Mike Bass Podcast

Andrew Sandstedt is one hell of a talented dude and friend. Glad we could podcast again! 🎧🎙Andrew is an incredible artist. He uses various mediums, and is becoming well known for his scrap metal sculpture work. Andrew and his teammates, Jeff Seelye and Manny Lopez, have won ScrapFest the past two years with their team Artistic Iron. Their work is breathtaking and you need to see it in person.✨ You can see their sculpture “Bloom” here: https://scrapfest.com/scrapfest-11-piecesWe talk about Andrew’s new artist handle and its meaning (Stal Artist), his road to growing his artist career, reflecting on this year’s ScrapFest, community over competition, and more! Enjoy!Here’s where you can find Andrew Sandstedt online 👇Andrew Sandstedt (Stal Artist): Instagram | Website (under construction, but coming soon!)

Kevin McCartney is a great singer-songwriter in the Lansing area. I’m so glad we could podcast! 🎧🎙I first saw Kevin perform at The Poetry Room in REO Town, and fell in love with his songwriting style. You could try to categorize his music as outlaw country with hints of folk and bluegrass, but however you define it, it’s amazing!We talk about songwriting, social media, Lansing, influences, many other things, and Kevin plays a few tunes! Enjoy!Here’s where you can find Kevin McCartney online 👇Kevin McCartney: Facebook | SoundCloud

The man, the myth, the legend — give it up for Mocha Man! 🎷I’m so glad he could stop by to chat on the podcast! 🎧🎙I feel fortunate to call Mocha a friend and bandmate — he’s part of the Creature of One crew, killing it on saxophone, harmonica, electronic drum pad, and vocals! 🎶❤️🌍We talk about how music entered Mocha’s life, his time serving in the military, and how he fused both of those worlds. We also discuss goals for Co1, his new radio show on LCC Radio 89.7 FM WLNZ, and much more — enjoy!Here’s where you can find Mocha Man online 👇Mocha Man: Facebook | LCC RadioCreature of One: Website | Facebook | Instagram

It took me awhile to get this episode released, thanks for waiting, peeps! I’m so glad my good buddy Two-Faced Wilson (Adam Droscha) could stop by for a podcast with the lovely SarahJean Sews and myself!For awhile now, Adam, Sarah, and I have wanted to do a podcast with the three of us. Both growing up in Charlotte, MI, Sarah and Adam relate on a lot of levels, one key area being their experiences with religion — how they were raised versus what faith means to them now.For me, being born and raised Jewish, and not a religious person now, I’ve had a very different upbringing than they’ve had. It’s been interesting — and sometimes jaw-dropping — for me to hear about their experiences.On top of that, Adam now has a faith-related job opportunity in Lansing, so he’s moving back to town!We knew a podcast together needed to happen, and now we want to do it again!Plus, Adam has a ton awesome music stuff going on right now! Two-Faced Wilson now extends from his solo act to a rock band trio, and their sound kicks ass! So we chat a lot about that as well! 🤘🎶Loved this conversation with Adam and Sarah. Enjoy!Here’s where you can find Adam and Sarah online 👇Two-Faced Wilson: Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Reverbnation | BandsintownSarahJean Sews: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Depop

Lansing Facts has made me enjoy Twitter. This Lansing-based parody account is run by the hilarious humans, Craig Terrill, Emily Syrja, and Ty Forquer. I had a blast chatting with them on the podcast! 🎧🎙Whether you’re looking to rank Quality Dairy stores, name the potholes in Lansing, or just lovingly poke fun at all things Lansing, this account will undoubtedly make you giggle.We talk about how Lansing Facts started, where the team would like to see it go, Quality Dairy (of course), Stobers, the gem that is the closed Mr. Taco Facebook group, the new Lansing Facts merch, and much more! Enjoy, friends!Here’s where you can find Lansing Facts online 👇Lansing Facts: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | MerchMore Twitter Accounts: Craig Terrill | Emily Syrja | Ty ForquerPS — Lansing Facts also has exciting new stickers! You get their new “Lansing is Quality City!” stickers at Strange Matter Coffee Co!

I’m glad my bud Paul J. Schmidt from UnoDeuce Multimedia could stop by for a podcast! 🎧🎙UnoDeuce Multimedia is a video production company that focuses on working with non-profit organizations. We talk about how Paul started the company, where he is now, along with his future plans for UnoDeuce.He’s also involved in a number of other projects. He’s one of the co-creators of the 2nd Brain Collective, which aims to provide people with pillars of expertise for whatever needs they may have — video, social media marketing, web design — through the collaboration of various independent businesses. They’re also the group that puts on The Drinking Lunch every month, which is one of the more relaxed networking events in the Lansing area!We talk about what new in the video industry, life, UnoDeuce, a new cooking YouTube series Paul’s involved in called The Foreign Fork, and more! Enjoy!Here’s how to find Paul J. Schmidt online 👇UnoDeuce Multimedia: Website | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedInPaul Schmidt (Personal): Instagram | Facebook | LinkedInPaul’s Other Projects: The Drinking Lunch | 2nd Brain Collective | The Foreign Fork

