Advertise on podcast: Teach Me About the Great Lakes

We ask our Drs Fish about "zombie fish," fishes of spring, fish intelligence, and fishes' environmental sensitivities. Walpole Island students raising lake sturgeon"Saving Our Sturgeon"Teach Me About the Great Lakes episode #97 NOAA snailfish ROV video  BBC article on Danionella cerebrum"Cocaine pollution alters the movement and space use of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in a large natural lake"Ephemeral Ponds Show Credits:Hosts & Producers: Stuart Carlton, Katie O'Reilly, Titus SeiheimerCoordinating producer: Megan GunnEdited by: Ray WallaceArtwork by: Ethan KocakMusic by: Stuart Carlton

We ask our Drs Fish about lake sturgeon spawning biology, sucker and northern pike spring activity, and federal vs. state endangered species listing for Great Lakes fish. WUWM article on Milwaukee River sturgeon returnMilwaukee Sturgeon FestWisconsin DNR sturgeon spawning viewing locations Show Credits:Hosts & Producers: Stuart Carlton, Katie O'Reilly, Titus SeiheimerCoordinating producer: Megan GunnEdited by: Ray WallaceArtwork by: Ethan KocakMusic by: Stuart Carlton  Contact: [email protected]: 765-496-4474

In this episode, Stuart and Natty talk with Dr. Sarah Balgooyen of PFAS@Mines at the Colorado School of Mines about her team's surprisingly good news: PFAS levels in Great Lakes fish have been declining since the mid-2000s. They get into how you actually find that out — freeze-drying and blending 50-year-old lake trout pulled out of an EPA freezer. PLUS: a New Yorker cartoon pitch! Warren Dunes State Park, Michigan Bob's Atomic Burgers, Golden, CO Sarah's paper — Journal of Great Lakes Research PFAS@Mines research group EPA Great Lakes Fish Monitoring and Surveillance Program iiseagrant.org

🚨🚨Manel alert! Manel alert!🚨🚨 In this episode, Stuart speaks with Glenn Evans, professor of graphic design at St. Clair College, about The Great Lakes Avengers, which are apparently a thing? Show links: Great Lakes AvengersPoint Pelee National Park

In this episode, Stuart and Natty speak with Janice Gilbert of the Invasive Phragmites Control Centre about the ecological benefits of native aquatic plants, the persistent threat posed by invasive common reeds, and the ultimate glory of a fresh summer tomato sandwich. Illinois Indiana Sea GrantInvasive Phragmites Control CentreGreat Lakes Phragmites CollaborativeInvasive Species CentreNature Conservancy of CanadaDucks Unlimited CanadaUSGS Great Lakes Science CenterGreat Lakes CommissionLong Point Region (UNESCO Biosphere Reserve)Coastal and Great Lakes Social Science Lab

Stuart and Megan talk with Kim Nowack, Bridge Director of the Mackinac Bridge Authority, about what else? The Mighty Mac, a 5-mile (8 km) bridge that connects Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas!! Links:  Tacoma Narrows BridgeDavid B. SteinmanLabor Day Bridge Walk Mackinaw City Bakery  https://www.mackinawbakery.com/2 The Moon Bakery Keweenaw Peninsula

Megan, Stuart, and Natty talk Great Lakes ice coverage, the importance of weather conditions, and simple ice math with Eric Anderson of the Colorado School of Mines.

As we take the week off to celebrate Groundhog Day (or something), we're re-airing this conversation with James Kessler of NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab. In it, Stuart and Carolyn speak with James Kessler of the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab about lake ice coverage, spaghetti diagrams, and shoveling snow for ice hockey. Enjoy!

Stuart, Megan, and Natty speak with John Schmidt, program manager of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers' 100% Great Lakes Fish Initiative. They also discuss different things you can drink, if you want. Show links: https://gsgp.org/projects/100-great-lakes-fish/https://fiskurleather.com/https://theaquaborne.com/galleryhttps://www.collab.is/englishGrand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians https://www.gtbindians.org https://michiganadvance.com/2025/08/14/in-peshawbestown-the-grand-traverse-band-puts-fish-waste-to-use/https://www.mannysdeli.com/https://www.xiancuisinechicago.com/west-loophttps://www.johnnys-beef.com/https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/fishing/black-lake

Stuart and Megan speak with Bill Pringle of the Detroit Historical Society and Dossin Great Lakes Museum.  Links: Dossin Great Lakes Museum | Detroit Historical SocietyDetroit Historical SocietyJW WestcottDetroit River Watch WebcamDoorway to Freedom – Detroit and the Underground RailroadFreedom Seekers curriculum connects students to the Underground Railroad, Great Lakes and scienceDetroit Institute of Arts MuseumOutdoor Treasures | Detroit Historical SocietyMudgie's DeliBelle Isle Conservancy

Our annual awards show, or, quite possibly not the least prestigious podcast-related awards ceremony there is. No show notes to avoid spoilers!

Stuart and Megan discuss fish passage projects with Jeff Tyson of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. Also, bears and salmon!Links: What is the 'salmon cannon' and how do the fish feel about it? | Fish | The GuardianFat Bear WeekBrown Bear Cam - Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park | Explore.orgWebcams - Katmai National Park & Preserve (U.S. National Park Service)Great Lakes Fishery Commission - Fish PassageMetroparks recommend replacing Flat Rock Dam with rock arches that maintain reservoir - Great Lakes Commission

Each November, we love to feature nonprofits who are doing wonderful work throughout the Great Lakes. This year, we speak with Sandy Wynn-Stelt and Tony Spaniola of the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network, and Betsy Maher and Em Racine of Save the Dunes. We hope you are as inspired as we were!! *Apologies for the audio issues: Carolyn edited the episode. Please do not judge Stuart or Sandra. Submit nominations for The Lakies!! Links: Great Lakes PFAS Action NetworkPFAS Contamination in MI takes Center Stage on Capitol Hill | Council of Michigan Foundations PFAS advocates have got some federal 'wins' recently, what's next? On the Rise Bakery - Capuchin Soup Kitchen  Sprinkles Donut Shop Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park Au Sable - Huron-Manistee National Forests Past episodes on PFAS52: Let's Buy a Vowel HereWe Can't Measure Them AllTeach Me About the Great Lakes | Biomagnifying in the Food ChainTeach Me About the Great Lakes | Diner Tuna is the Best Tuna  Teach Me About the Great Lakes | Massive Piles of Petroleum Coke Make a donation to Save the Dunes for Giving Tuesday Vote for Save the Dunes at Blue Chip Casino Trees of Hope (see picture on social media)Follow on social media: https://www.facebook.com/savedunes/ and https://www.instagram.com/savethedunes/Sign up for Save the Dunes enewslettersSave the Dunes Website, home to upcoming events, action alerts, Save the Dunes history and more! Panini Panini Joe's BreadTiny's Coffee BarFLUID Coffee Roasters   Marquette Park — Visit Miller Beach | Gary Indiana Indiana’s Cowles Bog | A Protected Natural Sanctuary

Megan and Renie speak with Michael Gemmell of Parks Canada about the establishment of the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area, and are introduced to a delicious treat.  Correction: Ashley Eaton works with Lake Champlain Sea Grant and not Wisconsin Sea Grant. Links: Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area Lake Superior Circle Tour National Marine Conservation Areas System Plan The Gunilda Shipwreck: Tales from the Depths | Northern Ontario Travel Lake Superior Lighthouses The surprising, shocking, startling, astonishing story of Silver Islet The Sumptuous History Of The Thunder Bay Persian Roll | Flavour Network

Our fourth annual Halloween special