Absolute BS with Brad and Steve

 Every once in a while, we get to talk to someone who bowls us over, and this episode is no exception. With today's mental health challenges, it's refreshing to hear voices unafraid to be transparent, unafraid of embarrassment through personal choice, and unafraid to show how a life full of trials can be spun into a force for good. Sometimes you have to laugh through the pain, so get some mental band-aids and join us as we speak with women's life coach and all-around force of nature, Rebecca Thomas. 

Networking and contributing to your community are the some of the most important aspects of working in today's business world— and it's a lesson not everyone hears. In this episode of Absolute B.S., we speak to Austin Reynolds and Max Rispler, two young entrepreneurs doing all they can to leave a mark on the city they work in! Through late nights, bottle service, and a loose grasp of social media, it looks like it's working. Make some tacos and give a listen. 

It's been a few... hundred... months.... But we're back in the studio with our next guest!Featuring a storied career and trusted voice in the news, AND a major focus on health and wellness, Val Lego is now ready to take those talents in media to the next opportunity!Join us as we talk through the B.S. of switching careers later in life, the joys of trying to keep up with technology, and whether or not there's something more "super than natural" going on just beyond our understanding of the world...Get your haircut and give it a listen.

This time on Absolute B.S. with Brad and Steve, we invite Erik Wolenberg, Executive Director of the Hope Network Foundation to our table. Through extremely self-deprecating humor we take a look into the world of Philanthropy— what thank means, why it is a thing, and how we should go about doing it locally. There's that, an intention of starting a Kiss-Club in Grand Rapids, how we're turning into our own fathers and the real importance of updating your Facebook profile. Have a stick of gum and give a listen!

This episode of Absolute BS with Brad and Steve, we are joined by the formidable Craig Clark of Clark Communications! A mainstay in corporate and private PR messaging and problem solving, Craig lends his spin on GR's PR scene, where it's going and where it's been, also sharing humorous antics from his youth and the last time he threw up in public.It's the kind of stuff you need to hear, so get back to the knitting and listen up.

Money! Some consider it, some don't. Some have it. Some won't. Listen in as we talk with Paige Afendoulis, a financial guru, a celebrated author, and succession planning consultant bringing her experience in family money management to our studio. We open her book of thoughts for children and adults alike on the importance of planning, investing, and managing personal finance. It starts way before you think it should, so grab a notebook and listen up!

Business executive, exotic homeowner, and now celebrated author-our next guest takes us through a personal journey, one of loss, acceptance, forgiveness, and eventual transformation. On this episode we talk to the indomitable Sheila VanZile, and gain perspective on using art to reconcile personal loss and the awakening to the promise of tomorrow. We also work our way through dumb things too. Grab some French Fries and listen up.

Whether you're canna-curious or canna-confident, you can always rely on our next guest to give you the 420 on what exactly you need to do to put together a personalized package to elevate your experience. We're talking to Sarah Tupper, founder of Sarah Jane, a women-empowered, cannabis brand. The world of marijuana is much more complex than most believe, and Sarah walks us through that carefully. And of course, we talk a lot of B.S. Grab some snacks and have a listen.

Sometimes a pairing comes along that works just too well. We talk a lot of B.S. over here at ABS. Our guest this week talks a lot about…just S. This episode we are joined by Diane Teall Evans, Nutritional therapist and founder of DITEA Wellness, providing nutritional therapy programming for the betterment of women's -gut health, energy, hormones, and skin. She's also co-host of the educational podcast Get Your S#!? Together discussing dietary and lifestyle issues. We cover entrepreneurialism, sleepwalking misadventures, eating exotic foods, and when it's appropriate to pass gas in front of your significant other. Have a probiotic and listen up.

On this episode of Absolute BS we talk with Monica Mendez, an unapologetic force of nature, leading the GR Chamber's Talent and Leadership Program. We go over it all-her exodus from Mexico, her love for sappy movies, Steve's terrible ability to speak Spanish, and we hear, quite possibly, the most transparent, embarrassing, and human story we've been told from a guest.

