Most weeks on Total Michigan, Cliff DuVernois sits down with dreamers and doers who are making our state brighter.

This week, the spotlight turns inward.

In this deeply personal year-in-review episode, Cliff reflects on 2025—a year defined by creative growth, unexpected limitations, and the heavy, sacred work of caregiving. As his mother’s dementia progressed, the life he had carefully built was slowly reshaped by responsibility, sacrifice, and hard decisions no one prepares you for.

What emerged from that pressure wasn’t the end of Total Michigan, but a clearer purpose, stronger storytelling, and a deeper understanding of what it means to slow down, let go, and trust God with what you cannot control.

This is a story about love, loss, resilience, and learning when to stop being the caregiver—and start being the son.

In this episode of Total Michigan, we sit down with Pete Sanford, the owner of Steele Street Brewing in Ionia, to explore how an unexpected career change, a run-down building, and a simple desire to create a welcoming space turned into one of the community’s most beloved gathering places. Pete shares the heart, grit, and vision behind building a true hometown pub—where tables get pushed together, conversations flow effortlessly, and belonging is poured one pint at a time.

• How Pete transformed a neglected building into a community hub
• The challenges and surprises of starting and running a small-town brewery
• Why Steele Street Brewing has become Ionia’s unofficial living room

Links:

Steele Street Brewing

300 S Steele Street

Ionia, MI, 48846

Website: https://www.steelestreetbrewing.com/

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Can business truly be a force for good? In this episode, Cliff DuVernois talks with Gene Pickelman, co-founder of Tri-Star Trust Bank, about Conscious Capitalism — a people-first approach that builds leaders, supports families, and strengthens entire communities. Gene shares how choosing people over profit transformed Tri-Star’s culture and sparked a movement across the Great Lakes Bay Region, proving that purpose-driven business can create impact far beyond the workplace. A powerful conversation about heart, grit, and what leadership can look like when people and profit work together.

Links:

Conscious Capitalism: https://www.consciouscapitalism.org/

Tri-Star Trust: https://www.tristartrust.com/

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Step inside the Stomping Grounds Cafe with Annalia, the energetic owner serving up sunshine, sugar comas, and small-town charm in Durand, Michigan. Discover how she went from barista to boss, the wild ride of running a local favorite, and the secret behind their legendary “freak shakes.” Annalia shares the highs, the chaos, and the heartwarming community spirit that keeps her going. You’ll learn what it takes to thrive as a small business owner, and why supporting local matters more than ever. Tune in for inspiration, laughs, and a taste of Michigan’s best coffee culture!

Address:

200 N Saginaw St,

Durand, MI 48429

Links:

Stomping Grounds Cafe (Facebook)

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In the tiny lakeside town of Empire, Michigan, the scent of melted chocolate drifts through the air. But inside Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate, co-owner Jody Hayden is doing far more than creating sweet treats — she’s rewriting the story of chocolate itself.

From her early days working with Mayan farmers in Mexico to handcrafting ethically sourced confections in northern Michigan, Jody has built a business that proves indulgence and integrity can coexist. She shares how small farmers across the globe are finally being paid fairly, why some cacao growers have never even tasted chocolate, and how every bar from her shop carries a piece of social change.

Address:

11590 S Lacore St,

Empire, MI 49630

Links:

👉 Website: https://www.grocersdaughter.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrocersDaughterChocolate

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Jon Plummer, co-owner of Moomers Homemade Ice Cream in Traverse City, shares how a small family dairy farm blossomed into one of Michigan’s most beloved ice cream destinations. From the national spotlight of Good Morning America to the creation of their signature Cherries Moobilee flavor, Jon shares how Moomers became more than just a place to grab a cone—it’s an experience rooted in family, community, and joy.

• How a family dairy farm in Traverse City grew into Moomers, a nationally recognized ice cream destination.
• Why balancing tradition, family, and innovation is the secret ingredient to Moomers’ lasting success.
• The story behind their signature flavor , Cherries Moobilee—and how customer involvement shaped it into a Michigan icon.

Links:

Website: https://moomers.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moomersicecream/

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Find us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/totalmichigan

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From War to Museum: Welcome to the USS Silversides.

In this episode of Total Michigan, host Cliff DuVernois explores the fascinating history of the USS Silversides, a World War II submarine located at the museum in Muskegon, Michigan. With guest Tom Johnson, a tour guide at the museum, the discussion covers the submarine's service during the war, its remarkable preservation and transformation into a museum, and the unique stories and memories shared by visitors.

Listeners will learn:

• The construction and missions of the Silversides,
• Its journey to becoming a training and museum vessel,
• The personal histories of those who served.

Links:

USS Silversides (Website)

USS Silversides (Facebook)

Address:

1346 Bluff St

Muskegon, MI 49441

For Total Michigan:

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Redemption Hill Ranch is more than a farm — it’s a refuge where hurting hearts find hope. In this inspiring conversation, Sarah Buffman shares how God called her from city life to create a place where horses help people heal mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. From transforming the lives of struggling schoolchildren to helping adults rediscover their worth, Sarah reveals the powerful connection between horses, faith, and personal growth.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How Sarah blends faith and equine therapy to help people overcome trauma and anxiety
• The surprising ways horses reflect our inner world
• A moving story of a child’s life transformed through horse therapy
• How COVID’s impact on mental health inspired new approaches in schools and communities
• Why healing is a process — and the role of resilience in lasting change

Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode:

• Website: redemptionhillranch.org
• Facebook: Redemption Hill Ranch – Vassar

Address:

2265 Ringle Rd

Vassar, MI 48768