The Brandy Show

The 2022 NFL Draft is upon us, so the last episode of season 4 of Conversations with features a chat with former Detroit Lions president Tom Lewand. Since the Lions have always been a story on draft day because of their success, or a=lack thereof, I thought Tom would be a perfect finish to this season. Lewand took over the Lions presidency after the Matt Millen era. He and GM Martin Mayhew tried to put the pieces together after that period. It wasn't as successful as Tom wanted, and while he was relieved of his duties, his story is still a remarkable rise from a student manager on the University of Michigan Football teams of Bo Schembechler, to a CEO and President of an NFL franchise and beyond that, a CEO for major corporations. A native Detroiter and lifetime Michiganian, Tom was the point man to get Ford Field built, and he is still at it in the business world as CEO of the Marygrove Conservancy. He is a fascinating guy, with a fascinating history and you can hear about all of his various triumphs and experiences in this Conversation with...Tom Lewand

Former Detroit Tiger Dave Rozema was one of my favorite Tigers of all time. He is a Grand Rapids Michigan native, who wound up playing for his home state team, and a world champion to boot. David was part of a group of players like Alan Trammell, Lou Whitaker, Jack Morris, Dan Petry, and Lance Parrish who formed the nucleus of the 1984 wire to wire World Series champs of the Tigers and Sparky Anderson. He was also a free spirit. As fun loving as they come, Dave was a great interview as a player, and had a ring side seat at one of the most exciting and successful eras in Tiger history. He also was a running mate of the late and great Mark Fidrych when "The Bird" dominated Major League Baseball. Dave talks about it all, and where todays game stacks up with his era in my conversation with....Dave Rozema.

Elaine Crosby is one of the University of Michigan's finest student athletes. During her years at Michigan she began as a tennis player but, switched to golf in mid stream, and became an All American and moved on to the LPGA tour. It's an incredible testament to her determination and talent to pull that off but she did! She became one of the most popular regulars on the fledgling LPGA tour, and then was instrumental in the formation of the LPGA legends tour. She is still a tough competitor and excellent golfer to this very day. A Jackson Michigan native, she never lost touch with Jackson and her Michigan roots. When golf started winding down, she took on the roll of education administrator in her home town. As the president of famed Jackson Lumen Christi High School she guided the students and staff into the 21st century with steady, solid leadership that fit the values and mission of Lumen Christi perfectly. A member of Michigan's Hall of Honor, and the Michigan Irish American Hall of Fame, Elaine is also a good friend. She also is also a fascinating story, so sit back and enjoy my Conversation with...Elaine Crosby

The Brandy Show's wide ranging discussion about our beloved Detroit Lions continues with Part 2 of our Conversation with Bill Keenist, retired long time front office staff member with the Lions. In this second part of our chat, we delve a little more deeply into one of the more difficult era's in Lions history, the Matt Millen era. Why Matt's hiring didn't work is up to debate, but it is clearly a period of history for the Lions that is a lightning rod for fans and NFL pundits. Bill Keenist was in the middle of it all. So enjoy this chat about the Millen era and much more in part 2 of my Conversation with...Bill Keenist.

As we get ready for another Super Bowl that does not include our beloved Detroit Lions, I thought we ought to have a conversation about them. During the Super Bowl era, a good friend, and exceptional executive worked for the Lions in just about every capacity. His name is Bill Keenist. He was behind the scenes and in the war room for drafts, for coach's hirings and firings. He was in the know when the change came at the general managers position. When the players needed help, or advice, or a shoulder to cry on, Bill was there. He was so highly thought of around the NFL executive offices, that the League tabbed him to come and work Super Bowls in their media operation. So while the Lions haven't been to the Super Bowl, Bill has been to many. He has seen it all during the more than 30 years he spent in the Lions front office. We agreed that we could talk for hours about the Lions and their mistakes, their triumphs, their tragedies, and everything in between, so we did. We talked so long, we had enough material for two podcasts. It's a Brandy Show first! So sit back and settle in for a behind the scenes look at your Detroit Lions during the past 30 odd years in Part 1 of my Conversation with Bill Keenist.

