Door County Pulse Podcasts

“Well, it’s been a quiet week in Lake Wobegon, Minnesota, my hometown, out there on the edge of the prairie…” The News from Lake Wobegon comes to Fish Creek as Garrison Keillor, writer, humorist and radio personality — most well known for hosting A Prairie Home Companion — brings his tour to Door Community Auditorium July 30. In advance of the show, Arts & Entertainment editor Sara Rae Lancaster caught up with Keillor by phone to talk about the tour, how he approaches writing for the stage versus the page, and why getting older is the best exercise for learning to live in the moment.

Andrew Kleidon is joined by Sara Rae Lancaster, which means there is a ton of stuff to get out and do this weekend, like the debut of the Death’s Door Dance Festival. Also, Plein Air starts up this weekend, and a quick roundup of a few new restaurants that opened this year.

Debra Fitzgerald sits down with Nic and Christiana Trapani, owners of Door County Candle Company in Carlsville, to talk about their wild journey that began with an intent to help their relatives in Ukraine and exploded into the sale of tens of thousands of candles and $700,000 donated to date to a Ukrainian nonprofit.

Andrew Kleidon talks to Myles Dannhausen Jr. about major changes that may be coming to Ephraim’s north end (and Andrew discovers where north Ephraim is!) in the form of a housing development and walking paths. Plus, a look at noise ordinances in Sister Bay and an airing of old grievances.

Andrew Kleidon and Sara Rae Lancaster are joined by Pulse intern Erica Bouska to talk about exploring Door County with fresh eyes. Bouska has taken it upon herself to hike every trail in Newport State Park, and you’re invited to join her on her journey.

As Egg Harbor continues to refine its plans for redesigning Highway 42 next year, Myles Dannhausen Jr. and Andrew Kleidon discuss concerns raised by property owners on the north end of the village about the impact the project will have on the landscape there. They also discuss the Women’s Walks that took place in Sturgeon Bay and Sister Bay earlier this week.

Myles Dannhausen Jr. catches up with Sarah and Jason White, owners of the Peach Barn Farmhouse and Brewery, to talk about the life U-turn that brought them to Sister Bay, stumbling into opening a brewery, and raising three girls in a beer garden.

Andrew Kleidon talks with Debra Fitzgerald about the cruise ship that came to town, the 32 awards the Peninsula Pulse received at the Wisconsin Newspaper Association contest and the transportation utility that Gibraltar has created to help pay for road maintenance.

Andrew Kleidon and Sara Rae Lancaster have pulled together a solid calendar of events taking place this holiday weekend, and are here to chat about some of the ones they are most excited about.

Grace Johnson is joined by the 2022 Hal Prize fiction judge, Joshua Phillip Johnson, to talk fantasy, his debut novel, writing habits and what he is looking for in a story.

Myles Dannhausen Jr. flies solo this week with some thoughts on the retirement of Public Health Director Sue Powers. Then, a trip through the final night for JJ’s La Puerta as it has come to be known and loved.

In this episode, Grace Johnson talks with Dominic Frandrup, the new director of the Door County Library. Frandrup talks about his time with the library, making the move to Door County and what he is looking forward to in his new position.

Trying to get to the bottom of what ‘affordable’ housing and ‘workforce’ housing means, and why rental prices that are supposed to be affordable for working people are not affordable for them, Peninsula Pulse Editor Debra Fitzgerald talks with Professor Kurt Paulsen, an urban planner and economist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Paulsen’s research and teaching focuses on housing, affordable housing finance and policy. He’s also the author of the report, “Falling Behind: Addressing Wisconsin’s Workforce Housing Shortage to Strengthen Families.”

Door County’s first History Days kicks off June 20. Cody Schreck joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about the week of events and why local history matters, both the good and the bad.

Sara Rae Lancaster is taking her yoga to new heights – about three feet off the ground to be precise. Lancaster and Andrew Kleidon talk all about trapeze yoga at Ironwood, as well as year two of the Sol Grass Music Festival on Washington Island. Also, this weekend the goats will take to the streets of Sister Bay for Goat Fest. Lancaster goes into the history of the festival, and a special surprise coming up next week.

Andrew Kleidon talks with Peninsula Pulse editor Debra Fitzgerald about some of the news of the day, including who's running in the upcoming elections, what's happening with the Niagara Escarpment and the latest effort to help solve the affordable housing shortage.

There’s a ton of stuff going on this weekend, and Andrew Kleidon is primed and ready to deliver all the coolest events, from live music, farmers markets, gallery openings, and more, straight into your earholes in just under 15 minutes.

Peninsula Pulse Editor Debra Fitzgerald sits down with local astrologist Andria Nikoupolis Weliky to talk astrology: what it is, what it takes to be an astrologer, what astrologers do, what your sun sign means and what the stars say about our present and future worlds.

This week in the Pulse you’ll find a list of the Memorial Day services around the county, as well as a story on Dale Seaquist, who’s been playing “Taps” at Memorial Day services for over 75 years. Andrew Kleidon is joined by Sara Rae Lancaster to talk about the weekends festivities, including Jacksonport’s Maifest, and more. Also, as folks fire up their grills for the first time this season, Lancaster and Kleidon share their tips on selecting the perfect cut of meat for the grill, and a recipe for a secret ingredient that is sure to kick up any cookout.

Andrew Kleidon is joined by Grace Johnson to talk about a few special inclusions in this weeks pulse: the 2022 New Business List, and the Graduation Issue celebrating this years senior classes across the county. Also, some updates to the 2022 Hal Prize writing and photography contest. Then, this week the Ridges Sanctuary announced that it is purchasing the Ridges Inn & Suites and embarking on the development of a new master plan for the 85 year-old nature preserve. Executive Director Andy Gill joined the podcast to talk about what the purchase means for the Ridges and how the planning process will guide the organization.