I stopped into a Shell station tonight to grab a couple things. Quick in and out. That was the plan.

Instead I walked into one of those forced self checkout setups. No regular checkout. No cashier. Just this open area with cameras hanging over it where you’re supposed to set your stuff down and trust that some mystery system scans every barcode at once. It is not a normal self checkout with a screen and a scanner you control. It’s just awkward. Confusing. And honestly a little uncomfortable.

I asked the person behind the counter if I had to use it. She said no, she could check me out “over there,” pointing at the regular register. The same register that was blocked off and covered in signs telling everyone to use the self checkout. So clearly that was not the plan.

She was visibly irritated that I even asked.

She rang me up manually. Didn’t ask if I needed a bag. I had four items that were not exactly pocket sized. Didn’t offer a receipt. The whole interaction felt like I was a problem for simply wanting to pay for what I was buying.

What happened to basic customer service?

Nobody asks if you need a bag anymore. They just assume you don’t. You get side eyed if you want to use cash. And more and more, it feels like asking someone to do the core function of their job is some massive inconvenience.

I work in customer service every day. Different space. Software, podcast hosting, support tickets, real technical problems. But the principle is the same. When someone asks for help, especially something completely reasonable and within scope, you help them. You do not act annoyed. You do not make them feel like they are in the way.

And you definitely do not expect applause (A Tip) for doing the bare minimum.

In this episode of “Mike Dell’s World,” host Mike Dell interviews Dan Jonkhoff, the founder and chairman of Legacy Aviation Learning Center in Traverse City. The episode discusses the unique opportunity to earn an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license in just one year, as opposed to the typical two or more years required by other programs.

He begins the interview with Dan, who shares his background as a former funeral director and his journey into aviation. Dan discusses how his retirement was dull, prompting him to seek involvement in the airport authority, leading to the creation of Legacy Aviation.

The conversation covers the school’s unique one-year program, facilitated by new FAA regulations aimed at addressing a significant shortage of A&P mechanics projected in the coming years. Dan explains how they turned the idea of creating a mechanic school into reality, assisted by Dr. Sean Galligan, who helped them develop the program within a year. The school allows students to learn in a hands-on environment, focusing on practical experience with various projects like safety wiring and riveting.

Dan highlights that students can expect a tight-knit learning environment, with a favorable instructor-to-student ratio, and discusses the school’s job placement success rate, boasting that all graduates find jobs shortly after completing their training. He outlines how the school has gradually increased its student enrollment and plans to accept even more in the future.

Throughout the interview, they touch on the various learning facilities, the support for veterans, and the exciting community atmosphere that has emerged around the school. The program includes additional support to ensure all students can take their FAA licensing exams without the financial burden typically associated with such tests.

Episode 30 of NaPodPoMo2025 is in the books, and it’s got me thinking — I’m not quite ready to stop doing daily episodes. But instead of continuing that here on Mike Dell’s World, I’m spinning up something new.

Starting December 1st, 2025, I’m launching a brand-new weekday morning show called “Cup of Traverse City.” You’ll find it on its own feed at:

https://podcast.show/cotc/

https://cupoftraversecity.com

The plan is simple: a 5-minute (or so) episode every weekday around 8 a.m. Traverse City time. I’ll be recording while I’m having my morning coffee, chatting about whatever’s going on — interesting weather, life stuff, and what’s happening in and around Northern Michigan.

The format will be a bit of a work in progress at first. I’m sure I’ll settle into a groove over time, and my hope is that it becomes a nice little part of your morning routine.

I’d really love your feedback as this gets rolling.

You can reach me:

By email: [email protected]

On social media: mostly Facebook or X

Let me know what you think, and what you’d like me to talk about on Cup of Traverse City.

In this episode, I spend some time reflecting on what makes podcasting such a unique and enduring medium. After more than twenty years behind the microphone, I’m still struck by how something so simple — an audio file delivered through a humble RSS feed — continues to connect people in a way no other medium really does.

I talk about how podcasting grew up as an open technology, free from the control of big platforms or gatekeepers. That openness is part of its magic. Anyone can start a show, anyone can subscribe, and no single company controls whether a podcast lives or dies. It’s the last truly open publishing system on the internet, and that freedom is worth celebrating.

