Everything Is Local

This is a great episode where Mike and Shana talk about: • Why the proposed Fairmount Temple TIF has become one of the most controversial issues currently facing the city. • The debate surrounding Beachwood's inside mill levies, sewer frontage assessments, and how taxpayer dollars are being spent. • The University Heights home synagogue case headed to the U.S. Supreme Court and what the decision c...

Mike is back, and Episode 62 covers everything from birthday gifts and backyard chaos to one of the biggest debates happening inside the Democratic Party today. This week's conversation includes:  Mike's return to the podcast after missing last week's episode, along with stories from his "bachelor week" while Nikki was away.   A heartbreaking local driving accident and a thoughtful...

With Mike away at a baseball tournament, Shana is joined by Matt Hildebrand for a wide-ranging discussion that goes far beyond local politics. This is a fascinating episode where they talk about: The Trump administration's new Memorandum of Understanding with Iran and whether it is a meaningful agreement or simply an agreement to keep talking. The ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel, Hezbollah...

This is a great episode where Mike and Shana talk about: The City of Beachwood's proposed vote to re-levy charter mills and what it could cost the average homeowner each year. Why Mike believes City Council should publicly justify any tax increase and let residents vote on it instead of approving it directly. Beachwood's growing revenues compared to neighboring cities and whether the city truly ne...

This is a great episode where Mike and Shana talk about: Jack’s eighth-grade graduation, winning Athlete of the Year, and the emotions that come with watching your kids grow up. The impact of great coaches, why Coach Perk has become a local legend, and how strong mentorship can shape kids far beyond the playing field. Travel baseball tournaments, sports-parent culture, and the friendships that dev...

This is a great episode where Mike and Shana are joined by Beachwood resident Joanna Henze to talk about: The mysterious early morning shooting in Beachwood, the confusing details surrounding the incident, and why many residents feel communication from the city was lacking. The rumors, theories, and neighborhood reactions after shell casings, police tape, and investigators flooded the area. Questi...

This is a great episode where Mike and Shana talk about:  Mike getting called for jury duty on a double murder case and the comments that quickly got him dismissed from the jury pool. The growing controversy surrounding proposed automated traffic cameras in Beachwood and whether they are really about safety or generating revenue. Frustration with city council transparency, emergency legislati...

This is a great episode where Mike and Shana talk about:  The disastrous Cleveland Cavaliers playoff performance, Dan Gilbert sending buses of fans to support the team, and why Cleveland sports continue to emotionally destroy everyone involved.  Parenting teenage athletes, handling failure on the baseball field, body language, leadership, and the brutal reality of youth sports pressure....

This is a great episode where Mike and Shana talk about:  Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaking in Cleveland, free speech, media outrage, and the debate over controversial public figures and public health messaging.  Vaccines, autism claims, political “kookiness,” and whether people in positions of authority should be held to a different standard when discussing science and medicine.  Musi...

This is a great episode where Mike and Shana talk about:  A big win at a local fundraiser, including a second “basket of booze” victory, and why timing that win right before COVID turned out to be perfect.   The upcoming Sheetz vote, behind-the-scenes conversations with council leadership, and predictions on how the decision will ultimately play out.   A candid discussion...

This is a great episode where Mike and Shana are joined by returning guest Matt Hildebrand, and they talk about:  The heated battle over the proposed Sheetz location, why residents and businesses are pushing back, and predictions on how the city council vote could unfold.   Transparency in local government, whether council members should publicly state their positions before voting,...

This is a great episode where Mike and Shana talk about:  A local restaurant shutdown over health violations, what actually matters when it comes to food quality, and why soggy egg rolls might be the real dealbreaker.   New restaurant spots, rising dining costs, and why eating at home is starting to feel like the better (and cheaper) option.   Family dynamics, getting olde...

This is a great episode where Shana is joined by guest co-host Wendy Leatherberry for a special interview with county council candidate Ebony Spann, and they talk about:  Ebony’s decision to run for County Council District 11, what the role actually entails, and why oversight and accountability at the local level matter more than people realize.   Balancing campaign life with mother...

