West Michigan Weekend (A Public Affairs Program from iHeartradio)

In this episode, host Phil Tower speaks with  David Rubenstein… New York Times bestselling author of  The American Story  and  How to Lead,  host of PBS’s  History with David Rubenstein. David joined us to discuss his newest book, The Highest Calling: Conversations on the American Presidency.  In his new book,  The Highest Calling: Conversations on the American Presidency,  David Rubenstein conduc...

On our program this week, host Phil Tower welcomes back guest Kent Riddle, President and CEO of Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. Kent Riddle joined the program this week to discuss many exciting new developments and partnerships at Mary Free Bed. Kent shared briefly the story of how he and his family became acquainted with Mary Free Bed, as he described, "by accident" in the summer of 2002 a...

On the program this week, host Phil Tower welcomed  Michael Crittenden and Phil Biggs, partners and founders of the " Standing Together Concert Series ." The Standing Together concert series was created locally to raise money and awareness for mental illness and homelessness in the greater Grand Rapids area. Let's say West Michigan! Funds raised from the concert series are used to provide direct-t...

On the program this week, host Phil Tower welcomes  Catlin Whitington, executive director-ArtPrize.  This year's art prize runs from September 13 to 28, as the event will once again transform the city of Grand Rapids. This is Catlin's second year leading the biggest art event in North America, and he told us he learned a lot in his first year as chief architect of the iconic West Michigan event. F...

On this week's episode, host Phil Tower welcome s Tory Richardson, President & CEO of Gerald R. Ford International Airport. Tory was recently featured on the iHeartRadio podcast "CEOs You Should Know."  He joined us on the program to discuss a dynamic period of growth in travel and Ford International Airport's physical size.   Ford International Airport (GRR) recently started construction on a...

In this week's program, host Phil Tower welcomes the honorable Judge Sara Smolenski , who recently retired after 34 years as 63rd District Court Judge . Judge Smolenski retired on July 15th after 34 years on the bench. Judge Sara joined us to talk about her long career as an attorney and later judge, following in the footsteps of her father and brother, Michael. There's been a Smolenski on the ben...

On this week's program, host Phil Tower speaks with Andria Romkema,  Lead Organizer, Tech WeekGR.   Andria is also the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at The Right Place. WHAT IS TECH WEEK? Andria explained Tech Week as an "unconference”; It is participant-driven. That means the events, discussions, demos, and showcases are led by the people who live and work in our community...

On this week's program, host Phil Tower welcomes  Amirah Vosburgh, CEO of EQPD, formerly known as K12connect. EQPD is a non-profit organization committed to providing high-impact tutoring, tailored professional development, and efficient program management to ensure students, families, and schools have the resources they need to thrive.  Amirah told us that Michigan’s education system was recently...

On this week's program, host Phil Tower welcomes Mike Guswiler, President, The West Michigan Sports Commission.  Mike spoke with us about the powerful impact that sports tourism has nationally and here in West Michigan. Here in the U.S., the sports tourism sector generates over $52 billion in direct spending annually (up 31.5% from $39.7 billion in total direct spending in 2021) and a total econom...

During the program this week, host Phil Tower welcomes Bill Rayl, executive director of workforce solutions at The Michigan Manufacturers Association. Bill is MMA’s point person for efforts to develop sustainable talent ecosystems that serve the workforce needs of MMA members around the state. We’ve been hearing for years now that so many of the trades and businesses in Michigan that help to build...

On this week's program host, Phil Tower, welcomes Captain Paul Ryan, Vice-Chair, West Michigan Veterans Coalition, and Brad Dorland, founder and Director of Essential Patriot The West Michigan Veterans Coalition is a collaboration between local military-friendly organizations that provide support, information, and resources to those who have served or are serving in the Armed Forces and their Fami...

In this week's program, host Phil Tower welcomes Bob Lepine, a marriage and family expert and author of a powerful book on marriage: Love Like You Mean It: The Heart of a Marriage that Honors God.   Bob Lepine is best known to radio and podcast listeners as the long-time co-host of FamilyLife Today® and as the on-air announcer for Truth for Life with Alistair Begg.  Bob is also the Lead Pastor at...

On the program this week, host Phil Tower speaks with  Dr. Kevin Foley, MD, Medical Director of Trinity Health Medical Group Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Program in Grand Rapids.  Dr. Foley is also a teaching Professor with the Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University. Dr. Foley is one of the preeminent experts on dementia...