Ben Graham has spent his career as a graphic designer/illustrator, art director and creative director for over 40 years. He’s a great dude and friend, and I’m so glad he stopped by to podcast! 🎧🎙For the past 32 years he has owned and operated the Ben Graham Group, Inc., a freelance visual strategy and design business, based in Lansing, Michigan. Today Graham is a working artist and arts patron who draws inspiration from life experiences and his keen sense of observation.A perfect example of this is his ArtPrize entry last year called 'Seeds of Change,’ which was voted in the top 100 of the ArtPrize public vote. His 2015 entry 'Sign Language' was recently purchased by the City of Lansing and is permanently installed in downtown Lansing.I really enjoyed our conversation and know you will, too! Enjoy!Here’s where you can find Ben Graham online 👇Ben Graham: Website | Facebook (Business Page) | Facebook (Personal) | LinkedIn

If you haven’t heard Composetheway (Jordyn Davis) yet, your ears don’t know what they’ve been missing! I’m so glad she could stop by and podcast! 🎧🎙I first heard Composetheway after seeing an Instagram post about her performing at Blue Owl Coffee in REO Town Lansing. I checked out her profile and was blown away by her songwriting — the music, the lyrics, her voice, I could listen all day! 🎶She’s involved in various music projects, and she is celebrated as the first African American woman to receive a bachelors degree in Music Composition & Jazz Studies from Michigan State University! 🎉We talk about Composetheway’s musical background, songwriting, underscoring for film, defining a career in music, many other things, and she plays a few tunes! Enjoy!Here’s where you can find Composetheway online 👇Composetheway: Apple Music | Spotify | Bandcamp | Bandsintown | Soundcloud | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Aaron Meyer is one cool cat, and I’m so glad we could podcast together! 🎧🎙The dude is a fantastic jazz/R&B/Soul guitarist and singer-songwriter!I’ve known Aaron since he worked at the Starbucks in East Lansing. He’s from Detroit, and studied at the MSU Jazz school. He’s now back in Detroit and involved in a number of cool music projects around Michigan!We talk about Aaron’s recent life-changing adventure in Kyoto, Japan, the music scene in Detroit, how Aaron’s career has evolved, and he plays a few tunes! Enjoy! 🎶Here’s where you can find Aaron Meyer online 👇Aaron Meyer: Instagram | Facebook

It has been a minute, friends! I’ve been moving into a new space, so haven’t posted a new episode in a few weeks. Really happy to be back, especially with as great of humans as Sara Bishop & Danielle Castillo of the Mysterious Midwest Podcast! 🎧🎙Sara and Danielle have hit the ground running with MMS. They just started their podcast in January and have already released 15 episodes (and have kickass merch!) 💥Each week, Sara and Danielle take turns researching a different mystery, crime, or crypt-related story that is based here in the midwest, and then share it with each other on the podcast. Whoever did not do the research that week is hearing the story for the first time, so you’re getting their initial reaction to it as you listen. So cool!We talk about how MMS started, their favorite episodes so far, the Nain Rouge Festival in Detroit, podcasting in general, along with their other projects! Sara is an amazing illustrator/graphic designer under the handle Dear Ollie, and Danielle is a rad power lifter!Really enjoyed our conversation, enjoy!Here’s where you can find the Mysterious Midwest Podcast, Sara Bishop, and Danielle Castillo online 👇Mysterious Midwest Podcast: Apple Podcasts | Castbox | Website | Facebook | Instagram | TwitterSara Bishop (a.k.a. Sara Pulver a.k.a. Dear Ollie): Website | Instagram | Facebook | TwitterDanielle Castillo: Instagram

I’m so glad local film director, Jeff Kapp, could stop by and chat on the podcast! 🎧🎙Jeff and his team have a production company called Vigilant Entertainment, which has worked on both feature and short films. They will be releasing their feature film, Scapegoat, soon! (Here’s the trailer!)They are also working on another feature film, Storage (watch the trailer here), and released a short called Ever After (watch the full short film here).We talk about how Jeff got started in film, where he plans to take Vigilant Entertainment, technical stuff like color grading, life in general, and much more! Enjoy!Here’s where you can find Jeff Kapp online 👇Vigilant Entertainment: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Scapegoat on Facebook | Storage on FacebookJeff Kapp: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Sarah Spohn is a great human! She’s a radio host and writer, and I’m so glad to be a part of her first podcasting experience! 🎧🎙Sarah is the host for LCC Radio 89.7 FM WLNZ’s Lansing, Loud & Local. She’s gotten to interview all sorts of great bands, and had me on a couple months ago!She’s also runs The Palm Reader blog, which has created some great waves in the area as a new publication. Look out for her Girl Boss series coming out this month! Along with The Palm Reader, she’s also a freelance writer for other publications 💻We talk about life, social media, writing, podcasts, and much more, enjoy!Here’s where you can find Sarah Spohn online 👇The Palm Reader: Website | Facebook | InstagramLCC Radio 89.7 FM WLNZ: Website | Facebook | InstagramOther Links: Sarah Spohn on Contently

