Is Michigan’s 10-cent bottle deposit worth it?

Is it really worth our time to haul returnables to the store for just 10 cents each? And is it worth it for Michigan's recycling industry to maintain a bottle deposit system when we already have curbside recycling? See Shelie Miller's "Comprehensive Ealuation of MIchigan's Bottle Deposit System" he…

Your Stories: Euchre for dishes

In last week's episode, we dug into the history of euchre and whether the quintessential Michigan game was actually created in the mitten. Turns out, not quite. The trick-taking game came to the Midwest — including Michigan — through farmers who visited New Orleans and Pennsylvania and came in cont…

Where does euchre come from?

For many Michiganders, euchre (pronounced yoo-kur) feels like a quintessentially Michigan game—but was it actually created here? Long story short, no. But the story of how the trick-taking game made its way to the Mitten state and became one of its most popular card game is an interesting one. GUE…

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 …

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…

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…

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.

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…

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…

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…