In Episode 2 of Season 6 Mike welcomes his mate from Sheffield (England), Mark Charlton, for a scholarly discussion of the music of BritPop, redefining the genre in the process.

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Email the podcast at talkingfriendship@gmail.com

Key moments from the pod:

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S6E2 featuring Mark Charlton and a deep dive on all things BritPop

2:10: Mike updates the listeners on what’s been going on with him, including a trip to the Balkans (specifically Belgrade) for a mix of history, and going to see a phenomenal new film Sinners

12:20: Mike welcomes Mark Charlton to the podcast and he tells his life story having grown up in Sheffield, England and how it reminds him a bit of Detroit

16:00: The guys then trace the origins of their friendship via the Ann Arbor Mug Club including the last time they saw each other as well as a discussion of some amazing music artwork/infographics (wearedorothy.com) in Mark’s basement

20:40: Mike lays out the premise of the episode and discuss what BritPop means to them, including the music itself and the movement around it (and of course the rivalries!)

27:30: The guys discuss their 14 favorite BritPop songs of all time, starting with a song about a type of gold from one of Manchester's most decorated bands

40:30: A song for all people and one that involves a biting take down of class tourism that is also a propulsive jam

53:00: One of all time best Deborahs gets referenced in this romantic jam from one of Sheffield’s all time greatest bands

1:02:00: A song about going on holiday in Greece and letting you freak flag fly

1:12:00: A song from a massive BritPop band that’s both fun and a bit a surprising

1:21:20: A song about being alone on a motorcycle

1:30:30: An epic, atmospheric heightening song in every note

1:41:20: A B-side from a pioneer BritPop band about a glorious river

1:48:15: An amazing cover that completely reinvents the original song around a BritPop beat for the ages

1:57:25: An underrated song from band with instructions to sit (not stand)

2:05:40: A song from a UK band from the West Midlands who actually know a lot

2:13:00: A (largely) romantic upbeat song from the vision of one man

2:19:20: The swagger-inducing and enhancing song from a band with a flower in its name that’s also about love

2:28:15: The last song of the episode is a fitting end that focuses on looking forward (not backward)

In Episode 1 of Season 6 Mike welcomes two good buddies onto the podcast to kick off the season for a free flowing conversation about the friendship ties that bind and a yearly tradition that has become legendary from coast to coast.

Follow the podcast on BLUESKY: @friendsofmiked

Email the podcast at talkingfriendship@gmail.com

Key moments from the pod:

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S6E1 featuring Mark Sgriccia and Zach Drennen!

1:45: Mike sets the table for Season 6 of the podcast

2:28: MIke then talks about what’s been going on with him since Season 5 of the pod ended and it involves A LOT of amazing traveling including trips to:

3:20: Cancun!

4:00: Glasgow! (where Mike tried to play the bagpipes and failed miserably)

6:00: London! (where Mike scaled monuments, watched football (soccer), and learned some rock and roll history).

8:00: Canada (specifically Alberta) to see the Red Wings take down the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames along with soaking in some Canadian culture and fresh brews.

11:00: Italy (specifically Rome, Florence and Milan) for history, food, art, architecture, sport and friendship building!

14:15: Mike plays a smidge of an Italian song that he was listening to while traversing Italia on the trip.

18:00: Mike brings on two true blue Wolverines who have skyrocketed up his personal FQR (friendship quality rankings).

21:00: Mike lays out the plan for the rest of the episode, including introducing a long-standing friendship tradition

22:45: The guys get into the last time they saw each other, including an epic March Madness gathering at Zach’s as well as at the beginning of the Dusty May era.

28:00: Zach and Mark give their respective histories about becoming Michigan fans.

33:15: Zach then talks about how he’s become the wizard of recaps.

34:15: The guys talk about how they first crossed paths at the Michigan/Penn State game in State College in 2023.

42:30: Zach and Mark reflect on what the 2023 Michigan football season means to them.

47:15: The guys then talk about the 2024 season and how it compared to 2023 as well as noting how Ohio State’s 2024 “championship” season will forever be less than.

55:00: Mark and Zach then give the history of their road game weekend tradition.

1:02:00: The guys then go over the most recent iteration of this epic tradition: the Michigan/Washington game in Seattle in 2024.

1:09:00: Mark then talks through how the specific road game for the RGWT (road game weekend tradition) gets chosen which involves a west coast BBQ, a powerpoint/Google slides presentation and data-informed decision making.

