchre stories. GUESTS: Keith Kim, an Ann Arbor resident who in college managed to skip doing the dishes countless of times by winning a few rounds of euchre Eric Farnum from Grand Ledge is one of the masterminds behind what he and his friends liked to call "Bastard Euchre" Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us:…

For many Michiganders, euchre (pronounced yoo-kur) feels like a quintessentially Michigan game—but was it actually created here? Long story short, no. But the story of how the trick-taking game made its way to the Mitten state and became one of its most popular card game is an interesting one. GUESTS ON THIS EPISODE: Jamie and Becky DeVries, hosts of monthly euchre tournament at Oakestown Brewery in Grandville, Michigan Steven Zink, retired IT professor at the University of Nevada and unofficial euchre historian Want to submit a question to On Hand or a story about a game of euchre? Here’s how: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan is the only state in the country with two distinct peninsulas. How did it come to be this way? We share an episode of the Points North podcast that digs into the history of our states boundary lines. They story of our peninsula "up north" actually begins with a boundary dispute down south - in Ohio. Find a transcript of the episode here Check out more episodes of Points North from Interlochen Public Radio GUESTS: Ryan Schnurr, producer, assistant professor in the Department of Humanities and Communication at Trine University Ted Long, author, local historian, and storyteller based in Toledo, OH Marty Herschock, professor of history at the University of Michigan-Dearborn Cover photo from: AlgerCounty.gov Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rory McHarg was so intrigued by the trout label on Bell's Two Hearted Ale he tracked down the artist and made a documentary about him. The film is screening in Traverse City May 1-2, 2026. GUEST ON THIS EPISODE: Rory McHarg, filmmaker, A Two Hearted Tale Take our Michigan Beer Quiz to test your knowledge. Have a question or story for On Hand? Submit here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ask just about any beer drinker in the state and they will tell you their favorite Michigan brewery and craft beer. That's because our state has many high-quality breweries to choose from, often ranking high among all states for craft beer culture. But why? And how did it get like this? We break down Michigan's beer history. Take our Michigan Beer Quiz to test your knowledge. GUESTS ON THIS EPISODE: Mickey Lyons, journalist, historian, and "barcheologist" Terry Rostic, founder of Black Calder Brewing Co. Larry Bell, founder of Bell's Brewery Got a home brewing story? Are you John Stroh? Have a question for On Hand? Submit here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One listener shares memories of going to Angelo's Coney Island through the pages of his journal. Also: Patti Smith's Lafayette meet-cute, and your emails. Have a story for us, or a question about oh-so-Michigan things? Bring it on! Here's our easy-to-use submission form. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ask 10 different Michiganders where the best coney is and you'll get 10 different answers. But where does this dog with meat sauce come from, and why do we call our diners Coney Islands? We dig into the debate about who does coney dogs best, and dig deep into the coney history. GUESTS ON THIS EPISODE: Damon Smith, coney enthusiast, TikTok and IG content creator, westside Detroiter with an opinion Katherine Yung, journalist and co-author of a book called Coney Detroit Joe Grimm, journalist and co-author of Coney Detroit Got a late-night Coney Island story? A family coney dog tradition? Want to submit a question to On Hand or a story about Michigan's political history? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund Coney picture: Flickr user Steven Depolo/Flickr See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

