Michigan is doubling down on its efforts to create a bright future for its residents. There are a lot of organizations working to put our youth in the best possible position to thrive. One organization in these crosshairs is Junior Achievement - a name you may be familiar with, but you may not know who they are and how they work. Joining Chris is the Senior District Director of the Junior Achievement of Mid Michigan, Susan ODell-Shilton.

Healthcare has historically been an important topic. But recently - navigating our way out of a global pandemic, the financial well being of healthcare providers, and doctor & nurse burnout are common news topics. Joining to talk about a new partnership between a university and a century-old health care system are Frank Urban, Director of Venture Creation at Spartan Innovation - MSU Research Foundation and Lisa Prasad, Vice President & Chief Innovation Officer for Henry Ford Heath.

Renewable energy and reducing waste are hot topics for Michigan, and pretty much everyone these days. Joining Chris to discuss their work in this space, their Grand Rapids facility, and an upcoming event, is the Founder and CEO of Woodchuck.ai and best selling author of “Unleashing Abundant Energy”, Todd Thomas.

We’ve talked regularly about the housing needs in Michigan, but what about the true affordability of housing and how it drives economic growth. Joining Chris to talk about the effects of housing affordability is the President of TA Forsberg, Mr. Brent Forsberg!

We’re on the cusp of the newest season of the award winning Capital City Film Festival! Here to share this year’s details as we know them at this time - are Festival Event Director Emma Selby, Co-Program Director Jason Gabriel and President of the Board Samantha Le!

Michigan is a state that “makes stuff” - and we’re hell bent to keep it that way. We have massive manufacturers, and we have many thriving small manufacturers as well. One resource available to them is through the Capital Area Manufacturing Council. Joining Chris to discuss their work, and an upcoming event, is Executive Director of CAMC, Cindy Kangas!

Outdoor recreation checks a lot of boxes when it comes to things that bring value to our lives. It drives our health and wellness, and it drives our economy. Joining Chris to discuss some new federal reporting - and what it means for Michigan - is the Vice President of Programs for the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, Chris Perkins, and the Executive Director of the Michigan’s Outdoor Recreation Industry Office, Brad Garmon!

Healthcare is a hotly discussed topic. The news around their field is endless - and many ask, how do we balance affordability and truly drive wellness in our communities? Because it isn’t happening. Joining Chris to share his unique perspective on the state of our healthcare system is the Founder & CEO of Health Bar, Nathan Baar!

Today’s guest compares her work in community planning to road trips – successful journeys involve understanding the starting point, the destination, and how the route might be impacted by what we discover along the journey. Joining Chris to talk about her passion - and her firm’s work in this space - is a Partner from Detroit-based civil engineering firm Giffels Webster, Jill Bahm!

The food service industry is notoriously difficult to navigate. Success is hard, and the pandemic made things even more challenging - not only due to temporary closures - but also the changed behavior of consumers. Joiniing Chris to discuss a platform built to assist restaurateurs is the Co-Founder and CEO of Bikky, Abhinav Kapur!