In Football, officiating is so important to every game, and in big games it seems to be magnified. For that matter, in any game, the officials and their handling of events can be massive. It is the hope of everyone that the officiating goes un-noticed and doesn't impact the outcome. To discuss officiating, and the incredibly difficult job it is, and who in the world would want to put themselves in that position, I called on my friend Dick Honig for this episode of "Conversations With." Dick is now retired, but during his career he saw it all. Most of his time he spent in the Big Ten, and what a time it was! Enjoy the art of officiating, it's ups and downs and responsibilities with Dick Honig, in this episode of Conversations with...

In our last episode of the 2020 season, we spend some some time with Greg Kinney. Who is Greg Kinney you ask? Well, he's the keeper of the keys to the incredible vault of University of Michigan Football history at the Bentley Historical Library in Ann Arbor. With such a rich and legendary tradition at Michigan, Kinney has researched and archived some amazing documents from over a century ago. It brings to life the likes of Yost, Crisler, Kipke, Oosterbaan, Schembechler and more. These records weren't exactly easy to discover given the Athletic Departments ever decreasing capacity to store these treasures and the lack of personnel to organize them. Enter Greg Kinney and his staff, who even searched old coal bins to find some artifacts that were museum worthy. In addition, Greg has gone digital, and this past year added 20 years of the old "Michigan Replay" show with Bo Schembechler, Gary Moeller, Loyd Carr and yours truly to the list of items you can experience as part of the Bentley Library collection. Take a walk down memory lane with the archivist of all things Michigan Athletics in this Conversation with...Greg Kinney

Enjoy my Conversations with one of Michigan's most versatile and popular media personalities. Michael Patrick Shiels is currently the host of Michigan's Big Show, a morning drive radio standard that is syndicated across the State to tremendous ratings and success. But, Shiels current vehicle doesn't scratch the surface of his incredible journey. He started his career as a fresh faced young producer for the great JP McCarthy at WJR radio, and since then, he has grown into an author, a friend of Presidents and Award winning national broadcasters. He's a travel writer, a biographer, a golf historian, a cigar expert and, by the way, he has run with the bulls in Pamplona. His story is an amazing journey and you can come along for the trip in this episode of Conversations with...Michael Patrick Shiels.

Enjoy a chat with one of the most interesting and polarizing sports figures in Detroit in many years. Matt Millen came from the broadcast booth, after a spectacular football career that featured Super Bowl wins, to run the Detroit Lions. He was going to bring the Lions back to greatness...well, that never happened, and his tenure became a turmoil in Detroit that ended with Matt's firing. Despite all that, he is a fascinating sports figure. His life story is remarkable. He is a heart transplant recipient. He is back to the national level as a broadcaster. He is a master woodworker. His football history includes the likes of Joe Paterno, John Madden, Marcus Allen and many more. He is also a really good guy. If you find yourself around him, you find yourself liking him. Enjoy this amazing personal story in my Conversation with...Matt Millen

One of the great voices in Detroit joins us in this episode and walk down memory lane recalling his fabulous Hall of Fame broadcast career. Very simply, Dick Purtan set a standard in morning drive talk/entertainment radio that is impossible to quantify. Dick's instincts, and idea's about morning radio were innovative and way ahead of their time. He blazed a trail that hundreds of future morning drive hosts tried to copy, but Purtan's talent couldn't be matched. He was so good,...well, I don't need to tell you because you can listen for yourself,....he hasn't lost a step. He is still going strong, even in retirement, as you can hear in this Conversation with...Dick Purtan.

One of the most celebrated running backs in Michigan Football history is Jamie Morris. In a football program that has a reputation as a rush first, pass second offense, Jamie is the classic example. He's still very prominent in the record books too. He's the Maize and Blue's fourth all time leading rusher, and in 1987, he had ten games of 100 yards or more on the ground which is still a Michigan record. He averaged over 141 yards per game that season to boot. Jamie remains a Wolverine favorite as a radio host on WTKA in Ann Arbor. He was small in stature, under 5 foot 10, but he was, and is, big in personality and performance. His relationship with Bo Schembechler and Michigan football are all on display in this Conversation with...Jamie Morris.

