Podcasts about traverse city

The Sponsors We want to thank Underground Printing for starting this and making it possible—stop by and pick up some gear, check them out at ugpmichiganapparel.com, or check out our selection of shirts on the MGoBlogStore.com. And let's not forget our associate sponsors: Peak Wealth Management, Matt Demorest - Realtor and Lender, Ann Arbor Elder Law, Michigan Law Grad, Human Element, Sharon's Heating & Air Conditioning, Winewood Organics, Community Pest Solutions, Radecki Oral Surgery, Long Road Distillers, SignalWire where we are recording this, and introducing Applied Fitness Solutions, and The History of Michigan Football, an online course by Greg Dooley. Featured Musician: Bump THE VIDEO: [After THE JUMP: The show notes.]  --------------------- 1. Minnesota Preview: Offense starts at the top. Fleck and Harbaugh (no relation, pronounced Har-Bo) have been rolling their system back towards pro-style, have an old fashioned 6'5"/230 arm who doesn't run in Drake Lindsey, was getting draft hype that we do not understand. They still run the #collegecrappe offense: RPO slants, Power/Zone with huge OL, and lots of WR screens, because Javon Tracy—an excellent returner—is good at YAC. Darius Taylor is beat up, and they're without their starting C, but big-ass Greg Johnson has shifted to C and will maul. Get them in 3rd & long and we should be okay; RT Daniel Shipp is a weak spot and backup LG Jaden Ball—who never saw the field at Purdue—is hurt as well as bad. 2. Minnesota Preview: Defense & Special Teams starts at 16:54 One step forward, one step back for a defense that's been solid but can't quite get to elite. One thing you can expect is for them to be very responsible on the edges (and for Fleck to LOSE HIS SHIT) if they don't call holding on anything that breaks outside). Best guys are a giant DE, Anthony Smith, and a giant LB, Maverick Baranowski. Alex not super impressed with their Iowa CB John Nestor but Seth is. But their other LBs are pretty good. Have some issues with their Zone defense under 2nd-year DC Danny Collins, a longtime Fleck assistant who finally got the callup after serving under all the journeymen that Fleck's brought through. Defensive line is big but moveable, and a banged up Riley Sunram at nose may be the spot to attack them. Special teams notes: Javon Tracy has been the best PR in the country this year; has two TDs and nearly had a third when he accidentally stepped OOB. Do not kick to him. Punter is an Aussie averaging 40/punt. They stole New Mexico's kicker and got him eligible for a 5th year. Until then they were going with Beckham Sunderland, whom we could have used on kickoffs. Gotta suck for him.   3 Iowa After Review starts at 40:27 It was a very good day from Bryce, who was reading coverages, moving guys with his eyes. Beck finally dumped the Jet Motion stuff that opponents have downloaded and the run game started to move. But he's got to stick and move. Injury to Frazier meant they were heavily left-handed in the 4th quarter. Iowa's offense was in "get it OUT!" mode. Zero dropback passes that weren't on passing downs or 2MD drives. First-look passing offense that just tried to clear out or space and throw to the first read, covered or not, which resulted in nerfing the pass rush and a lot of defenders getting their hands on the ball. Middle distribution was three, Michigan extremely unlucky not to come down with at least one of those. Lauck was as advertised. What would you have done for the last play, because going man-lock was not a "let's kill this" play at a "let's kill this" moment.   4. Jug Tales wsg Greg Dooley starts at 1:00:27 The Professor returns to get us pumped for The Brown Jug. You know the story, but what was the context? Why was this such a big rivalry in the 1930s and '40s? I want to discuss Crisler, a former Minnesota head coach, Bernie Bierman, and the last time Michigan switched from a messy handpicked successor to a legend to an establishment oldster.  Featured Artist: Bump Here's another band we played with—possibly in an earlier form—for this empty battle of the bands at the I-Rock in Detroit during the 2003 Michigan-Minnesota game, which was moved to Friday night at the last minute because the Twins made the playoff. The I-Rock didn't have TVs so all the bands were crowded into someone's band van with a 9-inch black-and-white TV to watch the ending. When I saw them again it was at The Pig in 2005 and they had demos for what became Incredible Consequence. The thing that really made Bump was lead guitarist Chris Sterr, who's now touring with Billy Strings for his Heartbeat of Eternia project. Sterr's been doing an Allman Brothers cover band, and playing around Traverse City, and I'm really happy this is happening for him because if he had any ego he'd be a big deal already. When I met him he was with Bump, which was an early project Yorg Kerasiotis, a musician/filmmaker/unfortunate Sparty who's been going from one project to another in the Detroit-Ann Arbor music/arts/film scenes since the early 2000s. Bump wasn't his first project, but it's still my favorite, because they took the music seriously and nothing else. They were genre-benders, a sort of electronic funk garage that would have worked better in the 1990s Alternative scene. The album is here on Spotify; the demos I have seem to be close. Songs: Don't Be the Sunrise A Million Reasons Why        Wait a Minute        Also because Across 110th Street will get our Youtubes taken down, the opener and outro: “The Employee is Not Afraid”—Bear vs. Shark “Ruska Vodka”—Motorboat

Charlotte is back behind the mic after a packed run of show jumping (and a few weeks without a voice), and she's brought the EquiRatings James Kann Cruz Fan Club with her. Emma Blumenkrantz and Annie Bishop, on loan from the eventing side, join her to unpack Shane Sweetnam's grey's latest World Cup podium at Traverse City, his 22nd career podium in a 5* Grand Prix or World Cup. The trio digs into the numbers behind the "podium machine," the Greya question, and whether there's still more to come from a horse only just hitting his peak. Key Discussion Points The milestone. Second place at Traverse City, the opening leg of the North American World Cup League, gave James Kann Cruz his 22nd podium in a 5* Grand Prix or World Cup. He's done it from just 44 starts, a 50% podium rate. The historical context. Since 2010, only two horses on EquiRatings records have matched or bettered that podium tally: Hermès Ryan (22) and Rolf-Göran Bengtsson's Casall Ask (35). No combination with more than 20 starts at this level has a higher podium rate. The hot streak. Seven podiums since last year's Highlands Cup, including a career-defining win in the Rolex Grand Prix at Falsterbo, where he beat a fast field that included Steve Guerdat and Richard Vogel. The Greya question. Charlotte tackles the elephant in the room. James Kann Cruz is the podium horse; Kent Farrington's Greya is the winning horse. Her 11 wins from 34 starts dwarf his three, yet he has beaten her in a jump-off before, at Tryon. Annie makes the case that they're simply built differently: he can jump day after day at a championship, she's campaigned carefully and unleashed when it counts. Maturity and speed. Annie brings an eventer's eye to how Shane has managed all that power, and Emma recalls watching Shane school him quietly over a 1.30m–1.35m track in Wellington last winter. Is the horse getting faster because he's learned he doesn't have to go flat out every time? The guest perspective. Annie tells the story of falling for James Kann Cruz on a Saturday night at Defender Kentucky two years ago, the night someone dared call him a donkey. Emma shares how his power and his partnership with Shane hooked her during Wellington's Saturday Night Lights. The verdict on who runs the fan club? Co-presidents, all three.

One of Northern Michigan's most anticipated harvest traditions returns October 3 on Old Mission PeninsulaOn this weekend's Behind the Mitten Show, we talked to Kyle Brownley, the marketing director at Chateau Chantal, a winery that Gonzo picked as one of Michigan's Best wineries way back in 2015. It is located on Old Mission Peninsula in Traverse City.Learn more about the Oct. 3 fall festival at chateauchantal.com/harvest-festival.Below is Kyle's press release on the upcoming event:TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (September 23, 2026) – The vineyards are bursting with ripe grapes, the fall colors are beginning to emerge, and harvest season is in full swing at Chateau Chantal.To celebrate one of the most exciting times of the year in Northern Michigan wine country, Chateau Chantal will host its annual Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 3, from noon to 4 p.m., featuring a free family-friendly grape stomp, local artisan market, vineyard tours, food and wine experiences, and a special celebration honoring founder Bob Begin's 92nd birthday.Set atop the scenic ridge of Old Mission Peninsula overlooking both East and West Grand Traverse Bays, the festival offers visitors a rare opportunity to experience harvest season at one of Michigan's most iconic wineries."Harvest is the heartbeat of every winery," said CEO Marie-Chantal Dalese. "It's the culmination of a year's worth of work in the vineyard, and we love inviting guests to celebrate alongside us. This year's festival is especially meaningful as we honor our founder, Bob Begin, on his 92nd birthday."A Celebration of Harvest, Wine & CommunityThe free Harvest Festival showcases the best of Northern Michigan agriculture, food, wine, art, and hospitality.Festival Highlights:Public Vineyard & Cellar Tour 1 p.m.Join CEO Marie-Chantal Dalese for an insider's look at the winemaking process, from vineyard to bottle, including access to the winery cellar during peak harvest activity.Grape Stomping For All Ages 2 p.m.Channel your inner Lucille Ball and take part in one of the day's most popular traditions by crushing grapes the old-fashioned way, barefoot and laughing alongside friends and family.Cork Toss Championship 3 p.m.Teams compete for the coveted Cork Toss title and Chateau Chantal gift card prizes.All-Day Harvest Festival AttractionsWine, Food & Fall Views11 a.m. - 7 p.m.The tasting room will feature wine flights, wines by the glass, seasonal cocktails, charcuterie boards, chef-prepared menu offerings, cozy indoor fireplaces, outdoor fire pits, and self-guided access to the winery's open cellar.Visitors can enjoy 25% off all 12-bottle wine purchases during the event.Local Artisan Market11 a.m. - 6 p.m.The Harvest Art Fair will feature distinctive Michigan-made products, gifts, home décor, food items, and artwork from local artists and makers, including:North Coast Golf CompanyLakes & GrapesLakuna LinksLe Macaron Traverse CityLeelanau Pottery CompanyKendall Wisniewski ArtDC Boat ShelvesMORRISMADE Handmade Home GoodsWhy Knot PretzelsFounder Bob Begin's 92nd Birthday Open House12 p.m. - 4 p.m.Guests are invited inside founder Bob Begin's apartment to enjoy breathtaking bay views, meet the visionary who founded Chateau Chantal, and watch a special presentation highlighting his remarkable life and legacy in Michigan wine tourism.Extend the Harvest Celebration:Fall Harvest Wine DinnersMondays, Wednesdays & Fridays through November 6Guests can experience the flavors of the season through Chateau Chantal's acclaimed six-course wine dinners featuring locally inspired cuisine prepared by Executive Chef Randy Minish and expertly paired wines.$115 per person, includes winery tour, six-course dinner, wine pairings, tax, and gratuity.Reservations: www.chateauchantal.com/public-eventsMurder in WonderlandInteractive Murder Mystery Dinner Friday, October 30Wonderland has never been so dangerous.Guests become characters in a mysterious Alice in Wonderland-inspired adventure where clues, hidden secrets, and unexpected twists unfold throughout a multi-course dinner experience.6:00 p.m. (doors open at 5:45 p.m.)$85 per person, tax and gratuity includedReservations: https://shorturl.at/kZVgc

Watch Full Video Episode What does a Performance and Accountability Team Leader actually do inside a high-performing auto repair shop? Nate McDonald of Empower Automotive gives us an inside look at a unique leadership position that connects inspections, client experience, team development, performance, and accountability. As Sales Manager, Inspection Team Lead, and Performance & Accountability Lead, Nate isn't managing from behind a desk. He's working alongside his team, performing inspections, shooting videos, checking vehicles, answering questions, coaching younger team members, and looking for opportunities to improve the process. Nate believes accountability becomes easier when you're present. Working side by side with the team creates opportunities for quick conversations, immediate coaching, and reinforcing standards before small issues become bigger ones. What You'll Learn What a Performance and Accountability Team Leader does inside an auto repair shop.Why Nate views his sales responsibility more as hospitality than traditional selling.How working "in the trenches" creates natural coaching opportunities.What Nate has learned from mentoring Gen Z team members.Why mistakes and questions are valuable opportunities for development.How Empower Automotive's daily "Take Five" aligns the entire team before the day begins.How inspections connect the back of the shop with service advisors and the client experience.Why performance numbers are openly discussed with the team.How quick one-on-one conversations reinforce standards and accountability.Why team members should have a voice in improving processes and efficiency. A Performance and Accountability Team Leader doesn't just measure performance. They help create it. Nate's role demonstrates the value of having someone close enough to the work to see what's happening, coach in the moment, reinforce expectations, listen to ideas, and keep the team connected to the purpose behind the process. It's not about waiting for the annual performance review or calling someone into the office every time something goes wrong. Sometimes leadership is a quick conversation behind a vehicle. Sometimes it's answering a question during an inspection.  And sometimes it's simply being willing to work alongside your people. Performance and accountability become part of the culture when leadership is present every day. Nate McDonald, Inspection Team Lead and Performance & Accountability Lead, Empower Automotive, Traverse City, Michigan Thanks to our Partners, NAPA Auto Care and NAPA TRACS Learn more about the benefits of being part of the NAPA family by visiting https://www.napaonline.com/en/auto-care NAPA TRACS will move your shop into the SMS fast lane with on-site training and six days a week of support: http://napatracs.com/ Connect with the Podcast: Download Our Mobile App:https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/app/Website:https://remarkableresults.biz/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/carmcapriottoFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/RemarkableResultsRadioPodcast/LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmcapriotto/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/remarkableresultsradiopodcast/Join Our Virtual Toastmasters Club:https://remarkableresults.biz/toastmastersJoin Our Private Facebook Community:https://www.facebook.com/groups/1734687266778976Join our Insider List:https://remarkableresults.biz/insiderBooks Page:https://remarkableresults.biz/booksOur Classroom Page:https://remarkableresults.biz/classroomEpisode Collections:https://remarkableresults.biz/collectionsBuy Me a Coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/carm The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/ Remarkable Results Radio Podcastwith Carm Capriotto:https://remarkableresults.biz/Automotive Field TheorywithMatt Fanslow:https://mattfanslow.captivate.fm/Business by the NumberswithHunt Demarest: https://huntdemarest.captivate.fm/The Auto Repair Marketing Podcastwith Brian and Kim Walker: https://autorepairmarketing.captivate.fm/The Weekly Blitzwith Chris Cotton: https://chriscotton.captivate.fm/Speak Up! Effective Communicationwith Craig O'Neill: https://craigoneill.captivate.fm

September 18, 2026 ~ Marie Osborne, WJR's Director of Community Affairs and News discusses an F-16 crash nears Traverse City. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

September 18, 2026 ~ Congressional candidate and Army veteran Mike Bouchard discusses the F-16 crash near Traverse City and shares his perspective on the investigation and broader military implications. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Recorded LIVE at the 2026 Live Unreal Retreat in Traverse City, Michigan, Jeff Glover sits down with Austin, Texas real estate agent Sergio Orozco to break down his rapid growth in the real estate business. Sergio has been in the industry for just four years. In 2025, he sold 59 homes totaling $18.6 million in volume. In 2026, he's already reached 48 units and $15.3 million in volume—and he's set his sights on selling more than 100 homes this year. So how did he get there? In this interview, Sergio shares how he came up with his 100-home goal, what his first two years in real estate looked like, and the changes he made with his Glover U coach Amanda that helped take his business to the next level. Jeff and Sergio also dive into: • How Sergio generates leads and where his business comes from • Why social media has become his primary source of business • How often he creates content—and what types of content he posts • The types of clients and opportunities that come from his social media • His process for consistently creating and publishing content • How he gets clients to collaborate with him on social media • What real estate agents should be doing MORE of on social media • How he provides value to his database • The role coaching has played in his growth • Sergio's advice for agents who are on the fence about getting a real estate coach If you're a real estate agent looking to generate more leads, grow your database, improve your social media strategy, or take your production to the next level, this conversation is packed with practical ideas you can put into action. Watch, listen, and take notes from Sergio Orozco's approach to building a 100+ home real estate business.

