Up North Lowdown

Apr 12 2025 30 ep. 22 mins 14

Up North Lowdown Podcast artwork

Each week, you’ll hear sound-rich stories from northern Michigan, interviews with journalists and newsmakers, and a look at some of the other things making news in our state — all in about 15 minutes. Get the Up North Lowdown, from Interlochen Public Radio.

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After the storm, now what?

Apr 12 2025 20 mins

After the ice storms, the conversation is shifting from response to recovery, and utilities are figuring out how to prepare for the next storm. Also, Marc Maron talks to us about his career in comedy, podcasts, film and more.

The big storm

Apr 05 2025 31 mins

An ice storm wreaked havoc on northern Michigan this week, leaving thousands without power and heat and littering the region with the debris of snapped trees and downed power lines. We'll hear voices from the storm. Also, a look at how tensions between the U.S. and Canada could impact the Great Lakes, a look at 50 years of service from Traverse City's Women's Resource Center and we

Checking in

Mar 29 2025 18 mins

This week, we check in with our environment and climate reporters about two big northern Michigan stories, with significant updates on both. We also speak with filmmaker Rich Brauer about his "Dogman" series of movies and the magic of cinema. And a local musician is about to tour with a superstar.

Change of plans

Mar 22 2025 22 mins

A business in Empire puts energy improvements on hold amid a federal funding freeze. Still, the owner of the Lively NeighborFood Market is hoping the money — which he wants to use to install solar panels and reduce electrical costs — will eventually come through. This week, we'll also talk about a new project we're calling "The Next Four Years." We've been asking people in nort

The sewage struggle

Mar 15 2025 25 mins

Why a Leelanau County township's cease-and-desist notice had little effect on the use of sewage as farm fertilizer. We'll also hear about the competitive race to get kids registered for a summer camp in Traverse City, and what it says about child care in northern Michigan. And we talk with author Howard Lovy about his debut novel — partly set at Interlochen in the mid-1980s.

Airports and asylums

Mar 08 2025 30 mins

As Traverse City's airport expands, officials see an opportunity to address climate change. Also, the difficulty of tracking how opioid settlement dollars are spent. We'll hear how an old asylum in Traverse City inspired a new novel. And we meet the journalist behind a newsletter that's by, for and about the Indigenous people of Michigamiing (Michigan).

Three conversations

Mar 01 2025 25 mins

This week we have three conversations we think you need to hear. A lawsuit against Benzie County in federal court alleges that sheriff’s deputies could have prevented a murder. We hear from the victim’s son, who is bringing the case. And, federal job cuts hit close to home. A conversation with a Cadillac woman who lost her job at the Forest Service. Also, in his career as a fre

Death, steam and finding your people

Feb 22 2025 16 mins

Our stories this week are about finding community. Come with us to Death Club, a gathering of people in Traverse City who meet to talk about loss — and to find human connections and maybe even joy along the way. We'll also preview Sauna Fest, which begins Feb. 28. The organizers say they're hoping to bring together an increasing number of sauna enthusiasts in our region and maybe

Money, cards and a little punk rock

Feb 15 2025 28 mins

Much of the money for wildlife management at Michigan's Department of Natural Resources comes from people paying for hunting and fishing licenses. But the system might not hold up much longer. We'll also try our hand at the card game "Spitzer," a northeast Michigan classic with a dedicated band of folks trying to keep it alive. We hear from Matthew Fletcher, whose new collectio

A waterslide for whitefish

Feb 08 2025 25 mins

As whitefish numbers decline in lakes Michigan and Huron, researchers are hoping to get them to spawn in rivers for the first time in about a century. They're using what is basically a waterslide to help. We catch up with former U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow. The Michigan Democrat is a private citizen now, but not taking a backseat on matters of public policy. The author Geraldine Broo