Myles Dannhausen Jr. and Debra Fitzgerald discuss the Pulse’s approach to covering difficult stories and how we choose what merits a story. But first, a look at the growth in live music on the peninsula, the smoky haze settling in the air, and a potential third round-about coming to Sturgeon Bay.

Dr. Kristen Raney, President of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC), talks with Debra Fitzgerald about how the college is transforming education into opportunity in Door County and elsewhere within the systems’ communities. Dr. Raney shares what makes NWTC her favorite college to lead, how job-focused programs are tailored to local workforce needs, and how the school is partnering with employers, K-12 districts, and even correctional facilities.

Few people will put more planning and time into catching a great photograph than Kevin O’Donnell, who shared the story of his pursuit of a very particular photograph in the Summer edition of Door County Living Magazine. He reads his essay, “The 40-second Window” on the podcast this week, but first John Mielke joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to discuss his story on the fishing guides who steer people to the catch of their lives on the lake and the bay in Door County.

It’s becoming difficult to ignore the Canadian and western U.S. wildfire smoke that is causing an increasing number of air quality alerts throughout the Midwest, including within Door County. To help us understand what’s going on, a leading air quality expert at UW-Madison, Brad Pierce, (Director of Space Science and Engineering and former NOAA physical scientist and NASA research scientist), joins Debra Fitzgerald to talk about why we’re seeing more Door County days flagged for poor air quality, what people can do to keep themselves and their families safe, and what the future may hold for the air we breathe.

Peninsula Pulse interns Betsy Lecy and Cassidy Johnson sat down with Debra Fitzgerald to share what it’s like to cover Door County through the eyes of the next generation of reporters. From unexpected community insights to the stories that left a lasting impression (so far), they reveal what surprised them most, how their perspectives have changed, and what they discovered about the peninsula that only a reporter on the ground could know.

Since 1972 a unique cultural exchange program has connected Southern Door with Belgium, where many of its first settlers came from. Muraelle Havet, an exchange visitor from Brussels, Belgium, joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. and her host, Bill Chaudoir, to talk about her impressions of Door County and the strong connection between Wisconsin’s Belgian settlement and Wallonia.

Wilkins & Olander has been a familiar name to local residents, particularly in Sturgeon Bay, since the clothing store opened its doors in 1990. Now in its 35th year, the store is owned by Dawn Fischer, who took over from her stepmother, Carol Overland, who died in 2019.

In April, the Door County Economic Development Corporation honored Fischer with its Light Keeper Award for women, minority or veteran-owned business of the year. She joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. on the podcast to talk about her business, the evolution of 3rd Avenue, and the lessons she learned from Carol Overland.

The Door County Food Pantry coalition has raised awareness that this year, people have been using, at unprecedented rates, the nine food pantries across the county. Debra Fitzgerald talks with Adam Peronto with the Door County Community Foundation and Heidi Penchoff with the Door to Life Food Pantry in Sister, about the rising need, what’s driving it and how federal funding cuts would impact the food insecure. They also talk about solutions, community generosity and how people can access the resources they need.

Jeff Lutsey of the Climate Change Coalition of Door County joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about the effort to add 50 new solar installations on the peninsula this year. The Coalition is hosting several informational sessions in the coming weeks for people to learn more about the possibilities for solar energy and potential savings through a group buying program.

Sportswriter Herb Gould spent years covering Chicago sports with the Chicago Sun-Times, but in retirement he turned his eyes toward an icon of a Chicago rival – Curly Lambeau. He joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to talk about his new biography on Lambeau and digging up new stories on a legend.