West Michigan Weekend (A Public Affairs Program from iHeartradio)

On this week's program, host Phil Tower talks with Andy McIntyre, the Chief Operating Officer of John Ball Zoo . Andy joined the show for an update to talk about everything going on at the zoo including, most recently, the Grand Rapids Lantern Festival underway now through June 11. John Ball Zoo is the first and only place you can see these incredible works of art in Michigan. Andy also spoke abou...

On this week's show, host Phil Tower welcomes Nikki Stoner, community care coordinator for Hanger Clinic, and Anna Kahl, certified prosthetist/orthotist, with Hanger Clinic. Anna and Nikki spoke with us about the upcoming Limb Loss Awareness 5k. Both Kentwood Parks and Recreation and Hanger Clinic work together to put on the annual Hanger Clinic Limb Loss Awareness 5k. This year's event is Saturda...

On this week's show, host Phil Tower welcomes Cathy Cooper, Executive Director of The Meijer LPGA Classic . Cathy joins us for an update on the tournaments, including the enormous number of volunteers needed to make the event a success. The mission of the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give is focused on feeding the hungry through Meijer’s Simply Give program that restocks the shelves of food pant...

On this week's program, host Phil Tower welcomes Robert Sheehan, CEO, the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan. The Community Mental Health Association of Michigan (CMHA) is the state association representing the state’s public Community Mental Health (CMH) centers, the public Prepaid Inpatient Health Plans (PIHP) public health plans formed and governed by the CMH centers, and the provi...

This week host Phil Tower welcomes Kent Riddle, CEO of Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation. Kent joined us to talk about the rich history of Mary Free Bed and its origins here in Grand Rapids over 130 years ago. Kent and I covered many topics including how the hospital has expanded its services throughout the state of Michigan, and now in other parts of the country. Kent also talked about how Mary Free B...

On this week's program, host Phil Tower sits down for a conversation with Greg McNeilly, President, and CEO, of The Windquest Group. Greg’s leadership has helped Windquest holdings grow significantly and today they employ nearly 1,700 people. The Windquest Group was founded in 1988, with one employee, by Dick and Betsy DeVos. The family-owned firm now employs team members across 17 states, with th...

On this week's program, host, Phil Tower, first welcomes historian Derek Leebaert, author of “ UNLIKELY HEROES: Franklin Roosevelt, His Four Lieutenants, and the World They Made ,” (St. Martin’s Press). UNLIKELY HEROES coincides with the 90th anniversary of Franklin Roosevelt being sworn in as president (March 4, 1933). UNLIKELY HEROES examines the lives of FDR’s four lieutenants Harry Hopkins, Ha...

On this week's program, we focus on no-fault auto insurance as host Phil Tower, welcomes Attorney Tom Sinas, a lawyer with the Sinas Dramis Law Firm. Tom is an attorney specializing in personal injury, wrongful death litigation, auto negligence, and Michigan’s no-fault auto insurance law. Tom joined us to break down the complexities of the recently reformed no-fault auto insurance laws here in Mic...

On this week's program host, Phil Tower, welcomes Kelly Weill, a reporter with The Daily Beast . And author of OFF THE EDGE: FLAT EARTHERS, CONSPIRACY CULTURE, AND WHY PEOPLE WILL BELIEVE ANYTHING now out in paperback on Algonquin Books . In the book, author Kelly Weill probes the relationship between flat Earth beliefs and the rise of modern conspiracy theories. She looked more closely into the f...

On this week's program host, Phil Tower welcomes back Dr. Anthony Chang, Founder, and CEO of BAMF Health . BAMF Health is a health innovation company that utilizes molecular imaging and non-invasive molecular therapy to pinpoint and effectively treat cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. BAMF's worldwide headquarters are located in downtown Grand Rapids. Today, BAMF provides advanced screening, s...

On this week's show, host Phil Tower welcomes Chad Livengood , the politics editor, and columnist at The Detroit News. Chad covers a variety of topics including the new state budget, the change in term limits in Michigan and its impact on the legislature, and the upcoming convention for the Michigan Republican Party, we cover a full roundup of the most significant political stories and issues acro...

On this week's program, host Phil Tower welcomes Deb Atwood, the Executive Director, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, West Michigan. Deb joined us to explain the mission of her organization, which is to provide equal communication access, education, and advocacy to the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing in pursuit of all life’s opportunities. Learn More: https://deafhhs.org/ In the second half...

