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 language expert about the origins of “ope” and why we use it.

GUESTS: 
Katie Howell, Kindergarten Teacher at Buchanan Elementary School, Grand Rapids Public Schools
Kindergarteners at Buchanan Elementary
Betsy Sneller, Linguist at Michigan State University 

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

If you live in Michigan, you&rsquo;ve probably heard someone say the word &ldquo;ope&rdquo; 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&nbsp;On Hand, we go back to where we first learned about words and speak with a language expert about the origins of &ldquo;ope&rdquo; and why we use it.
GUESTS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Katie Howell, Kindergarten Teacher at Buchanan Elementary School, Grand Rapids Public Schools</li>
<li>Kindergarteners at Buchanan Elementary</li>
<li>Betsy Sneller, Linguist at Michigan State University&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
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

Where does "Ope" come from? 

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 other state symbols here
Read about the Kirtland's Warbler Alliance, a nonprofit devoted to protecting the species

GUESTS:

April Campbell, retired M.D. and bird enthusiast based in Ann Arbor
Jen Owen, former director for the Michigan State Bird Observatory and center coordinator for Corey Marsh Ecological Center.
Frances Heldt, archivist for the Archives of Michigan

Cover photo by Lester Graham

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

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!
<ul>
<li data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><a href="https://www.michiganpublic.org/podcast/on-hand/2026-02-06/why-is-the-robin-michigans-state-bird">Vote in the On Hand state bird poll here!</a></li>
<li data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><a href="https://www.michigan.gov/som/about-michigan/state-facts-and-symbols">Check out our other state symbols here</a></li>
<li data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><a href="https://www.kirtlandswarbler.org/">Read about the Kirtland's Warbler Alliance, a nonprofit devoted to protecting the species</a></li>
</ul>
GUESTS: 
<ul>
<li>April Campbell, retired M.D. and bird enthusiast based in Ann Arbor</li>
<li>Jen Owen, former director for the Michigan State Bird Observatory and center coordinator for Corey Marsh Ecological Center.</li>
<li>Frances Heldt, archivist for the Archives of Michigan</li>
</ul>
Cover photo by Lester Graham
<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 is the Robin Michigan's state bird?

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 about much more than just “ope". Today, we’re diving into the Michigan accent, in all its glory.

GUESTS:


Sue Merritt, a Michigander-turned-Californian-turned-Michigander again


Laurie Van Ark lives in Holland, and her family’s roots in Michigan go back to 1866

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

In the last episode of On Hand, we dug into why people in Michigan say &ldquo;ope.&rdquo; And we found that &ldquo;ope&rdquo; likely traces back to European immigrants who settled in the Midwest&mdash;long before Midwesternisms were ever a thing.
Since then, we&rsquo;ve heard from a few of you who say our Michigan way of speaking is about much more than just &ldquo;ope". Today, we&rsquo;re diving into the Michigan accent, in all its glory.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
Sue Merritt, a Michigander-turned-Californian-turned-Michigander again
</li>
<li>
Laurie Van Ark lives in Holland, and her family&rsquo;s roots in Michigan go back to 1866
</li>
</ul>
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:&nbsp;<a href="http://michiganpublic.org/podfund">michiganpublic.org/podfund</a>

Your Stories: The Michigan accent

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 in their high school cafeterias (Northville and Royal Oak, respectively) in the 1980s.

Here's further evidence that Michigan teenagers started the pizza/ranch trend - in the mid 1980s - probably because high school cafeteria food wasn't great, but the ranch was on point.

Junebug and Rio are musicians with a rockabilly band in southeast Michigan. Check them out!

GUESTS:


Sean "Junebug" Harris, Gen X pizza/ranch pioneer


Rio Scafone, Gen X pizza/ranch pioneer


Arrow, Gen Z pizza/ranch legacy inheritor

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

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 in their high school cafeterias (Northville and Royal Oak, respectively) in the 1980s.
Here's further evidence that Michigan teenagers started the pizza/ranch trend - in the mid 1980s - probably because high school cafeteria food wasn't great, but the ranch was on point.
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/junebugharris/?hl=en">Junebug</a> and <a href="https://rioscafone.bandcamp.com/track/train-to-glory">Rio</a> are musicians with a rockabilly band in southeast Michigan. <a href="https://epk.rioandtherockabillyrevival.com/index.php/band-bio/">Check them out!</a>
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
Sean "Junebug" Harris, Gen X pizza/ranch pioneer
</li>
<li>
Rio Scafone, Gen X pizza/ranch pioneer
</li>
<li>
Arrow, Gen Z pizza/ranch legacy inheritor
</li>
</ul>
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>

Where does "Ope" come from?

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