On this episode of Absolute B.S. with Brad and Steve, we get to talk to two paragons of the science world. One guy is redefining the methods to identify and eradicate cancer— the other is keeping the operation running smoothly. Meet Anthony Chang and Chad Bassett!Join us for that story, as well as finding out what scientists do in their spare time, how martial arts influences critical thought, and why the good doctor always points to the camera in photographs!

For this episode of Absolute BS with Brad and Steve, we set the studio on fire with the unadulterated energy and enthusiasm brought to the room. Hang on, as we dive into the minds of Stephanie Andrews and Holly Visser; two besties driving much of the good coming out of the Grand Rapids Public School systems. Join us as we discuss the organization's driving mission to educate, the possible benefits of exercise, why flora is better than fauna, and other eye-opening topics. Get a cocktail for this one.

After a few weeks out doing summer stuff, we're back in the studio with another episode. This time we're speaking with the Vice President of Business Development at the HR Collaborative, Mike Parnacott. Join us as we learn why HR is not as bad as we all think it is, why working in food service is more fun than retail, and when it's the appropriate time to let your parents know about all times you lied to them when you were younger.

They say the second time is even better, and after being on our very first episode of Absolute BS with Brad and Steve, we felt we owed our guest another shot. We're happy to have back Krista Paulin, Vice President of Marketing and Community Affairs for Huntington Bank West Michigan.Join us for a lively conversation about hipsters, the elderly, the damage caused by cell phones, and making relationships work when the world is full of disease. Go rake your yard and give a listen.

It takes a lot to rattle Brad's cage, but in this episode, it happens as we interview Partner and COO of Failure Lab, Anna Baeten!  Join us as we talk about the upside of failing, what it means to be Asian in America, and why it's not a good idea to let Steve write Brad's questions for the guest!

This time we did it live! With real people watching! Listen into the magical sounds of LaughFest 2022 as we interview our next guest Trino, the comedy magician. His routine co-mingles comedy and theatrical feats, giving audience and hosts alike an energetic and thoroughly modern take on the ancient art of illusion. Then there's the hair! He's been seen on Fox, The Verge, CW Network, and ABC as well as a guest act on the Masters of Illusion tour. Do magician's have interesting things to say? Go for a jog and find out!

This time on Absolute BS with Brad and Steve, we're joined by author, entrepreneur, and whiskey-drinking creator of GoodFellows Creative, Marissa Callie Fellows! Join us as we travel through what starting a business in a pandemic looks like and the mental taxation it can have on yourself and your relationships. It ain't easy being 30 in today's world, but Marissa is making the best of it. Bring us along on your walk and listen in. 

It's not easy pulling off a festival of comedy during a pandemic, but our next guest Zack Berends is doing it with some style. As the events and festival manager for Gilda's Laughfest, Zack is still finding the humor in all things. We debate, discussion, and dialogue about why comedy that challenges you is a necessary evil.Practice some #SelfCare and give a listen as we discuss the healing power of laughter.

It's time to get vulnerable.On this episode of Absolute B.S. with Brad and Steve, we're joined by consultant, therapist, ally, and all-around advocate of 'being kind', Erin Fisk. It's time for the eye-opening take on race and gender equality in West Michigan you always knew we were going to have. Go iron your shirts and give us a listen. 

Occasionally, one is 'hashtag blessed' and gets to converse with a superstar. Kicking off Season 4 of Absolute B.S. with Brad and Steve, we sit down with internet sensation Liz Della Croce to discuss her online food, travel, and health resource ‘The Lemon Bowl.' From her humble beginnings blogging to the creation of a digital empire, her stories, recipes, and global reach know no bounds. Grab a plate of hors' devours as we find out how to turn passion into profit and see if this Midwest mom is still datable. 

As Brad and I round out our third season and nearly 50 recorded stories, we wanted to close this season with our biggest one, yet. It's a tale of drama…and politics, and what it's like to make city-affecting decisions, when all you want to do is eat nachos. This time, we share the microphone with the effervescent Mayor Rosalynn Bliss. Join us as we keep things completely informal, showing you that government officials CAN be datable, under what circumstances a ride with O.J. Simpson is ok, and what the least exciting thing about leading a city is. Polish some silver and give it a listen.