Remember Michigan Replay? Some called it the Bo Show, Michigan Football's coaches show? Well, this Conversation with....is a walk down memory lane with Bob Lipson. He was the only executive producer of the show in its more than 30 year run. It's all the inside stuff through the years about the iconic TV production. Go behind the curtain and listen to the stories you never heard about Bo, Mo, Lloyd, and even me, on Conversations with...Bob Lipson!

His name is Tim Kiska. He's a professor of journalism and screen studies at Wayne State. He has a PHD in history from Wayne State, but more importantly, he is a treasure trove of knowledge of Detroit's political and media history. From Roman Gribbs, to Coleman Young, to Kwame Kilpatrick he's got the inside scoop. Are newspapers dying, or are they entering another age of growth? Is journalism dead, or are we entering a new golden age? What about local TV and Radio news and personalities…where have they gone? Tim Kiska has all the answers, and he is my guest for the newest episode of Conversations with…

Detroit Red Wings hockey legend Mickey Redmond is a great story teller, a great player, and a legendary Detroit broadcaster. Red Wings games without Mickey just aren't the same. Hear tales of Gordie Howe, Jean Beliveau, the Russian Five, Scotty Bowman, and many more from the man who has seen it all first hand in a career that spans 50 years in Conversations with...Mickey Redmond.

A chat with a Michigan Football icon. Jerry Hanlon came to Michigan with Bo Schembechler in 1969. He has never left. Considered one of the finest offensive line coaches ever, Jerry's knowledge of Michigan football is unparalleled. His opinions about how the game has changed and where the game is going are "to the point" and passionate. Want to know about college football? Listen to Jerry Hanlon!

She is a top talent in the newspaper business.... the beat writer for University of Michigan Football.... an Ohio native, and wanted to be in the newspaper business since she can remember. She is a friend and fun to be around. She knows her stuff as well as anyone on the inside of Wolverine nation! Angelique Chengelis is a good listen. Follow her from growing up in Cincinnati to her position as a leader in sports reporting in Detroit, and all points in between.

Dan Petry is one of the integral members of the 1984 World Series Champion Detroit Tigers. He and Jack Morris, now in the Hall of Fame, were 1 and 2 on the Tigers pitching staff of Sparky Anderson's world champs. It was a magical season for Petry and the Tigers, and he remembers it like it was yesterday, including the incredible 35-5 start that blew the rest of the American League out of the water by early June of that year. Dan is now part of the Tigers broadcast team on Fox Sports Detroit. Even though he is a California native, he has made Detroit his home and even has a son who is playing in the National Hockey League. Quite simply, Dan Petry is one of the nicest sports superstars in this community. He is a wealth of baseball and Detroit Tigers' knowledge. He has a wonderful historical perspective on the franchise and the great names he played with. Join us for some baseball chat, on Conversation with….Dan Petry

Michigan State's NCAA basketball Title in 1979 put the MSU basketball program on the map. It has never left its stature as a national power since then. One of the real building blocks of that dynamic was Greg Kelser. A Detroit Henry Ford High School grad, he joined MSU two years before Earvin Magic Johnson became a Spartan. Greg was the guiding force as the veteran player on that championship team. He was front and center in the title game against Larry Bird that changed college basketball…and became the first-round pick of the Detroit Pistons and enjoyed an NBA career. He played for Gus, Judd, Dickie V, Lenny Wilkins, and others, and he talks about his incredible career which now includes his duties as the analyst for Pistons TV broadcasts in this Conversation With Greg Kelser.