But podcasting is special for more than just the technology. There’s a kind of intimacy in audio that you don’t get with video or with text on a screen. When someone listens to a podcast, the host is right there with them — in their car, on a walk, working in the garage, or flying along on a cross-country in the RV-12. It’s a personal connection, one voice to one listener, in a way that feels almost old-fashioned, yet perfectly modern.

I also talk about how easy podcasting is to get started with and how accessible it still is for anyone who wants to share a story. You don’t need fancy cameras or editing suites. You just need a microphone, a place to publish, and something to say. That simplicity has helped the medium grow without losing its soul.

Toward the end, I share a bit of personal appreciation — how even after all these years, podcasting still feels fun, creative, and liberating. It’s a place where I can talk about anything from Northern Michigan history to flying to everyday life, and people choose to come along for the ride.

If you’ve ever wondered why podcasting still matters, or if you’ve been thinking about starting your own show, this episode is my way of reminding you what makes this medium so special.

In this episode, Mike dives into the deep and fascinating history of one of Traverse City’s most iconic landmarks: the Traverse City State Hospital, also known historically as the Northern Michigan Asylum and the Traverse City Regional Psychiatric Hospital.

Recorded on November 28, 2025 (yes, Black Friday—no, he’s not out shopping), Mike shares personal stories, local history, and some memories connected to the vast and beautiful grounds of what is now called the Village at Grand Traverse Commons.

Established in 1881 and opened in 1885.

Founded by Dr. James Decker Munson, namesake of Munson Healthcare, alongside Traverse City’s “father,” Perry Hanna.

Built as a Kirkbride Plan psychiatric hospital—one of four in Michigan and the only one still standing and in active use today (though no longer as a hospital).

Beautiful Victorian-style buildings with spires, long wings, wide porches, and landscaped grounds.

Built on the idea of beauty, light, and nature aiding psychiatric healing.

Gorgeous gardens supported by on-site greenhouses that provided year-round flowers.

The hospital operated as its own little world:

Farms with cattle, pigs, chickens, crops, and orchards

Their own power plant

Workshops and barns (now part of Historic Barns Park)

Many patients (or “clients,” as some staff called them) worked on the grounds as part of daily life.

Both of Mike’s paternal grandparents worked there—his grandmother as an RN and his grandfather as an orderly.

He shares memories of neighbors and relatives who worked on the hospital farm and grounds.

He also reminisces about staying as a kid in the Perry Hanna House (now a funeral home)—a mansion connected to the founders of the hospital.

After closing in the late 20th century, some buildings fell into disrepair.

Today, Building 50 has been reborn with:

Condos and apartments

Offices

Shops, galleries, and restaurants in the lower level, known as The Grotto

Other “cottages” are slowly being restored, while tours still visit the untouched and eerie sections.

The site is rich with lore—including tunnels connecting buildings.

Mike mentions wanting to have his friend Chris (a local historian and photographer) on the podcast to go deeper into the legends, stories, and details.

Mike also shares a personal memory of delivering bagels to Cup of Joe in Building 50’s grotto back when his wife ran a bagel shop—always grabbing a cup of coffee around 5:30 a.m.

As you drive into Traverse City from the south (US-31 / M-37), the spires of Building 50 rise out of the trees—a recognizable introduction to town.

November 29: “Why Podcasting Is So Special”

November 30: A special final NaPodPoMo episode to close out the month

Thanks for listening, and catch Mike tomorrow for more!

In this Thanksgiving Day episode, Mike reflects on the holiday, family, and the evolving character of Traverse City. It’s a bittersweet year—his family’s first Thanksgiving without his dad—but also a moment to appreciate traditions, good food, and time spent together.

From recent crime stories to long-standing local quirks, Mike explores whether Traverse City still feels like the small town he grew up in. He shares personal stories, local history, neighborhood breakdowns, and observations about everything from fast food failures to the layout of the airport and high schools.

Sending well-wishes to listeners celebrating the holiday.

The first Thanksgiving without Mike’s dad and the tradition of leaving an empty chair at the table.

