There are a couple things we know for sure:

1) Michigan is the chain pizza capital of the world. 

2) Michiganders love ranch dressing and all creamy dips.

So, then, isn't it logical that the pizza-and-ranch phenomenon started in Michigan? We dip as deep as we can into this tangy question, with a crossover episode from Dough Dynasty, our limited-run series on American chain pizza history.

GUESTS:

- Wesley Taylor, ranch-with-pizza proclaimer
- Scott Wiener, NYC pizza tour leader and pizza historian
- Alex Beggs, freelance food writer
- Vicki Haber, Hidden Valley Ranch brand experience lead



Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here:

Online Submission Form

Call us: 734-764-7840

Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund

There are a couple things we know for sure:
1) Michigan is the chain pizza capital of the world.&nbsp;
2) Michiganders love ranch dressing and all creamy dips. So, then, isn't it logical that the pizza-and-ranch phenomenon started in Michigan? We dip as deep as we can into this tangy question, with a crossover episode from <a href="https://www.michiganpublic.org/podcast/dough-dynasty">Dough Dynasty</a>, our limited-run series on American chain pizza history. GUESTS:
- Wesley Taylor, ranch-with-pizza proclaimer - Scott Wiener, NYC pizza tour leader and pizza historian - Alex Beggs, freelance food writer - Vicki Haber, Hidden Valley Ranch brand experience lead 
Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here:
<a href="https://www.michiganpublic.org/podcast/on-hand/2025-08-14/submit-your-questions">Online Submission Form</a>
Call us: 734-764-7840
Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org
If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: <a href="http://michiganpublic.org/podfund">michiganpublic.org/podfund</a>

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 you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund

Ever wondered why we call ourselves &ldquo;Michiganders&rdquo;? Or why we say &ldquo;pop&rdquo; instead of &ldquo;soda&rdquo;? Or, seriously, how many people need to be rescued from Sleeping Bear Dunes every year? That&rsquo;s why we&rsquo;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 <a href="https://www.michiganpublic.org/podcast/on-hand">michiganpublic.org/onhand</a>
If you like what you hear on the pod, consider <a href="https://michiganpublic.org/podfund">supporting our work</a>: michiganpublic.org/podfund

On Hand

Did ranch + pizza start in Michigan?

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 - in Ohio.
Find a transcript of the episode here
Check out more episodes of Points North from Interlochen Public Radio

GUESTS:

Ryan Schnurr, producer, assistant professor in the Department of Humanities and Communication at Trine University
Ted Long, author, local historian, and storyteller based in Toledo, OH
Marty Herschock, professor of history at the University of Michigan-Dearborn

Cover photo from: AlgerCounty.gov

Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here:


Online Submission Form


Call us: 734-764-7840


Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund

Michigan is the only state in the country with two distinct peninsulas. How did it come to be this way? We share <a href="https://www.interlochenpublicradio.org/podcast/points-north/2025-08-29/pushing-the-boundary">an episode of the Points North podcast</a> 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 - in Ohio.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.interlochenpublicradio.org/podcast/points-north/2025-08-29/pushing-the-boundary">Find a transcript of the episode here</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.interlochenpublicradio.org/points-north-1">Check out more episodes of Points North</a> from Interlochen Public Radio</li>
</ul>
GUESTS: 
<ul>
<li>Ryan Schnurr, producer, assistant professor in the Department of Humanities and Communication at Trine University</li>
<li>Ted Long, author, local historian, and storyteller based in Toledo, OH</li>
<li>Marty Herschock, professor of history at the University of Michigan-Dearborn</li>
</ul>
Cover photo from: <a href="https://algercounty.gov/">AlgerCounty.gov</a>
<hr>
Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here:
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.michiganpublic.org/podcast/on-hand/2025-08-14/submit-your-questions">Online Submission Form</a>
</li>
<li>
Call us: 734-764-7840
</li>
<li>
Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org
</li>
</ul>
If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work:&nbsp;<a href="http://michiganpublic.org/podfund">michiganpublic.org/podfund</a>

Why does Michigan have two peninsulas?

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 knowledge.

Have a question or story for On Hand? Submit here:
Online Submission Form
Call us: 734-764-7840
Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund

 

 

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 <a href="https://freshcoastfilmtraversecity.ludus.com/">Traverse City May 1-2, 2026</a>.
GUEST ON THIS EPISODE:
<ul>
<li>Rory McHarg, filmmaker, <a href="https://www.woodwardoriginal.com/work/atwoheartedtale">A Two Hearted Tale</a></li>
</ul>
Take our <a href="https://app.grovecms.org/cms/content/edit.jsp?typeId=b8089fbc-e097-3d30-b014-97a1ffc56056&amp;id=0000019d-0b5e-dfd5-a3bd-ffff22690000">Michigan Beer Quiz</a> to test your knowledge.
Have a question or story for On Hand? Submit here:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.michiganpublic.org/podcast/on-hand/2025-08-14/submit-your-questions">Online Submission Form</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Call us: 734-764-7840</li>
<li aria-level="1">Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org</li>
</ul>
If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: <a href="http://michiganpublic.org/podfund">michiganpublic.org/podfund</a>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Your Stories: A Two Hearted Ale tale

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 down Michigan's beer history.

Take our Michigan Beer Quiz to test your knowledge.

GUESTS ON THIS EPISODE:

Mickey Lyons, journalist, historian, and "barcheologist" 

Terry Rostic, founder of Black Calder Brewing Co.

Larry Bell, founder of Bell's Brewery

 

Got a home brewing story? Are you John Stroh? Have a question for On Hand? Submit here:
Online Submission Form
Call us: 734-764-7840
Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund

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 down Michigan's beer history.
Take our <a href="https://app.grovecms.org/cms/content/edit.jsp?typeId=b8089fbc-e097-3d30-b014-97a1ffc56056&amp;id=0000019d-0b5e-dfd5-a3bd-ffff22690000">Michigan Beer Quiz</a> to test your knowledge.
GUESTS ON THIS EPISODE:
Mickey Lyons, journalist, historian, and "barcheologist"&nbsp;
Terry Rostic, founder of Black Calder Brewing Co.
Larry Bell, founder of Bell's Brewery
&nbsp;
Got a home brewing story? Are you John Stroh? Have a question for On Hand? Submit here:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.michiganpublic.org/podcast/on-hand/2025-08-14/submit-your-questions">Online Submission Form</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Call us: 734-764-7840</li>
<li aria-level="1">Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org</li>
</ul>
If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: <a href="http://michiganpublic.org/podfund">michiganpublic.org/podfund</a>

Did ranch + pizza start in Michigan?

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