POPULARITY
Day Break | THE POLLS, THE ROLLS & THE BATTLE FOR AMERICA'S FUTURE --- 00:00 - Monologue 19:20 – Gregory Wrightstone, geologist, Executive Director of the CO2 Coalition, and bestselling author of A Very Convenient Warming. Wrightstone discusses America's position as a global leader in natural gas production and the growing role natural gas could play in powering AI data centers. He examines rising electricity demand, grid reliability, and the energy infrastructure needed to support the continued expansion of artificial intelligence. 28:16 – Nick Hopwood, CFP, Founder and President of Peak Wealth Management. In this week's No Lazy Money, Hopwood discusses the federal debt reaching $40 trillion and what rising long-term interest rates could mean for investors and retirees. He also examines when it may make sense to redirect some 401(k) contributions toward a brokerage account, whether receiving a large inheritance can change retirement plans, and the different fee structures consumers should understand when choosing a financial advisor. Visit PeakWM.com/Gruber for a free second opinion on your retirement or investment plan. 38:24 - Monologue Featuring Ivey Gruber 47:26 – Mike Britton, Co-Founder of Artillery Tea. Britton introduces listeners to Artillery Tea and explains what sets the company apart from other tea brands. He also highlights the Patriot Starter Kit, what's included for first-time customers, and the special offer available to listeners. 1:06:46 – Salah Bayaziddi, U.S. Representative for the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan. Bayaziddi discusses the latest developments in U.S.-Iran relations and whether the current agreement between Washington and Tehran can produce lasting stability. He examines the underlying tensions that remain and whether another military confrontation could be taking shape. 1:16:51 - Monologue 1:25:50 – Oscar De la Rosa, attorney and former Miami Council Member. De la Rosa discusses California's proposed wealth tax and the growing debate over whether higher taxes on wealthy residents could drive billionaires, businesses, and investment out of the state. He examines the potential consequences for California's economy and tax base. 1:45:02 – Ivey Gruber, President of the Michigan Talk Network. Gruber joins Steve for a lighter conversation about Spain's massive La Tomatina food fight, where crowds take to the streets for an enormous tomato battle. They also turn their attention toward space exploration and the latest excitement surrounding humanity's push farther into space. --- Check out our brand new podcast, 'Forgotten America'... Episode 24 is live NOW at Steve Gruber on YouTube! Link below: https://youtu.be/UrGZQdE62jA
2 hours and 21 minutes The Sponsors Thank you to Underground Printing for making this all possible. Rishi and Ryan have been our biggest supporters from the beginning. Check out their wide selection of officially licensed Michigan fan gear at their 3 store locations in Ann Arbor or learn about their custom apparel business at undergroundshirts.com. Our associate sponsors are: Peak Wealth Management, Matt Demorest - Realtor and Lender, Ann Arbor Elder Law, Michigan Law Grad, Human Element, Sharon's Heating & Air Conditioning, The Sklars Brothers, Champions Circle, Winewood Organics, Community Pest Solutions, The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, Radecki Oral Surgery, Long Road Distillers, and Venue by 4M where recorded this. 1. Michigan's Nonconference and Big Ten Teams 18-15 Starts at 0:54 We welcome in Alex Drain to go over Michigan's nonconference games and the rest of the Big Ten. Western Michigan Pretty good for a MAC team, they won the MAC last year. Last year they were an offensively driven team, but they've lost their defensive coordinator to the LA Chargers. They have big offensive linemen (including Ben Roebuck). Michigan's questions at defensive tackle and linebacker will get an early test. UTEP It's bad. Like... really bad. They're starting over with FCS guys. Oklahoma They get John Mateer back (which can be good or bad at any given moment). His stats in the second half of last year weren't great, how much of that was because of injury? He's an athlete when he has to run the ball. They bring back All-SEC WR Isaiah Sategna. Their run game overall was really bad, it brought down their overall offensive SP+ to 51st. Current SP+ projections are 27th. Cole Sullivan might not even start. The starting line is Michigan -2.5 so consider it a toss-up. 18 - Purdue 7-29 in the last three years since losing Jeff Brohm, and there's not much optimism going into this year either. Their schedule might be a little easier at least. This is year two of a coach starting over for Baryy Odom. Can you name the Michigan player who is a projected starter for Purdue? 17 - Michigan State Pat Fitzgerald is... a weird hire. They bring back QB Alessio Milivojevic for some continuity, also PFF really likes UConn RB Cam Edwards. The offensive line looks okay-ish. However, Fred Moore is a projected starter. Do they get four wins? 16 - Rutgers Nobody cares about them except for Bryan Mac. Last year they had their best offense since 2007 but their defense was 131st in success rate. They have KJ Duff who has a claim for the 2nd best wide receiver in the Big Ten. The offense is projected at 37th in SP+, the defense at 90th. 15 - Maryland Someone always has to die in the Maryland preview. They're #2 in returning production in SP+. Give Locksley some credit for returning a lot of young and talented players. A nonconference game against James Franklin's Virginia Tech could be exciting. [The rest of the writeup and the player after THE JUMP] 2. Big Ten Teams 14-8 Starts at 38:57 14 - Northwestern They have Chip Kelly and a new stadium (we all liked Ryan Field, though). They start with South Dakota State and then get a week two bye, oddly enough. Can they fix Aidan Chiles? They have some returning wide receivers that are decent. 13 - Wisconsin The shell of Wisconsin, the week they though Luke Fickell would get fired he got an extension. They bring in QB Colton Joseph, the Sun Belt player of the year. Old Wisconsin would never have to go into the portal for a running back. By extending Fickell they gave him a bigger NIL budget which he used to get seven defensive starters. 12 - UCLA They have a new coach. The weird Deshaun Foster era ended before it started. Bob Chesney comes in from James Madison. Nico Iamaleava comes back (for better or worse). James Madison was in the playoffs last year, you might recall. There is a lot of reason to be optimistic about this hire. Semaj Morgan is there! 11 - Nebraska They did not get year-three Matt Rhule, there was no lift-off and Raiola left. They picked up QB Anthony Colandrea from Virginia. They need a new RB. They're on their 4th defensive coordinator in five years, despite a soft schedule they still finished 7-6 last year. It feels like another 7-5 ish season. Is that Matt Rhule or is that just Nebraska now? 10 - Minnesota 68% returning production. They're always around here and they always win a bowl game. QB Drake Lindsey is appearing on 1st round mock drafts?? They're projecting 71st on offense and 24th on defense. They're Minnesota. 9 - Illinois They lose Luke Altmyer to the Detroit Lions and bring in Katin Houser (MSU plays three of their former QBs). Only one starter returns on the offensive line. They bring in Bobby Hauck as defensive coordinator, he left Montana claiming college football wasn't fun anymore and then took this job five days later. He might be their Wink. The defense needs to be fixed up a bit. 8 - Washington They forcibly detained QB Demond Williams for another year so... I guess we'll see how that goes. Last year he could just toss it up to Denzel Boston but he's out the door. They bring in a RB from Oregon and Christian Moss from Kennesaw State. Four of five starters return on the offensive line which could be solid. They lost some pretty good guys in the secondary, defensive tackle is still worrying since they have FCS and MAC guys to plug in positions. Their schedule is very favorable, they could even sneak into the playoffs (and get demolished). 3. Hot Takes and Secondary Starts at 1:19:11 Takes hotter than the hottest hot take that anyone has ever given the Sklars after one of their shows. 7 - Iowa They're Iowa. They haven't had an SP+ defense worse than 6th since 2018. They got all the way up to 37th last year in offensive SP+ (turns out Brian Ferentz was not good at offensive coordination). There are some all-Big Ten guys on the offensive line. Do they have any receivers? Ehhh. They have tight ends. Seth read three preview magazines and they all listed different starting QBs. They lost a lot on defense but they always rebuild. This could be a worrying game for Michigan (if Iowa can score). 6 - Penn State Well, the good news is last year they weren't as bad as they looked. Despite everything that happened they were close to beating Indiana at the end of the season. Matt Campbell comes in with Rocco Becht. A lot of players came over from Iowa State, it's just a matter of how quickly they can fit it all together. Their schedule is a joke, they could even sneak into the playoff or the Big Ten title game. Michigan should still be a favorite. 5 - USC They bring back QB Jayden Maiava, but they replace Makai Lemon. The receiver conveyer belt is moving. Everybody loves Waymond (and they bring back King Miller). Their new defensive coordinator is Gary Patterson (yeah that Gary Patterson). Too bad they don't play Northwestern. They always have a top 10 offense and they just need the defense to be okay. The schedule is brutal, though. Are they just permanently the 15th best team in college football under Lincoln Riley? 4 - Michigan? See: all other content. 3 - Indiana They are the portal team now. Despite losing so many players they recruited the transfer portal like an SEC team. QB Josh Hoover comes in from TCU, he's a good conference starter. They also bring in Nick Marsh (MSU) and Shazz Preston from Tulane. Add that to Charlie Becker and their WR room is stacked (also two time winning national champion Tyler Morris!). They bring in a RB named Turbo! They reload on defense and keep their defensive coordinator. Brian is not a believer and predicts 8-4, Alex thinks they'll be really good, Seth is somewhere in between. 2 - Oregon They get Dante Moore back with the regular trope of skill position players. The offensive line is a big question mark and they replace both of their coordinators with in-house hires. The defense has some good players including one of the best corners in the country. They have a Rimmington-quality center but that's about it for the line (the starting right tackle is a true freshman). Their talent is undeniable, but can they win the big game? 1 - Ohio State Last year they had the Penn State schedule of this year. Sayin's stats looked unbelievable through 12 games, then they couldn't score against Indiana and Miami. That needs to improve. Jeremiah Smith is a generational wide receiver, Chris Henry Jr will be really good but probably not quite Jeremiah Smith's level. The offense will need to make that next step. The defense was what was considered generational on SP+. They lose 9 of 11 starters on defense but they always have a conveyer belt. They had to portal some guys, though. They'll probably take a step back on defense but the offense stepping forward probably cancels that out. The schedule is pretty brutal. 4. Lightning Round Starts at 2:09:30 Predictions! List yours in the comments. -Who will be offensive MVP? -Who will be defensive MVP? -Breakout player on offense? -Breakout player on defense? -X-factor on offense? (Most variable in your estimation) -X-factor on defense? -Biggest strength on offense? -Biggest strength on defense? -Biggest concern on offense? -Biggest concern on defense? -Who's your guy on offense? -Who's your guy on defense? -Michigan's record? MUSIC: "The Latter Teens"—Vansire "Black Bear"—Hey, Nothing "Funky Fanfare"—Keith Mansfield “Across 110th Street”—JJ Johnson and his Orchestra
1 hour and 49 minutes The Sponsors Thank you to Underground Printing for making this all possible. Rishi and Ryan have been our biggest supporters from the beginning. Check out their wide selection of officially licensed Michigan fan gear at their 3 store locations in Ann Arbor or learn about their custom apparel business at undergroundshirts.com. Our associate sponsors are: Peak Wealth Management, Matt Demorest - Realtor and Lender, Ann Arbor Elder Law, Michigan Law Grad, Human Element, Sharon's Heating & Air Conditioning, The Sklars Brothers, Champions Circle, Winewood Organics, Community Pest Solutions, The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, Radecki Oral Surgery, Long Road Distillers, and Venue by 4M where recorded this. 1. Defensive Line Starts at 0:54 The defense is older and more experienced overall compared to the offense, but there are some holes to fill. John Henry Daley transfers from Utah and claims to be ready to go. Aidan Hutchinson as his ceiling might be tough coming off of an injury, but Aidan Hutchinson's 2021 season was also coming off of an injury. There's also a version of JHD where he's not all the way back and is only pretty good. The other starter is either Cam Brandt or Dom Nichols. We're not hearing a lot about Nate Marshall. Benny Patterson, on the other hand, could be a guy that's coming on. A lot of the defensive ends have some experience and are just waiting for their turn. Defensive tackle is not as deep, has some question marks, and doesn't have an established star. Trey Pierce could be solid. Enow Etta has a chance of taking a big step forward. By the end of the season he was the one still standing up against Ohio State. Seth is not high on Jonah Lea'ea. Palepale is probably the 3rd defensive tackle, he's a big dude. Don't give up on defensive tackles. Everyone wants Alister Vallejo to be the high riser, the Mason Graham comparisons are out there. Bobby Kanka flashed in the spring game. Defensive tackle seems like a not great situation overall - there are a couple guys who are serviceable to good and then a lot of questions marks. You always need at least four. [The rest of the writeup and the player after THE JUMP] 2. Linebackers Starts at 33:40 The group that is probably the most uncertain, more-so than defensive tackle. They had a first and second team of linebackers that have left after last season. We get to see Cole Sullivan again this year after he transferred to Oklahoma. Nate Staehling is the guy we're most excited about, the transfer from North Dakota State. It would be so lovely if he was a generic Iowa linebacker! He has the ability to take on a lead block. The other portal takes are much less inspiring. Troy Bowles, Chase Taylor, and Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng are the other major contributors. A lot of them look like safeties. Chase Taylor has high shoulder pads! Staehling probably starts with Bowles? After these three it drops off pretty quickly. The recruiting class has three guys that all ranked in flyer territory. Nobody in the program is complaining about defensive tackle, but there are a lot of concerns about linebackers. Keep the top guys mostly healthy and you've got a shot, though. 3. Hot Takes and Secondary Starts at 53:56 Takes hotter than that other week this summer that wasn't even Art Fair but it was like 100 billion degrees and Brian was sitting outside watching his kids play tennis badly. This is a surprisingly veteran group! Not a lot of questions at cornerback, your starters are Jyaire Hill, Zeke Berry, and they import Smith Snowden from Utah. Jyaire Hill has first round upside and this year should be a star. Zeke Berry is at least solid but is he better than that? Could Shamari Earls start over Zeke by the end of the season? The other cornerbacks are Jo'Ziah Edmond, I'Marion Stewart, and Jamarion Vincent. Vincent is a freshman and Stewart is a flip from wide receiver; they're not generating a lot of buzz. Seth is ridiculously high on Smith Snowden at nickel. At safety - is Rod Moore going to be healthy? He says he's healthy but he's on a pitch count. If he's healthy and he's Rod Moore he's one of the best safeties in the country, but he might not be Rod Moore. Chris Bracy transfers in from Memphis and is one of the best transfers in the country. He's a huge asset in stopping the run. Too bad he's not big enough to play linebacker. Mason Curtis got a lot of experience last year and is the 3rd safety, he'll get a lot of opportunities this year. Jordan Young has some upside despite inexplicable snaps last season. 4. Special Teams and Overall Thoughts Starts at 1:28:04 This defense feels like it's going to be pretty decent but there are a lot of questions. If you get the ceiling of a lot of guys on the edge and maybe Staehling then they could be really good. But the middle of the field and the backup defensive tackles are shaky. Will it be fine and are we just spoiled as Michigan fans? There are a lot of guys that will be big pieces on the defense in two or three years and they're on the roster right now. The secondary will be especially exciting if Rod Moore is back, but could weird teams like Iowa take advantage of what Michigan's missing? Also, Michigan has a college defensive coordinator and not Wink Martindale. Michigan imported Trey Butkowski (kicker) and Cam Brown (Aussie punter). Pat Narduzzi was really mad that he lost his kicker so he must be really good. He's not Moody or Zvada but he makes a lot of kicks. The 25 yard line is probably field goal range now, rather than the 35, Justin Turner is your likely comparison. Cam Brown's an odd one. He's a Hudson Hollenbeck comparison but kicks it a little further. Michigan's long snapper, Gavin Magorien, is the only Michigan player on the Freaks List this year. Who do you want returning kickoffs, Moa? And Andrew Marsh on punts? MUSIC: "Take It"—Donnie and Joe Emerson "Rabbits"—Thomas Dollbaum "Dog Bite"—Mickey Leao “Across 110th Street”—JJ Johnson and his Orchestra
