On Hand

Squirrels aren’t a particularly exotic animal. The fluffy rodents are native to 49 out of 50 states. But there’s something that makes Michigan’s squirrels a little different–and it’s their color. Research suggests the state is part of a kind of Great Lakes “black squirrel belt.” On this episode of On Hand, we go looking for black squirrels–and talk to an evolutionary biologist ab...

One of the reasons the word "Kalamazoo" shows up in so many lyrics is because it's just a fun word to say. Rapper Jamall Bufford writes a freestyle around "Kalamazoo" and talks about creative writing in music.

• More music from Jamall Bufford, a.k.a. Buff1

GUEST: Jamall Bufford, rapper and lyricist

Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here:

• Online Submission Form

• Call us: 734-7...

There are dozens of songs that are titled "Kalamazoo" and more still that mention the southwest Michigan city. It's been that way since the early days of music recording, and "Kalamazoo" continues to find its way into songs. Why, though? We dig into this question, with a multipronged answer that takes us through an American musical legacy.

• Here's a brief playlist of songs that mention "Kalamazoo"
• Here's a brief playlist of fam...

The high-intensity beef between Michigan and Ohio State is well-known as the biggest rivalry in college football. We found a story to remind us that even at the height of the conflict, the two teams' legendary coaches weren't always at war. Jeff Weiss, a Michigander who grew up in Bowling Green, tells the story. 

Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here:

• Online Submission Form
• Call us: 734-764-7840
• Email us: onhan...

The feud between coaches Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler shaped the way many modern fans think about The Game. But The Rivalry has been fueled by events by much earlier elements, dating back to the founding of the Western Conference in the early 1900s. We trace the history of the rivalry, and the way it's shaped the players and the game. 

• See archival footage of Ohio State and Michigan here
• See a timeline here

GUEST...

In response to our episode on the Michigan Dogman, listener Linda Alice Dewey of Leelanau County wrote to us about her supernatural encounter that originated from a secluded, cemetery in Glen Arbor. The interaction resulted in a spirit driven book written by Dewey and co-authored by a ghost.

Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here:

• Online Submission Form
• Call us: 734-764-7840
• Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org

...

Blissfield resident Matt Menchaca put forth this question: is the Michigan Dogman real? On this episode of On Hand we learn the history behind the Michigan Dogman and how one podcaster uses his platform to create a safe place for traumatized witnesses.

GUESTS:  

• Rachel Clark, education specialist with the Archives of Michigan
• Vic Cundiff, host of Dogman Encounters Radio

In Michigan sometimes when we are driving and we want to turn left we have to turn right  first and it turns out that quirky traffic design can help prevent car crashes. Most people call it a Michigan Left or a Michigan U-Turn. But there are some Michiganders that have another name for it: the Banana Turn. 

GUESTS & SIBBLINGS: 

April Van Buren, producer for On Hand,
Chris Van Buren, attorney living in New Yor...

In Michigan, the left turn isn’t always a left turn. At certain intersections, you find yourself doing something counterintuitive. You turn right first in order to turn left. That's the notorious Michigan Left, but why does it exist?

GUESTS:

• Betty Nelson, 2025 School Bus Driver International Safety Competition
• Kirk Steudle, former head of the Michigan Department of Transportation

For a lot of us, Michigan’s iconic pop brands are tied into special memories from childhood. Maybe your mom would always give you Vernor’s when you had a tummyache. Or you can still remember the Faygo ads that played during your Saturday morning cartoons. Or you have fond memories of the Towne Club pop shop. We talked to one Michigander about the role that pop played in her childhood--and why she still loves those nosta...

Pop has long been the accepted Midwesternism for a sweet carbonated beverage. But could that be changing? On this episode of On Hand, we dig into the history of the pop vs. soda debate—and take a look at Michigan's linguistic preferences today.

GUESTS: 

• Steve Stamenkovich, national accounts manager for Intrastate Distributors, Inc. 
...

Matt Parker brings us a summer camp story about a childhood friend's tumble down the Sleeping Bear Dunes. The incident resulted in bloodstained shirts and an ambulance ride.

• Find last week's episode of On Hand here. 
• Find Ride of Passage, a podcast about Matt Parker's journey across the country on horseback, here.

Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it he...

We learned what goes into a rescue at the Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, what situations require a rescue, and how to not need one yourself. Plus, a secret hack if you want to experience the "dune drop" in a less intense way.

• See pictures of the old and new signage here
• Check out our handy travel map here
• Learn more about...

Chad Livengood is a Michiganian. Like... he's never going to be a "Michigander". It doesn't ring true to his ear, and his employer, The Detroit News, doesn't recognize "Michigander" in it's style guide - it prefers "Michiganian". And it's this commitment to style that landed Livengood at odds with Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

Here's Chad's Off Hand story.

GUEST:

Chad Livengood, politics editor, The Detroit News

Now we want to hear fr...

Poll after poll shows folks in Michigan prefer to call themselves "Michiganders" rather than "Michiganian". Why, though? Why did we start calling ourselves something so strange? Are we just a bunch of Michi-geese? It all started with a slave-holding senator, his run for president, and a run-in with Abraham Lincoln.

We've got the goods answering all your burning Michigan questions, beginning with our statewide identity. ...

The team that produces Michigan Public's Stateside introduces a new podcast answering listener questions about our weird and wonderful state! Our first few episodes will answer:

• Why do we call ourselves "Michiganders"?
• How many people need to be rescued from Sleeping Bear Dunes every year? 
• Why we say "pop" instead of "soda"?

To submit your own questions, or share a story, fill out our handy form!

To find more On Ha...