Door County Pulse Podcasts

In this episode, the Pulse's literature editor, Grace Johnson, is joined by author Toya Wolfe. Wolfe is one of the featured authors at the 2022 Washington Island Literary Festival, Sept. 15-17. Wolfe's debut novel, The Last Summer on State Street, was released this year to rave reviews. The two discuss how Wolfe's life experiences in the Robert Taylor Homes informed her story, writing fiction and how her story fits in with the theme of this year's festival – "Crossroads."

George Harmon, the winner of the 2021 Hal Prize for nonfiction visits the podcast studio to read his winning story, “The Beast that Ate Words.” Nonfiction judge Faith Adiele called the story “a breathless beast of an essay that reads like fiction.” Harmon recounts the scene of his early days in the newspaper industry at the Chicago Daily News, when the newsroom was rollicking, loud, and full of characters. The deadline for the 2022 Hal Prize is Sept. 16. You can read Harmon’s story, and all the winners of the 2021 Hal Prize, in the 8142 Review, available at DoorCountyPulse.com/store.

Brian Stephens, CEO of Door County Medical Center, joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about construction progress at the hospital’s new Sister Bay clinic. They discuss what patients can expect to find there when it opens in the spring of 2023, the data behind the decision to build it, and what is next for the Fish Creek clinic.

As Door County's population and numbers of visitors continue to rise, so do the calls for help due to car crashes, falls, and accidents on the water and local trails. Aaron LeClair, director of the Door County Emergency Services department, joins Debra Fitzgerald in the Baileys Harbor studio to talk about the growing demand for his department, the top emergency calls they receive, where those emergencies are most likely to happen, educational opportunities to prevent emergencies and what the future holds for his county-wide department.

And just like that it's August! Andrew Kleidon and Sara Lancaster sit down to talk about the Dog Days of summer and all the sights, sounds and activities you'll want to cram into the final weeks of summer, including a tour of Door County's beaches by activity and trailblazer singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco's upcoming performance at Door Community Auditorium.

The “totem pole” that stood for 91 years on the Peninsula State Park Golf Course was quietly taken down this summer. Myles Dannhausen Jr. talks to Andrew Kleidon about why it came down, and the story behind why and how it was erected in the first place. Plus, they discuss the reaction to a proposed housing development in Ephraim.

“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.