West Michiganders Kate Lynnes once ran as a Democratic candidate for Congress against GOP incumbent Rep. Vern Ehlers, in an era when the district was deep red. Lynnes and Ehlers had a fine and cordial repertoire, but during a debate their distinct positions on whether medical marijuana should be legal made their political differences glaringly obvious. GUEST ON THIS EPISODE: Kate Lynnes, west Michigan resident and former Democratic candidate for Congress Want to submit a question to On Hand or a story about Michigan's political history? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Under the oaks" of Jackson, Michigan, is a birthplace of the Republican Party. But is it THE birthplace? Ripon, Wisconsin, lays claim to the founding of the political party started by abolitionists. But the Jackson Historical Society has the receipts in favor of our Michigan community. GUESTS ON THIS EPISODE: Maurice Imhoff, president, Jackson Historical Society Linda Hass, author and vice president, Jackson Historical Society Want to submit a question to On Hand or a story about Michigan's political history? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We recently dug into how the robin become Michigan's state bird, and why it hasn't changed in nearly 100 years. Today, we reveal the result of our state bird poll, and hear from a listener who witnessed the circle of life unfold among the bird gathering at her neighbor's backyard pond. GUESTS: Tracey Walker, West Michigander Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The American Robin is our state bird - but why? You can find Robins everywhere, including most states in the U.S. So should we reconsider our state bird and pick something more unique to Michigan? Like, say, the Kirtland's Warbler? A debate! Vote in the On Hand state bird poll here! Check out our other state symbols here Read about the Kirtland's Warbler Alliance, a nonprofit devoted to protecting the species GUESTS: April Campbell, retired M.D. and bird enthusiast based in Ann Arbor Jen Owen, former director for the Michigan State Bird Observatory and center coordinator for Corey Marsh Ecological Center. Frances Heldt, archivist for the Archives of Michigan Cover photo by Lester Graham Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the last episode of On Hand, we dug into why people in Michigan say “ope.” And we found that “ope” likely traces back to European immigrants who settled in the Midwest—long before Midwesternisms were ever a thing. Since then, we’ve heard from a few of you who say our Michigan way of speaking is about much more than just “ope". Today, we’re diving into the Michigan accent, in all its glory. GUESTS: Sue Merritt, a Michigander-turned-Californian-turned-Michigander again Laurie Van Ark lives in Holland, and her family’s roots in Michigan go back to 1866 Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you live in Michigan, you’ve probably heard someone say the word “ope” more than once. Linguists suggest that the term dates back to the very first European immigrants in the Midwest region but how. On this episode of On Hand, we go back to where we first learned about words and speak with a language expert about the origins of “ope” and why we use it. GUESTS: Katie Howell, Kindergarten Teacher at Buchanan Elementary School, Grand Rapids Public Schools Kindergarteners at Buchanan Elementary Betsy Sneller, Linguist at Michigan State University Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the last episode of On Hand we theorized that ranch first collided with pizza in Michigan, and maybe even at a high school in Ann Arbor in 1992. Why not? Well one listener, Junebug Harris, says we got it all wrong. He and his wife, Rio, were both dipping pizza - and everything else - in ranch in their high school cafeterias (Northville and Royal Oak, respectively) in the 1980s. Here's further evidence that Michigan teenagers started the pizza/ranch trend - in the mid 1980s - probably because high school cafeteria food wasn't great, but the ranch was on point. Junebug and Rio are musicians with a rockabilly band in southeast Michigan. Check them out! GUESTS: Sean "Junebug" Harris, Gen X pizza/ranch pioneer Rio Scafone, Gen X pizza/ranch pioneer Arrow, Gen Z pizza/ranch legacy inheritor Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work:…

There are a couple things we know for sure: 1) Michigan is the chain pizza capital of the world. 2) Michiganders love ranch dressing and all creamy dips. So, then, isn't it logical that the pizza-and-ranch phenomenon started in Michigan? We dip as deep as we can into this tangy question, with a crossover episode from Dough Dynasty, our limited-run series on American chain pizza history. GUESTS: - Wesley Taylor, ranch-with-pizza proclaimer - Scott Wiener, NYC pizza tour leader and pizza historian - Alex Beggs, freelance food writer - Vicki Haber, Hidden Valley Ranch brand experience lead Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It turns out that black is not the only unique color you’ll find on Michigan squirrels. We talked to John and Teri Flory about the furry neighbor they called “White Squirrel.” Plus, listener Carolyn Shalhoub tells us about a mischievous squirrel who tried to steal Christmas. You can find some REALLY cute pictures of White Squirrel here. GUESTS: John and Teri Flory, Wyoming residents Carolyn Shalhoub, Royal Oak resident Want to submit a question or story to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Squirrels aren’t a particularly exotic animal. The fluffy rodents are native to 49 out of 50 states. But there’s something that makes Michigan’s squirrels a little different–and it’s their color. Research suggests the state is part of a kind of Great Lakes “black squirrel belt.” On this episode of On Hand, we go looking for black squirrels–and talk to an evolutionary biologist about why Michigan has so many. (Tile photo by Corey Seeman. Check out more of Corey's black squirrel photos here.) GUESTS: Brad Cosentino, Professor of Biology Hobart and William Smith Colleges Corey Seeman, University of Michigan librarian and squirrel photographer Jerry Wade, Detroit resident Gabrielle Riley, Detroit resident Kenny Stebner, Traverse City resident Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…

