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Lunch with Dad

by Matt Tjapkes

Have lunch with a father-son combo who both happen to be award-winning broadcasters! Hi everyone - My name is Matt Tjapkes. I'm a freelance sports broadcaster (in addition to my career in sales), but I have spent many years in the media as both a writer and broadcaster. I’m now 47 and at the stage of life where I try to create and preserve as many memories as possible, and what better resource than my 89-year-old dad, Doug Tjapkes? Doug has had many careers, from radio to church organ sales to non-profit work with prisoners, in addition to being a life-long musician. Though all his vocations and passions, he has a lot of great stories to share. A couple of times each month, Dad and I get together for lunch. After we eat, we sit down for about 15-20 minutes and just let Dad recall great stories from his life. Our topics will be all over the place - some are more personal, some are related to West Michigan, some are funny, some are sweet. Every episode might

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Episodes

  1. Episode 64 - Howard Johnston

    Doug tells Matt about his friend Howard Johnston, who he met while attending Western Michigan Christian High School in Muskegon.

  2. Episode 63 - Doug's Drag Racing Career

    Doug and Matt talk about when Doug decided to start drag racing Studebakers and his two race cars, the Red Tailed Hawk and the Gold Rush.

  3. Episode 62 - Professor Doug and Andy Kay

    Doug shares a story about when he was the instructor for a news writing class at Grand Rapids School of Bible and Music. Among Doug's students was Andy Kay, who is now the founder of the World Literacy Foundation out of Australia, and who was speaking at the United Nations General Assembly the…

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  4. Episode 61 - Police Car (Mis)Adventures

    Doug tells Matt a series of short stories about humorous police incidents he covered while he was a news reporter.

  5. Episode 60 - Al Hoksbergen

    Doug and Matt share stores of the late Rev. Alvin Hoksbergen, one of Doug's great friends and a pastor at Ferrysburg Community Church.

  6. Episode 59 - Remembering Carlo Curley

    Doug shares stories of his friend and world renowned organist Carlo Curley, concluding the podcast with Carlo's performance of Widor - Toccata from Organ Symphony No. 5 in F Minor.

  7. Episode 58 - Celebrating 25 years of Humanity for Prisoners

    Doug and Matt commemorate the 25th anniversary of the founding of Humanity for Prisoners.

  8. Episode 57 - The Ottawa County Sheriff's Election of 1958

    Doug tells Matt the story of the primary election victory for Bernard "Bud" Grysen in the race for Ottawa County Sheriff in August of 1958.

  9. Episode 56 - A Coast Guard Festival Fireworks Exclamation Point.

    As Grand Haven celebrates the US Coast Guard Festival, Doug tells Matt a story about a festival fireworks show in the 1950s that concluded with the blowing up of a house on Dewey Hill!

  10. Episode 55 - The Release of Maurice Carter

    Doug and Matt discuss the lengthy process of Maurice Carter's Commutation leading up to his release on July 24, 2004.

  11. Episode 54 - HIS MEN

    Doug shares the history of the foundation of HIS MEN, the men's chorus he directed, including their final performance with Doug as the full-time director at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, CA.

  12. Episode 53 - What Has Doug Driven?

    Doug tells Matt about a list of uncommon and unusual cars that he has driven.

  13. Episode 52 - Pastor Doug

    Doug shares the story of becoming an ordained minister late in life to help the efforts of Humanity for Prisoners, and the unexpected benefits that have come along with it.

  14. Episode 51 - Doug's Bad Day

    Doug tells Matt the story of an unfortunate series of events that happened to him 43 years ago.

  15. Episode 50 - Directing Choirs

    Doug and Matt discuss Doug's experiences as a choir director, including the story of the song Doug commissioned to celebrate 35 years of directing.

  16. Episode 49 - Calvin College's 100th Anniversary Celebration

    Doug tells Matt about his contributions to the 100th Anniversary Celebration of Calvin College in 1976. Now known as Calvin University, the school celebrates its 150th birthday in 2026.

  17. Episode 48 - Ernie and Gary

    Doug shares some stories about singers Ernie Hansen and Gary Bomgaars, a duet that Doug accompanied on the piano in locations locally and across the world.

  18. Episode 47 - Doug's News Career

    Doug tells Matt about his career as a radio news reporter and how he used a non-traditional way to educate himself about the career

  19. Episode 46 - Marcia's Story

    Doug pays tribute this week to his wife Marcia, who was born April 30, 1937 and we lost April 16 of 2022. Doug highlights Marcia's pioneering life including her nursing career, her musical talents and the amazing job she did as a wife and mother to 4 children. The episode concludes with a…

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  20. Episode 45 - Airplanes!

    Doug tells Matt about all the different types of airplanes (and helicopters) that he's been on over the years, including the Spirit of St. Louis and flying with the Blue Angels.

  21. Episode 44 - Honoring Cindy!

    Doug shares some stories of his oldest daughter (and Matt's oldest sibling), Cindy Ingersoll, in celebration of her birthday on April 11th

  22. Episode 43 - April Fool's Day

    Doug recalls an April Fool's Day prank from 1953 that didn't exactly go as planned.

  23. Episode 42 - KDOL FM

    Doug and Matt discuss the work of KDOL-FM, a low power non-profit station that would broadcast programming specifically for death row inmates in Livingston, Texas.

  24. Episode 41 - The Execution

    Doug tells Matt the story of being a Spiritual Advisor to Texas death row inmate Charles Anthony Nealy, who was executed in March 20, 2007.

  25. Episode 40 - Remembering Betsi

    Doug and Matt talk about Doug's sister Mary Beth "Betsi" (Tjapkes) Reinders, who would have turned 77 this month.

