Shows
Lake Superior PodcastS8 E3: Postcards from Lake Superior: How Letteracy Deck Inspires Letters, Stories & Connection — with Anne BrataasOn the Lake Superior shoreline in Grand Marais, Minnesota, there is a place where visitors are invited to put down their phones, pick up a pen, and send a letter—postage included. Letteracy Deck, created by Minnesota Children’s Press, is a free, screen-free letter-writing park that has helped visitors send more than 17,000 cards and letters since opening in 2023.In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Anne Brataas of Minnesota Children’s Press about how handwritten letters, storytelling, and creative literacy can connect generations and help children see the value...
2026-10-2133 minLake Superior PodcastS8 E2: Exploring Lake Superior’s Deepest Waters: The Mystery of the “Zombie Fish” — with Shawn SitarMore than 1,300 feet below the surface of Lake Superior, scientists are investigating a fisheries mystery: siscowet lake trout that should be fat and robust are turning up strikingly thin. Researchers call them “zombie fish,” but the real story is less sensational—and still unresolved. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with returning guest Shawn Sitar, a Michigan DNR fisheries research biologist and science officer aboard the RV Lake Char, about what the team is learning from Lake Superior’s deepest waters. From possible food shortages and disease testing to lake trou...
2026-09-3030 minLake Superior PodcastS8 E1: Carrying Big Annie Clemenc’s Story Forward: From the 1913 Copper Strike to Calumet’s New Statue — with Vada RiederichMore than a century after the 1913–14 Copper Country Strike, one of its most prominent leaders now has a permanent place in downtown Calumet, Michigan. Anna Klobuchar Clemenc, better known as “Big Annie,” was born in Calumet to Slovenian immigrant parents and became a leader in the strike, founding and serving as president of the Women’s Auxiliary No. 15 of the Western Federation of Miners. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Team Big Annie chairperson Vada Riederich about the years-long community effort to raise $150,000 to create a bronze statue honoring...
2026-09-1627 minLake Superior PodcastS7 E12: A New Life for Abandoned Mines: Energy, History and Innovation — with Timothy ScarlettFor generations, the mines of Michigan's Copper Country have been woven into the history of the Lake Superior region. While many of those mines closed decades ago, their stories — and the underground landscapes they created — continue to leave their mark on the communities above them. Today, researchers are combining archaeology, historic records, and emerging technologies to better understand the region's mining history, improve public safety, and explore how these underground landscapes may serve future generations. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Tim Scarlett, Associate Professor of Archaeology at Michi...
2026-08-0533 minLake Superior PodcastS7 E11: Moosewatch, Wilderness Learning and the Lasting Pull of Isle Royale — with Karen BaculaIsle Royale is one of the least visited of America’s National Parks. Located in the northwest corner of Lake Superior, it’s a tough place to get to. Access is only by seaplane, ferry or private boat. But once visitors do come, they are likely to return. Karen Bacula has been coming to this remote island since 1997. As a teacher, she also brought students to explore this unique archipelago of islands. Now, retired, she volunteers as director of Michigan Tech’s Isle Royale Institute and coordinates Moosewatch volunteers, helping people take part in fieldwork that supports the world’s longest...
2026-07-1535 minLake Superior PodcastS7 E10: From Rare Sight to Remarkable Recovery: Bald Eagles and the National Eagle Center — with Ed HahnThe bald eagle has been the patriotic symbol of America for 250 years. Most folks can remember the first time they saw this majestic bird soaring in the wild. There was a time when sighting them, even on Lake Superior, was rare, but today these birds of prey are making a comeback. Their return represents one of America’s most visible conservation successes. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Ed Hahn, Director of Advancement and Marketing Communications at the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minnesota, about the bald eagle’s recovery, how t...
2026-07-0139 minLake Superior PodcastS7 E9: Life Aboard The Blue Heron: Lake Superior’s Floating Science Lab — with Rual LeeSailing Season on Lake Superior is busy. Approximately 4,500 ships travel through the Soo Locks. One boat, the Blue Heron, docked in Duluth, Minnesota, spends the summer season as a Research Vessel for the University of Minnesota’s Large Lakes Observatory. Captain Rual Lee has been at the helm of the 87’ vessel since 2014. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with him about what it takes to operate a floating science lab on the Greatest of the Great Lakes.Quotes: “We're still working on the boat, trying to make it...
2026-05-1338 minLake Superior PodcastS7 E8: Big Lake, Small World: Three Decades Of Lake Superior Stories — With Konnie LeMayThere’s nothing like sitting around a camp fire telling Lake Superior stories. Imagine the tales you could collect spending almost three decades gathering the news, features and photographs for the region’s most popular magazine. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Konnie LeMay, long time editor of Lake Superior Magazine, published in her home town of Duluth, MInnesota, to find out more about her career-long favorites.5 Episode Quotes“Lake Superior has always been part of my horizon.”“It has given...
