The DepotCast: Recent Episodes
Durand Union Station
We were a little late with this one, but this episode is about Baseball and how the growth of transportation in America led directly to its National Pastime.
Mike has big news, so we decided to get right into it and have an exit interview live on air.
Mike, Mack, and Mary discuss the previous week wherein we gave 6 classrooms of 4th graders tours of the building online. There is some actual railroad content in this episode, as we discuss Fenton, Michigan!
Mike and Mack do an arguably wise thing and search the internet for weird railroad stories. Mike's were too awful to read so he had to find a backup plan.
Mike and Mack take a imaginary trip down to Detroit this week to learn about three major train stations in their history: The Michigan Central Station, The Fort Street Union Station, and the Brush Street Station.
Mike and Mackenzie discuss trains that go really, really, fast around the world. (Mackenzie says "zoomie!") Please enjoy our babbling! We learned alot.
Mike, Mary, and a weirdly echoey Mackenzie (whoops) discuss merchandise ideas for the coming year. If you've ever wondered what goes through our heads when deciding what to sell in the gift shop, this episode is for you!
Mike, Mack, and Mary tell some train robbery tales today, taking us from Nebraska in 1877 to Glasgow in 1963! Also our furnace kicks on in the middle of the recording and forces Mike to finally do some editing for once.
Mike and Mack dive into short lines this week, discussing the Great Lakes Central and the Lake State Railway!
It's a SNOW DAY, but Mike, Mary, and Mack all piled into a voice call to nerd out over some cool architectural siblings of our Depot. Included is the Gandy Dancer/MCRR Station in Ann Arbor!
Mike, Mack, and Mary spend some time today discussing Spier and Rohns, the Architectural Fathers of Durand Union Station, and going into detail on the many siblings that were build around the same time around Michigan.
There are so many that this became Part I of II. We'll continue next week!
Mike and Mackenzie (live from her car) quickly break down the history of the rail in Sault Ste. Marie. We had to do this quickly because she only had half an hour to record. This sounds like a topic we'll come back to, but enjoy the history of the Soo Line, Wisconsin Central, Canadian Pacific, and Canadian National!
Mackenzie went back up north to school, so Mike shares a HISTORY MYSTERY he and Curtis recently solved for a gentleman. Along the way, we all learned a bunch about West Olive, the Michigan Central Railroad, and the Pere Marquette!
That's right, our podcast about railroad history is actually talking about railroad history this week!
Mike and Mack interview DUSI President Mike Rexin on his background, how Norma tricked him into working here, and what he's learned in 2020. Our Mike forgot to turn his own microphone on for 28 minutes, because he is a fool.
Mike, Mackenzie, and Mary reminisce over the year that was in 2020, what we learned, and what that means for us and Durand Union Station in 2021.
Mike and Mackenzie read a couple of train-related children's books for Christmas! They are "The Trains of Christmas" by Rick and Michael Roll, and "The Polar Express" by Chris Van Allsburg. Merry Christmas!
Mike and Mackenzie dive into the Library collection to pull some stories about living on the rails by a collection of hobos, including Steam Train Maury.
Mackenzie decides to get in on the "reading passages of a book on the podcast" fun with some narratives directly from the 2005 Anthology "Depot Dreams!" Mike largely goes on some weird tangents.
This expansion to Episode 35 is the 2016 Panel Discussion held at the Depot during Railroad Days. It features four woman railroaders: Jessica Hensley, Pat Post, Judy Cunningham, and Sue Hatherill. Each one tells their own story of how they got their start on the railroad and what their unique roles were. Ms. Post has since left us, so we are particularly glad we were able to get her story on tape.
Please enjoy. Chances to get history on recording are hard to come by and this was one of the most fun afternoons we ever had!
Mackenzie, Mary, and Mike discuss a recent virtual tour we gave to 4th grade Girl Scouts and the topic of how women work on the railroad.
They also get sidetracked a lot. That part isn't surprising. Happy Thanksgiving!
This episode is recorded specifically for children as Mike reads a short selection of stories from Thomas the Tank Engine, by Rev. W. Awdry. Enjoy!
Mike records a very short episode this week about local engine GTW 5632. This is what happens when you're busy working on Christmas stuff and don't remember to prep for a podcast until Wednesday night!
Mike and Mackenzie dive into a couple of neat old articles about the origins of the railroad in Durand and the 1923 Knights Templar Train Wreck.