  26. Episode 39 - Sunday Dinners at the Tjapkes Homestead

    Doug and Matt recall memories of Sunday Dinners at home over the years, from Doug's childhood to Matt's and beyond.

  27. Episode 38 - Remembering Cliff Murray

    Doug tells Matt some stories of former Michigan State Police Trooper Cliff Murray, who was stationed in Grand Haven when Doug owned WGHN Radio.

  28. Episode 37 - Snowmobile Stories

    Doug shares some memories with Matt about a snowmobile trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan

  29. Episode 36 - WGHN Memories

    Doug and Matt share memories created with WGHN Radio, which Doug owned from 1964-83 and Matt worked at from 2011-18.

  30. Episode 35 - Remembering "Grammy" Mary Trapp Tjapkes

    Doug and Matt share memories of Doug's Mom, Mary (Trapp) Tjapkes, affectionately known as Grammy

  31. Episode 34 - Ron Smeenge and the early days of All Shores Wesleyan

    Doug tells Matt the story of how he met Ron Smeenge, the founder of Spring Lake Wesleyan Church, now known as All Shores Wesleyan.

  32. Episode 33 - Remembering John Smietanka

    Doug and Matt discuss the unexpected friendship Doug shared with John Smietanka (June 28, 1941 – October 28, 2025

  33. Episode 32 - Halloween of 1965

    Doug tells Matt about some mischief that occurred on Halloween of 1965 in downtown Grand Haven.

  34. Episode 31 - The final days of Maurice Carter

    Doug and Matt recall the three months of freedom enjoyed by Maurice Carter

  35. Episode 30 - A custom 1936 Chevy Sedan!

    Matt hears the story of Doug and his friend Bill Mouw customizing a 1936 Chevy Sedan and the misadventures that followed

  36. Episode 29 - Doug's Gaffe Goes National

    Doug shares a story with Matt about the time he reported a story that went national, only to discover it wasn't true.

  37. Episode 28 - Doug and Marcia's Anniversary

    Doug tells Matt the story of his wedding to Marcia in 1957

  38. Episode 27 - Doug's First Radio Job

    Doug tells Matt the story of how he broke into the radio business

  39. Episode 26 - John Tjapkes

    Doug tells Matt some stories about Doug's dad, John Tjapkes

  40. Episode 25 - Matt's First Baseball Game

    Doug and Matt remember attending a Chicago Cubs game in September of 1986 that included a visit with Harry Caray.

  41. Episode 24 - U.S. Coast Guard Festival Memories

    Matt asks Doug about memories of the Coast Guard Festival, an annual one-week event in Grand Haven that takes place in late July/Early August each year.

  42. Episode 23 - July 24: Matt's Birthday and Maurice Carter Day

    Doug shares with Matt a number of memories surrounding the date July 24th, which happens to be Matt's Birthday and the anniversary of the day Maurice Carter was freed from prison thanks in part to 10 years of work by Doug.

  43. Episode 22 - Memories of Dorsey's Glen Lake Trailer Park

    Matt and Doug shares memories of their annual trips to Glen Lake Trailer Park in Empire, Michigan.

  44. Episode 21 - Homemade Fireworks with Phil Keessen

    Doug tells the story of how his father-in-law, Phil Keessen, used to blow up paint cans to celebrate the 4th of July.

  45. Episode 20 - Calling All Kids! Doug's first radio show

    Doug tells Matt the story of his first radio show, Calling All Kids.

  46. Episode 19 - Memorial Day and WW2 Memories

    Doug recalls memories of growing up during World War 2 and how different the observance of Memorial Day was when he was growing up vs. today.

  47. Episode 18 - Studebakers at the Fruitport Old Fashioned Days Parade

    Doug tells Matt about all four of his collector Studebakers that he has driven in the annual Fruitport Old Fashioned Days Parade on Memorial Day.

  48. Episode 17 - Remembering Dr. John Mulder

    Doug and Matt recall memories of Dr. John Mulder, a great friend, doctor and musician who recently passed away

  49. Episode 16 - How Ferrysburg Church got its Home

    Doug shares the story of a beer with a friend led to his church, then known as Ferrysburg CRC, acquiring d the land the church is currently built on

  50. Episode 15 - Ambulance Rides

    Doug shares stories from when he was a radio reporter and used to catch a ride with the funeral home directors, who ran and operated the ambulance service back then!

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Have lunch with a father-son combo who both happen to be award-winning broadcasters!

Hi everyone -

My name is Matt Tjapkes. I'm a freelance sports broadcaster (in addition to my career in sales), but I have spent many years in the media as both a writer and broadcaster. I’m now 47 and at the stage of life where I try to create and preserve as many memories as possible, and what better resource than my 89-year-old dad, Doug Tjapkes? Doug has had many careers, from radio to church organ sales to non-profit work with prisoners, in addition to being a life-long musician. Though all his vocations and passions, he has a lot of great stories to share.

A couple of times each month, Dad and I get together for lunch. After we eat, we sit down for about 15-20 minutes and just let Dad recall great stories from his life. Our topics will be all over the place - some are more personal, some are related to West Michigan, some are funny, some are sweet. Every episode might

HOSTED BY

Matt Tjapkes

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Lunch with Dad have?

Lunch with Dad currently has 65 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Lunch with Dad about?

Have lunch with a father-son combo who both happen to be award-winning broadcasters! Hi everyone - My name is Matt Tjapkes. I'm a freelance sports broadcaster (in addition to my career in sales), but I have spent many years in the media as both a writer and broadcaster. I’m now 47 and at the stage...

How often does Lunch with Dad release new episodes?

Lunch with Dad has 65 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to Lunch with Dad?

You can listen to Lunch with Dad on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Lunch with Dad?

Lunch with Dad is created and hosted by Matt Tjapkes.
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