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Michigan
Detroit
Republican Party
Donald Trump
Tariffs
University Of Michigan
Grand Rapids
Covid-19
Democratic Party
Great Lakes
Mental Health
Detroit Lions
Trump Administration
Patrick Lyoya
Bird Flu
Sleeping Bear Dunes
ICE
Michigan State University
Michigander
Ope

Ever wondered why we call ourselves “Michiganders”? Or why we say “pop” instead of “soda”? Or, seriously, how many people need to be rescued from Sleeping Bear Dunes every year? That’s why we’re bringing you a new podcast - On Hand - to answer all your questions about what makes our state so special.

To share a story or submit your questions, head to michiganpublic.org/onhand

If you like what yo... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes130Founded14 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Artwork for On Hand

Latest Episodes

Are Michigan's roads really so bad that we need to be repairing them all the time? What's really going on with our orange-barrel forests? For this episode of On Hand, we tackle a listener's question about road repairs by talking to two actual road en... more

For many Michiganders, Up North begins at the north end of the Mackinac Bridge. One listener defends the Upper Peninsula as true north. And another listener says the southern border of the mitten is also Up North for many people.

GUESTS ON THIS EPI... more

YouTube

It's a great Michigan debate; what is the line or the place that marks the end of the southern part of the state and the beginning of that mystical land we call Up North?

The answers vary from emotional to philosophical. But there's also an ecologi... more

YouTube

Many of us have a road that's more than a line on a map—it's a memory. Maybe it’s the street you grew up on or the dirt road that leads you to a cottage Up North.

For listener Tom Topolski, it’s Lake Michigan Drive.

GUEST:

• Thomas Topolski... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Keith Baker
City manager of Coldwater
City of Coldwater
Episode: Your Stories: The U.P. is true Up North
Ken Raisanen
Retired geography, earth science teacher; grew up in Marquette
None stated
Episode: Your Stories: The U.P. is true Up North
Gretchen Whitmer
Governor of Michigan (quoted on Up North)
State of Michigan
Episode: Where does "Up North" begin?
Joshua Cohen
Lead ecologist and senior conservation scientist
Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Michigan State Extension
Episode: Where does "Up North" begin?
Tom Topolski
Listener who shared a memory of Lake Michigan Drive
Episode: Your Stories: Summertime memories of Lake Michigan Drive
Jeff Horner
Professor of Teaching and Urban Studies and Planning at Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Episode: Why does Michigan have Mile roads?
Mike Lehnert
Michigan native who recounts how his family viewed and supported the bottle bill's passage
Resident of Michigan; veteran
Episode: Your Stories: The pop can economy at CMU
Andrea Haupt
Listener storyteller from South Lyon, MI who recalls the CMU dorm bottle culture in 1990
Listener/Storyteller
Episode: Your Stories: The pop can economy at CMU
Nick Kronzbein
President of the business unit at Shoe Pan and Sons
Shoe Pan and Sons
Episode: Is Michigan’s 10-cent bottle deposit worth it?

Host

April Baer
Host of On Hand; Michigan Public Radio; chronic ranch skeptic.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 191 ratings
  • In depth stories

    The stories always delve into the deeper details and provide first person accounts. Keep up this great reporting.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Milinda Ysasi
    United Statesa year ago
  • Confusing and just trash now

    I’ve used this Podcast app for years and now I can’t even make it play consecutive episodes or figure out how it works. Its totally confusing totally worth it to me now!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    BJ 89
    United States2 years ago
  • I love this podcast!!

    This podcast covers great stories of all scale from across the state. April is fantastic!! I feel so much more connected to my state and community hearing Michigan stories.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Madmadie
    United States2 years ago
  • I'm sad I have to Unfollow

    This podcast used to be so good about two years ago but now it seems it consist of nothing but Michigan sports. The podcast should go back to focusing on real news and leave the sports to a different podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Nick_t03
    United States2 years ago
  • Great podcast!

    I love listening to April and guests talk about topics that are important and interesting. I learn something new in every one. Especially like that they’re short enough to listen to running errands or taking a break. I don’t always have time to read an article or research the latest news so these dives into hot topics are helpful!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    hemingway79
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Some critiques note drift toward sports and politics in certain eras.
Listeners value accessible, well-produced local reporting.
Listeners appreciate the strong Michigan focus and human-interest storytelling.
Fans appreciate diverse guest perspectives and the sense of community.
Many praise concise formats and engaging guests.

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CandaceCandace Owens
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PivotNew York Magazine

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Where does "Up North" begin?
Q: So where does Up North begin for you?
Most people use a blend of personal experience and a visible boundary like the Zilwaukee Bridge or the Clinton area; there's no single universal start, but a gradient defined by place, vibe, and ecological features.
Your Stories: The U.P. is true Up North
Q: What about the topography explains why Up North feels different as you move south?
Ken explains glacially driven terrain, a slope toward Lake Michigan, and how the landscape becomes more visible and distinct as you move toward places like Pelston, contributing to a sense of being farther from the UP.
Your Stories: The U.P. is true Up North
Q: When do you feel like you have crossed into an area that is not up north?
Ken explains that crossing the Mackinac Bridge is a clear signal, with the area south of Gaylord feeling like no man's land and less UP-esque in feel.
Is Michigan’s 10-cent bottle deposit worth it?
Q: Why haven't lawmakers updated the law in Michigan?
Bottle bills have been a long-standing part of Michigan's DNA, with COVID causing a dip in returns; there may be limited incentive to fix a system that wasn't perceived as broken during the crisis.
Is Michigan’s 10-cent bottle deposit worth it?
Q: Would raising the deposit value significantly change behavior?
Yes, higher deposits would likely increase returns and recycling rates, though there are concerns about price impacts for consumers and retailer acceptability; some evidence suggests 60-cent levels could boost behavior more than 10 cents.

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 On Hand

What is On Hand about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on Michigan life, culture, and history through intimate, story-driven episodes. It often pairs personal memories with historical context, exploring topics like regional dialects, state identity, local food culture, sports rivalries, and political history. Episodes frequently feature a mix of residents, researchers, and regional experts, delivering accessible deep-dives into how Michigan's quirks shape everyday life. Noteworthy is the balance between human-interest storytelling and rigorous local history, offering concise, state-focused content ideal for listeners who want tangible connections to Michigan's communities.

Where can I find podcast stats for On Hand?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for On Hand. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to On Hand and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does On Hand get?

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What are the audience demographics for On Hand?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for On Hand, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does On Hand have?

To see how many followers or subscribers On Hand has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to On Hand?

These podcasts share a similar audience with On Hand:

1. Points North
2. Fresh Air
3. This American Life
4. Radiolab
5. On the Media

How many episodes of On Hand are there?

On Hand launched 14 years ago and published 130 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact On Hand?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for On Hand?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for On Hand from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

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Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of On Hand. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on On Hand?

Recent guests on On Hand include:

1. Keith Baker
2. Ken Raisanen
3. Gretchen Whitmer
4. Joshua Cohen
5. Tom Topolski
6. Jeff Horner
7. Mike Lehnert
8. Andrea Haupt

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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