In the Season 7 premiere, Mike welcomes good friends Tom Fishman and Mike “Kuz” Kuzan to the pod for a deeply scholarly, deeply unserious, and deeply Jersey conversation about music from New Jersey artists and the powerful, mysterious, occasionally misunderstood pull of the Garden State. Tom brings the perspective of someone who grew up in Queens and lived in Hoboken, Kuz joins from Asbury Park as both a Jersey resident and actual musician (like Tom), and Mike contributes as a music-loving outsider whose New Jersey knowledge comes largely through short visits, TV, movies, songs, and a healthy respect for places that inspire both pride and defensiveness.

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Email the podcast with any questions or requests at talkingfriendship@gmail.com

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Key moments from the pod:

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to Episode 1 of Season 7

2:00: Mike gives some life updates on what’s been going on with him, including some trip updates (London, St Pete Beach, a hockey trip north and Amsterdam).

4:50: A quick podcast staff wellness check

10:15: Mike welcomes Tom Fishman and Mike “Kuz” Kuzan onto the podcast for a rollicking discussion of who they are and why they’re the perfect guests for this episode on New Jersey music.

17:10: Mike lays out the plan for the rest of the episode.

18:00: The guys discuss the New Jersey myth/vibe and how New Jersey is everywhere.

25:00: What makes an artist “Jersey”

29:00: Kuz describes what it’s like living in Asbury Park

35:00: Mike kicks off the NJ song draft by explaining the ground-breaking format

36:00: A song about the entire country with deep ties to the Garden State AND Saginaw, Michigan.

43:30: A very deep cut song from the Boss about being born to move fast.

52:30: A supergroup track from a bunch of dudes who travel and sing songs about life.

1:02:30: A perfect song to drive into New Jersey if you’re a mob boss.

1:12:05: An homage to the females of Jersey from an icon with a unique singing voice.

1:21:10: This crooner could only approach life one way: his way.

1:30:00: A song about the nostalgia of suburban life in NJ

1:37:00: A rewritten alma mater at Eastside High, take a bow, Mrs. Powers.

1:43:00: A pop punk classic the evokes the 90s in the Garden State perfectly.

1:52:00: Boss-written, Band-performed: AC, baby

2:00:10: A 1970s protest anthem that propels you through a quest for justice

2:14:00: A rollicking bluegrass jam that truly tells a NJ story

Mike kicks off the finale to Season 6, where he discusses one of his favorite end-of-the-year holiday songs. A herculean task to get things down to just 20, Mike and the podcast staff are confident the 20 tracks Mike goes over will set your end-of-the-year holiday mood just right.

• Follow the podcast on Bluesky at @friendsofmiked
• Email the podcast with any questions or requests at talkingfriendship@gmail.com
• Please subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts. Please also rate and review the podcast.

Key moments from the pod:

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to Episode 6 of Season 6.

2:10: Mike talks a bit more about the format for this holiday music-themed episode

5:20: Mike breaks down his favorite 20 holiday songs of all time (spoiler alert: they are objectively the 20 best to many people)

In Episode 5 of Season 6 Mike welcomes noted college football fans and expert prognosticators Tim Horvath and Chad Massey for the guys’ annual college football preview of the 2025 season.

Follow the podcast on BLUESKY: @friendsofmiked

Email the podcast at talkingfriendship@gmail.com

Key moments from the pod:

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S6E5

1:40: Mike updates the listeners on the plan for the rest of Season 6 of the podcast

2:25: What’s been going on with Mike? Namely trips to Philadelphia and morning horror movies

4:30: Mike breaks down the rest of this episode and features a song that best encapsulates the attitude of the Michigan Wolverines heading into the 2025 season (spoiler alert: it’s not an old attitude)

9:45: Mike welcomes Tim Horvath and Chad Massey onto the podcast. There’s definitely some insurance humor involved as well as some life updates

15:15: Mike sets the table for the rest of the episode, starting with a quick recap of the 2024 season as well as a tailgate tradition that involves the mantra

29:20: The guys give their thoughts on the big offseason recruiting news about incoming freshman QB Bryce Underwood

37:50: The fellas then talk about which true freshmen they’re most excited about outside of Bryce Underwood

43:45: Next up is discussing their favorite pickups in the transfer portal for the Wolverines

46:40: The Big 10 has some annoying head coaches and the guys discuss them in non-annoying detail

54:15: Should the College Football Playoff be expanded from 12 to 16 teams? The guys debate this (in a respectful manner)

57:10: Reasons for optimism for the 2025 Michigan football season

1:01:00: Reasons for concern for the 2025 Michigan football season

1:04:00: Key position groups for the 2025 Michigan football season

1:07:00: Key individual players for the 2025 Michigan football season

1:11:00: The guys break down every game on Michigan’s 2025 schedule, starting with game 1 with the game against New Mexico Lobos

1:12:30: Oklahoma

1:17:00: Central Michigan

1:18:00: Nebraska

1:20:00: Bye Week (First ever Big House concert)

1:21:40: Wisconsin

1:24:50: USC

1:28:00: Washington

1:31:00: Michigan State

1:34:45: Purdue

1:36:15: Bye week

1:36:30: Northwestern (at Wrigley Field)

1:39:00: Maryland

1:41:00: Ohio State

1:46:00: The guys finish up by picking the Big 10 champions, the teams who will make the College Football Playoff and the National Champion.