On this week's program, host Phil Tower welcomes Mike Madrid, author of The Latino Century: How America's Largest Minority Is Transforming Democracy.  In 2020, Latinos became the second-largest ethnic voting group in the country. Today, they make up the largest plurality of residents in the most populous states in the country, as well as the fastest segment of the most important swing states in th...

On this week's episode, host Phil Tower welcomes  John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman, hosts of the popular Michigan travel show, “Behind the Mitten."  John and Amy joined Phil to highlight some hotspots for Michigan travel this summer and share some off-the-beaten-path places that are their favorites and highly worth checking out. Some of these places include northeastern Michigan on the Lake Huron sho...

In this segment, host Phil Tower welcomes Kerry Lynch, sales director with Shorts Brewing, and Richard Anderson, co-founder of Iron Fish Distillery.  Kerry and Richard joined the program to discuss the unique “Made In Michigan partnership with Iron Fish Distillery and Short’s Brewing regarding the return of the limited-release Soft Parade® Vodka. This special release celebrates a collaboration bet...

On this week's program, host Phil Tower speaks with Jon Conkling, Grand Rapids Gran Fondo event director, and Jocelyn Detloff, Major Gifts Director with Mary Free Bed Foundation.     West Michigan's signature and largest road cycling event,   The Grand Rapids Gran Fondo, presented by Key Bank returns to downtown GR on Saturday, June 22nd. The start and finish of the race begins in downtown Grand R...

On this week's program, host Phil Tower welcomes  Paul Beachnau, Executive Director of the Gaylord Tourism Bureau . If you ask Paul, he’ll tell you Northern Michigan summers are the best… especially in Gaylord, Michigan.  If you haven’t experienced one lately, Paul covered the “Top 7 Reasons To Enjoy Summer in Gaylord, Michigan."  #1 Biking.  Gaylord is recognized as a top biking destination! The...

On this week's episode, host Phil Tower welcomes  Tom Sinas, partner at The Sinas Dramis Law Firm.  Tom is a long-time advocate for those with head injuries and bicycle safety with the Lids for Kids bicycle helmet giveaway. Sinas Dramis Law Firm and community partners are hosting Lids for Kids, one of Michigan's longest-running and best-known free bike helmet giveaways.   Each year, events are hel...

On the program this week, host Phil Tower, welcomes  Bill Coderre, president and CEO of Junior Achievement Michigan Great Lakes. JA's primary focus these days is helping students with financial literacy.  A big reason for that push with Junior achievement is that a new law passed in 2022 by the Michigan legislature requires that students must take a course in personal finance that is aligned with...

On this week's episode, host Phil Tower welcomes Rick Vuyst and Stacey Hirvela , hosts of the radio show and podcast Gardening Simplified from Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs. Rick and Stacey are life-long gardeners, and on every episode of Gardening Simplified, their passion is to share their love of plants and gardening.  Rick and Stacey shared their backgrounds with Phil. They talked about th...

On this week's program, host Phil Tower welcomes Nick Nerbonne, the Digital and Industry Relations Director with Travel Michigan. Nick joined us on the program to talk about the impact of sports and tourism on the state of Michigan.  Nick told us that sports tourism is a huge and very important part of the overall tourism picture for the state’s economy. The 2024 NFL Draft in downtown Detroit conc...

In this week's program, host Phil Tower welcomes back Chad Livengood, politics editor and columnist at The Detroit News.    Chad joined us in this program to discuss a broad range of political topics, focusing first on Michigan politics and the recent criminal charges brought against former speaker of the house, Lee Chatfield, by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.  In mid-April, Nessel unveile...

On this week's program, host Phil Tower welcomes Michigan Civil Rights Commission Chair Gloria Lara.   The Michigan Civil Rights Commission is sponsoring the final of four statewide public hearings on housing discrimination right here in Grand Rapids at the Community Center for Transformation on Sunday, April 28, 2024. The Michigan Department of Civil Rights will be hosting this special gathering...

On this week's program, host Phil Tower welcomes  Dr. Meg Jay, Ph. D.  Meg Jay. Meg is a developmental clinical psychologist who specializes in twentysomethings. She is also the author of a brand new book….. The Twentysomething Treatment: A Revolutionary Remedy for an Uncertain Age , and the author of “The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter and How to Make the Most of Them Now”  and “Supern...