2 hours and 26 minutes The Sponsors Thank you to Underground Printing for making this all possible. Rishi and Ryan have been our biggest supporters from the beginning. Check out their wide selection of officially licensed Michigan fan gear at their 3 store locations in Ann Arbor or learn about their custom apparel business at undergroundshirts.com. Our associate sponsors are: Peak Wealth Management, Matt Demorest - Realtor and Lender, Ann Arbor Elder Law, Michigan Law Grad, Human Element, Sharon's Heating & Air Conditioning, The Sklars Brothers, Champions Circle, Winewood Organics, Community Pest Solutions, The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, Radecki Oral Surgery, Long Road Distillers, and Venue by 4M where recorded this. 1. 2026 Season Vibes Starts at 0:54 Well, that was an offseason! We win national championships and commit crimes, we are now an SEC program. Michigan has a good dude in Kyle Whittingham now, though! Everyone deserves a freshly showered Brian Cook. What's your excitement level going into this season? It's nice that there are adults in charge now. Some of the things that felt 'off' last season make more sense. There aren't many players on offense this year who you wouldn't project to come back next year, it's a big building year. We're in 2015 mode right now. They actually imported an entire wide receiver room. It feels like Bryce lost a year of development but at least he goes into this year knowing what to expect. The strength and conditioning should be greatly improved, it's telling when coaches leave somewhere and end up at a worse program. 2. Quarterback and Running Back Starts at 25:15 It felt like last year was a lost cause. Pass protection wasn't good enough because the line was super young, the wide receivers were... not sufficient enough. Tyler Huntley in his second year at Utah ran probably three times as much as Bryce, he's still in the NFL with the Ravens. The potential is still there but it feels like he's still a freshman. They ran Bryce like you would run John Navarre, thinking nobody will expect this! This year it will be a team that runs the quarterback. This is the most talent Kyle Whittingham's staff has ever had, they come from a college background and should be excited to execute with it. Bryce struggled passing last year but he was thrown into a bad situation with his receivers. Do you think Bryce will have fewer pass attempts this season? Physically Bryce is everything you could ask for, he just needs to get there mentally. He hasn't been golfing this offseason. Progress is not linear, he might not look great early but hope for him to get slowly better over the course of the season and have a watershed moment by mid-season. Some QBs you can tell just aren't happening in the spring game, but Tommy Carr was happening. Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi is here but did not enroll for spring, he's a multi-year starter at Colorado State but lost his job. Chase Herbstreit and Brady Smigiel... don't exist right now. Running back is similar to last year where the one-two punch is among the best in the country and Bryson Kuzdzal is the third guy. This is Jordan Marshall's year and just by the way he talks there's no way he's not going to try and be the best running back in the country. Savion Hiter already looks like the best running back prospect out of high school in many years. Is Kuzdzal the ceiling for an RB3? Any other program who looks at this running back room will look at us and say "shut up". You wouldn't expect meaningful playing time from anyone else. 3. Hot Takes, Wide Receivers, and Tight Ends Starts at 1:14:40 Takes hotter than Ann Arbor during Art Fair. The wide receiver room... exists! Do you remember the last Michigan receiver to have a 1,000 yard season? Some guys just have it, Andrew Marsh has it. Who's the last Michigan receiver to live up to this hype? Nico Collins? They import JJ Buchanan in the way that Devin Funchess was a tight end, he's your jump ball guy. Salesi Moa and Travis Johnson are true freshmen but they're the next two guys being mentioned. Salesi Moa blew everyone away at the Polynesian Bowl, you hope for him to be Michigan's Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Travis Johnson seems to be WR4 but also one of the fastest guys on the team, how much play time can you expect? Jaime Ffrench comes in from Texas, Michigan barely had a receiver room when he committed, he's in a weird situation. Channing Goodwin is getting some chatter again. Who are the jet sweep guys, Moa and Marsh? This is the thinnest tight end room we can remember. There isn't a Colston Loveland type guy but Zack Marshall looked really good last year and has a captain mentality. They say Hogan Hansen is healthy and ready to go but he's been hampered by injury and is probably a bit behind physically. Jalen Hoffman is ready to step up and be that dude as a blocker. Also he can catch the ball! They're talking about freshman Mason Bonner in wide receiver-y ways. Eli Owens (Thump) wants to be Max Bredeson but it's only his 2nd year. 4. Offensive Line Starts at 1:57:36 Brian was despondent when linemen hit the portal in the offseason but they all came back. Jake Guarnera is the center and there's no question about it - that being locked down is so important. Andrew Sprague should also be great, he's the locked in right tackle. It's a good thing when Texas comes for your linemen (as long as you keep them). How good of a pass protector can he be, though? They just imported Jim Harding from Utah, regarded as one of the best offensive line coaches in the country. The offensive line has question marks but they're good question marks. Blake Frazier was the lightest guy on the line but he's put on 20 lbs, he should be improved at left tackle. Babalola's progress is the only reason he's not locked in. There's the "Rhino" role for a 6th offensive lineman so there are positions for everyone. They're hyping up Babalola a lot in practice. The incoming freshmen are great but they're freshmen. Evan Link looks to be your starting left guard, he massively improved at left tackle last year after a rough freshman year but this should be a better suited role for him. There's competition for right guard but not for left guard so he might be a pretty solid option. Right guard is a competition between Brady Norton and Nathan Efobi. People are very high on Ace Hamilton. The offense as a whole has a lot of talent but it's so young, they don't have a senior leader. This team will probably still feel like they're a year away. MUSIC: "King of the Night"—Rubber Band Gum "Fools"—Drugdealer "Mobile Home"—Jesse Woods “Across 110th Street”—JJ Johnson and his Orchestra
Nick Hopwood, CFP® of Peak Wealth Management joins Steve Gruber to break down the current state of the U.S. economy and financial markets. Nick and Steve discuss the Dow pushing 55,000, last week's monster market performance, inflation at 3.5%, and what these economic trends could mean for investors, retirement planning, interest rates, and the markets ahead. Get Nick's perspective on market momentum, inflation, the economy, and what investors should be watching right now. — ✅ Apply For A Free Retirement Planning Session ✅ peakwm.com/start-here ------------------------------- Stay Connected With Us: Podbean YouTube Apple Facebook X Peak Wealth
Day Break | Fauci, Flock & the Far-Left Freefall --- 00:00 - Monologue 19:14 – Gerald Malloy, retired U.S. Army officer, West Point graduate, and Trump-backed Republican. Malloy discusses his effort to break through Vermont's traditionally Democratic political landscape, focusing on his military background, campaign strategy, and the broader challenge Republicans face in deep-blue states. 28:08 – Nick Hopwood, Certified Financial Planner and Founder of Peak Wealth Management. In this week's No Lazy Money, Hopwood discusses a net loss in jobs, persistent inflation, and a recent breakout in the S&P 500 following a volatile spring and summer. He also stresses the importance of tracking monthly expenses and net worth, encouraging listeners to become more engaged with their finances and retirement planning. 38:19 - Monologue 47:19 – Allen Mendenhall, Research Fellow at The Heritage Foundation's Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies and Senior Advisor to the Free Enterprise Initiative. Mendenhall discusses the Senate's move to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt and explains what could happen next procedurally and legally. 57:34 – Dewayne Moore, political and community leader and founder of The Dewayne Moore Foundation. Moore discusses a crowded 10-way Republican House primary in Florida, examining the competing factions, endorsements, and political dynamics shaping the race. 1:06:31 – Rand Taylor, CEO and Co-Founder of Fuel Ox. Taylor discusses the financial pressure facing U.S. truckers as diesel prices rise, examining the impact on independent operators, shipping costs, supply chains, and the broader transportation industry. 1:16:40 - Monologue 1:25:09 – Katie Heid, News Director for Michigan News Source. Heid delivers the Michigan Rundown, focusing on the gubernatorial race and the expected debates between the major-party nominees. The conversation looks at how the campaigns are taking shape and the issues likely to define the contest. 1:34:42 – Ryan Duffy, member of the Enbridge Communications Team. Duffy discusses a recent Michigan Supreme Court ruling sending one of the Line 5 tunnel permits back to the Michigan Public Service Commission for additional review, while also addressing recently approved environmental permits. He explains the earlier permitting process, ongoing archaeological and cultural studies at the Straits, and what comes next for the project. 1:43:26 – Ivey Gruber, President of the Michigan Talk Network. Gruber discusses changes to the federal vaccine schedule under President Trump and the renewed scrutiny surrounding Dr. Anthony Fauci, examining the political and public-health debates surrounding both issues. --- Check out our brand new podcast, 'Forgotten America'... Episode 24 is live NOW at Steve Gruber on YouTube! Link below: https://youtu.be/UrGZQdE62jA
Nick Hopwood, CFP® and Jim Pilat, CFP® of Peak Wealth Management join Ryan Ermanni on WJR's No Lazy Money to talk about the true cost of owning a boat, planning for retirement, Social Security, and when you can actually afford to enjoy the things you've worked hard for. From lifestyle spending and retirement income to making smart financial decisions, this conversation offers practical insights for anyone thinking about retirement and their financial future. Like, subscribe, and follow Peak Wealth Management for more financial planning and retirement content! — ✅ Apply For A Free Retirement Planning Session ✅ peakwm.com/start-here ------------------------------- Stay Connected With Us: Podbean YouTube Apple Facebook X Peak Wealth
Join Preston Gee, CFP® of Peak Wealth Management as he sits down with Peak summer intern Joey Ingram to reflect on an incredible internship experience. As Joey prepares to return to Michigan State University, he shares what he learned during his time at Peak, the meaningful opportunities he was given, the skills he developed, and how this experience will shape his future career. If you're a student interested in finance, investing, internships, wealth management, or career development, this conversation offers valuable insight into what it's like to gain real-world experience in the financial planning industry. Catch up with Joey and the Peak team, and hear firsthand how hands-on learning can make a lasting impact. — ✅ Apply For A Free Retirement Planning Session ✅ peakwm.com/start-here ------------------------------- Peak Wealth Management is a financial planning and wealth management firm in Plymouth, MI. We believe by providing education and guidance, we inspire our clients to make great decisions so they can Retire With Peace of Mind Stay Connected With Us: Podbean YouTube Apple Facebook X Peak Wealth
Nick Hopwood, CFP® of Peak Wealth joins Steve Gruber for a timely discussion on the U.S. economy, today's markets, and what investors should know about retirement planning. They cover the rise of AI investments, why Venmo shouldn't be used as a bank account, the new Trump Accounts for children, and practical strategies for building long-term wealth. Tune in for expert financial insights, and don't forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more investing, retirement, and personal finance content from Peak Wealth. — ✅ Apply For A Free Retirement Planning Session ✅ peakwm.com/start-here ------------------------------- Peak Wealth Management is a financial planning and wealth management firm in Plymouth, MI. We believe by providing education and guidance, we inspire our clients to make great decisions so they can Retire With Peace of Mind Stay Connected With Us: Podbean YouTube Apple Facebook X Peak Wealth
Day Break | The Deep State, China & the Battle for Fair Elections --- 00:00 - Monologue 19:16 – Gregory Wrightstone, geologist, Executive Director of the CO₂ Coalition, and bestselling author of A Very Convenient Warming. Wrightstone discusses President Trump's criticism of Canada's handling of wildfires, examining the causes of wildfire smoke, climate policy debates, and his perspective on the role of carbon dioxide and modest warming in the global environment. 28:15 – Nick Hopwood, Certified Financial Planner and Founder of Peak Wealth Management. In this week's No Lazy Money, Hopwood discusses the recent AI-driven market selloff, responds to reactions from social media, takes a deeper look at the long-term investing potential of Trump Accounts, and explains why relying on consulting income in retirement may be less realistic than many Americans expect. 38:25 - Monologue 47:29 – Larry Behrens, energy expert and spokesman for Power The Future. Behrens discusses how energy producers are preparing for the coming winter, examining the challenges facing the U.S. energy sector, grid reliability, domestic production, and policies that could affect energy affordability. 57:42 – Elynn Mantell, patient advocate. Mantell shares her personal journey through dozens of surgeries and years of medical challenges while discussing proposed Medicare changes that could affect more than one million patients and what those changes could mean for individuals who rely on specialized medical care. 1:06:41 – Zen Honeycutt, founding Executive Director of Moms Across America. Honeycutt discusses efforts to reduce the use of pesticides and other chemicals in the food supply, highlighting consumer advocacy, food transparency, and initiatives aimed at promoting healthier agricultural practices. 1:16:58 - Monologue 1:25:57 – Rey "R.T." Trevino, oil and gas expert and CEO of Pecos Country Energy. Trevino discusses rising gasoline prices amid escalating tensions with Iran, examining how geopolitical instability, global energy markets, and domestic production influence fuel costs for American consumers. 1:35:52 – State Rep. Jason Woolford, Michigan State Representative for the 50th District. Woolford discusses legislation to strengthen verification requirements for Michigan's public assistance programs, explaining the goals of improving accountability, reducing fraud, and ensuring benefits reach eligible recipients. 1:44:44 – Ivey Gruber, President of the Michigan Talk Network. Gruber discusses reports of fraudulent government payments highlighted by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, reflects on President Trump's recent address concerning election fraud, and examines ongoing debates over election integrity and the media's coverage of those allegations. --- Check out our brand new podcast, 'Forgotten America'... Episode 23 is live NOW at Steve Gruber on YouTube! Link below: https://youtu.be/zFbIurpG2H4
Day Break | Peace Or Escalation? Iran, Election Fraud & America's Future --- 00:00 - Monologue 19:10 – Eugene Kontorovich, Senior Legal Fellow at Advancing American Freedom. Kontorovich discusses legal and constitutional questions surrounding efforts by Democratic lawmakers to scrutinize Jewish charities that support Israeli communities, examining the intersection of nonprofit law, foreign policy, and religious freedom. 28:04 – Nick Hopwood, Certified Financial Planner and Founder of Peak Wealth Management. In this week's No Lazy Money, Hopwood discusses persistent inflation, interest rate expectations, retirement planning, and the financial challenges facing Americans. Topics include retirement confidence, the long-term potential of Trump Accounts and Roth investing, student loan debt's impact on retirement, and why building a comprehensive financial plan has never been more important. 38:17 - Monologue Featuring Ivey Gruber 47:19 – Brandon Arnold, Executive Vice President of the National Taxpayers Union. Arnold discusses the rapid expansion of data centers, examining their economic impact, tax implications, infrastructure demands, and why he believes these projects can provide long-term benefits for both taxpayers and local communities. 57:36 – Pastor Lorenzo "Zo" Sewell, Senior Pastor of 180 Church in Detroit. Sewell discusses allegations of voter fraud affecting his Detroit church, reflects on election integrity concerns, and previews what he expects President Trump to address during his nationally anticipated evening speech. 1:06:30 – Chris Hagerman, Bath School Museum Committee. Hagerman discusses ongoing efforts to preserve the history of the 1927 Bath School disaster through the proposed Bath School Museum, highlighting fundraising efforts, the importance of remembering the tragedy, and the museum's mission to educate future generations. 1:16:43 - Monologue 1:25:44 – Dennis Kneale, bestselling author, veteran business journalist, and author of Ore-Goners. Kneale examines changing public attitudes toward capitalism, discussing why confidence in the free market has declined, the cultural and economic factors driving that shift, and what it could mean for America's future. 1:36:02 – Gordon G. Chang, author of Plan Red and China Is Going to War. Chang discusses concerns surrounding foreign election interference, focusing on China's influence operations, cybersecurity threats, and the challenges of protecting U.S. elections from foreign adversaries. 1:44:59 – Ivey Gruber, President of the Michigan Talk Network. Gruber discusses the growing influence of private equity on everyday life, including rising costs for family entertainment, while also covering the impact of wildfire smoke drifting into the United States from Canada and other notable headlines from around the country. --- Check out our brand new podcast, 'Forgotten America'... Episode 22 is live NOW at Steve Gruber on YouTube! Link below: https://youtu.be/Dfr8Z_syB-M
Nick Hopwood, CFP® of Peak Wealth Management, joins Steve Gruber on Daybreak to discuss the latest outlook for the economy, inflation, interest rate hikes, and the risks facing retirees. Learn how changing market conditions could impact retirement planning, investment strategies, and long term financial goals. Listen to this timely conversation for practical insights on navigating economic uncertainty and making informed financial decisions. — ✅ Apply For A Free Retirement Planning Session ✅ peakwm.com/start-here ------------------------------- Peak Wealth Management is a financial planning and wealth management firm in Plymouth, MI. We believe by providing education and guidance, we inspire our clients to make great decisions so they can Retire With Peace of Min Stay Connected With Us: Podbean YouTube Apple Facebook X Peak Wealth
Nick Hopwood, CFP®, and Jim Pilat, CFP®, join host Ryan Ermanni on the latest episode of The No Lazy Money Show on WJR to discuss Roth conversions, retirement planning, mortgage payoff strategies, investing, and the latest SpaceX news. They also share a practical midyear financial review with tips to help you evaluate your portfolio, reduce taxes, and stay on track toward your long term financial goals. If you are looking for expert financial planning advice and retirement strategies, this episode is packed with timely insights you can use. — ✅ Apply For A Free Retirement Planning Session ✅ peakwm.com/start-here ------------------------------- Peak Wealth Management is a financial planning and wealth management firm in Plymouth, MI. We believe by providing education and guidance, we inspire our clients to make great decisions so they can Retire With Peace of Mind Stay Connected With Us: Podbean YouTube Apple Facebook X Peak Wealth
