Author | Lightnews

Eric Kiska

Eric Kiska

@ekiska.bsky.social

74 followers 120 following 170 posts

Documentary filmmaker, podcast producer, & mail carrier: https://youtube.com/@firelakemedia https://detroithistorypodcast.com https://linktr.ee/a24podcast

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Eric Kiska @ekiska.bsky.social · Sep 8

On my latest Firelake Chat, I talk with documentary filmmaker Andrew Templeton about the #Michigan murders in the late 60s. When he made a documentary on the subject, he discovered that the crimes may not have only been committed by John Norman Collins, and others were involved. Watch below 👇🏻

The Michigan Murders, A Conversation with Documentary Filmmaker Andrew Templeton | Firelake Chat

YouTube video by Firelake Media

Eric Kiska @ekiska.bsky.social · Aug 21

My latest Tales of the Great Lakes is a two part YouTube doc on the cult that once roamed Mackinac Island, the early indigenous history of Mackinac Island, and the Native American boarding school that was on the sunrise side of the island. Check out the first part below. #history #michigan

9. The Dark History of Mission Point on Mackinac Island, Part One | Tales of the Great Lakes

YouTube video by Firelake Media

Eric Kiska @ekiska.bsky.social · Aug 15

My top 5 Great Lakes and why. What’s your top 5? Comment below. And if you say Lake Erie is your favorite, you lose all accountability. #greatlakes #top5

Top 5 Great Lakes and why. What’s your top 5? Comment below. #shorts #greatlakes #lake #top5

YouTube video by Firelake Media

Eric Kiska @ekiska.bsky.social · Aug 14

Jim Morrison’s gravesite at Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, France.

Eric Kiska @ekiska.bsky.social · Aug 12

Did you know that for a short period of time before the auto industry, Detroit’s biggest industry was bone charcoal and bone fertilizer made from buffalo bones? A company called Michigan Carbon Works once used 13% of the disregarded buffalo bones from the prairies to turn a profit. #history #detroit

For a short period of time, Detroit was known for bone fertilizer, not cars. #shorts #history

YouTube video by Firelake Media

Eric Kiska @ekiska.bsky.social · Aug 7

The first Zodiac Killer cipher published in The Vallejo Times in the summer of 1969.

Eric Kiska @ekiska.bsky.social · Jul 27

Thanks for sharing Bruce!

Eric Kiska @ekiska.bsky.social · Jul 26

On the 250th anniversary of the Post Office, I made a YouTube documentary sharing an abridged #history of how it was created, and where it’s at today. Check it out below.

The Post Office on its 250th anniversary, an abridged history. How it started & where it's at today.

YouTube video by Firelake Media

Eric Kiska @ekiska.bsky.social · Jul 25

Thinking about taking new headshots for my LinkedIn, is this good inspiration?
#funny #martinscorcese #film

Eric Kiska @ekiska.bsky.social · Jul 20

Disturbing photos taken in Michigan in the 1800s. #history #michigan

Eric Kiska @ekiska.bsky.social · Jul 17

The history of Superman ice cream, a Midwest favorite.

#superman #history #icecream

The history of Superman ice cream, a Midwest favorite. #superman #icecream #shorts #history

YouTube video by Firelake Media

Eric Kiska @ekiska.bsky.social · Jul 14

We now know that the government of Singapore owns a little over 5% of the land in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, thanks to reporting by Simon Schuster and @bridgemi.com.

The government of Singapore owns 5% of the land in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. #shorts #michigan

YouTube video by Firelake Media

Eric Kiska @ekiska.bsky.social · Jul 11

Campfire quesadilla #recipe. One note: heating evenly means I cooked each side of the quesadilla for about 7-8 mins. Cook one side, turn, cook that side, then flip and do the same for around 30 total mins of cooking.

Eric Kiska @ekiska.bsky.social · Jul 10

After my trip to Mammoth Cave, I decided to do a little digging into the early history of the place, and I found some fascinating (and dark) facts. #history

The fascinating (and dark) early history of Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. #history #shorts

YouTube video by Firelake Media

Eric Kiska @ekiska.bsky.social · Jun 29

From the creators of The Detroit History Podcast comes a documentary about the last 60 years of the Detroit Free Press. We explore the power of local news and the story of the city it covers. #detroit #history

A documentary about the history of the last 60 years of the Detroit Free Press, coming soon

YouTube video by Firelake Media

Eric Kiska @ekiska.bsky.social · Jun 16

I recently interviewed author Aaron Helman about a club of nudist writers and artists in southwestern Michigan. They were nicknamed "The Union Pier Nudist Club" in the summers of 1913 and 1914, before the Lithuanian community of Union Pier kicked them out and back to Chicago. Watch below. #history

The Union Pier Nudist Club with Aaron Helman

YouTube video by Firelake Media

Eric Kiska @ekiska.bsky.social · Jun 14

The No Kings protest on Woodward Ave in Ferndale, Michigan. Don’t let them tell you Americans are apathetic and not resisting. #nokings #protest

Eric Kiska @ekiska.bsky.social · Jun 9

Here’s the story of the ghost ship SS Kamloops being found in 1977, 50 years after its sinking. #history

The ghost ship SS Kamloops was found in 1977, 50 years after she sunk. #history #shipwreck #shorts

YouTube video by Firelake Media

Eric Kiska @ekiska.bsky.social · Jun 8

Happy #PrideMonth from Motor City Pride everyone!

Eric Kiska @ekiska.bsky.social · Jun 7

Did you know that an assistant stewardess named Alice Bettridge on the SS Kamloops #shipwreck, threw a message in a bottle into #LakeSuperior before she passed away on Isle Royale? Then that message in a bottle traveled 150 miles across Lake Superior and into the hands of a fisherman?

Did you know there was a message in a bottle from the Kamloops shipwreck? #history #shipwreck

YouTube video by Firelake Media

Eric Kiska @ekiska.bsky.social · Jun 2

Today this is known as “Sand River Falls” in Lake Superior Provincial Park, but the Ojibwe have canoed this for centuries and called it the “Pinguisibi” or “river of fine white sand.” It is one of the most beautiful places in Ontario and flows into the enchanting Lake Superior. #nature #canada

Sand River Falls in Lake Superior Provincial Park. #nature #naturelovers #peaceful #canada #ontario

YouTube video by Firelake Media

Eric Kiska @ekiska.bsky.social · May 29

The Agawa Rock Pictographs in Lake Superior Provincial Park in northern Ontario. These pictographs depict different mythical Ojibwe creatures, including Mishipeshu or the underwater panther in Lake Superior.

Eric Kiska @ekiska.bsky.social · May 26

If you like Great Lakes or Midwest history, I produce a YouTube series called Tales of the Great Lakes, and my latest video is on a Lake Superior shipwreck of the freighter SS Kamloops. It has some chilling lore surrounding it. Check it out in the link below. #history

8. The Wreck of the SS Kamloops & Old Whitey | Tales of the Great Lakes

YouTube video by Firelake Media

Eric Kiska @ekiska.bsky.social · May 26

Mackinac Island sunset, 5/25/25. #michigan #nature

Mackinac Island Sunset, 5/25/25. #michigan #sunset #mackinacisland #puremichigan #greatlakes #shorts

YouTube video by Firelake Media

Eric Kiska @ekiska.bsky.social · May 17

Prediction: in the next 10 years Elon Musk will try to send people to Mars and they will die on the way cause he will ignore safety standards to complete the mission. It will create a PR catastrophe causing #SpaceX to shutter, and it will be the last nail in the coffin for #Musk at #Tesla.