Behind the Mitten

SEASON 6, EPISODE 52 Gonzo and Amy wrap up 2024 with a "Best Of" show featuring some of their favorite segments from the year. Segment 1: The show opens with the Lansing Area Ukulele Group , better known as LAUGH (the 'H' is silent). This was recorded on Dec. 14 in a loft in Old Town Lansing after they attended the annual Holiday Sing and Strum at Sir Pizza.  John French was our guest. He talks ab...

SEASON 6, EPISODE 51 This weekend we wish you Merry Christmas from Saginaw! We are so grateful to our friends at WSGW for having us, and for legendary radio host Mr. Art Lewis for joining us. When we say legendary, we really mean it, Art has been sharing his love of Saginaw on the airwaves for over SIXTY YEARS. He lets us in on what makes this community so special, and reveals a little part he pla...

SEASON 6, EPISODE 50 On this show, Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez pick some of their favorite small towns in Michigan, especially during the holidays. Lewiston - A Talley Burger at the Talley Log Cabin Bar or a fish fry at the Lewiston Hotel is reason enough to visit, but in a winter season, the local snowmobile culture returns for frolicing good times. Holly - 50 Miles northwest of downtown Detroi...

SEASON 6, EPISODE 49 GAYLORD, MI - This weekend we take you slope side at Michigan's Most Spectacular Resort, Treetops ! Centrally located just minutes off of I-75 in Gaylord, Treetops has just received record breaking amounts of snow this week, and first chair ran on Thursday (Dec. 5, 2024). It's a winter wonderland here! We'll learn about what's new at the resort this year from general manager B...

Amy Sherman of "Behind the Mitten" tells the guys from 95.3 CFX they can learn about regional foods like the "puffy taco" on this weekend's BTM show (Dec. 21-22, 2024), which is all about Saginaw. She also entertains questions from Rob & Kent, as she does every week. Today they want to know if she had a job from Santa at the North Pole, what would it be? TUNE IN to hear her answer. And don't f...

Each year, we host our friends from Original Murdick's Fudge for the holiday season sharing their love for all things sweet on Mackinac Island, and beyond, with our listeners. As the original fudge shop on the island, Murdick's has been serving up sweetness for well over a hundred years, and yet continue to remain "fresh in" as Murdick's always says.  We kick off with Original Murdick's owner and...

On this episode of Behind the Mitten, we says thanks to those who work hard to give back and to make Michigan just a little bit better for us all. We meet with four different non-profit organizations from around the state to hear about good things happening in the mitten. We start off with an organization that does some incredible work in the Traverse City region, The Father Fred Foundation. Candi...

Amy Sherman of Behind the Mitten gets all the intel on Short’s Brewing “Holiday Battle Plan,” a 12-pack inspired by the classic movie “Home Alone.” The new variety pack from Short’s Brewing in Bellaire features four brand-new brews and a guide for hosting your own Home Alone watch party. “I think we’re all children of the ’80s, so when it came out in the '90s it was the perfect time for all of us...

This weekend's Behind the Mitten is a "sweet" show! It's all about Original Murdick's Fudge , and how you can ship this special holiday gift to friends all around the country. Maybe you want some fudge or brittle or caramel corn for your holiday gathering. You can order this slice of Pure Michigan from our friends at OMF, who are busy this time of year making fresh fudge from the Straits of Mackin...

 Woohoo! It's coming on like a frozen polar express train, you can feel it getting closer and closer by the nip in the air and frost on the brown, dry grass. It's winter, and once again, your friends at Behind the Mitten are here and we are, once again, ready to help you EMBRACE WINTER. We have truly come to believe in the power of the correct winter equipment, having the right stuff can really ma...

It's all about Michigan wine this week on Behind the Mitten, and we are awash in the great grape harvest of 2024.  Our first guest is in charge of one of the Midwest's biggest, and arguably most exciting, food festival. Th e 17th Annual Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival kicks off November 21 through the 23rd. It's a full on extravaganza of food and food related events and p...

This week we head to an iconic Michigan destination, known throughout the Midwest as a place for old-fashioned, one-of-a-kind fun, with an amazing dinner theater experience, and some of the best turkey dinners you'll find anywhere. It's Cornwell's Turkeyville , and we visited for the very first time—and we can assure you, it won't be the last. On the show, you'll get to meet owner/operator Patti C...

