Grand Convos

**Explicit Content Warning** Grand Rapids has a history that doesn't always make it into the history books. This time, we're heading back to the swinging red-light district of Division Avenue in the mid-1990s, where a series of brutal murders left women dead and families searching for answers. Many of the victims were women living on the margins, working in the sex trade to support their families...

Amanda's back from Florida, but let's just say this wasn't your typical vay-cay… We'll save the details for the episode! Meanwhile, Margaret takes a trip to a sound bath (will she emerge squeakly clean?), we put some questionable and fabulous fashion on display, and tackle one of life's coziest questions: FLANNEL SHEETS. Are we fans? Is it time? Or are we all just one cold night away from becoming...

Grand Rapids is a sports town...and there’s WAY more happening here than you might realize! Join us as we take a trip through the history of Grand Rapids basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, volleyball and a few sports you probably didn’t even know had teams in our city. We’re also looking ahead to the future of GR sports with the new soccer stadium set to welcome fans next spring. AND… it’s time...

Fall is officially here, which means the weather is getting colder, the blankets are getting cozier, and we’re all finding increasingly creative ways to avoid going outside. This week, we’re yapping about what we’re currently reading and watching ... from books we can’t put down to TV shows that have us DEEP in the binge trenches. And because this is Grand Yappin, you already know we’ll be taking...

Grand Rapids has been hiding in pop culture this whole time. In this episode, we’re digging into the weird, wild and surprisingly extensive ways GR has shown up in movies, TV, music and other media. Learn how 50 Cent almost became a Grand Rapidian, why Margaret has VERY strong feelings about a certain type of underwear, and what iconic movie from our teenage years was heavily influenced by Grand R...

It’s a Grand Yappin’, so naturally… we have absolutely no idea where this conversation is going. Amanda spills the tea on her pet psychic reading, we get into the very serious science of girl math, collectively decide we do NOT want the new iPhone, and somehow end up talking about Fresca. No theme. No agenda. Just two broads yappin’. Grab a bevvy, settle in, and come yap with us.

Grand Rapids is changing ... and we have QUESTIONS! This week on Grand Convos, we’re talking about some pretty major changes happening around our city. The Griffins have officially bumped their legendary Friday beer and hot dog deal to $3 after years of $2, and even longer ago when you could get both for just ONE DOLLAR. We’re digging into the history of the promotion and asking the question every...

Kesha, noise ordinances, scooters, and… Michigan’s work ethic?! This week on Grand Convos, we’re covering a little bit of EVERYTHING happening around Grand Rapids. We’re recapping the Kesha concert at Acrisure Amphitheater and talking about the latest legal drama surrounding the venue—including a new ruling from a Grand Rapids judge that prohibits the theater from violating the city’s noise ordina...

What the flock is a Flock camera?! 👀 This week on Grand Convos, we're diving into the increasingly controversial world of Flock cameras. What exactly are they? Why do police departments love them? What are they actually being used for? And why are people in our community raising some VERY serious concerns about them? We're breaking down the good, the bad, the creepy, and the downright controversi...

Apparently, millennials have ruined everything. Chain restaurants. Homeownership. Napkins. The economy. Probably the dinosaurs, too. This week on Grand Yappin', we're finally getting the chance to air our millennial grievances. Why do Boomers blame us for everything while Gen Z makes fun of us at the same time? Why are we still the unpaid IT department for our entire family? And can we please just...

You know the streets. You know the parks. You know the buildings. But…do you know WHO they're named after? This week on Grand Convos, we're taking a closer look at the people behind some of Grand Rapids' most familiar names. From streets and neighborhoods to parks, buildings and landmarks, we're uncovering the stories behind the names we see every day. Some of these people you'll recognize. Others...

This week on Grand Yappin ' , we're taking you on an emotional roller coaster...and honestly, we didn't even buy tickets. First stop: the social media trends we absolutely cannot stand. The ones that make us want to throw our phones across the room, mute the internet, and ask, "Who started this?!" But don't worry—we don't stay salty forever. We flip the script and end on a high note with the littl...

