In this episode listeners will join Lacey in conversation with Randolph Briley, Deputy Director of Outdoor Recreation for Explore Minnesota. Randolph leads Minnesota’s Outdoor Recreation Partnership. 

The Outdoor Recreation Industry Partnership (ORIP) is an inter-agency collaboration between Explore Minnesota, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, The Department of Employment and Economic Development and Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation. The Partnership was formed in spring of 2023 as a direct result of recommendations made by both the Minnesota Outdoor Recreation Task Force and the Governor’s Council on Economic Expansion. 

This inter-agency collaboration recently published Minnesota’s first-ever comprehensive outdoor recreation industry economic impact report, titled Minnesota's "Untamed Dividend". The report is full of stats and stories that demonstrate the value of the industry in our state. 

Show Notes

• Email Lacey with your ideas and feedback: [email protected]
• Visit Ely Adventure Guides 
• What’s Up Ely Facebook Group 
• Explore Minnesota
• Forest North Podcast 
• Minnesota’s Outdoor Recreation Industry Partnership 
• Minnesota’s Untamed Dividend: Outdoor Recreation Fueling Our Economy
• Explore Minnesota More

What’s Up Ely is a podcast that celebrates the spirit of Ely, Minnesota – Ely is a vibrant community with a rich history and a dynamic arts and cultural scene. It also just so happens to be a small town on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and surrounded by the Superior National Forest.

There is truly always something fun to and someone fascinating to meet in Ely! 

This episode is a late fall 2025 event round up. 

• Quick PSA: EMAIL ME – [email protected] 

Show Notes Links

• Ely Adventure Guides 
• Ely Community Center
• Ely’s Historic State Theater
• SAGE Foundation 
• Ely Folk School classes & events
• Ely for Ely website
• Register for the Ely for Ely Workshop
• Music from Earth: Russ Kaplan & The Pale Blue Dot tickets
• Tofte Lake Center Presents: Echoes from the Lake, an evening of music & readings at Icehouse Minneapolis 

In this episode listeners will join Lacey in conversation with Heather Magee, founder and owner of Five Pines Candle Company.  

Show Notes

Email Lacey with your ideas and feedback: [email protected]

• Visit Ely Adventure Guides 
• What’s Up Ely Facebook Group 
• Explore Minnesota
• Forest North Podcast
• Five Pines Candle Company 

Five Pines Blog: How to Get the Most Out of Your Candles 

What’s Up Ely is a podcast that celebrates the spirit of Ely, Minnesota – Ely is a vibrant community with a rich history and a dynamic arts and cultural scene. It also just so happens to be a small town on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and surrounded by the Superior National Forest.

There is truly always something fun to and someone fascinating to meet in Ely! 

This episode is an October-November 2025 event round up featuring our friend and neighbor Ryan Stewart, the Family Resource Facilitator for Ely Community Resource.  

• Quick PSA: EMAIL ME – [email protected] 
• THANK YOU RYAN!! 

Show Notes Links

• Ely Adventure Guides 
• BEAMs Musicians’ Symposium 
• Stony River Music 
• Silver Rapids Lodge & The Lazy Loon Restaurant 
• Ely Folk School classes & events
• Pizza for Pups – Contented Critters Fundraiser 
• Ely’s Got Talent 
• Ely for Ely website
• Register for the Ely for Ely Workshop
• Music from Earth: Russ Kaplan & The Pale Blue Dot tickets
• Forest North Podcast 
• Ely Winter Festival

In this episode listeners will join Lacey in conversation with Matt Mikkelsen. Matt is a sound recordist, audio engineer, and documentary filmmaker based in Duluth, Minnesota. He has worked as a sound designer, director, and producer on several award winning documentaries, but has also devoted much of his professional career to observing, recording, researching, and preserving natural soundscapes. 

Show Notes

• Email Lacey with your ideas and feedback: [email protected]
• Visit Ely Adventure Guides 
• What’s Up Ely Facebook Group 
• Explore Minnesota
• Forest North Podcast
• Quiet Parks International
• Spruce Tone

What’s Up Ely is a podcast that celebrates the spirit of Ely, Minnesota – Ely is a vibrant community with a rich history and a dynamic arts and cultural scene. It also just so happens to be a small town on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and surrounded by the Superior National Forest.

There is truly always something fun to and someone fascinating to meet in Ely! 

This episode is an updated fall 2025 event round up featuring our friend and neighbor Ian Francis Lah. 

