On Hand
On Hand
Playlist by On HandEver 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 bring…Follow the podcast:
22 clip(s) in playlist
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
Where does "Ope" come from?
If you live in Michigan, you’ve probably heard someone say the word “ope” more than once. Linguists suggest that the term dates back to the very first European immigrants in the Midwest region but how. On this episode of On Hand, we go back to where we first learned about words and speak with a lan…
20:52
Your Stories: Gen X dipped everything in ranch
In the last episode of On Hand we theorized that ranch first collided with pizza in Michigan, and maybe even at a high school in Ann Arbor in 1992. Why not? Well one listener, Junebug Harris, says we got it all wrong. He and his wife, Rio, were both dipping pizza - and everything else - in ranch i…
08:59
Did ranch + pizza start in Michigan?
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…
18:52
Your Stories: The White Squirrel of Wyoming
It turns out that black is not the only unique color you’ll find on Michigan squirrels. We talked to John and Teri Flory about the furry neighbor they called “White Squirrel.” Plus, listener Carolyn Shalhoub tells us about a mischievous squirrel who tried to steal Christmas. You can find some RE…
08:32
Why is Michigan a black squirrel hotspot?
Squirrels aren’t a particularly exotic animal. The fluffy rodents are native to 49 out of 50 states. But there’s something that makes Michigan’s squirrels a little different–and it’s their color. Research suggests the state is part of a kind of Great Lakes “black squirrel belt.” On this episode of …
19:49
Your Stories: What rhymes with "Kalamazoo"?
One of the reasons the word "Kalamazoo" shows up in so many lyrics is because it's just a fun word to say. Rapper Jamall Bufford writes a freestyle around "Kalamazoo" and talks about creative writing in music. More music from Jamall Bufford, a.k.a. Buff1 GUEST: Jamall Bufford, rapper and lyricist …
08:15
Why is "Kalamazoo" in so many songs?
There are dozens of songs that are titled "Kalamazoo" and more still that mention the southwest Michigan city. It's been that way since the early days of music recording, and "Kalamazoo" continues to find its way into songs. Why, though? We dig into this question, with a multipronged answer that ta…
25:45
Your Stories: Meeting Bo and Woody
The high-intensity beef between Michigan and Ohio State is well-known as the biggest rivalry in college football. We found a story to remind us that even at the height of the conflict, the two teams' legendary coaches weren't always at war. Jeff Weiss, a Michigander who grew up in Bowling Green, te…
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