Events
Michigan Public Events bring the radio to a stage, pub, or local business near you. Each event is different, giving you the chance to interact with Michigan Public personalities, witness live storytelling, hear engaging interviews, and more.
Check out upcoming Michigan Public Events below, or click through the tabs to learn about special events series like Issues & Ale or various travel opportunities.
Want to know what's going on in your area? Click here for our Community Calendar.
Check out upcoming Michigan Public Events below, or click through the tabs to learn about special events series like Issues & Ale or various travel opportunities.
Want to know what's going on in your area? Click here for our Community Calendar.
Upcoming Featured Events
Michigan Public Featured Events
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We'll be attending markets around the state all summer long. Take a look and see when we'll be at a market near you! -
Ira Glass: Stories for a Saturday Night
June 20, 2026 - 7 p.m.
The Power Center for Performing Arts
Ira Glass, one of America’s most influential storytellers, returns to Ann Arbor for his fifth A2SF appearance for an evening filled with insight, creativity, and unforgettable moments. As the creator and host of This American Life, the award-winning public radio program heard by more than 5 million listeners each week, Glass has shaped how a generation thinks about narrative and the power of everyday stories.
In this special A2SF appearance, Glass blends live storytelling with audio clips, music, video, and audience Q&A to share how he builds a story from the ground up. He reflects on what inspires him, how challenges evolve into breakthroughs, and what he has learned from a life devoted to curiosity and craft.
Under his leadership, This American Life has earned nine Peabody Awards, the first Pulitzer Prize for audio journalism, and induction to the Library of Congress. His programs were also ranked among Time magazine’s 100 Best Podcasts of All Time.
Tickets can be purchased here.
A limited number of tickets to a pre-show VIP Meet & Greet reception with Mr. Glass are available to ticket buyers. Meet & Greet tickets are $30 and capacity is limited. The reception will take place in the Power Center lobby before the performance and will include refreshments. This add-on can be purchased here. -
Are there parts of our minds that are hidden from us? This question launched the Hidden Brain podcast ten years ago. Since then, the program has helped millions of listeners accomplish their goals, improve their relationships, and develop a deeper understanding of their emotions.
Now, host and creator Shankar Vedantam brings seven key insights from the first decade of Hidden Brain to the stage. Whether you’re new to the show or a longtime listener, this performance of science and storytelling will change how you think about yourself. Shankar Vedantam is set to make his exclusive midwest appearance on Thursday, September 10 at GLC Live at 20 Monroe in Grand Rapids. Come share your own thoughts and ideas with Shankar and other fans of the show!
Tickets go on sale to the public at 10 am on Friday, May 29th.
Moth StorySLAM
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The Moth StorySLAM is an open-mic storytelling competition in which anyone can share a true, personal, 5-minute story on the night's theme. Sign up for a chance to tell a story or sit back and enjoy the show! Tonight’s theme is…
AMERICAN DREAMS: AMERICAN DREAMS: Tell us a five minute story about your lifelong aspiration. Pulling off the impossible or failing in spectacular fashion. -
The Moth StorySLAM is an open-mic storytelling competition in which anyone can share a true, personal, 5-minute story on the night's theme. Sign up for a chance to tell a story or sit back and enjoy the show! Tonight’s theme is…
HOLIDAY GONE WRONG: Prepare a five minute story about your vacation woes. The moments you wished you could click your heels and be back home to the times you had to McGyver your way through. Stolen passports, lost reservations, the unsung hero that saved the day. Desert mirages, dead batteries, dangerous encounters. It was about the journey, not the destination. -
The Moth StorySLAM is an open-mic storytelling competition in which anyone can share a true, personal, 5-minute story on the night's theme. Sign up for a chance to tell a story or sit back and enjoy the show! Tonight’s theme is…
ROMANCE: Prepare a five-minute story about love, whether it was at first sight or just last night. Chance encounters, meetcutes, will-they-won’t-theys, and slow burns. Share your awkward morning-afters or hard-won happily-ever-afters. Or take your affections in unexpected directions: friend crushes or a little self-love. From matches made in heaven to dates straight from hell, we want your relationship glow-ups, blowups, and everything in between. Oh Romeo, Romeo… you had me at hello-meo.
Michigan Public Farmers Market Tour
Michigan Public is going on a farmers market tour this summer! We'll be attending markets around the state all summer long. Take a look and see when we'll be at a market near you!
