For many Michiganders, Up North begins at the north end of the Mackinac Bridge. One listener defends the Upper Peninsula as true north. And another listener says the southern border of the mitten is also Up North for many people.

GUESTS ON THIS EPISODE:

Ken Raisanen, retired teacher and lifelong Upper Peninsula Michigander

Keith Baker, City Manger of Coldwater

Want to submit your own story or question to On Hand? Do it here!

For many Michiganders, Up North begins at the north end of the Mackinac Bridge. One listener defends the Upper Peninsula as true north. And another listener says the southern border of the mitten is also Up North for many people.
GUESTS ON THIS EPISODE:
Ken Raisanen, retired teacher and lifelong Upper Peninsula Michigander
Keith Baker, City Manger of Coldwater
Want to submit your own story or question to On Hand? <a href="https://www.michiganpublic.org/podcast/on-hand">Do it here!</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

Your Stories: The U.P. is true Up North

Are Michigan's roads really so bad that we need to be repairing them all the time? What's really going on with our orange-barrel forests? For this episode of On Hand, we tackle a listener's question about road repairs by talking to two actual road engineers. We'll also get externally-verified facts about road quality, and hear some real talk about road politics in Lansing. We even bump into someone who started her own guerilla road crew. 

Guests:
Hamtramck resident Maritza Garibay


Brent Schlack, Director of Engineering, Washtenaw Road Commission


Adam Lape, Director of Operations, Washtenaw Road Commission
Lauren Gibbons, Bridge Michigan reporter
Adrian Hemond, CEO, Grassroots Midwest

 

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

Are Michigan's roads really so bad that we need to be repairing them all the time? What's really going on with our orange-barrel forests? For this episode of On Hand, we tackle a listener's question about road repairs by talking to two actual road engineers. We'll also get externally-verified facts about road quality, and hear some real talk about road politics in Lansing. We even bump into someone who started her own guerilla road crew.&nbsp;
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Hamtramck resident Maritza Garibay</li>
<li>
Brent Schlack, Director of Engineering, Washtenaw Road Commission
</li>
<li>
Adam Lape,&nbsp;Director of Operations, Washtenaw Road Commission
</li>
<li>Lauren Gibbons, Bridge Michigan reporter</li>
<li>Adrian Hemond, CEO, Grassroots Midwest</li>
</ul>
&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 are we always fixing Michigan roads?

It's a great Michigan debate; what is the line or the place that marks the end of the southern part of the state and the beginning of that mystical land we call Up North?

The answers vary from emotional to philosophical. But there's also an ecological answer that helps us better understand why we feel different when we go Up North. 

Check out the Michigan Natural Features Inventory website for a ton of cool stuff about our natural world.

GUESTS ON TODAY'S EPISODE:
Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan
Joshua Cohen, lead ecologist with the Michigan Natural Features Inventory at MSU Extension

Got a question you'd like to have answered on On Hand? Submit your questions about Michigan here.

It's a great Michigan debate; what is the line or the place that marks the end of the southern part of the state and the beginning of that mystical land we call Up North?
The answers vary from emotional to philosophical. But there's also an ecological answer that helps us better understand why we feel different when we go Up North.&nbsp;
Check out the <a href="https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/">Michigan Natural Features Inventory</a> website for a ton of cool stuff about our natural world.
GUESTS ON TODAY'S EPISODE:
<ul>
<li>Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan</li>
<li>Joshua Cohen, lead ecologist with the Michigan Natural Features Inventory at MSU Extension</li>
</ul>
Got a question you'd like to have answered on On Hand? <a href="https://www.michiganpublic.org/podcast/on-hand">Submit your questions about Michigan here</a>.

Where does "Up North" begin?

Many of us have a road that's more than a line on a map—it's a memory. Maybe it’s the street you grew up on or the dirt road that leads you to a cottage Up North. 

For listener Tom Topolski, it’s Lake Michigan Drive.

GUEST: 


Thomas Topolski, Hudsonville resident

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

PHOTO CREDIT: City of Grand Rapids Archives and Records Center

Many of us have a road that's more than a line on a map&mdash;it's a memory. Maybe it&rsquo;s the street you grew up on or the dirt road that leads you to a cottage Up North.&nbsp;
For listener Tom Topolski, it&rsquo;s Lake Michigan Drive.
GUEST:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>
Thomas Topolski, Hudsonville resident
</li>
</ul>
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="https://michiganpublic.secureallegiance.com/wuom/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=PODCAST&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=7n6oFUxVPW20BxRi5EeOVezWDeZ%2beA1M">michiganpublic.org/podfund</a>
PHOTO CREDIT: City of Grand Rapids Archives and Records Center

Your Stories: The U.P. is true Up North

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