Detroit Lions Coach Don Clemons came to Detroit back in 1955 when Darryl Rogers was named head coach. For the next 27 years, “Clem” stayed on the Lions staff (until 2012), through nine head coaches, numerous frustrations, and great triumphs, in a career he wouldn't trade for the world. And, he's still at it…coaching American Football in Europe, and at a division 3 college in Pennsylvania. You'd think after 27 years on the NFL, those jobs would be a step-down. But not for Don Clemons…it's a game he loves and a profession he can't get enough of. He's the perfect guest to discuss all things football, especially the Detroit Lions. Enjoy my Conversation With Don Clemons.

Lomas Brown is now the radio analyst for the Detroit Lions games, which by the way, was my job for 31 years before Lomas took over. That notwithstanding, Lomas and I are still good friends. He was a Lions offensive tackle for 18 seasons with the NFL — including 12 in Detroit, and he was on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl XXXVII Champion team. Lomas and I talk about the long-suffering Detroit Lions fans who have been waiting since 1957 for a championship from their beloved Lions and gives his thoughts on why it hasn't happened, his career with the Lions & Browns and more, in a revealing Conversation With Lomas Brown.

Athletics can teach so many lessons. Teamwork and discipline are just two aspects of sports that manifest themselves, but, there are a lot more. Fergus Connolly has worked in hi-level athletics his entire life. He has been involved in major league soccer around the world and worked with Michigan Coach Jim Harbaugh in the NFL and at the U of M. Connolly's passion is performance and how to improve it. He is so passionate he wrote a book called 59 Lessons. Taking his experience from coaches, players, and the dynamics he's observed from the very best performers at their games, Fergus gives anyone interested a roadmap on how to approach life and athletics. We learn a lot from these lessons and you can too in Conversations with…Fergus Connolly

The local TV and Radio business is very important to members of the community, and Detroit is no different. One of the legendary names in Detroit media is venerable sportscaster Ray Lane. He started his career in the 50's after graduating from Michigan State. Talented, outspoken, and very much a character, Ray Lane was a fixture in Detroit television for 40years. Ray was with the world champion Tigers in 68 and 84. From Ralph Houk to Mayo Smith to Sparky Anderson, he was watching it all from the front row. He was with the Red Wings and Scotty Bowman when they hoisted the Stanley Cup. Ray Lane's journey in his career is one any youngsters starting in the business can only dream of having. In Conversation with….Ray shares that career with all of us.

What do you get when you mix high-level politics, higher education, and division 1 big-time athletics?…well, you get Andrea Fischer Newman is what you get. The former University of Michigan Regent who served nearly 25 years on the U of M board has a history that is second to none…from the White House, to the Board Room, to the press box at Michigan Stadium and the Regents room at Crisler Arena, she has a story that is diverse and fascinating. Why do you think she was the only Regent to vote against a tuition hike?,…who does she consider the most underappreciated figure in Michigan Athletics over the last decade?…and is the role of Athletics at big universities overblown?. Find out the answers in Conversation With Andrea Fischer Newman.

There is a coach at the University of Michigan that never gets a headline, rarely appears on TV or radio, has no won-loss record. But, CBS's James Brown once called him the secret weapon of Michigan Athletics. His name is Greg Harden. He is officially a counselor, or life coach, or mentor, or advisor. Take your pick…one thing is for sure, he is just as important a figure in maximizing the performance of athletes as coaches. He has made a difference in the careers of such iconic names at Michigan as Heisman winner Desmond Howard and all-everything quarterback Tom Brady. Find out how Greg Harden works his magic for over 900 athletes in Ann Arbor, on Conversation With…Greg Harden

Michigan State University has a storied athletic history. One of the legendary names in Spartan history is former football coach Duffy Daugherty. To get an up-close look at the Spartan legend you need to find someone who played for Duffy...enter my brother, Art Brandstatter Jr. Back in the late 50's, he played for Duffy as he was laying the groundwork for his national championship run of the mid-'60s. Surprisingly, the Spartan program back in those days was also at the forefront of major social change in this country. Art Brandstatter was living the whole process as a college student. After graduation, he stayed in East Lansing and stayed active at MSU. He has a unique perspective on the Spartans explosion as a major player in the Big Ten and national spotlight, and he explains it all on Conversation With…Art Brandstatter

