TALK MIDLAND w/ Logan Richetti

What makes someone choose one car wash over another? Logan sits down with Tom Terry , Site Leader at Tommy's Express Car Wash , to talk about bringing a new business to Midland, creating memorable customer experiences, and why putting people first has been the key to their success. Tom shares how Tommy's Express has grown by focusing on exceptional customer service, investing in employee...

Could your child get themselves out of a pool if they accidentally fell in? Logan sits down with Abigayle Bundze of Schieber Swim School 2.0 and the Schieber Swim Foundation to discuss one of the most important life skills a child can learn: water safety. Abbi explains why traditional swim lessons aren't always enough, the difference between learning to swim and learning to survive, and why e...

Thousands of people cried watching this Shark Tank pitch. Logan sits down with Trevor Szafranski , founder of R1SE: Education & Recreation , to discuss his incredible journey from public school teacher to Shark Tank entrepreneur. Trevor shares the behind-the-scenes story of getting the call from ABC, stepping into the Tank, receiving praise from all five sharks, and ultimately landing a deal w...

When everyone else is running away from danger, firefighters are running toward it. Logan sits down with Midland Fire Marshal John Jurek to discuss what it really means to serve our community through fire prevention, emergency response, and public safety. John shares his unique journey into the fire service, inspired by his mother—one of the first female firefighters in Washtenaw County—and discus...

Dreaming of fresh vegetables from your backyard but don't know where to start? Logan sits down with Sara Zielinski , founder of Rooted Fork Garden , to talk about helping Midland families build successful kitchen gardens from the ground up. Sara shares why most gardening failures happen long before the first seed is planted and explains how the right setup can dramatically improve your chance...

What if the reason you're stuck isn't a lack of effort—but a lack of clarity? Logan sits down with Jason Story , Director of Talent at the Midland Business Alliance, to discuss the upcoming ZingTrain Visioning Workshop coming to Midland. Together they explore why vision is different from goals, why successful organizations document their future before they build it, and how individuals,...

What if learning felt more personal, hands-on, and connected to real life? Logan sits down with Rachel Helmreich , co-founder of Opin Academy , to talk about a brand-new educational option coming to Midland this fall. Built around a small classroom model with only 18 students, OPIN Academy is rethinking traditional education with mixed-age learning, life skills, hands-on experiences, outdoor play,...

They say Midland desperately needs more childcare… so why fight the people trying to build it? I spoke at City Council Meeting about the vision for our first-class childcare center designed to support Midland families, working parents, and the next generation of kids in our community. This project isn’t about politics or profit — it’s about solving a real problem with real action.

One whistle can make half the crowd cheer… and the other half lose their minds. Logan sits down with Kevin Crampton to talk about what it’s really like officiating high school football and basketball across Mid-Michigan. From screaming parents and packed gyms to split-second decisions and playoff pressure, Kevin shares what most fans never see behind the whistle. They discuss:  Why there’s a short...

Caring for a loved one is one of the hardest — and most important — roles someone can take on. Logan sits down with Christin Cardani of Senior Services Midland and Seasons Adult Day Health Services to talk about a powerful but often overlooked resource for families. Christin shares how Seasons provides a structured daytime program for individuals experiencing dementia, cognitive changes, or other...

What really happens behind the scenes in Congress — and how does it impact Midland? This week on Talk Midland , Logan sits down with Congressman John Moolenaar to talk about everything from local issues to global challenges — and what it means to serve Michigan at the national level. From supporting farmers and small businesses to navigating complex global tensions with China, Congressman Moolenaa...

How one tense moment between two men led to a larger conersation about race in our community Logan sits down with PJ Weaver to talk about an interaction with his neighbor that quickly escalated — and what happened after it went public. But this conversation goes deeper than the moment itself. PJ shares his perspective on: Growing up in Dayton, Ohio and the mindset it shaped How he handled the situ...

What if budgeting wasn’t about restriction — but about freedom? Logan sits down with Jake Randall of Wild Freedom Financial Coaching to break down how people can go from feeling overwhelmed with money… to being fully in control of it. Jake shares a simple but powerful approach to personal finance — one that focuses on intentional spending, clarity, and building a plan that actually works in real l...