How much should you spend if you want to retire comfortably? In this episode of the Trust the Plan Podcast, Preston Gee, CFP® and Jim Pilat, CFP® answer the biggest retirement planning and budgeting questions they hear from clients. They discuss smart spending habits, budgeting strategies, renting vs. buying a home, and how today's financial decisions can impact your future retirement. Whether you're just starting your financial journey or getting closer to retirement, understanding how to spend wisely is just as important as knowing how to save and invest. In this episode, you'll discover: ✔️ How much you can afford to spend while staying on track for retirement ✔️ Renting vs. buying a home: Which is better for your financial plan? ✔️ Budgeting tips that support long-term financial success ✔️ Common spending mistakes that can delay retirement ✔️ How to balance enjoying life today while planning for tomorrow ✔️ Questions financial advisors hear most often about spending and retirement If you're searching for advice on retirement planning, budgeting, personal finance, investing, financial freedom, retirement savings, wealth building, or money management, this episode is for you
2 hours and 23 minutes The Sponsors Thank you to Underground Printing for making this all possible. Rishi and Ryan have been our biggest supporters from the beginning. Check out their wide selection of officially licensed Michigan fan gear at their 3 store locations in Ann Arbor or learn about their custom apparel business at undergroundshirts.com. Our associate sponsors are: Peak Wealth Management, Matt Demorest - Realtor and Lender, Ann Arbor Elder Law, Michigan Law Grad, Human Element, Sharon's Heating & Air Conditioning, The Sklars Brothers, Champions Circle, Winewood Organics, Community Pest Solutions, The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, Radecki Oral Surgery, Long Road Distillers, and Venue by 4M where recorded this. 1. What Dusty Just Done Did Starts at 0:51 Not only did we have this team come out of nowhere to be the best in the history Michigan basketball. The Dusty May Era is now a fever dream. Takes a little bit out of it. This is college basketball now. Understand why he wouldn't want to be a college coach today; he explicitly said he never got to feel like they won a championship. NCAA can be blamed for letting it get here but also they have no power whatsoever to fix all the things that mean the second you win a title you have to recruit your new team. Second time in a row the college coach the NBA took was Michigan's. This is not the Cavs; Dallas is a good gig. [The rest of the writeup and the player after THE JUMP] 2. The Future of Michigan Basketball Starts at 19:04 They're promoting Mike Boynton to interim head coach, with a possibility of permanence. Greater that 50% chance he's the HC without the interim title, but might execute a search. Five days after they announce a hire the portal is open for Michigan alone, which is probably what scared them into this now. McKenney is back, probably Cadeau back, direction of things is a battle to hold onto the transfer bigs. Boynton: got tagged by the FBI thing, can see his tenure as not successful, or successful for the Minnesota of the Big 12. He has a trademark, which is defense: five of six years with a top-20 unit. Still relatively young, can recruit. Program: "What option do we have?" UNNNNNGGGGGHHHHHH. Actual option: Josh Schertz! Trademark is twos, built a real roster there, is Dusty's best coaching buddy. Don't care as much about roster continuity (Brian Ellerbe, Sherrone Moore) because the players won't be around long. Also if you poach a coach you have access to another team's roster and coaching staff, whereas right now Michigan and the Mavs are competing for Michigan staff and Michigan and the world are competing for Michigan's players. Other names to look at: Niko Medved was our next pick two years ago, did as well as possible with Minnesota last year. Where is Michigan Basketball in program rankings? Would Purdue swap with us? Purdue built their fanbase over years of having a program, just like Michigan hockey. 3. The Warde Talk Starts at 53:17 What are you supposed to do with a guy who alternates between asleep-at-the-wheel scandals and national championships? Push back against Brian's assertion that people "don't want to work for him" because these are all individual situations. He's not a bad guy, but he's also not a guy who *does* things, unless that's milking the fanbase or turning Michigan Stadium into an F1 race of ads. His oeuvre is not doing anything, because that worked with Harbaugh in 2020, and now that's a modus operandi. Talking ADs history since Canham. Push back against Brian's lionizing of Canham: he was a visionary, but his record also includes Dr. Anderson and trying to prevent/undermine Title IX. We end up preferring Bill Martin of all our lifetime ADs—he built the boxes to prevent ads in the stadium. Don't think missing out on Les Miles was a loss. Brian's Warde assessment: He typed "how to AD" into ChatGPT. Does losing Dusty May like this change your opinion on Warde Manuel? No. But it's weird that he keeps surviving (no president to fire him). 4. 2027 Football Recruiting Starts at 1:20:46 Doesn't look any different from a Harbaugh class at this point. If you're good at scouting and developing you're fine. OL class is small but Lipsey stacks another elite tackle and they had to fend off ND for Louis Esposito, Rouleau is a Frey-type. Xavier Muhammad is a very good DT, Tavares Harrington a find at CB, and they held onto some important guys in-state in a good Michigan year. LB recruiting is still underfunded, Brian is fine with that because it's very a "what's in your head" position with no consensus on what schools want. State of the recruiting industry: Paramount got bought and 247 is getting raided as incompetent ownership sets in. On3 is more reactive to scouting this cycle, and almost universally rate M commits higher. White whales: #1 is CB Josh Dobson, Seth Tillman would be a big, big deal because DTs are hard to come by, Monsanna Torbert would be a big win over Ohio State. Lincoln Mageo would be a good OL to finish with. Would like to have more TEs coming in. 5. World Cup Starts at 1:50:04 Takes hotter than Dusty May's agent. Count how many times Brian calls USA "Michigan." Are the Americans the most pleased with their performance in Group Phase (2nd to Canadians). Freeman (son of Antonio) is very reliable defensively, main thing is you can put Dest at wing. Sauciest player in US history? McKenzie is everywhere, runs into the box from deep were especially effective vs Paraguay. Pulisic injury: not going to play him in the useless Turkey game, should be fine. Tim Ream has been trying to play soccer for us forever, always been the best guy on the ball. Decent draw, should be favored (when they make the field) for a couple of rounds. Success point is get to the quarters; they can go into a game against a world power and expect to compete, not win, and not win three in a row. Four years ago they were too young. Don't mind the 48-team format; it saps a lot of tension out of the Group Stage when three teams advance, but a lot of "small teams" have battled. Brazil is still working back to being BRAZIL. Germany is Ohio State but not a peak year Ohio State. France is super talented. Alex: If you play Bosnia and Herzegovina you play two countries at once. Seth: Actually it's more like seven point eight. MUSIC: "Hit or Miss"—Odetta "Take Da Charge"—Project Pat "Love on My Brain"—Jim Ford "Dog Has Its Day"—Toledo “Across 110th Street”—JJ Johnson and his Orchestra
Nick Hopwood, CFP®, joined Steve Gruber on Daybreak to discuss inflation, interest rates, market volatility, and key financial planning moves for the second half of the year. Nick shared his outlook on Federal Reserve policy, explained why market corrections are normal, discussed the recent SpaceX IPO, and highlighted the importance of a midyear financial checkup, including reviewing 401(k) contributions, retirement projections, spending, and beneficiary designations. — ✅ Apply For A Free Retirement Planning Session ✅ peakwm.com/start-here ------------------------------ Peak Wealth Management is a financial planning and wealth management firm in Plymouth, MI. We believe by providing education and guidance, we inspire our clients to make great decisions so they can Retire With Peace of Mind. Stay Connected With Us: Podbean: https://findingtruewealth.podbean.com/ YouTube: / https://www.youtube.com/@peakwealthmgmt Apple: rb.gy/1jqp6 (Trust the Plan Podcast) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeakWealthManagement/ X: https://x.com/nhopwood1 https://www.peakwm.com/
Day Break | FAUCI FILES, IRAN DEAL, AND THE TRUMP EFFECT --- 00:00 - Monologue 19:14 – Brian Pannebecker, veteran auto worker, founder of Auto Workers for Trump, and author of Blue Collar Conservative: From Reagan to Trump. Pannebecker discusses the political realignment of many working-class and union voters, sharing his perspective on how auto workers helped reshape American politics and why many blue-collar voters shifted from traditional Democratic support toward the Republican Party. 28:16 – Nick Hopwood, Certified Financial Planner and Founder of Peak Wealth Management. Hopwood discusses the passing of former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, recent market volatility driven by weakness in Asian technology stocks, and expectations for future interest rate policy. He also encourages listeners to conduct a mid-year financial review, including portfolio performance, retirement projections, tax-advantaged contributions, beneficiary updates, and cash-flow planning. 38:30 - Monologue 47:30 – James Taylor, President of The Heartland Institute. Taylor discusses efforts by the Trump administration to repeal the EPA's Endangerment Finding and argues that bureaucratic and regulatory challenges continue to complicate implementation of proposed environmental policy changes. 57:44 – Jack Tomczak, Vice President of Outreach for Americans for Citizen Voting. Tomczak discusses a proposal in Los Angeles that would allow noncitizens to vote in certain local elections, the public response to the proposal, and broader debates surrounding election law, citizenship requirements, and voting rights. 1:06:40 – Johanna Neuman, former Los Angeles Times and USA Today White House correspondent and author of Trump's Superpower: A Historical Novel About the Founding Fathers & One Founding Mother. Neuman discusses Hillary Clinton's continued role in public discourse, political divisions in America, and the ongoing debate surrounding the legacy of the 2016 and 2024 elections. 1:16:55 - Monologue 1:25:50 – Ryan Duffy, member of the Enbridge Communications Team. Duffy provides an update on the Line 5 tunnel project, explaining how water from Lake Michigan would be used during construction, what environmental safeguards are in place, the status of state permitting processes, and opportunities for the public to learn more about the project during community events in St. Ignace. 1:33:55 – Katie Heid, News Director for Michigan News Source. Heid delivers the Michigan Rundown, highlighting major state news stories, political developments, and breaking headlines affecting communities across Michigan. 1:44:50 – Ivey Gruber, President of the Michigan Talk Network. Gruber discusses an upcoming song being released in honor of America's 250th anniversary and reflects on patriotism and national heritage. The conversation also touches on a controversial MLB play in which a fan reached into the field of play and took a ball from a catcher's glove, sparking debate among baseball fans. --- Check out our brand new podcast, 'Forgotten America'... Episode 20 is live NOW at Steve Gruber on YouTube! Link below: https://youtu.be/rsjeaCh_UBA
On Daybreak with Steve Gruber, Nick Hopwood, CFP®, discusses the latest economic data, including strong job numbers, moderating inflation, and what the hard data says about the current state of the U.S. economy. The conversation explores whether the Federal Reserve is more likely to hold rates steady, cut rates, or even consider future rate increases. Nick also examines reports surrounding a potential SpaceX IPO, what it could mean for investors, and why excitement over high-profile public offerings should be tempered by history. Looking at more than 20 major companies that went public over the past two decades, including Facebook, Twitter, Shopify, Uber, and others, Nick explains the common pattern of post-IPO volatility and why investors should think carefully before making decisions driven by FOMO. — ✅ Apply For A Free Retirement Planning Session ✅ peakwm.com/start-here ------------------------------ Peak Wealth Management is a financial planning and wealth management firm in Plymouth, MI. We believe by providing education and guidance, we inspire our clients to make great decisions so they can Retire With Peace of Mind. Stay Connected With Us: Podbean: https://findingtruewealth.podbean.com/ YouTube: / https://www.youtube.com/@peakwealthmgmt Apple: rb.gy/1jqp6 (Trust the Plan Podcast) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeakWealthManagement/ X: https://x.com/nhopwood1 https://www.peakwm.com/
Day Break | Maine's Reckoning, Election Integrity Fights, and Washington Showdowns --- 00:00 - Monologue 19:14 – Hans von Spakovsky, election attorney and Senior Legal Fellow at Advancing American Freedom. Von Spakovsky discusses election administration issues, including reports that millions of California ballots remain uncounted following recent elections. He also examines developments in Maine politics and what they could mean for upcoming races and election integrity debates. 28:11 – Nick Hopwood, Certified Financial Planner and Founder of Peak Wealth Management. In this week's No Lazy Money segment, Hopwood discusses the resurgence of the IPO market, investor interest in companies such as SpaceX, and recent stock market performance following a lengthy winning streak. He also highlights financial planning challenges involving Obamacare subsidy thresholds and shares a cautionary story about a client nearly locked into an unfavorable annuity strategy. 38:18 - Monologue Featuring Ivey Gruber 47:15 – Dr. Cathy Sarvis, nationally recognized wellness strategist and educator. Sarvis discusses summer skin care, addressing common concerns such as sun damage, dark spots, and premature aging. She shares organic and science-based approaches for maintaining healthy skin and improving overall skin appearance. 57:27 – Frank Cassidy, former Federal Housing Commissioner under President Trump. Cassidy discusses Bill Pulte's nomination to serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence and examines the upcoming congressional debate over FISA surveillance authorities and national security policy. 1:06:20 – Rep. Marlin Stutzman, U.S. Representative for Indiana's 3rd Congressional District. Stutzman discusses his resolution regarding the future direction of U.S.-Israel relations, exploring questions of foreign policy, strategic partnerships, and America's role in the Middle East. 1:16:25 - Monologue 1:25:20 – Rhyen Staley, Director of Research at Defending Education. Staley discusses debates surrounding sex-based participation in school athletics, focusing on policies regarding transgender athletes and concerns about competitive fairness in girls' and women's sports. 1:35:29 – Rep. Jim Shaw, Oklahoma State Representative for District 32. Shaw discusses concerns about taxpayer-funded lobbying efforts, arguing that public funds should not be used to support lobbying organizations that may advocate for policies not supported by taxpayers. 1:44:26 – Ivey Gruber, President of the Michigan Talk Network. Gruber discusses changing approaches to childhood development and education, including concerns about behavioral diagnoses, medication of children, and broader cultural debates surrounding gender, childhood behavior, and parenting. The conversation focuses on differing views regarding how society responds to developmental and behavioral differences in young boys. --- Check out our brand new podcast, 'Forgotten America'... Episode 17 is live NOW at Steve Gruber on YouTube! Link below: https://youtu.be/nS_iwvO5SgY
On this June episode of The No Lazy Money Show, Nick Hopwood, CFP® and Jim Pilat, CFP® of Peak Wealth join Ryan Ermanni live on WJR to help investors and retirees navigate market uncertainty. Airing the first Wednesday of every month at 7 PM, this discussion explores how April and May 2026 delivered the market's strongest back-to-back monthly performance seen at that point since 2020, the rebound in consumer confidence, key behavioral finance lessons, and what matters most when emotions run high. Learn what you can control right now in the market and in retirement, plus practical strategies to stay focused on long-term financial goals despite short-term volatility. — ✅ Apply For A Free Retirement Planning Session ✅ peakwm.com/start-here ------------------------------ Peak Wealth Management is a financial planning and wealth management firm in Plymouth, MI. We believe by providing education and guidance, we inspire our clients to make great decisions so they can Retire With Peace of Mind. Stay Connected With Us: Podbean: https://findingtruewealth.podbean.com/ YouTube: / https://www.youtube.com/@peakwealthmgmt Apple: rb.gy/1jqp6 (Trust the Plan Podcast) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeakWealthManagement/ X: https://x.com/nhopwood1 https://www.peakwm.com/
Nick Hopwood, CFP® of Peak Wealth joined Daybreak with Steve Gruber to discuss Memorial Day weekend, the economy, the stock market hitting all-time highs, falling gas prices, and what it all could mean for families and investors moving forward. Nick shared insights on today's financial landscape, market momentum, consumer confidence, and key trends impacting Americans as summer begins. Catch the conversation for perspective on the markets, the economy, retirement planning, and more. — ✅ Apply For A Free Retirement Planning Session ✅ peakwm.com/start-here ------------------------------ Peak Wealth Management is a financial planning and wealth management firm in Plymouth, MI. We believe by providing education and guidance, we inspire our clients to make great decisions so they can Retire With Peace of Mind. Stay Connected With Us: Podbean: https://findingtruewealth.podbean.com/ YouTube: / https://www.youtube.com/@peakwealthmgmt Apple: rb.gy/1jqp6 (Trust the Plan Podcast) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeakWealthManagement/ X: https://x.com/nhopwood1 https://www.peakwm.com/