1:15:00: The guys then discuss the plans for the 2025 Michigan/USC road game in LA (which is NOT necessarily the official RGWT choice for the 2025 season.

1:19:00: The guys then talk about the vibes for the 2025 Michigan football team as of the spring of 2025.

1:24:45: The episode comes to an end with the guys sharing what makes the RGWT special and where it might go.

In Episode 17 of Season 5 Mike and the usual college football preview crew (Tim Horvath and Chad Massey) pick back up for their fourth annual college football preview podcast episode, this time focused on the 2024 season with a slight focus on the Michigan Wolverines (reigning national champions of the whole nation).

Follow the podcast on Twitter/X: @friendsofmiked

Email the podcast at talkingfriendship@gmail.com

Key moments from the pod:

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S5E17 featuring Tim Horvath and Chad Massey

3:00: Mike talks about the plans for the podcast offseason and Season 6 and then corrects some huge errors from prior episodes, including an inaccurate description of Great Britain and her component nations as well as a misallocated sack in the Rose Bowl (apologies to Josiah Stewart)

5:30: Mike then recaps his trip to CDMX aka Mexico City (and how much he loved it).

6:45: Finally, Mike features a small bit of a new Eddie Vedder cover track that speaks to the current state of the Michigan Wolverine football team.

13:30: Mike welcomes Tim Horvath and Chad Massey into the podcast studio and the guys give comprehensive life updates, including Tim’s son spurning Purdue to become a Wolverine.

20:30: The guys touch on their thoughts on college football conference realignment.

24:15: Next up is a discussion of the revamped Michigan coaching staff led by Sherrone Moore, including new Defensive Coordinator Wink Martindale.

31:00: The guys then talk about the evolution of Michigan’s approach to name, image and likeness (NIL) rights, including how critical using NIL to retain players has been for the Wolverines.

37:15: The Big 10 has brought in several new head coaches and the guys discuss who they are most intrigued by coming into 2024.

41:15: The guys then go through their reasons for optimism for Michigan football in 2024. The future is bright!

45:40: Next up are reasons for concern for the 2024 Michigan Wolverines.

49:20: The guys then talk about their key players for Michigan’s season.

56:00: Key Michigan football position groups for the season.

58:45: The guys then go game by game through Michigan’s season starting with Fresno St

1:00:15: Texas

1:03:15: Arkansas St

1:04:05: Southern California

1:06:00: The Battle for the Brown Jug (Minnesota)

1:07:40: Washington

1:11:30: Illinois

1:14:30: Michigan State

1:20:00: Oregon

1:23:15: Indiana

1:25:00: Northwestern

1:27:15: Ohio State

1:34:45: The guys predict the Big 10 Champion

1:36:30: The guys then predict the 12 Team playoff and national champions

1:41:45: The episode wraps up with an emotional sign off

In Episode 16 of Season 5 Mike and his best in the nation Michigan fan buddies Irfan Bhabhrawala and Kevin Werner put a bow on a legendary season of college football, friendship and life by discussing the 2024 National Championship game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Washington Huskies.

Follow the podcast on Twitter/X: @friendsofmiked

Email the podcast at talkingfriendship@gmail.com

Key moments from the pod:

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S5E16 featuring Irfan Bhabhrawala and Kevin Werner

4:00: Mike corrects zero mistakes from past episodes

5:00: What’s been going with Mike D? Practicing gratitude and how Mike is incredibly grateful for what the 2023 Michigan football team has given to him.

15:15: Mike welcomes on Irfan and Kevin to set the table for a deep dive on the 2024 National Championship game with Irfan and Kevin also telling their respective life stories, which include Irfan becoming a titan of finance and Kevin impressing his wife with his level of internet fame among Michigan fans.

34:30: The guys talk about the last time they saw each other and what they were doing as well as their thoughts coming into the 2023 Michigan football season.

44:00: Next up is a discussion about their thoughts on the National Championship game opponent for Michigan, the Washington Huskies.

53:00: The guys talk about some of the logistical challenges in even getting to Houston as fans (especially Irfan and Kevin), including Irfan’s command of the travel logistics variables. Truly legendary.

1:02:00: It’s game day in Houston! The guys discuss their now iconic hotel lobby tailgate and unique the feeling was that Monday leading up to the game.

1:09:50: The guys then break down Michigan’s National Championship victory over the Washington Huskies.