This is a great episode where Mike and Shana talk about:  Passover traditions, family seders, and a hilarious (and honest) take on why Passover desserts need serious improvement.   The Guardians home opener, betting stories, and the simple joy of a weekend nap during baseball season.   A deep dive into the proposed new library project, including cost concerns, location cha...

This is a great episode where Mike and Shana talk about:  Mike’s return to the show, taking “umbrage,” and revisiting past council tensions, including debates over pickleball courts, playground costs, and what it really means to “slow things down.”   Transparency in local government, scripted talking points, and frustration over how the Sheetz proposal was communicated (or not commu...

This is a great episode where Shana is joined by guest co-host Kari Miller while Mike is away, and they talk about:  A guest-hosted episode filled with energy, friendship, and a 25-year history that brings a different dynamic to the show.   Spring break plans, parenting moments, and a hilarious deep dive into kids explaining Fortnite, Roblox, and internet culture.   Local...

This is a great episode where Mike and Shana welcome their first guest in the new studio, local realtor Jeff Hoffman, and talk about:  The East Side housing market, what first-time buyers can expect to pay in places like South Euclid, Lyndhurst, Shaker Heights, and Beachwood, and why limited inventory keeps prices competitive.   Why Beachwood’s lack of available homes may be pushing...

This is a great episode where Mike and Shana talk about:  A weekend recap, including a charity dance event in Barberton that raised thousands for Ronald McDonald House and the start of baseball season traditions.   The announcement that Saks is closing at Beachwood Place, what it says about the department store model, and what the future of the mall could look like.   How...

This is a great episode where Mike and Shana talk about:  The Ohio season of Love Is Blind , the wild premise behind the pods, and whether love really can be blind when cameras and weddings are involved.  Team USA’s Olympic hockey gold, the men’s and women’s victories, locker room politics, and why the whole country actually felt united for once.  Presidential medals, State of the U...

This is a great episode where Mike and Shana talk about: Team USA pride, Olympic Hockey, hometown star Layla Edwards, and the controversy surrounding Eileen Gu competing for China. Why patriotism hits differently during the Olympics, and the fine line between criticism and toxic narratives.  A recap of the Beachwood public hearing on Sheetz, including strong opposition from local business own...

This is a great episode where Mike and Shana talk about: Valentine’s Day plans (or lack thereof), steaks in the oven, and why love doesn’t need a designated calendar date. The upcoming zoning hearing for Sheetz and what’s at stake locally. The hospital property purchase at Richmond and Chagrin, what happens when major properties come off the tax rolls, and how that shifts the burden onto other pro...

This is a great episode where Mike and Shana talk about: Wild college stories, including an infamous $400 bar tab and the kind of decisions that become legendary years later  Unfiltered memories about friendships, graduation week chaos, and the moments you definitely wouldn’t recommend repeating  The sudden shift to recording from home and what it took to keep the show going  How a...

Ep. 41 of the “Everything is Local Podcast” starts with Mike and Shana discussing the TIF Mayor Berns is proposing for the Fairmount Temple property. When a developmemt would occur without a TIF (like this Fairmount Temple property that had 9 developers respond to the RFQ, competing to be the developer chosen to develop the property), issuing a TIF doesn’t create anything that wouldn’t have happen...

This is Mike and Shana’s first episode back after a two-month hiatus and a studio shakeup. In this episode, they talk about: 1. Getting the podcast back up and running in a new DIY space. 2. Winter life updates, youth sports, and Mike’s controversial parenting moment involving sports betting. 3. Local politics and the ongoing debate over a proposed Sheetz location, including planning and zoning dr...

This is Mike's and Shana's first podcast in over a month since the owner of the studio we were using had health issues. This is a great episode where they talk about: The upcoming city council election. Some recent and past school district administration issues and controversies. How at Monday night's Council meeting "the administration" (which is the Mayor), is asking Council to approve replacing...