If you’ve ever gotten directions from a metro-Detroiter, you have probably heard a ‘9 Mile’ or a ‘10 Mile Road’ mentioned. Or maybe even the most famous of them all: 8 Mile. But where did all these boring road names come from? And how did they become a kind of cultural shorthand in the region? 

GUESTS: 

Paul Sewick, amateur Detroit historian and part-time Lyft driver. Check out his blog Detroit Urbanism here.

Jeff Horner, professor in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at Wayne State University

Jamon Jordan, Detroit historian and lecturer in history at the University of Michigan Residential College. 

Cover photo courtesy of the Archives of Michigan 

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&rsquo;ve ever gotten directions from a metro-Detroiter, you have probably heard a &lsquo;9 Mile&rsquo; or a &lsquo;10 Mile Road&rsquo; mentioned. Or maybe even the most famous of them all: 8 Mile. But where did all these boring road names come from? And how did they become a kind of cultural shorthand in the region?&nbsp;
GUESTS:&nbsp;
Paul Sewick, amateur Detroit historian and part-time Lyft driver. Check out his blog Detroit Urbanism <a href="https://detroiturbanism.blogspot.com/">here.</a>
Jeff Horner, professor in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at Wayne State University
Jamon Jordan, Detroit historian and lecturer in history at the University of Michigan Residential College.&nbsp;
Cover photo courtesy of the Archives of Michigan&nbsp;
<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>

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

Why does Michigan have Mile roads?

Several of you reached out to argue for adding Lake St. Clair as a 6th Great Lake (or 5th if you count Huron and Michigan as one). On this episode, we hear about one man's love for this "heart-shaped" lake — and the song it inspired him to make. Plus, a story about life in the straits of Mackinac.

LYRICS:

Lake St Clair (Make Her Great)

By Guy Sferlazza

 

In a world that rewards hate

She has always been great

And worth more than a billion billion billion billionaires

 

She surrounds us with her love

How many years

and still she’s young

Mother Earth produced the jewel of Lake St Clair

 

We didn’t have to make her great

She’s the heart of all these lakes

See it for yourself if you dare

 

When the sun is coming up

There’s an ocean full of love

From sea to shining sea,

And she is there

 

All the service to this land

all generations

the grand lake

Of the sweet fresh water sea

Bathed in beauty

 

We, the people shall decide

Make it plain in broad daylight

That’s a great lake

that you may have never seen

 

We proclaimed her a great lake

on this very day

come out and see her here

There’s no compare

 

In this crazy mixed up world.

Take a break from the absurd

find out what she’s worth

Great Lake St Clair.

 

GUESTS ON THIS EPISODE:


Guy Sferlazza, Shelby Township resident and musician


Candace Smith, owner of Tours Around Michigan

Cover image credit: Adam Yahya Rayes

Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here:
Online Submission Form
Call us: 734-764-7840
Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org

 

Several of you reached out to argue for adding Lake St. Clair as a 6th Great Lake (or 5th <a href="https://www.michiganpublic.org/podcast/on-hand/2026-07-03/are-michigan-and-huron-actually-one-large-great-lake">if you count Huron and Michigan as one</a>). On this episode, we hear about one man's love for this "heart-shaped" lake &mdash; and the song it inspired him to make. Plus, a story about life in the straits of Mackinac.
LYRICS:
Lake St Clair (Make Her Great)
By Guy Sferlazza
&nbsp;
In a world that rewards hate
She has always been great
And worth more than a billion billion billion billionaires
&nbsp;
She surrounds us with her love
How many years
and still she&rsquo;s young
Mother Earth produced the jewel of Lake St Clair
&nbsp;
We didn&rsquo;t have to make her great
She&rsquo;s the heart of all these lakes
See it for yourself if you dare
&nbsp;
When the sun is coming up
There&rsquo;s an ocean full of love
From sea to shining sea,
And she is there
&nbsp;
All the service to this land
all generations
the grand lake
Of the sweet fresh water sea
Bathed in beauty
&nbsp;
We, the people shall decide
Make it plain in broad daylight
That&rsquo;s a great lake
that you may have never seen
&nbsp;
We proclaimed her a great lake
on this very day
come out and see her here
There&rsquo;s no compare
&nbsp;
In this crazy mixed up world.
Take a break from the absurd
find out what she&rsquo;s worth
Great Lake St Clair.
&nbsp;
GUESTS ON THIS EPISODE:
<ul>
<li>
Guy Sferlazza, Shelby Township resident and musician
</li>
<li>
Candace Smith, owner of Tours Around Michigan
</li>
</ul>
Cover image credit: Adam Yahya Rayes
<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>
&nbsp;

An ode to Lake St. Clair

Are Michigan and Huron separate lakes – or have we been counting the Great Lakes wrong?

There may actually be four Great Lakes: “Lake” Huron and “Lake” Michigan could actually be considered “lobes” of one big lake — big enough to unseat Lake Superior as the world’s largest freshwater lake by surface area.

We hear two takes: one from a scientific perspective, and one from a cultural perspective. 

GUESTS:

Eric Anderson, director of hydrologic science and engineering at the Colorado School of Mines.

Eric Hemenway, humanities program manager for the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability.

Cover image credit: 
Aaron - stock.adobe.com/302750092

Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here:
Online Submission Form
Call us: 734-764-7840
Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org

Are Michigan and Huron separate lakes &ndash; or have we been counting the Great Lakes wrong?
There may actually be four Great Lakes: &ldquo;Lake&rdquo; Huron and &ldquo;Lake&rdquo; Michigan could actually be considered &ldquo;lobes&rdquo; of one big lake &mdash; big enough to unseat Lake Superior as the world&rsquo;s largest freshwater lake by surface area.
We hear two takes: one from a scientific perspective, and one from a cultural perspective.&nbsp;
GUESTS:
Eric Anderson, director of hydrologic science and engineering at the Colorado School of Mines.
Eric Hemenway, humanities program manager for the University of Michigan&rsquo;s School for Environment and Sustainability.
Cover image credit:&nbsp; <a href="https://stock.adobe.com/images/mackinac-bridge-golden-hour-12/302750092">Aaron - stock.adobe.com/302750092</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>

Are Michigan and Huron actually one large Great Lake?

MANY of you wrote in to say that the reason the roads are seemingly always in terrible shape in Michigan is because of truck weights - and the fact that Michigan often doubles truck weight limits from those of federal guidelines. Today we're hearing and feeling your anger, and talking to an engineer about what heavy trucks do to roads, and why it's only one part of the equation for road conditions.

GUEST ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

Craig Atwood, managing director of Allegan County Road Commission

 

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

MANY of you wrote in to say that the reason the roads are seemingly always in terrible shape in Michigan is because of truck weights - and the fact that Michigan often doubles truck weight limits from those of federal guidelines. Today we're hearing and feeling your anger, and talking to an engineer about what heavy trucks do to roads, and why it's only one part of the equation for road conditions.
GUEST ON TODAY'S EPISODE:
Craig Atwood, managing director of Allegan County Road Commission
&nbsp;
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 Mile roads?

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