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Points North | Great Lakes. Great Stories.

A Great Lakes Podcast
Great Lakes
Lake Superior
Michigan
Wisconsin
Microplastics
Lake Huron
Invasive Species
Blue Moon Ice Cream
Chicago
Nick Baumgartner
Environmental Conservation
Burt Lake Band Of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians
University Of Michigan
Snowboard Cross
Mount Baldy
Hypothermia
Arson
Crown Prince Akihito
Kayaking
Bluegill

There’s a spirit to the Great Lakes. Points North captures it through true stories of grit, wonder, and adventure alongside America’s inland seas. It’s part documentary, part road trip, part excuse to go somewhere interesting and poke around. New episodes every other Tuesday.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes167Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsNatural SciencesScience

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Artwork for Points North

Latest Episodes

A brief conversation about chestnut trees sends a hospice nurse down a rabbit hole that changes his life.

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*** We need at least 200 of you to step up and join the Points North Fan Club by the end of the year! It's just $5 a... more

George Bernier spent long, cold nights as a sled dog mailman in Michigan’s wilderness in the 1800s. What did those nights sound like and feel like?

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*** We need at least 200 of you to step up and join the Points North Fan... more

A small Wisconsin village is known for one thing: frog jumping. This yearly cultural competition has been happening for over 70 years and brings out hundreds of people. But all that tradition is ending, due in part, to one woman who says her mission ... more

Darren Bush has a rule about gifts. He won’t sell anything that was given to him. And, when the time is right, he will give that item to someone else. With one carbon-fiber paddle, that time came on a trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness... more

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Recent Guests

Ben McMurray
Hospice nurse and American chestnut grower
Episode: The Giving Tree
Jared Westbrook
Director of Science for the American Chestnut Foundation
The American Chestnut Foundation
Episode: The Giving Tree
Rory Pulaski
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources staffer involved in updating reptile and amphibian regulations
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Episode: The Last Jump
Dugan Hedik
Longtime frog jumper and member of a multigenerational frog-jumping family
Episode: The Last Jump
Courtney Bunderson
Committee chair for the Wisconsin State Frog Jump and member of a four-generation frog-jumping family
Wisconsin State Frog Jump
Episode: The Last Jump
Deanna Erickson
Points North Fan Club member who works in and around science
Episode: The Last Jump
Darren Bush
Writer, hospice chaplain, avid paddler and owner of Rutabaga Paddlesports
Rutabaga Paddlesports
Episode: Short: Sittin' On Top of the Bell Curve
Kevin Shafer
Executive at Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, responsible for preventing sewage overflows into basements and Lake Michigan
Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District
Episode: Update: A Thank You Card
Marcia Bjornerud
Professor of Geosciences, Lawrence University; author of Timefulness
Lawrence University
Episode: Presenting Living Planet: How Thinking Like a Geologist Can Help Save the World

Host

Dan Wonshura
Host of Points North, primary on-air presenter and producer

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 513 ratings
  • Perfect

    Points North is a perfect blend of joyful celebrations, fascinating facts, & in-depth research. I feel at home when I listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RockfordSuzy
    United States4 months ago
  • Blah blah blah

    Infuriating, one of those podcasts where the hosts blab on and on and take tangents and then at the end wimp out and don’t even have anything interesting to say- see the Blue Moon ice cream episode as a disappointing example. Waste of time

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Bekstayo
    United States6 months ago
  • So good!

    As a newer inhabitant of the Great Lakes (Erie), I’m so glad I came across this podcast. I’ve loved learning more about the region and this is a podcast I can listen to with my 8 year old. She especially enjoyed Dan’s turtle episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LakeDuck098
    United States9 months ago
  • Love Michigan

    I love hearing all the stories about Michigan being a Michigan under myself. It teaches me about history and keeps me informed about our state. Thanks for all the work you do and for your shared passion of the state.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Chelsie DeLong
    United States9 months ago
  • Quintessential & Nostalgic Stories of the Great Lakes

    Growing up in the Great Lakes region, born and raised in Green Bay, then moving to the Driftless Region, and later relocating to the Twin Cities before settling in Wyoming, this podcast has me reliving and appreciating what makes the area so special. The Points North podcast has great storytellers and high-quality production. I look forward to tuning in to each new episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jenna Lewins
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many reviews highlight production quality and engaging guests, with several listeners describing the episodes as informative, moving, and well-paced.
Some criticism centers on pacing or tangents in certain episodes, suggesting a preference for tighter focus in future topics.
Listeners praise the show's thorough research and strong storytelling, often noting how regional history and environmental topics come to life.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#250
Norway/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Giving Tree
Q: How do you feel about Dennis passing something on to you, whether you realized it at the time or not?
Ben sees it as a fitting parallel: people and plants leave something for what remains, whether that is ecological nourishment or memories, knowledge, and skills.
The Giving Tree
Q: What do you want different for people that come after you?
Ben says planting trees lets him contribute something that may remain after his death, much as people leave memories, knowledge, and skills behind.
The Last Jump
Q: Do you think you care more about frogs because of this competition, or because you're a jumper?
Dugan Hedik says that without the competition he might see frogs as fishing bait, but the event makes the family attentive to the frogs and their welfare.
The Last Jump
Q: Do you worry like it might impact people's interaction with nature and how they might care for a certain species?
Rory Pulaski compares frog capture with collecting birds, arguing that people can become fascinated with wildlife through observation without taking animals home.
Presenting HISTORY This Week: William Parker’s War on Slave Catchers
Q: What sparked William Parker's decision to take action in Lancaster?
Historical context shows Parker's community mobilized after the Fugitive Slave Act, convinced that existing laws would not protect Black families, leading to organized self-defense as a means to preserve freedom.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Points North

What is Points North about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A narrative-driven, mini-documentary style show focuses on the Great Lakes region, weaving science, history, environment, and local culture into immersive reporting. Episodes center on real people—scientists, historians, maritime explorers, community activists, and residents—sharing on-the-ground perspectives, data-driven investigations, and sense-of-place storytelling. Notable strengths include rigorous research, high production value, and a knack for turning complex topics (ecology, policy, heritage) into accessible narratives. The program often features field reporting, archival context, and collaborations with regional institutions, making it a strong fit for listeners who enjoy deep dives with tangible regional relevance and a storytel... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Points North?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Points North:

1. Outside/In
2. Throughline
3. The Wild with Chris Morgan
4. Radiolab
5. Sidedoor

How many episodes of Points North are there?

Points North launched 8 years ago and published 167 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Points North?

Recent guests on Points North include:

1. Ben McMurray
2. Jared Westbrook
3. Rory Pulaski
4. Dugan Hedik
5. Courtney Bunderson
6. Deanna Erickson
7. Darren Bush
8. Kevin Shafer

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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