We met Jeff Wood and Ryan Malott at GIG–The Art of Michigan Music, and instantly wanted to hear their story. In this episode, the hosts of The Mitten Music Podcast share how their show got started, what they have learned after 100-plus episodes, why video has become a game-changer for reaching new listeners, and what they are building next with a more on-the-road format that puts Michigan venues, festivals, and artists in the spotlight.

Listen to their podcast’s episode featuring the artists from the GIG- The Art of Michigan Music annual event on November 8th.

Links mentioned

* The Mitten Music Podcast

* GIG - The Art of Michigan Music

* Local Spins

* Sounds of the Zoo

* WYCE

* Oddfellow Concert Lounge

* Perrin Brewing

* Bell’s Hopslam

* Vertigo Music

* Pux Cider

* Warner Vineyards

Ken Konarzewski Jr. joins Chuck and Brenda for a relaxed, post-Turkey Day conversation that starts with comfort food and quickly turns to two things Ken knows well: Michigan craft beer and bowling.

Ken looks back on launching the Better On Draft Podcast in 2015 out of Podcast Detroit in Ferndale, on how the show grew into hundreds of episodes, and on what it was like to be part of the early days of podcasting in the Michigan beer scene. He also shares thoughtful advice for new podcasters.

The conversation then shifts to bowling, where Ken talks about growing up in a bowling family, becoming a certified coach, and working with high school bowlers in Saline. He explains how modern bowling has evolved, why it’s often misunderstood, and what he emphasizes most with his players: staying present, having fun, and not getting in your own head.

Along the way, Ken shares NA beer recommendations, his candid take on beer flights, and the story behind his passion project, the Michigan Brewery Map app, a free resource that helps people find breweries, cideries, meaderies, wineries, distilleries, and festivals across the state.

The episode wraps with Ken’s perfect Michigan day, which includes bowling, Detroit-style pizza, karaoke, and a beer to finish it all off.

Links and mentions

Better On DraftMichigan Brewery Map AppUnited States Bowling Congress (USBC), Ken’s Coaching Page

Places mentioned

Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth Revel and Roll Ann Arbor Station 300 Saline Produce Station Ann Arbor Merchant’s Fine Wine DearbornFull Measure BreweryKuhnhenn BrewingDragonmead Brewery Rochester Mills Beer Co. Mothfire Brewing Co. Scoreboard Bar and Grill Allen Park Loui’s Pizza Hazel Park On the Rocks Bar Madison Heights

In this episode, we visit with Lorri Smith and Patty Barton from Peace Pie in Marquette. Lorri shares Peace Pie’s humble beginnings, from apartment baking to the farmers’ market.

Lorri and Patty share details about the drunken pasty pie made with Kognisjon Bryggeri’s Midnight Society beer, plans for a pierogi-and-dumpling truck, and a values-driven approach to team and community. Peace Pie sources locally when possible, composts with Partridge Creek Compost, and keeps creativity, service, and fairness at the center.

We Cover:

* The origin of Peace Pie’s name

* How community and creativity shape their business

* Behind-the-scenes lessons from their first two years

* Why pie really is a recipe for peace

Also, we interviewed Lorri in 2024 for a Life In Michigan article, just as she was opening Peace Pie. Check it out for my details and pictures.

Visit Peace Pie:

📍 1501 Division Street, South Marquette, Michigan🌐 peacepiecompany.com📲 Follow on Facebook and Instagram

In this episode, we talk with Marissa Jardine, clinic manager at the Bird Center of Michigan, about how their team rescues, rehabilitates, and releases thousands of injured and orphaned birds each year.

We cover:

* The most common reasons birds need help (window strikes, cat attacks, orphaning)

* What to actually do if you find a baby bird

* How the center trains interns and volunteers

* The emotional side of wildlife rehab

* A powerful rescue story involving a mallard shot with a pellet gun

* How you can help—from volunteering to fostering ducklings

Find out what it takes to keep Michigan’s wild birds wild, and how the Bird Center is making a difference one patient at a time.

birdcentermi.org

🙂IG/FB/Threads/TikTok: @birdcentermi

What happens when your neighbor, who works for the local sheriff, wants to buy your homebrew and you realize bootlegging might not be your best business model? You start a brewery — with a little grit, a lot of heart, and unwavering support from your community.

In this episode, we sit down with Zack and Jessie Bigelow, the powerhouse duo behind Ramshackle Brewing in Jonesville, Michigan. They share how their DIY beer beginnings (think Dremel-cut keg and Igloo cooler mash tun) evolved into a small but mighty brewery affectionately known as The Community Brewery.