From droning our city for coffee-table book material to photographing the nation's funniest celebrities, our next guest sees the world through a different lens. Photographer, filmmaker, and podcaster Brian Kelly gets the microphone turned back on himself as we share our stories: the pros and cons of podcasting, what it's like to photograph comedy royalty, who the best and worst subjects have been, and why Betty White is exactly who you want her to be.

If anything can be said about our next guest, it's that ‘She tries!' That's our big takeaway from our conversation with Carrie Kolehouse, The Executive Director of Mom's Bloom, an organization helping those women and men facing post-partem depression.  A serial entrepreneur, ex newscaster, and current YouTube lounge singing star-Carrie flips the script on us and keeps up with all our B.S. Get out your laundry and have a listen!

Things are (G)ood on Absolute BS as we speak about the perils and profit of being a true and self-effacing geek in today's culture.Our new friend David kicks off a very sincere and unapologetic conversation about growing up introverted; effused in a sub-culture once generally misunderstood, but firmly standing center-stage of pop-culture today.Begin your favorite chore, run those errands, and join us as we find out how David Good created experiences to help himself and other's combat the loneliness and stigma of being a true geek!

From grunt photographer and gallery owner to curating a city in a job with too many words in the title... This is the story of Rich 'don't call me Dick' App. In this episode, we discuss art, culture, and the serious challenges of being hired to cultivate a city-wide business association in the midst of a pandemic (What? You've never done that before?) We also learn of his 'exit strategy' to Iceland when the world falls apart.It's comedy. It's pop culture. It's Absolute B.S.

What do Hannibal Lecter, War of the World's, The Walking Dead, and VR training for mental health have in common? Our next guest!This time we have a blast sharing stories with Brian Hillard, Emmy-award winning special FX makeup artist, actor, producer, and CEO of Metashpere, the next level of therapy for mental and body health.

In a culture struggling to reconcile a male's role in the world today, we thought we'd change it up a little and interview one of our mutual childhood best friends.It's rare to have long-term friendships, and this time we invite our long-term friend James Reinhardt to talk with us. It's one of our favorites as we share our stories spanning 4 decades. There's a ton of dirt, and we get right into it-the vomiting, the betrayals, and all the broken bones. We guarantee some of this is going to sound familiar. There's even a touch of sweetness here, where it is possible for men in their 40's to say I love you to each other.

This episode of ABS we're talking to a bit of a celebrity. A bit of a chef. A bit of a social influencer, and a bit of a geek. Yes, We're joined by the ‘soon to be legend', Chef Mike Haracz, phoning in from Illinois. Mike's energy keeps us busy as we discuss some of the bigger things he's been a part of, most notable his time at McDonald's where he was singularly responsible for bringing Szechuan sauce back to the franchise, then leaving for the greener pastures of Wendy's and leading the front on the Chicken Sandwich Wars. There's Rick and Morty, there's his passion for Dungeons and Dragons, and there's all the cool stuff he gets sent from sponsors now that he's internet famous. Strap in. It's a good one.

In this week’s episode of Absolute B.S. With Brad & Steve, Cortney Duffner walks us through the impact of social media on ourselves and our children. It’s the usual (and at times, unusual) B.S. that covers everything from Blue’s Clues to the age-old argument of bees versus spiders.Plus, if you love Michigan memorabilia-you’re in luck. Tune in throughout the episode for a promotional code to get free shipping on all of your Mitten State orders, throughout the month of May.

In this week's episode of Absolute B.S. With Brad & Steve, Tommy Fitzgerald serves up breakfast with a side of manic energy. We cover everything from how sh**ty dating is at this age to the art of napkin rolling. Stay tuned throughout the whole episode not only to find out if the camera adds ten pounds but also to get free shipping on your Mitten State orders, thanks to our generous sponsors.