One of the reasons the word "Kalamazoo" shows up in so many lyrics is because it's just a fun word to say. Rapper Jamall Bufford writes a freestyle around "Kalamazoo" and talks about creative writing in music. More music from Jamall Bufford, a.k.a. Buff1 GUEST: Jamall Bufford, rapper and lyricist Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are dozens of songs that are titled "Kalamazoo" and more still that mention the southwest Michigan city. It's been that way since the early days of music recording, and "Kalamazoo" continues to find its way into songs. Why, though? We dig into this question, with a multipronged answer that takes us through an American musical legacy. Here's a brief playlist of songs that mention "Kalamazoo" Here's a brief playlist of famous uses of Gibson guitars GUEST: Paul Russell, musician (who wrote a song called "Kalamazoo") GUEST: John Thomas, law professor, historian, and author of Kalamazoo Gals Want to submit a question to On Hand? Have a story about Kalamazoo's musical legacy? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund EDITOR'S NOTE: In the original version of this episode of On Hand, the song "Sweet Child O' Mine" from Guns N' Roses is used as an example of a Les…

The high-intensity beef between Michigan and Ohio State is well-known as the biggest rivalry in college football. We found a story to remind us that even at the height of the conflict, the two teams' legendary coaches weren't always at war. Jeff Weiss, a Michigander who grew up in Bowling Green, tells the story. Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The feud between coaches Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler shaped the way many modern fans think about The Game. But The Rivalry has been fueled by events by much earlier elements, dating back to the founding of the Western Conference in the early 1900s. We trace the history of the rivalry, and the way it's shaped the players and the game. See archival footage of Ohio State and Michigan here See a timeline here GUESTS: Michael Rosenberg, senior writer for Sports Illustrated; author of War As They Knew It: Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler, and America in a Time of Unrest Tyrone Wheatley, coach for the Wayne State Warriors football team; former running back for the University of Michigan; former NFL player Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In response to our episode on the Michigan Dogman, listener Linda Alice Dewey of Leelanau County wrote to us about her supernatural encounter that originated from a secluded, cemetery in Glen Arbor. The interaction resulted in a spirit driven book written by Dewey and co-authored by a ghost. Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Blissfield resident Matt Menchaca put forth this question: is the Michigan Dogman real? On this episode of On Hand we learn the history behind the Michigan Dogman and how one podcaster uses his platform to create a safe place for traumatized witnesses. GUESTS: Rachel Clark, education specialist with the Archives of Michigan Vic Cundiff, host of Dogman Encounters Radio Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Michigan sometimes when we are driving and we want to turn left we have to turn right first and it turns out that quirky traffic design can help prevent car crashes. Most people call it a Michigan Left or a Michigan U-Turn. But there are some Michiganders that have another name for it: the Banana Turn. GUESTS & SIBBLINGS: April Van Buren, producer for On Hand, Chris Van Buren, attorney living in New York City Find last week's On Hand episode here. Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Michigan, the left turn isn’t always a left turn. At certain intersections, you find yourself doing something counterintuitive. You turn right first in order to turn left. That's the notorious Michigan Left, but why does it exist? GUESTS: Betty Nelson, 2025 School Bus Driver International Safety Competition Kirk Steudle, former head of the Michigan Department of Transportation Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For a lot of us, Michigan’s iconic pop brands are tied into special memories from childhood. Maybe your mom would always give you Vernor’s when you had a tummyache. Or you can still remember the Faygo ads that played during your Saturday morning cartoons. Or you have fond memories of the Towne Club pop shop. We talked to one Michigander about the role that pop played in her childhood--and why she still loves those nostalgic flavors today. GUEST: Bobbie Bain, lifelong metro Detroiter Find last week's On Hand episode here. Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pop has long been the accepted Midwesternism for a sweet carbonated beverage. But could that be changing? On this episode of On Hand, we dig into the history of the pop vs. soda debate—and take a look at Michigan's linguistic preferences today. GUESTS: Steve Stamenkovich, national accounts manager for Intrastate Distributors, Inc. Steven Clark, quality assurance manager at the Intrastate Distributors bottling plant Anne Curzan, University of Michigan professor of English and co-host of the That’s What They Say podcast Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.