Ope...we've got game for you! This week we're testing each other (and you) with Michigan or Made Up? One of us reads a word or phrase, and the other has to guess whether it's an actual Michigan saying, a Midwest classic, or something we totally made up. From "party store" and "fudgie" to some absolutely ridiculous fake terms, we're celebrating the strange, charming, and sometimes confusing languag...

This week on Grand Yappin', we're diving into the wonderfully weird world of celebrity riders. What does your favorite celeb really demand backstage? Private chefs? Designer toilet paper? Bowls of candy with suspiciously specific rules? We break down some of the most outrageous requests and decide which ones are genius...and which ones are just plain extra. Then we're asking the ultimate impossibl...

How Grand Rapids are you, really? In this episode, we're putting your local credentials to the test with the ultimate Grand Rapids checklist. From walking across the Blue Bridge and debating the best craft breweries to living by the famous "Be Nice." mantra and all the little quirks that make West Michigan unique, we're covering the traditions, places, and experiences that every true Grand Rapidia...

Why did no one tell us? This week on Grand Yappin, we’re sharing the things we learned embarrassingly late in life—from “mythical” creatures that turned out to be very real, to life hacks we somehow missed for decades. Plus, is your ceiling fan actually helping you cool down… or working against you? Join us for a very relatable episode full of late discoveries, questionable common knowledge, and p...

The Acrisure Amphitheater is officially open, and Grand Rapids has opinions. Some people love having major concerts downtown. Others say they can hear every song from miles away, and the late-night noise has become a real problem. This week we're diving into both sides of the debate. Margaret shares her experience attending one of the first concerts, we unpack why the sound is traveling so much fa...

Everyone has an opinion they're willing to defend forever, and this week we're sharing ours. From Diet Coke debates and everyday annoyances to bigger conversations about healthcare and everything in between, we're planting our flags and refusing to budge. Are we right? Maybe. Are we changing our minds? Absolutely not. Grab a drink and join us for an episode full of hot takes, strong opinions, and...

Summer is finally here, and we're sharing our ultimate West Michigan bucket list! From beach days and patio drinks to family adventures, wine tastings, outdoor dining, and hidden gems you may have never heard of, we've packed this episode with ideas to help you make the most of the season. Whether you're planning a staycation or looking for your next weekend adventure, we've got something for ever...

You asked, we delivered! This week we're revealing the 10 people, places, and things we absolutely cannot live without—and you might be surprised by what made the list. Margaret also shares her official Mommy Must Haves, we break down our summer TV watch guide, uncover a deep dark family secret, and somehow end up discussing... goose breasts? No topic is safe, no tangent is too far, and it's all c...

From iconic towers to packed concert nights, the story of downtown Grand Rapids is written in its skyline. This week on Grand Convos, we're exploring the buildings and venues that helped transform the city—including the outsized role of Van Andel Arena in turning downtown from a quiet district into the vibrant heart of West Michigan. We'll uncover what happens inside some of the city's most recogn...

This week on Grand Yappin, we’re diving headfirst into the wild world of conspiracy theories — and honestly? Some of them are completely unhinged… while others feel just believable enough to make you spiral at 2am. From Britney Spears theories to Michigan’s legendary Dogman, we cover a huge range of conspiracies, including a few with a distinctly Grand Rapids twist. Margaret also shares an update...

In this episode of Grand Convos , we take a closer look at the heartbreaking case of Aundria Bowman — the Hamilton, Michigan teen whose disappearance remained a mystery for decades before the shocking truth finally came to light. What began as a missing persons case ultimately revealed a horrifying reality: the person responsible was her adoptive father, Dennis Bowman. We recount the devastating d...

This week on Grand Yappin , Margaret opens up about one of the most personal experiences she’s ever shared publicly — her first ketamine infusion therapy session. From the initial conversations with her doctor to making the decision to pursue treatment, she walks us through what led her here and why ketamine therapy is becoming a real option for people struggling with mental health. We also break...

Grab your champagne and designer sunglasses...we’re talking snobbery. After finding a list of Michigan’s 100 most "refined" cities, we were shocked to see how many West Michigan favorites were high on the list. From high-end zip codes to "exclusive" vibes, we’re asking the hard questions: Is your town snobby, or just misunderstood? Plus, we give you a sneak peek at what’s coming up next on Grand C...