The second time is always better, and for this episode of Absolute BS with Brad and Steve, we are once again joined by Executive Coach and new author, Barbara Rapaport.We further our discussion about mental health, cancer and what the future holds, in a more introspective episode. There’s even a little free therapy in there for you all.We invite you to stick around and learn more about this Grand Rapids legend, as she forces us to learn a little more about ourselves.

We like clothes…and we like Michigan. On this episode on Absolute B.S., we explore what it means to love both as we talk to Scott Zubrickas, the co-owner of The Mitten State, West Michigan’s premiere spot for uniquely Michigan-branded clothing and the ‘best apparel in the country.’Join us as we take a deeper dive into a story of Michigan; and a story of how two friends created one of the most recognized Midwest operations, which now, reaches all the way across the country. It’s all the typical B.S. but this time-with a little something special.For the month of April and May, Absolute B.S. with Brad and Steve has worked with The Mitten State to give all our listeners free shipping off any order. Listen throughout the episode for the code.

In this episode of Absolute B.S,. we're joined by community treasure and media personality: Jennifer Pascua!Jen takes us through her full career, from teaching college classes on ‘pandemic-friendly’ digital platforms, to tumbling over trash cans on live television-she certainly gives us a unique perspective! We then get real; diving into her brushes with racial stereotypes, both public and private, as Jennifer highlights some of the toxicity in the television business. And as usual, we’ll discover just how ‘date-able’ Jen is!

Grand Rapids podcast ‘Absolute B.S. with Brad and Steve’ brings their irreverent and transparent conversational style to LaughFest 2021!Joined by leadership coach Barbara Rapaport, and stand-up comedian Nardos Osterhart, the four will carry a live discussion about all things cancerous: including the grief journey, binge-watching television, doing puzzles, finding silver linings, and ridiculous pop-culture.Show links:https://www.realtimeperspectives.comhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57091447-reimaginedhttp://nardichoke.comProducer's note: This podcast was originally recorded live on Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

In this episode of Absolute B.S., Brad and Steve talk with local sportsman and culinary master, Christopher Wessely.They explore hot topics such playing sports to make friends, delicious opinions on hipster food preparation, the meaning of real hibachi, and the fact that Eggs Benedict does, in fact, suck. Don't @ us.

Happy New Year from Absolute B.S. with Brad and Steve. Coming out of whatever that was last year, we’re starting out 2021 with an ABS-mini! Spotlighting local businesses, for this ‘divergence’ we’re talking to GreenFrog Stills and Motion, a local resource for photography and videography. Join us, Jeff Hage and Seth Thompson, for a brief look into the how’s and why’s of their business, how they’ve survived a pandemic, and why in 2021 captured images will be more important than ever! It’s a little dose of B.S. to tide you over.

Absolute B.S. with Brad and Steve is back in the studio, and we’re social distancing hard! This time we are joined by the philanthropic force that is Chris Andrus. Entrepreneur, brew-master, and ‘dough’ maker extraordinaire, Chris opens up about bad music, how ‘not’ to act in a restaurant, and why being a philanthropic business isn’t a hard as you might think. Sit back, take your mask off, and be educated!

Absolute B.S. with Brad and Steve is back in the studio. Sitting roughly 5’9” away, we are joined by the indomitable force that is, Guillermo Cisneros. Join us as the Director of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce takes us on a journey from Mexico to Spain-onto Portugal, and then the Home Depot. It’s about personal struggle, pandemics, and Superman. It’s also the first time we leave a guest speechless with one of our “Are you Dateable” questions.

Day 3,122 of a global pandemic finds us talking to the spirited Angela Nelson, Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Vice President of Multicultural Business Development at Experience Grand Rapids. There’s that, and an exhaustive list of other leadership positions, entrepreneurial goals achieved, and life accomplishments. One of Grand Rapids ‘50 most influential women’ breaks down, marketing a city during a pandemic, thoughtfully addresses the civil unrest in the country, and proves to be our most ‘datable’ guest yet!

