MI Best: An MLive Podcast

Tune in today for a lovely conversation between host, Eric Hultgren, and the multi-talented, Kayla Klug! Owner and CEO of The Minted Grove, a boutique doormat company, Kayla talks about designing an Eastbrook home to encompass her expanding business AND family. Learn about the inspiration behind her company, why she chose to build her dream home with Eastbrook, and how you can get 20% off a custom...

In this episode John Gonzalez talks to Emily from Tupelo Honey about their new Chicken and Waffles.

"Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in." Michael Corleone quips in the second Godfather. For Lee Burmeister a week after Easter he might feel the same about fried fish. In this episode, John Gonzalez catches up with Lee and Abbi Burmeister from the Hard Knocks Food Truck about how this season was for them after the MI Best article dropped.

In this episode, John Gonzalez sits down with Mitch Ermatinger of Speciation Artisan Ales to talk origin stories and sour beers. 

In this episode Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez rundown some of the best beers of the spring live from Perrin Brewing. 

In this episode, John Gonzalez is getting us ready for dune season as the Silver Lake Sand Dunes open on April 1st. To get you excited he sat down with Scott Beal, executive director of the Silver Lake Sand Dunes - Hart Visitors Bureau, and Jody Johnston, park manager at the Silver Lake State Park in Mears to talk about this season.

Amy Sherman sits down with Jessica Stricklen and Sebastian Van Bommel from Brewery Nyx in Grand Rapids, which will be Michigan’s first gluten-free (truly!) brewery.    

In this episode, John and Amy are wrapping up the 2021 MI Best Fish Fry with a conversation about some of their favorite spots and where you can get in a final fish fry before the season ends. 

Welcome back to another episode of At Home with Eastbrook, featuring Sales Agent, Jeff Costello! Jeff and Eric Hultgren discuss the highs and lows of today's market, covering inventory, interest rates, and how to get ahead when house hunting. You won't want to miss the real estate insight in this week's podcast! For more information on today's market and Eastbrook updates, go to our new Transparen...

In this episode on the anniversary of the first COVID case in Michigan John and Amy talk with the owners of D'Angelo's as that was the next location for Best Burgers they were due to visit.

In this episode, John Gonzalez heads to Charlie's Bar and Grille to talk with Jody about what makes this place so special...and since it is Fish Fry Season, what makes the fish so special.

In this episode John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman talk to the crew at the St Mary's Fish Fry about what this year is like.

Sarah Titus, Eastbrook Homes Marketing Manager, pulls back the curtain on how she structured the website to give customers the information they need to build their home. Eric and Sarah traverse through the ins and outs of the online tools eastbrookhomes.com contains, from our handy Mortgage Calculator to the famed Feature Gallery. You'll also hear market insight from a marketer's perspective, and...

In this episode Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez head to 4 amazing restaurants to celebrate Black History Month. 

In this episode, John Gonzalez visits with the businesses that serve the NODE which is the Niles Outdoor Dining Experience. 

In this episode, as we celebrate Black History Month we are joined by Commissioner Senita Lenear. Commissioner Lenear has more than 20 years of business experience, which includes a variety of leadership positions at the largest healthcare insurance provider in the state of Michigan and co-owning an event planning and business consulting firm. She was appointed to the Grand Rapids Public Schools B...

Jimmy Flathau saw a need in Bay City as he’s one of the founders of Operation Shantyville where they organize groups to bring shanties to restaurants in order to boost sales at that spot and lower the cost to the restaurant so they don't need to invest in shanties. The story is awesome and we hope you enjoy.   

In this episode Amy Sherman talks with Annette May, she is a Certified Advanced Cicerone, and the scholarship director of Fermenta, and an instructor at Schoolcraft College. We discuss trends we might see in Michigan craft beer in 2021.

Professor Tracey Brame is the Associate Dean of Experiential and Practice Preparation and the Immediate Past President of the Grand Rapids Bar Association. A true champion of justice and an advocate for education, Dean and Professor Brame is a leader in the classroom, in the community, and in the legal profession. She joins the podcast as we celebrate Black History Month with McDonald's 

Jamiel is the founder of the Grand Rapids Area Black Businesses (GRABB) co-founder of the spirits line Motu Viget and an inspiring entrepreneur in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Jamiel talks about building brands and what grade he would give his city when it comes to diversity of income and inclusion. Enjoy this episode.    See More: https://mcdmlivebhm.com/

Chanel left a 6 figure job at Verizon to start her own empire and now Chanel is the CEO of a number of companies that cover music + entertainment management, consulting, and a line of snack foods. Her story is inspiring and we hope you enjoy her story.  See more:  https://mcdmlivebhm.com/

John Gonzalez catches up with Chef John Beilfuss of Lula's Louisiana Cookhouse in Owosso, winner of Michigan's Best Fried Chicken. John and his wife Morgan decided not to reopen in 2020 after the March shutdown. They are waiting for the restaurant industry to reopen at 100% before opening doors again. They want diners to have the full experience. In the meantime, John launched "Scratch Cook with J...

We announce the first search of 2021...what will it be? 

On this episode, Eric interviews John Seville, local Branch Manager at Benchmark Mortgage, on what he’s seeing the housing market. John discusses how the interest rates are historically low while appreciation rates are high, both of which drive the market. Learn the terms of home buying and how you can start saving up for your dream home in this educational podcast! Benchmark Mortgage is an Eastbr...

John and Amy name the 2020 Beer of the Year and surprise the winners "live."