Holy smokes! It's a moment in Midland, and we are back at one of our best. We are back at one of the all time greats Bone Daddy's Barbeque with our buddy and BBQ legend Bill Wall . He’s the master of meat, king of smoke, and just so fun. We know you’ll love him. too. A few years ago we were looking for great pasties made UNDER the bridge. We found them at shierspasties in Midland, and we have owne...

This episode of Behind the Mitten has us all over Michigan, with reports from Marshall, Manistee, and Marquette. It's all about the M's on this show! Our good friend Sue Damron joins us from marvelous Marshall, where she owns and operates the historic Schuler's Restaurant. We love visiting this iconic spot, where you can cozy up next to the fire, and enjoy some classic cuisine, like prime rib, the...

On this episode of Behind the Mitten we meet in the middle, and head to Mt. Pleasant. Fall is the perfect time of year to visit, as the entire state turns maroon and gold in honor of the Central Michigan University Chippewas, wink wink. We recorded at the famous Shepherd Bar, located just south of town, and you won't believe what they have planned for Halloween. We start with our good friend Chris...

MT. PLEASANT - Fire Up Edition Are you planning to attend this weekend's 2024 Central Michigan University Homecoming (Oct. 12)? On this special podcast we sit down with Chris Rowley, Executive Director of Mt. Pleasant Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, as well as her associates, Jordan Ensing , Marketing coordinator, and Cassandra Chippeway , content and communications coordinator. We talk about...

Let's go ABOVE the Mitten this weekend! Have you heard about the BIG game that is being played on October 13 in majestic Marquette ? It's kind of a big deal, and we'll bring you the whole scoop right from the source. The  Northern Michigan University Wildcats are hosting the exhibition basketball game of the year, when they take on the Michigan State Spartans at the Superior Dome on October 13. MS...

This week we are all over on Behind the Mitten , from Tecumseh to Bellaire, to Lansing and beyond. Sounds like everything is normal then, right? Located in southeast Michigan south of Ann Arbor, charming Tecumseh is hosting their annual AppleUmpkin Festival on October 12 and 13. Featuring carnival rides, inflatables and bungee jumping, there are also crafts for the little ones, play putt-putt, and...

On this "Behind the Mitten" podcast, John Gonzalez talks to the Wharton Center's Bobby Hoffman about the upcoming production of "Les Misérables," which kicks of the 2024-2025 Broadway series in East Lansing. OCT 8-13, 2024 "Les Misérables" Cameron Mackintosh presents the acclaimed production of Boublil and Schönberg’s Tony Award-winning musical phenomenon, Les Misérables. This brilliant staging ha...

John Gonzalez of Behind the Mitten talks to Bobby Hoffman, the public relations manager at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts about the upcoming 2024-2025 season. Along with a performing arts series, the Broadway Series season includes: Les Misérables - October 8–13, 2024 Shucked, January 21–26, 2025 MJ, February 11–16, 2025 Life of Pi, March 11–16, 2025 Chicago, April 8-13, 2025 As well as: H...

It might not seem like it with this incredible weather we've been having, but fall is right around the corner. We paid our friends in Manistee a visit, and are here to tell you that this just might be the perfect place to visit for fall colors.....and so much more. We recorded this week's show at the Manistee County History Museum, where we met the director Mark Fedder. This place is an absolute t...

Fall is festival time in Michigan, so we went on a journey to find a few of the more interesting-sounding ones out there and get the story behind the production of these fine community affairs. This week on Behind the Mitten we'll talk fests that focus on doughnuts and beer, running through the grapevines, hawks, and surprise, surprise, even one festival that celebrates all things Canadian. Once a...

Canadiana Fest Podcast Celebrating the culture, food, music and art of our neighbor to the north in Downtown Kalamazoo Michigan. September 21, 2024 at the Arcadia Creek Festival Site! Amy and Gonzo interview event coordinator Channon Mondoux , originally from Windsor, who goes behind the scene of this year's event after they recorded the show segment (which aired Sept. 14-15, 2024). During the pod...

On Behind the Mitten, we love to take you to special spots all around Michigan. We always hope that you'll find new favorite places to visit, or remember a favorite spot that you just have to get back to. We believe that travel is amazing, and want to make sure that our gorgeous Michigan destinations stay that way for all future visitors. Our friends in Marquette completely agree, and as a communi...

On this episode of Behind the Mitten, Gonzo and Amy visit marvelous Muskegon , a historic city nestled on the shores of lady Lake Michigan that offers different types of adventures for everyone, including some with a decidedly Gaelic twist to them. We start the show off by highlighting the Michigan Irish Music Festival , which is happening this September 12 through the 15th at Heritage Landing in...