The second annual Michigan Sauna Festival took place in April of 2026 on the shores of West Grand Traverse Bay.  Organized by Nick Olson of Hearth Sauna and Vlad Bourza of Sleeping Bear Saunas, the duo brought multiple sauna manufacturers to Clinch Park in downtown Traverse City. Hundreds gathered to sweat and then plunge into the bay. Clinch Park sits on land historically known as Kchi-Wiikwedong, an Anishinaabemowin word meaning “Great Bay.”

Saunas and sweat lodges have been a ritual in northern Michigan for generations  With the increase of public saunas, it seems that mainstream culture is finally catching up. With the presence of artificial intelligence, humanity is transitioning  into a new age of communication. This has sparked a growing desire among people to find community experiences that feel more genuine and fulfilling.

Anne Marie Oomen, Norm Wheeler, Ingemar Johansson and Patrick Niemisto, are all residents of northern Michigan.   Each have their own sauna, built by hand. In this episode you’ll hear our conversation about northern Michigan sauna culture.  It was recorded at the community radio station of WuWu 100.1 LPFM in Elberta, Michigan on April 15, 2026.

Church courtesy of Anne Marie Oomen from Seasons of the Sleeping Bear (Second Story Enterprises).

The Sauna Song appears courtesy of New Third Coast featuring Norm Wheeler and Patrick Niemisto, playing live at the Hiawatha Music Festival. The year is unknown.

This episode is sponsored by Hearth Sauna.

Brenda Zlamany has painted portraits of people all over the world. In our digital age, sitting for a portrait offers a rare opportunity to be truly seen and heard. The extended, focused attention creates an environment where subjects reveal truths that they might not otherwise share. In the fall of 2025, Zlamany took up residency at Tusen Takk located in Leelanau County. What she learned about the people here and their connection to the land along the forty-fifth parallel may come to a surprise, or it may not.

Sometimes a single person can be remembered as essential cultural infrastructure. One of those lives, was that of Edward “Ed” Catton (1935-2004). Born into local prominence as the grandson of George Catton, the last headmaster of the Benzonia Academy, and the nephew of Pulitzer-prize winning author, Bruce Catton, Ed chose to invest his talents locally rather than pursue broader acclaim.  In the wider community of northern Michigan, Ed was most remembered as the original voice of Interlochen Public Radio from 1963 to 1997.  This episode features recollections of Ed’s notable stature by Neil Nugent and Dan Kelly. Special thanks to Shri Fugi Split for the rendition of O Holy Night.

Piecast 2025 features a store-bought pumpkin pie tasting with John Coleman, a union organizer and accomplished home pie baker. The conversation weaves together memories associated with homemade food—ultimately concluding that while store-bought pies can be good, nothing can beat the labor, love and memories associated with a home-baked pie.

This episode was recorded on Wednesday, November 26 at WUWU 100.1 LPFM in Elberta, Michigan.

Creating meaningful environments is a form of artistry that can profoundly impact our lives. Interior designer Dana Lacuesta and curator Jessica Kooiman Parker are showcasing local design during Traverse City Design Week, taking place Oct 4- 11, 2025.  This inaugural event aims to solves real-world problems, to fuel Northern Michigan’s design culture, and unite our interdisciplinary design community.

Since 1972 the Rotary clubs of Traverse City have sponsored and hosted hundreds of exchange students.   Rotary Youth Exchange is a signature Rotary program for students ages 15 – 19, worldwide.  Eligible students have the opportunity to live and attend school in a foreign country for one academic year.  The experience combines Rotary’s dedication to supporting strong youth development and helping build life-long leadership skills, with a commitment to promoting greater understanding through international contact and communication. For the 2024/25 academic year Brady Johnsen, Teaghan Gorsline, Fiona Colliver, Jacob Romeyn and Gwendolyn Kudlack spent a year abroad. They became bridges between cultures, carrying their host countries back to Traverse City while taking Michigan values around the world. Here is a glimpse of a year that changed them forever.

Is Traverse City a fashion hub?

Off the beaten path, but no longer off the radar, the ‘creative coast’ is becoming recognized for a particular style and flair, especially in the realm of vintage and slow, sustainable fashion.

This episode is dedicated to the memory of Sally Neal (1930-2024).

In 1975 a group of nine passionate women founded the Women’s Resource Center of Traverse City.  The initial purpose was to establish a support network, develop relationships and provide paths to employment and leadership. The organizers soon became aware of the issue of domestic violence and sexual assault against women, and many of them had their own stories to tell. This episode features a conversation with the organization’s Executive Director Juliette Schultz and long time board member, Jane Hayes.  This spring the Women’s Resource Center will commemorate 50 years of protecting, sheltering and empowering survivors of domestic and sexual violence, and why their mission remains critical at this pivotal time in history. 

In the the summer of 1975, Gerard Grabowski came to Traverse City for the Grand Traverse Nordic Ski Camp. He and several teenage Nordic skiers stayed at the home of Ted and Shirley Okerstrom and rollerskied through the town. That experience inspired his lifelong love of Nordic skiing. He skied his first 50K in 1977 when the North American Vasa started at the Cherry Capital Airport. Years later he skied for the Northern Michigan University Nordic team. In the winter of 1984, he and friends skied several Nordic ski marathons that were part of the Worldloppet, an international sports federation of cross-country skiing marathons, founded in June 10th 1978 in Uppsala, Sweden. Thank you to Crystal Mountain for sponsoring this episode.

Letting your voice be heard means many things.

It can be speaking up in a meeting. 

Being the first to speak

Defending your rights. 

Being confident in your value and what you have to offer. 

Asking questions to keep the conversation going. 

Speaking with curiosity instead of judgment.

Speaking clearly and concisely.

Contacting your elected officials.

And voting in our elections.

This episode of the Traversecityist presents voices of our region reading the words of noted Americans.