Day Break | Strength, Sacrifice, and the Battle for America's Future --- 00:00 - Monologue 19:07 – Mary Holland, Esq., President of Children's Health Defense and longtime health freedom advocate. Holland discusses reports linking a soldier's heart condition to a COVID vaccine she was allegedly required to take while serving in the military. The conversation focuses on vaccine mandates within the armed forces, informed consent, and the rights of military personnel regarding medical decisions. 47:08 – Nick Hopwood, Certified Financial Planner and Founder of Peak Wealth Management. Hopwood discusses Memorial Day traditions and boating safety while also covering financial topics including annuities, IPO market activity, and investment strategies. He explains why some investors become trapped in “annuity hell” and discusses the concept of derivative income versus traditional dividend income. 38:08 - Monologue Featuring Ivey Gruber 47:08 – Natalie Dominguez, Title Theft Education Specialist for Home Title Lock. Dominguez discusses a Louisville woman whose home was allegedly stolen through quitclaim deed fraud. She explains how title theft schemes work and why homeowners should monitor property records carefully. 57:17 – Frank Kelly III, CEO of Kelly Benefits and author of Love & Go. Kelly discusses America's growing loneliness epidemic and the broader decline of community and personal connection in modern society. He explains why rebuilding relationships and social engagement is critical for emotional and societal health. 1:16:16 - Monologue 1:24:10 – Congresswoman Kat Cammack, representative for Florida's 3rd Congressional District. Cammack discusses efforts to address workplace sexual misconduct in Congress and reforms aimed at improving accountability and protections for staff members. 1:34:23 – Ryan Duffy, member of the Enbridge Communication Team. Duffy discusses major energy issues facing Michigan ahead of the Mackinac Policy Conference, including energy reliability, security, and the Line 5 tunnel project. He also provides updates on construction progress related to Line 5 infrastructure work in Wisconsin. 1:43:06 – Ivey Gruber, President of the Michigan Talk Network. Gruber discusses food ingredients, health awareness, and concerns over harmful additives in modern diets. The conversation also reflects on the passing of legendary NASCAR racer Drew Busch and his impact on the racing community. --- Check out our brand new podcast, 'Forgotten America'... Episode 16 is live NOW at Steve Gruber on YouTube! Link below: https://youtu.be/I4UA2LzQQUg
Nick Hopwood, CFP® of Peak Wealth joins Daybreak with Steve Gruber to break down what's happening in the economy right now, from easing gas prices to a surprisingly resilient market. He points out that April marked the second strongest performance since 1950, a trend that has continued into May with markets staying on a winning streak. Nick also stresses that retirement outcomes shouldn't be left to chance and explains why having a clear plan matters, especially when looking at historical downturns like 1968, one of the worst years in the past century to retire. A timely and important conversation you won't want to miss. — ✅ Apply For A Free Retirement Planning Session ✅ peakwm.com/start-here ------------------------------ Peak Wealth Management is a financial planning and wealth management firm in Plymouth, MI. We believe by providing education and guidance, we inspire our clients to make great decisions so they can Retire With Peace of Mind. Stay Connected With Us: Podbean: https://findingtruewealth.podbean.com/ YouTube: / https://www.youtube.com/@peakwealthmgmt Apple: rb.gy/1jqp6 (Trust the Plan Podcast) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeakWealthManagement/ X: https://x.com/nhopwood1 https://www.peakwm.com/
Day Break | Trump vs China: The Next Global Showdown --- 00:00 - Monologue 28:00 – Nick Hopwood, Certified Financial Planner and Founder of Peak Wealth Management. Hopwood discusses recent market momentum, retirement planning risks, and common mistakes involving old retirement accounts and required minimum distributions. He also explains the growing importance of derivative income strategies and offers free Social Security analysis resources. 38:11 - Monologue Featuring Ivey Gruber 47:10 – Dr. Michael Hutchison, inventor of the NeuroGuard+. Hutchison discusses advancements in sports safety technology and how the NeuroGuard+ mouthguard is designed to reduce concussion risk. He explains testing and certification efforts involving Michigan State and Wayne State researchers. 57:24 – Daniel Turner, founder and executive director of Power The Future. Turner discusses concerns surrounding funding tied to opposition against data centers. He explains the connection between energy policy, infrastructure growth, and economic development. 1:06:15 – Steve Goreham, Executive Director of the Climate Science Coalition of America and advisor to The Heartland Institute. Goreham discusses climate narratives and reactions to comments from Al Gore regarding future climate concerns. He explains his perspective on energy policy and environmental predictions. 1:16:21 - Monologue 1:24:04 – Katie Heid, News Director at Michigan News Source. Heid covers major Michigan headlines, including a large water main break impacting Auburn Hills and nearby communities. She also discusses wildfire concerns across Michigan and prevention efforts. 1:35:29 – Rob Gonzalez, Miami-Dade County Commissioner, attorney, and political analyst. Gonzalez discusses debates surrounding tax proposals in New York City and migration trends away from high-tax, heavily regulated cities. He explains why many residents and businesses are relocating to states like Florida. 1:44:15 – Ivey Gruber, President of the Michigan Talk Network. Gruber discusses health habits that can improve energy, focus, and overall wellness. The conversation also touches on research regarding everyday behaviors that may negatively impact the nervous system. --- Check out our brand new podcast, 'Forgotten America'... Episode 14 is live NOW at Steve Gruber on YouTube! Link below: https://youtu.be/EE7zApiSWks
Want your money to work for you? In this episode of the No Lazy Money Show on WJR, Nick Hopwood, CFP® and Jim Pilat, CFP® of Peak Wealth join host Ryan Ermanni for a conversation on concentration risk, smart investing strategies, retirement planning, and building long term wealth. Special guest Scott Westgate, CEO of MBC Retirement Services, shares insight on 401(k) plans and why many small business owners may be leaving significant money on the table. The episode also covers Social Security strategies, including when to take benefits, plus practical financial planning tips to help investors make smarter money decisions in today's market. — ✅ Apply For A Free Retirement Planning Session ✅ peakwm.com/start-here ------------------------------ Peak Wealth Management is a financial planning and wealth management firm in Plymouth, MI. We believe by providing education and guidance, we inspire our clients to make great decisions so they can Retire With Peace of Mind. Stay Connected With Us: Podbean: https://findingtruewealth.podbean.com/ YouTube: / https://www.youtube.com/@peakwealthmgmt Apple: rb.gy/1jqp6 (Trust the Plan Podcast) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeakWealthManagement/ X: https://x.com/nhopwood1 https://www.peakwm.com/
Nick Hopwood, CFP® joined Steve Gruber on Daybreak for his weekly segment, continuing a 3.5 year run discussing the US economy and market trends. Nick highlighted the recent jump in gas prices and how rising fuel costs can pressure consumers and slow broader economic growth. He also noted the Federal Reserve is expected to pause and hold interest rates steady, with no additional cuts likely in 2026 based on current data. Looking ahead, Nick and Steve reminded listeners that summer months have historically been a slower period for the stock market, making it important for investors to stay disciplined and focused on long term strategy. — ✅ Apply For A Free Retirement Planning Session ✅ peakwm.com/start-here ------------------------------ Peak Wealth Management is a financial planning and wealth management firm in Plymouth, MI. We believe by providing education and guidance, we inspire our clients to make great decisions so they can Retire With Peace of Mind. Stay Connected With Us: Podbean: https://findingtruewealth.podbean.com/ YouTube: / https://www.youtube.com/@peakwealthmgmt Apple: rb.gy/1jqp6 (Trust the Plan Podcast) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeakWealthManagement/ X: https://x.com/nhopwood1 https://www.peakwm.com/
Day Break | Power Plays: Money, Maps, and the Battle for America --- 00:00 - Monologue 19:04 – Dr. Sanjeev Kumar, Mayo Clinic–trained gynecologic oncologist. Dr. Kumar discusses his case and broader concerns about increasing pressure and scrutiny on physicians. He explains how regulatory and legal actions could impact patient care and the medical profession. 28:00 – Nick Hopwood, Certified Financial Planner and Founder of Peak Wealth Management. Hopwood breaks down the Fed's decision to hold interest rates steady and what it signals for the economy. He also discusses market trends, including seasonal patterns, long-term growth despite global instability, and the potential return of inflation. 38:07 - Monologue Featuring Ivey Gruber 47:04 – Dan McGroarty, Head Strategic Advisor at Graphite One. McGroarty discusses the growing importance of graphite in national security and defense, particularly in drone technology. He explains why securing domestic supply chains is becoming critical for the U.S. 57:08 – Marc Werner, CEO of GhostBed. Werner explains how poor sleep quality is often tied to mattress issues rather than aging. He discusses how proper support, alignment, and cooling technology can significantly improve sleep and overall health. Visit ghostbed.com/gruber and use code GRUBER for savings. 57:08 – Mark Vargas, GOP Media Surrogate and Editor-in-Chief of Illinois Review. Vargas discusses ongoing redistricting battles across the country. He also provides updates on energy markets and the latest developments involving Iran. 1:16:01 - Monologue 1:35:12 – Wendy Block, Senior VP of Business Advocacy for the Michigan Chamber. Block discusses opposition to a proposed constitutional convention in Michigan. She outlines concerns from the business community and directs listeners to michamber.com for more information. 1:44:01 – Ivey Gruber, President of the Michigan Talk Network. Gruber discusses concerns about government use of AI and technology in vehicles. The conversation focuses on potential risks to personal freedom and privacy. --- Check out our brand new podcast, 'Forgotten America'... The twelfth episode is live NOW at Steve Gruber on YouTube! Link below: https://youtu.be/1XbEJhJ6Wrk
Nearly half of American households are approaching retirement with little to no savings, and that alarming reality is exactly what Preston Gee, CFP® and Jim Pilat, CFP® of Peak Wealth dig into on the Trust the Plan Podcast. In this powerful must listen episode, the Peak Wealth advisors break down why so many families are behind, what most people misunderstand about retirement readiness, and how quickly financial insecurity can build when planning is delayed. Instead of just focusing on fear, they bring a grounded real world CFP perspective highlighting the importance of intentional saving, disciplined planning, and long term strategy. If you are wondering whether you are on track for retirement or worried about falling behind, this conversation delivers clear relatable insights that hit home for everyday investors. — ✅ Apply For A Free Retirement Planning Session ✅ peakwm.com/start-here ------------------------------ Peak Wealth Management is a financial planning and wealth management firm in Plymouth, MI. We believe by providing education and guidance, we inspire our clients to make great decisions so they can Retire With Peace of Mind. Stay Connected With Us: Podbean: https://findingtruewealth.podbean.com/ YouTube: / https://www.youtube.com/@peakwealthmgmt Apple: rb.gy/1jqp6 (Trust the Plan Podcast) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeakWealthManagement/ X: https://x.com/nhopwood1 https://www.peakwm.com/
2 hours and 54 minutes The Sponsors Thank you to Underground Printing for making this all possible. Rishi and Ryan have been our biggest supporters from the beginning. Check out their wide selection of officially licensed Michigan fan gear at their 3 store locations in Ann Arbor or learn about their custom apparel business at undergroundshirts.com. Our associate sponsors are: Peak Wealth Management, Matt Demorest - Realtor and Lender, Ann Arbor Elder Law, Michigan Law Grad, Human Element, Sharon's Heating & Air Conditioning, The Sklars Brothers, Champions Circle, Winewood Organics, Community Pest Solutions, The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, Venue by 4M where record this, and Introducing this season: Radecki Oral Surgery, and Long Road Distillers. 1. Spring Game - Offense Starts at 0:51 Seth has a hypothesis that you can define running backs by the sound you involuntarily make when they carry the ball. You can practice this in the shower. Ohio State had a high scoring spring game, also a lot of rain. Bryce's play was concerning. He didn't look comfortable in the pocket and scrambled a lot. The defense wasn't allowed to do anything fancy or blitzed, they mostly played in a Cover-2. That said, not ever having the starting offensive line together does not help the quarterback. Tommy Carr was able to sit there and do some three step drop stuff, which are throws that Underwood didn't throw. He doesn't have the arm strength but he was making better decisions. Who would you compare him to, Tate Forcier? Dylan McCaffrey? Alex Smith? Did Michigan lose a year of Bryce Underwood's development? Kyle Whittingham has a track record of developing good running quarterbacks, so maybe what we saw in the spring game was not super relevant. Maybe Bryce is like a freshman Cam Newton or redshirt Freshman Vince Young. Even if they don't have a great passing game they can still run a good offense with the running tools they have. Some of the scrambling may have been a result of pass rush and playing against Cover-2. Poor Jordan Marshall getting ruled down after four yards. Savion Hiter is absolutely going to be the real deal. It was an up and down game from the wide receivers but they also didn't get many opportunities. There has never been an elite wide receiver who has worn #3 at Michigan. Browder had a ball bounce off his face mask but then got a nice catch later. Hogan Hansen has barely been able to play football for the last year and a half. The gang argues over fullback snap counts. Guys getting wrecked against defensive tackles is fine because we want to see progress from the defensive tackles (in the spring game). 2. Spring Game - Defense Starts at 43:54 It was generally encouraging that the defensive line beat up the offensive line. Sprague lost to Edokpayi a couple times. Cam Brandt beat Frazier at one point. Nate Staehling hasn't been available at all so there's still some hope that he'll be really good when he arrives. All the linebackers are defensive backs right now. Palepale really stood out. Benny Patterson was a defensive end to keep an eye on. What did we see from the linebackers? Uhhhhhh. Taylor Tatum might be a real safety? Corner has four names for three spots which is a good spot to be in. A kicker missed a 29 yard field goal, they should've faked a field goal for the game winning touchdown since they weren't trying to block kicks. 3. Hot Takes and Basketball/Hockey Portal Starts at 1:06:36 Takes hotter than the Kitchener Rangers GM after the Michigan hockey team stole from them. The portal has been slow enough to include both basketball and hockey. The roof of Yost fell off to conserve the vibes of the roster. Perron remains the only question mark. They're also about to get the top two picks out of the CHL. The roster is pretty much done, they don't even need to go to the portal. This team should be the #1 team in the pre-season poll next year. Michigan men's basketball turns its attention to Cincinnatti center Moustapha Thiam. A 7'2" rim defender who could replace a likely Mara departure. Apparently there is a situation with a handler from Senegal. It's looking more like Mara is gone and Morez is back. Is there a chance Mara returns? Probably not, but he needs to make a decision. Brian doesn't want to throw the whole bag at Juke Harris. Overall it's been quiet and they need to start making some moves. 4. Gimmicky Top Five Moments of Basketball Season Starts at 1:48:33 Everyone's top five moments of basketball season, plus Seth's 74 honorable mentions. Elliott Cadeau going 2-15 and controlling the Arizona game, undefeated on the road, and Dusty sitting in front of the Michigan State bench. They didn't just boat race those teams in Vegas but they broke the point system. Oscar Goodman thunder dunks. Scooping up confetti is like the fan version of raising a banner. Jeremy Fears kicking a Minnesota guy in the balls signified that it was not just a Michigan thing. Then Izzo fouling Michigan for ten minutes and complaining about Michigan getting more free throws. The Arizona win stamps this season as "one of the best teams of the last 25 years." You can just sit on a couch in a certain way and piss off Michigan State fans now. McKenney's mid-range jumpers in Breslin were the coldest mid-range jumpers ever. What have been your favorite tournament blowouts? Michigan's mascot should be Mitch McGary in an oversized Mitch McGary suit. MUSIC: "Spring Game"—Biz Markie "Going Shopping"—The Srokes "Baby Steps"—Olivia Dean “Across 110th Street”—JJ Johnson and his Orchestra