The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast is going to cover Midwestern skiing whether you like it or not. Don't worry, Colorad-Bro, it's your turn tomorrow.Welcome to the Storm's short-form, news-focused podcast. Don't worry, I will still write newsletters too. To browse a (robot-generated) podcast transcript, click the “transcript” button above - click on any block of text and the audio will jump to that point in the conversation. Paid subscribers can leave a comment in the article below, or by joining The Storm's chat (also below). I'll respond to some comments in the next episode, which is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 15.The Zoom transcript (click “transcript” above for the Substack transcript, which will zoom to any point in the video when you click on the associated text block; timestamps below DO NOT MATCH THE VIDEO)Stuart Winchester: Welcome to the Storm! I'm your host, Stuart Winchester. It is Monday, September 14th, 2026. Welcome to week two of the New Look Storm Skiing Podcast. If you missed last week, I am still doing the longer form pod.00:15:53.000 --> 00:16:08.000Stuart Winchester: But I'm cutting way back on the frequency of those. Instead, I am doing a shorter, news-focused pod that I release more often, and whenever possible, that I release the same day that I record it.00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:11.000Stuart Winchester: And the reason that I'm doing that is because…00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:19.000Stuart Winchester: the world has changed a lot since 2019, when I launched the Storm Skiing podcast, and when I launched it, there really wasn't anything quite like…00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:26.000Stuart Winchester: what I was doing with the long-form audio stories of a ski area's background.00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:29.000Stuart Winchester: I've done a couple hundred episodes at this point.00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:31.000Stuart Winchester: I feel like…00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:47.000Stuart Winchester: They're evergreen. But what they don't allow me to do is to really talk about what's happening in a ski area right now. Uh Especially when there's a lot of things happening and there's a lot of pieces and parts shuffling around as there is right now in the Midwest.00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:51.000Stuart Winchester: with multi-mountain passes. So, what I'm doing…00:16:51.000 --> 00:17:06.000Stuart Winchester: is I'm trying out a little bit of a new format today. The format… we're gonna experiment, we're gonna play around with it. Sometimes there'll be a guest off the top, sometimes I'll have a take off the top, uh, sometimes I'll have a guest on for a longer period, and that's gonna be the case today.00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:22.000Stuart Winchester: Because right now there is so much happening in the Midwest with multi mountain passes and different mountains leaving and joining is completely changing the landscape there. So I want to bring in someone to talk to us at length about that. We'll do a couple other fun things as well.00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:24.000Stuart Winchester: Let's bring…00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:27.000Stuart Winchester: I'm in now.00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:35.000Stuart Winchester: And there he is. Can you hear me, Matthew?00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:34.000Matthew Zabransky: Hey, how's it going, Stuart?00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:36.000Matthew Zabransky: I can.00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:41.000Stuart Winchester: Oh, I can't hear you. All right. This is a flub, and this is why I haven't heard her.00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:41.000Matthew Zabransky: Thank you.00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:45.000Stuart Winchester: Because I am not that smart.00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:49.000Stuart Winchester: Okay, you there?00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:50.000Matthew Zabransky: Can you hear me?00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:52.000Stuart Winchester: Oh, yes, I can. Look at that.00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:54.000Matthew Zabransky: Okay, perfect.00:17:52.000 --> 00:18:07.000Stuart Winchester: The technology known as headphones. Matthew, this is why you're the production guy, and I generally stick to writing, because I'm an idiot. Alright, I want to introduce today the founder of MidwestSkiers.com.00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:13.000Stuart Winchester: He founded that in 2018, and in 2020, founded MWS Productions.00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:29.000Stuart Winchester: He is making all the Midwest content that I was dying for in the 1990s when I was a teenager living and skiing in Michigan, and the ski mags would completely ignore the region and maybe mention Boyne Mountain or Luton once per year, but he makes.00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:20.000Matthew Zabransky: Okay.00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:38.000Stuart Winchester: Top quality content. I link to it all the time in my stuff because no one else quite does it, as well as Matthew Zabranski. Matthew, welcome to The Storm. How you doing today?00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:56.000Matthew Zabransky: I am doing fantastic. Stuart, thank you, first of all, for the opportunity, but more importantly, for also repping the Midwest. I think it's such an important, obviously, region, and you have ties to it, I obviously have ties to it as well, so it's great that we're getting recognition, not only, obviously, in our region now, but on the national, even international scale, so…00:18:56.000 --> 00:19:00.000Matthew Zabransky: Thank you so much for doing that. I appreciate it. I'm excited to be here.00:18:59.000 --> 00:19:08.000Stuart Winchester: Yeah, I love covering the Midwest, Matthew, and I still make it a point to go back and take a Midwest trip every year, because there's…00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:01.000Matthew Zabransky: Thank you.00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:27.000Stuart Winchester: when I'm doing this podcast, there's nothing quite like making relationships, like showing up at, you know, a 200 vertical foothill in the boondocks in Minnesota. People are like, okay, I'll talk to this guy, even though, you know, I've never heard of him. So, but you are 100% Midwest-focused. I cover it where I can and whenever I can.00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:21.000Matthew Zabransky: Mm-hmm.00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:26.000Matthew Zabransky: Yeah.00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:37.000Stuart Winchester: There is so much happening in the Midwest that we could talk about. I really want to focus today on multi-mountain passes. So…00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:34.000Matthew Zabransky: Okay.00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:37.000Matthew Zabransky: Mm-hmm.00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:53.000Stuart Winchester: I'll start by, I'll just set this up and then I'll, and then I'll, I'll let you comment on it. So if you go back about 10 years, there was nothing in the Midwest on multi mountain passes. You know, Vale had started to add a few things to Epic Pass and B Brighton and Afton Alps and Wilmot and such.00:19:53.000 --> 00:20:03.000Stuart Winchester: But the real inflection point came in 2019, when IndiePass came along. 2018, Icon added a couple things. So, right now, I'll give you some stats.00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:09.000Stuart Winchester: Of the 124 ski areas that I have inventoried in the Midwest, that you might have a different count.00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:10.000Matthew Zabransky: Yeah.00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:15.000Stuart Winchester: They're 117 of those are public. 89 of those are public with aerial lifts.00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:28.000Stuart Winchester: 58 of those, although there's a couple that are just surface toes only, so 58 ski areas in the Midwest are now on a national multi-mountain ski pass. 10 on Epic.00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:32.000Stuart Winchester: 11 on Icon, 37 for Indy. So, so to start out with, Matthew.00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:34.000Stuart Winchester: How has…00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:47.000Stuart Winchester: the acceptance of the Midwest by multi-mountain national passes change the calculus for skiers as they're planning out their winter in the Midwest, compared to what it was for most of history up until just a few years ago?00:20:47.000 --> 00:21:02.000Matthew Zabransky: Yeah, it's changed dramatically. It's even going back a little bit further. I think the first initial, if you look at the statistics and you obviously know all this offhand, but back when you go back to Vail's acquisition of Wilmont, Afton.00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:19.000Matthew Zabransky: Brighton back in like 2012. I mean, that's really what started to to kick off this like idea of like. Maybe the Midwest has some legs in it, as far as like developing skiers, and then, you know, bringing them into a pass portfolio that could bring them out west. So that was the very early set, you know, early iteration of this. And then, obviously, as we went along, there wasn't.00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:37.000Matthew Zabransky: too many options outside of just the epic pass. But then, like you mentioned, Indie Pass came in, and I knew, and it's you know, as we dive into this, I do want to do a little disclosure here, and like Indie Pass was my very 1st client from a production side of things. So Doug and I, because I I saw the opportunity like there was an absolute gold mine here. I'm like.00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:32.000Stuart Winchester: Mmhm.00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:33.000Stuart Winchester: Mmhm.00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:55.000Matthew Zabransky: Because I got to travel around, that's why I started MidwestGears.com, because we were… we were traveling for my wife's job all over the Midwest, and every time we'd go to a new city, Columbus, Akron, I'd be a pass holder at one of these little ski areas, and I'd be like, holy crap, there's a lot of them here, no one's talking about them.00:21:55.000 --> 00:22:15.000Matthew Zabransky: But you know, once you start to realize there was this many, then you're then you're starting to think, okay, like, why isn't somebody coming in here and starting to develop a past that could actually stand on its own. And that's what we've seen the last, I would say, 5 to 10 years. Specifically, we've seen more people traveling around in the Midwest. You'll catch people at any stereo across the Midwest. That's not their home hill, and that's not how it used.00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:27.000Matthew Zabransky: you go ski or one little local place for the most part, you might do your weekend trip up to Boyne or something, but you would never catch people going to some of these really small places, you know, outside of just the local crew there, so it's been really cool to watch people.00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:45.000Matthew Zabransky: travel and discover, more importantly, the different areas, uh, throughout the Midwest. I think a lot of that had to do with IndyPass's push in the Midwest, because, as we're gonna talk about here in a second, it was an absolute auto-buy. Like, there was not even a question about it. From the day it started, when it was, you know, what was that, $99?00:22:45.000 --> 00:23:02.000Matthew Zabransky: up until even just the last year. It was like you almost just were gonna if you lived in the Midwest, and you like skiing, and you don't. You know you like traveling around checking out new things. There was no reason not to buy it. You'd be silly, basically not to, just because how much saturation there was in the Midwest, which I think is going to lead us into our next conversation a little bit here.00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:04.000Stuart Winchester: Yeah, so, so the…00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:15.000Stuart Winchester: Just being on the ground, before we get to the shuffling around, you know, I'd imagine you're pretty connected with a lot of pretty hardcore skiers, pretty frequent skiers.00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:13.000Matthew Zabransky: Yeah.00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:17.000Stuart Winchester: How much has…00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:24.000Stuart Winchester: that a… a season… a multi-mountain pass becomes something that the person in the Midwest just…00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:40.000Stuart Winchester: considers or, or automatically buys it as compared to several years ago where you might buy your local season pass, but, but you, you probably, like you said, you wouldn't go around. And when I lived in the Midwest, actually, I always appreciated how close the areas were, so I would just kind of bounce around a lot for.00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:36.000Matthew Zabransky: Mm-hmm.00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:46.000Stuart Winchester: for deal days or whatever, back when those were still a thing. But how automatic has it become?00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:42.000Matthew Zabransky: Yeah.00:23:46.000 --> 00:24:01.000Matthew Zabransky: Very. I mean, there's people that have been buying the IndyPass specifically now. Up until this season, it was like they were probably on their fifth year of doing it and just continue to. And to be honest, there wasn't any reason not to because the pricing has stayed relatively affordable.00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:17.000Matthew Zabransky: they keep they kept strengthening their pro, their their product. I mean, like they just kept adding more ski areas in the Midwest. And so in in a lot of times the pass would pay itself off within a couple of visits based off of some of the redemption rates that you'd be getting at some somewhere like Lutz and Snow River.00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:34.000Matthew Zabransky: um, those are all, like, you know, $100 tickets, so you buy… you go there once or twice, you get two days of each of them, and basically that's already done. So if you already had one of those trips kind of on there, and if you lived in Chicago, you're going to Granite Peak usually once or twice a year. If you lived in Minnesota, you're going to Lutz.00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:52.000Matthew Zabransky: So it almost became this thing. And then you shuffle in like nubs, knob, and all that. So it it very much was like, yeah, we're gonna buy it every single year, you know, we might not. And some people are hardcore and going to all the places they could. And some people were just, you know. Hey? I'm gonna buy it because I'm gonna go for a weekend, so I might as well. And then I have this option of going some other places.00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:47.000Stuart Winchester: Mmhm.00:24:52.000 --> 00:25:03.000Matthew Zabransky: it was huge. I mean, I don't… of course, I don't have any of the IndyPass numbers, but I would… I would venture to say that the Midwest had to be a very big portion of their portfolio from the sales and redemption standpoint.00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:20.000Stuart Winchester: So the traditional numbers that Indy has given me, and it's been a couple years since Doug Fish provided these round numbers to me, but he told me about half of their sales came in New England, and 25% came in the Midwest, which is a really big number for a national pass. So you figured the other quarter were coming from somewhere else.00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:05.000Matthew Zabransky: Thank you.00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:16.000Matthew Zabransky: Cool.00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:19.000Matthew Zabransky: For… yeah.00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:25.000Stuart Winchester: I always give Doug Fish credit, because he's a Pacific Northwest guy, and…00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:40.000Stuart Winchester: Western skiers just love to hate on the Midwest. Everyone loves to hate on the Midwest. It's like the national pastime. It's like the safe thing to make fun of, and you know, I hope you take that personally, because I always do, and I really appreciated that Doug.00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:32.000Matthew Zabransky: Is…00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:38.000Matthew Zabransky: I do.00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:55.000Stuart Winchester: Included the Midwest from the start. That first year in 2019, he had Little Switz, he had Crystal, he had Cabre Fay, he had a bunch of other ski areas. Really got big in 2020 when he added Lutzen and Granite Peak. Now, I always say his insight was…00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:45.000Matthew Zabransky: Yeah.00:25:55.000 --> 00:26:02.000Stuart Winchester: that Doug's great insight with the IndyPass was realizing there was value in the mountains that are not.00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:08.000Stuart Winchester: super destinations when you put them all together for skiers across the country. He also…00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:07.000Matthew Zabransky: Mm-hmm.00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:23.000Stuart Winchester: the fact that he extended that to the Midwest is huge, because, yes, I… so, before Icon started adding in into the Midwest, which we'll talk about in a minute, I would always say, Indy Pass is the pass to go to in the Midwest, no one else has anything, and everyone would always say, oh, wait, Epic has 10 mountains. I was like.00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:16.000Matthew Zabransky: Thank you.00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:18.000Matthew Zabransky: Okay.00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:34.000Stuart Winchester: But the Midwest is gigantic. Unless you live in Ohio, they're very spread out, and they're near cities, and there are actually mountains in the Midwest that are more…00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:44.000Stuart Winchester: of, of what you would consider, like, regional destinations. And that, that's your Boyne, Nubs, Lutsen, uh, even, even Spira with the bigger, uh, all the stuff over in the UP.00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:38.000Matthew Zabransky: Yeah.00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:57.000Stuart Winchester: So Indy really collected them all together, and it was almost too good to be true, because they had over 40 ski areas in the Midwest. Talk about Indy at its peak.00:26:57.000 --> 00:27:02.000Stuart Winchester: And how great of a pass that was for the Midwest here.00:26:58.000 --> 00:26:59.000Matthew Zabransky: Okay.00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:17.000Matthew Zabransky: It was too great. We're going to get into this, I'm sure, but I think that's part of the reason for the course correction. There was a moment two or three years ago when I literally turned to Nick, my associate who edits for me and stuff, and I said, with some of the additions they announced at that time, I said.00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:06.000Stuart Winchester: Mmhm.00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:33.000Matthew Zabransky: this is too saturated like it's got to fix itself at some point like it's just. It's too good of a value, and like for skiers, we like anybody that was buying the passes like this is amazing. It makes it like again. It's an auto buy like, why wouldn't you do this? But I knew that this time was going to come at some point. But I'm you know, at least we got to.00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:20.000Stuart Winchester: Yeah.00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:50.000Matthew Zabransky: to see what it like. The peak of that was for a little while. We got a couple of years. We've got to be happy for that, to be honest. We're starting to see some of those what I'll call course corrections now and and we're going to continue to see this. I mean, you know that every every year it's going to be something new. Someone's changing. It's just kind of the nature of the business. But.00:27:50.000 --> 00:28:02.000Matthew Zabransky: it was not a shock to me when, um, when these changes were announced, uh, both in the spring and then more recently in the last few weeks and stuff, so it wasn't… I kind of saw it coming, it was just a matter of, like, when was it gonna happen.00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:14.000Stuart Winchester: So everyone left… they seemed as though… Epic and Icon seemed like they were just leaving the Midwest to Indy, to take. And I've always thought that Icon's original sin was when they killed the Max Pass.00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:08.000Matthew Zabransky: Yeah.00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:15.000Matthew Zabransky: Mm-hmm.00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:30.000Stuart Winchester: And launched the Icon Pass. They brought all the Powder Mountains, all the Boyne Mountains, uh, all the Intra West Mountains, but they didn't bring Granite Peak and Lutzen, which are the biggest ski areas or most modern, however, whatever metric you want to use in Minnesota and, and Wisconsin.00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:27.000Matthew Zabransky: Yep.00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:31.000Stuart Winchester: So…00:28:31.000 --> 00:28:46.000Stuart Winchester: for a long time, Indy just built up this huge coalition. Started to see some cracks last year. Icon had just two mountains, Boyne Mountain and Boyne Highlands, and honestly, and Boyne has never affirmed this to me, but my hunch is, Boyne said, include our mountains or you don't get Big Sky.00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:40.000Matthew Zabransky: Yep.00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:48.000Matthew Zabransky: Yeah, yeah.00:28:46.000 --> 00:29:01.000Stuart Winchester: So, so, Icon was like, okay, I guess we'll add these stupid little things. Uh, which is not my opinion of them, but I think that's probably what they thought from Colorado, which is why they dropped Lutzen and Granite Peak. So, last year, we started to see the first crack in Indy's armor.00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:55.000Matthew Zabransky: I was like, don't do that.00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:02.000Matthew Zabransky: Mm.00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:12.000Stuart Winchester: when the Icon Pass… they call them bonus mountains, I call them two-day mountains, because that's what they are. If you have an Icon Pass, you get two days of these mountains. Uh, Buck Hill, Minnesota.00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:07.000Matthew Zabransky: Yeah.00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:27.000Stuart Winchester: Uh joined the icon pass as a two day mountain, which for the listeners, that's no, you get no base pass access, you only get full icon access and there are holiday blackouts. So that's what the two day tier is. They added Buck Hill. Uh Indy said, no, you're not allowed to do that. Remove Buck Hill.00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:30.000Stuart Winchester: Uh, which is a great little, uh, you know.00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:34.000Stuart Winchester: kind of trainer hill outside of the Twin Cities.00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:40.000Stuart Winchester: And every square inch is used with very maximum effect. So Indy removed them.00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:53.000Stuart Winchester: Buck Hill has been on Icon, and that was sort of the first… when you first saw that, did you think, okay, here we go, Icon is finally starting to realize the value of the Midwest, and if not, what was the moment that you did think that they got it?00:29:53.000 --> 00:30:09.000Matthew Zabransky: I would, you know, the whole time I've been shaking my head a little bit because it's just ironic to me that Boeing, Boeing, one of the biggest companies in, you know, that started in the Midwest, that literally has its roots here. And I'm just shocked that Icon hasn't.00:30:09.000 --> 00:30:26.000Matthew Zabransky: made this push earlier, and it took this long. But that was like the 1st that was the 1st like mention of that. And the other connection that was really kind of just crazy to me is, there's so many people from the twin cities that go to Big Sky like a lot like you talk to people all over the place. They have cabins up there. They.00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:24.000Stuart Winchester: Yeah, so. Yeah.00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:27.000Stuart Winchester: Mmhm.00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:42.000Matthew Zabransky: They're traveling there all the time. It's a huge destination for specifically for Minnesota, it seems. So I was always thinking, man, like if they were just to strengthen this pass a little bit in the Midwest, give somebody a reason to, to jump on to the icon pass. They're probably going out to Big Sky anyway.00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:57.000Matthew Zabransky: now all of a sudden, you give them another reason to buy the full pass, you got some… some more local hills, some day… like, weekend trips, you can go up to Lutzen, things like that, and I think that's when… when Lutzen and those guys came on, that was, like, full-blown, that's gonna… that changes everything. Like, everything.00:30:57.000 --> 00:31:14.000Matthew Zabransky: As you know, the lake, Lake Michigan, is a huge divider for the eastern and the western side of what I'll call the Midwest. Basically, if you're on the eastern side of the lake, you're kind of going to stick to mostly your lower peninsula, maybe go up to the UP occasionally. But if you're on the western side over here, in the Minneapolis.00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:31.000Matthew Zabransky: Um, there was really no offerings for Icon, so it really made no sense at that point to buy an Icon Pass. You know, maybe Chicago, you drive up to Boeing, but you're kind of on that cusp there, where it's like, mmm… but I think once they strengthened it this past year, now it's like… it's a fair fight, in my opinion. Now we're.00:31:31.000 --> 00:31:46.000Matthew Zabransky: You know, which one is gonna make more sense for you, or your situation, which it was not, it didn't used to be that way, it just, there was never an opportunity for most people that were on this side of the lake, or in Minneapolis. Sometimes it didn't make sense, unless you're going out to, you know, Big Sky for a week and a half, it, you know.00:31:47.000 --> 00:31:50.000Stuart Winchester: Yeah, so just a little background for the listeners.00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:49.000Matthew Zabransky: Mm.00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:52.000Stuart Winchester: Boyne Mountain and and.00:31:52.000 --> 00:32:08.000Stuart Winchester: what they call the Highlands at Harbor Springs. I'll call it Boyne Highlands because no one knows what I'm talking about when I say the Highlands. So Boyne and Boyne Highlands are two of the nicer ski areas, more built up ski areas in Michigan, and they were long on Icon. Uh, Lutzen and Granite Peak.00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:58.000Matthew Zabransky: Yeah, this…00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:07.000Matthew Zabransky: Yeah.00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:14.000Stuart Winchester: that, uh, Midwest Family Ski Resorts, which owns Lutzen and Granite Peak, bought, immediately took.00:32:14.000 --> 00:32:25.000Stuart Winchester: four old riblet lifts, put in a high-speed six-pack, the first one in the UP. So, those three ski areas had been indie anchors in the Midwest for years.00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:24.000Matthew Zabransky: Okay.00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:30.000Stuart Winchester: This year, for 2026-27 winter, they're going as 5-7 day…00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:42.000Stuart Winchester: mountains each on Icon and Icon Base, and so they are leaving the Indy Pass as a result of that. Now, Icon has also added some more two-day mountains. I'm gonna put those to the side for a second.00:32:40.000 --> 00:32:42.000Matthew Zabransky: Yeah.00:32:42.000 --> 00:32:50.000Stuart Winchester: How big of a loss was Lutsen and Granite Peak and Snow River for Indy Pass in the Midwest?00:32:51.000 --> 00:33:06.000Matthew Zabransky: It's it's an easy question. I mean the answer just like, go look at the comments on the thread when it was announced, and you could just read how an impactful it was. And I think that was my argument when people started talking about like, Oh, they're you know, hey? Like they're leaving. They're leaving us in the dust, and we we don't like them anymore.00:33:07.000 --> 00:33:29.000Matthew Zabransky: It's probably justified. If you guys are this upset about them leaving, it means they probably had a little more leverage than they should have in that past portfolio. And I think it to that. And again, I don't know that it needs, like, a passion never be so strong, in my opinion. And I'm talking about the business side of things. You're not talking about the skier. Trust me, if I was, like, just skiing Matthew, put my skiing thing on, I'd be like, yeah, absolutely.00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:12.000Stuart Winchester: Yeah.00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:25.000Stuart Winchester: Yeah.00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:28.000Stuart Winchester: Yeah.00:33:29.000 --> 00:33:49.000Matthew Zabransky: Uh, but from the business side, as an area owner, operator, you gotta look at it, like, what kind of value are we getting back out of this pass? Are we the ones carrying your product? Like, that's the other thing to think about, too, right? We don't… you don't always necessarily want to be the top dog in the pass lineup. Sometimes it works well, sometimes it doesn't. Uh, and in this case, I think that they…00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:56.000Matthew Zabransky: they were carrying that pass line up, and I think nothing speaks more to the volumes of how upset people were when they came off of the pass.00:33:56.000 --> 00:34:00.000Stuart Winchester: So we're… I've kind of looked at this as it's…00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:12.000Stuart Winchester: sucks for Indy, it's probably good for the consumer in the long run, because, like you said, you never want too much market concentration, so now you have… you have the Snow Pass coming up, which is… which is Snow Partners in two days…00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:05.000Matthew Zabransky: Yeah.00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:28.000Stuart Winchester: at each mountain. There's none in the Midwest yet, but I suspect there may be at some point. Right now, they're mostly in the Northeast. And then you have Icon. So, before, I think a lot of people in Michigan probably had Icon, because you could use it for the Boynes, but like you said.00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:44.000Stuart Winchester: if you're not from the Midwest, you're probably just thinking it's like a big square, but there's a lake there, and you can't… I mean, you can take a ferry over it, but it takes all day, right? You have to go to Ludington, and it's like a whole thing, right? So really, you have Michigan, the Lower Peninsula, and then you kind.00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:33.000Matthew Zabransky: Yep.00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:58.000Stuart Winchester: Wisconsin. So, you live on the west side of that, I believe, like, around the Minnesota-Wisconsin line. How immediately did you see people say, okay, well, now, yeah, let's consider Icon that maybe never would have before?00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:49.000Matthew Zabransky: Yeah.00:34:59.000 --> 00:35:04.000Matthew Zabransky: I think the original, like, when it first was announced, there was just a lot of, like.00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:17.000Matthew Zabransky: oh man, this sucks. Like, now what? You know, what do we do? Because the initial reaction was like, well, I'm not gonna auto-buy this now, I gotta think about it a little bit more. I'm curious because I haven't… it's still so fresh, to be honest, and I haven't, like.00:35:06.000 --> 00:35:07.000Stuart Winchester: Yeah.00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:12.000Stuart Winchester: Yeah.00:35:17.000 --> 00:35:32.000Matthew Zabransky: but to, like, really figure that question, like, the answer to that question out, but I have… the one thing I have been seeing is a lot more people starting to weigh those options, right? They're starting to look at the passes differently now. Now it's, like, not just, like, we're gonna pick up Indy automatically and, you know, whatever might throw a different pass on there. Now they.00:35:25.000 --> 00:35:26.000Stuart Winchester: Mmhm.00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:49.000Matthew Zabransky: think about, how am I using my pass? Am I going up to Lutzen for a weekend or 2? Does it make sense for me to just get an icon pass? Am I a pass holder at Lutzen, and want to add it on now that that's an option, and maybe do an out west trip, or if you're granted peak. So I'm starting to see more people analyzing.00:35:42.000 --> 00:35:44.000Stuart Winchester: Yeah. Okay.00:35:49.000 --> 00:36:03.000Matthew Zabransky: in an area where they haven't before. So I'll be curious to see this upcoming season will be a really good test to kind of figure out, like, where are those numbers starting to shift a little bit. But, um, from my first reaction is I have a feeling that there's gonna be a pretty big drop in IndyPass sales in the Midwest.00:36:03.000 --> 00:36:20.000Matthew Zabransky: For that reasoning. Um, and then I do think there's gonna be a bit of a spike, um, in, in IconPass sales. I don't think it's gonna obviously affect much on the Michigan side, Lower Peninsula side of things. I think that'll stay pretty stable. But I think this side, for sure, this market, Minneapolis specifically, a little bit of Chicago.00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:25.000Matthew Zabransky: Um, but I would expect to see a pretty good little spike in sales on the IconPass side.00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:35.000Stuart Winchester: So, Lutzen and Granite Peak, I think, huge losses for India. Snow River, less so, just because Powderhorn is right next door, and it's kind of the same size, and it's, you know, gets the same s.00:36:29.000 --> 00:36:30.000Matthew Zabransky: Mm.00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:32.000Matthew Zabransky: Yeah.00:36:35.000 --> 00:36:53.000Stuart Winchester: Continued building by Icon after that announcement, and, and some, and some continued bleeding by Indy. So, so Icon had a Giants Ridge, which is an excellent ski area up in Minnesota. It's, it's kind of in the middle of nowhere, but it's worth it. Uh, Devil's Head, which is a nice, uh, Madison ski area, and then.00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:45.000Matthew Zabransky: Yep.00:36:53.000 --> 00:37:10.000Stuart Winchester: in Michigan left Indy to join the Icon today, so those all joined Icon today. And then Indy also lost Little Switzerland, Nordic Mountain, and Crystal Ridge in Wisconsin. As of now, they are passless. So, you know, those are small ski areas, but they're really important sort of urban.00:37:10.000 --> 00:37:21.000Stuart Winchester: collectors, but do you worry, Matthew, and I'll say, Indy still has 37 ski areas in the Midwest, but do you worry that their coalition is splintering a little bit, starting to fall apart?00:37:16.000 --> 00:37:17.000Matthew Zabransky: Yeah.00:37:21.000 --> 00:37:40.000Matthew Zabransky: Yeah, a little bit. So I'm going to dance around this as carefully as I can because I have connections with all these owners, operators, and I talk to them on a regular basis, so I kind of know more than I probably should. But I'll try to navigate this the best that I can.00:37:35.000 --> 00:37:36.000Stuart Winchester: Yep.00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:56.000Matthew Zabransky: with… when IndyPass started, Doug Fish and the team did a really nice job of making sure that when they signed a ski area on, that they were being very, very intentional about its location, what… who was serving, and then when they would add another person on, a lot of times they would even approach.00:37:56.000 --> 00:38:04.000Matthew Zabransky: some of the nearby ski areas, and be like, hey, we're adding so-and-so, or making sure that those partnerships were all, you know.00:38:04.000 --> 00:38:22.000Matthew Zabransky: You're not too close where you're starting to monopolize business in different ways. I'll talk a little bit more about this in a second. So that was the approach for many, many years. However, I noticed a pretty big change a handful of years ago when it became more about a statistical difference than building those partnerships and.00:38:22.000 --> 00:38:41.000Matthew Zabransky: making those owners feel valued, if that makes sense. So it was like, okay, how can we just continue to pump numbers, get more? And in that process, what happened was a lot of ski areas in a small geographical area. And why has that caused a lot of issues for owners and operators? Is the idea of the IndyPass was, yeah.00:38:41.000 --> 00:38:50.000Matthew Zabransky: to create value with a portfolio of ski areas across the Midwest to rival that of, like, you know, other multi-mountain passes.00:38:50.000 --> 00:39:06.000Matthew Zabransky: Um, but what some of the owners and operators were starting to see was that instead of skiers buying a season pass at their local ski area, what they would do is buy the Indy Pass, ski two days at the ski area that would have been their local ski area, and then.00:39:01.000 --> 00:39:03.000Stuart Winchester: Mmhm.00:39:06.000 --> 00:39:22.000Matthew Zabransky: You know, in some cases, like in the Twin Cities, you have a handful that are within a two hour drive. So then it became this thing of like, oh, we're starting to see RR like personal season passes drop for then people that are using IndiePass redemptions to treat it as if it were basically a season pass.00:39:10.000 --> 00:39:12.000Stuart Winchester: Mmhm.00:39:22.000 --> 00:39:40.000Matthew Zabransky: I'm summarizing a lot there. There's a lot, like, to dive into, like, the details, but I can't, unfortunately, go into too much of that. But I think you can probably get the idea of why that was a little bit frustrating for some, um, owners and operators. So they really had to take a deep dive into some of those numbers and start to look at, like.00:39:24.000 --> 00:39:25.000Stuart Winchester: Yes.00:39:25.000 --> 00:39:26.000Stuart Winchester: Okay.00:39:29.000 --> 00:39:30.000Stuart Winchester: Mm-hmm.00:39:40.000 --> 00:39:50.000Matthew Zabransky: Where are these people coming from? How are the redemptions being used? And then, you know, how is this pass either, you know, net positive or net negative for us? And, you know, I always tell everybody, it's…00:39:50.000 --> 00:40:00.000Matthew Zabransky: the ski business is, you know, Stuart, is just a very, very low margin business, and it is a business. Like, at the end of the day, like, they have to treat it like…00:40:00.000 --> 00:40:22.000Matthew Zabransky: you know, like you gotta find out where you're losing money, or is there opportunity? And that assessment has to happen on a yearly basis. And sometimes when they run it for their business, they might be finding out that this might not be a great option for them. Or maybe it was, and things have changed. And now it's not so. It's an ongoing assessment. And like I was mentioning earlier, this is going to be a game that is going to play out over the next 10 years, probably where people are going to be switching teams all the time. And.00:40:22.000 --> 00:40:28.000Matthew Zabransky: and just get used to it. I mean, this is gonna be the way it is, unfortunately or fortunately, you know.00:40:26.000 --> 00:40:31.000Stuart Winchester: If you're Indy, what's your next move to try to build your coalition back up?00:40:31.000 --> 00:40:49.000Matthew Zabransky: Yeah, I think the biggest thing they need to do is get some sort of anchor on this side of the lake. I mean, you've got Nub's Knob on Lower Peninsula, which is a great offering. I think that that really does anchor that side for sure. Over here, you gotta start eyeing up some areas that would serve as that anchor ski area. I know Whitecap was added.00:40:37.000 --> 00:40:38.000Stuart Winchester: Mmhm.00:40:49.000 --> 00:41:04.000Matthew Zabransky: Um, which is good, but I think, like, you gotta think about, you know, what is that replacement for? You know, what is that replacement for Granite Peak? And it immediately comes to mind, like, a Cascade, right? Or one of those. And we all know, like, it's just gonna be a tough sale for some of these operations, because it's always that, like.00:40:59.000 --> 00:41:00.000Stuart Winchester: Yeah, I think so.00:41:04.000 --> 00:41:09.000Matthew Zabransky: If you're an anchor skier, you've probably got a good operation and a good thing going already, so…00:41:09.000 --> 00:41:29.000Matthew Zabransky: you know, what is the pitch? Why should I join your indie pass? So it's always this give and take a little bit, but, you know, given that we've had a bunch of ski areas now come off of indie, there might be an opportunity to fill that little bit of a void and be kind of that new anchor spot that would then highlight that side of the lake. I don't know. It'll be curious to see kind of how things play out, but.00:41:29.000 --> 00:41:37.000Matthew Zabransky: Um, I think we'll see a little bit of this course correction go on for the next year or two, and then I think maybe we'll see some moves in the future. It's hard to say.00:41:36.000 --> 00:41:43.000Stuart Winchester: That was really good, so I'm gonna extend that question. If you're Icon, what's your next move in the Midwest, and if you're Epic?00:41:45.000 --> 00:42:02.000Matthew Zabransky: If if I'm icon, what I'm circling right now to be quite frank is somewhere in the Chicagoland area. There's an opportunity there, and I don't, you know, of course. What is it? We don't know, but I think if you could add an offering like a full offering to which is a little bit tricky to do. But yeah, like you think of something like.00:42:02.000 --> 00:42:24.000Matthew Zabransky: Cascade, Devil's Head, one of those areas, if you can get it into, like, a full area where you can now grab that Chicago market and have it really well solidified, because right now you're kind of in a, you know, it's about four hours from up to Granite Peak, and then Boeing the other way is something like that, five or something. So you're kind of in that weird dead zone there, so I think there's still a huge opportunity to grab that market, which obviously is a huge market of skiers and s.00:42:13.000 --> 00:42:15.000Stuart Winchester: Mmhm.00:42:18.000 --> 00:42:20.000Stuart Winchester: Yep.00:42:24.000 --> 00:42:30.000Stuart Winchester: Mm-hmm. And if you're Epic, I mean, they have all city stuff, so what do you do if you're Epic?00:42:28.000 --> 00:42:29.000Matthew Zabransky: Yeah.00:42:30.000 --> 00:42:49.000Matthew Zabransky: Yeah, I mean, I think Epic's playing the card that they want. The one thing that I am curious to see with Epic is not necessarily that, it's what's gonna happen with some of these smaller regional ski areas that have kind of been left in the dust a little bit. Paley Peaks is the first one that comes to mind when you start to think about this Snow Creek.00:42:45.000 --> 00:42:46.000Stuart Winchester: Mmhm.00:42:49.000 --> 00:43:06.000Matthew Zabransky: These ones that are just kind of in no man's land a little bit. They kind of got brought in with the Peak Resorts acquisition. I'm not sure that they necessarily wanted some of these ski areas, but they came in as a package deal as part of that. So it's just gonna be kind of interesting to see. They need a lot of reinvestment over the next, you know.00:43:06.000 --> 00:43:23.000Matthew Zabransky: 10 to 15 years, for sure, if not even sooner than that. So it'll be curious to see kind of how they approach those sort of areas in those regions, because some of those are in their own land like there is no ski area relatively close to some of them, or a couple of hours to the nearest ski area. So it'll be curious to see how they leverage that going forward.00:43:23.000 --> 00:43:44.000Stuart Winchester: Yeah, Matthew, I could sink into that one for about two hours and we could have a talk. I'm going to have to bring you back for that one. But for now, let's move on. And some of the folks who may not be familiar with the Midwest, we're going to talk about some of our favorite Midwest ski areas in just a moment. First, I want to tell you that this podcast is brought to you today by Profile Search International.00:43:44.000 --> 00:44:03.000Stuart Winchester: Profile Search is the only talent acquisition firm in the entire world that is 100% focused on the ski industry. They have used their intimate understanding of skiing and related industries, and of available candidates worldwide, to place hundreds of transformational leaders at the best and most progressive ski areas over the past.00:44:03.000 --> 00:44:19.000Stuart Winchester: 30 years. Profile Search has offices in the US and Canada, and they find and negotiate with the right leaders for their team. If you want to reach out to Profile Search, you can find them at profilesearch.com, and you can get their email or phone number there, or send me a note and I will.00:44:19.000 --> 00:44:26.000Stuart Winchester: make that connection for you. That is profilesearch.com. All right, Matthew, I gave you a challenge.00:44:26.000 --> 00:44:43.000Stuart Winchester: Or, or homework or something. I don't know. I'm sure you didn't have to think too hard about this, but we are going to break down our five favorite Midwest ski areas. We each have five. We'll, we'll start with five and, and, uh, and we'll take turns. Now, these are not what we think are the best necessarily because that's a whole different.00:44:43.000 --> 00:44:47.000Stuart Winchester: Conversation and I tried to think about.00:44:47.000 --> 00:44:59.000Stuart Winchester: If you've never skied the Midwest and are only going to ski here once in your life, where would I tell people to go? So, Matthew, I'll start with you. What is your number five favorite Midwest ski area and why?00:44:58.000 --> 00:45:14.000Matthew Zabransky: Yeah. So I'll just just key this up with like, yeah, I agree with you. I went with kind of like I took an approach of uniqueness. There's different things that I enjoy about this years for different reasons, and I'll obviously unpack them as we kind of go through number 5 for me was perfect north slopes.00:45:06.000 --> 00:45:08.000Stuart Winchester: Mm-hmm.00:45:14.000 --> 00:45:15.000Stuart Winchester: Mmhm.00:45:14.000 --> 00:45:32.000Matthew Zabransky: And at its face, you might not think that that's… it's, you know, it's a ski area right outside of, uh, Cincinnati, um, and the southern tip of Indiana down there. And for, you know, for people that have never heard of it, they'd be like, why does this… why is this even on here? Uh, but the moment that you visit there, I think it all becomes very clear. Their throughput.00:45:32.000 --> 00:45:51.000Matthew Zabransky: their snowmaking capacity, their operations. It is a gold standard when we think of how to run a ski area in extremely challenging conditions and environments. Perfect North is the one that comes to mind. The way that they can move people through their rental department is phenomenal. The way that they can have a stable season based off of where they are.00:45:51.000 --> 00:46:08.000Matthew Zabransky: is just absolutely mind blowing. And they've been doing this since day one. So this isn't something that they have. You know they're new to. They've been doing this for many, many, many decades now at this point. So it's it's definitely worth a visit. Their train's really good as well. They have some Olympians that have come out of there just some some good stuff going down at at perfect north slopes.00:46:08.000 --> 00:46:23.000Stuart Winchester: I'm so glad you said Perfect North, because I did not include it on my list, but I think they are one of the best operators in the country. My number 5 is Chestnut, Illinois, and everyone's… you know why, but everyone's gonna say, Illinois? Like, what does it matter with you?00:46:20.000 --> 00:46:23.000Matthew Zabransky: Yeah.00:46:23.000 --> 00:46:29.000Stuart Winchester: It is so unique, because you get up there, and it's about 500 vertical feet.00:46:29.000 --> 00:46:45.000Stuart Winchester: and you ski down to the freaking Mississippi River. It is… there is nothing else like that in American skiing. It is such a gorgeous view, and there's a train that goes by, and, and, and… the lift system is fantastic. Bunch of, you know, really maintained quads.00:46:45.000 --> 00:47:00.000Stuart Winchester: They have bars, which I like, which most Midwest ski areas don't, but they've retrofit them. Their grooming is phenomenal. Terrain's really good, steep and varied, and then one of the best things is on the backside, and the name of this probably is escaping me, it's like the backyard or something.00:46:47.000 --> 00:46:48.000Matthew Zabransky: Yeah. Okay.00:46:58.000 --> 00:47:00.000Matthew Zabransky: Uh, far side.00:47:00.000 --> 00:47:15.000Stuart Winchester: Okay, yeah, so they have a terrain park that could be its own ski area, and it has a lift by itself, and so all the badly behaved teenagers go over there and throw cans around and smoke. Maybe it was just the day I was there.00:47:00.000 --> 00:47:02.000Matthew Zabransky: Yeah.00:47:15.000 --> 00:47:20.000Stuart Winchester: Uh, but, but my number five is Chestnut, Illinois. Uh, number four, Matthew.00:47:20.000 --> 00:47:37.000Matthew Zabransky: This is gonna be. This is gonna be a deep cut here, and I'll give you my reasoning. So I'm a sucker for community rope toe ski places like it. It warms my heart every time every year there's at least one or 2 that I go to every time I show up. It's just the kids are so excited to show me around.00:47:23.000 --> 00:47:25.000Stuart Winchester: Okay.00:47:27.000 --> 00:47:29.000Stuart Winchester: Mm-hmm. Oh, love it.00:47:37.000 --> 00:47:38.000Stuart Winchester: Yeah. Okay.00:47:37.000 --> 00:48:00.000Matthew Zabransky: They're so passionate and it really brings me back to why skiing is important and what it really is about, right? We talk about the steeps and all this fun stuff all the time, but like when you go to these places, there's just to see a kid just in jeans or whatever it may be after school ripping down. It's so fun. So one of my favorite, if not my favorite rope to ski area in the entire Midwest is a place called Hickory Hills. It's in Traverse City.00:47:59.000 --> 00:48:00.000Stuart Winchester: Mmhm.00:48:00.000 --> 00:48:18.000Matthew Zabransky: It's a beautiful setting overlooking the bay, and they have just all ropes and one conveyor, and it's stacked. And it was one of the first ski areas in the Midwest to offer night skiing, which I thought was really, really cool as well. Obviously, not a lot of vertical, maybe 200 feet of vertical, depending on which rope you're going on, but it's one of those places you just show up.00:48:10.000 --> 00:48:12.000Stuart Winchester: Mm-hmm.00:48:18.000 --> 00:48:30.000Matthew Zabransky: And they've reinvested, as recently as 2018, they built a new lodge, new snowmaking, and you just show up there, and you're just like, it brings you back to that, like, oh yeah, this is some good skiing, like, just…00:48:30.000 --> 00:48:37.000Matthew Zabransky: fundamental, good stuff, you see kids ripping around after school, it's like, it's what I think of when I think of, uh, rope tow places.00:48:36.000 --> 00:48:42.000Stuart Winchester: And long live the rope tow. I mean, it is amazing that I think they run five or six there, right?00:48:42.000 --> 00:48:46.000Matthew Zabransky: Yeah, I think they have six total, I believe, yeah.00:48:45.000 --> 00:48:59.000Stuart Winchester: Yeah, I've been there in the summer. I've never skied there. I used to ski at Sugarloaf down the… down the road till that went out of business. My number 4 is one you already mentioned, Matthew. Whitecap, Wisconsin. I just love this crazy ski area. It is…00:48:49.000 --> 00:48:51.000Matthew Zabransky: Yo.00:48:59.000 --> 00:49:04.000Stuart Winchester: I like to be confused when I'm skiing. I like it when a ski area…00:49:04.000 --> 00:49:05.000Matthew Zabransky: Okay.00:49:04.000 --> 00:49:22.000Stuart Winchester: Kind of hides its secrets and has lots of little trails and the trail map doesn't quite match up with the, with what you actually see. And, and there's lifts all over the place and there's little pockets and there's, you can tell that they don't care if you ski in the trees. And, and, and Whitecap is, is one of the most confusing ski areas I've, I've ever been to and I love.00:49:21.000 --> 00:49:23.000Matthew Zabransky: Okay.00:49:22.000 --> 00:49:40.000Stuart Winchester: it's in the great snow pocket off of Lake Superior, gets 200 or more inches of snow average per year, which is a good thing, because they don't have a lot of snowmaking, uh, there. But I really, really love Whitecap, and by the way, we did not share ours before, so we may have some crossover here. So, uh, what's your number 3, Matthew?00:49:38.000 --> 00:49:39.000Matthew Zabransky: Thank you.00:49:40.000 --> 00:49:55.000Matthew Zabransky: Number three, I am going with a ski area that I think people around here would know, but I think people on the other side of the lake would not. And it is going to be Welch Village. Welch Village is an area that just, you look at the numbers, you read the stats, and you're like, this place…00:49:50.000 --> 00:49:51.000Stuart Winchester: Mmm.00:49:55.000 --> 00:50:15.000Matthew Zabransky: cannot be that good. But it really is. It skis so much bigger than the stats suggest. I think it's about 300 feet of vertical. They have like 50 something runs. But I think what Welch Village has that a lot of skiers don't is the amount of terrain variation and stepping that they have is just phenomenal for beginners, and the fact that it's only about 40 minutes from the Twin Cities.00:50:15.000 --> 00:50:31.000Matthew Zabransky: is amazing. So they have basically a run for every progression. If you want super steep, now obviously it's only 300 feet of vertical, so it's gonna be a handful of turns, but they have that. If you want something very, very gently sloped, they got that, and basically everything in between. And it's just one of those areas that is a perfect.00:50:23.000 --> 00:50:24.000Stuart Winchester: Mmhm.00:50:31.000 --> 00:50:41.000Matthew Zabransky: Kind of like just outside the urban reach, right? It's not like in your backyard, but it's close enough where you can easily go for a few hours and just a perfect place to learn how to ski and snowboard.00:50:41.000 --> 00:50:57.000Stuart Winchester: Yeah, I love Welch Village. I was super impressed when I went there a few years ago, and it's not too far from Vail's Afton Alps, so you can do both in a day easily if you want to, but Welch Village, first-rate operation, absolutely one of the best in the Midwest. My number three is a nostalgia play, and I'm gonna say Boyne Mount.00:50:42.000 --> 00:50:44.000Matthew Zabransky: Okay.00:50:57.000 --> 00:51:13.000Stuart Winchester: The reason I love Boyne Mountain is not because of the fast lift, so they were the first six-pack in North America, and, you know, they put in the first eight-pack in the Midwest, and there's a lot of history there. The first chairlift in the world is there. They moved it from Sun Valley.00:51:13.000 --> 00:51:23.000Stuart Winchester: the single chair from Sun Valley back in the… in the 40s, and it's now the Hemlock double chair. But what I love Boyne Mountain is because when I… back in the 90s, when I lived in Michigan.00:51:23.000 --> 00:51:30.000Stuart Winchester: they would stay open into May. And back then, there was no social media, so no one knew about it, so I'd show up, and there would be…00:51:25.000 --> 00:51:26.000Matthew Zabransky: Mm-hmm.00:51:30.000 --> 00:51:47.000Stuart Winchester: not kidding, 10 people skiing, and they would be running that six-pack all day, and they would let it bump up, and just run idiots to light, and it's where I learned how to ski moguls, and I've always just been tremendously fond of Boyne for that reason. So while it is one of the nicest ski areas in the Midwest, just on its own terms.00:51:32.000 --> 00:51:34.000Matthew Zabransky: Thank you.00:51:47.000 --> 00:52:02.000Stuart Winchester: It's also very steep. It's just, I have that feeling of, you know, that memory of skiing in my t-shirt in May in 1996, you know, down the moguls at Boyne Mountain with five other people, and it was just, it's one of my favorite ski memories ever, and the fact that they.00:52:02.000 --> 00:52:13.000Stuart Winchester: empowered that and did that. When they lost money, there's no way they didn't lose money doing that. It just speaks a lot to the spirit that still animates that company, even though it's a bigger company now.00:52:06.000 --> 00:52:07.000Matthew Zabransky: Yeah.00:52:13.000 --> 00:52:16.000Stuart Winchester: Number two for you, Matthew.00:52:16.000 --> 00:52:31.000Matthew Zabransky: We'll get to this, I'm sure, at the end, but it's cool to see some of that going full circle. I don't want to give too much away. We'll get into that in a second. Number two for me is a pick that I think is going to change a lot this year, specifically because of the new lift alignment, and that's Marquette Mountain.00:52:17.000 --> 00:52:19.000Stuart Winchester: Yeah, yeah, yeah.00:52:31.000 --> 00:52:32.000Stuart Winchester: Mmm.00:52:31.000 --> 00:52:50.000Matthew Zabransky: They have phenomenal terrain up there, they get great snow, and the thing that was always just missing was a little bit of polishing around the edges, and I think they're finally getting to that point now with, uh, you know, a lot of snowmaking investments over the last handful of years. This new chair from Dolphin Meyer, uh, triple gonna run up basically the center of the ski area, and I think it's really gonna change the way that this.00:52:50.000 --> 00:53:07.000Matthew Zabransky: Uh, previously, it was divided into kind of two almost separate pods. It kind of had this weird split down the middle. It was kind of hard to navigate. But given that this one's gonna go right up to the center there, you're gonna be able to get full top-to-bottom access a lot more easily, be able to access a lot more of the terrain across the port, the entire, you know, trail map off the front side there.00:52:54.000 --> 00:52:55.000Stuart Winchester: Mmhm.00:53:07.000 --> 00:53:23.000Matthew Zabransky: and I think it's 1 of those that like it. This they have the terrain, and there's not many areas in the Midwest that have the terrain. It's usually the other way where it's like, Yeah, okay, we have. You know the infrastructure. We have the location, but we don't have the steeps, or we don't have the trees, or whatever it may be.00:53:15.000 --> 00:53:16.000Stuart Winchester: Okay.00:53:18.000 --> 00:53:20.000Stuart Winchester: Mmhm.00:53:23.000 --> 00:53:34.000Matthew Zabransky: It's a Marquette, good city up there in the UP, really the only major city in the UP, but they have a good demographic up there. And I think with the changes that they're gonna see this year with the new lift, it's gonna be really fun to watch.00:53:27.000 --> 00:53:28.000Stuart Winchester: Yeah.00:53:34.000 --> 00:53:44.000Stuart Winchester: Not only do they have the terrain, they have the snow. I mean, they're another one of those Lake Superior. They don't get quite as much as up in the Keweenaw or Snow River, but they do get a fair amount.00:53:36.000 --> 00:53:38.000Matthew Zabransky: Yeah, yeah.00:53:44.000 --> 00:53:45.000Matthew Zabransky: They do.00:53:45.000 --> 00:53:54.000Stuart Winchester: So my number two, I'm kind of going chalk on these last two, so you can probably guess what my number one is. My number two is a very obvious one, and that's Lutzen.00:53:54.000 --> 00:53:56.000Matthew Zabransky: Mm-hmm.00:53:54.000 --> 00:54:10.000Stuart Winchester: You know, for, for folks who have never been to Lutzen, it, first of all, it has a gondola. Now, now it's more of a transit lift. It goes more sideways than up and down, but it does have, is it eight or 900 feet of vertical? I think 800 and, or you could ski down to, yeah, of lift served vertical. And the.00:54:00.000 --> 00:54:01.000Matthew Zabransky: Thank you.00:54:05.000 --> 00:54:07.000Matthew Zabransky: It's… yeah.00:54:10.000 --> 00:54:26.000Stuart Winchester: enormous. It's really four separate mountains and it goes in all different directions and they have two six packs and they have that Gandhi, which is fairly new. I think within the last 10 years, they built that to replace their older one. Uh That is one of the best run ski areas in the Midwest. Another one that will stay open into May.00:54:26.000 --> 00:54:42.000Stuart Winchester: when they can. Oh, and speaking of views, I mean, the view off of Moose Mountain of Lake Superior just knock you on your ass. It is so good. I really love Lutzen Mountain, which takes us, Matthew, to your number one ski area in the Midwest.00:54:42.000 --> 00:55:01.000Matthew Zabransky: Man, man, this is one, and it's funny ‘cause I'm working on this video right now, and it's a place that every time I leave this ski area or while I'm at this gear, I just have a smile on my face the entire time. It has nothing flashy, but they do everything right, and that's nub knob. I mean, you go to this place and you just…00:54:42.000 --> 00:54:44.000Stuart Winchester: Favorite ski area.00:54:59.000 --> 00:55:00.000Stuart Winchester: Yeah, thank you.00:55:01.000 --> 00:55:17.000Matthew Zabransky: It's just crazy to me that we were working on this video and my editor, Nick, we got to the end of the video and I mentioned like, “Oh, it doesn't have any high-speed lifts, but it almost feels like it does just because of the way that they're aligned and the way the traffic flows and the way that the runs are cut and everything.00:55:17.000 --> 00:55:34.000Matthew Zabransky: It feels like another one that just, you read the stats and you're like, okay, that sounds decent. But then you get on site and you're just like, this is just a really well run ski area. Snowmaking is always top notch. Grooming is amazing. Lifts spin, they don't stop very often. I mean, everything is just really well polished.00:55:31.000 --> 00:55:33.000Stuart Winchester: Mmhm.00:55:34.000 --> 00:55:45.000Matthew Zabransky: the core skiing experience, and they really nail it, and again, it's one of those, like, every time I come off the hill there, I'm just like, man, that was a great day of skiing, even if, you know, it's raining outside, I feel like.00:55:43.000 --> 00:55:44.000Stuart Winchester: Mmhm.00:55:45.000 --> 00:56:01.000Stuart Winchester: And as a… just to underscore how good of a scary it is, it's right across the street from Boyne Highlands, and it has been, you know, obviously its whole time, but for a scary to succeed, a lot of times, a smaller scary will fail next to a big corporate area, but Nubs has managed to flourish. Matthew, we actually had no crossover, because.00:55:46.000 --> 00:55:47.000Matthew Zabransky: Okay.00:55:49.000 --> 00:55:51.000Matthew Zabransky: Yeah.00:56:01.000 --> 00:56:16.000Stuart Winchester: as you can probably guess, is Mount Bohemia, and I'm sure that's probably why you left it off. Uh, Mount Bohemia, for the folks who are not familiar with it, I wrote an article last year, I called it, Mount Bohemia, the scarier the Midwest deserves, because when Mount Bohemia opened in 2000, it.00:56:02.000 --> 00:56:03.000Matthew Zabransky: Hey.00:56:04.000 --> 00:56:07.000Matthew Zabransky: Yep.00:56:16.000 --> 00:56:31.000Stuart Winchester: And it has 900 feet of vertical. They do not groom. They have no snowmaking. They get 300 inches annually. It's all, almost all, glades. Their glading is some of the best I've ever seen anywhere, because there's a lot of underbrush in Michigan.00:56:20.000 --> 00:56:22.000Matthew Zabransky: Okay.00:56:31.000 --> 00:56:48.000Stuart Winchester: Uh, the place is an absolute riot. Talk about culture. You get on the ground and you're like, oh, what's here? They don't even have a proper base lodge. It's, it's all these yurts and then they have this giant complex of hot tubs for some reason that, that everyone's always in there drinking beer and.00:56:48.000 --> 00:56:55.000Stuart Winchester: And the skiing is just… it's great! It's… it's… there's nothing else like it anywhere in North America, where there's just…00:56:55.000 --> 00:57:12.000Stuart Winchester: that much just free skiing available off of a lift, and Lonnie, the owner, has been on a couple times, and I cannot say enough good things about Nubs Knob, including… and I'll let people do their own research on this, but their season pass is $117, or $99 for… you don't want Fridays and Saturdays, and you get all kinds of reciprocals with it, so…00:57:12.000 --> 00:57:16.000Stuart Winchester: It's not a bad multi-mountain pass on its own. So…00:57:12.000 --> 00:57:14.000Matthew Zabransky: Yeah.00:57:15.000 --> 00:57:30.000Matthew Zabransky: I was so. I was so nervous the 1st so I went to Bohemia last year for the 1st time ever, and I it has been on my list forever, and I keep like I want to hit it right, because I don't want to like. Just go there and not be able to ski everything. And the entire time I've been super fortunate to see a lot of amazing places in in North.00:57:18.000 --> 00:57:20.000Stuart Winchester: Yeah.00:57:24.000 --> 00:57:26.000Stuart Winchester: Yeah, yeah, yeah.00:57:30.000 --> 00:57:49.000Matthew Zabransky: And I was super nervous it was not going to live up to the hype, because I was like, this place is hyped up so much, there is no way that it is going to live up to the hype, and it absolutely did. It's one of the most unique scary areas that you'll ever go to, the operations, the bus system, the hot tub. Nothing makes sense there, but it all does in a weird way. It's an absolute riot.00:57:49.000 --> 00:58:04.000Stuart Winchester: I couldn't have said any better. I always tell people, if you ski one place in the Midwest in your life, make it Mount Bohemia. All right, now, Matthew, what I want you to leave us with today is… I imagine, maybe deliberately, you didn't mention any of these ski areas, but one of the…00:58:04.000 --> 00:58:15.000Stuart Winchester: things that you do an awesome job with every year is covering the race to open in the Midwest. So, so tell us about the race to open. Who's involved?00:58:15.000 --> 00:58:19.000Stuart Winchester: When it generally takes place and how you cover it.00:58:19.000 --> 00:58:35.000Matthew Zabransky: Yeah, so the race to open is a pretty big deal across the Midwest. It was something that before I started this website and YouTube channel, I did not really realize a lot, but the Midwest is always usually fighting for one of the first areas to open in the entire country on occasion. It really just depends on the weather.00:58:35.000 --> 00:58:52.000Matthew Zabransky: But what