Absolute B.S. continues in quarantine with Shaun Shira, Major and Planned Gifts Director at the Grand Rapids Community Foundation. Not a big ‘fruit in my beer’ kind of guy, Shaun gets into all things ‘pandemic!’ From new approaches to philanthropy planning to the convenience of curbside pickup; we’ll talk masks, we’ll talk social distancing, and we’ll talk about how Shaun seems to be the only person to lose weight in the past few months. Mow your lawn and give a listen.

Absolute BS Season 2 Episode Episode 9We’re back…mostly...with our laptops and social distancing. Join us as we speak to restaurant provocateur Paul Lee, and get to hear all his B.S. Take a moment of needed levity and learn how this entrepreneur broke the mold: starting a restaurant revolution in Grand Rapids. From inception to movie inspiration to how food service is going to pivot post-pandemic, your B.S. is served.

A Pre-Quarantine Swansong. The Cascade Community Foundation’s CEO Justin Swan drops by just ahead of the Covid-19 quarantine to share some insights, some Corona Lights, and some strategy on donating in a time of crisis. It’s sumo babies, Christian artists, and animal testing. Give it a listen. You’ve got nothing else to do.

Absolute B.S. begins an epic journey as we talk to Jon O’ Connor, co-founder of Long Road Distillers! From humble beginnings in a garage, we trace the Long Road story from Grand Rapid’s West Side, all the way to its newest tasting facility located in *REDACTED* (you’ll have to listen to find out where!) From being a First Ward Commissioner to the burdens of new fatherhood, Jon’s candid demeanor and penchant for singing karaoke Dolly Parton songs, paints a portrait of a man with strange taste.

A true leader and influencer in every sense of the word…..according to LinkedIn…maybe: Jaime Counterman Foundation Director at Metro Health, strolls into the booth and launches into commentary, opinions, and what she thinks her superpower is. We also find out what she’s not passionate about and what haunts her thoughts 98% of the day. Listen in and see where this one takes us.

This episode finds us improvising our way through the quizzical mind of Laura K. Traxler, Director of Membership Development at the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce. With a sharp attitude, and an explosive ‘twerk,’ -this hairdresser turned manager throws all the passion, energy, and ‘can-do’ attitude she can at us.

It’s movies, music, and madness as we speak to President of Studio C and Celebration Studios- J.D. Loeks. With a firm eye on taking over the entertainment industry in Grand Rapids, J.D. speaks to the legacy of a family business, explains the origin of the ubiquitous ‘Wilhelm’ scream in cinema, and tries to use philosophy to duck our ‘dating’ questions.

Petrit Rudi CTO at Designvox, blasts into our studio to record a harrowing tale of greed, lust, and revenge! Actually, none of that-but he does describe growing up in wartime Kosovo, and his eventual escape from Kosovo with saxophone in hand. There’ll be dancing, there’ll be drums, and there will be a bastardization of the English language like only a young Albanian can. Borat would be proud! You don’t know as much about Albania as you think you do, so lean in and get cultured.

Absolute B.S., Brad and Steve gets cute with our next guest David Darling of Creston Industrial Sales. Extremely datable, but extremely unavailable, David challenges our notions of crappy movies, Care-Bears, and what it means to be part Native American in America today. Strap in for some frozen-yogurt mixed with a healthy dose of B.S.

Kicking off Season 2 of Absolute B.S., Brad and Steve get set on fire by the relentless energy of our first guest of 2020. There’ll be food. There’ll be baskets. Join us as we take a ride on the BCW to find out the power of ‘Electronica’ music, why school uniforms are a must, and just how ‘basic’ a Grand Rapids leader can be!

For the Season One finale, Absolute B.S. takes two on at once: the powerhouse team of Jamiel Robinson and Jonathan Jelks! Robinson and Jelks are taking Grand Rapids, the Midwest, and the country by storm with too many enterprises to count. From restaurants to sparkling wines, they’re using their time and talent to redefine, well, everything. Listen in as we chat about hip-hop, Madonna, ‘sassy confidence’, and the life-long friendship which drives these serial entrepreneurs to pave the way for future generations.