Metro Melik is the Founder of Lansing Made, which focuses on lifting up everything Lansing and bringing the community together. He’s a great guy, and I’m so glad we could podcast! 🎧🎙I’ve known Melik for years. We first met ten years ago when he had me on his TV show, Time Slot. Melik has been involved in a zillion community-building projects over the years, Lansing Made being his primary focus now.He also has a one-person show coming up on March 1st and 2nd at The Robin Theatre called Alright People 2: Melik’s Mouth! It’s a blend of comedy and storytelling, you should check it out! 🎤Really enjoyed our conversation!Here’s where you can find Metro Melik and Lansing Made online 👇Lansing Made: Website | Facebook | Instagram | TwitterMetro Melik: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook Event to his show at The Robin Theatre

Marcus Cottom & Paul Vetne are great artists, designers, and humans, and they own the kickass JiveOne5even brand! I’m so glad they could stop by to chat on the podcast! 🎧🎙No doubt, you’ve seen their work around Lansing - the t-shirt that looks like an Oreo cookie and says REO on it, the spin-off of the Dirty Dancing logo that says Dirty Lansing, and of course, their Lansing Cuddles Harder t-shirt 🙌Not only do they have a great artistic vision, they also do a lot for the community. On Feb 17th, they’ll be celebrating their 5th Annual Love Lansing Fundraiser, an event they created and donate the proceeds to the Lansing Public Schools Elementary Art Programs. You should go!We talk about art, life, Lansing, podcasts, and much more, enjoy!Here’s where you can find Marcus, Paul, and JiveOne5even online 👇JiveOne5even: Website | Facebook | InstagramPaul Vetne’s Solo Work: Website | Facebook | InstagramMarcus Cottom: Instagram

Well, friends, it’s been about a year since I began this podcasting adventure, and couldn’t be happier with the direction so far. I’m so glad the lovely SarahJean Sews could stop by for a chat and celebrate the MBP Podcastiversary with me! ❤️🎧🎙I’m filled with gratitude for everyone who chooses to listen, and for how much this thing has helped me grow as a person. Thank you, everyone, cheers to another year! 🎊We talk about random things (like we always do 😁), enjoy!Here’s where you can find SarahJean Sews online 👇SarahJean Sews: Website | Instagram | Facebook

The only vortex I’m caught in is the sultry hypnotizing voice of Masaki Takahashi! So glad my good bud could stop by to chat on the podcast! 🎧🎙Masaki co-hosts the 517 Poetry Room open mic at The Robin Theatre every month with Grace Carras. If you haven’t heard me talk about it before, it’s a beyond-amazing experience you need to check out.We talk about all sorts of things - open mics, Lansing, life, and The Poetry Room open mic coming up on 2/12! The theme is Good Fortune. It’s going to be a great one and you won’t want to miss it! ❤️📝🎶Enjoy!Here’s where you can find Masaki Takahashi online 👇Masaki Takahashi: Instagram | Facebook | 517 Poetry Room on Instagram | 517 Poetry Room on Facebook

Lyn Sawicki is an incredible singer-songwriter, with haunting lyrics and melodies. She’s also a wonderful person, and I’m so glad she could stop by for a podcast! 🎧🎙We met at a Blue Owl Coffee open mic, and have followed each other’s music careers ever since.We talk music, life, karma, and Lyn plays a few tunes! Enjoy! 🎶Here’s where you can find Lyn Sawicki online 👇Lyn Sawicki: Website | ReverbNation | Facebook

My good friends and Creature of One buds Jonathan Watt and Matthew Shannon are back on the podcast! 🎧🎙The band is growing! We now have a drummer, saxophonist, and another amazing singer-songwriter in the mix, and we’re super excited about where things are going!In the meantime, our next gig is still the trio version of Creature of One. We’re opening for the Zindles at Windwalker Underground Gallery on 1/19 (get tickets here!) 🎶Zindles are made up of Erin and TJ Zindle from The Ragbirds, a band we all love, so we’re excited to be opening for them!In this episode, we chat about the future of Creature of One and practice a few tunes, enjoy!Follow us on Instagram and Facebook!