2026-04-3037 minLake Superior PodcastS7 E7: The Future of Moose in Minnesota: What a New Study of Young Moose Could Reveal — with Michelle CarstensenNo mammal represents Minnesota’s north shore better than the moose. The winter of 2026 has been busy and significant for these majestic animals. Through the Northern Moose Alliance (www.moosealliance.org), a joint effort between Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 1854 Treaty Authority, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, and the National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation, 60 juvenile moose were collared to launch a study on why the moose population has seen a 60% decline in recent years. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Michelle Carstensen, Wildlife Health Group Leader for the...
2026-04-0833 minLake Superior PodcastS7 E6: One Lake, Five Parks, Twenty Years: The NPLSF Story — with Carol BradyWhat started on March 1, 1872, when Yellowstone became the first National Park in the world, has grown to over 433 units covering over 85 million acres in America. Tagged "America’s Best Idea," we celebrate National Parks Week every year in April. Roughly 20,000 people work either full-time or seasonally with the National Park Service but the system also relies on over 130,000 volunteers. The National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation--sponsor of this podcast--is one of those volunteer organizations. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Carol Brady, founding board member and long-time Chairman of...
2026-03-2534 minLake Superior PodcastS7 E5: Keweenaw’s Legendary Snowfall: Winter Recreation and Traditions in the Upper Peninsula’s Snow Capital — with Jesse WiederholdWhile some parts of the country can count on crocus and daffodils to signal spring in March, Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula is still measuring snowbanks. Over 300” has fallen across the region and more is expected, possibly into May. From the looks of future forecasts, the area is sure to surpass last year’s total of 315.25” and may be on track for the all-time high of 390.4” set back in the winter of 1978-79. What do you do with over 32’ of snow in a season? In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Jesse Wiederhold...
2026-03-1331 minLake Superior PodcastS7 E4: Bat Science and Survival: Lake Superior’s Night Flyers — with Dr. Winifred FrickBats have been called the “Invisible Mammal” primarily because they fly silently and mostly at night. They also roost in dark places, caves or abandoned mines, making them hard to find even in the daylight. For humans, bats aren’t only hard to see, they are hard to understand, yet they play a vital role in our world’s ecosystems and an equally important roll in our agricultural economy. Yet 200 species of bats are nearing extinction. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Winifred Frick, Chief Scientist at Bat Conservation International, to learn...
2026-01-1435 minLake Superior PodcastS7 E3: Lake Superior’s Lasting Hold: The Story Behind A Is for Agates: A Lake Superior Alphabet Book — with Patti BaraksFor some, growing up on Lake Superior carves a deep connection to place, and no matter where life leads, the pull to return to that rugged shoreline never leaves. Patti Baraks knows too well that hold Superior creates. She grew up in Superior, Wisconsin, and although she has lived, worked and raised a family in Texas, she admits, her internal compass always points north toward that mighty lake. As an early childhood education teacher with a passion for poetry, she used that lure to write a children’s book, “A is for Agates, A Lake Superior Alphabet Book”.In t...
2025-12-1028 minLake Superior PodcastS7 E2: Mapping the Seen and Unseen: USGS Earth MRI’s Work in the Lake Superior Region - with Jamey JonesThe first known map of Lake Superior was drawn by Virginian John Mitchell in 1755. Over the centuries, countless records of the shoreline, depths, lighthouses and communities have been published. But now, there’s another map in the works. This one by the United States Geological Survey. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Jamey Jones, Science Coordinator for the USGS’s Earth Mapping Resources Initiatives, or Earth MRI. He shares what this project hopes to accomplish, particularly when it comes to locating the area’s rare earth minerals and contributing to the pu...
2025-11-2633 minLake Superior PodcastS7 E1: The Edmund Fitzgerald Story and Legacy: 50 Years Beneath the Waves — with Fred StonehouseThe Gales of November is very real on the Great Lakes, known as the “Month of Storms.”Some 550 wrecks lie on the bottom of Lake Superior, at least 200 along Superior’s Shipwreck Coast, a treacherous 80-Mile stretch with no safe harbor between Munising and Whitefish Point. On November 10, 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald, a 728 foot freighter went down in a storm described as both blizzard and hurricane taking all 29 crew members to their grave. Made famous by the Gordon Lightfoot song, the wreck has remained a mystery for fifty years.In this episode of the Lake Su...