We explore:

* The grassroots funding journey that launched Ramshackle after multiple near-misses

* How collaborations with local businesses (Jonesville Bakery, Carle Meats, Saucy Dogs, Mac Brush Co., and Rebel Farms) fuel creative beers and community bonds

* Their beloved Paw Paw beer, Michigan Native Rebel, made with real fruit harvested in Hillsdale County

* The wildly popular “beer it forward” wall — complete with sticky notes, surprise reconnections, and Carlton dances

* Artist partnerships, storytelling nights, nonprofit trivia takeovers, and the joy of bringing hippies and hunters together over a pint

Zack and Jessie also reflect on the role small breweries play in connecting people across divides, and what it means to foster creativity, comfort, and conversation in a place with no TVs and lots of duct tape (literally).

Whether you’re into banana-fermented beers, community theater collaborations, or just need a reason to visit the “butt crack of Michigan,” this episode is for you.

🔗 Links & Mentions:

* Ramshackle Brewing

* Jonesville Bakery

* Rebel Farms

* Mac Brush Company

* The SAUK Theater

* Nash Nurseries – Website

* Rob Prince / My Michigan Story (WKAR)

🍺 Beers to Try:

* Michigan Native Rebel – Pale ale with real paw paw fruit

* Granny’s Jam – Strawberry gosePunk Rock Squirrel – West Coast IPA (collab with Mac Brush Co.)

* Bananas Foster Ale – A polarizing fan-favorite for the adventurous

* English Drizzle – Jessie’s go-to brew

📍 Where’s Jonesville?

Halfway between Detroit and Chicago, nestled in Michigan’s southern tier along US-12 — not far from the Ohio and Indiana borders. Small but brimming with local gems, from the historic Powers Clothing (the oldest Carhartt dealer in the U.S.) to saucy BBQ joints and vintage gift shops.

In this episode of the Life In Michigan podcast, we sit down with Maria Skrzynski, Content Strategist at Destination Ann Arbor, to explore her journey into travel storytelling, her love for Ypsilanti, and the creative heart of Michigan.

Maria shares how a front-desk role at the Ypsilanti Visitor Center sparked a passion that eventually led her to shape regional storytelling through Ypsi Real and Destination Ann Arbor. We talk about building authentic content that reflects local communities, inclusive marketing campaigns, and why she believes storytelling starts with real people and real places.

Highlights include:

* Maria’s personal and professional love affair with Ypsilanti

* The story behind Ypsi Real and how it supports local identity

* Her creative involvement with Riverside Arts Center and the arts scene across Washtenaw County

* Reflections on visibility, representation, and finding your people

* Local gems like Bitter Truth, Hidden King, and the Drop Top pizza scene in Saline

We also dish on new and favorite Michigan spots—from upscale eats to funky record stores—and wrap up with Maria’s perfect Michigan day.

🔗 Mentioned in this episode:

* Ypsi Real

* Destination Ann Arbor

* Riverside Arts Center

* Pride Source article: “Finding Your People”

* Creative Washtenaw

* Hidden King

* Drop Top Pizza

* Manchester Brewing

* Echelon

* Water Tower Distilling Co.

* Creative Mornings A2

* 22 North Gallery

Follow Maria’s work:

Maria’s profile at Destination Ann Arbor

In this episode of the Life In Michigan Podcast, we’re joined by Barry LaRue—a lifelong Ypsilanti resident, community historian, and retired University of Michigan Performance Hall Operations Manager. Barry’s deep love for history, preservation, and the arts has shaped the fabric of Ypsilanti in ways most people don’t even realize.

We met up with Barry earlier this past July while exploring Starkweather Chapel at Highland Cemetery. His passion for sharing local history inspired our recap article “Exploring Starkweather Chapel and the Woman Who Built It”. In this interview, Barry takes us beyond the chapel to share the stories of his decades-long work restoring local landmarks, managing U-M’s performance halls, and founding the Riverside Arts Center.

Highlights from our conversation:

* How a childhood fascination with gravestones led to decades of historic preservation

* The unique history and restoration of Starkweather Memorial Chapel

* Barry’s 41-year career at U-M, managing venues like Hill Auditorium and the Arthur Miller Theatre

* Founding the Riverside Arts Center and repurposing historic buildings for community arts

* Ypsilanti’s architectural treasures, local solar energy efforts, and why cemeteries can be parks tooWhy a perfect Michigan day includes Picker Lake, birdsong, and a Nicie Spicie from Short’s Brewing

Barry’s dedication to his hometown is a reminder that history isn’t just found in books—it’s all around us, waiting to be preserved, restored, and celebrated.

If you’d like to help ensure Starkweather Chapel remains a vibrant part of Ypsilanti’s story, consider donating to the Highland Cemetery Association’s Chapel Fund. Every contribution helps preserve the past for future generations. You can also support the Riverside Arts Center—your generosity keeps this vital community space thriving.