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 …..

Today, I had a chat with a friend from across the pond, Nuno Babo who writes the Needle in a Substack. This probably fits more under our Fans With Bands podcast as we spent a good hour and a half just chatting about music - from metal to progressive rock and lots of stuff in between.

This was a first for us checking out the Substack Live feature. It was great to connect beyond the usual notes and comments.

In this episode, we tap into Michigan’s vibrant cider culture with Paula Englin, Executive Director of the Michigan Cider Association. From Cider Week GR to GLINTCAP and the Michigan Apple Festival, Paula gives us the inside scoop on the events, people, and apples driving the Great Cider State. We talk about cider tourism, cider education (hello, Pommelier certification!), and what makes Michigan apples so perfect for the pour.

Upcoming Michigan Cider Events

* Cider Week Grand Rapids (May)

* GlintCap (May)

* Michigan Apple Festival (September)

* Grand Rapids Wine, Beer & Food Festival (November)

Show Links

* Michigan Cider Association

* Learn about Pommelier Certification

* Volunteer at GLINTCAP

* Michigan Craft Beverage Summit

📖 Want More?

Check out Life In Michigan’s companion article:

Pressed to Impress: Michigan Cider Events

A deep dive into the events and cider stories featured in this episode—complete with fun facts, festival highlights, and quotes from cider lovers like Jerry Morgan.

In this episode, we catch up with two Michigan legends of the vinyl scene — Geoff Walker and Jon Teichman — co-founders of Geoff & Jon’s Record Show. Broadcasting from Marquette, Geoff and Jon share how a single record event at Ore Dock Brewing 12 years ago sparked a beloved multi-day music marketplace that now draws collectors from all over the Midwest.

We talk about the origin of the show, their enduring friendship of nearly five decades, and how community is the heart of everything they do — from their shop, The Emporium Featuring Vintage Vinyl, to their partnerships with Ore Dock Brewing Company, Bay-Con, and the Detroit Book Festival.

You’ll hear wild tales from the record show floor, the power of music as art therapy, their love of Marquette, and what they consider the perfect Michigan day.

Important Links from the show:

* Geoff & Jon’s Record Show on Facebook

* Michigan Records (Geoff’s record store)

* The Emporium - Featuring Vintage Vinyl (Jon’s store in Marquette)

* Ann Arbor Library Record Store Day (4/12/2025)

* Detroit Festival of Books

* Ore Dock Brewing Company

* Bay-Con – May 3, 2025, at Bay College

* Detroit Sound Conservancy

* GIG: The Art of Michigan Music (11/8/2025)

Upcoming Record Show Dates:

* April 12, 2025 at the Ann Arbor District Library (downtown)

* May 3, 2025 Bay-Con at Bay College in Escanaba

* May 23-26, 2025, at Ore Dock Brewing in Marquette

* July 20, 2025 at Detroit Festival of Books at Eastern Market in Detroit

* Stay tuned to Geoff & Jon’s Record Show Facebook page or sign-up for the newsletter on The Emporium - Feature Vintage Vinyl website

In this episode of Life in Michigan, we sat down with Breeda Miller – storyteller, author, performer, and, as she calls herself, “a recovering caregiver.” Breeda opens up about her deeply personal experience of caring for her mother — a journey that ultimately inspired her one-woman play and the moving memoir Mrs. Kelly’s Journey Home.

During our conversation, she shared humorous and heartfelt tales. Anyone who has loved someone with dementia can relate when Breeda said, “Caring for a person with dementia, it's like every day at the improv without the applause. You don't know who's walking out of that bedroom, what era they're in, what mood they're in, where they think they are, how old they think they are. You have to have an agile mind. You have to be able to adapt and be flexible instead.”

We loved her apple pie story, which is part of her play – a beautiful reminder about connection and making time for the moments that truly matter. We talk about it during our conversation with Breeda.

Get cozy and join us for the conversation while she recounts her experience as a caregiver for her mother, the importance of self-care, and how her lifelong love of storytelling and theater culminated in a one-woman show that toured across multiple states, performed in Ireland, and even broadcast on PBS.

Trust us — this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

Breeda Miller Links:

* Get the book

* Watch her PBS Special "Mrs. Kelly's Journey Home"

* Book Breeda for your keynote, caregiver retreat, engaging programs, event MC, or inspirational closing speaker

* Listen to The Moth Radio Hour story: “Ticket to Heaven”

* Find upcoming performances and tour dates on Breeda's website - updated regularly!

Other Links:

* Brian Cox, Pencil Point Productions

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with a friend, especially someone on a caregiving journey. It might just bring them a little laughter, wisdom, and comfort.