1 hour and 58 minutes The Sponsors Thank you to Underground Printing for making this all possible. Rishi and Ryan have been our biggest supporters from the beginning. Check out their wide selection of officially licensed Michigan fan gear at their 3 store locations in Ann Arbor or learn about their custom apparel business at undergroundshirts.com. Our associate sponsors are: Peak Wealth Management, Matt Demorest - Realtor and Lender, Ann Arbor Elder Law, Michigan Law Grad, Human Element, Sharon's Heating & Air Conditioning, The Sklars Brothers, Champions Circle, Winewood Organics, Community Pest Solutions, Venue by 4M where record this, and Introducing this season: Radecki Oral Surgery, and Long Road Distillers. 1. Hockey - Recapping the Frozen Four Starts at 0:51 We gotta talk about the hockey tournament. The fake hockey tournament. Whether they won or lost, it doesn't change anything about who this team was. Michigan played well enough to win, but one shot in nine minutes ended it. Almost every year it's not the best team that wins, it's usually Duluth or Denver. Denver is like the UConn men's basketball of hockey. There's no emotional story to apply your fandom to when it's just randomness. Denver's lack of penalties that were objectively bad no-calls just doesn't make it feel fair, especially the way they called Michigan's penalty in OT. even Alex and David think it was egregious, the players that poured their hearts into this deserve better. There is something wrong with this tournament, there would be a lot more respect for Buccigross if he would say something along those lines. There's not something wrong with Michigan, there's something wrong with the tournament. Imagine if in basketball they just stopped calling fouls in OT. 2. Hockey - Looking Ahead Starts at 27:50 Moldenhauer and Hage have announced returns. Apparently players have been informed to avoid the AHL if they can, college is a lot more enjoyable. Jack Nesbitt is the 12th overall pick and could be coming in, he's a TJ Hughes replacement. He's in the OHL playoffs and might not make a decision right away. Cameron Reid could also be coming in from the OHL, 21st overall to Nashville. Perron is the biggest one on the fence, if you get him then all your holes are plugged. JP Hurlbert is coming in regardless but he might wait a year to contribute. Nick Seaman is coming in as a 4th liner, Cooper Dennis might get deferred (and is Alex Drain sized). A lot of teams will be better next season, but Penn State had Gavin McKenna and weren't that great. Michigan State isn't missing a beat. There are a lot more, and better, options than just going to the NHL these days. They should be a pre-season top three, or maybe even top one. 3. Hot Takes and Basketball Portal Starts at 59:16 Takes hotter than the Denver Pioneers. The Red Wings need to make David Carle their head coach so they can win while being out-shot 2:1. This information might be outdated by the time you hear it! What is happening in the portal right now? Not much. Michigan gets JP Estrella out of Tennessee. He's a high efficiency but low usage player which is weird. He's a moneyball play vs getting Flory Bidunga. Otherwise there's not a lot of chatter. We're starting to expect Morez Johnson to return. Michigan needs a true rim protecting center and could probably also use a starting three. Juke Harris is worth going after but not worth the big bag, give that to the Seton Hall center, Najai Hines. Freshman Brandon McCoy went to a camp and looks like a guy you could have for 20 minutes a game. There's a trust of Dusty in the portal that the fanbase didn't have with Juwan. The Big Ten runs college basketball now. How would Beilein have done during this era? 4. Spring Game Preview Starts at 1:38:41 Spring Game is this weekend at 2pm, 12-18 starters will be sitting out. Bryce will probably play since they don't have enough quarterbacks, we better see Savion Hiter. Position groups are going to be split into balanced squads rather than have a draft, making it more like a controlled practice than a real game. In years past it was frustrating to see future NFL linemen with a walk-on running back behind them, you can't learn much from that. We expect to see a more evolved version of the offense with more quarterback runs. There is Travis Johnson buzz at wide receiver. Brian doesn't want to hear about Kendrick Bell. Hogan Hanson is generating excitement and the offensive line has intriguing positional battles. Evan Link is back and might play, Babalola is not playing yet. Whittingham is good at running the quarterback, it won't be the 2011 offense but it should be effective. The coaches apparently like the depth on the defensive line and think it's the strength of the team, which, ehhhh. Brian breaks down why this is not true. They trust Palepale. Do you prefer EDGE or ED? Linebacker depth is a concern, they don't really have anyone to back up the three main guys. The secondary should be settled in. Shamari Earls is making a move at corner. Who's at nickel now? If Rod Moore isn't on the field in the spring game then enjoy a nice coaching career. Kerry Coombs brings a lot of old guy energy and gets mic'd up a lot. Jay Hill is like the mormon kid from South Park. Don't blame us if it rains. MUSIC: "I Root"—Michael Nau "Sitting Still"—Michael Rault "Sails Across the Sea"—Boz Metzdorf “Across 110th Street”—JJ Johnson and his Orchestra
Nick Hopwood, CFP® of Peak Wealth joined Steve Gruber on The Steve Gruber Show to discuss market trends, noting how the S&P 500 has historically seen declines during midterm election years but often stages recoveries afterward, with patterns observed consistently since 1950. He also highlighted that while the federal deficit and spending remain elevated, government revenue has risen roughly 10%, and emphasized practical tax guidance, reminding listeners that the best way to submit what you owe is through secure IRS-approved electronic payment systems or direct filing methods to ensure timely and accurate processing. — ✅ Apply For A Free Retirement Planning Session ✅ peakwm.com/start-here ------------------------------ Peak Wealth Management is a financial planning and wealth management firm in Plymouth, MI. We believe by providing education and guidance, we inspire our clients to make great decisions so they can Retire With Peace of Mind. Stay Connected With Us: Podbean: https://findingtruewealth.podbean.com/ YouTube: / https://www.youtube.com/@peakwealthmgmt Apple: rb.gy/1jqp6 (Trust the Plan Podcast) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeakWealthManagement/ X: https://x.com/nhopwood1 https://www.peakwm.com/
The Steve Gruber Show | Fabricated Scandals & Falling Democrats: The Narrative Collapses --- 00:00 - Monologue 19:08 – Patrice Onwuka, Director of the Center for Economic Opportunity at the Independent Women's Forum. Onwuka discusses retirement insecurity facing many Americans and highlights a policy rule that could improve long-term financial stability. She explains how reforms could help individuals better prepare for retirement. 27:58 – Nick Hopwood, Certified Financial Planner and Founder of Peak Wealth Management. Hopwood breaks down current market trends, recent drawdowns, and what history suggests about potential rebounds. He also covers Tax Day strategies, including Roth contributions, and discusses growing concerns about the federal deficit. Visit YouTube.com/peakwealthmgmt to catch all of his segments. 38:07 - Monologue Featuring Ivey Gruber 47:07 – Marc Beckman, Senior Advisor to the First Lady, author of Some Future Day, and producer of the film MELANIA. Beckman discusses the first conviction under Melania Trump's “Take It Down Act” and highlights her work supporting children and combating exploitation. He also addresses public perception and criticism of her initiatives. 57:18 – Mandy M. Gunasekara, author of Y'all Fired and former Chief of Staff at the EPA under President Trump. Gunasekara discusses global energy markets, including oil and gas concerns tied to the Strait of Hormuz. She explains how geopolitical tensions are influencing energy prices. 1:06:05 – Sen. Brad Overcash, North Carolina State Senator representing Gaston County. Overcash discusses a political dispute involving a mural controversy and criticism directed at Democrats. He outlines the broader cultural and political implications. 1:16:13 - Monologue 1:25:02 – Ivey Gruber, President of the Michigan Talk Network. Gruber discusses developments in the Eric Swalwell case and reacts to a message from an Artemis II astronaut emphasizing faith and purpose. The conversation also explores how technology, particularly cell phones, has impacted human connection. 1:35:02 – Dan Scripps, Chair of the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC). Scripps discusses rising energy prices in Michigan and a new rate hike proposal from Consumers Energy. He explains the regulatory process and what it could mean for consumers. --- Check out our brand new podcast, 'Forgotten America'... The tenth episode is live NOW at Steve Gruber on YouTube! Link below: https://youtu.be/OLbwSDIhfuA
2 hours and 9 minutes The Sponsors Thank you to Underground Printing for making this all possible. Rishi and Ryan have been our biggest supporters from the beginning. Check out their wide selection of officially licensed Michigan fan gear at their 3 store locations in Ann Arbor or learn about their custom apparel business at undergroundshirts.com. Our associate sponsors are: Peak Wealth Management, Matt Demorest - Realtor and Lender, Ann Arbor Elder Law, Michigan Law Grad, Human Element, Sharon's Heating & Air Conditioning, The Sklars Brothers, Champions Circle, Winewood Organics, Community Pest Solutions, Venue by 4M where record this, and Introducing this season: Radecki Oral Surgery, and Long Road Distillers. 1. Just Won a Natty/Indianapolis Vibes Starts at 0:51 No crying this time, but we do think we can have nice things now. You get out of it what you put into it; the UMHoops guys are probably experiencing the highest of highs. The 2023 football championship was a thing no other fanbase has experienced; this is what a normal natty feels like. Some of us survived the 2023-24 team. The story begins with the Ellerbe years, the Beilein era absolutely helped build this. Don't resent the Fab Five, but they unfairly had to represent what Michigan could be. Reconsidering the Juwan era, the heart condition, how badly he needed a GM. Beilein was spiritually (and literally) present for this team; loudest the stadium got before Michigan hit a three was when they showed him. Very unselfish team. Built through the portal—Cronin was never going to be a good fit for Mara, Rez wasn't going to have a role after Illinois got the other Ivisic, Cadeau was struggling in a bad system at UNC, Yaxel used the portal to get here from JUCO via UAB, Roddy Gayle was the national glue guy of the year, Nimari was here three years through two coaching changes, and Will Tschetter was a five-year player who took a smaller role: nobody can make a good faith argument that any of these guys don't belong here. [The rest of the writeup and the player after THE JUMP] 2. The UConn Game Starts at 27:50 Takes hotter than the rims during the final last night. Story of the game was UConn fouling the crap out of Michigan from literally the tip. Miss the first Cadeau and-one, then hit 24 free throws in a row to offset the terrible threes, until Roddy missed his pair. Snakebit shooting because Rez/Mara/Yax kept getting mismatches down low, but Michigan was able to play their bigs together, and that just made it impossible for UConn to score. Felt like Lendeborg was himself on defense; offensively he was obviously hobbled. Their communication was fantastic, and there weren't mismatches for UConn to hunt. A time or two they got Mara versus Karaban on the perimeter or something, but they didn't get backcut once. Tarris was basically shut down by Mara. Only thing they got were those ORebs, which were hat tips to them and also related to Michigan taking way the three. Next year Trey McKenney; graded on a curve he made 2 of Michigan's three jumpers, including the dagger. The Rube Goldberg three. Cadeau vs the Cadeau we thought we were getting. 3. How this Team Came Together Starts at 59:16 Revisiting how the roster came together, May's eye for talent, because every guy he got at FAU wound up a star somewhere. You can't actually build from the portal; if that's the lesson they're taking from this team they're going to get lit up. Cadeau cleaned up the TOs (but still commits them at the end of the game his banana peel). On the human to athlete personality spectrum, Mara is a normal human being, who never should have been paired with Cronin—all little guys who play basketball are born killers because you have to be, but it's common for bigs to be like that. Mara was the best player; he developed into a beast by the end of the year. Transfer teams: if you look at the rest of the top ten four didn't make the Tournament; Michigan was the only protected seed that took a lot of transfers. St. John's and Louisville were the others. Once you're been at a school a year you're not a transfer anymore. Cig vs May: Cignetti relied more on his JMU transfers. It's especially hard to recreate what Michigan did defensively, because at the end these guys won a title by doing the best job of anybody of playing with each other. Introducing the Bobby Hurley Index: How many photos do you look like Jim Carrey in The Mask? 4. Next Year Starts at 1:38:41 Are they looking at the portal list or the list of guys projected to the late 1st/early 2nd round? Mara and Rez are probably done—small chance they get Rez back. Cason going to redshirt. Gayle, Burnett, Yaxel are out of eligibility. Cadeau and McKinney: best backcourt in the country next year? McCoy is Charles Matthews-ish, going to be a major defensive presence; if you get two years out of him he's a big get but he doesn't have a deep shot, might be freshman Darius Morris or what we wanted Rubin Jones (PG who can guard 1-4) to be. Recruited lots of SFs: Grady? Liburd? Brown? All going to be 6'5" gumby-armed switchable guards. Backup PG: can McCoy or McKenney can play point for 10 mpg. Do they have a wing? Want that guy to be switchable; Seth thinks they're going to have a big war chest to find an NBA four who can play the three in addition to two bigs. Goodman will be next year's Tschetter. Need three portal bigs. Is Dusty May the #1 coach you would want to have if you were looking for one right now? UNC search was Tommy Lloyd and Dusty May right? MUSIC: "La Di Da"—Heavy Weighs the King "Don't Be Mad"—PiranhaMob "Up and Away"—Cursive “Across 110th Street”—JJ Johnson and his Orchestra
2 hours and 3 minutes The Sponsors Thank you to Underground Printing for making this all possible. Rishi and Ryan have been our biggest supporters from the beginning. Check out their wide selection of officially licensed Michigan fan gear at their 3 store locations in Ann Arbor or learn about their custom apparel business at undergroundshirts.com. Our associate sponsors are: Peak Wealth Management, Matt Demorest - Realtor and Lender, Ann Arbor Elder Law, Michigan Law Grad, Human Element, Sharon's Heating & Air Conditioning, The Sklars Brothers, Champions Circle, Winewood Organics, Community Pest Solutions, Venue by 4M where record this, and Introducing this season: Radecki Oral Surgery, and Long Road Distillers. 1. Final Four vs Arizona Starts at 0:51 Dave has a new nickname. Was this game... a let down? You could have maybe predicted that Arizona would struggle to score based on their over-reliance on twos. You probably could not have predicted that Michigan would put up over 90 points without Yaxel. Arizona was extremely physical which resulted in foul trouble, but when they got away with it they could score. Michigan forced Arizona into an ungodly number of two point jumpers off the dribble. They were 10-of-32 from mid-range. Arizona missing a dunk felt like the dagger. Michigan's maturity showed, they didn't seem blinded by the lights of the big stage. Elliott Cadeau had the greatest 2-of-14 half of basketball. Yaxel goes out the first time because of foul trouble and Arizona couldn't be more physical than Michigan's guards. Arizona has one way of playing that nobody else could stop, except for Michigan, and Arizona didn't know how to react. When shooting was tough, Trey McKenney stepped up. 16 points on 6-9 shooting, he has changed how we feel about mid-range shooting. [The rest of the writeup and the player after THE JUMP] 2. Hot Takes and National Championship Preview - UConn Starts at 33:42 Takes hotter than ADAY MARA. Connecticut is #9 in Kenpom which feels like a relief, but they do have weird tournament joujou. That's better than having to play Duke at least. Michigan vs Tarris Reed for a national championship is crazy. Tarris has matured into a hoss and is their center, his backup, Eric Reibe, is a freshman and a drop-off but still a good player. They don't really play a second big. Alex Karaban is their second biggest player and he's been around college basketball for forever but he's a big wing. This is a game where Tschetter can play. Michigan can play two bigs and put one of them on Karaban but it might only be for 15-20 minutes of the game. Should Michigan make this into a shooting fest and maximize possessions? Tarris Reed is very difficult to ware out. Braylon Mullens is a freshman 6-6 195 lbs wing that Michigan can overwhelm. Silas Demery is a transfer from Georgia, the point guard, top 25 assist rate, top 100 steal rate. Gets to the line a ton, not that great from two. Solo Ball takes most of his shots from outside of the arc, he has also been seen wearing a boot. Expect UConn to show a lot of different coverages. How much Yaxel will we get? Expect it to be a Blake Corum vs Ohio State situation. He came to Michigan to play in this game so you gotta feel for him if he can't play much. UConn's biggest advantages are blocking two point shots and assists, which Michigan should be able to take advantage of. Their path to victory is to replicate what Purdue did in the Big Ten Championship game. Once again, the difference in this game will be Aday Mara. No Paul Szelc won't be officiating this game! ADDENDUM - Solo Ball was reported as being in a boot while this was recorded. If he's not able to play that is a huge drop-off. Even if he plays he's not going to be 100%, much like Yaxel. 3. Hot Takes and Gimmicky Top Five Commercial Takes Starts at 1:20:48 You know AI companies are running out of money because they can't even get Snoop Dogg on their commercials. Charles Barkley will say anything. Has Jennifer Garner acted in anything besides Capital One commercials in the last decade? AT&T did predict the Michigan Tennessee game. Are they putting the cocaine back in Coke? Tall Boozer looks like a normal Boozer, small Boozer looks like an AI recreation of a Boozer. 4. Potpourri: WBB, Hockey, and Football Bits Starts at 1:34:22 Women's basketball was dumptrucked, but at least we now can empathize with all the teams that played MBB. The game has gotten two chalky; it's the same four one-seeds, repeats of the same games. Is there a ceiling on this team, unless they suddenly double the money they put into it? David's hockey takes: Denver is not like or MSU who's going to take the puck off your stick, and those are the teams that Michigan struggles with. He likes Michigan with four lines and snipers versus a smaller goalie—shot quality game. Brian hates that it's Denver in the tournament. Is there a team that's looked better than Michigan in the Playoff? Wisconsin-NoDak is a pick 'em but matchup-wise Wisconsin would rather be playing Michigan. North Dakota got walked to the Frozen Four. If we lose Seth has to wear Denver jersey to the podcast. Football bits: We're in the ping-pong table removal phase. It's okay that Underwood's throwing interceptions, because he's trying them. Non-insane QB run approach. Next QB is Carr. Hiter hype continues, Salesi Moa is popping. Eli Owens fullback talk. Brian doesn't buy the talk of Babalola starting when he's been hurt, but Sprague at RG can only mean that because Frazier is securing a spot. Defensively the DT situation is good on Palepale and not good that Lea'ea is "smart" vs "much larger." Seth loves the Edokpayi talk, Benny Patterson is a Mike-Mo. Kind of a good sign the three young LBs are getting a lot of talk (albeit with a simplification). Good sign that Bracy is getting talked up for his coverage. MUSIC: "The Wino I Know"—Jimmy Buffett "Ruby"—White Denim "Long Weekend"—Cut Worms “Across 110th Street”—JJ Johnson and his Orchestra
