Episodios

  • How the Michigan OHSP and Michigan State Police are working to reduce speed-related crashes and fatalities(07-06-25)

    How the Michigan OHSP and Michigan State Police are working to reduce speed-related crashes and fatalities(07-06-25)
    Jul 10 2025
    In this episode, host Phil Tower speaks with Alicia Sledge, the director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning.

    Alicia, you're joining us to talk about the state's ever to crack down on speeding during the busy summer driving season.
    The good news: In Michigan, speeding-related crashes and fatalities have been decreasing. There was a 20% drop in speed-involved crashes in 2023 compared to 2022, and a 32% decrease since 2019.
    The still bad: Speed was a factor in 210 fatalities and 6,848 injuries in Michigan in 2023.

    Exceeding the speed limit is more than just breaking traffic laws—it represents dangerous behavior that threatens the safety of everyone on the road.


    Online: Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning.

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    13 m
  • How the Michigan Green Communities Challenge is rewarding sustainability efforts and environmental leadership(07-06-25)

    How the Michigan Green Communities Challenge is rewarding sustainability efforts and environmental leadership(07-06-25)
    Jul 10 2025
    In this episode, host Phil Tower speaks with Danielle Beard, the Michigan Green Communities (MGC)Program Coordinator.

    In mid-June of this year(2025), a record high 68 local governments across Michigan were recognized for their sustainability efforts and environmental leadership through their participation in the Michigan Green Communities (MGC) Challenge.

    Communities were awarded bronze, silver, gold, or platinum seals of achievement. This was also the first year that any community achieved platinum status.
    Both Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor achieved platinum certification in the challenge.

    About Michigan Green Communities: Established in 2009, Michigan Green Communities (MGC) is a statewide network of local and state government staff and officials, and higher education institution staff that collaborate, through peer learning and information sharing, to promote innovative sustainability, climate change, and environmental justice solutions at the local, state, regional, national, and international levels.

    ONLINE: Michigan Green Communities
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    15 m
  • Measles as a significant public health threat in Michigan with Trinity Health's Dr. Andrew Jameson(06-29-25)

    Measles as a significant public health threat in Michigan with Trinity Health's Dr. Andrew Jameson(06-29-25)
    Jul 1 2025
    In this segment, host Phil Tower welcomes Dr. Andrew Jameson, the Specialty Medical Director at Trinity Health Medical Group in West Michigan and Section Chief of Infectious Diseases at Trinity Health Grand Rapids hospital.

    Michigan currently has 15 confirmed measles cases, with 7 cases considered part of an ongoing outbreak, according to the State of Michigan. This outbreak is the first in Michigan since 2019.
    Without any doubt, measles presents a significant public health concern when identified in any community.
    Dr. Jameson discussed how measles is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease that is spread by direct person-to-person contact and that it can live for up to 2 hours in the air after an infected person has left the area.
    Nearly 90% of unvaccinated individuals who are exposed to measles will become infected.

    Online: Trinity Health Medical Group, Infectious Disease - Grand Rapids Campus

    Phil
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    17 m
  • How a collaborative divorce can lower costs, bring faster resolution, and reduce emotional stress (06-29-25)

    How a collaborative divorce can lower costs, bring faster resolution, and reduce emotional stress (06-29-25)
    Jul 1 2025
    On this episode, host Phil Tower welcomes Kimberly M. Large, an estate and family law attorney with Mika Meyers.
    Kim joined us to talk about a growing type of divorce. A collaborative divorce is a process designed as an alternative to traditional litigation to end a marriage. It is sometimes referred to as “divorce with dignity,” “peaceful divorce,” or the “gentler divorce. It is intended to offer you and your spouse the support, guidance, and resources of each having a collaboratively trained attorney, working as a team, to allow you to avoid going to court.

    There are many differences between the collaborative process and litigation.

    https://www.mikameyers.com/how-does-collaborative-divorce-differ-from-litigated-divorce/

    Topics Addressed: marriage and divorce, divorce as a contributor to health and emotional issues, collaborative divorce, family law, estate planning, Michigan divorce law.