Josh Carrasquillo is an awesome human, friend, and videographer! 🎥He works with Taproot Pictures, a rad video production company out of Grand Rapids. We first met when we both volunteered at the Capital City Film Fest, which is where I first saw his video skills in action 🎬Loved the flow of our conversation! Josh is super easy to talk to, and just a really nice guy. We talk about everything from hunting, film, music, licensing, why Josh deleted his Instagram account (😱), and more! Enjoy!Here’s where you can find Taproot Pictures online 👇Taproot Pictures: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Vimeo

I’m so glad my friend Kayleigh Slone could stop by again to podcast together! 🎧🎙Kayleigh is a RAD singer-songwriter and band leader, and has a ton of great momentum going on. 🎶She’s got her solo career (go see her play live at Blue Owl Coffee on December 28th!). Her lyrics and hooks are awesome — you get to hear some of them in this episode! 🙌She also now heads up the band Sloan. Alan Sloan started the band and they have rocked it at venues like The Green Door and Moriarty’s for years. Kayleigh has been with the band for about a year and has been killing it!Alan recently moved for a job opportunity, and Kayleigh decided to keep the band going. Coincidentally, her last name is also Slone (just with different spelling 😁), so it fits! If you haven’t seen them play live, you’re simply missing out. Do yourself a favor and put a Sloan show at The Green Door in your calendar 🗓✍️We talk about Kayleigh’s solo career, what’s in store for Sloan, and she plays a few tunes! Enjoy!Here’s where you can find Kayleigh Slone and the band Sloan online:Kayleigh Slone: Facebook | InstagramThe Band Sloan: Facebook

So excited to share this episode with you! Jean Jean Vintage is one of my favorite businesses (and Instagram accounts) in the area, and I’m geeked that owner Emily Duffelmeyer could stop by for a podcast! 🎧🎙If you’ve been looking for a business to fall in love with, look no further. Jean Jean Vintage sells vintage jewelry. Each piece has a story, and through each post, you can see Emily’s passion for her business. And now she has a cute brick and mortar shop located right in the heart of REO Town!We talk about how Emily began Jean Jean Vintage, how her experience working at Zingerman’s helped shape her business mindset, her core values, how she developed her online brand, how the online brand works well with the brick and mortar shop, and Emily’s future plans!Loved loved loved our conversation. Enjoy!Here’s where you can find Jean Jean Vintage online 👇Jean Jean Vintage: Website/Etsy | Instagram | Facebook

SOOO excited to have my good friend and BADASS interior designer, Hannah Brehm, on the podcast today! 🎧🎙Hannah and I met through my sister, Marni, and she commissioned my company, Iron Bento, to create custom metal artwork for the new Holiday Inn Express in Okemos, MI. If you haven’t been in that space you, you NEED to check it out. Hannah has an amazing eye for interior design, and it definitely shows!Hannah has gotten a ton of praise and work since the HIE Okemos job, and is going into 2019 with a lot of things scheduled! 🙌She’s also looking for an intern! 👀 Anyone looking for an opportunity to work with Hannah and learn a lot about the industry, contact her at the links below! 👇We talk about Hannah’s upbringing and influences, potential secret treasure in Lake Michigan, our favorite podcasts, metal jewelry, wine, and more! Enjoy!Here’s where you can find Hannah Brehm Interiors online:Hannah Brehm Interiors: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

It’s another EpiSews, friends! SarahJean Sews and I had a lot to catch up on in this one 📣🔊We recorded this the day after midterms, so we kick right off with political stuff, and work our way into recapping our recent trip to Colorado! ⛰Many things have happened. In Michigan, recreational use of marijuana is now legal, the people told gerrymandering to eat a fat dick, there are new people in office, and much more!Plus, Sews got her first wholesale order! And to top it off, it’s from this rad place called Awakening Boutique, located in one of our favorite areas of Denver, the RiNo Arts District! 🎨What another lovely EpiSews :) Enjoy!Here’s where you can find SarahJean Sews online:SarahJean Sews: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Super excited for this episode, friends! 🎶 Alexander Vlachos (aka Greater Alexander) and I started corresponding on Instagram a few months ago. Simply put, Alexander’s music is brilliant and moving. One of his albums, Positive Love, is seriously a go-to album for me now. I’m so glad he could stop by for a podcast and we could meet in person! 🎧🎙We talk about philosophy, music, social media, where Alexander’s inspiration for songwriting comes from, and he plays a few tunes!Alexander also just bought a house in Detroit and has plans to turn it into a collective for people to use as a creating and living space. We talk about the project on the podcast, and you can contact Alexander through his website if you’re interested in learning more! 👍Enjoy!Here’s where you can find Greater Alexander online:Greater Alexander: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Spotify | Bands in Town | Bandcamp | Patreon

My friend and awesome musician, Alex Mendenall, is moving to Detroit soon. How daaaaaaaaare you, Alex. ;) I’ll miss him here in Lansing, but am super excited for him! I’m glad we got a chance to catch up before he heads out!Awesome gigs and community awaits in Detroit. He’ll be gigging all over still, of course, including Lansing, so we shall see him again 🙌We talk about music, philosophy, the mantis shrimp, and more!Enjoy!Here’s where you can find Alex Mendenall online:Alex Mendenall: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Bandcamp | YouTube