Nick Hopwood, CFP® of Peak Wealth joined The Steve Gruber Show to break down the oil price spike driven by Iran tensions, what it means for oil stock investors, and why chasing short term gains can be risky. He explains the broader market impact, rising volatility, and how long it may take for markets to stabilize as uncertainty continues. — ✅ Apply For A Free Retirement Planning Session ✅ peakwm.com/start-here ------------------------------ Peak Wealth Management is a financial planning and wealth management firm in Plymouth, MI. We believe by providing education and guidance, we inspire our clients to make great decisions so they can Retire With Peace of Mind. Stay Connected With Us: Podbean: https://findingtruewealth.podbean.com/ YouTube: / https://www.youtube.com/@peakwealthmgmt Apple: rb.gy/1jqp6 (Trust the Plan Podcast) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeakWealthManagement/ X: https://x.com/nhopwood1 https://www.peakwm.com/
On this episode of No Lazy Money, Nick Hopwood, CFP® and Jim Pilat, CFP® of Peak Wealth join Ryan Ermanni on WJR for a timely conversation on today's biggest financial headlines. They break down key updates around beneficiary IRAs and what recent rule changes mean for investors and retirees, while also discussing market volatility tied to geopolitical tension, including the Iran conflict and its impact on oil prices. The conversation highlights how global events can affect portfolios and why staying disciplined with a long term plan matters more than ever. Catch No Lazy Money live the first Wednesday of every month at 7 PM on WJR for practical, real world financial guidance. — ✅ Apply For A Free Retirement Planning Session ✅ peakwm.com/start-here ------------------------------ Peak Wealth Management is a financial planning and wealth management firm in Plymouth, MI. We believe by providing education and guidance, we inspire our clients to make great decisions so they can Retire With Peace of Mind. Stay Connected With Us: Podbean: https://findingtruewealth.podbean.com/ YouTube: / https://www.youtube.com/@peakwealthmgmt Apple: rb.gy/1jqp6 (Trust the Plan Podcast) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeakWealthManagement/ X: https://x.com/nhopwood1 https://www.peakwm.com/
The Steve Gruber Show | Protests, Power, and the Shutdown Crisis --- 00:00 - Monologue 18:53 – Ali Safavi, member of Iran's Parliament in Exile and President of Near East Policy Research. Safavi discusses escalating tensions inside Iran, including reports of the regime executing political prisoners tied to opposition groups. He explains what these actions signal about instability within the country. 27:46 – Nick Hopwood, Certified Financial Planner and Founder of Peak Wealth Management. In this week's No Lazy Money segment, Hopwood covers market volatility, a recent downturn heading into the end of Q1, and why a 10% correction should be expected in long-term investing. He also discusses retirement planning strategies and the importance of stable advisor relationships. Visit peakwm.com/gruber for a free Roth conversion analysis. 38:00 - Monologue Featuring Ivey Gruber 46:52 – Ivey Gruber, President of the Michigan Talk Network. The two offer commentary on current political and economic headlines. They share perspectives on recent developments shaping the national conversation. 57:03 – Tom Martin, Past President of SMACNA (Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association). Martin highlights the growing demand for skilled trades and promotes National Careers in Construction Week. He explains the opportunities available in well-paying trade careers and the importance of workforce development. 1:05:57 – David Zere, political commentator and host of Breaking Point on Real America's Voice. Zere discusses developments at the Pentagon and ongoing national security concerns. He provides insight into military leadership and defense policy. 1:16:06 - Monologue 1:24:50 – Tim Golding, Michigan State Director for Americans for Prosperity. Golding discusses the GOP nominating convention and key policy priorities, including housing and zoning reforms. He outlines the initiatives AFP is working on across Michigan. 1:34:39 – Wayne Barnes, former FBI counterintelligence veteran and author of A Traitor in the FBI. Barnes discusses Iran's threats of retaliation and concerns about expertise gaps within the FBI. He explains what this could mean for national security moving forward. 1:43:28 – Ivey Gruber, President of the Michigan Talk Network. Gruber wraps up the show with commentary on recent political protests and public messaging. He discusses broader themes around civic engagement and political awareness. --- Check out our brand new podcast, 'Forgotten America'... The seventh and eighth episodes are live NOW at Steve Gruber on YouTube! Link below: https://youtu.be/7r4XPsrY4bg
1 hour and 56 minutes The Sponsors Thank you to Underground Printing for making this all possible. Rishi and Ryan have been our biggest supporters from the beginning. Check out their wide selection of officially licensed Michigan fan gear at their 3 store locations in Ann Arbor or learn about their custom apparel business at undergroundshirts.com. Our associate sponsors are: Peak Wealth Management, Matt Demorest - Realtor and Lender, Ann Arbor Elder Law, Michigan Law Grad, Human Element, Sharon's Heating & Air Conditioning, The Sklars Brothers, Champions Circle, Winewood Organics, Community Pest Solutions, Venue by 4M where record this, and Introducing this season: Radecki Oral Surgery, and Long Road Distillers. 1. Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight Review Starts at 0:51 Almost a stress-free weekend. Michigan overwhelms a pair of top SEC teams that couldn't be any more different from each other. Brian credited March Roddy a little, Alabama preview a lot, as they got worn out. Labaran Philon was a hero: 39 minutes, 35 points, kept them in it. They didn't have bigs; they had one Morez Johnson-like object who got worn out. Wrightsell was hitting tough threes early but as he exhausted they were falling shorter and shorter until airball. 1st round picks Amari Allen and Nate Ament are freshmen not highly valuable college players, like Diabate, and can't get anything vs Michigan's size. Lendeborg is nailing threes since Dukes started going under screens; they're practice jumpers...against top-25 teams. Tennessee very different game: ball sitting on the floor for a minute and Lappas is so confused (how does he have this job??). Officials call bad foul on Mara then have to call everything; they get three incidents of goaltending or cylinder violations and went 0/3. Gillespie couldn't be Labaran Philon and that was it. Brief spasm of irritation when Vols are getting ORebs and Mara gets a 2nd foul, then 21 balanced points; it's over when JP Estrella tries to thunderdunk on Tschetter. Everyone was complementing Yaxel. Happy when Trey McKenney shoots a three. Salute to these seniors. [The rest of the writeup and the player after THE JUMP] 2. Final Four Preview Starts at 33:00 Meta game: Everyone is at the rim now because there's a much higher floor so you aren't (like Beilein) subject to the triple gods. Arizona is a lot like Michigan but they're even more extreme, and their jumpers are usually twos. When they do get a three (rarely) Bradley and Burries can knock them down. Concern is whether they can bully Mara; NBA people will be watching his battle with Krivas, defensive impact is understated because he's a mountain you can't move. Lost to Kansas because KU was able to muscle up and push them away from the rim. Everyone packs the paint against them; if you can actually push them away from the rim they're in the 100s in 2PT distance and they're not good at 2PJs, especially Koa Peat (34% on 130 attempts). Also: Jaden Bradley (46% on 157), Ivan Karchenkov (42% on 62), and Brayden Burries (46% on 92). Difference: Arizona has three freshmen, Michigan has one, and Michigan's three-big lineup can probably make Peat inefficient to be just enough. Burries is McKenney. Game of the century? Illinois we know; they're huge and they shoot, and they play the wrong Ivisic. Alex pulled off one of the great jinxes to get UConn over the line. Tarris Reed's final form is the switchable five who is a monster shot blocker and scorer, could be major trouble defensively for Michigan because they don't have to go under screens, takes away Yaxel's threes. The rest of those guys though? Karaban is a 6'8 version of Nimari Burnett, have some shooting guards in Braylon Mullins and Solo Ball; Solo has gone full sophomore THJ from the arc; he can't hit one in the Tournament. Silas Demary was injured to start the Dance but is a wonderful creator. Illinois question: Andrej Sotjakovic is going OFF! Is that because he found something or because he can take advantage of space as a driver against unathletic teams like Iowa? 3. Hockey Starts at 1:11:12 Bentley game: didn't dominate them but once they got the free goal (Brian was even a little upset) at the end of the 1st period; the only way Bentley wins this is if Michigan gives that up. UMD game: Alex didn't like this draw—North Dakota got an engineered free trip to the Frozen Four and Michigan had UMD. Alex also dislikes going up 3-0 early leads because you stop trying to score, and UMD was getting a lot of good looks. Got great looks, Michigan gave up too many good entries, UMD hit a post and a bar, their top line was out there like 35 minutes, Ivankovic stood tall. Tyler Duke's defense was not good on those two goals. Asher Barnett's penalty shifts the momentum. Michigan's goals: great tip, Valentini scores on a dime of a saucer from Moldy—so happy he's activated his inner fullback. Schifsky's shortie. Frozen Four preview: four teams with the most national titles. Brian DOES NOT like to play Denver in the Frozen Four; are they the favorites now? They've been playing VERY hot. North Dakota hasn't been there forever; it's been 10 years. Wisconsin we know. 4. Hot Takes and Women's Basketball Starts at 1:38:06 Takes significantly hotter than Dusty May when Mara picked up a B.S. foul 30 seconds into the game. Worst day in MSU winter sports history. NCAA could find a way to put Duke back in it but that would kill Bill Murray. WBB plays TONIGHT against 1-seed Texas. Smoked Louisville: not one but TWO 16-0 runs. They weren't transition baskets because they didn't cross midcourt; they're just 'sition baskets. No points for 7 minutes then dominated for three quarters—gonna have to play FOUR quarters from here on. BQD has seven offensive rebounds, against a huge Louisville team. Delfosse has really come on the last few weeks, Olson and Swords carried offensive, very impressed with how they dealt with Laura Zeigler; Sofilkanich handled her. Good sign for Texas's size, though they have a midrange assassin. Michigan's going to have to shoot well from three and hope Booker isn't effective from range. Home game for Texas in Fort Worth. GO BLUE!!!! MUSIC: "Gut Feeling/Slap Your Mammy"—Devo "Baywatch"—Drug Cabin "Paradise"—The Mattson 2 “Across 110th Street”—JJ Johnson and his Orchestra
On this special feel-good edition of the The Steve Gruber Show, financial advisor Nick Hopwood, CFP® steps away from his usual discussions on the U.S. economy and personal finance to share a meaningful experience from his time in Jamaica. Nick talks about joining a group of men dedicated to rebuilding homes after a devastating October hurricane, working on roofing and foundation projects for families in need. He also shares powerful images of the rebuild efforts and reflects on the impact of giving back, offering an inspiring look at community, resilience, and service beyond the world of finance. — ✅ Apply For A Free Retirement Planning Session ✅ peakwm.com/start-here ------------------------------ Peak Wealth Management is a financial planning and wealth management firm in Plymouth, MI. We believe by providing education and guidance, we inspire our clients to make great decisions so they can Retire With Peace of Mind. Stay Connected With Us: Podbean: https://findingtruewealth.podbean.com/ YouTube: / https://www.youtube.com/@peakwealthmgmt Apple: rb.gy/1jqp6 (Trust the Plan Podcast) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeakWealthManagement/ X: https://x.com/nhopwood1 https://www.peakwm.com/
The Steve Gruber Show | Fake Moderates, Real Consequences: How the Middle Class Gets Crushed --- 00:00 - Monologue 18:51 – Nick Hopwood, Certified Financial Planner and Founder of Peak Wealth Management. Hopwood shares a personal story about a trip to Jamaica that turned into a mission effort following hurricane devastation. He discusses helping rebuild homes and the impact of stepping in to serve communities in need. 27:43 – Sen. Camera Bartolotta, representing Pennsylvania's 46th Senatorial District. Bartolotta discusses concerns about widespread fraud and how deep the issue may go. She outlines ongoing investigations and the need for accountability. 37:49 - Monologue featuring Ivey Gruber 46:38 – Tom Simon, spokesperson for Home Title Lock and former FBI Special Agent with 26 years of experience. Simon discusses a case involving a $1.5 million home in Burbank that was allegedly stolen through real estate fraud. He explains how these schemes operate and how homeowners can protect themselves. 56:39 – Justin Davis, Director of Public Affairs for the NRA. Davis discusses the NRA's “Be Ready” campaign amid rising concerns about security threats. He emphasizes the importance of preparedness and responsible firearm ownership. 1:05:30 – Ivey Gruber, President of the Michigan Talk Network. Gruber discusses personal safety and preparedness, including the importance of training and responsible firearm use. The conversation also touches on the case of Mahmoud v. Taylor and broader legal implications. 1:15:38 - Monologue 1:24:30 – Jeanne Allen, Founder and CEO of the Center for Education Reform and the Yass Center for Education. Allen discusses recent developments suggesting the Department of Education is moving closer to potential restructuring or shutdown. She explains what this could mean for education policy nationwide. 1:34:20 – Wendy Block, Senior Vice President of Business Advocacy for the Michigan Chamber. Block discusses key ballot and policy issues, including opposition to a graduated income tax proposal and a potential constitutional convention. She also addresses concerns about proposals affecting political spending and business advocacy. 1:43:08 – Ivey Gruber, President of the Michigan Talk Network. Gruber discusses the Army raising the enlistment age to 42 and whether declining health among young Americans is a factor. The segment also explores the broader issue of obesity and the importance of healthier lifestyles and nutrition. --- Check out our brand new podcast, 'Forgotten America'... The sixth episode is live NOW at Steve Gruber on YouTube! Link below: https://youtu.be/aKxApESBYuo
53 minutes The Sponsors Thank you to Underground Printing for making this all possible. Rishi and Ryan have been our biggest supporters from the beginning. Check out their wide selection of officially licensed Michigan fan gear at their 3 store locations in Ann Arbor or learn about their custom apparel business at undergroundshirts.com. Our associate sponsors are: Peak Wealth Management, Matt Demorest - Realtor and Lender, Ann Arbor Elder Law, Michigan Law Grad, Human Element, Sharon's Heating & Air Conditioning, The Sklars Brothers, Champions Circle, Winewood Organics, Community Pest Solutions, Venue by 4M where record this, and Introducing this season: Radecki Oral Surgery, and Long Road Distillers. Segments 1-3 were in MGoPodcast 17.29a yesterday. 4. Sweet Sixteen Preview: Alabama Starts at 0:51 We hate facing three teams in the Tournament because of randomness. Bama is the Nate Oats show: he wad doing efficiency before it was cool. PG Labarn Philon isn't Aden Holloway but is lengthy can can get to the basket—Nick Boyd was his #1 comp on Hoop-Explorer. Darius Acuff was on that list too. SG Latrell Wrightsell is a shooter; he was 6/9 from three vs TTU, 38% career from three, hit 45% two years ago (on a team with Sam Walters). OLD. Wing Amari Allen is a 6'8-205 and NOT JUST A SHOOTER. The book on Allen is don't let him shoot from the left side of the arc: 47% on 47 attempts from the left wing, 4 or 10 from the corner. But 32% straightaway on 31 attempts, 24% on 46 attempts from the right side. He's just 61% at the rim. The other wing is a timeshare between a JAS, a freshman, and an Egyptian stretch four. At center they're lacking, sorta. Aiden Sherrell is a Detroiter—Seth sent a phot of him as a recruit to Brian once—McDonald's AA—kinda reminds us of Morez. Had major struggles at the free throw line last year (46%) that he's largely fixed. Backup is... can Charles Bediako play? No? Well Bucknell transfer Noah Williamson is actually Noa Viljamsons from Latvia; he was #1 in usage and #1 in defensive rebounding in the Patriot League but severe dropoffs all over the map in their few chances against better competition. [The rest of the writeup and the player after THE JUMP] 5. Elite Eight Preview: Iowa State or Tennessee Starts at 22:13 Iowa State spent a lot of the season on the 1-seed line. HUUUUGE loss (unless it's better than it looked) in Joshua Jefferson (KPOY #2), who's high-usage Yax and really gave ISU their identity. PG Tamin Lipsey is Tre Donaldson. Wing Milan Momcilovic is the sniper of the year. Three different SGs with three different skills, and then they have some decent but not world-beating centers. It's really about stopping Jefferson. If it's Tennessee that's an easier matchup but maybe not a great one for Michigan because Ja'Kobi Gillespie gets his own shot, Nate Ament is mini Joshua Jefferson, and they throw these huge bodies at the offensive glass. 6. Women's Basketball: First Weekend Recap and Sweet 16/Elite 8 Preview Starts at 43:47 Firsts for Michigan WBB under Kim Barnes-Arico: 2-seed, 16-win season at Crisler, 27-win season. Muppets! Rote beatdown of Holy Cross was rote; the WBB Tournament is even more chalk as the top talent is so much better than the rest. Michigan is the best of the teams that doesn't have an All-American, but some teams have multiple. NC State game was a fun matchup that Michigan took over as soon as their threes started going down. BQD-ass game where she took over at times by swarming a team that normally doesn't turn it over with the press. Looking forward: Louisville is NC State but can shoot—they're all large and can stretch, though not very quick. Laura Zeigler was the top recruit in the portal, Taj Roberts is a tall sniper, Imari Berry looks like an undead from WoW. If they get past Lville it's almost certainly going to be 1-seed Texas, which just rolled Oregon, which is a bellwether (when not in a legendarily badly officiated game). Madison Booker is WBB Yaxel, Rori Harmon is a thief, Breya Cunningham and Kyla Odacre are way bigger than anyone Michigan can put on them. MUSIC: "Sunday Morning"—Alcatraz "Video Life"—Chris Spedding “Across 110th Street”—JJ Johnson and his Orchestra THE USUAL LINKS: Helpful iTunes subscribe link General podcast feed link What's with the theme music?