This podcast episode is sponsored by Saily. Saily is an ESIM service app created by the security experts behind NordVPN. Instead of paying absurd daily rates to your home carrier or swapping SIM cards on arrival, Saily gives you flexible prepaid data plans in over 200 destinations worldwide. Download Saily from your app store and use our code FROMMER at checkout to get 15% off your first purchase. https://saily.com/frommersThe Traverse City Food & Wine Festival is one of the nation's top culinary events and Pauline Frommer was there in late August. In this episode, she discusses the foodie celebrities—like Andrew Zimmern and Ruth Reichl—who got deep about their pasts and passions at the event. She also talks what she learned and experienced at dinners and demos; and tells about a visit to a historic former mental institution in Traverse City that was both spooky and quite moving.In the course of the broadcast, Pauline also welcomes 4 guests to discuss specific towns in the region, and the ever-expanding Cherry Capital Airport.First up is Trevor Tkach, President and CEO of the Traverse City Tourism, who talks about the city's surprisingly robust arts scene; its increasingly sophisticated restaurants; and how this spot is protected from extreme weather systems by the Great Lakes.Next, Paul Beachnau, Executive Director at Visit Gaylord talked about some of the top surprises in his region, from the largest herds of elk west of the Mississippi, to fab winter skiing, to golf courses created by the best known names in the biz.Amanda Wilkin, Executive Director at Visit Charlevoix, then discussed her town's unusual Mushroom Houses, its appeal to rock hounds, and its prize winning beauty.Finally Kevin Klein, CEO of the Cherry Capital Airport, spoke about why and how his facility is doubling in size, and what it will soon be like to fly into this splendid part of the country. Please note: today's episode is a sponsored podcast.Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world's best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertising.

