In this episode, we’re joined by Evan Westervelt, Sales and Marketing Manager at Midland Brewing Company. From a PBR-fueled epiphany at the Sawmill Saloon to homebrewing misadventures in Colorado, Evan shares how he found his way into Michigan’s craft beer scene—and why Midland Brewing has become a hub for innovation, collaboration, and community connection.

We talk about:

* The legacy and rebirth of Midland Brewing, including its roots in the 1930s and its transformation into a full-on beer and food destination

* Creative collabs with breweries like Stiggs and nonprofits like the Four Lakes Task Force (featuring their fundraising “Damn Good Beer”)

* Cross-industry partnerships with Northwood University and the Great Lakes Loons baseball team

* Using innovation and alternative ingredients to adapt to industry shifts

* How beer dinners (including vegan pairings!) are bringing people together one pint at a time

* Why collaboration isn’t just good for business—it’s essential for building a thriving craft beer community

Keep up via midlandbrewing.com, where you can join their newsletter and loyalty club.

This week, we chat with Terris Ahrens, Executive Director of the Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce and frontman of the alt-rock band Sometimes Pretty. Terris shares what it’s like growing up in Michigan—hanging out on the River Raisin, exploring forgotten cement ruins, and camping in hidden corners of the state.

We talk about his journey from video store manager to chamber leader, why he loves Chelsea’s creative energy, and how Sounds & Sights supports both tribute bands and original music. He also reveals his go-to camping spots (shoutout to Sleeper State Park, Negwegon, and the Porcupine Mountains), and serves up a perfect Michigan day: hammocks, hikes, whiskey in Lake Huron, and pan-fried morels. “Lots of bonfire smoke and blue water.”

🎤 In This Episode:

* Terris shares what it’s like to grow up in the woods of Manchester: “We spent all our time in the River Raisin. Fishing, kayaking, tubing—if it was outside, we were doing it.”

* His first live show… ever? “That night at Pleasant Lake Inn. That was the first time I stood in front of a crowd and sang. And Chuck’s right in my face with a camera!” (Historical side note: those were the last photos ever taken inside the PLI before it burned down.)

* On music and why Sometimes Pretty is different from Risky Brenda: “We’re not trying to be everything to everyone anymore. This is the music we’ve wanted to play all along.”

* Why Chelsea’s Sounds & Sights series is different: “We ask bands what they want to be paid—and we pay them. No negotiation. That’s rare.”

* Favorite Michigan camping spots (with just enough detail to not give away the real secret locations): Lake Huron’s Sleeper State Park, Negwegon, and Porcupine Mountains.

* The perfect Michigan meal: grilled brats, mac and cheese, roadside asparagus, and pan-fried morels. “I don’t know if there’s anything I like more than hand-fried morels, man.”

🔗 Links & Mentions:

* Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce

* Sometimes Pretty Band (Current Band)

* Risky Brenda does PLI – Life In Michigan (First Time Terris played)

* Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights

* Manchester Brewing

* Negwegon State Park

* Sleeper State Park

* Porcupine Mountains WildernessJourneyman Distillery

* Scissor Now

In this episode of Life In Michigan, we sit down with Dianna Higgs Stampfler, author of Kalamazoo County Characters, to explore the curious and sometimes downright bizarre history of Kalamazoo County.

Dianna shares her upbringing in Kalamazoo—from back-to-school shopping at the Kalamazoo mall to college days and beyond—and how it inspired her to chronicle the lives of 50 remarkable people who shaped the county’s past. We talk about her father’s legacy as a radio legend (and how he helped the Eagles score their first #1 hit), her meticulous research process, and the strange-but-true stories she uncovered along the way.

We packed a lot into this episode, including:

* The origin story of Kalamazoo County Characters, sparked by a Walgreens book sighting and supercharged by a family brainstorm with her historian dad.

* The unlikely rise of celery as Kalamazoo’s cash crop and Dianna’s family tie to the “Celery King,” George Taylor.

* Fascinating and quirky local legends, like Brownie the Clown, Best of My Love and the Eagles’ Kalamazoo radio breakthrough, and the spine-tingling case of Etta Fairchild.

* Dianna’s tribute to her father, whose story is the emotional heartbeat of the book, and whose belief in a ballad changed music history forever.

Whether you’re a die-hard Michigander or just love a good story, this episode offers a lively and heartfelt look at the people who gave Kalamazoo its character.

🔗 Learn more about Dianna and order an autographed copy of Kalamazoo County Characters at PromoteMichigan.com or follow her on Substack …..