Michigan Reimagined

Healthcare is a hotly discussed topic. There’s a new practice in mid-Michigan whose tagline is “Supporting Health, Not Just Treating Disease”. Joining Chris to discuss the techniques and their refreshing attitude is the Founder of Wellness Alternatives in Okemos, Dr. Janet Eng!

The pandemic disrupted life in many ways, and there are entities still measuring the recovery of various industries. Choose Lansing recently held its annual meeting and shared the 2024 numbers for hospitality, conventions, and tourism. Joining Chris to share the findings and discuss the near-term Lansing momentum is President and CEO of Choose Lansing, Julie Pinkston!

In July 2021 we introduced a concept being discussed called Strikeout Baseball. A few years - and lots of hard work later - the team is back to announce the grand opening. Joining Chris to discuss the path, and the future, is the Founder of Strikeout Baseball - Jeff Lazaros, Community Ambassador & Board Member - Ashlee Willis and Mayor of Lansing, Andy Schor!

With healthcare costs rising and the overall health of Americans declining, most are searching for simple and honest ways to stay healthy and avoid disease. Joining to share his health & wellness small business story is the owner of Lansing’s Moss Man Herbs, Darian Draper.

Home ownership - and deciding when and how to take the plunge - can be complicated. You need an expert to help you navigate the trends and strategies. Joining to share some thought-starters is the owner of Keller Williams - Advantage in Team, Chris Silker.

Michigan is doubling down on its efforts to create a bright future for its residents. There are a lot of organizations working to put our youth in the best possible position to thrive. One organization in these crosshairs is Junior Achievement - a name you may be familiar with, but you may not know who they are and how they work. Joining Chris is the Senior District Director of the Junior Achievem...

Healthcare has historically been an important topic. But recently - navigating our way out of a global pandemic, the financial well being of healthcare providers, and doctor & nurse burnout are common news topics. Joining to talk about a new partnership between a university and a century-old health care system are Frank Urban, Director of Venture Creation at Spartan Innovation - MSU Research F...

Renewable energy and reducing waste are hot topics for Michigan, and pretty much everyone these days. Joining Chris to discuss their work in this space, their Grand Rapids facility, and an upcoming event, is the Founder and CEO of Woodchuck.ai and best selling author of “Unleashing Abundant Energy”, Todd Thomas.

We’ve talked regularly about the housing needs in Michigan, but what about the true affordability of housing and how it drives economic growth. Joining Chris to talk about the effects of housing affordability is the President of TA Forsberg, Mr. Brent Forsberg!

We’re on the cusp of the newest season of the award winning Capital City Film Festival! Here to share this year’s details as we know them at this time - are Festival Event Director Emma Selby, Co-Program Director Jason Gabriel and President of the Board Samantha Le!

Michigan is a state that “makes stuff” - and we’re hell bent to keep it that way. We have massive manufacturers, and we have many thriving small manufacturers as well. One resource available to them is through the Capital Area Manufacturing Council. Joining Chris to discuss their work, and an upcoming event, is Executive Director of CAMC, Cindy Kangas!

Outdoor recreation checks a lot of boxes when it comes to things that bring value to our lives. It drives our health and wellness, and it drives our economy. Joining Chris to discuss some new federal reporting - and what it means for Michigan - is the Vice President of Programs for the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, Chris Perkins, and the Executive Director of the Michigan’s Outdoor Recreation Ind...

Healthcare is a hotly discussed topic. The news around their field is endless - and many ask, how do we balance affordability and truly drive wellness in our communities? Because it isn’t happening. Joining Chris to share his unique perspective on the state of our healthcare system is the Founder & CEO of Health Bar, Nathan Baar!

Today’s guest compares her work in community planning to road trips – successful journeys involve understanding the starting point, the destination, and how the route might be impacted by what we discover along the journey. Joining Chris to talk about her passion - and her firm’s work in this space - is a Partner from Detroit-based civil engineering firm Giffels Webster, Jill Bahm!

The food service industry is notoriously difficult to navigate. Success is hard, and the pandemic made things even more challenging - not only due to temporary closures - but also the changed behavior of consumers. Joiniing Chris to discuss a platform built to assist restaurateurs is the Co-Founder and CEO of Bikky, Abhinav Kapur!

Michigan is a wonderful place to get outdoors. Whether it’s exploring the great lakes, skiing, snowmobiling, hiking or ice fishing, we have plenty of ways to get moving. Michigan has an ecosystem to share the benefits of getting outside. Joining Chris to share the efforts of Michigan’s Outdoor Recreation Industry Office is their Executive Director, Brad Garmon!

Men are told to “man up” and “tough it out”, while women are told to “hold their tongue.” It’s evident men and women differ - and these gender differences surface all the more in mental health. Joining Chris to discuss her research targeting proper care for Gen Z men and women battling mental illness is psychology professor and the public health program director at Calvin University in Grand Rapid...

Lansing has produced a lot of talented people, and talented people are often lured away to chase their dreams elsewhere. Every now and then we get a star to return home. Joining Chris to share how he is giving back to his community is former basketball star, Jon Horford!

Artificial Intelligence is here, and here to stay. Many are tinkering with its abilities, but others are diving into the deep end to become experts and assist others with their journeys. Joining Chris to speak on his IT business and its AI evolution is the Founder of Super Web Pros, Jesse Flores!

Almost a year ago, I interviewed Jose Aste - the CEO and Founder of the Peruvian restaurant Tantay, who has evolved from test kitchen, to food truck, to its first brick-and-mortar location in Okemos. A medical emergency slowed their progress and has only recently opened to the public. Please enjoy this encore presentation of Chris's interview with Jose where they discuss his new, permanent locatio...

There is very little as awesome as live music. I’ve done shows about Lansing’s new Grewal Hall and the forthcoming Ovation performance space. Joining Chris to discuss how bands and spaces connect to allow great performances to happen in a wide variety of venues is the Founder of Angry Talent Entertainment, Dan Laird!

Housing, and the lack of volume and affordability, has been a topic of discussion throughout Michigan. Solutions require a wide variety of stakeholders. Joining Chris to share the story of TriTerra and the process of environmental due diligence, is their Director of Multi-Family housing, Shawn Shadley!

Regardless of what side of the aisle you sit on politically, I think we can all agree it's important to be as educated in civics as we can be. Fortunately there is a non-profit called the Michigan Center for Civic Education working tirelessly to create an informed citizenry here in Michigan. Joining Chris to share some details of their work is the Director of Outreach at the State Bar of Michigan...

Climbing the ladder of success is a challenge for most, and becoming a CEO and being inducted to the Herstory Museum for the industry you operate within is a feat that is almost unimaginable. Joining Chris to discuss her path to success, is the President and CEO of Community Financial Credit Union, Tansley Sterns!

Lansing is in the process of getting a new downtown music and arts venue called The Ovation. There have been many organizations working together to make this a reality, and there have been recent breakthroughs bringing us closer to the finish line. Joining Chris to give us an update on this exciting attraction is the Director of the Lansing Public Media Center, Dominic Cochran!