This Friday's replay is my conversation with Katherine Corden, a fine artist in Traverse City, Michigan, known for her expressive figures and color work, who got here by easing out of a career as a physical therapist rather than leaping. She started her art Instagram the week she graduated PT school, and eight years later, that side project has become a full-time business complete with an Anthropologie partnership, gallery representation, and licensing deals. We talk through what she learned in Emily Jeffords' first-ever mastermind cohort, why she never discounts her original paintings, and how she runs a print business with zero inventory by printing everything to order. Katherine also shares some genuinely pinch-me moments, from her work appearing in an Architectural Digest home feature to her first public mural, plus a book cover licensing deal she was keeping mostly under wraps. Find Katherine at katherinecorden.com and on Instagram @Katherinecorden.art, and check out her Substack, The Art Table. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Last week, we took a crash course on the history of the pasty: a savory pocket of dough filled with beef, potato, and rutabaga. The dish has become distinctly regional food in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Today, we shared the story of one particular recipe that made its way into thousands of homes, and the writer that helped make it happen. Cover image: The emerald ring gifted to writer Kathy Gibbons by the owner of Lehto's Pasties. Photo courtesy of Kathy Gibbons. GUEST: Kathy Gibbons, Traverse City-based writer Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfundSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us Fan MailThe bums return to the rail yard ready to jaw with Episode 0158, where the peak half gets right into golf brands ‘Good Good' and ‘Callaway Golf' and their misogynistic TV spot (unacceptable); Lane Kiffin gets kicked around the rail yard like a soccer ball; the bums rejoice as the NFL mercifully terminate the Pro Bowl tradition (fucking finally); Bob Kraft is a shifty one, and hard to keep up with; prodigal MLB son Rafael Devers returns to Fenway amongst a cloud of currents and futures; btw, do yourself a favor and get a good look at Willie May's MLB legacy — all of it (jaw dropping). The valley half gets neck deck into another infamous double booze review, featuring works from Traverse City, MI in Farm Club's “East Coast Pale Ale” (6.5% ABV) a 4-hop, hazy, New England-style pale ale with nice smacks of tropical, citrusy goodness— followed by a Newport, KY's bourbon from New Riff “8-year-old Bourbon” (50% ABV. 8 years old. Mash bill: 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley), which is putting pressure on the big bourdon dogs; a legit bourbon that should be in your bar, smooth, an evenly balanced baker spiced pleasure to drink; pured one poured out for an absolute legend in Dolly Parton (old whites are on notice); TV sportscasting popularity is a fickle business, and Pat Mcafee is exhibit Fucking A—inexplicable; Eddie's chow report with Chicago's Giant (and their “eggplant dreams”) — song with a hat tip from Crying Tiger (Asian hit), Rocky's Smoked Salmon dip; plans being drafted for The O'Hare Flyer (fingers crossed); Code Name of the Month is “Banjo”; TV bingers need to check Lioness, The Agency and Reacher off the list of must eats.   Get some before it gets too stale, Summer Hours affects production too — thank you for your patience. Recorded on August 28th, 2026 at B.O.M.'s global headquarters, Paddy's Southside Cave, in Chicago, IL.    