Upcoming Stops
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Michigan Public is going on a farmers market tour this summer! We'll be attending markets around the state all summer long. Our first stop of the summer is the Ann Arbor Farmers Market. We will be there on Saturday, May 30th from 8AM - 3PM. Stop by and get some merchandise, meet our staff, win some prizes, and learn more about Michigan Public. You may even meet April Baer and Rebecca Hector! See you there! -
Michigan Public is going on a farmers market tour this summer! We'll be attending markets around the state all summer long. Our second stop of the summer is the Flint Farmers Market. We will be there on Saturday, June 6th from 9AM - 5PM. Stop by and get some merchandise, meet our staff, win some prizes, and learn more about Michigan Public. You may even see April Baer and Mercedes Mejia. See you there!
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Michigan Public is going on a farmers market tour this summer! We'll be attending markets around the state all summer long. As part of our tour, we'll be stopping by the Kalamazoo Farmers Market on Saturday, June 20th from 7AM - 1PM. Stop by and get some merchandise, meet our staff, win some prizes, and learn more about Michigan Public. See you there!
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Michigan Public is going on a farmers market tour this summer! We'll be attending markets around the state all summer long. As part of our tour, we'll be stopping by Eastern Market in Detroit on Saturday, June 27th from 7AM - 4PM. Stop by and get some merchandise, meet our staff, win some prizes, and learn more about Michigan Public. You might even see Laura Weber Davis! See you there!
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Michigan Public is going on a farmers market tour this summer! We'll be attending markets around the state all summer long. We will be stopping at the East Lansing Farmers Market on Sunday, July 12th, from 10AM - 2PM. Stop by and get some merchandise, meet our staff, win some prizes, and learn more about Michigan Public. See you there!
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Michigan Public is going on a farmers market tour this summer! We'll be attending markets around the state all summer long. We will be stopping at the Howell Farmers Market on Sunday, July 26th, from 9AM - 2PM. Stop by and get some merchandise, meet our staff, win some prizes, and learn more about Michigan Public. See you there!
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Michigan Public is going on a farmers market tour this summer! We'll be attending markets around the state all summer long. We will be stopping at the Fulton Street Farmers Market in Grand Rapids on Sunday, July 31st, from 8AM - 2PM. Stop by and get some merchandise, meet our staff, win some prizes, and learn more about Michigan Public. See you there!
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Michigan Public is going on a farmers market tour this summer! We'll be attending markets around the state all summer long. We will be stopping at the Chelsea Farmers Market on Sunday, August 15th, from 8AM - 1PM. Stop by and get some merchandise, meet our staff, win some prizes, and learn more about Michigan Public. You might even see Zoe Clark! See you there!
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Michigan Public is going on a farmers market tour this summer! We'll be attending markets around the state all summer long. We will be stopping at the Royal Oak Farmers Market on Sunday, August 22nd, from 7AM - 1PM. Stop by and get some merchandise, meet our staff, win some prizes, and learn more about Michigan Public. You might even see April Baer! See you there!
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Michigan Public is going on a farmers market tour this summer! We'll be attending markets around the state all summer long. We will be stopping at the Chelsea Farmers Market on Wednesday, August 26th, from 9AM - 1PM. Stop by and get some merchandise, meet our staff, win some prizes, and learn more about Michigan Public. You might even see Doug Tribou! See you there!
Issues & Ale
Issues & Ale is an event series from Michigan Public designed to engage people in conversations about important issues facing Michigan in an informal atmosphere. The events are hosted by Michigan Public reporters and feature experts on the topic. All events are free, and the public is invited to join in the discussion. You can find information on upcoming and past Issues & Ale events on the pages below.
We hold Issues & Ale events at venues all across our listening area. You can share your suggestions for future topics or locations by e-mailing us at marketing@michiganpublic.org.
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Join Senior Environment Reporter Kate Furby and the Beyond the Shore podcast team as they discuss the Great Lakes, what makes each lake so special, and why it will take communities across the Great Lakes region to ensure these inland seas stay great for generations to come. -
Join Michigan Public's Political Director Zoe Clark, Senior Capitol Correspondent Rick Pluta, and their FAQ Squad panelists as they give you the facts of the upcoming election cycle! -
This November is shaping up to be one of Michigan’s most consequential elections in decades. Join Michigan Public's Political Director Zoe Clark, Senior Capitol Correspondent Rick Pluta, and their panelists for our FIRST Issues & Ale: It's Just Politics of the year. -
Join It's Just Politics hosts Zoe Clark & Rick Pluta as they look back on this year in politics ... and look forward to what's on the horizon. Register. -
Join Michigan Public’s It's Just Politics team Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta and a panel of guests, as they dig into what’s happening at the state capitol and take your questions about Michigan politics.