• Quick PSA: EMAIL ME – [email protected] 

Show Notes Links

• Ely Adventure Guides 
• The Meadows Fall Equinox Tie-Dye Party
• Stony River Music 
• Silver Rapids Lodge & The Lazy Loon Restaurant 
• Rachel Kilgour in concert at Ethel’s Acres 
• Ely Folk School classes & events
• Ely Folk School Wild Rice Camp
• NLAA 40th Anniversary Gala
• Pizza for Pups – Contented Critters Fundraiser 
• Evening of Slovenian Film
• Ely’s Got Talent 
• Oktoberfest Fundraiser 
• Ben Winchester – Ely for Ely Keynote Speaker
• Forest North Podcast 
• Ely Winter Festival

In this episode listeners will join Lacey in conversation with Stephanie Hansen, the author of the True North Cabin Cookbooks (volumes one and two), and host of “Taste  Buds with Stephanie” on Fox. Stephanie is the host of her own podcast called “Dishing with Stephanie’s Dish”, a weekly contributor to “The Jason Show” and she’s a long-time Ely area seasonal resident.  

Show Notes

• Email Lacey with your ideas and feedback: [email protected]
• Visit Ely Adventure Guides 
• What’s Up Ely Facebook Group 
• Explore Minnesota
• Forest North Podcast

Stephanie Hansen

https://stephaniesdish.substack.com

Recipes www.StephaniesDish.com

Emmy-Winning Host of “Taste Buds With Stephanie” 

Author “True North Cabin Cookbook”

Radio host @WeeklyDish @makersofmn Podcast

Dishing with Stephanies Dish Podcast

Contributor @JasonShowTV - @Fox9

What’s Up Ely is a podcast that celebrates the spirit of Ely, Minnesota – Ely is a vibrant community with a rich history and a dynamic arts and cultural scene. It also just so happens to be a small town on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and surrounded by the Superior National Forest.

There is truly always something fun to and someone fascinating to meet in Ely! 

This episode is a September and October event round up wherein we offer a list of upcoming events that visitors and residents alike might consider attending. This time around, we are joined by Kelsey Lee of Potluck Kitchenware and Jess Kulik of Boundary Waters Connect. 

• Quick PSA: EMAIL ME – [email protected] 

Show Notes Links

• Ely Adventure Guides 
• True North Cabin Cookbook book signing at Piragis Northwoods Co.
• Ely for Ely
• Launching a New Chapter: Retirement (an Ely Folk School class) 
• Ely Folk School Community Barn Dance
• Northern Lights Glow Run 5K
• Ely Marathon
• Rachel Kilgour in concert at Ethel’s Acres 
• NLAA 40th Anniversary Gala
• Evening of Slovenian Film
• Ely’s Got Talent –   
• Forest North Podcast 
• Listening Point Foundation Annual Northwoods Dinner
• Ely Cultural Alliance Toast to the Season

In this episode listeners will join Lacey in conversation with her friends and neighbors Karl Kubiak and Kelly Chick. Karl is the band director and Kelly is the art teacher for Ely’s independent school district number 696. We’ll discuss why arts education is essential to student success, what makes rural arts education unique, and more. 

Karl teaches 3-12 general music and band at the Ely Public Schools. Additionally, he performs with many regional orchestras and as a full time member with the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, serves as the board president for Northern Lakes Arts Association and as board secretary for the Northeast Minnesota Band Directors Association, and teaches at the University of Wisconsin-Superior as their bassoon instructor. 

Kelly teaches K-12 art in the Ely Public Schools.  Teaching a wide range of ages and art mediums is what Kelly enjoys the most about teaching art in Ely.  Outside of the classroom she enjoys spending time outdoors, especially riding bikes.   

Show Notes

• Email Lacey with your ideas and feedback: [email protected]
• Visit Ely Adventure Guides 
• WUE-Pod Ep 15: Bar-Trivia-for-a-Cause, Ely City Band, & August Event Run Down
• What’s Up Ely Facebook Group 
• Explore Minnesota
• Forest North Podcast

What’s Up Ely celebrates the spirit of Ely, Minnesota – Ely is a vibrant community with a rich history and a dynamic arts and cultural scene. It also just so happens to be a small town on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and surrounded by the Superior National Forest.

There is truly always something fun to and someone fascinating to meet in Ely! With an abundance of opportunities for social engagement and adventure, how is one to know where to start? Let us help! 

This episode features Karl Kubiak who joins us for a round up of events happening in or around Ely, Minnesota this summer, with an emphasis on events in August and September, 2025.

• Quick PSA: EMAIL ME – [email protected]

Show Notes Links

• Ely Adventure Guides 
• Brainstorm Bakery Live Music Events 
• History You Can Taste: Rootbeer Making
• Reflections Dance Company website
• Ely for Ely 
• Ultimate Kids Adventure Night
• Pop Rocks at the Ely Watercross 20th Anniversary Celebration 
• Pickup Truck Opera at Whiteside Park
• Heritage Fest – August 16
• Northern Lights Glow Run 5K
• Ely Marathon
• Fest du Nord
• Forest North Podcast 
• The Trade Post with Trader Craig is BACK! 
  • Monday–Friday, 9-10am on WELY
  • 1450 AM • 103.9 FM • WELY.fm or stream it on the Civic Media app!
  • Got something to sell? Text or call 218-365-4444 or email [email protected]
• Listening Point Foundation Annual Northwoods Dinner