What does it really take to grow a real estate business? In this LIVE interview from the 2026 Glover U Live Unreal Retreat in Traverse City, Michigan, Jeff Glover sits down with Ryan Prichard to talk about his journey, his business growth, and the habits and skills that have helped him take his real estate career to the next level. Ryan has been in the real estate industry for 10 years and is based in Holland, Michigan. He previously owned an independent brokerage before merging with Glover Agency in 2024. Ryan has also been part of Glover U coaching since 2021. In 2025, Ryan sold 89 units totaling $29.7 million in volume. As of June 2026, he had already sold 51 units and $17.6 million in volume. So what's behind the growth? Ryan breaks down what he believes has made the biggest difference in his business, what "grind" means to him, and the daily habits that keep him focused. He also shares his morning routine, outbound prospecting strategy, how he approaches online leads, and the ways he continues to improve his real estate skills. Jeff and Ryan also dive into how Ryan adds value to his database, the best methods he's found for converting online leads, what's different about his business today compared to a year ago, and the lessons he's learned throughout his evolution from solo agent to broker-owner, team agent, and eventually team owner within a team. If you're a real estate agent looking to increase production, improve your prospecting, convert more leads, build stronger database relationships, or create more consistency in your business, this conversation is packed with practical takeaways. In this interview: • Ryan's real estate growth from 2025 to 2026 • The habits and mindset behind his success • What "grind" means to Ryan • Ryan's morning routine • His outbound real estate prospecting strategy • How he continues to improve his skills • Adding value to your real estate database • Converting online leads into clients • What's changed in his business over the past year • Lessons from owning an independent brokerage • Going from solo agent to broker-owner to team agent • Becoming a team owner within a team • The impact of Glover U coaching and accountability Whether you're a new real estate agent, experienced REALTOR®, team leader, broker-owner, or looking to take your production to the next level, Ryan's story offers an inside look at what consistent prospecting, skill development, and daily discipline can do for a real estate business. Subscribe to Glover U on YouTube for more real estate coaching, prospecting strategies, interviews with top-producing agents, and actionable tactics to help you build a better real estate business. #RealEstate #RealEstateAgent #RealEstateCoaching #RealEstateProspecting #GloverU #JeffGlover #RealEstateSuccess #OnlineLeads #RealEstateLeads #RealEstateTraining

