Door County Pulse Podcasts

A walk in the park is something most of us take for granted. Adam Peronto and Kinect M1 are trying to make it possible for those who can’t. Myles Dannhausen Jr. talks to Peronto about the Action Trackchair the organization hopes to donate to Peninsula State Park, and the experiences it provides for people with disabilities.

For Pulse Editor Debra Fitzgerald, election season brings adrenaline - and frustration. She joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to discuss how the national political discourse now infiltrates the letters page of a small-town local newspaper, and how she wades through the mess. They also talk about the election signs that now dominate the county roadsides.

It’s a weekend of frightening fun in Door County, and Andrew Kleidon and Myles Dannhausen Jr. break down what they’re looking forward to, and Andrew airs his Halloween grievances. Then, they discuss the fire at Mr. G’s and the art of Nathan Hatch.

The Director of HELP of Door County, Milly Gonzales, joins Myles Dannhausen JR. to talk about the struggle to stop and prevent domestic abuse in Door County, and the many ways it impacts the community.

Susan Kohout and Ann Morgan with the League of Women Voters of Door County sits down with Debra Fitzgerald to talk about the organization's nonpartisan work to inspire civic involvement and education, and how they're recruiting the next generation of civic leaders who are so important to local communities and to the health of a strong republic.

Myles Dannhausen Jr. and Andrew Kleidon talk upcoming Halloween events, Fall 50 runners, and last week’s improv show at Peach Barn. Plus, they recap a Fall Fest weekend that has become much more than crowds and drinking, Dannhausen says.

Andrew Kleidon is joined by Pulse reporter Sam Watson to talk about journalism, discovering Door County through writing, and how Watson tackles news reporting versus arts and entertainment writing.

Andrew Kleidon is joined by Third Avenue PlayWorks artistic director Jacob Janssen to talk about his return to Door County, his first season at TAP, the importance of bringing a community together through theater, and TAP’s upcoming Play Reading Club.

Myles Dannhausen Jr. and Andrew Kleidon talk Pumpkin Patch and broadband progress in Liberty Grove. Then, we remember Patty Williamson, who for 14 years wrote hundreds of articles for the Pulse and became our office grandmother. Patty died in September not long after turning in her final article.

Michelle Lawrie, new executive director of the Door County Economic Development Corporation, talks with Pulse editor Deb Fitzgerald about the rebuilding of the nonprofit organization, the various economic challenges Door County faces, and the different economic industries that contribute to the peninsula's GDP (gross domestic product). She also talks about the October awareness campaign for Door County's largest economic industry - manufacturing.

Jessica Hatch, Door County broadband coordinator, sits down with Debra Fitzgerald to give an update on what her office is doing to help bring fast, reliable, affordable broadband to all homes and businesses in Door County.

Disc golf has rapidly gained popularity on the peninsula, with a half dozen courses now open or in the works. Shane Solomon of the Night Owls Disc Golf Podcast joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about the sport’s growth and potential in Door County.

When a young woman faces a life-changing decision, she calls upon her inner circle to gather for an outdoor camping trip. Sunflowered is on stage at Northern Sky’s Gould Theater, and Andrew Kleidon is joined by Lachrisa Grandberry, Molly Rhode, Alexis J Roston, and Aidaa Peerzada to talk about the musicals inception, workshopping, and world premiere this season.

DKAF is back in person for the first time since 2020, and Andrew Kleidon is joined by Alan Kopischke to talk about the history and mission of the event, some of the guest artists who have come to Door County to workshop their art, and the full schedule of events this week at Bjorklunden. Find out more and buy tickets at doorkinetic.com

There are roughly 29 known species of orchids at The Ridges Sanctuary in Baileys Harbor and Tony Kiszonas is now responsible for assuring their health, productivity and future. While that may be a bit of an overstatement, it's not far from the truth: Tony is the Ridges new Director of Research, the organization's first. Tony talks with Debra Fitzgerald about the research being done at the Ridges – including what smelling an orchid root can reveal about the plants.

Sister Bay residents are fighting to preserve the old village hall, while Liberty Grove makes plans to remove old fishing shacks from its new public waterfront. Myles Dannhausen Jr. and Andrew Kleidon discuss how the two communities are thinking about the price of preserving history. Plus, a look at the new issue of Door County Living magazine, which includes a look back at Door County through images from 1974, before the boom.

Are small towns too small to self-govern? Myles Dannhausen Jr. and Deb Fitzgerald dive into that question in a week when Sevastopol officials held a last-second meeting to reconsider a rezoning request along an important highway corridor, and Judge Todd Ehlers overruled the Egg Harbor Plan Commission’s denial of a Conditional Use Permit for Shipwrecked’s expansion.

In this episode, Grace Johnson is joined by the 2022 Hal Prize Poetry judge Adrian Matejka. Matejka was named the new editor of Poetry Magazine in 2022, is the author of seven books and his poetry collection, The Big Smoke, was awarded the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award and was a finalist for the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize in poetry. The two talk poetry, how music inspires Matejka and the future of Poetry Magazine.

Peninsula State Park is in line for a host of upgrades this fall, including the repaving of some of its most-traveled roads. Superintendent Eric Hyde joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about new roads, a new playground, the totem pole, and more improvements coming to the state’s second most-popular-park.

The end may be coming for the Sister Bay Village Hall. The village has struggled to figure out what to do with the building for years, but its plan commission has now recommended it be removed to potentially make way for a new visitor center with better facilities. Andrew Kleidon talks to Myles Dannhausen Jr. about the hall’s future, then they discuss the county’s deliberations over what to do with the intersection by Culver’s, where a run of crashes has left many looking for safety improvements.