Daelynn Shafer, the owner of Kenneth Brandt Salon & Spa in Mason, Michigan, is one of the more inspiring people I’ve met. I’m so glad she could stop by for a podcast today! 🎧🎙I love that Daelynn is a firm supporter of the community-over-competition mindset, both in her business and in life, and I’m constantly inspired by her words. KB has been in business for two years, and they are killin’ it! Daelynn is constantly thinking of ways to not only grow her business, but also improve the lives of those around her. We talk about business and community a lot in this episode, along with how social media can be used for both 🙌Also, a couple of her posts online moved me so much that I asked if we could talk about them on the podcast, and Daelynn graciously said yes. One is about making calculated moves rather than reactions, and bringing your passion into wherever you currently are. The other is about anxiety and panic attacks, which is something I have as well. I really appreciate Daelynn being willing to share her story on the podcast. I know others can relate, including myself.This whole conversation is rad and I know you’ll enjoy it! Cheers! ✨PS — KB’s Guest Appreciation Open House is on Thursday November 8th, 5pm - 8pm, it’s free, and I’m performing at it! You should come! Here’s the Facebook event for it 👉KB Guest Appreciation Open HouseHere’s where you can find Kenneth Brandt Salon & Spa online:Kenneth Brandt Salon & Spa: Website | Facebook | Instagram

Steven Glynn is more than a photographer. He’s a storyteller with a camera. I’m so glad he could stop by and podcast today!Steven loves to focus his photography around accomplishing a specific goal, so whether it’s your portrait, your wedding, or building your company’s brand, he has a beautiful way of telling your story to the world.One amazing project he’s taken on in recent years is tintype photography, which was common in the 1800s, and mixes silver and light to develop photos on various surfaces, particularly metal.After months of getting a feel for the style, Steven has now brought tintype photography into today’s world — imagine a photo of yourself in today’s clothes, but in an 1800s-style photo. Truly remarkable work!We talk about being a creative in today’s world, Irish music, bullying, Lansing vs other cities, pizza, and more! Enjoy!Here’s where you can find Steven Glynn online:Steven Glynn Photography: Website | Instagram | FacebookLimerick Band: Website | Facebook

Back from Colorado! I brought my podcasting equipment, thinking we would record something epic out there, and then got so absorbed with where we were that I never got around to it.So since it’s been a couple weeks since releasing an episode, I’ll ease back in with another practice session (in comfy pants!). Hope you’re weekend is going well!

If you’ve never had a goat jump on your back whilst doing yoga, you need to have The Original Goat Yoga experience at Hilltop Views Farm in Williamston, MI!I’m so glad Shawn Cannarile from Hilltop Views Farm stopped by to podcast with me and SarahJean Sews for a bit! 🎧I LOVED everything about this conversation. Shawn and Sews happen to be great friends who’ve worked together at the Michigan Department of Education for years, so it was great to hear them talk about both their work and personal experiences.We talk about their passion for mental health awareness, Shawn’s decision to purchase the property with her husband, Nick, that has become Hilltop Views Farm, how they made the decision to have goats at the farm, and how organically that decision led to becoming a certified branch of Lainey Morse’s The Original Goat Yoga!We also discuss some of the data behind the benefits of goat yoga, along with some upcoming events at the farm :)Enjoy!Here’s where you can find Shawn Cannarile & SarahJean Sews online:Hilltop Views Farm: Facebook | Instagram | Shawn on Facebook | Shawn on InstagramThe Original Goat Yoga: Website | Facebook (& Goat Yoga MI Facebook) | InstagramSarahJean Sews: Website | Instagram | Facebook

It's hard to find two kinder people than Brittany & Curtis Simmons from Where the Wild Things Bloom and Made of Earth. I'm so glad they stopped by to chat with SarahJean Sews and me on the podcast!Where the Wild Things Bloom is more than a flower shop. Brittany's creations are absolute works of art! If you haven't seen her arrangements yet, you NEED to check this place out, both online and in person. (It's right in Old Town Lansing!)Tap here to see photos from WtWTB in the show notes!Made of Earth is Curtis's AMAZING artwork, in which he repurposes tree bark and stone to make tree-like faces! (think Treebeard from Lord of the Rings meets Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy!) His work is epic, and one of his large pieces has even been showcased in ArtPrize!Tap here to see some Made of Earth photos in the show notes!SarahJean Sews, as you know, is a fireball of sass with her repurposed creations, including trendy aprons, zippy pouches, and hilarious tea towels!The four of us in a room made for a wonderful evening :) We talk about fairy parties at WtWTB, clean eating, ScrapFest, coffee, community, our love for podcasts, and more! Enjoy!Here's where you can find Brittany & Curtis Simmons and SarahJean Sews online:Where the Wild Things Bloom: Website | Facebook | InstagramMade of Earth: Facebook | InstagramSarahJean Sews: Website | Instagram | Facebook

I'm so glad Caleb Johnson stopped by to podcast together!I met Caleb through his work as the event coordinator for Piper & Gold Public Relations while he was organizing Imagine the Avenue (part of a longterm effort to spark more traffic on Michigan Ave here in Lansing, MI). Caleb invited SarahJean Sews and I to participate; me as a musician and Sews as a featured artist. The event went great!And THEN! I find out that Caleb is an amazing illusionist! 😃He has a new show titled THE RUSE, which he'll be performing at Windwalker Underground Gallery in Charlotte, MI on October 5th and 6th at 8pm. (👉Click here for the Facebook event)I got teary-eyed as Caleb told me the meaning behind the show. Based on his own life experiences of the rejection and acceptance within the faith community, Caleb's goal with THE RUSE is to help people become who they are meant to be; their most authentic selves.I love everything about what he's doing, and loved this conversation. Enjoy!Here's where you can find Caleb Johnson online:Caleb Johnson Live: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook event for THE RUSE at Windwalker Unground Gallery

Just me, practicing and writing music for an hour. (Link in bio! 🎧)This will give you some insight into how I create new stuff 🎶Enjoy!