Meherwan Irani has been sharing wisdom about Indian street food since first appearing on this show in 2019. That would be vada pav's genius, naan's overratedness, and his mom's three-lentil dhansak. Now it's all in his debut cookbook, No. 1 Best Indian Cookbook in the World, alongside the two decades' journey of building Chai Pani, Botiwalla, and Spicewalla. In this episode, Matt catches up with his old friend (and recent India travel companion) about auntie holdbacks, striking a balance between tradition and invention, and what he means about his strong stance on naan. And it's the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt discuss what's interesting them in the world of food including food in the movie “Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma” is really fun. Plus: check out the movie box office podcast, B.O. Boys, from our producer Clayton. Also: Matt returns to Traverse City, Michigan and visits Farm Club. He also drops by Penny in NYC for another amazing meal. Aliza has great rice rolls at Sun Hing Lung in Manhattan's Chinatown (and check out the Chinatown Records live streams), and visits Conwell Coffee Hall in the Financial District. And speaking of coffee, Matt checks out Heist Coffee and its ¼ caffeinated glory. Subscribe: ⁠⁠Apple, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, I am speaking with a couple who decided they didn't want to keep waiting for “someday” to begin traveling. They have been fulltime RVing for five years. Donny Benedict spent his career in furniture retail management, while his wife, Tammy, was a teacher. They started RVing about eight years ago and even lived in their RV for three years while Tammy was still teaching. When she retired, they were finally free to embrace full-time travel and Workamping. Because they retired in their 50s, Workamping offered a way to stretch their budget while seeing parts of the country they had always wanted to explore. They have worked for a large resort in North Carolina's Outer Banks, at a retail position near Traverse City, Mich., and, most recently, at a small, family-owned campground in Maine. Tammy typically works in the office handling reservations and checking in guests. Donny spends more time outside escorting campers to their sites, cleaning facilities, helping with the pool and handling light maintenance. Along the way, they also developed a strategy for finding positions that allow them to explore new places without feeling like they are simply working another full-time job. In this episode, Donny and Tammy explain how they select Workamping jobs, what they look for before accepting a position and why asking plenty of questions during an interview can prevent problems later. The couple offered some practical advice for people who are contemplating Workamping or full-time RVing. First, don't be afraid to ask questions before accepting a Workamping position. Tammy recommends having a list of questions ready so you understand exactly what the employer expects from you and what you can expect in return. The couple also recommends planning carefully and testing the RV lifestyle before making a full-time commitment. Before hitting the road permanently, they parked their RV at a campground close to home and lived in it for a month. They did that to identify potential problems and determine whether they really enjoyed living in an RV. Donny and Tammy also learned not to panic when something goes wrong. RVing inevitably brings unexpected problems, but Tammy said their biggest lesson has been remembering that things will be OK because there is usually a solution. When searching for Workamping jobs, Donny and Tammy start with where they want to go rather than simply looking for available positions. This year, they narrowed their choices to Maine or Colorado, then searched for positions offering the combination they wanted, which was an RV site plus an hourly wage. After leaving Maine, they plan to spend some time exploring New England before heading to Virginia for their first volunteer position with Virginia State Parks. That assignment will also put them close to their grandchildren for a month. To follow Donny and Tammy's adventures, look for @2Benedicts on Facebook and Instagram. You can also visit 2benedicts.com, where you can sign up for their seasonal newsletter featuring updates about their travels along with occasional RVing tips. That's all for this week's show. If you had an interesting summer experience, we'd enjoy hearing all about it and invite you to be a guest on a future episode. You can help other people considering whether the RVing and Workamping lifestyle is worthwhile by sharing what you like or dislike about your experiences. Whether you are a seasoned Workamper or new to RVing, we would enjoy hearing what attracted you to the lifestyle and what remains on your bucket list of places to visit. Go to workampershow.com. You can find a link to schedule an interview near the bottom of the homepage. Thanks for listening! If you like these interviews, please consider leaving a review wherever you download the episodes.

Before we get started, apologies as this episode is about a day behind. My neighborhood was the one in Detroit that was hit by an EF2 tornado, bringing 115 mph winds, downed trees, and damage. Apologies, and we'll talk more about what happened next week. Main show: As it's Labor Day weekend, we thought we'd bring the fun. Devon O'Reilly joins me as we review Ray's Hometown Bar, the retro-inspired, wood-paneled new spot taking over the former Mr. Dips space in Parker's Alley.  Plus, Devon takes us on a tour of his child-free getaway up north, sharing why he prefers the Little Traverse Bay area — including Petoskey and Bay Harbor — over Traverse City, along with a standout meal at Spring & Porter. Then, we debate the definitive boundaries of where "up north" actually begins in Michigan. Finally, Jer did a bit of a staycation with a rare day off at Greenfield Village, getting into what makes its newest additions like the Stand 44 eatery, the Jackson House, and the reconstructed 1860s Detroit Central Market... must-visit add ons to an old favorite.  Support the work on Patreon: https://patreon.com/DailyDetroit Feedback as always - 313-789-3211 or email us, dailydetroit@gmail.com 

Thanks to our Partners: NAPA TRACS, Today's Class, KUKUI, and Pit Crew Loyalty Watch Full Video Episode What does a strong shop culture look like when you're the people living it every day? Bree Wismer, Service Advisor and Frontline Culture Leader, and Trevor Hinds, Operations Manager and Dispatcher at Empower Automotive in Traverse City, Michigan, take us inside the daily habits and communication practices that keep their team aligned, productive, and focused on the customer. Rather than approaching culture from the owner's perspective, Bri and Trevor share what happens on the front lines. They explain how Empower Automotive breaks down the traditional divide between the front counter and the bays, keeps everyone on the "same bus," and creates a workplace where every person understands their role, respects the team around them, and contributes to the same goal. What You'll Learn Why the front counter and specialists must operate as one team.How daily huddles and short training sessions keep the team aligned.Why the 1:00 PM check-in can prevent late-day customer surprises.Why a "no-update" update can be one of the most valuable customer communications.How to respond when customers arrive with AI-generated or parts-store diagnoses.How respect, communication, and accountability create confident professionalism. Building a world-class shop culture doesn't require a massive budget or a complicated organizational overhaul. By committing to these small, consistent actions, you can transform your shop from a high-stress environment into a thriving, unified business that both your team and your customers enjoy. Bree Wismer, Service Advisor, Frontline Culture Leader, Empower Automotive, Traverse City, MI Trevor Hinds, Operations Manager, Dispatcher, Workflow and Culture, Empower Automotive, Traverse City, MI NAPA TRACS will move your shop into the SMS fast lane with onsite training, six days a week of support, and local representation. http://napatracs.com/ Optimize training with Today's Class: In just 5 minutes daily, boost knowledge retention and improve team performance. https://www.todaysclass.com/ Stop juggling multiple marketing tools. KUKUI's integrated platform delivers 4x better website conversions, automated follow-up, and real-time ROI tracking. https://www.kukui.com/ You're probably tired of chasing new customers who never return. Pit Crew Loyalty ends the one-and-done cycle, turning first visits into lasting, reliable revenue at https://www.pitcrewloyalty.com/ Connect with the Podcast: Download and Listen on Our Mobile App: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/app/Visit the Website:https://remarkableresults.biz/Subscribe on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/carmcapriottoFollow on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/RemarkableResultsRadioPodcast/Follow on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmcapriotto/Follow on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/remarkableresultsradiopodcast/Join Our Virtual Toastmasters Club:https://remarkableresults.biz/toastmastersJoin Our Private Facebook Community:https://www.facebook.com/groups/1734687266778976Join our Insider List:https://remarkableresults.biz/insiderAll books mentioned on our podcasts:https://remarkableresults.biz/booksOur Classroom page for personal or team learning:https://remarkableresults.biz/classroomBuy Me a Coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/carmSpecial episode collections:https://remarkableresults.biz/collections The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/ Remarkable Results Radio Podcastwith Carm Capriotto:https://remarkableresults.biz/Automotive Field Theorywith Matt Fanslow https://mattfanslow.captivate.fm/Business by the Numberswith CPA Hunt Demarest: https://huntdemarest.captivate.fm/The Auto Repair Marketing Podcastwith Brian and Kim Walker:

Mickey Graham, Director of Sports and Events with Traverse City Tourism, previews the September 11-2 International Fireworks Championship.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you love fireworks, you'll love this event in Traverse City next weekend.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it take to build a real estate team that consistently produces at a high level? In this live interview from the 2026 Glover U Live Unreal Retreat in Traverse City, Michigan, Jeff Glover sits down with top-producing real estate agent and team leader Johnathan Drisdelle of Fredericton, New Brunswick. With 18 years in the real estate industry and seven consecutive years of selling more than 100 homes, Johnathan has built a proven business focused on lead generation, listings, systems, and team development. In 2025, his team sold 211 units totaling $90 million in sales volume. Johnathan shares an inside look at what drives his success, including his typical day, his lead generation strategy, and the systems that help his team consistently produce at a high level. He also explains why he chose to get involved with Glover U even after already building a successful real estate business, why he makes Glover U a part of his team's development, and why he continues to bring Glover U in to train his agents. In this interview, you'll learn: • What a typical day looks like for a 200+ unit team leader • How Johnathan approaches lead generation and business development • Why successful agents should never stop investing in coaching • How he became highly effective at the real estate listing process • What changed in his listing business after implementing what he learned from Glover U • Why he believes his entire team should be involved in coaching • How ongoing training helps agents improve their skills and performance • Why Johnathan hires Glover U to train and develop his team Whether you're a real estate agent, team leader, broker, or aspiring top producer, this conversation offers practical insight into building a scalable real estate business, generating consistent leads, winning more listings, and developing a high-performing team.