1:38:00: Michigan are your national champions!!! The guys reflect on what it felt to be there and the immediate aftermath of the glorious victory, which includes the best (or at least most satisfying) burrito Kevin and Irfan have ever eaten.

1:45:00: The guys wrap up with a philosophical reflection on the lasting meaning of Michigan’s 2023 season. It’s one that will never be forgotten.

In Episode 15 of Season 5 Mike and his cool California buddies PJ and Arvind talk the 2024 Rose Bowl, the site of Michigan’s now iconic playoff win over the Alabama Crimson Tide in Overtime, in one of most memorable Michigan football wins in the history of not only the Michigan program but all of college football.

Follow the podcast on Twitter/X: @friendsofmiked

Email the podcast at talkingfriendship@gmail.com

Key moments from the pod:

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S5E15 featuring Prashant “PJ” Jolepalem and Arvind Ramakrishnan

2:45: Mike corrects some embarrassing gaffes from past episodes, including misstatements about where in North Carolina he recently visited and his friend Jay Bibby’s citizenship.

4:15: Mike talks (very quickly) about what’s been going on with him, including invoking “res ipsa loquitur” to describe the conversation later in the episode with his buddies PJ and Arvind, and the song that captures the vibe of this legendary game and experience.

10:30: Mike welcomes Prashant and Arvind onto the podcast and they introduce themselves to the listeners and the three trace the origins of their friendship.

17:30: The guys talk about the importance of thinking through “tailgate logistics” ahead of time.

20:30: Next up the guys talk about their thoughts about this Michigan football team coming into the season, looking back on how Michigan got to Pasadena and whether Mike D received a championship ring based on this season.

28:00: The guys talk about what the experience was like leading up to the game itself in Southern California, including meeting up with their good buddy Zach, watching Lions/Cowboys from LA Live and how Mike was fighting a brutal cold (but pushed through!).

33:00: It’s January 1, 2024 aka game day in Pasadena. The guys talk about taking LA public transit up to the game, the Tournament of Roses parade, walking to the Stadium (eschewing the shuttle) and tailgating on the golf course.

40:00: Next the guys head into the stadium itself and begin the tale of what happened in the game itself.

1:19:00: Ecstasy and relief!! Michigan wins and the guys try to describe it.

In Episode 14 of Season 5 Mike and his longtime Michigan football buddy Ryan Lewin talk the 2023 Big 10 Championship game, including what the experience is like attending this college football fiesta in person in Indianapolis and how the Wolverines clinched their third straight undisputed Big 10 Championship against the hapless Iowa Hawkeyes.

Follow the podcast on Twitter/X: @friendsofmiked

Email the podcast at talkingfriendship@gmail.com

Key moments from the pod:

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S5E14 featuring Ryan Lewin (S1E2 + S3E2.5)

2:00: Mike corrects…..nothing....again!

3:00: Mike then updates the listeners on what’s been going on with him, including a trip to North Carolina and watching the TV show Shoresy.

7:00: Mike sets the table for the rest of the episode, including identifying a song that comes from a band both this episode’s guest Ryan Lewin and he love and how the track encapsulates the feeling of the Michigan football team and its fans like Mike and Ryan heading into the 2023 Big 10 Championship Game (and featured in S3E2.5).

13:00: Mike welcomes Ryan Lewin back to the Podcast, they talk about the new Bleachers album and Ryan gives an update on his amazing life (including the addition of Roscoe the dog) and how it's going.

18:30: The guys then talk about the pure objectivity of the Michigan football team fandom of Ryan’s sons as well as the last time they saw each other in person.

24:00: Next up the guys look back about how they were feeling as Michigan’s season played out up to this point.

28:00: American Hero Conor Stalions is discussed and the mental state of the team around this “scandal”

31:00: The guys talk about the entire experience of heading to Indianapolis for the Big 10 Championship Game in person and how it’s a sports experience not to be missed, including the fan fest and how Mike set a pitching speed record as well as the rest of the day leading up to the game. The guys talk about how Ryan’s son Oliver is a very level headed, objective Michigan fan.

36:30: Next up the guys set the table for this old fashioned Big 10 slugfest (largely due to Iowa’s anemic offense).

42:00: Mike and Ryan go deep on the key plays from the Big 10 Championship Game.

53:00: Mike talks about the satisfaction of being able to hang another Michigan banner in Lucas Oil Stadium once the game was won by Michigan.

55:40: The guys talk about what was next for Michigan in the College Football Playoff and who they thought the four teams should’ve been.