Michigan won their last national championship in football in 1997. A legendary season for the Wolverines, and through the run to the title there are stories fans love to hear. Who better to get the story from than Jon Jansen, the Captain of that team. Find out what went on in the players only team meeting before the season, when soon to be Heisman winner Charles Woodson changed the teams focus with a single remark. Learn the interesting motivational tactics of head coach Lloyd Carr. In addition, Jon talks about his pro career, and how a tragedy, while he was at the Washington Redskins, changed the team's entire outlook on the season and life. It's Jon Jansen unfiltered and uncensored in Conversations with…Jon Jansen.

For over 40 years, Jon Falk roamed the halls of the Michigan football locker rooms. Whether at Schembechler Hall or previous facilities, Jonny was the Wolverine players best friend and confidante. Over those years, he's met the legendary names, and handed them their game socks. He's seen the great victories and the devastating defeats. He's called Schembechler, Carr, Moeller, Rodriguez, and Hoke, his boss. Jim Harbaugh, Michigans current coach, who Jon gave socks to as a player, is now his boss. As a matter of fact, Harbaugh called Falk out of retirement to work with him and Michigan football. His first-hand knowledge of Michigan football history is unmatched and Jon Falk is a go-to guest for Conversations with….

There are pictures of Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, Bob Hope, Muhammad Ali, and more sports and entertainment glitterati hanging on the walls. You'd think you were at a famous New York or Los Angeles bistro to the stars…well, you'd be wrong. All of that memorabilia and more are featured at a Restaurant/bar named Ginopolis in Farmington Hills, Michigan at the corner of 12 mile and Middlebelt.. This Detroit area iconic sports and entertainment center closed in 2019, but what a history it has seen walk through the doors. Mostly Detroit legends frequented the place during it's hey day when it was named by Playboy magazine the best singles spot in the city. But, world and national celebs also found their way to Ginopolis. Oh if the walls could talk, huh?? Well, we've got better. Owners John and Peter Ginopolis can talk and they join Brandy for a fascinating walk down memory lane in Conversations With….about the Ginopolis history.

From very humble beginnings in Highland Park, Michigan, Reggie McKenzie battled his way to national prominence as a football player, and then after his career on the national stage, he returned to his home town and worked tirelessly to improve life for the youth of that community. From being the prime mover in convincing OJ Simpson of the Buffalo Bills he could gain 2000 yards rushing in a 14 game season that was unheard of at the time, to getting a lesson in perseverance from his sister, to learning lessons of life from Bo Schembechler at Michigan, Reggie's story in inspirational, and fascinating. He shares it all on this episode of Conversations with…. Picture with Reggie McKenzie, Thom Darden.

The history of the Detroit Lions frustrations in winning an NFL title, it's first since 1957, is well documented. Someone who has been watching this frustration up close for close to 50 years has been Mike O'Hara. Recently elected to the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, Mike was the beat writer for the Detroit News to cover the Lions from the early 70's. He now works for Lions.com. So, if anybody knows about this franchise, It's Mike O'Hara. Topics like the best coach, the worst coach, quarterbacks, running backs, general managers, ownership, and media are all on the agenda in a revealing Conversations with…. about our beloved Detroit Lions.

Jack Harbaugh… Imagine you are going to a Super Bowl…as you settle into your seats, you look on the field and two of your sons are the head coaches of the respective teams. Pretty amazing huh?... It's happened once in history, and it happened to Jack Harbaugh, the father of Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh, and Jim Harbaugh, at the time, the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers back in 2013. Currently, Jim is coaching the University of Michigan football team, and Jack is in Ann Arbor watching over his sons' progress. A former college coach himself, Jack worked on the staff of Michigan legend Bo Schembechler. He is royalty in football circles, and he has stories by the hundreds. Wolverine fans and football fans are fascinated by his history in the game, and the legends he's come to know over the years. He shares those years of experience with Jim Brandstatter on a memorable episode of Conversation with… Jack Harbaugh.