There are trees sitting in woodlots right now, rotting, and others headed for the chipper, and every one of them is releasing methane and losing the carbon it spent decades collecting. Jennifer Flynn built a workforce program around that problem, and the people she trains learn to run a chainsaw, a portable sawmill, and a GIS mapping tool in the same season. In this episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, host Jennifer Alger sits down with Jennifer Flynn, the EcoCorps program director at SEEDS EcoCorps in northwestern lower Michigan and a fellow board member at the Urban Wood Network. Jennifer is an eco psychologist by training, and she runs what she calls a green collar career exploration program for anyone 16 and older, with no upper age cap. Her staff have included high schoolers, career changers coming out of desk jobs, and people referred through the state workforce development agency. The program is modeled on the Civilian Conservation Corps of the New Deal era, which both of her grandfathers served in, back when only young men were allowed. The urban wood work started in 2019, before the Urban Wood Network was even a formal organization, when a city planner brought in speakers and the team was asked to rescue community trees felled for a trail project. That one job turned into a systems change model. Jennifer's organization now convenes agencies across a ten county region to divert organic waste from landfills, while the hands on urban wood recovery stays local to the Traverse City area. You'll hear how the value chain actually works: arborists fell the trees, a portable sawmill operator trains the crew on the mill, and the material goes out to contractors, sign makers, furniture makers, and the National Park Service. In one case her team sold rescued wood to the park service, then came back two or three years later to build the public structures out of the same material they had milled. The full circle piece is what makes this one worth your time. Crews plant and maintain trees, mill the ones that come down to disease or development, then sweep the sawdust into a composting system that produces soil for food pantry gardens. Jennifer is candid about what her region is missing: the nearest kiln operation is an hour and a half away, the major industry operators will not take a log or two at a time, and she would love to see a former staff member open a sawmill and kiln closer to home. She calls that a five year goal. Her most rewarding urban wood memory is a newly hired naturalist who learned to run a portable sawmill on her first day on the job, milling logs that had come down that same week. Chapters: 00:00 What a Green Collar Career Actually Means 05:01 The Wood Rescue That Started It All 11:06 Modeled on a Depression Era Conservation Corps 16:29 Rebuilding the Urban Wood Value Chain 19:48 Who Buys Rescued Wood, and Where It Goes 23:29 A First Day on a Portable Sawmill 27:36 The Missing Links, a Local Sawmill and Kiln The Woodpreneur Podcast brings stories of woodworkers, makers, and entrepreneurs turning their passion for wood into successful businesses - from inspiration to education to actionable advice. Hosted by Steve Larosiliere and Jennifer Alger For blog posts and updates: woodpreneur.com See how we helped woodworkers, furniture-makers, millwork and lumber businesses grow to the next level: woodpreneurnetwork.com Empowering woodpreneurs and building companies to grow and scale: buildergrowth.io Connect with us at: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sawmillsnearme/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/woodpreneurnetwork/ Join Our Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/woodpreneurnetwork Join our newsletter: https://substack.com/@woodpreneurnetwork You can connect to Jennifer at: https://urbanwoodnetwork.org/ https://ecoseeds.org/

This week takes us from blue water to blue water, with stops in the Thumb and Traverse City. First up, we have breaking news with our friends from the National Writer's Series, which if you didn't know, is a year-long book festival that happens both in person, and online. Kendall Kotcher joins us to share which amazing authors will be visiting TC this year, and let's just say that once again, they've got some great ones. Here's a hint for one: he might talk pretty one day. Then we'll discuss taking a fun and informative boat cruise on the Huron Lady in Port Huron with owners Dusty and Kristy Walker. We'll visit our number one pick for Michigan's Best Diner, a fabulous spot located in Anchor Bay and owned by uber-talented Chris Hart. She'll catch us up on what's cooking….and baking….at the M-29 Diner. Finally, a little more coverage from TC, where we recently got to attend the Traverse City Food and Wine Festival. We'll talk with Trevor Tkach about the changing food scene in Michigan's pinkie, and we'll just say it's garnering national attention.Segment 1: Kendall Kotcher, NWSSegment 2: Huron Lady IISegment 3: M-29 DinerSegment 4: Trevor Tkach, Traverse City TourismBehind the Mitten is Michigan's premire travel radio show and podcast.Episode 767Aug. 29-30, 2026

John Gonzalez of Behind the Mitten previews this weekend's show with stops in Traverse City, Port Huron and Anchor Bay. He and co-host Amy Sherman are guests of The Morning Wake Up each Thursday on WILS-AM (1320) in Lansing.Behind the Mitten can be heard Saturdays from 8-9am on 1320 WILS.Our affiliates and air times across the state:Fridays• 8:10 AM — News/Talk/Sports 105.5 FM WPHM (Port Huron)Saturdays• 8:00 AM — WBRN 1460 AM / 107.7 FM / 96.5 FM (Big Rapids)• 8:00 AM — WILS 1320 AM (Lansing)• 10:00 AM — News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM (Benton Harbor)• 12:00 PM — News/Talk 600 and 93.5 WCHT (Escanaba)• 4:00 PM — WIOS “The Bay's Best!” 1480 AM / 106.9 FM (Tawas / East Tawas)• 5:00 PM — WMIC “The Voice of the Thumb” 660 AM / 95.3 FM (Sandusky)Sundays• 6:00 AM — News/Talk 600 and 93.5 WCHT (Escanaba)• 7:00 AM — Black Diamond Broadcasting Stations:  -WCFX — CFX Today's Hits (95.3) — Mt. Pleasant  -WGFN — The Bear (98.1 / 95.3) — Traverse City  -WMRX — Sunny 97.7 — Midland  -WUPS — The Classic Hits Station-UPS (98.5) — Houghton Lake  -WWMK — 106.3 MAC FM — Cheboygan• 1:00 PM — WSGW 790 AM / 100.5 FM (Saginaw)• 6:00 PM — WOOD 1300 AM / 106.9 FM (Grand Rapids)

Send us Fan MailLila Kilby is the Equestrian Director at Balsam Mountain Preserve, a 4,400-acre private residential community in Sylva, North Carolina, set amid the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains. A Greenville, South Carolina native, Lila was bitten by the horse bug at age six on the back of a gentle Tennessee Walker named Sonny, and she never looked back. She earned her B.S. in Animal Science from Clemson University in 2016, then spent that year's show season working for a hunter/jumper veterinarian, traveling to circuits in Chicago, Traverse City, and Tryon.At Balsam Mountain, Lila oversees a growing equestrian program that includes the care of a dozen horses, boarding, lessons, guided trail rides across more than 40 miles of mountain trails, and a full calendar of horse-related community events. She's known for her passion, her warm sense of humor, and her ever-present barn dog and unofficial mascot, Goose.Balsam Mountain Preserve is a private, resort-style residential community set on roughly 4,400 acres high in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Sylva, North Carolina, surrounded by the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains. Built around a philosophy of low-density living and land conservation, the Preserve pairs breathtaking mountain scenery with a close-knit community spirit and a genuine commitment to preserving its natural landscape.Residents enjoy an exceptional range of amenities, including an 18-hole championship mountain golf course, a full equestrian center, dining at The Summit House and The Mine Tavern, and more than 40 miles of well-maintained trails winding through peaks, valleys, and forests. The equestrian program, led by Equestrian Director Lila Kilby, offers boarding, lessons, and guided trail rides, and continues to grow with recently completed facilities that complement the community's original 14-stall barn.With its blend of outdoor adventure, refined amenities, and mild mountain summers, Balsam Mountain Preserve stands out as one of the most desirable communities in the Carolinas for individuals and families seeking a life immersed in nature.theplaidhorse.comThank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us.At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize.Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse  Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here.We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place.Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!

What does it take to build a real estate business that consistently produces at a high level—and then find ways to make it even better? In this episode, Jeff Glover sits down with top-producing real estate team leader Erin Ward, recorded live at the 2025 Glover U Live Unreal Retreat in Traverse City, Michigan. Erin, based in Norfolk, Virginia, has been in the real estate industry for 10 years and has built an impressive track record of production and growth. In 2025, Erin sold 163 units and $71 million in volume. At the time of this interview in June 2026, she was already at 89 units sold and $41 million in volume, putting her on pace to surpass her previous year's results. Erin shares why she decided to go through Glover U programs later in her real estate career and, more importantly, where she saw the biggest changes in her business after implementing what she learned. She and Jeff break down her 2025 production, the strategies she's using to grow in 2026, and why she's putting a greater emphasis on developing her skills. The conversation also dives into pricing objections and objection handling, Erin's top sources of business, generating more client reviews, and how Google reviews are becoming increasingly important as AI and search continue to change the way consumers find real estate agents. Erin also discusses the power of agent-to-agent referrals, how she builds those relationships, and why creating a strong referral network can become such an important source of business for top-producing agents. If you're a real estate agent, team leader, broker, or aspiring top producer looking for proven strategies to increase production, improve sales skills, generate more referrals, and build a stronger real estate business, this episode is packed with actionable insights from someone who is actively doing it at a high level.

Ford dedicates public space for shopping, exhibits at new headquarters What made the Traverse City food festival a hit

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joins POLITICO's Jonathan Martin in Traverse City, Michigan, to discuss the future of the Democratic Party and why he believes Democrats can't simply campaign on a return to the pre-Trump status quo. Buttigieg argues the party needs to "build what's next," weighs in on the Michigan Senate race, reflects on his time in the Biden administration, and shares his vision for institutional reform, AI, economic inequality and the road to 2028. Plus, he gives Jonathan a tour of his adopted hometown—including a stop for Traverse City's famous cherry ice cream. 

In this episode, Jeff Glover sits down with Miami brokerage owner and real estate leader Henry Quintero, recorded LIVE at the 2025 Glover U Live Unreal Retreat in Traverse City, Michigan. With 12 years of experience in real estate and 8 years in a leadership and recruiting role, Henry has built a reputation for attracting, recruiting, and developing top-producing real estate agents. He currently owns a Miami, Florida brokerage with 269 agents, and his team generated an incredible $800 million in sales volume in 2025. Henry shares the strategies and leadership principles behind that growth, including how he recruited 275 agents in his most successful year—with 62 of those agents producing more than $5 million in volume. In this conversation, Henry and Jeff Glover dive into the importance of accountability in real estate, how Henry gets agents excited about accountability, the role coaching has played in his development as a leader, and the lessons he has learned from working with successful agents, teams, and brokerages. Henry also breaks down his strategy for attracting and recruiting top producers, the key characteristics that separate agents who struggle from those who thrive, and the #1 focus area he sees consistently among the most successful real estate teams and brokerages. Whether you're a real estate broker, team leader, brokerage owner, recruiter, or agent looking to build a high-performance business, this interview is packed with actionable insights on recruiting, leadership, accountability, coaching, and growing a successful real estate organization.

Behind the Mitten, Michigan's premier travel radio show and podcastEPISODE 764Aug. 8-9, 2026This episode is all about food, travel and music. That's right up BTM's alley!A big portion of the show is focused on Traverse City Food and Wine, which is back bigger, bolder, and more delicious than ever, with 80 events, a fully functional demonstration kitchen, sold-out chef dinners, and rare up-close moments with some of the biggest names in food.Amy Sherman sits down with Whitney Waara, COO of Traverse City Tourism, to unpack why year two of the festival feels like the real breakthrough. From collaboration dinners with multiple chefs to waterfront tastings, market-basket challenges, and the new Open Space Park kitchen built for real cooking, Whitney shares how Traverse City is turning August 19-23 into a choose-your-own-adventure for food lovers.In addition:John Gonzalez checks in with foodie Chad Lamar of Grand Rapids who is a truck driver by day, but uses his travels to explore some of his favorite destinations all over the country. John interviews Chad while in line at Stubburn BBQ in Grand Rapids.And Amy and Gonzo interview bluegrass musician Mark Lavengood, a.k.a. Huggy Bear, who is the master of ceremonies at the first ever (and SOLD OUT!) Ionia Freak Fair (Aug. 28-29). You will learn more about Mark's musical background, what it's like to be on stage with Billy Strings and Greensky Bluegrass, and his early years, when he played middle school basketball at Comstock Park - with John as his coach. We're not making that up!Follow John and Amy's adventures on their new Substack page. Just go to amyandgonzo.com to learn more.Want more events and things to do in Michigan? Follow the West Michigan Tourist Association, the official partner of Behind the Mitten. Go to WMTA.org.

This episode of Unscaled is all about squeezing in one last summer getaway without expensive flights or a week off. We're heading around the country with family-friendly long-weekend escapes, from Flagstaff and San Diego to Bend, Coeur d'Alene, Wisconsin Dells, Traverse City, the White Mountains and Chattanooga.____________________________________S04 Ep174____________________________________Connect with us on social media: Instagram: @unscaledtravelshowTwitter: @fullmetaltravlrFacebook: @fullmetaltravelerWebsite: ⁠⁠https://www.unscaledtravelshow.com/

Recorded live at the 2026 Glover U Live Unreal Retreat in Traverse City, Michigan, Jeff Glover sits down with real estate top producer and trainer Shawna Joyce, Director of Training at RE/MAX Results. With 11 years of experience in real estate, Shawna shares her journey from becoming involved with Glover U and working with Glover U Coach Jacqui to becoming a leader and trainer responsible for helping agents take their businesses to the next level. Shawna discusses the lessons she learned through coaching, the Happiness Advantage, and how those experiences ultimately helped shape her path into real estate training. She also breaks down how SalesRocket has impacted her own business and how she uses the program to help the agents she trains generate more business and take consistent action. One of the most valuable parts of the conversation is Shawna's unique approach to implementing SalesRocket. She explains how she keeps agents engaged beyond the program, creates accountability, and gets them to actually execute what they learn. And the results speak for themselves — Shawna shares examples of agents who have increased their business by more than 60% and another whose business has grown by 200%. If you're a real estate agent, team leader, broker, or coach looking for proven strategies for real estate lead generation, sales training, accountability, prospecting, and business growth, this conversation is packed with actionable insights.

Episode 211: Traverse City and Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan — Where cherries meet endless sand and sky. Join us for a warm, practical guide to this lakeshore jewel, from farm-to-table meals to wind-swept dune hikes. Highlights include Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, Old Mission Peninsula wineries, and the Traverse City Cherry Festival, giving you a mix of outdoor adventure and seasonal flavor. We share travel tips on timing your visit (late June–July for cherries, fall for color), parking and fees at park overlooks, dune-safety and footwear advice, and the best spots for sunset photos along M-22. Food lovers will savor cherry-forward pastries, local wineries, fresh whitefish and hearty pasties, plus a stop at Cherry Republic for tasting and souvenirs. Landmarks like Empire Bluff Trail and Old Mission Point Lighthouse make perfect day hikes and scenic detours. Whether you're planning a long weekend or a photo-driven road trip, this episode is a friendly roadmap to the tastes, trails, and towns that make northwest Michigan unforgettable. This episode was prepared with the assistance of AI tools, giving us more time to travel and bring you even more destinations. Travel Is Back -- over 200 episodes covering destinations across America and beyond.Some episodes use AI for research, writing assistance, and occasional voiceover when Johnny Mac is unavailable. His point of view, and his insistence on finding the best local taco remains entirely human.

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joins POLITICO's Jonathan Martin in Traverse City, Michigan, to discuss the future of the Democratic Party and why he believes Democrats can't simply campaign on a return to the pre-Trump status quo. Buttigieg argues the party needs to "build what's next," weighs in on the Michigan Senate race, reflects on his time in the Biden administration, and shares his vision for institutional reform, AI, economic inequality and the road to 2028. Plus, he gives Jonathan a tour of his adopted hometown—including a stop for Traverse City's famous cherry ice cream. 