Recent unusual crime events:

The Walmart stabbing last summer.

A fatal parking-deck shooting involving car break-ins.

An attempted abduction at the Meijer gas station.

Why these big incidents still feel like “small-town news.”

2020 Census: About 16,000 people inside Traverse City limits.

Metro area: ~153,000 across four counties (Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Benzie, Kalkaska).

Mike’s spot just outside the city—technically East Bay Township, but “still Traverse City” in daily life.

Downtown District

Traverse Heights

Old Town

Central Neighborhoods

Greilickville

Acme / Williamsburg

“Miracle Mile” – hotels and tourist strip on the bay

Summer vs. winter crowds

Winter visitors: snowmobilers, skiers, ice fishermen

Bars downtown still feel local and familiar in the off-season

Current schools: Central, West, Traverse City High School (Mavericks), plus Catholic Central.

Stories about the old buildings, snow-exposed walkways, and campus redesigns.

The near-identical design of TC West and the Columbine High School campus.

Cherry Capital Airport still feels small—Mike knows most of the airline and TSA staff.

No Amtrak service in Traverse City yet; nearest connections are Grand Rapids or Holland.

Mike’s go-to workaround: driving to New Buffalo to catch the train to Chicago.

Legacy of parking meters (now digital), plus multiple parking decks.

Cherry Festival setup: rides, games, food stands—including local favorite Gibby Fries.

Arnold Amusements (based in Acme) runs many Michigan carnivals.

Late-night flashing signals

The ongoing roundabout debate

Getting across town in only ~15 minutes even on a busy day

Chains that didn’t survive: several McDonald’s, Burger Kings, Arby’s, Ruby Tuesday, Hooters

Three Meijer stores serving the area (original, Acme/Williamsburg, and soon Chum’s Corners)

Local burger highlights: Slabtown Burgers, Bubba’s, Eastfield’s Proper Burger (with commentary)

Traverse City tends to favor local restaurants over big chains

Well-loved local Mexican places like La Señorita

Mike wraps up with a warm Thanksgiving message—hoping listeners enjoy good food, family, and gratitude—and shares appreciation for being able to create a daily episode for NaPodPoMo.

In this episode, Mike takes a break from Northern Michigan stories and heads far north—way far north—to share memories from his year living in Keflavik, Iceland in the early 1990s while serving in the U.S. Air Force.

Mike talks about being assigned to Naval Air Station Keflavik, a joint-base environment with Air Force, Navy, Marines, and other NATO personnel. He recounts working with the 57th Fighter Interceptor Squadron – the Black Knights, maintaining F-15 electrical and environmental systems, and occasionally pulling duty in “FISneyland,” the alert barn for interceptor operations.

Before Iceland came a whirlwind of military orders:

Originally headed to remote Galena, Alaska, the Air Force cancelled those orders at the last minute.

The next day, new orders arrived sending him to Keflavik instead.

He completed F-15 training at Tyndall AFB in Florida, drove across the country, shipped his belongings, and ultimately hopped a Hawaiian Airlines DC-8 from Philadelphia to Iceland—a strange but memorable experience.

Mike recalls what it was like living overseas before modern connectivity:

Expensive phone calls back to the States ($1.06 per minute!)

Mail arriving once a week on the “rotator” DC-8

Magazines being precious entertainment

Trading software, playing early PC games, and marveling at a 286 computer with 1MB of RAM

A handful of TV channels including AFRTS, BBC, RTL4, and Sky News/Sports

Mike shares a mix of practical and quirky details:

The legendary Icelandic hot dogs (a recurring theme!)

Navy chow halls, the USO, and Friday fish fries with cod caught the same day

Wild weather with winds over 100 mph, handrails along sidewalks, and dumpsters blowing around

Surprisingly mild temperatures thanks to the Gulf Stream

Extreme daylight shifts—near-constant darkness in winter and 24-hour light in summer

During his tour, Mike bought a quirky little Škoda 120 and used it to explore beyond the base. He describes:

Driving through the first roundabouts he’d ever seen

Visiting the Hard Rock Café in Reykjavik, where one of his Idaho ham-radio license plates hung from the ceiling

Cheap hops on Navy P-3 “airline-style” flights to London or Shannon, Ireland

Customs rules that prohibited gas cans, extra cigarettes, and oddly… cassette tapes

Mike reflects on how much Iceland has changed—from relatively untouched in the early ’90s to a major European travel destination today. He also notes a past interview he did on the All Things Iceland podcast in May 2020, sharing more of his experiences from that era.

