On Hand
On Hand
Ever wondered why we call ourselves “Michiganders”? Or why we say “pop” instead of “soda”? Or, seriously, how many people need to be rescued from Sleeping Bear Dunes every year? That’s why we’re bringing you a new podcast - On Hand - to answer all your questions about what makes our state so special. To share a story or submit your questions, head to michiganpublic.org/onhand If you like what yo…Social links:
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Why does Michigan have two peninsulas?
Michigan is the only state in the country with two distinct peninsulas. How did it come to be this way? We share an episode of the Points North podcast that digs into the history of our states boundary lines. They story of our peninsula "up north" actually begins with a boundary dispute down south …
21:54
Your Stories: A Two Hearted Ale tale
Rory McHarg was so intrigued by the trout label on Bell's Two Hearted Ale he tracked down the artist and made a documentary about him. The film is screening in Traverse City May 1-2, 2026. GUEST ON THIS EPISODE: Rory McHarg, filmmaker, A Two Hearted Tale Take our Michigan Beer Quiz to test your k…
10:00
What made Michigan a craft beer powerhouse?
Ask just about any beer drinker in the state and they will tell you their favorite Michigan brewery and craft beer. That's because our state has many high-quality breweries to choose from, often ranking high among all states for craft beer culture. But why? And how did it get like this? We break do…
23:37
Your Stories: Tales from the Coney
One listener shares memories of going to Angelo's Coney Island through the pages of his journal. Also: Patti Smith's Lafayette meet-cute, and your emails. Have a story for us, or a question about oh-so-Michigan things? Bring it on! Here's our easy-to-use submission form.
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Where did the coney dog come from?
Ask 10 different Michiganders where the best coney is and you'll get 10 different answers. But where does this dog with meat sauce come from, and why do we call our diners Coney Islands? We dig into the debate about who does coney dogs best, and dig deep into the coney history. GUESTS ON THIS EPI…
19:43
Your Stories: Debating pot with my GOP congressman
West Michiganders Kate Lynnes once ran as a Democratic candidate for Congress against GOP incumbent Rep. Vern Ehlers, in an era when the district was deep red. Lynnes and Ehlers had a fine and cordial repertoire, but during a debate their distinct positions on whether medical marijuana should be le…
08:12
Is Jackson the birthplace of the Republican Party?
"Under the oaks" of Jackson, Michigan, is a birthplace of the Republican Party. But is it THE birthplace? Ripon, Wisconsin, lays claim to the founding of the political party started by abolitionists. But the Jackson Historical Society has the receipts in favor of our Michigan community. GUESTS ON…
24:53
You Stories: A backyard bird buffet
We recently dug into how the robin become Michigan's state bird, and why it hasn't changed in nearly 100 years. Today, we reveal the result of our state bird poll, and hear from a listener who witnessed the circle of life unfold among the bird gathering at her neighbor's backyard pond. GUESTS: …
10:25
Why is the Robin Michigan's state bird?
The American Robin is our state bird - but why? You can find Robins everywhere, including most states in the U.S. So should we reconsider our state bird and pick something more unique to Michigan? Like, say, the Kirtland's Warbler? A debate! Vote in the On Hand state bird poll here! Check out our o…
22:29
Your Stories: The Michigan accent
In the last episode of On Hand, we dug into why people in Michigan say “ope.” And we found that “ope” likely traces back to European immigrants who settled in the Midwest—long before Midwesternisms were ever a thing. Since then, we’ve heard from a few of you who say our Michigan way of speaking is…
08:32