2025-11-0531 minLake Superior PodcastS6 E11: The Road Less Paved: Biking the Wild North — with Josh RizzoBiking in the Superior Country is more than just a way to get around—it’s a way of life. From gravel roads to rugged trails to family bike packing along Big Blue’s shoreline, the region offers two-wheeled adventure in every season. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Josh Rizzo, founder of thenxrth.com—an adventure site dedicated to unpaved cycling across three states--Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Josh shares how biking became a lifelong passion, and how he’s started bringing his kids along for multi-day trips. He te...
2025-08-0635 minLake Superior PodcastS6 E10: What Lies Beneath: Lake Superior’s Underwater Cleanup – With Diver Don FassbenderLake Superior is not only the largest of the Great Lakes, but the water quality is also some of the clearest. Yet, historically, the Lake was often a dumping ground for all kinds of debris. "Out of sight, out of mind” was an all-too-common mindset. Don Fassbender, president of Great Lakes Scuba Diving and Lake Preservation, has made it his life's mission to clean up Lake Superior’s underwater world. With volunteers, including fellow divers and kayakers, he estimates 14 tons of tires have been hauled up from Marquette MIchigan's Lower Harbor. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt...
2025-07-2832 minLake Superior PodcastS6 E9: Mining the Past: How Copper Shaped the Keweenaw and Its World-Class Museum - An Interview with John Jaszczak"If you didn’t grow it, you’ve got to mine it,” says John Jaszczak, Director and Curator of the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum in Houghton, Michigan. Since 1838--just after Michigan became a state--geologists and miners have been collecting rock and mineral specimens as the first American Mining Rush began. Since 1855, those specimens were housed at Michigan Technological University, then known as Michigan College of Mines, making it one of the oldest museums not only in Michigan, but the Great Lakes region. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with John about...
2025-07-0931 minLake Superior PodcastS6 E8: Isle Royale: Trip Planning, Wildlife, and Wilderness Safety – An Interview with Chris AmidonIsle Royale National Park is the Great Lakes Mecca for backpackers. This archipelago of islands is also one of our most remote National Parks so preparing for a visit takes extra planning. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Chris Amidon, Supervisory Park Ranger for Interpretation and Visitor Services. He not only has tips for first-timers, but also has details on some new procedures, particularly when it comes to food storage.Key Takeaways:Planning your experience shapes everything: “The first thing we ask is...
2025-06-1834 minLake Superior PodcastS6 E7: Coffee, Community, and the Power of the Big Lake – An Interview with Sarah Jorgenson-HallbergMinnesota’s North Shore has been a gathering place for centuries. Whether heading into the Boundary Waters or out on Lake Superior, Grand Marais ranks a favorite Base Camp. While it may be small in population, it’s big in spirit. Life here moves to the rhythms of the woods and waters. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Sarah Jorgensen-Halberg, longtime resident and owner of Java Moose, the beloved shoreline coffee shop that fuels both locals and visiting adventurers. Her daily weather video connects folks near and far to thi...
2025-06-0436 minLake Superior PodcastS6 E6: Fort Wilkins, Copper Harbor, and Living History in the Keweenaw – An Interview with Barry JamesLong before the Keweenaw Peninsula became a destination for hikers, bikers, and Lake Superior rock hounds, it was the stage for a national copper rush. Shortly after Michigan became a state in 1837, Geologist Douglas Houghton was sent to Copper Harbor to explore reports from Native Americans about copper in the region. By 1844, Fort Wilkins was built to be the military base helping to keep the peace as fortune-seekers came to the state’s most northern port. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Barry James, Upper Peninsula historian with the...
2025-05-0730 minLake Superior PodcastS6 E5: Isle Royale in Winter: Survival, Science, and Secrets in the Snow – An Interview with Jonathan PauliWinter Study at Isle Royale National Park has a decades long history, but just a few scientists ever get the chance to spend time on this isolated archipelago in Lake Superior. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with one of those fortunate ones, Johnathan Pauli, Professor in the Department of Forest & Wildlife Ecology at the University of Wisconsin Madison. From tracking foxes and martens to unraveling a centuries-old survival story, Johnathan shares how studying this wilderness in winter reveals secrets a summer visitor would never experience. Join us for a conversation...
2025-04-2337 minLake Superior PodcastS6 E4: Tourism, Economic Growth, and the Magic of Munising - An Interview with Kathy ReynoldsOur National Parks are important places, not just for their preservation of natural beauty and resources, but also for the economic impact they bring to gateway communities. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula sees nearly a million visitors, year round. For the anchor cities of Munising and Grand Marais, hosting those folks has become their chief industry. With a population of less than 2,000, how do they do it? In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Kathy Reynolds, the CEO of the Greater Munising Bay Partnership as well as Di...
