Life In Michigan Podcast

We love it when a casual conversation over a bowl of soup turns into a full podcast episode. After chatting with Amy Peterson at the first-ever Soup Showdown at Dark Horse Brewing Co. , we knew we had to bring her—and Marshall’s resident historian, Alena Guenther—onto the show. In this episode, we sit down with the powerhouse duo from Choose Marshall to talk about why this iconic town is a nationa...

On this episode of the Life in Michigan Podcast, we welcome back our good friends Crysta K. Coburn and Kay Gray from the Haunted Mitten Podcast . After crossing paths with Crysta’s husband, Greg, at a local Creative Washtenaw happy hour event and later running into Crysta herself at another Creative Washtenaw gathering in Dexter, it was only a matter of time before we got the team together to talk...

In this episode of the Life in Michigan Podcast, Chuck and Brenda are joined by the visionary Detroit-based storyteller and filmmaker Kate Milligan. Kate takes us through her high-stakes transition from the worlds of PR and traditional media into the heart of impactful non-profit storytelling. As the driving force behind 1 Girl Revolution, she leads a powerhouse multimedia nonprofit dedicated to a...

This week on Life In Michigan , Chuck and Brenda Marshall sit down with Kristin Danko (Artistic & Executive Director) and Greg Pizzino (Technical Director) from The Neighborhood Theatre Group (NTG) . For over a decade, this scrappy, award-winning ensemble has been doing something incredibly rare: producing 100% original theater, written by locals, for locals. In this fun and conversational episode...

In this episode of the Life in Michigan podcast, Chuck and Brenda sit down with Kathryn “Roo” Morgan , a yoga therapist and the founder of Eclipse Yoga . Based outside Chelsea, Michigan, Roo left the corporate world to create a judgment-free “pop-up” yoga experience focused on quality of life and functional movement. Episode Highlights * The Origin of “Roo”: Learn how a college job in Australia an...

In this episode, Chuck and Brenda sit down with Darren Cools , a Ypsilanti-based illustrator, graphic designer, and author. Originally from Washington state, Darren moved to Michigan in 2020 and has since become a vibrant part of the local creative community. We learned more about his debut young adult science fiction novel, Light in the Canyon , which explores themes of grief, wonder, and the “sp...

In this episode, Chuck and Brenda sit down with Kate Hardy (Founder/Executive Director) and Laura Lukofsky (Administrative Coordinator) of Six Feet Over . After a chance meeting at the Great Beer State Conference, we learn how this Michigan-based nonprofit is changing suicide prevention and postvention by meeting people where they are—whether that’s a punk rock show, a local brewery, or a tattoo s...

In this episode, Chuck and Brenda sit down with Kathleen Mennillo, MBA, the CEO of Michigan Audubon. Kathleen shares her path from a nature-loving childhood in Northville to leading the state’s oldest conservation organization. She shares why birds are the “litmus test” for Michigan’s environmental health, the launch of the Bird City Michigan initiative, and how a business-minded approach is helpi...

This isn’t just a story about coffee; it’s a demonstration of Michigan Ingenuity . From Christopher Lasher’s early days driving beer-delivery trucks to his time at Michigan craft beer legends like Dark Horse and Griffin Claw , his journey is an example of the hard work and creativity that define our state. We talk about how a “COVID coffee epiphany” led to the birth of Super Duper Drinks , his uni...

Episode Summary What does it take to keep the lights burning on Michigan’s west coast? In this episode, Chuck and Brenda explore the world of lighthouse preservation with the team from Lakeshore Keepers. From managing over 300 volunteers to the ‘workcation’ of a lifetime, Amy and Jack share the joys, challenges, and even the funny story of a ‘haunted’ snoring sound that turned out to be a mechanic...

Chuck and Brenda talk with Ann Arbor’s own Christina Morales Hemenway , founder of Dancingstar Productions . From studying under Marcel Marceau to producing six feature films, Christina shares her journey of creating independent, “uplifting” cinema outside the Hollywood system. Episode Highlights: * The Independent Spark: Why a “lost” master tape at a major studio led Christina to embrace total cr...

In this episode, Chuck and Brenda sit down with Alex Resnick , the Executive Director of the Flagstar Strand Theatre in Pontiac, Michigan. Alex shares the fascinating history of this century-old landmark—from its Vaudeville roots to its $20 million restoration. You’ll hear how the theater is acting as an economic engine for downtown Pontiac, the addition of a new art gallery, and why you might see...

