Door County Pulse Podcast

At some point, anyone who lives in or visits Door County will ask the question of where the name Death’s Door originated. For generations, historians have told various versions of a similar story, but when Brennan Christianson of the Door County Maritime Museum began digging into them, he found those tales didn’t hold water. He joins Myles Dannhausen Jr to dive into the fascinating history and myths of the name, how to validate sources, and the challenges of uncovering factual history from legends on the peninsula. 

Most of us have a kind of functional vision. We get around – to the grocery store, the farmers market, the Fourth of July parade – but the familiarity sands it down. Photojournalists have to fight that. They have to notice what a community is actually saying about itself, frame by frame. For three years, Peninsula Pulse photographer Larry Mohr has been teaching Pulse photography intern Remy Carmichael to see that way. This fall, having graduated from high school, she leaves for the University of Vermont. Before that, Remy and Larry talk with Pulse Editor Debra Fitzgerald about the difference between taking a photo and telling the truth about a place.

This weekend nearly 2,000 athletes will converge at the Door County Triathlon, Southern Door will host its big summer party and it all happens as businesses are grappling with delays and denials for summer international workers. Myles Dannhausen Jr. and Debra Fitzgerald discuss all this and the latest on a new CAFO in the county.

2026 is a midterm election year, and for the League of Women Voters of Door County, that means the same nonpartisan voter education work it does every election cycle now carries extra weight. Debra Fitzgerald talks with two of the League’s leaders – Tammie Grossman, who recently stepped into the chair role, and Maryanne O’Dowd, who coordinates the League’s Observer Corps – about what voters can expect this year, League priorities, its community journalism partnership with the Peninsula Pulse through the Observer Corps and League Lens, and how the organization keeps its programming nonpartisan while staying true to its advocacy roots.

Peninsula Pulse reporter Eleanor Corbin joins Debra Fitzgerald to discuss two controversial local stories: wakesurfing on Clark Lake and the new “Rock on the Rock” event at the former Leathem & Smith quarry. Wakesurfing has become a popular recreational sport, but not everyone believes it belongs on a shallow lake like Clark Lake. Meanwhile, neighbors have raised concerns about “Rock on the Rock,” which features live music and an LED light show projected onto the quarry’s 70-foot rock wall.

The Door County League Baseball Season is in full swing, so Herb Gould joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about why Kolberg has climbed to the top of the league, the stories he keeps finding in the league and why it fascinates him so much. Gould, a former Chicago Sun-Times sportswriter, writes a weekly column about the league for the Peninsula Pulse and is working on a book about the history of baseball in Door County.

The controversy over the Potawatomi State Park road reconstruction project has entered a new phase, with the nonprofit group, Potawatomi Advocates for Trees, Conservation and Heritage (PATCH), having filed a lawsuit against the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The group is seeking to halt the project and alleging violations of state law, environmental review requirements and public planning processes. Debra Fitzgerald talked with Dave Allen, PATCH executive director, about what’s changed on the ground at the park, the arguments being made by both supporters and opponents of the project and the legal claims at the center of the lawsuit that could decide the fate of the park’s north end.

In 2021 Kevin Wehrenberg and his family lived in Los Angeles, where he produced television shows like Fear Factor and Wipeout. By 2022 they were buying a nine-hole golf course in Egg Harbor and Wehrenberg was running a pub, dodging lightening strikes on the fairways, and making big plans for the little course. Myles Dannhausen Jr. talks to him about making his big life turn, life on the links, and his previous career balancing budgets and creatives in LA.

Tick season is here, and this year it’s hitting harder and earlier than usual. Wisconsin is seeing double the ER visits for tick bites compared to last year, with Lyme disease incidences climbing. Debra Fitzgerald talks with epidemiologist Rebecca Osborn from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to break down what’s driving the surge, what diseases beyond Lyme you should know about, what to do if you find a tick on yourself or your kids and a promising new vaccine that could be released as early as this year. Whether you’re hiking the peninsula, working in your yard, or just spending time outside this summer, Osborn provides essential information and advice.

Fred Alley is one of the most influential creators the county has known. The writer, singer, actor and producer for American Folklore Theater helped build AFT into a cultural touchstone on the peninsula before he died in 2001 at just 38 years old. His childhood friend and collaborator, Jeff Herbst, joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about his friend, their relationship, and the legacy he created in advance of a special five nights of concerts in tribute to Alley that will be held at Northern Sky's Gould Theater June 16 - 20.