1:01:40: Ryan talks about what it is about Michigan football that keeps his passion.

In Episode 13 of Season 5 Mike brings back two foremost experts on Michigan Football in former guests (and current dear friends) Brock Steere and Tim Horvath to talk THE GAME (Michigan football v Ohio State from 2023) and discuss what the rivalry means, where it’s been and how Michigan came out on top in the greatest rivalry in sports.

Follow the podcast on Twitter/X: @friendsofmiked

Email the podcast at talkingfriendship@gmail.com

Key moments from the pod:

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S5E13 featuring Brock Steere (S1E12) and Tim Horvath (S1E11)

2:00: Mike corrects…..nothing!

2:20: Mike then summarizes what’s been going on with him, including a road trip to Cin City aka Cincinnati to see the Tigers take on the Reds and take in all Cincinnati has to offer (which is a lot).

6:45: Mike plugs a recent film he saw on long time best bud Todd Pretty’s recommendation: Snack Shack, a true coming of age story set in the 90s (when Mike came of age in real life!) and a (new) classic song from the closing credits of the movie.

13:40: Mike kicks off a rousing conversation with Brock Steere and Tim Horvath to talk Michigan/Ohio State as the guys give some updates on their lives.

20:00: The guys set the table for the rest of this epic episode featuring an epic rivalry and their thoughts about this game coming into it as well as the evolution of the rivalry overall.

29:00: How Michigan has been the tougher team in this rivalry and it eats the Buckeyes up inside.

34:30: Brock then speaks to what OSU fans feel about Ryan Day from an Ohio resident’s perspective and why this particular Michigan/OSU game was even more important than normal.

38:40: The guys then talk about the Friday night before the game and running into Bill Steere along with the epic tailgate beforehand and how there’s no other feeling like the morning of a Michigan/OSU game.

45:00: Next up is a breakdown of THE GAME in a level of detail that may give you chills (in a good way, not like in a flu-like way), clarifying that the Ohio State Buckeyes are not, in fact, world famous and are also great at getting beat by Michigan, how this game showed how much Michigan will miss QB JJ McCarthy, the really unfortunate Zak Zinter injury and how Michigan bounced back (1:03:00), and Rod Moore calling game (1:14:00).

1:20:00: The guys wind down the episode talking about what the game ultimately came down to as well as celebrating the win and the feeling coming out of this game with respect to the rest of the season.

1:24:00: Brock and Tim share what Michigan football means to them.

In Episode 12 of Season 5 Mike welcomes back one of the foremost authorities on Michigan football, insurance and friendship in all of Washtenaw County nay the State of Michigan nay the World in longtime guest and friend Chad Massey to talk through a class Michigan football “trap game” from the 2023 season in their final road tilt of the season at the University of Maryland Terrapins.

Follow the podcast on Twitter/X: @friendsofmiked

Email the podcast at talkingfriendship@gmail.com

Key moments from the pod:

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S5E12 featuring Mike’s wise friend Chad Massey.

1:45: Mike goes on to correct a HUGE mistake from S5E11 (The Penn State episode) relating to a missed fact that is super embarrassing for Mike.

2:45: Mike then gives an update on what’s been going on with him, including continuing to watch both the Euros and Copa America, attending an MMJ concert in Detroit, an epic 4th of July party at the Bibbys (Season 5 Episode 8 guests Jay and Andrea Bibby), and Season 3 on Hulu.

5:30: Mike then features a bit of a track dedicated to this episode’s guest (Chad Massey) and his deep passion for all things insurance.

12:30: Mike welcomes long time guest Chad Massey back onto the podcast to give a quick life update.

16:30: The guys then talk about the last time they saw each other at Detroit Tigers Opening Day.

18:00: Chad talks about who his longest running friend is and what’s kept that friendship going over the years as well as his thoughts on how Michigan football had performed up to this point in the season including managing the Conor Stalions nonsense.

22:00: Mike and Chad then set the table for the Maryland game with Michigan missing Head Coach Jim Harbaugh for the second straight game.

29:00: Mike leads a discussion of the key moments from the 2023 Michigan/Maryland game including how Chad decided to make the trip down to College Park, and how this was a truly historic win in the annals of Michigan football.

45:45: The guys talk about how they were feeling coming out of this narrow win by Michigan over Maryland and Chad shares some inside info about just how banged up JJ McCarthy really was coming out of this game.

51:00: Chad finishes up by talking about what it is about Michigan football that keeps him passionate about life and college football.