If you've ever found yourself wondering why the cliffs at Pictured Rocks are streaked with brilliant colors, how the Soo Locks really work or what billion-year-old lava flows have to do with Michigan, chances are Alexis Dahl has wondered the same thing.
But Dahl doesn't stop at wondering. As a writer, science communicator and video producer, she has built a loyal following by diving headfirst into Michigan's hidden stories and bringing viewers along for the ride. Her videos blend history, geology, engineering and just enough humor to make even the most complex topics feel approachable.
"I ask a question, and the answer is almost always more interesting than I expected," she said.
Ironically, Dahl didn't set out to become a storyteller at all. Growing up in Metro Detroit, she enrolled at the University of Michigan planning to become either a neurologist or a neuroscientist. But after spending time in research labs and shadowing physicians, she realized life at a lab bench wasn't the future she wanted.
Instead, she discovered an entire career she hadn't known existed: science communication.
"I realized I could still read the research and understand the science," she said, "but then I could tell those stories to everybody else."
That realization eventually led her to SciShow, one of YouTube's best-known educational channels, where she worked as a writer and editor. Then came another unexpected turn: her husband accepted a job in the Upper Peninsula.
At that point, Dahl had visited the U.P. exactly twice — once to Pictured Rocks and once to the Porcupine Mountains. "I figured the rest of it was probably great too," she joked.
With a little time between jobs, she started exploring her new home simply because she was curious. She picked places she knew almost nothing about — the Keweenaw Peninsula was one of the first — and began making videos to answer her own questions.
Those videos became something much bigger, and today, every project starts the same way: with a curious outlook and plenty of questions.
Sometimes those questions come from viewers, who spark ideas she’s never considered. Other times, a conversation with a scientist, historian or local expert sends her down an unexpected rabbit hole. Research might mean combing through century-old archives one week and scrambling over ancient rock formations with a geologist the next.
"I try to do the most interesting thing that the story requires," she said. And fortunately, living in the Upper Peninsula has given her no shortage of stories to tell.
One of the biggest surprises has been the geology. Before moving north, Dahl had no idea Michigan contained some of the oldest exposed rock in North America or that the Keweenaw Peninsula was shaped by enormous volcanic events from nearly two billion years ago.
"It's like Earth's history is sitting right on the surface up here," she said.
Just as memorable, though, have been the people. Dahl laughs about asking someone for a quick interview and instead getting invited on a three-hour behind-the-scenes tour. Whether it's a geologist eager to explain an outcrop or an engineer excited to show off the Soo Locks, she's found that Yoopers love sharing the places and projects they're passionate about.
"People are just so welcoming," she said. "They're excited to invite you into the things they care about."
That generosity has changed how she thinks about the region. Beyond the famous destinations, it's the people — their knowledge, enthusiasm and willingness to share — that make the Upper Peninsula feel special.
When she's not researching or filming, Dahl enjoys many of the same things that first drew her to the Upper Peninsula. She spends her free time hiking, tending her garden and working on a fantasy novel whenever she can carve out a few quiet hours. Living in the U.P. has also expanded her comfort zone outdoors. "I've always enjoyed hiking," she said, "but now I'm comfortable in weirder weather conditions." That means heading out to snowshoe when the wind chill dips below zero or embracing mosquito season. “I own a head net now,” she said with a laugh.
Ask Dahl to recommend one place every visitor should experience, and she doesn't hesitate.
"Isle Royale," she said. "It's magical."
She also has a soft spot for Sugarloaf Mountain near Marquette — the first place that made her stop and think, “I can't believe this is Michigan.” And that sense of discovery is exactly what she hopes viewers take away from her work.
Whether she's unraveling the science behind a waterfall, digging into a forgotten chapter of Michigan history or introducing people to a fascinating local expert, Dahl reminds us that some of the state's best stories are just a question away.