Teach Me About the Great Lakes

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 — and how Teflon went from a failed refrigerant ex...

🚨🚨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 Avengers Point 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 Grant Invasive Phragmites Control Centre Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative Invasive Species Centre Nature...

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 Bridge David B. Steinman Labor 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/gallery https://www.collab.is/english Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa a...

Stuart and Megan speak with Bill Pringle of the Detroit Historical Society and Dossin Great Lakes Museum.  Links: Dossin Great Lakes Museum | Detroit Historical Society Detroit Historical Society JW Westcott Detroit River Watch Webcam Doorway to Freedom – Detroit and the Underground Railroad Freedom Seekers curriculum connects students to the Underground Railroad, Great Lakes and science Detroit I...

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 Guardian Fat Bear Week Brown Bear Cam - Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park | Explore.org Webcams - Katmai National Park & Preserve (U.S. National Park Service) Great Lakes Fishery Commi...

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...

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 Pl...

Our fourth annual Halloween special

Megan and Carolyn talk with Dana Castle about anglers in the St. Clair-Detroit River System, the importance of creel surveys, some incredible restoration projects, and donuts but not for breakfast.  Links:  Great Lakes Science Advisory Board | International Joint Commission New publication:  Angler dynamics in the St. Clair-Detroit River System after decades of change - ScienceDirect   Lake St. Cl...

What are the aquatic invasive species that Great Lakes experts wish you knew more about? Megan and Carolyn discuss with TMATGL all-stars El Lower, Katie O'Reilly, and Brian Roth. Links: Past episodes featuring today's guests 13: It Smells Like Science , 27: The Claws Have the Sweetest Meat , 46: It's All Stuff That I've Eaten , Teach Me About the Great Lakes | 55: Ask Dr. Fish , Ask Dr. Fish , Tea...

Stuart and Megan talk coastal resilience in southern Lake Michigan with Drs. Sarah Peterson and Hillary Glandon.  Links: Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) Dr. Sarah Peterson, Coastal Engineering Specialist  Dr. Hillary Glandon, Coastal Ecosystem Specialist   IISG on YouTube (coastal resilience videos mentioned will be available here!)  Illinois Beach State Park  Isle Royale National Park   Apostle...

In this episode, Stuart and Carolyn speak with Dr. Jay Austin about stratification in lakes and how the Great Lakes behave differently, stratificationally speaking. Plus: fancy meat! -- Links: Jay Austin | Swenson College of Science and Engineering | UMN Duluth   Winter thermal structure across the Laurentian Great Lakes - ScienceDirect   In winter, the waters of Lakes Michigan and Huron separate...

In this episode, Stuart and Carolyn speak with Dr. Susan Kooiman about Indigenous agriculture in the Great Lakes region, what studying the past can teach us about the present, and extracting nut lipids. Show Links https://www.siue.edu/artsandsciences/anthropology/about/Kooiman_Susan.shtml   Cahokia Mounds   Drummond Island Ganawenindiwag Manoomin Anishinaabeg | Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildli...

Dr. Chris Winslow just won a major award at the International Association for Great Lakes Research conference!! To celebrate, here is our conversation from September 2022. Recorded live in Cleveland, Ohio, we talked with Chris about Lake Erie, poo, and the fabulous Stone Lab .    Episode recorded live at Masthead Brewing Company . If you want to donate to Ohio Sea Grant and the Stone Lab, please v...

This episode discusses the issue of microplastics in the Great Lakes, featuring experts from the International Joint Commission (IJC) and universities. Dr. Rebecca Rooney and Eden Hadley explain the standardized definition of microplastics, ranging from 5 millimeters to 1 micron, and their sources, including nurdles, tire wear, and synthetic clothing fibers. The IJC's report highlights the need fo...

(New episodes coming soon!) https://www.greatlakesnow.org/too-many-geese-and-not-enough-mussels/

Episode Links: https://ftw.usatoday.com/2025/01/giant-sturgeon-attacks-mermaid-aquarium-china-video https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/02/let-us-spray-river-dolphins-launch-pee-streams-into-air/ https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/08/sports/sturgeon-michigan-black-lake.html?unlocked_article_code=1.v04.UlcR.kPF-9mN6HIsK&smid=url-share

Growing up with multiple newspapers delivered to her home and spending a lot of time outside in Michigan, maybe it was inevitable that Kelly House would become an environmental journalist extraordinaire. She joins TMATGL to talk about her work, why journalism matters, and what gives her hope for the future of her profession and the natural world. Show Links: Kelly’s work at Bridge Michigan Sign up...

The nonprofit Freshwater Future has had much success working with local communities toward cleaner, safer drinking water. Jill Ryan, executive director, and Ann Baughman, associate director, patiently play Stuart’s favorite game, counting down the top five threats to our drinking water as they know them. SPOILER ALERT: Two of them surprised Stuart. Show Links: Freshwater Future Website TMATGL Epis...

This episode is a scientist’s dream and a nightmare of would-be organizational acronyms. Dr. Drew Gronewold, with his multiple titles and international work, introduces the TMATGL team to the Global Center for Climate Change and Transboundary Waters and the value of data. (As if we didn’t know…) Show Links: Global Center for Climate Change and Transboundary Waters Coordinating Committee on Great L...