On April 1, 1987, a radio DJ named Steve Cook put a song on the air at WTCM in Traverse City about a creature with the head of a dog and the body of a man that walks the north woods of Michigan and comes back every 7 years.He'd made up every piece of it over a single weekend as an April Fools joke, including the 7-year cycle and the 1887 origin date that people still repeat as history nearly 40 years later.What came back wasn't a laugh. It was a flood of calls from people who wanted to tell him what they'd already seen out there and had never told anybody.This is the latest stop on the backwoods cryptid road trip, and Brian works the documented history first.The 1887 lumberjack account that no newspaper from that year has ever been found to carry. Robert Fortney's 1937 encounter with 5 wild dogs on the Muskegon River, one of which stood up. The cabin door outside Luther that got clawed from top to bottom in 1987 and became the only physical artifact this legend has. And the Gable Film, the 8mm footage that surfaced in 2007, fooled a national television audience for 3 years, and was admitted as a hoax by a Michigan man named Mike Agrusa in 2010.Then the episode belongs to the encounters.A truck driver comes out of a curve on M-55 at 3 a.m. in November 2014 and finds something roughly 7 feet tall standing on the centerline, and it turns its head toward him and then walks off on two legs. Three campers in the Manistee National Forest spend a night in September 2011 listening to something circle their clearing two steps at a time, and in the morning the one who slept through it asks a question nobody wants to answer.Two cousins walking out of a Lake County hunting property in November 2021 realize something is matching their pace 40 yards off the two-track and stopping a beat late every time they stop. And on the morning of November 14, 2017, a retired tool and die man in a Missaukee County ladder stand picks up amber eyes 6 feet off the ground, chambers a round he never fires, and then sits up there another 20 minutes because climbing down feels worse.The buildings are the part Brian didn't expect. A family near Luther listens to something scratch their front door in October 2019, first at waist height and then at eye level, and then hears what comes out of the dark on the north side of the cabin. A farm couple in Osceola County watches one standing at the corner of the machine shed inside the yard light in 2005, tall enough that its head clears an 8-foot gable trim. A nurse alone at her family's camp northwest of Baldwin in November 2013 wakes to a growl 4 feet from her head with one wall in between, calls 911, and waits 40 minutes for a deputy.A county plow driver east of Lake City catches something with his wing blade in February 2012 and finds hair 4 feet up on the steel, and his foreman tells him it was a deer. A gas well operator pulls onto a pad in Antrim County at 2:30 a.m. in 2019 and watches something go over a 6-foot chain link fence with one hand on the top rail.And a deer camp in Kalkaska County comes out at first light in 2008 to find one buck on the ground with the knot still tied and the other one 60 yards back in the pines with the hindquarters gone.Michigan's Bigfoot record gets its own stretch of the episode, from the circus at Sister Lakes in June 1964, when hundreds of armed strangers drove into a rural township to shoot a monster, to the August 1965 roadside incident near Monroe that left 17-year-old Christine Van Acker with a black eye that ran in the papers.Brian also covers a Roscommon County hunter who watched something close to 7 feet tall walk away up a two-track on two legs during the 2016 firearm season, a fisherman standing on the Fox River before 5 a.m. in 1987, and a timber cruiser working a block in Menominee County in 1998 who had a rock come out of the canopy at him and found a track in a skid trail the next morning that he never photographed.Brian lays out what the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has said about all of this for decades, what Steve Cook has said about his own song for almost 40 years, and what two nights of driving the Baldwin and Luther corridor in the dark actually produced. Email BrianJoin Our FREE NewsletterGet Brian's Books Leave Us A VoicemailVisit Our WebsiteHave you experienced a Bigfoot sighting, Sasquatch encounter, Dogman experience, UFO sighting, or any unexplained cryptid or paranormal event deep in the woods? We want to hear your story.Email your encounter to brian@paranormalworldproductions.com for a chance to be featured on a future episode of Backwoods Bigfoot Stories.Backwoods Bigfoot Stories is a paranormal storytelling podcast featuring real Bigfoot encounters, Sasquatch sightings, Dogman reports, cryptid experiences, and true scary stories from the backwoods.Follow the show and turn on automatic downloads so you never miss a chilling encounter from the forest. Listen with the lights off… if you dare.

Where Michigan Is Growing (and Where the Price Data Makes No Sense)Michigan added about 56,000 people since 2020, but 26 of our 83 counties actually lost population over that same stretch. The fastest growing county in the state? Not Oakland. Not Kent. It is Lake County, a place most lifelong Michiganders could not find on a map. Meanwhile, one of Michigan's biggest cities added a grand total of six residents last year.In this episode, I break down the newest U.S. Census Bureau estimates covering 2020 through 2025 and lay my own MLS price data over the top of them, and the results genuinely surprised me. The fastest growing township in Michigan saw home prices go DOWN. All ten of the fastest shrinking communities in the state, every single one in Wayne County, saw home prices go UP, including one that jumped roughly 40 percent in three years.You will hear:Why Kent County and Grand Rapids are leading Michigan in raw population growth, and what that means for buyers competing there. Why northern Michigan is growing at more than double the state's rate while the Traverse City region faces a shortage of roughly 30,000 housing units by 2027. Why Lyon Township, the fastest growing community in the entire state, saw its median price dip while Inkster, the fastest shrinking, posted the strongest price growth in this whole episode. The three variables you have to read together (population, supply, and price tier) before you trust any headline about the Michigan housing market. Plus a real story about a relocating family who almost let a "top ten places to live" list steer them away from exactly what they wanted.Whether you are relocating to Michigan from out of state, moving within Southeast Michigan, or just trying to make sense of conflicting housing headlines, this episode gives you the full picture instead of half the board.Grab my free 74-page Michigan Relocation Guide below. It breaks all of this down county by county, including cost of living, taxes, and communities across the state.CONTACT ME

TC Dance Project's Jennifer McQuiston Lott and Charlie Millard visited Studio A to preview performances on their summer tour in northern Michigan.

July 17, 2026 ~ Whitney Warra, COO of Traverse City Tourism, and Patrick Brys, of Brys Estates Winery, join the show to preview the upcoming Traverse City Food & Wine Fest that takes place Aug. 19-23. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Summer is officially here, and the road ahead is packed with some of the biggest events in pyrotechnics. In this episode, I take a look at the incredible lineup of shows, competitions, and festivals that are lighting up skies across America in the weeks ahead.We'll talk about what's in store at the PGI convention, the International Fireworks Competition in Traverse City, Michigan, Sky Wars, Riverfest in Cincinnati, the Sooner Skyfire Showdown, and the Lone Star Fireworks Festival. From world-class displays and fierce competition to the people, stories, and innovations that make this hobby so special, there's no shortage of excitement on the horizon.Join me as I preview the events we'll be covering on the road, share what I'm looking forward to most, and celebrate the communities that keep the spirit of pyrotechnics alive from coast to coast. Buckle up—it's going to be an unforgettable season.DEALS For Discounted PGI show tickets (not convention registration) use code PYROTALK.pgi.org/tickets10% off of MuuxBRD order using code PT10. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://muuxBRD.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get 10% off Pyro Vault by using the code PYROTALK at signup—⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pyrovaultapp.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LuxeSFX.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out the brand new flame machines!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pyrotool.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PTALKPOD for 10% off!Need MJG Igniters? Get 75% off shipping on orders at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://electricmatch.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!! USE code PYROTALKPODLink to trainings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nrH5553D45VLYJynop0XLVdyWqCVCOtksLROvXnpYGY/edit?usp=sharing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our merch store to pick up a t-shirt, mug, hat, flag, and much more. New items added all the time! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://historybridgeproductions-shop.fourthwall.com/collections/pyro-talk⁠⁠

Michigan Travel Show: Live From The 100th National Cherry Festival in Traverse City! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Click here to donate $5 on Left of Lansing on Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/15494297/joinHere's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for July 3, 2026. Michigan progressive Democratic state Representative Betsy Coffia from the Traverse City region keeps winning elections in a once-safe Republican district because she demonstrates every day how she's backing the working class while fighting back against the rampant corporate and government corruption in Lansing. Progressives, like Betsy Coffia, are winning elections because they stand-up to corruption while sticking-up for strong, progressive working class values. Progressives, like Betsy Coffia, are in the mainstream as they fight to end the revolving door between government and corporate corruption. Those fighting to keep that revolving door spinning are the true extremists. Follow Rep. Coffia on Instagram: www.instagram.com/betsycoffia/Follow Rep. Coffia on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BetsyCoffiaClick here to vote on LOL Weekly Poll: Is Democratic Socialism On the Rise?Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can!leftoflansing@gmail.comLeft of Lansing is now on YouTube as well!Music provided by Wanderbeats. To hear the latest project, visit Space Leopard on various streaming sites, or visit: https://www.youtube.com/@SpaceLeopardClick here to donate $5 on Left of Lansing on Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/15494297/join

Part 2 of Eric Thomas' powerful keynote presentation, recorded live at the 2024 Glover U Live Unreal Retreat in Traverse City, Michigan. In this inspiring continuation, Eric Thomas (ET) shares the traits that separate good from great. Using examples from legends like Michael Jordan and Tom Brady, ET breaks down the three essentials every high performer needs: the tool, the team, and yourself. He dives into the importance of creating value, betting on yourself, and surrounding yourself with the right people. ET also delivers a powerful message on change, explaining why successful people don't fear change—they prepare for it. Whether you're an entrepreneur, leader, sales professional, or someone pursuing personal growth, this keynote is packed with actionable insights to help you reach your next level. In This Episode: • The three things every great performer needs • Lessons from Michael Jordan and Tom Brady • Why value and self-worth matter • The power of betting on yourself • How to prepare for change and future success • Mindset shifts for achieving greatness

Part 1 of Eric Thomas' powerful keynote presentation, recorded live at the 2024 Glover U Live Unreal Retreat in Traverse City, Michigan. Known worldwide as one of the most influential motivational speakers, authors, educators, and pastors, Eric Thomas (ET) delivers an unforgettable message on gratitude, opportunity, personal growth, and execution. Drawing from his own journey through homelessness, growing up without a father, academic struggles, and numerous setbacks, ET shares how adversity can become the foundation for extraordinary success. In this inspiring first installment, Eric challenges the audience to think beyond their current circumstances and imagine what a life beyond their "best life" could truly look like. He discusses the power of gratitude, recognizing opportunities when they appear, and why the people you surround yourself with can dramatically impact your future. ET also reveals a powerful truth about success: people often treat you differently when you consistently execute at a high level. His message is clear—stop waiting, stop making excuses, and start executing. Whether you're an entrepreneur, business owner, leader, sales professional, or someone striving for personal growth, this keynote is packed with practical wisdom and motivation to help you unlock your next level. In This Episode: Eric Thomas' journey from homelessness to global success The connection between gratitude and opportunity Why your environment and relationships matter What a life beyond your best life looks like The importance of execution over excuses How success changes the way others perceive and respond to you Mindset shifts for achieving greatness

Recorded live at the 2022 Live Unreal Retreat in Traverse City, Michigan, this is Part 2 of an exclusive keynote presentation featuring bestselling author and marketing expert Jay Baer. In this session, Jay Baer takes a deeper dive into the power of “Talk Triggers” and explains the five types of Talk Triggers. Drawing from decades of experience consulting major brands like Nike, Salesforce, and Oracle, Jay shares actionable strategies businesses can use to create unforgettable customer experiences that people can't stop talking about. In Part 2, Jay breaks down the 5 types of Talk Triggers: Generosity Speed Usefulness Empathy Attitude He explains how each one works, why they are so effective, and how businesses can implement them to increase referrals, improve customer loyalty, and stand out in crowded markets. Whether you're a real estate agent, entrepreneur, marketer, or business owner, this keynote is packed with practical insights on customer experience, referral marketing, and building a brand people naturally recommend.

Send us Fan MailSpecial Issue: Fr Joe visited St Francis High School in Traverse City, Michigan and took questions from studentsCheck out the JIBM Web site at:  https://www.joeinblackministries.com/To submit comments or questions, please email: joeinblackministries@gmail.comPlease use the following link if you would like to financially support Church of the Holy Family: https://pushpay.com/g/hfgrandblanc?sr…Support the show

What's the secret to growing your business through word of mouth in today's market? In Part 1 of this keynote session from the 2022 Live Unreal Retreat in Traverse City, internationally recognized marketing expert Jay Baer breaks down the proven strategies behind customer experience, referrals, and organic business growth. Jay Baer is a New York Times bestselling author, Hall of Fame keynote speaker, and business growth consultant who has advised more than 700 brands including Nike, Salesforce, and Oracle. In this powerful keynote presentation, Jay explains how businesses can create consistent referral opportunities by building intentional customer experiences that naturally generate conversations. In Part 1, Jay covers: The difference between proactive vs. reactive word of mouth Why most businesses misunderstand referrals and customer advocacy His step-by-step recipe for creating proactive word of mouth How “Talk Triggers” help businesses stand out in crowded markets The 4 requirements every successful Talk Trigger must have Customer experience strategies that drive repeat business and referrals If you want to grow your real estate business, brand, or company through authentic marketing and customer experience, this episode delivers actionable insights you can apply immediately.

We're back for one last episode of Season 11, in which we have been taking a deeper dive into the curriculum as laid out by Charlotte Mason. We have a very important practice to share with you on the podcast today to help you finish your school year well and to get off on the right foot for the one to come. Charlotte Mason, Volume 6 (Amazon) (Living Book Press - use code DELECTABLE for 10% off!) ADE Vol 6, Chapt 10 Reading List Episode 241: Seasonal Reflections Form Level Recap Episodes: Episode 83: Form 1B Recap Episode 84: Form 1A Recap Episode 85: Form 2B Recap Episode 86: Form 2A Recap Episode 87: Form 3 Recap Episode 88: Forms 4-6 Recap Episode 264: The Time-Table Episode 232: Forecasting Short Synopsis Episodes Awaken Living Books Conference July 17-18 in Traverse City, MI ADE Teacher Helps and Training Videos (check back over the summer for new additions!) ADE Patreon ADE Curriculum Cohort (registration for 2027 cohorts start Nov 1, 2026!) Sabbath Mood Homeschool's Nature Explorers Rotation B (available for purchase May 10, 2026!) Sabbath Mood Homeschool's Understanding Biomes (Rotation B available for purchase by the end of August, 2026!) ADE on YouTube  

To mark Earth Day, we asked you to tell us about your favorite places on the planet. You took us to the woods near Traverse City, Michigan, to a lake in Oklahoma, to Long Island Harbor where you spent your summers as a kid.  Basking in a sea breeze and admiring a sunset are basic human pleasures. But how do you take these moments and turn them into meaning? How do you pin those feelings down with words?  Joining Host Flora Lichtman are two poets who make that attempt for their livelihood: Jane Hirshfield, founder of Poets for Science, and Kimberly Blaeser, founding director of Indigenous Nations Poets and former Wisconsin poet laureate. Guests:  Kimberly Blaeser is a poet, founding director of Indigenous Nations Poets, and former Wisconsin Poet Laureate. Jane Hirshfield is a poet, essayist, and translator. She is the author of “Ledger” (Knopf, 2020) and nine other books of poetry. She's based in San Francisco, California. Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.