Peninsula Pulse founder and publisher Dave Eliot sits down with Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about the 30th anniversary of the first issue of the Peninsula Pulse. Dave talks about the inspiration for the paper, early struggles, and the moment he thought it might all fall apart. For more on the history of the Pulse, explore these episodes:Story of the Pulse Part I>>Story of the Pulse Part II>>Story of the Pulse Part III - Where Haven't You Been>>Story of the Pulse Part V - Home>>Story of the Pulse Part VI - On the Run>>Story of the Pulse Part VII - It Takes Two>>

Help is finally on the way for Sturgeon Bay's deteriorating athletic fields on Michigan Street. City Administrator Josh Vanlieshout and Sturgeon Bay Superintendent Dan Tjernagel join Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about the new joint master plan for the facilities and the unique funding mechanism created to start improving facilities there.

Shane McAdams of Milwaukee's Real Tinsel Gallery joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to discuss why the Milwaukee resident put so much effort into raising the profile of Door County in the contemporary art world. This weekend, McAdams is back at PenArt with the Door County Contemporary Art Fair, and he explains what sets this apart from other art events on the peninsula.

Mike Bacsi and Myles Dannhausen Jr. love a good dive bar. But defining a dive isn't always easy (sometimes it is). Today they chat about what makes a great dive, and some of the best on the peninsula. Plus, Mike shares what he's looking forward to in this summer's slate of new restaurants. In it, we mention a previous podcast with James Larsen responding to online reviews. If you want to check that out you can find it here>>

First-time author Theresa Evans joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about her new memoir detailing the emotional journey of a mother-daughter relationship, exploring themes of reconciliation, healing, and end-of-life decisions. Evans walked side-by-side with her mother, a Canadian resident, when she chose to use Medical Assistance in Dying at the end of a long struggle with debilitating pain. Evans, a former registered nurse wrote a memoir about that journey, discussing the ethical and medical dilemmas involved in the decision and how she and her siblings handled what was an emotional, gut-wrenching but beautiful time with their mother in her final months.

It's a big year for the Pulse, as Memorial Day Weekend marks 30 years since the first issue went to the presses on May 22, 1996. Myles Dannhausen Jr. recalls his first impressions of paper that it was and what it has become and points you to David Eliot's column about those humble beginnings. Plus, a quick look what's new in dining this year, and Myles shares 3 Things He Loves this week.

Debra Fitzgerald talks to Leslie Boden, a certified credit counselor and financial social worker, about the challenges local residents have managing finances. They discuss rising debt, credit card trends, financial crisis management, and the impact of cost-of-living on personal finances. The conversation covers a range of financial challenges faced by individuals, including housing costs, digital expenses, vehicle payments, medical debt, and bankruptcy. It also delves into the psychological and societal factors that influence financial behavior and decision-making.

When the DNR started clearing a wide swath of trees for a road expansion in Potawatomi State Park, it shocked users - and for good reason. Debra Fitzgerald joins Myles Dannhausen to discuss the communication breakdown that left the DNR facing a backlash from local users. They discuss whether the road expansion was necessary, but mostly how the department continues to struggle to communicate goals and objectives to a vigilant public. Read the full story here>>

Myles Dannhausen Jr. dives into the birth and evolution of the Door Kinetic Arts Festival (DCAF) with creator Eric Simonson, highlighting the challenges of communicating its essence and the impact of location on its significance. We also explores the festival's diverse and multidisciplinary arts, its community impact, and the process of artist selection and collaboration. Additionally, it emphasizes the festival's outreach to schools and universities, as well as its role in inspiring and engaging young artists.

There will be a huge crowd in Peninsula State Park on Saturday for the Door County Half Marathon. Myles Dannhausen Jr. talks to Tim Kowols about the race that draws more than 2,700 people each year, including more than 40 who have joined him in running for a cause. But first, we catch up on the fight of Lucia Ramirez, a young girl from Sevastopol who is battling leukemia. Fernwood Gardens will host a Kentucky Derby Party fundraiser for Lucia Saturday afternoon from 3- 7 pm to support her family in their fight.

Amy Kohnle, executive director of United Way of Door County, joins the podcast to talk about the convergence of problems pinching the pocketbooks of the peninsula’s working poor. From the rising cost of basic goods to the lack of housing, it’s getting more difficult for people to get ahead. Kohnle talks about what United Way is doing to try to help, and the organization’s goal for the 2021 fundraising campaign.