Matt Tjapkes

Lunch with Dad

History EN ↓ 65 episodes

Have lunch with a father-son combo who both happen to be award-winning broadcasters! Hi everyone - My name is Matt Tjapkes. I'm a freelance sports broadcaster (in addition to my career in sales), but I have spent many years in the media as both a writer and broadcaster. I’m now 47 and at the stage of life where I try to create and preserve as many memories as possible, and what better resource than my 89-year-old dad, Doug Tjapkes? Doug has had many careers, from radio to church organ sales to non-profit work with prisoners, in addition to being a life-long musician. Though all his vocations a...

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Author

Matt Tjapkes

Episodes

Episode 14 - Easter Memories 26.04.2025 11:34

Doug shares memories of Easter from when he was a child in Muskegon to a young reporter in Holland and then through his time in Grand Haven.

Episode 13 - Road Trip in a Cadillac 31.03.2025 13:33

Matt and Doug share memories from the spring of 1994, when they flew to Florida and drove a car back. The catch - Matt had a learners permit and had not yet learned to drive a manual.

Episode 12 - Doug and Tom's Great Adventure 21.03.2025 16:04

Doug shares a story from 1995 when he and his nephew Tom Kuiper flew to Spokane, Washington and drove back a 1957 Studebaker Pick-Up that he bought without ever seeing it first.

Episode 11 - Snowmobiling! 06.03.2025 16:56

As winter wraps up, Doug shares memories of taking out snowmobiles around West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan

Episode 10 - Remembering Frederick (Fritz) Kolk 02.03.2025 14:38

Doug honors the memory of his friend Frederick (Fritz) Kolk and we close with a song from His Men, a men's chorus that Doug and Fritz helped create

Episode 9 - Black Musicians in Doug's Life 09.02.2025 52:44

In honor of Black History Month, Doug shares memories of a number of black musicians who have impacted his life, including the Cleveland Colored Quartet, The Heavenly Echoes, The Spiritualaires, Cathy Barrow, Jim Bolden Alma Perry, The James Family Singers including Ben Reynolds and Asonja James, Charsie Sawyer, and the Fairfield Four.

The Blizzard of 1978 02.02.2025 14:26

Doug shares his role in helping keep the Grand Haven community safe during "The Great Blizzard of 1978" that occurred in late January

Show Sledding (or Sliding) 02.02.2025 12:51

Doug shares memories of a Michigan tradition - snow sledding (or is it sliding?)

Christmas 02.02.2025 16:47

Doug shares the special Christmas memories he has from growing up

Episode 5 - Thanksgiving 21.01.2025 15:53

Doug shares memories of Thanksgiving over the years, both the fun times and working through difficult times

Episode 4 - The Evolution of Election News 21.01.2025 18:12

Doug shares what it was like covering elections and delivering election results as a radio news broadcaster in his early career

Episode 3 - Learning to Drive 21.01.2025 23:18

Doug shares his experiences as he learned to drive while growing up in Muskegon

Episode 2 - Muskegon Grocery Stores in the 40s and 50s 19.01.2025 16:50

Doug shares more about what the family grocery store in Muskegon was like in the 40s and 50s

Episode 1 - Doug Growing Up 19.01.2025 13:22

Some stories from Doug about life growing up in the 40s and 50s.

Introduction to Lunch with Dad 19.01.2025 0:57

An introduction to our podcast Lunch with Dad, hosted by Matt Tjapkes and featuring Doug. Dad's in his late 80s and I want to save as many of his memories as possible.