1 hour and 40 minutes The Sponsors Thank you to Underground Printing for making this all possible. Rishi and Ryan have been our biggest supporters from the beginning. Check out their wide selection of officially licensed Michigan fan gear at their 3 store locations in Ann Arbor or learn about their custom apparel business at undergroundshirts.com. Our associate sponsors are: Peak Wealth Management, Matt Demorest - Realtor and Lender, Ann Arbor Elder Law, Michigan Law Grad, Human Element, Sharon's Heating & Air Conditioning, The Sklars Brothers, Champions Circle, Winewood Organics, Community Pest Solutions, Venue by 4M where record this, and Introducing this season: Radecki Oral Surgery, and Long Road Distillers. 1. Men's Basketball vs Howard and Saint Louis Starts at 0:51 This is part one of a part two podcast! Which Robbie Avila nickname was your favorite? Of the last ten times Michigan has made the tournament they've been in the Sweet Sixteen nine. Were Beilein teams built better for the tournament than for the Big Ten? Howard shot 48% from three, the only reason they were able to get to 80 points. What Wisconsin nonsense is this? Michigan shoots 84% from two, one of those misses was from Oscar Goodman. Roddy Gayle was uninspiring in the Big Ten Tournament but returned to his March form. Moving on to Saint Louis, they're a dangerous offensive team but there was no way they were going to be able to check Michigan. Somehow Saint Louis was the #1 field goal efficiency defense in the country, it's a good sign that Michigan shot 1.35 PPP. Avila fell for Mara's fake pass. Since they started counting blocks Michigan is the first team to have all starters score 10+ points and have a block. The Mara we're seeing now is night and day from what we saw at the beginning of the season. Could you convince him to come back another year? What was up with that non-flagrant foul that ended up being a foul on Burnett? Technically it was a cylinder foul. High Point isn't a real school, you should only schedule real schools. [The rest of the writeup and the player after THE JUMP] 2. Spring Football Bits Starts at 34:37 There are finally enough bits coming out of the spring! Ron Bellamy is back as director of player personnel, which makes all the sense in the world. Apparently Whittingham wanted to come back to Utah but he wouldn't have as much control over decision making so he left. What exactly happened here? We thought he was retiring but clearly he didn't. Manuel Beigel moved to offensive line, this is concerning because there are plenty of offensive lineman and this team needs defensive tackles. In more positive news, Savion Hiter is already running with the ones. His built is like Jabrill Peppers. The defense will "resemble the 2023 defense" in terms of style, according to Jay Hill. It will depend what they can get out of Zeke Berry and Rod Moore. Injured guys are still injured. Receiver depth is Marsh, Ffrench, Moa, and Buchanon. Defensive tackle tea leaves are... uhhh... concerning? You need four decent defensive tackles, they currently have three and there's no guarantee that any of them are good. Maybe that's why Hiter is getting so many yards in practice. The NDSU linebacker captain needs to simmer for a bit, he just got here. If one of the best offensive line coaches in the country is excited then we're excited. If Babalola actually starts he'll be an All-American. Sounds like they're kicking Link inside? 3. Hot Takes and Hockey Tournament Starts at 1:02:51 Takes hotter than Howard for the last 10 minutes of the first half. Michigan gets the #1 overall seed in hockey, their reward is a game against Bentley in Albany. They also won the Big Ten Tournament after a 7-3 win over Ohio State. They get medals but not stoats. Playing a team with tournament lives on the line was really good practice. They were so excited to win a banner. Did you know Gonzaga used to have a hockey team. Bentley is 23rd in NPI which is better than their conference usually does. Doesn't look like a team that will threaten Michigan but anything crazy can happen in this tournament. The matchup is there against Penn State but the vibes are annoying since Michigan has already played them five times (and lost once). Will the building have 12 people in it? Minnesota-Duluth had a really good nonconference run but fell off towards the end of the season. They swept Minnesota which doesn't mean much this year. Congratulations Western Michigan, you are a #1 seed and you probably get to play Denver at altitude if you win your first game. The committee doesn't want schools to have home games but then they either give schools "home" games or play in empty rinks. This game should be at Yost and it would be nuts, Michigan deserves the home advantage that they earned. If Wisconsin gets goaltending they're a top four team, if not they'll lose in the first round. MUSIC: "Hard Dreaming Man"—Drugdealer "Honey Drip"—Long Island Railroad, Smushie and Ryan Gebhard “Across 110th Street”—JJ Johnson and his Orchestra
The Steve Gruber Show | Election Bombshells, Rising Chaos & America's Turning Point --- 00:00 - Monologue 19:11 – Dr. Steven Quay, physician-scientist and public health expert with more than 380 peer-reviewed publications. Quay discusses why biological threats remain an overlooked national security risk. He explains the potential dangers and why preparedness should be a higher priority. 28:00 – Nick Hopwood, Certified Financial Planner and Founder of Peak Wealth Management. In this week's No Lazy Money segment, Hopwood breaks down market volatility, inflation concerns, and the potential for rising energy-driven price pressures. He also explains tax risks tied to inherited IRAs and 401(k)s, while offering a free inherited IRA analysis through peakwm.com/gruber. 38:11 - Monologue 46:59 – Brian Orme, CEO of Global Christian Relief. Orme discusses the evolving situation in Iran and what it means for Christians in the region. He emphasizes the importance of listening to and supporting the church during uncertain times. 56:57 – Steve Swedberg, Policy Analyst with the Center for Economic Freedom. Swedberg analyzes February inflation data and warns that rising energy prices could push costs even higher. He explains how current trends could impact consumers and the broader economy. 1:05:47 – Josh Findlay, Director of the Texas Public Policy Foundation's National Election Protection Project. Findlay discusses the SAVE America Act and growing support for requiring proof of citizenship to vote. He also addresses criticism of the legislation and the broader debate over election integrity. 1:15:34 - Monologue 1:24:29 – Steve Moore, Chairman and Co-Founder of Unleash Prosperity. Moore discusses the economic impact of major medical breakthroughs, arguing that curing diseases like cancer could generate massive economic benefits. He explains how innovation in healthcare could reshape the economy. 1:34:30 – Rep. Gina Johnsen, representing Michigan's 78th House District. Johnsen discusses her new legislation aimed at protecting vaccine exemption rights. She explains why she believes the bill is important for personal freedom and healthcare choice. 1:43:19 – Ivey Gruber, President of the Michigan Talk Network. Gruber discusses concerns about data privacy, including reports that vehicle tire sensors may be capable of tracking driver behavior. The conversation explores the broader issue of data collection, trust, and how easily personal information is shared in today's digital world. --- Check out our brand new podcast, 'Forgotten America'... The fifth episode is live NOW at Steve Gruber on YouTube! Link below: https://youtu.be/CruHHRXxRE4
1 hour and 36 minutes The Sponsors Thank you to Underground Printing for making this all possible. Rishi and Ryan have been our biggest supporters from the beginning. Check out their wide selection of officially licensed Michigan fan gear at their 3 store locations in Ann Arbor or learn about their custom apparel business at undergroundshirts.com. Our associate sponsors are: Peak Wealth Management, Matt Demorest - Realtor and Lender, Ann Arbor Elder Law, Michigan Law Grad, Human Element, Sharon's Heating & Air Conditioning, The Sklars Brothers, Champions Circle, Winewood Organics, Community Pest Solutions, Venue by 4M where record this, and Introducing this season: Radecki Oral Surgery, and Long Road Distillers. 1. The Tourney Draw, Midwest Region Preview Starts at 0:51 Overall a fine draw for the 3rd one-seed, with several teams that did not want Michigan as their one-seed. Alabama as a four-seed is a fine draw. They have some big wins because they can shoot their way to a W in any game, but they're also a tempo team that gave up 40%+ ORebs to the three teams they faced with major bigs. The 5-seed is Texas Tech which lost star center JT Toppin but shot their way to a win over ISU without him. We think they're a good upset pick in a 5-12 with Akron but we are impressed with the Just-a-Shooterness of Donovan Atwell. The 8-9 are Georgia and Saint Louis. We want Georgia, another tempo team that's a year away from its maximum and has a center who just makes buckets and blocks shots, versus Saint Louis which is where Robbie Avila went; they're five-out, #1 in the country in average 2PT distance, but opponents also get to the rim (Avila is no defender). On the other side is 2-seed Iowa State, which doesn't block shots but they turn you over and sniper Milan Momcilovic can shoot over guards—a team with three bigs might be their kryptonite (see: 79-70 vs Cincy). Joshua Jefferson is a Danny Wolf (28 assist, 17 TO) PF. 3-seed Virginia has a couple of ogres they rotate at center that might prove tough, and their own Yax-like in Thijs De Ridder, who's not from New Jersey. [The rest of the writeup and the player after THE JUMP] 2. Hot Takes and Men's Basketball vs Purdue Starts at 33:39 Takes hotter than Brian when they refused to call a 5th foul on Oscar Cluff the fifth time. You're not insane; it was a ref show, and a clownish end to DJ Carstensen's career. But that only explains why Purdue won—they played Michigan evenly because Michigan had their worst defensive performance, unable to stop the PnR two-man game between Smith and TKR. M's offense is off the hook for the 1st half since Purdue was just fouling and getting away with it, but what's their excuse for not having any plans for a stretch in the 2nd half when Purdue pulled ahead? Hoping against hope that May has been saving all of his real sets for the Tournament. Brian's giving up on Gayle and his Knoblockian adventures at the rim. 3. Men's Basketball vs Wisconsin and Ohio State Starts at 1:01:40 Wisconsin goes 7/23 from two but 16/38 from three once they've given up on Boyd and Blackwell drives that worked for them in the first meeting. Their twos were earned—pushed back and forced to shoot over Mara. Only the Aussie going nuts from three got this competitive again, but we were still dismayed over Michigan's offense. They had a Mara advantage they only ran in the 2nd half, and didn't really give him help off of that. Tschetter minutes are not working. The OSU game was annoying for all the little reasons, but the big one is something from the whole Tourney, which was Morez Johnson not playing up to his standard. He got the first two series and second was a fallaway jumper. He's a bit limited when backing up people have found. Bruce Thornton was limited by length but his eyes lit up whenever he got Cadeau, who seemed to be tiring late, but Michigan is a TO machine without him. Maybe they're saving Yax usage for the Dance. 4. Hockey vs Penn State and Tournament Lookahead Starts at 1:22:35 They're now locked into the 1st overall seed with Ohio State knocking MSU out of the tournament, and North Dakota losing, which means YAY we don't have to play Denver in a Denver Regional (stupidest playoff format ever). Michigan-NoDak-MSU-WMU will be the 1-seeds, in that order, and Michigan will draw the worst the #16, IE the Atlantic Hockey champion (Bentley most likely?) and the worst #2 seed (Duluth? Cornell? Penn State?) in, likely, Albany. Penn State hockey is James Franklin Penn State football: can beat anybody except the big bads in their conference. Not afraid of facing them again after a thoroughly dominant semifinal. Good to see a snipe from Hage, and what Moldenauer has become. MUSIC: "An Ocean Between the Waves"—War on Drugs "This Could Be Your Lucky Day in Hell"—Eels "A Sentence of Sorts in Kongsvinger"—Of Montreal “Across 110th Street”—JJ Johnson and his Orchestra
1 hour and 44 minutes The Sponsors Thank you to Underground Printing for making this all possible. Rishi and Ryan have been our biggest supporters from the beginning. Check out their wide selection of officially licensed Michigan fan gear at their 3 store locations in Ann Arbor or learn about their custom apparel business at undergroundshirts.com. Our associate sponsors are: Peak Wealth Management, Matt Demorest - Realtor and Lender, Ann Arbor Elder Law, Michigan Law Grad, Human Element, Sharon's Heating & Air Conditioning, The Sklars Brothers, Champions Circle, Winewood Organics, Community Pest Solutions, Venue by 4M where record this, and Introducing this season: Radecki Oral Surgery, and Long Road Distillers. 1. Men's Basketball vs Michigan State Starts at 0:51 Michigan is the best team in the Big Ten since the 1977 Indiana team. You can't say they didn't earn it, they had to win at Breslin, Carver, and Illinois. They would still win the Big Ten outright if you only counted the games that Michigan won by double digits. It was Yaxel's deep shooting that propelled Michigan when they weren't shooting well. Michigan felt mortal with Tschetter at the four but MSU didn't exactly take advantage of that time. There were a lot of 1-on-1 opportunities, Michigan only had 12 assists. 1.27 PPP is crazy against Michigan State. Where does Yaxel Lendeborg rank all time amongst all Michigan players? They had a reel prepared for when Fears would kick someone in the jingle jangles, and it did happen. Credit Dusty for keeping the team calm when things start to go wrong. How is Fears allowed to keep playing the way he does? Congrats to Nebraska for getting the #2 seed. 2. Men's Basketball vs Iowa Starts at 32:06 A very slow game and a very annoying win. Their thing is fouling you constantly and hoping the refs don't call it. They fired Fran and we hate Iowa basketball now. Michigan finally gets some calls in the second half and turns the ball over a lot. Bennett Stirtz's 4-14 from three feels optimistic for him given the shot quality. There was a "sink or swim" moment when Cadeau had to sit out and it wasn't great. Cadeau played 30 minutes but in an important tournament setting he'll probably play more than that. Roddy Gayle has some at-the-rim difficulties that have lasted most of the conference season. Fran McCaffery was a beautiful Big Ten coach and now he's in the Ivy League. 3. Hot Takes and Spring Ball - Offense Starts at 54:05 How excited is everyone for this spring practice? What will Bryce's role as a runner be? JJ didn't run much but in the championship season there were only 4-5 games where he would have needed to. Maybe Bryce looks a little better throwing downfield now that he has actual receivers. JJ Buchanan might have a Colston Loveland level catch radius. There was a moment of silence for Max Bredeson but we truncate silence on this podcast so you didn't hear it. What's the tight end depth going to look like? Evan Link to guard? We're expecting a big third year swing for Blake Frazier. 4. Spring Ball - Defense Starts at 1:22:09 Any sort of news about John Henry Daley being able to play would be high on the list. And Rod Moore. Also hoping to hear good things about Palepale and Cam Brandt. The North Dakota State linebacker (Nathaniel Staehling) transfer could be really good, he was a captain and these scenarios often work out nicely. Ideally he's the 3rd linebacker because that means some other guys popped off. How much much better will everyone look with better coaching? Unfortunately we won't be able to see if rotation on defense gets better in the Spring Game. Could Shamari Earls overtake Jyaire Hill? New kickers but kicking in April seems different than in the Fall. Looking forward to punting drills. Taylor Tatum for punt return? MUSIC: "Any Major Dude"—Steely Dan "Believe"—My Morning Jacket "Broken Chair"—Luna “Across 110th Street”—JJ Johnson and his Orchestra
1 hour and 35 minutes The Sponsors Thank you to Underground Printing for making this all possible. Rishi and Ryan have been our biggest supporters from the beginning. Check out their wide selection of officially licensed Michigan fan gear at their 3 store locations in Ann Arbor or learn about their custom apparel business at undergroundshirts.com. Our associate sponsors are: Peak Wealth Management, Matt Demorest - Realtor and Lender, Ann Arbor Elder Law, Michigan Law Grad, Human Element, Sharon's Heating & Air Conditioning, The Sklars Brothers, Champions Circle, Winewood Organics, Community Pest Solutions, Venue by 4M where record this, and Introducing this season: Radecki Oral Surgery, and Long Road Distillers. 1. Men's Basketball vs Illinois Starts at 0:51 Hail to the Big Ten champions... before March! Dusty in year two has won at Mackey, Breslin, and whatever Illinois' arena is nicknamed. This was supposed to be a scary game and it wasn't even close, the players loved the energy. The major bummer is that LJ Cason is out for the year with an ACL injury. Can Yaxel check a top five draft point guard? Yes. No turnovers for Cadeau! But he probably has to go from 26 minutes per game to 35 and needs to be much more careful about foul trouble now. It just felt like Illinois had to work so hard to get anything in the second half and they weren't used to that. Illinois played their much better defender for only 10 minutes. Shot volume was similar for both teams but Michigan was able to win from 2-point shots. 2. Men's Basketball vs Minnesota Starts at 25:20 Minnesota comes in with basically no basketball team, they're down on their luck. But they played zone better than a lot of teams on Michigan's schedule. In the first half Michigan had trouble getting to the rim so they kicked it out for open threes. Parts of it felt bad. This game felt like playing Maryland the week before Ohio State. Niko Medved did a great job with what he had, Brian is still high on him. Early in the season Iowa seemed like it would be a really tough game, now Iowa is tailspinning a little bit. Iowa's defense is improved from Fran but not in a way that will stop Michigan. Michigan is still probably a #1 seed if they lose out. They should raise the banner in Michigan State's face at pre-game. 3. Hot Takes and Hockey vs Minnesota Starts at 43:34 Takes hotter than Morez Johnson sitting in front of that crowd and being like "I don't care, I'm gonna be the Kenpom MVP in a 20 point win spiritually because I'm Morez Johnson and nothing phases me at all!" Michigan splits against Minnesota, which almost didn't matter until Michigan State only got two points against Ohio State. This team is a little too Jekyll & Hyde. Starting the Thursday game 1-9 in shots isn't great. Powerplays used to be more whizz-bang and they've been lacking lately. Michigan's defense is like Nebraska running the triple option - they always need to have a 5'2" puck wizard defenseman. MSU's coach tried to chase down an official on the ice which is a silly thing to attempt. Michigan is up two points in the standings but Michigan State has two more games. Time for another year of complaining about the NCAA hockey tournament format. 4. Stickball and Gimmicky Top Five Starts at 1:15:10 Baseball - good Softball - not good Gimmicky Top Five Things You'd Change in the Winter Olympics. Normal guy Olympics. Mountaineering should include getting a kid into ski gear. We don't talk about ski injuries. Winter beach volleyball? MUSIC: "Don't Fight It"—Kenny Loggins and Steve Perry "Better Way"—Motenko "Take My Heart"—The Teskey Brothers “Across 110th Street”—JJ Johnson and his Orchestra