Mike, Mary, Mackenzie, Mallory, Maria, Autumn, and Daniel pile into a voice call to discuss ghosts and whether they hang out at the Depot. We also discuss many other things that may or may not pertain to ghosts, spirits, or hauntings. This one was a lot of fun, but maybe not the most organized, or on topic, or educational. Enjoy!
Mike and Mary do a longer than initially planned recap of the Fall Raffle, and discuss what they learned in the 40th attempt at it. Never complacent!
Mike and Curtis discuss a variety of topics but try to focus on what the railroad used the Caboose for, why they don't use them anymore, and what's special about the Caboose on display near the Depot.
Mike, Mackenzie, and Mary tackle the often-asked question about whether houses in Durand were used for the Underground Railroad or whether they were used to smuggle illegal alcohol during Prohibition.
A Full House of Mike, Mary, Tim, and Dan discuss how on earth we've made enough money to keep this place going for the last 45 years. Also, the phone rings constantly. We didn't edit this at all.
Mike breaks down his and the museum's position on how to be accessible and inclusive to all people. Museums are for everyone, and we hope this episode helps you understand our line of thinking more closely!
Mike, Mary, and Mackenzie discuss ideas and options for a COVID-impacted Christmas at the Depot. This is more or less a conversation that we decided to record.
Mike and Actual Expert Curtis discuss what an Interurban railroad was, how it was different from a standard railroad, and why they were a phenomenon for only 40 years!
Mike introduces our new co-host! We then discuss what their life is like in the wonderful city of Sault Ste. Marie, on the campus of Lake Superior State University. Can you guess who it is?
Mike and Curtis discuss the history, mission, and activities of Operation Lifesaver, a nonprofit that specializes in educating people on rail safety. Stay alert! Stay alive!
Mike and Mary lament the loss of their co-host and discuss Hobos and life on the rails. They also provide two recipes for Hobo Stew!
In our Season 1 finale, Mike, Mackenzie, and Mary discuss Christmas at the Depot, make strong points about Santa Claus and Ohio State Football (Mike), and finally say goodbye to Mackenzie as she heads off to college.
Mike and Mackenzie have it super easy this week as Mary takes the helm and interviews Elizabeth Wehman, author of the brand-new "The Year the Stars Fell."
Mike and Mackenzie, not content to figure out how to go over the water by train, have decided to go under it as well! Mike almost cusses twice, but gets a handle on it before disaster!
Mike, Mackenzie, and returning guest Jerry Becker break down Carferries and why and how you would move a train across the Great Lakes!
Mike, Mackenzie, and Curtis briefly discuss what the day was like for them working a Saturday at the Depot, as well as reaffirm their eternal grudge against the hated pigeons.
Mike, Mackenzie, and Mary are LIVE IN THE STUDIO recording a podcast about the Orphan Trains that sent kids from New York into the prairies in the late 1800s.
By "Studio," we mean "the Boardroom."
Mike, Mackenzie, and Mary discuss what it was like opening the museum again after 12 weeks and what they did during their time away.
Mike and Mackenzie look into some other Michigan Railroad Disasters from the early 1900s!
Mike, Mackenzie, Mary, and Tim pitch ideas and decided this was a good podcast idea. We had fun, at least!
Mike, Mackenzie, Mary, and Tim discuss how they make museum exhibits at the Depot. The short answer is "strangely." The long answer is "strangely, but everything works out!"
A rare episode in which Mike doesn't ruin the audio, but does discuss presidential whistle stops with Mackenzie and Mary. Special Guest: DUSI founding member Dan Brooks!
Mike, Mackenzie, and special guests Curtis and Jerry discuss what goes on in our Library and Archives. This podcast also contains a technical screw up that is almost assuredly Mike's fault.
Mike, Mackenzie, and Mary dive into personnel records of the late 1800s to find out how you could get fired on the railroad back then. Turns out: destroying the engine is a very good way!
Mike, Mackenzie, and Mary discuss the 1903 Wreck of the Wallace Circus Train, which killed 26 humans and a dozen animals.
Mike, Mackenzie, and Mary discuss how the Depot went from decrepit ruin to restored jewel!
Mike, Mackenzie, and former interns Daniel and Mallory discuss what the internship program is like at Durand Union Station and why Mike wasn't as bad of a boss as he thinks he is.
Railroad Days 2020 was canceled but that doesn't mean Mike and Mackenzie can't talk about what the event is and why Durand has it!
Mike and Mackenzie were bored during quarantine and decided to try something new at work.