What's Up Ely

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

In this episode listeners will join Lacey in conversation with her friend and neighbor, Emily Roose. Emily is our local business advisor with Entrepreneur Fund, as known as E-Fund. E-Fund has two priorities: support entrepreneurs to start and grow small businesses that would create steady incomes for themselves and others, and to renew the entrepreneurial culture in the region. Emily also happens to be an Ely City Councilor AND a fellow dance party enthusiast.

Show Notes

• Email Lacey with your ideas and feedback: [email protected]
• Visit Ely Adventure Guides 
• WUE-Pod International Mosquito Museum - Episode 54
• Owl Forest Farm
• Semer’s Park Pavilion  
• Aaron Brown Star Tribune Editorial Columnist Tuesday Group presentation 
• 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 Emily Roose, who joins us for a round up of events happening in or around Ely, Minnesota this summer, with an emphasis on events in late July and August, 2025.  

• Quick PSA: EMAIL ME – [email protected] 

Show Notes Links

• Ely Adventure Guides
• The Sectionals 
• Sister Act – NLAA Musical 
• Brainstorm Bakery Live Music Events 
• EFS Wet Felted Sauna Hat (morning class)
• EFS Wet Felted Sauna Hat (afternoon class) 
• History You Can Taste: Rootbeer Making
• Reflections Dance Company website
• Ely for Ely 
• WUE-Pod Reflections Dance Company, Molly Olson, & More – Episode 1
• WUE-Pod Looking Ahead to Blueberries, Blueberry Pie, & Blueberry Art Festival in Ely – Episode 10
• WUE-Pod Tofte Lake Center, Liz Engelman, & More – Episode 12
• Motherhood Walk and Talk – Questions? Call Paula 218-606-3082
• Ely Pickleball Club
• Plastic People film – July 30 
• Heritage Fest – August 16
• Fest du Nord
• Raven Words Press Reflections on Ricing
• Raven Words Press When Rice is a Verb
• Forest North Podcast 

In this episode listeners will join Lacey in conversation with Jordyn Stocks, the manager of the Piragis Northwoods Company bookstore, which recently moved to the ground level on the corner of Sheridan and Central in downtown Ely.

Show Notes

• Email Lacey with your ideas and feedback: [email protected]
• Visit Ely Adventure Guides 
• Piragis Bookstore
• Ely Public Library
• Ely Community Resource
• Art, Culture, & Awe in Ely – Episode 5
• What’s Up Ely Facebook Group 
• Explore Minnesota
• Forest North Podcast