On this week's program, host Phil Tower welcomes Dr. Adam London, Ph. D., RS, DAAS, director of the Kent County Health Department. Phil and Dr. London use this opportunity for an in-depth discussion on numerous public health issues of concern and for general awareness. We discussed the dangers of radon gas as January is radon gas awareness month. We also learned that with respect to Covid cases, t...

On this week's program: In part one of the show, host Phil Tower welcomes Matt Johnson, Communications Director American Heart Association, West Michigan. Matt joined Phil to talk about the importance of knowing CPR, especially when someone's heart stops beating, as in the case with Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin. Matt explained how hands-only CPR is becoming more widely used to save lives toda...

On this week's episode, host Phil Tower speaks with Terri DeBoer, author and Storm Team 8 meteorologist, and Janet Jaymin, Bereavement Manager, with Faith Hospice. Terri and Janet co-authored a powerful new book on grief and grieving, Grieving Well. Terri DeBoer, best known as a trusted Storm Team 8 Meteorologist teamed up with Janet Jaymin, an expert in grief and the Bereavement Manager, with Fai...

On this week's program, in segment 1, host Phil Tower, welcomes Michael Wildschut, director of The January Series at Calvin University. The January Series is an award-winning, nationally recognized free 15-day lecture series that takes place each January at Calvin University. It strives to “cultivate deep thought and conversations about important issues of the day in order to inspire cultural rene...

On this week's program, host Phil Tower welcomes Robin Lott, executive Director, of Michigan’s Office of Postsecondary Financial Planning. Robin was most recently the executive director of MET…the Michigan Education Trust. MET is Michigan’s 529 prepaid tuition savings program which allows individuals to pay for future higher education at today's prices. MET is flexible, transferable, and even refu...

On this week's program, host Phil Tower from iHeartradio welcomes HOLO Footwear CEO, Rommel Vega. Phil spoke with Rommel this summer as a part of WOOD Radio's CEOs, You Should Know podcast feature. HOLO Footwear recently relocated to Grand Rapids. HOLO is best known for its brand attributes, including its sustainable outdoor footwear. HOLO makes shoes using recycled materials, and it focuses on ma...

On this week's program host Phil Tower, welcomes Paul Beachnau, Executive Director, of the Gaylord Area Convention and Tourism Bureau. Paul joined us in this segment to remind West Michigan, Gaylord is for snow lovers! For travelers in the mood for snowmobiling, skiing, snowshoeing, or just about anything else you can do in the snow, Gaylord, Michigan is a must-visit winter destination. The area a...

On this week's program host, Phil Tower welcomes Dave Lorenz, Vice President-Travel Michigan. Dave joined us in our first segment to talk about enjoying winter in West Michigan. That's right, winter, even for those who don't enjoy this time of year can be an absolute delight here in pure Michigan. Dave says even if you’re exploring Michigan for the first time this winter, there are several activit...

On this week's program… In our first segment, host Phil Tower speaks with Jennifer FitzPatrick, MSW, LCSW-C, CSP. Jennifer is the founder of Jenerations Health Education, Inc., a full-service healthcare education organization. Jennifer is also the author of the best-selling book "Cruising Through Caregiving: Reducing The Stress of Caring For Your Loved One.” Jennifer tells us that while caring for...

On this week's program host, Phil Tower welcomes Brandon Hewitt, attorney, and COO of Michigan Auto Law. Brandon joins Phil to discuss the report on “The most dangerous intersections in Kent County for 2021.” The annual list of the most dangerous intersections in Kent County is based on police car accident report data for 2021. The COVID pandemic and its resulting lockdowns significantly impacted...

On this week's program, host Phil Tower welcomes special guest John Otterbacher. John is a Grand Rapids native, and was born and raised in a working-class neighborhood, he has lived a life of extension and adventure; marathons and triathlons, years in a monastery, several motorcycle tours of America, a doctorate in clinical psychology, college teaching, an eight-year stint as a state representativ...

On this week's program host, Phil Tower welcomes Dennis Vankampen, President & CEO, of Mel Trotter Ministries. Dennis gives us an update on the latest priorities for serving the homeless, hungry, and at-risk families in West Michigan. Dennis also reminds us that Mel Trotter’s annual Turkey Drop is coming up. The Turkey Drop is a long-running tradition in West Michigan as Mel Trotter Ministries, WO...

On this week's program, host Phil Tower welcomes Dr. Dan Gowdy, President/CEO of Wedgwood Christian Services. Dr. Dan Gowdy gives an update on the positive impact of the many programs and services offered by Wedgwood for troubled adolescents struggling with anxiety, depression, and serious mental health issues. Dan's leadership guided Wedgwood through 30 months of navigating the burden of protecti...