    Online: https://www.mikameyers.com/attorneys/kimberly-m-large/


















    Collaborative divorce is a method of dissolving a marriage where both parties commit to reaching a settlement outside of court, with the support of legal and other professionals. It emphasizes cooperation and communication to resolve issues like child custody, property division, and financial arrangements, aiming to minimize conflict and promote a more amicable separation
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    12 m
  • Biggby Coffee Co-CEO Michael McFall on his new book, "Grow: Take Your Business from Chaos to Calm" (06-22-25)

    Biggby Coffee Co-CEO Michael McFall on his new book, "Grow: Take Your Business from Chaos to Calm" (06-22-25)
    Jun 27 2025
    In this segment, host Phil Tower welcomes Mike McFall, co-CEO of Biggby Coffee. Mike and business partner Bob Fish helped create one of the great specialty coffee brands in America. Today, Mike is co-CEO with Bob, and BIGGBY has over 250 stores open throughout the Midwest. Mike is the author of Grind, a book that focuses on early-stage businesses, and we spoke with him about his newest book, Grow: Take Your Business from Chaos to Calm*Encore replay from 07-30-23


    Online: Michael J. McFall
    Biggby Coffee
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    28 m
  • Ryan VerWys on How ICCF Community Homes is developing affordable homes, and thriving neighborhoods (06-15-25)

    Ryan VerWys on How ICCF Community Homes is developing affordable homes, and thriving neighborhoods (06-15-25)
    Jun 19 2025
    In this segment, host Phil Tower speaks with Ryan VerWys, the President & CEO, ICCF Community Homes

    ICCF Community Homes is the oldest nonprofit affordable housing provider in Michigan.
    They’ve been active in the Grand Rapids area since 1974 and engage 2,000+ households each year with housing-related services.
    Ryan and his leadership team at ICCF Community Homes manage over 600 units of affordable rental housing and provide homeownership education and home purchase opportunities to hundreds of neighbors.
    In partnership with local churches, ICCF Community Homes plans to develop 200 affordable homes in West Michigan over the next two to five years.
    With the generosity of a $6 million lead gift, which will match every additional donation dollar for dollar up to the full $12 million goal, they are poised to make a significant impact and positive difference in our community!
    To date, the campaign has already raised over $10.6 million!

    Learn more about the campaign.


    ICCF Community Homes



    Topics discussed: homelessness and the housing crisis, housing affordability, rental housing affordability, homeownership, and homeownership education.
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    29 m
  • A Major Makeover Brings Brighter Days For The Kent County Animal Shelter (06-08-25)

    A Major Makeover Brings Brighter Days For The Kent County Animal Shelter (06-08-25)
    Jun 7 2025
    In this episode, host Phil Tower welcomes Angela Hollinshead, Director of the Kent County Animal Shelter.Angela joined us to talk about the reopening of the Kent County Animal Shelter in its primary location after three months of renovations.
    The shelter’s animals were moved to a temporary facility nearly a mile away from the current home on Fuller Avenue Northeast in January and then moved back to the main location at 740 Fuller Ave. NE in April. The shelter has now reopened to the public with improved amenities designed to enhance animal care and community services.
    Angela told us they have plenty of pets available for adoption, and the process is simplified and easy.
    Learn more about pet adoption by visiting the Kent County Animal Shelter’s website.




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    9 m
  • How a "Huge Need" Helped Launch Trinity Health's Alzheimer’s and Memory Disorders Program (06-08-25)

    How a "Huge Need" Helped Launch Trinity Health's Alzheimer’s and Memory Disorders Program (06-08-25)
    Jun 7 2025
    In this episode, we welcome Dr. Kevin Foley, Medical Director of Trinity Health’s Hauenstein Neuroscience Center, Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Program, and Associate Professor and Director of Geriatrics, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.
    Dr. Foley told us he had a good reason for opening an Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Program at the Trinity Health Hauenstein Neuroscience Center.
    “Nobody else was doing it. It was a huge need.”

    As the population ages, the need will become greater and the search for better treatments more urgent. His faculty appointment at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine opened the door for collaboration between the medical school and Mercy Health.
    Foley hopes to inspire medical students to join the battle against memory disorders.
    Foley noted, “I looked at what I was doing at the Trinity Health Hauenstein Neuroscience Center, and I was taking care of a landslide of people. I wasn’t making enough of an impact.

    Dr. Foley was instrumental in establishing West Michigan’s first and most experienced Alzheimer’s disease and memory disorders program at Trinity Health. The program has been focused for years on being able to accurately diagnose and manage all patient and caregiver needs related to memory disorders or dementia.

    Services provided by the Trinity Health Medical Group, Alzheimer's & Memory Clinic:
    Diagnosis confirmation and follow-up care
    Memory loss medication management
    Mood and behavior management
    Support for medical, legal, and residential placement options
    Connection to caregiver resources and support services
    Caregiver support group
    Comprehensive patient education

    Online: Trinity Health Medical Group, Alzheimer's & Memory Clinic
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    20 m