1 hour and 43 minutes The Sponsors Thank you to Underground Printing for making this all possible. Rishi and Ryan have been our biggest supporters from the beginning. Check out their wide selection of officially licensed Michigan fan gear at their 3 store locations in Ann Arbor or learn about their custom apparel business at undergroundshirts.com. Our associate sponsors are: Peak Wealth Management, Matt Demorest - Realtor and Lender, Ann Arbor Elder Law, Michigan Law Grad, Human Element, Sharon's Heating & Air Conditioning, The Sklars Brothers, Champions Circle, Winewood Organics, Community Pest Solutions, Venue by 4M where record this, and Introducing this season: Radecki Oral Surgery, and Long Road Distillers. 1. Men's Basketball vs Purdue Starts at 0:51 The Duke game was annoying and non-impactful so let's start with Purdue. Purdue comes out to a 5-0 start, Michigan then goes on a 42-17 run. Mackey exploded no matter what, even when Michigan was up 16. Matt Painter is a dude who respects ball. Mara foreshadowed the Duke game by getting into foul trouble, but that wasn't until the 2nd half, otherwise he had a great 1st half. The other subplot of this game was they shot 57% from three, and almost all of them were good shots. Trey Kauffmann-Renn went off for Purdue, historically May has let him go defensively though. Michigan is doing a great job of making the non-contestable guys contestable. What was funnier, the Fletcher Loyer heat-check airball or Cadeau getting to the free throw line and not knowing what to do? 2. Men's Basketball vs Duke Starts at 22:55 A very frustrating game. Mara picks up three first half fouls, the first two of which were not fouls. Playing three bigs in the second half felt like an impulse. Will Tschetter has been a faithful companion for this program but this wasn't the game for him. Duke went on their end of first half run when Michigan had their small lineup out there. Dusty is usually very calm but he was on the verge of eruption. The official in this game notoriously call more calls than anyone else and didn't give us a proper Michigan Duke game. You can just give the coach an iPad to decide if you want to challenge calls?? Does Mara need a little more self-confidence? His body language is telling. Michigan didn't get a lot out of guard play. Their quality of looks in this game were nowhere near their looks in the Purdue game. They got out of balance with their lineup changes and shot 24% from three but still only lost by five to Duke so this really isn't that concerning. What was that travel call? LJ Cason is definitely a contested shot guy. Michigan's biggest win over the weekend was UCLA over Illinois. The Minnesota game is for a share of the title, two Big Ten wins means an outright title. Brian still can't believe how good Keaton Wagler is. 3. Hot Takes and Hockey vs Wisconsin Starts at 55:40 Takes hotter than yours truly after Mara's second foul against Duke. Michigan gets a split out of Wisconsin which ends any hope of catching Michigan State in the Big Ten standings. Wisconsin played their backup goalie and Michigan didn't do enough to threaten him. Kason Muscutt got his first goal. BTN+ has announcers that don't even know Michigan's roster. Michigan could get to 51 points after next week which would win the Big Ten in most years. They have a 99.6% chance of being a #1 seed, they would need to win the Big Ten Tournament to get the #1 overall. #2 overall could get Saint Thomas? 4. Potpourri Starts at 1:24:57 Hughe's got it better than us? Michigan shouldn't claim Jack Hughes. Great performances from Michigan hockey players in the Olympics and the gold medal game. Michigan doesn't have these guys on this team (Michigan State doesn't either, though). Canada was sad and then got handed a stuffed stoat. If you haven't seen the figure skating exhibition gala, you should. Michigan has a new general manager. Sean Magee sent Savion Hiter the wrong dollar amount for his NIL?? The new GM is Dave Peloquin who used to work at Notre Dame. Michigan baseball got another ranked win over Louisville. The vibes for Michigan softball aren't good right now. They're like Nebraska football. MUSIC: "UFOs"—Phoenix and Alan Braxe "Evil Twin"—Cut Worms "Dug"—Dream Sitch, Michael Nau, Floating Action “Across 110th Street”—JJ Johnson and his Orchestra
2 hours and 6 minutes The Sponsors Thank you to Underground Printing for making this all possible. Rishi and Ryan have been our biggest supporters from the beginning. Check out their wide selection of officially licensed Michigan fan gear at their 3 store locations in Ann Arbor or learn about their custom apparel business at undergroundshirts.com. Our associate sponsors are: Peak Wealth Management, Matt Demorest - Realtor and Lender, Ann Arbor Elder Law, Michigan Law Grad, Human Element, Sharon's Heating & Air Conditioning, The Sklars Brothers, Champions Circle, Winewood Organics, Community Pest Solutions, Venue by 4M where record this, and Introducing this season: Radecki Oral Surgery, and Long Road Distillers. 1. Men's Basketball vs UCLA Starts at 0:51 Brian gets three minutes to talk about Mick Cronin, he hopes he never gets fired from UCLA. He's like a jolly caricature of Izzo. He's Sideshow Bob stepping on the rakes. Michigan would be up by 10 in the first half and it would feel like they should be up 20. Tschetter's really improved as a defender but this game wasn't for him. UCLA was turning the ball over a ton, Michigan didn't have any until the end of the first half. This was a responsible game from Cadeau, some of his turnovers have been boneheaded. He's at around the same turnover rate as last year. LJ Cason is becoming a reliably effective playmaker. Mick Cronin might not have forgotten how to coach defense but he might've forgotten to scout Xavier Booker. If they play a bad game that means only winning by 10. 2. Men's Basketball vs Northwestern Starts at 28:10 Similar situation in this game where Michigan played a dominant second half. The difference is they were down 16 points. Kenpom still had them at about 30% chance to win even down 16 in the second half! Michigan missed so many bunnies in this one. They started running NBA sets in their second half rally and that works because they have the size for it. The big story of this game was LJ Cason. Cadeau wasn't doing anything so Dusty put in Cason who stepped up. Who's the most random guy you've ever been thankful for in a game? Probably Kam Chatman. Michigan is rotating nine guys and the ninth guy was the MVP in this game. The six game stretch to finish the regular season features Michigan State as the second easiest game. Alex isn't scared of Purdue. Duke looms. 3. Hot Takes and Hockey vs Penn State Starts at 55:44 Takes hotter than the genius that came up with the two-man luge. Special guest, Seth daughter's Mira. Michigan takes 5 out of 6 points against Penn State, this was their first overtime that they didn't win this year. Michigan made it hard on themselves in the Friday game, Ivankovic sort of deflected a goal into their own net. These officials were fine because they degraded the game of hockey but they weren't as bad as some other guys! Penn State split their goalies but the better goalie gave Michigan a couple easy ones. Michigan has first round picks but the only one that has the sauce is Jayden Perron. You look at men's basketball and you think they could win a national championship. You look at hockey and you don't see it. Wisconsin has faded enough to not make the tournament but their forecheck also seemed like Michigan's kryptonite. If you want to win the conference you need six points against Wisconsin. You might need to win out. Michigan is still 96% to be a 1 seed. 4. Potpourri Starts at 1:38:22 Michigan replaces defensive tackle coach Lou Esposito with Larry Black out of Vanderbilt. He checks the recruiting boxes. He helped get Vanderbilt to respectable on defense which even Jesse Minter couldn't do. His resume is really good and still isn't as good a resume as the rest of the staff (complimentary). Women's basketball fell behind big to UCLA and got it to within one score. They're so close to the elite teams. Stickball! As of this recording baseball is 2-0 against good programs. USC and UCLA baseball hate being in the Big Ten. Softball is 7-2 overall, Alex was down after the Florida game. If you have six pitchers on the roster you have no pitchers. Brian has only watched curling. Olympic skiing discourse. Sweden pulled their goalie while up 5-2 to get the goal differential (did not get it). MUSIC: "Idol"—Mind Enterprises "YUHDONTSTOP"—De La Soul "Brand New City"—Snocaps “Across 110th Street”—JJ Johnson and his Orchestra
2 hours and 23 minutes The Sponsors Thank you to Underground Printing for making this all possible. Rishi and Ryan have been our biggest supporters from the beginning. Check out their wide selection of officially licensed Michigan fan gear at their 3 store locations in Ann Arbor or learn about their custom apparel business at undergroundshirts.com. Our associate sponsors are: Peak Wealth Management, Matt Demorest - Realtor and Lender, Ann Arbor Elder Law, Michigan Law Grad, Human Element, Sharon's Heating & Air Conditioning, The Sklars Brothers, Champions Circle, Winewood Organics, Community Pest Solutions, Venue by 4M where record this, and Introducing this season: Radecki Oral Surgery, and Long Road Distillers. 1. Men's Basketball vs Penn State and Ohio State Starts at 0:51 Usually there's a segment for each basketball but that would just be silly. Michigan annihilates a short-handed Penn State team featuring two thunderous Mark Davis Kiwi dunks and a season high from Nimari Burnett. Is there anything else to say about this game? Michigan only had eight turnovers against Ohio State. Oddly they missed a lot of bunnies. Michigan is rounding into the elite offensive and defensive rebounding team we were hoping they would be. Nice to see Yaxel get to the rim, he doesn't do it enough. Another nice game from Trey McKenney. The balance of this team is insane. We're looking forward to what Mick Cronin says after Aday Mara stuffs him in a locker. A few more easy games before a brutal close to the season. Michigan State did Michigan a solid by beating Illinois. [The rest of the writeup and the player after THE JUMP] 2. Hockey vs Michigan State Starts at 25:16 Game one was one of the best college hockey games we've ever seen. Old Yost was dark and full of discontented engineers who just learned to swear. It was absolute hell for opponents and it's just not that anymore in most games. Friday night felt like Old Yost. Michigan played great when they had their backs against the wall but you can't just rally from down 4-0. Michigan could be the second best team in the country and still just not be as good as State. Michigan's 4th string goalie looks just like Ivankovic and confused Dave in the press box. Why was Ivankovic suddenly ready on Saturday? Yost got HOT in the third period on Friday because of the missed calls. Michigan can still absolutely win a regular season title. Biggest concern in the NCAA tournament is also Michigan State, but the college hockey playoffs are weird. Has the modern era of college football reached hockey? 3. Hot Takes and Offensive Recruiting Class With Steve Lorenz Starts at 53:24 Takes hotter than Brian's face watching Seth come up with something that's hot. Usually we would do this on signing day but now nobody can remember when that is. Salesi Moa signed and enrolled at Utah and still ended up at Michigan. Brady Smigiel is one of your QBs but he's coming in injured, which probably effected his recruiting stock. He's a classic pocket guy, but Whittingham likes mobile QBs. QB Tommy Carr has Tate Forcier comparisons. Savion Hiter comes in as the most talented running back in this class, as well as the last few classes. What do you think Fred Jackson would call him? Jonathan Brown comes in as a generic three star RB but there's not much being said compared to Hiter. We'll count Salesi Moa in this class, he could play receiver and safety. He might actually be able to contribute in year one. WR Travis Johnson is just outside the top 100 but was very adamant about sticking to Michigan even after everything went down. WR Jaylen Pile also didn't waver but so far seems like just a guy, but with more scholarships available sure, bring him in. TE Mason Bonner comes in from Denver, might take a little time to develop. Should be athletic enough down the road. OT Malakai Lee comes in from Honolulu and might be the most excited about the coaching change. Comparisons to Mike Onwenu. Marky Walbridge is a late riser and offensive lineman late risers are often encouraging. Adrian Hamilton projects to center and centers don't rank highly usually. Tommy Fraumann is big enough to not care about rankings, born right after the 2008 Michigan Utah in which Kyle Whittingham beat Michigan. 4. Defensive Recruiting Class Starts at 1:45:41 Carter Meadows is a five star defensive end we're all excited about. He's not allowed to enroll early so he'll probably be a year two star. DE McHale Blade is one of the coolest names in this cycle. He has all the athletic traits, could be the sleeper of the defensive side. DE Tariq Boney is your Josh Uche, just let him go after the QB. Alister Vallejo looks like Mason Graham on the field and the kid from the Sandlot in his profile. DT Titan Davis is a Kris Jenkins guy, could be an anchor DE but will more likely fill in DT needs. Linebacker is where the excitement falls off. Nobody is anywhere near four star status. CB Jamarion Vincent is a developmental guy, expect him in year three. He was previously playing QB. CB Ernest Nunley is a former Cal commit and will probably be a safety. S Jordan Deck could me a sleeper, boring safety. Overall not a big fan of the back seven but it is the transfer portal era. It could be okay but it's sketchy. MUSIC: "Bazooka"—Miami XO "Baby Steps"—Olivia Dean "Phish Pepsi"—Wednesday “Across 110th Street”—JJ Johnson and his Orchestra
1 hour and 49 minutes The Sponsors Thank you to Underground Printing for making this all possible. Rishi and Ryan have been our biggest supporters from the beginning. Check out their wide selection of officially licensed Michigan fan gear at their 3 store locations in Ann Arbor or learn about their custom apparel business at undergroundshirts.com. Our associate sponsors are: Peak Wealth Management, Matt Demorest - Realtor and Lender, Ann Arbor Elder Law, Michigan Law Grad, Human Element, Sharon's Heating & Air Conditioning, The Sklars Brothers, Champions Circle, Winewood Organics, Community Pest Solutions, Venue by 4M where record this, and Introducing this season: Radecki Oral Surgery, and Long Road Distillers. 1. Men's Basketball vs Michigan State Starts at 0:51 Where's Tre Holloman at?? Michigan's first victory at Breslin since 2018. They managed to blow all of their 16 point halftime lead but only briefly. This year didn't have the same "helplessness" vibe of previous years. The grifting from Jeremy Fears was incredible. Michigan State's offense ended up being generating bogus calls and then hitting free throws. Their roster doesn't have the best athletes in the world but they have guys that have stuck around for a while. Trey McKenney is becoming a much bigger piece of this team, if Michigan goes on a tournament run it could be because he steps up as a major contributor. Is he the 6th man? They're running a lot of offense through Mara, maybe that should be going through Morez Johnson instead. Michigan is back to #1 in Kenpom and is projected to win the Big Ten outright but the end of the schedule is very tough. 2. Men's Basketball vs Nebraska Starts at 29:17 The vibes here were considerably worse! Nebraska was getting an alarming amount of open looks. Michigan wins by shooting what felt like 70% from two. Some of Cadeau's turnovers were just inexplicable. We can't pronounce Berke's name so he's just Berke Boyband. The studies say that every conspiracy theory you have about officiating is true. Pass blocking is not actually allowed in basketball. Nebraska is legit, this was a tough game that Cadeau almost gave away. Shout out to Fred Hoiberg for coming in with a great gameplan for confusing Michigan. The overturn on the challenge made no sense, how was that possibly clear? Should Michigan be going inside more when the threes aren't dropping? Michigan was missing open threes. They beat a top 10 Kenpom team while shooting 23% from three, that's impressive no matter what. Was LJ Cason unplayable? 3. Hot Takes and Hockey vs Ohio State Starts at 52:18 Takes hotter than Yaxel Lendeborg at the free throw line. Michigan gets five of six points over Ohio State in a frustrating manner. Stephen Peck played a great game on Saturday until the last five minutes. They're missing points here and there against teams that they're better than. Wisconsin somehow went from #1 to might miss the tournament. Michigan State is only one point behind in the Big Ten rankings. 4. Gimmicky Top Five Sports Villains Starts at 1:14:40 We're born haters so it's time for a gimmicky top five sports villains. There are a surprising number of ways to define "villain" in this context. There's a lot of NHL discourse because you used to just get paid to hurt people. Which Big Ten commissioners make the list (spoiler: all of them). Not posting spoilers here but yes there is a certain Wisconsin basketball player. Who's on your list? MUSIC: "Moody"—Royel Otis "Silver Joy"—Damien Jurado "Sweet and Dandy"—Toots and the Maytals “Across 110th Street”—JJ Johnson and his Orchestra