Points North is a biweekly podcast produced by Interlochen Public Radio about the evolving land, water and inhabitants of the Upper Great Lakes. It’s about where we are and how we move forward.

Points North

Brian Granger stands at the edge of a field at dusk

The magnificent sky dance of the American woodcock

Points North·March 8, 2024

At dusk in fields in Pennsylvania and throughout the Great Lakes region in spring, an odd-looking bird takes to the sky for an elaborate, acrobatic display. We take you there.

Conservation Wild Pennsylvania Wildlife

Several turtles swim in an aquarium.

The turtle takeover of Lake Erie

Points North·February 22, 2024

So many people have released their pet red-eared sliders into Lake Erie that the turtle is now an invasive species, out-competing native turtles.

Conservation Water Wild Pennsylvania Wildlife

A man sits on the floor with a guitar next to a sequoia sampling playing an electric guitar.

Can plants make music? The plant musician says ‘yes’

Points North·December 20, 2023

A plant music machine supposedly harnesses the electricity in plants and then turns those impulses into musical notes.

Conservation Culture

A white jellyfish floats in green water.

We’ve got jellyfish! How the invertebrates got into the Great Lakes

Points North·October 11, 2023

Researchers think the species hitched a ride here on ornamental aquatic plants shipped from China. But we still don’t know all that much about them.

Conservation Water Wildlife

Flames from a prescribed fire

Rekindling wilderness: Bringing back an Indigenous practice to manage the land

Points North·September 1, 2023

The Indigenous practice of using fire to manage land is being revived in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota.

Kurt Steiner skips a stone

The Stone Skipping Philosopher

Points North·August 18, 2023

World record holder Kurt Steiner, who got his start on Lake Erie, considers stone skipping a "middle finger at the technological capitalist system."

Recreation Water

Two men holding a large check

Not Just Another Fish Story: The Lake Erie Walleye Cheating Scandal

Points North·June 30, 2023

The Points North podcast reels in the true story behind the event that rocked the competitive fishing world.

Colorful squirrel with glowing features

Glowing squirrels and the search for ‘why’

Points North·May 26, 2023

One night in northern Wisconsin, Jon Martin was looking for biofluorescence. But what Martin saw that night was something he never expected.

Conservation Wildlife

Aerial photo of Lake Erie with green algal blooms

The Phosphorus Paradox: We use it to grow food, but it’s poisoning our water

Points North·May 3, 2023

Phosphorus, a key ingredient in agricultural fertilizers, is fueling harmful algal blooms in the Great Lakes.

Pollution Water Your Environment Update

Aaron Landon

A trail less traveled: Few have hiked all 4,800 miles of the North Country Trail

Points North·February 3, 2023

Only 20 people are known to have hiked the entire North Country National Scenic Trail. In Ohio farm country, one more name is about to make the list.

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