The cabins scattered throughout the Porcupine Mountains each holds a logbook for guests to complete. Since the 1940s, parks staff have collected about 200 completed books full of decades of stories.

Special thanks to John Carlisle and Ryan Garza of The Detroit Free Press for their coverage of the Porcupine Mountains' logbooks.

GUEST:

Katie Urban, Park Interpreter for the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park

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Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

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The next few years will be big ones for Detroit.

In the last ten years, there’s been a national reawakening to Detroit’s possibilities. The incumbent mayor, Mike Duggan is moving on, and the city will have a very public conversation about the way forward, as his successor is chosen.

And leadership will come in other forms, as well.

One of the city’s non-profits, the Institute for AfroUrbanism, has come up with a series of grants supporting research into the infinite possibilities of Black futures.

Today, a look at how the institute is empowering visionary leaders with innovative ideas for equity, opportunity, and transformation in the city.

GUEST:

Lauren Hood, founder and executive director of the Insitute for AfroUrbanism

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Ducks are one of the first animals little kids learn about--rubber duckies anybody? But if you head to your local river or lake during the winter, the waterfowl you find there might be a bit...weirder than the kind you see during warmer seasons. Today's episode is all about those weird winter ducks and the people who love them.

GUEST:

April Campbell, doctor and birding enthusiast

Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way.

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.

Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.