Erik Swenson joined me on the podcast to discuss his perspective on the recent interaction at the The Gourmet Cupcake Shoppe as well as the reaction from a viral video that resulted from it. What do you think of his response? I want to thank Erik for having the courage to sit behind the microphone and face the music. This was not an easy interview. Thank you to all those who have reached out to pr...

In 2020, the dams failed — and everything changed overnight. This week on Talk Midland , Logan sits down with Kayla Stryker of the Four Lakes Task Force to walk through the full story behind Midland’s lake restoration — from devastation to rebuilding. Kayla shares what happened when the dams failed, how entire communities were impacted, and what it’s taken over the last several years to bring the...

Most nonprofits focus on food, water, and shelter — but what about mental health? Logan sits down with Krista McCowen, founder of Ubuntu Wellness , a nonprofit bringing mental health services to Rwanda. After witnessing the deep emotional and generational trauma still present decades after genocide, Krista felt called to do something different — to address the mental health needs that often go ove...

Imagine deciding to open a brand new public school in your community. Logan sits down with Sara Ladwein, President of the Board for Founders Grove Classical Academy, to talk about the vision behind Midland’s newest charter school set to open in Fall 2026. Sara explains how a group of local parents came together to launch a tuition-free public charter school using the Hillsdale classical curriculum...

AI doesn’t run on magic — it runs on massive data centers. This week on Talk Midland , Logan sits down with Daniel Dimitroff of The Continuum to unpack the real infrastructure behind artificial intelligence — and what it could mean for our region. Daniel explains how the global race to build AI data centers is creating trillions of dollars in development, why communities across the country are deb...

Your kid won’t remember the score. They’ll remember the car ride home. This week on Talk Midland , Logan sits down with Kelsey Gustafson, founder of The Mental Ascend , to talk about the mental side of sports — and why it matters more than most parents realize. From 13-year-olds quitting at record rates to high-achieving athletes beating themselves up after games, Kelsey explains why confidence is...

Food security isn’t just about what’s on your table — it’s about national security. This week on Talk Midland , Logan sits down with Laura Varhola , retired U.S. Army Colonel and co-owner of Russell Blueberry Farm and Nursery in Freeland , to talk about a life that took a 180-degree turn. After a decorated military career serving in Korea, Africa, Germany, and the Pentagon — including senior defen...

There’s no way to outwork a math problem — but you can outthink one. This week on Talk Midland , Logan sits down with Nate Heyboer— real estate investor, developer, and CEO of a $100M+ employee-owned company — to talk about what it actually takes to build at scale. From growing up on a dairy farm in Jamestown to launching DHE Plumbing, to converting the company into an ESOP (employee-owned), Nate...

What does it really take to build a business around people—and do it well? Logan Richetti sits down with Ali Huntoon, founder of Allied HR Solutions and Allied Group Fitness, to unpack the realities of entrepreneurship, employee retention, workplace culture, and why movement is just as important for mental health as it is for physical health. Ali shares how she launched a fractional HR firm at the...

If you own property in Midland County, this conversation affects you — whether you realize it or not. Logan Richetti sits down with Joe Sova, Midland County Drain Commissioner, to explain how drainage and infrastructure decisions are actually made, why some projects take years, and how those decisions show up on tax bills across the county. Joe draws on decades of hands-on experience in excavation...

This episode hits differently if you care about representation, education, and the future of Michigan. Jason Tunney shares the why behind his campaign. Tag someone who should hear this conversation. Logan sits down with Jason Tunney , a first-time candidate running for Michigan State Senate in the 35th District , to talk about what actually pushed him into public service. Jason shares the moment h...

Step inside the mind of a business leader who refuses to sit on the sidelines—hit play and hear why experience, not politics-as-usual, matters right now. Logan Richetti sits down with Christian Velasquez, a longtime Dow Corning executive, small-business builder, and Michigan State alum who’s now running for the 35th State Senate District. From growing up on a Kansas farm to leading global teams, t...