The lovely SarahJean Sews is making it rain tea towels! ☂️ She just finished a flash sale test, so we wanted to podcast about the results! 🚀Because she had a surplus of sassy tea towels, Sews held a time-sensitive flash sale on her Instagram account, her Facebook Page, and her Facebook personal profile to test which one did the best. She learned a lot from the experience, and I'm glad she's willing to share it with all of us!We also talk about community over competition, ScrapFest, the Grocery IQ app, and much more! 😁Enjoy!Here's where you can find SarahJean Sews online:SarahJean Sews: Website | Instagram | Facebook

SOOOO excited I got to hang out and podcast with Masaki Takahashi and Grace Carras from The 517 Poetry Room!! 💥🚀🙌This is absolutely one of the coolest things I've been to in town.Dylan Rogers from The Robin Theatre saw there was a need to showcase local poets, and sought out Masaki and Grace (both equally rad AF poets) to organize a group that would meet regularly to do readings. The Poetry Room quickly grew a following, providing an open mic poetry space to consistently packed audiences.While it's mostly poets, they also allow musicians and comedians to participate. Masaki invited me to come perform at an open mic a few months ago, and the vibe there completely blew me away!This is different than open mics musicians are used to participating in. You sign up ahead of time, and you get one poem/song/bit, so the night moves along quickly. Also, given that this is primarily poetry focused, the vibe is more intense, and people are INTENTLY listening to your lyrics. Without a doubt, it has helped me grow as a musician.Whether you're a musician, poet, comedian, or just someone who appreciates artistry, you HAVE to check this place out. Their Season 2 opening on August 14th at The Robin Theatre is a great place to start!We talk about The Poetry Room's beginnings, where it's headed, Lansing, and Grace won a competition and is getting her poem etched in the sidewalk in REO Town! How cool is that?! The unveiling of her poem, "for the poets who gather here," based on The Poetry Room, will be on Thursday August 30th at 7pm at the Lansing Art Gallery. You can find the Facebook event for dedication here!Enjoy!PS -- Masaki and Grace would like to give a special shoutout to Ruelaine Stokes at the Lansing Poetry Club and Dennis Hinrichsen at the Lansing Poet Laureate for all of the work they do in fostering the growth of the poetry community!PPS -- Also, here's a special shoutout to DJ Hieu, whose music is played between acts often at The Poetry Room open mic! Check out his music here 👉https://soundcloud.com/djhieuHere's where you can find Masaki Takahashi, Grace Carras, and The Poetry Room online:The Poetry Room: Facebook | Instagram | Season 2 Opening: Open MicGrace Carras: Instagram | The RCAH Center for Poetry at MSU | Michigan State CUPSI TeamMasaki Takahashi: Instagram

Ohhhh this is an exciting one 🙌 I've been wanting to podcast with Nick Berry from Blue Owl Coffee for a long time, and we finally made it happen! I LOVE this episode so much ❤️😊I first met Nick and the co-owners of Blue Owl, Rich Whitman and Adam Klein, back when Nick and Rich were baristas at Starbucks. They also have a booking company, Great Lakes Collective, and booked some gigs for me.I remember when they mentioned they had an idea for a coffee shop. It's amazing to think about what that idea has become 🚀Blue Owl Coffee is more than a coffee shop. Located in the heart of REO Town, it's a place where creators, artists, musicians, collaborators, and dreamers become the change they want to see in the world. You can feel it in the walls, and can't help but be consumed by it.Almost any night of the week you can experience different things there. Their open mic on Monday nights has taken back Monday. (I'm a regular, of course!) They also have game nights, knitting club nights, hip hop nights, and many other themed events. You simply have to experience this place if you haven't been there before.Nick and I talk about their original vision, their core principles that drive any decision they make (from what events to have to the hiring process), their future goals, and about Nick's experiences as an Uber driver!Enjoy!Here's where you can find Blue Owl Coffee & Great Lakes Collective online:Blue Owl Coffee: Website | Facebook | InstagramGreat Lakes Collective: Facebook | Instagram

