Teach Me About the Great Lakes

We ask our Drs Fish about "zombie fish," fishes of spring, fish intelligence, and fishes' environmental sensitivities.

Walpole Island students raising lake sturgeon
"Saving Our Sturgeon"
Teach Me About the Great Lakes episode #97

NOAA snailfish ROV video

 BBC article on Danionella cerebrum
"Cocaine pollution alters the movement and space use of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in a large natural lake"
Ephemeral Ponds

Show Credits:
Hosts & Producers: Stuart Carlton, Katie O'Reilly, Titus Seiheimer
Coordinating producer: Megan Gunn
Edited by: Ray Wallace
Artwork by: Ethan Kocak
Music by: Stuart Carlton 

 We ask our Drs Fish about lake sturgeon spawning biology, sucker and northern pike spring activity, and federal vs. state endangered species listing for Great Lakes fish.

WUWM article on Milwaukee River sturgeon return
Milwaukee Sturgeon Fest
Wisconsin DNR sturgeon spawning viewing locations

Show Credits:
Hosts & Producers: Stuart Carlton, Katie O'Reilly, Titus Seiheimer
Coordinating producer: Megan Gunn
Edited by: Ray Wallace
Artwork by: Ethan Kocak
Music by: Stuart Carlton 
Contact: [email protected]
Hotline: 765-496-4474 

In this episode, Stuart and Natty talk with Dr. Sarah Balgooyen of PFAS@Mines at the Colorado School of Mines about her team's surprisingly good news: PFAS levels in Great Lakes fish have been declining since the mid-2000s. They get into how you actually find that out — freeze-drying and blending 50-year-old lake trout pulled out of an EPA freezer. PLUS: a New Yorker cartoon pitch!

Warren Dunes State Park, Michigan

Bob's Atomic Burgers, Golden, CO

Sarah's paper — Journal of Great Lakes Research

PFAS@Mines research group

EPA Great Lakes Fish Monitoring and Surveillance Program

iiseagrant.org

🚨🚨Manel alert! Manel alert!🚨🚨 In this episode, Stuart speaks with Glenn Evans, professor of graphic design at St. Clair College, about The Great Lakes Avengers, which are apparently a thing?

Show links:

• Great Lakes Avengers
• Point Pelee National Park

In this episode, Stuart and Natty speak with Janice Gilbert of the Invasive Phragmites Control Centre about the ecological benefits of native aquatic plants, the persistent threat posed by invasive common reeds, and the ultimate glory of a fresh summer tomato sandwich.

• Illinois Indiana Sea Grant
• Invasive Phragmites Control Centre
• Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative
• Invasive Species Centre
• Nature Conservancy of Canada
• Ducks Unlimited Canada
• USGS Great Lakes Science Center
• Great Lakes Commission
• Long Point Region (UNESCO Biosphere Reserve)
• Coastal and Great Lakes Social Science Lab

Stuart and Megan talk with Kim Nowack, Bridge Director of the Mackinac Bridge Authority, about what else? The Mighty Mac, a 5-mile (8 km) bridge that connects Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas!!

Links: 

• Tacoma Narrows Bridge
• David B. Steinman
• Labor Day Bridge Walk 
• Mackinaw City Bakery  https://www.mackinawbakery.com/
• 2 The Moon Bakery 
• Keweenaw Peninsula

Megan, Stuart, and Natty talk Great Lakes ice coverage, the importance of weather conditions, and simple ice math with Eric Anderson of the Colorado School of Mines. 

As we take the week off to celebrate Groundhog Day (or something), we're re-airing this conversation with James Kessler of NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab. In it, Stuart and Carolyn speak with James Kessler of the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab about lake ice coverage, spaghetti diagrams, and shoveling snow for ice hockey. Enjoy!

Stuart, Megan, and Natty speak with John Schmidt, program manager of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers' 100% Great Lakes Fish Initiative. They also discuss different things you can drink, if you want.

Show links:

• https://gsgp.org/projects/100-great-lakes-fish/
• https://fiskurleather.com/
• https://theaquaborne.com/gallery
• https://www.collab.is/english
• Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians https://www.gtbindians.org 
• https://michiganadvance.com/2025/08/14/in-peshawbestown-the-grand-traverse-band-puts-fish-waste-to-use/
• https://www.mannysdeli.com/
• https://www.xiancuisinechicago.com/west-loop
• https://www.johnnys-beef.com/
• https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/fishing/black-lake

Stuart and Megan speak with Bill Pringle of the Detroit Historical Society and Dossin Great Lakes Museum. 

Links:

• Dossin Great Lakes Museum | Detroit Historical Society
• Detroit Historical Society
• JW Westcott
• Detroit River Watch Webcam
• Doorway to Freedom – Detroit and the Underground Railroad
• Freedom Seekers curriculum connects students to the Underground Railroad, Great Lakes and science
• Detroit Institute of Arts Museum
• Outdoor Treasures | Detroit Historical Society
• Mudgie's Deli
• Belle Isle Conservancy