WXPR We Live Up Here
WXPR Public Radio
Subscribe
WXPR's We Live Up Here series is a home for stories that focus on the people, history, and culture that make the Northwoods of Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan such a unique place to live.
Available episodes
Newest first
Oldest first
Aug 5, 2022
The Chain Skimmers bring home state title while wowing the crowds with their water ski tricks each summer
Waterskiing is one of the top summertime sports for residents and visitors alike in the Northwoods.But for some the love gliding across the water goes beyond laps around the lake.
playlist_add
May 27, 2022
Northwoods women spread positivity while they share the uniqueness the area has to offer
The Northwoods is full of unique places visits and fun things to do.And it never hurts to do them with a little positivity.That’s the message two Northwoods women are trying to share on social media are they travel around the area.
playlist_add
May 13, 2022
Modern homesteading: A Rhinelander man's journey to sustainable, self-sufficient living
Homesteading can bring to mind images of pioneers trying to survive on the American frontier. But it’s a lifestyle that hasn’t disappeared from the Northwoods.
playlist_add
Apr 15, 2022
Lac du Flambeau Tribal Member performs with Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra for world premiere composition
Darren Thompson's talent has made him sought after, including by the music director from the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra.
playlist_add
Mar 4, 2022
Wabeno Area Players celebrate 40 years of performing arts
Wabeno is a small town in Forest County with a big focus on the arts.For more than 40 years now, the Wabeno Area Players have entertained crowds with their performances.
playlist_add
Feb 4, 2022
Skijoring to success: Northwoods woman looks to defend national title in the sport she loves
Skijoring is a growing sport in the Northwoods.If you’re not familiar with the it, picture cross-country skiing where the skier is led by one or two dogs with a long rope connecting them.A local woman is making her name nationally known in the sport.
playlist_add
Jan 20, 2022
Rhinelander teen sets sights on music career as harp performance earns her a scholarship at St. Olaf College
playlist_add
Jan 14, 2022
Rhinelander filmmaker releases documentary, using art to start conversations about community
The City of God is a recently released 90-minute documentary that explores how one Haitian community approaches development. It was produced by Rhinelander’s own Nate Sheppard.
playlist_add
Dec 17, 2021
This Northwoods explorer skates on thin ice...literally
Sub-zero temperatures are not for everyone, but for one Northwoods adventure-seeker, the colder the better.
playlist_add
Jul 23, 2021
A New Generation of Farming – and Winemaking – at Taiga Farm in Ironwood
In the early 1900s, thousands of settlers moved into the Upper Midwest to farm lands that were recently cutover by timber companies. Many challenges and hardships would befall these early farmers, from the short growing season to extracting stumps and rocks from their fields. Most of these early attempts to farm clearcut lands ended in hardship and misery. This is a story of an Ironwood Township farm and vineyard finding success in one of these underused farmsteads.
playlist_add
Apr 23, 2021
Crafty Couple
Bill and Donna Kallner from eastern Langlade County are what you might call a “crafty couple.” Bill constructs fish landing nets and Donna makes textiles with natural wool and dyes. For the last 20 years this has been their primary source of income.
playlist_add
Mar 12, 2021
Northwoods Dog Sledding
Northwoods Dog Sledding
playlist_add
Feb 19, 2021
Ice Age Hiker and Quiet Activist
For Duluth, Minnesota resident, Emily Ford, a “hike” isn’t a leisurely stroll through the woods in a t-shirt and shorts. This winter, it’s a trudge through snow, ice, and cold across Wisconsin. Ford is hiking the entire twelve hundred miles of the Ice Age Trail in the state, setting a lot of “firsts” as she does it.
playlist_add
Jan 22, 2021
Northwoods Wood Boat Maker
Have you ever stopped and admired an old wooden canoe or an early motorboat on a lake? If you have, you are not alone as the beauty and craftsmanship of these early watercraft captivates many including boat builder Josh Swan who is keeping the tradition alive.
playlist_add
Dec 4, 2020
Funerals During The Pandemic
If you live in the Northwoods, you know there are still many family-run funeral homes. Funeral home directors, along with the entire funeral industry, have made changes as a result of the pandemic. But small community funeral directors often have an extra burden.
playlist_add
Nov 20, 2020
Forest Archaeology
If you live up here, you are familiar with the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. What you may not know is that these forests were inhabited for thousands of years and that there is a team of archaeologists who protect and manage these cultural resources.
playlist_add
Sep 25, 2020
Northwoods Artists During The Pandemic
The Northwoods has long been known for its active art community. Jim Skibo visited two local artists to learn how the COVID-19 restrictions have changed their art and the way it is sold.
playlist_add
Sep 11, 2020
Northwoods Real Estate Boom During Pandemic
A logical result of the pandemic and a weakened economy would be a sluggish real estate market in the Northwoods and elsewhere. Instead, real estate purchases are booming in many parts of the country including the Northwoods. Ironically, the pandemic and stay at home orders may be behind a recent surge in local real estate purchases.
playlist_add
Aug 18, 2020
High Water Kayaking On The Wolf River
When the Wolf River reached record levels late in July, the raft and tube rental concessions closed because of concerns for rider safety. But for experienced canoe and kayak paddlers, like Brian Heikenen and Martin Dawson, this was, perhaps, a once in a lifetime experience. Heikenen checks the USGS gauge in Langlade almost daily.
playlist_add
Aug 14, 2020
We Live Up Here: The Historic Ironwood Theatre
The 1920s were known as the golden age for the construction of grand, opulent theaters, called “movie palaces.” While most of these epically built theaters have been either shuttered, repurposed, or demolished, one “palace,” the Historic Ironwood Theatre, has not only persevered but still retains its vibrant and elegant charm.
playlist_add