This is probably the most jaw-dropping podcast I've done so far. I'm so glad my friend, Vicki Hamilton-Allen, had time to stop by for a podcast! 🙌Vicki is the Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity - Capital Region. She's phenomenal at her role, and I'll provide links for Habitat below, but that's not the main thing we discussed.I had no idea what Vicki had been going through in her personal life over the past year. Imagine waking up to find that your family's reality is very different from what you thought it was. Vicki goes into full detail on the podcast, so buckle up and keep your arms and legs inside the cart, folks!We also talk about Lansing and Habitat and other cool stuff. :)Here's where you can reach Vicki online:Habitat for Humanity - Capital Region: Website | Facebook | InstagramVicki also said you can email her at [email protected] if you have a similar story to tell, or if you need someone to talk to as you go through it 🌞

It can be hard to explain the importance of Windwalker Underground Gallery to people. You simply HAVE to see this place in person to understand everything it encompasses.It's an art gallery. It's a live performance venue. It's a living space for artists. It's an office and collaboration space. Aside from all of these things, one thing is for sure -- this 501(c)(3) changes the way you view life.SO excited that I got to sit and chat with Board of Directors, Kalli Dempsey and Vincent Brady!We cover Windwalker's beginnings through the vision of its President, Richard Turbin, where the organization currently is and how it has developed a great rapport with the city of Charlotte, MI, and some of its future goals. Enjoy!PS -- Vincent is a PHENOMENAL photographer! You NEED to see this dude's work 👇Here's where you can find Windwalker Underground Gallery & Vincent's photography online:Windwalker: Website | Facebook | Instagram | [email protected] also have a page showing ways you can help support 👍Vincent Brady Photography: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

If you haven't heard of Taylor Taylor, you need to stop what you're doing and listen to her music (and this episode)!Taylor and I met when she performed at ScrapFest a few years ago. I was performing and emceeing as usual. I had heard through the grape vine that Taylor is an awesome musician, but seeing her play live...DUDE, I can't even 💥🙌We've encouraged each other's music careers since we met, and it didn't surprise me at all when Taylor said she decided to move to LA. She still comes back to Lansing once in awhile for gigs and to visit family, though, so I'm glad we could podcast last time she was in town!We talk about releasing music in today's world, video editing, Lansing vs LA, where creativity comes from, The Poetry Room, wine, and Taylor plays a few tunes! Enjoy!Here's where you can find Taylor Taylor online:Taylor Taylor: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Spotify | YouTube | Bandcamp | Soundcloud | Bands in Town

Always an awesome time hanging with my good friend, the myth, the legend, Matthew Shannon!He's an amazing songwriter and guitarist. That's all there is to it, folks.We talk about morel mushrooms, music theory vs self-taught, the keto diet, politics, and Matthew plays some of his great tunes.Enjoy!Here's where you can find Matthew Shannon online:Matthew Shannon: Facebook | Instagram

LOVED this episode with Morgan Hall from Big Shot Video!I met Morgan and her husband, Chris, when they were working at Michigan Business Rap. Since then, they've built their own video and content creation company called Big Shot Video 📹They are creating a ton of free resources on their website, and also provide focused consultations for their clients to help them build their brands.Plus! They are offering a $50 DISCOUNT to listeners! They always provide a free consultation to see how best they can help you, but if you end up using their services for a project (big or small), use the promo code MIKEBASSPODCAST and get $50 off! Holla! 🙌🚀Enjoy!Here's where you can find Big Shot Video online:Big Shot Video Website (You can find all of their social media and video channels there!)Morgan's Email Address: [email protected]$50 Promo Code: MIKEBASSPODCAST

Such a great time talking with my friend and EXTREMELY talented singer-songwriter and ukelele player, Kendall Cassella!Kendall and I met at an open mic years ago. I was amazed by her music and lyrics then, and now...her lyrics are nothing short of haunting, and her musical story arcs are inspiring!What a fun episode :) Enjoy!Here's where you can find Kendall online:Kendall Cassella: SoundCloud | Facebook | Instagram

Inventors! You NEED to listen to this episode 🚀I loved this conversation with Mikhail Murshak from Loomis Law Firm!Mike is an intellectual property lawyer with a wealth of knowledge about the patent process, trademarking your brand, and anything related to IP!He also collaborates with the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) by providing free guidance to the winners of The Hatching, and he participates as a judge.Plus, he's a super good dude 😎We talk about everything from the ins and outs of getting a patent for your invention to the future growth of Lansing.Enjoy!Here's where you can find Mikhail Murshak online:Mikhail's profile on Loomis Law Firm's website (👈you can find all of his contact info there)

I loved this conversation with Monte Pride! He has a background in environmental sustainability and sustainability for parks and tourism, he works at the Old Town General Store, and he's a RAD musician!Monte's folk music is PERFECT for a drive up north or a relaxing weekend. And his fingerpicking level is AMAZING.Can't wait for you listen! Enjoy!Here's where you can find Monte Pride onlineMonte Pride: Website | Spotify | Bandcamp | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Bands in Town

WARNING! WARNING! SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!If you haven't watched Ugly Delicious on Netflix yet, go watch episode one about pizza, Stuffed, and then come back and listen to this!Ugly Delicious is about more than food. It brings up a plethora of important social issues, and SarahJean Sews and I usually find ourselves in an hour-long conversation after each episode. So we decided to watch the series again and podcast about it afterward.So again, you've been warned of the spoiler alerts! Whew, glad that's out of the way.Also, side note, I'm kiiiiiind of a coffee snob, and love making french press. Sews found ground cacao beans that are made for french press, so we mixed it with the amazing Big Medicine coffee beans, and it kicked all kinds of ass! Here are some photos so you can see what they look like!Here's where you can find SarahJean Sews onlineSarahJean Sews: Website | Instagram | FacebookEnjoy!PS - We also bring up my nephew, Evan's, YouTube channel on baseball. He's awesome! If you're a baseball fan, check out his work here!