2025-03-0534 minLake Superior PodcastS6 E3: The Lake Trout Resurgence In Lake Superior: A Conservation Success Story - An Interview with Shawn SitarSince the 1940’s, Lake Trout have been extinct in all of the Great Lakes except Lake Superior. Pressure from commercial fishing as well as the invasion of sea lamprey devastated this native species, and the population in Lake Superior also suffered. For three generations an international team of scientists has been working to restore healthy Lake Trout populations in all the Great Lakes. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Shawn Sitar, Fisheries Research Biologist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to update the status of Lake Trout in Lake Su...
2025-02-2028 minLake Superior PodcastS6 E2: Michigan Ice Fest – Where Adventure Meets Community – An Interview with Bill ThompsonWinter can be a sleepy time at the National Parks on Lake Superior, but at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore near Munising, Michigan, visitors come to snowmobile, mush dogs, snowshoe, fish and cross-country ski. But the biggest event to bring folks into the park is the Michigan Ice Fest. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Ice Fest organizer Bill Thompson about the event and what makes Pictured Rocks such a Mecca for the sport. Key Takeaways:The Michigan Ice Fest has grown from a small gathering i...
2025-01-2931 minLake Superior PodcastS6 E1: Chasing Sunrise On Lake Superior: An Interview with Bugsy SailorNew Year Resolutions, if you don’t make them, chances are you thought about it. But do those promises keep? In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Bugsy Sailor, the Official Unofficial Ambassador of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Bugsy shares how a resolution he made on January 1, 2019, changed his life.Key Takeaways:Bugsy Sailor captures daily sunrises around Lake Superior, embracing nature’s raw beauty and the unpredictability of the seasons.His commitment to photographing every sunrise since 2019 highlights the power of routine, resilience, and creative passio...
2025-01-2234 minLake Superior PodcastS5 E14: The Estivant Pines Story - 50 Years of Conservation with Charles EshbachThe forests that ring Lake Superior are some of the most magical on the continent. At the tip of Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula, in Copper Harbor, you’ll find the Estivant Pines. This 570 acres of old-growth pine has lured hikers for decades. But saving this stand of ancient timber was no small feat. It started over 50 years ago and in this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with photographer and forester Charles Esshbach from Houghton, Michigan, about his work to protect one of the Upper Peninsula’s most remarkable natural treasures.
2024-11-2137 minLake Superior PodcastS5 E13: Foraging - Rediscover and Reconnect With Nature - An Interview with Tim ClemensSince time began humans have been foragers. Survival depended on connecting to the natural world. Today, when most of our food comes from a grocery store or is eaten in a restaurant, that link has been lost. But not for Tim Clemens. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Tim, a professional forager and founder of Ironwood Foraging about how he’s helping people connect with nature; and not in the middle of the forest or farm country, but near his urban home of Minneapolis.Key Takeaways: ...
2024-10-3033 minLake Superior PodcastS5 E12: Capturing the Magic of The Northern Lights: An Interview with Ogetay KayaliWitnessing the Northern Lights checks a bucket-list for many. The first time you see the sky erupt in waves of pulsing white, green, red, or even blue light makes lifelong memories. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Astrophysics Graduate Student Ogetay Kayali from Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan. Ogetay shares not only why we seem to be experiencing the Northern Lights more frequently, but also how to better take advantage of the experience with our cameras.Key Takeaways: The northern lights are at their p...
2024-10-1631 minLake Superior PodcastS5 E11: Pictured Rocks: Where Conservation Meets Recreation - An Interview with Hannah BradburnNearly a million visitors came to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in 2023, contributing over $45 million dollars to the nearby economies. For Alger County--with a population of less than nine thousand people—the park also supports 544 jobs. But hosting that many visitors and generating that much revenue does present unique challenges. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Hannah Bradburn, Visual Information Specialist at Pictured Rocks, to explore the park’s delicate balance between conservation and recreation.Key Takeaways: Visitor Growth: Pictured Rocks sees nea...
2024-10-0231 minLake Superior PodcastS4 E1: Peggy Burkman, Piping Plovers at Apostle IslandsA walk on the beach is good medicine for the soul, and Lake Superior’s sandy shores make for the perfect place to take a stroll. But every spring and summer, sections of shoreline are not open to the public, and for a very important reason. In this episode of Lake Superior podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Peggy Burkman, biologist at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore about the work she and her team do to help a tiny shorebird, the piping plover.Join our podcast community! Please share your own stories, comments and po...
2023-05-2533 min