Mark Wilfong, owner of The Hidden King, joins Chuck and Brenda to share how a Main Street spot in a 160-year-old building evolved into one of Ann Arbor’s coziest cocktail bars. Mark talks about pivoting from cafe plans to a cocktail-focused menu, the hidden mural that inspired the name, and why the fairy doors might be the most Ann Arbor detail of all. You’ll also hear how local collaborations sha...

We met Jeff Wood and Ryan Malott at GIG–The Art of Michigan Music, and instantly wanted to hear their story. In this episode, the hosts of The Mitten Music Podcast share how their show got started, what they have learned after 100-plus episodes, why video has become a game-changer for reaching new listeners, and what they are building next with a more on-the-road format that puts Michigan venues,...

Ken Konarzewski Jr. joins Chuck and Brenda for a relaxed, post-Turkey Day conversation that starts with comfort food and quickly turns to two things Ken knows well: Michigan craft beer and bowling. Ken looks back on launching the Better On Draft Podcast in 2015 out of Podcast Detroit in Ferndale, on how the show grew into hundreds of episodes, and on what it was like to be part of the early days o...

This week, we are talking with Detroit street and event photographer Scott Millington about finding his voice behind the camera, documenting real life in Detroit, and why he started his ongoing Cameras and Coffee project. From protests and sports to concerts, fire hydrants, and spilled cereal in the grocery store, Scott shares how he looks for small moments that tell big stories. In this conversat...

In this episode, we visit with Lorri Smith and Patty Barton from Peace Pie in Marquette. Lorri shares Peace Pie’s humble beginnings, from apartment baking to the farmers’ market. Lorri and Patty share details about the drunken pasty pie made with Kognisjon Bryggeri’s Midnight Society beer, plans for a pierogi-and-dumpling truck, and a values-driven approach to team and community. Peace Pie sources...

In this episode, we talk with Marissa Jardine , clinic manager at the Bird Center of Michigan , about how their team rescues, rehabilitates, and releases thousands of injured and orphaned birds each year. We cover: * The most common reasons birds need help (window strikes, cat attacks, orphaning) * What to actually do if you find a baby bird * How the center trains interns and volunteers * The emo...

What happens when your neighbor, who works for the local sheriff, wants to buy your homebrew and you realize bootlegging might not be your best business model? You start a brewery — with a little grit, a lot of heart, and unwavering support from your community. In this episode, we sit down with Zack and Jessie Bigelow, the powerhouse duo behind Ramshackle Brewing in Jonesville, Michigan. They shar...

In this episode of the Life In Michigan podcast, we sit down with Maria Skrzynski , Content Strategist at Destination Ann Arbor , to explore her journey into travel storytelling, her love for Ypsilanti , and the creative heart of Michigan. Maria shares how a front-desk role at the Ypsilanti Visitor Center sparked a passion that eventually led her to shape regional storytelling through Ypsi Real an...

In this episode of the Life In Michigan Podcast, we’re joined by Barry LaRue—a lifelong Ypsilanti resident, community historian, and retired University of Michigan Performance Hall Operations Manager. Barry’s deep love for history, preservation, and the arts has shaped the fabric of Ypsilanti in ways most people don’t even realize. We met up with Barry earlier this past July while exploring Starkw...

In this episode, we talk with Jennifer Hudson-Prenkert, founder of the Sounds of the Zoo music festival in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Jennifer shares her inspiring journey from a career in dance and theater to creating a one-of-a-kind, mission-based music festival that celebrates diversity, sustainability, and community. “I’m creating change through music.” That’s not just a tagline—it’s the heart of So...

In this episode, we hang out with Janelle Buttery—community builder, fiber artist, bread baker, and the operations manager at Peace Pie Company in Marquette, Michigan. We dive into her journey from East Detroit to the Upper Peninsula, her work with small businesses, and her passion for creating welcoming spaces that connect people through food, creativity, and collaboration. What We Talked About *...

In this enchanting episode of the Life In Michigan podcast, we’re joined by Mary Stewart Adams, star lore historian and passionate advocate for dark skies. Mary shares her incredible journey from studying English literature to becoming a cultural storyteller of the night sky—and how a serendipitous encounter on an airport tarmac led to the founding of Michigan’s first International Dark Sky Park....

In this episode, we sit down with Erin and Ryan Cottongim , the passionate husband-and-wife team behind Witch’s Hat Brewing Company . From humble beginnings with a $3 Mr. Beer kit, they’ve built one of Michigan’s most beloved breweries. We dig into: * Witch’s Hat's origin story of finding $3 Mr. Beer kit at a garage sale to opening their doors the day after Christmas in 2011. * How the Fury for a...