Door County Pulse Podcasts

Debra Fitzgerald talks with Nickolas Butler, author of the internationally bestselling and prize-winning Shotgun Lovesongs, which has been optioned for film development, The Hearts of Men – short-listed for two of France’s most prestigious literary prizes even before being published in America – as well as Little Faith, Beneath the Bonfire, In Western Counties and newly released this year, Godspeed. Butler talks about his process, his inspirations, and his return to Door County this year for the Write On Gala on Thursday, Sept. 23.

11 units coming to Baileys Harbor at the Lakeshore Adventures location in Baileys Harbor, Door County Economic Development Center executive director Steve Jenkins' idea to build a modular home factory in Door County, and Paula Anschutz's attempt to save some cabins from the Little Sister Resort property to use for seasonal housing in Sister Bay. Also, an update on the steadily growing COVID-19 numbers in Door County, and a quick look at the upcoming Walk to End Alzheimer's on Sept. 11.Also, an update on the steadily growing COVID-19 numbers in Door County, and a quick look at the upcoming Walk to End Alzheimer's on Sept. 11.

Storytellers wanted! Want to get published in 25,000 copies of the Peninsula Pulse and in the inaugural 8142 Review, the new literary journal from the Peninsula Pulse and Write On, Door County?  The Hal Prize offers prizes for works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry and photography. Work will be judged by a prestigious panel of writers and photographers.  Coburn and Tad Dukehart will lend their eye to the photography contest in 2021. Coburn is the multimedia director for the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, and Tad retired to Door County after a 40-year career in news photography in Washington DC.  Faith Adiele takes on the mantle for nonfiction this year. Adiele has won a Pen Award, been featured in a documentary for PBS and was Thailand’s first Black Buddhist nun. She has worked in collaboration with HBO’s Calm, where her story was read by actor Idris Elba. Lan Samantha Chang joins this year’s lineup as the fiction judge. This Appleton native is is the director of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and h

Debra Fitzgerald talks with Egg Harbor resident and retired Marine Lt. Col. Craig Harvey, a 24-year veteran who served two combat tours in Iraq and a year of duty in Afghanistan. They cover the execution of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, how the war has been framed for the American people over the past two decades and America's role in foreign countries.

Andrew Kleidon sits down with his wife, Victoria Linstrom, to talk about Fika Bakery and Coffeehouse, located just north of the Fish Creek YMCA. Fika is a family run bakery with deep Swedish roots going on its 5th season in Door County, offering baked goods, coffee, cafe items, and – of course – cinnamon rolls as big as your head.

Peninsula Pulse Editor Debra Fitzgerald sits down with Pulse freelancer Jackson Parr, a fellow with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, to discuss some of the findings that emerged from the Door County Budget Project. A year in the making, the project commissioned by the Pulse allows readers to compare and contrast the spending habits and values of all Door County’s 19 municipalities and the County of Door based upon the 2021 budgets. The report is intended to increase transparency between residents and their local governments, educate municipal officials and their constituents on trends and challenges in local government finance and improve local budget reporting at the Pulse.

David Eliot and Thomas McKenzie became co-founders of the Peninsula Pulse in the summer of 1996. In this episode of the Story of the Pulse, Andrew Kleidon is joined by Eliot and McKenzie, who share stories about meeting at Lawrence University, their eventual move to Door County and the first five years of the publication.

Andrew Kleidon and Myles Dannhausen Jr. discuss some interesting takeaways from the recent census, including that the county's population has increased by the most significant margin in decades. Also, a look at the increasing COVID-19 numbers and hospitalizations, and more.

Myles Dannhausen Jr. catches up with new Door County YMCA Director Heidi Erickson and membership director Tonya Felhofer. They talk about how the Y is bouncing back from COVID, why Erickson came back to the Door, and big plans for the Sturgeon Bay program center.

Andrew Kleidon is joined by Myles Dannhausen to go over Egg Harbors decision on whether or not to bury their power lines as a part of their highway project, as well as a look at room tax numbers from spring, and what they might tell us about how many people are visiting the county.

David Eliot and Thomas McKenzie became co-founders of the Peninsula Pulse in the summer of 1996. In this episode of the Story of the Pulse, Andrew Kleidon is joined by McKenzie to talk about his recollection of spending time with his uncle, James McKenzie, backstage at the Peninsula Players Theatre, his meeting Eliot at Lawrence University, and how the Pulse was born.

Andrew Kleidon is joined by Myles to talk a bit about Egg Harbors upcoming meeting on whether or not to bury their power lines, as well as a slew of other happenings coming up this weekend and beyond, including Sturgeon Bay’s Maritime Week, the Peninsula Pulse Presents: The Danberry’s, Andrew’s thoughts on Northern Sky’s Not Even Remotely, and much more.

The father/daughter duo of Tad and Coburn Dukehart discuss capturing faces behind masks, what makes a great photograph, and what they’ll be looking for as co-judges of this year’s Hal Prize for photography, (and what they’re NOT looking for).

Andrew Kleidon is joined by Myles Dannhausen to discuss the latest COVID-19 numbers, and how Door County compares to the rest of the U.S. and abroad, and Myles shares his feelings coming away from a meeting this week where the Ephraim Planning Commission denied O'Malley's Inn into affordable, workforce housing.

Andrew Kleidon is joined by Sara Rae Lancaster to talk about the tips, stories, and vendors featured in the all new 2021 Door Wedding magazine.

Andrew Kleidon and Myles Dannhausen talk about the battle for Door County League supremacy between the first-place Sister Bay Bays and the second-place Washington Island Islanders that took place on Washington Island. Also, a look at the importance of exploring Cave Point County Park safely, after multiple water rescues and fatalities in the County over the last year. And, Myles remembers Bob Lautenbach, and looks at what he spent his life building, after his passing last week.

In 2002 journalist Dan Egan wrote an article for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel titled “Is Door County too pretty for its own good?” about fears the peninsula was attracting too many people. Sound familiar? He joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to give some historical context to the debate about overtourism. Plus, they discuss his recent New York Times article about how climate change threatens Chicago, and what to take from this summer’s declining water levels. Dan Egan is an environmental journalist and author of the book The Death and Life of the Great Lakes. Dan is one of the foremost chroniclers of the Great Lakes region, He now lives in Milwaukee where he is a journalist in residence at the Center for Water Policy at UW - Milwaukee, but he’s also a longtime visitor to Door County. Chicago: A Battle Between a Great City and a Great Lake https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/07/07/climate/chicago-river-lake-michigan.html

Andrew Kleidon recently sat down with Peninsula Players Artistic Director Greg Vinkler on the Door County Pulse Podcast, to talk about projects the Players embarked on in 2020, why in-person seasons look different at professional theaters this year, and what people can expect from the Players 2021 season.

The Door County Triathlon returns July 17-18, which can’t come soon enough for director Sean Ryan. He joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about what it was like to be an event director without events during the pandemic and what to expect at this year’s event. They also discuss the impact silent sports events have had on the local economy and the changing face of the Door County visitor.

Andrew Kleidon and Myles Dannhausen Jr. discuss the latest on Egg Harbor's highway construction project, including their plans for developing Church Street, as well as a look at Liberty Grove's ongoing discussion on Short Term Rental regulation. Also, a look at The Peninsula Pulse Presents: A Tale of Two, the southern gothic rock band performing in Door County this summer, Lars Topplemann takes his wing foil out into Ephraim harbor, and more.