Great time chatting with Austin Kaufmann and Tamiko Rothhorn, two of the four members of The Dangling Participles!They have such a lovely energy, and you can feel it when they perform, both musically and in their lyrics.We discuss their beginnings as a band, and their latest album, Present, which they funded through Kickstarter! If you're unfamiliar with their sound, they have a bluesy Americana vibe. Check it out!Wonderful time with Austin and Tamiko today. Enjoy!Here's where you can find The Dangling Participles onlineWebsite | Facebook | Instagram | BandcampAnd you can purchase their new album, Present, here!

Always an awesome time chatting with my friend, Ryan Carter!We met when Friedland needed IT work done, and Ryan came highly recommended from McPhee Electric.Ryan is one of those people who leave you amazed after a conversation. His ability to explain complex topics to the masses, like how to avoid phishing attacks, the latest news in cyber security, and how to prepare for a ransomware attack, simultaneously freak me the hell out and make me grateful to know him.Ryan now works with Maner Costerisan. They began as an accounting firm, but now have a robust IT department, of which Ryan plays a key role, and offer full scale business advising.If you own or help run a small to mid-size business, you NEED to give Ryan a shout for IT & cyber security stuff. He's happy to give you a free consultation to see what kind of IT solutions are good for your type of business, and how to protect yourself while staying within your budget.LOVED this conversation, enjoy!Here's where you can find Ryan onlineManer Costerisan's WebsiteRyan's Email: [email protected]'s Direct Line at Maner Costerisan: (517) 886-9526

So glad I could catch up with my good friend and very talented artist, Andrew Sandstedt!I originally met Andrew through ScrapFest, which is a scrap metal art festival my family's company, Friedland Industries, helps put on together with the Old Town Commercial Association. Teams get an hour to pick up to 500 lbs of metal out of Friedland's facility, and then get two weeks to make a sculpture. The sculptures are then auctioned off right in Old Town. Andrew has been involved with ScrapFest since its inception, and he has continued to kick more and more ass ever year with the ever-increasing caliber of his artwork! (For a look at Andrew's sculpture of a Sakura [Japanese Cherry Blossom] Tree, which set a new record for the highest dollar at the ScrapFest auction last year, click here!)He creates artwork through many different mediums, though! Andrew is a brilliant painter, for example, and his work is going to be featured in this year's East Lansing Art Festival as one of the Emerging Artists!He also plays a key role in the development of the Cedar Street Art Collective here in Lansing, MI, which aims to foster growth among local artists and provide them with venue space.We talk about when art entered Andrew's life, his mentors, ScrapFest, East Lansing Art Festival, and his work at the Cedar Street Art Collective. Enjoy!Here's where you can find Andrew onlineAndrew Sandstedt: Instagram

[View the photos on the website!]Another great winecast with Suzi Blanckaert & Chloe Chaffee, and this time we celebrate Suzi passing her Certification of Wine Educators through the Society of Wine Educators!Here are the wines we taste during this winecast:- Montauto 2015 Enos I Sauvignon Blanc (Maremma Toscana, Italy)- Terra Noble 2015 Gran Reserva Carignan (D.O. Maule Valley, Chile)- Christopher Michael 2016 Pinot Noir (Oregon, US)I loved this episode and the wines! Hope you do, too! Enjoy!

I went to Barrel Back for breakfast in Walloon, MI the other morning.I started thinking about humans doing work vs robots doing work while seeing a group of humans installing a dock.

Here's some great events coming up! 👇Great time catching up with my good friend, Rhea Van Atta, who owns the popular and cozy Old Town General Store in Old Town Lansing.They will be celebrating their 5th year anniversary on Saturday June 2nd, Noon - 5pm!Stop by! I'll be performing in their courtyard at some point in the afternoon. :)Also!Rhea's boyfriend is the very talented and wonderful Ben Hassenger. He created the amazing Mighty Uke Day, which is the Ukulele festival that occurs in Old Town Lansing every spring. The event will be May 11th - 13th. Come check it out!Ben couldn't make it to the podcast this time because he's in the middle of setting up everything for the event, but Rhea and I talk about both the OTGS and the MUD on the podcast! Enjoy!Here's where you can find info on the Old Town General Store and Mighty Uke Day onlineOld Town General Store: Website | Facebook | InstagramMighty Uke Day: Website | Facebook | Ben's Music Page on Facebook | Ben on Instagram