Travel
You can join Michigan Public on-air hosts and reporters for fabulous vacation opportunities to exciting destinations. Through our partnership with select tour operators, you'll enjoy a unique trip, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Michigan Public.
When you travel with Michigan Public, you’ll enjoy a personalized experience accompanied by one of our on-air hosts and carefully selected local guides. You’ll join other travelers who are full of curiosity, are interested in life-long learning…and share a love of public radio. If that sounds like you, learn more about our vacation opportunities below.
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Join Michigan Public on a ten-day adventure to discover the Galapagos Islands to kick off the New Year! Commune with iguanas, snorkel with sea lions, and visit the Charles Darwin Research Center on this extraordinary adventure with Michigan Public. Certified naturalists will enlighten and expand your understanding of the amazing creatures and unparalleled biodiversity of these remote islands! Travel is January 31 - February 9, 2027. -
Join Michigan Public on a ten-day adventure to discover the Galapagos Islands to kick off the New Year! Commune with iguanas, snorkel with sea lions, and visit the Charles Darwin Research Center on this extraordinary adventure with Michigan Public. Certified naturalists will enlighten and expand your understanding of the amazing creatures and unparalleled biodiversity of these remote islands! Travel is January 17 - 27, 2027.
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Join the Michigan Public Traveler's Program as we journey through three Alpine countries. The hills are alive on this enchanting journey across Switzerland, Austria and Bavaria! -
Join Michigan Public as our Michigan Public Travelers program heads to Japan to experience the country by bullet train! -
Join the Michigan Public Travelers program as we head to Italy to experience the Highlights of Italy’s Amalfi Coast and Rome!
Past Station Events
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Join Morning Edition host Doug Tribou, author & sports commentator John U. Bacon, and special guests at The Ark in Ann Arbor, as they discuss the seismic changes college sports are facing today. -
On Thursday, August 14, join University of Michigan English Professor Anne Curzan and Michigan Public’s Rebecca Hector, the hosts of That’s What They Say, at the Encore Theatre in Dexter for "Grammar Night" — a fun evening discussing our ever changing English language and your favorite language pet peeves. -
Join Michigan Public’s It's Just Politics team of Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta in Lansing for our next Issues & Ale on June 4, 2025. They'll speak with a bipartisan panel of lawmakers. -
From fishing and heavy industry to recreational waterfronts and new tech, an array of interest groups are using, and sometimes abusing, Michigan's biggest economic asset. Join Michigan Public’s Environment Reporter Lester Graham and a panel of experts for a fast-paced discussion about The Blue Economy on Monday, May 19 at 7pm, in person at the South Lyon Hotel or online. -
Join Michigan Public’s News Director Vincent Duffy on a grand nine-day adventure through the imperial cities of Central Europe to visit the European Christmas markets. -
Tuesday, April 29th will mark 100 days of the second Trump presidency. Join Michigan Public’s It's Just Politics team Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta for a discussion about covering the president and presidency with NPR’s Asma Khalid and Domenico Montanaro. -
Divided government is back in Lansing. How are lawmakers at the state capital working bipartisanly to get things done? Join the It's Just Politics team for Issues & Ale. -
The Michigan Public Speaker Series welcomes NPR Morning Edition host Leila Fadel. She'll talk with Doug Tribou about her journalism career in an online event on Feb. 20. -
Michigan Public and Michigan Theater will present a live performance of The Moth Mainstage in Ann Arbor on Friday, June 27, 2025, at 8 p.m. The Moth Mainstage features a line-up of writers, performers, and other unique national and Michigan storytellers, each with a 10-minute story to tell live without notes. -
It’s been a year — in more ways than one. We’ve been through a Presidential election, elected two state Supreme Court justices, filled an open U.S. Senate seat, as well as changed the make-up of the state House of Representatives. At our next Issues & Ale, we’ll take a look back... and a look forward at what's to come in Lansing. Join Michigan Public's It's Just Politics team of Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta, and their expert political panel, as they discuss what’s on the horizon and take your questions!