I appeared on an episode of All Things Iceland Episode 61 in May of 2020. 

In this episode, Mike rewinds the clock to January 1978 and relives one of the most legendary winter storms in Michigan history — not as an adult, but as the 12-year-old kid he was at the time. Join Mike as he shares what it was like watching the storm unfold on TV and Radio as the local weather team track the impossible, and experiencing the chaos, excitement, and wonder of a once-in-a-generation blizzard.

From the snow drifts taller than a kid to the surreal quiet of a world that completely shut down, this episode captures the Blizzard of ’78 as only someone who lived it — wide-eyed and bundled up — can tell it.

Mike sets the scene by sharing that he had just celebrated his birthday when the blizzard began, remembering how he had a pizza party at home after his father picked up Sicilian square pizza from a local place called Little Richard’s. He recalls the excitement in the air as TV news talked about the potential for a blizzard.

On the morning of January 26, schools were closed as drifts of snow created significant chaos. Mike describes how everything was completely buried under the snow, with even the antenna of his mother’s car barely visible. The storm had high winds, creating massive drifts and making travel impossible. He recounts the challenges of feeding horses at a nearby barn and how his family navigated the snow-laden landscape.

He humorously shares anecdotes about the struggles of shoveling snow with his cousin and their father using a 1970 John Deere lawn tractor equipped with a snowblower. After several days, the roads began to open again, and stories about neighbors and their interactions during the storm emerge, including a humorous tale about a front-end loader being used to deliver cigarettes to a stranded neighbor.

As the storm’s impact persisted, schools were closed for an entire week, and the community adapted to the extraordinary amount of snow with creative solutions like snowshoeing for transportation. Mike also describes his memories of hot soups simmering on the wood stove during the storm, a comforting detail from those winter days.

He revisits the enormous snowbanks that formed by the season’s end, making comparisons to today’s weather reactions and reminiscing about the blizzard’s lasting impact. Mike wraps up by inviting listeners who experienced the Blizzard of ’78 to share their stories and reflecting on how this blizzard remains a notable part of his childhood memory.

In this episode of “Mike Dell’s World,” Mike Dell explores various airports located north of Traverse City, Michigan. He begins the show by introducing himself and referencing the previous episode about flight schools and aviation-related topics in the area. He explains that he will be discussing other airports he has flown to or has connections with, utilizing ForeFlight, an electronic flight bag, for reference.

Mike starts with Antrim County Airport (KACB), located northeast of Traverse City near Bellaire. He describes it as a small airport without a control tower in class E airspace, where pilots announce their locations on a common traffic frequency. He shares his experiences doing touch-and-go landings, low passes for practice, and highlights the airport’s amenities, including fuel services and a comfortable lounge.

Next, he moves further north to Pellston Airport, noting its significance as an airport with scheduled airline service and a restaurant on-site, which he humorously labels a “hundred dollar hamburger” destination. He continues to mention Charlevoix Airport, which hosts Island Airways that services Beaver Island. He details the two airports on Beaver Island but admits he has not landed there.

Mike then discusses Gaylord Regional Airport and Gaylord Airport, emphasizing their runway lengths and his experiences landing there. He contrasts this with Kalkaska City Airport, where he recalls the challenges of landing on a narrower runway. He also talks about Frankfurt Airport, sharing similar landing difficulties due to its relatively short and narrow runway.

He proceeds to describe Manistee County Airport, known for its changing airlines and essential air service. He mentions Cadillac Wexford County Airport, highlighting a unique grass runway formerly used for gliders, which is no longer operational. He shares experiences of flying over various other airports like Mackinac Island and Saint Ignace, where approaches involve over-water flights.

Mike mentions historic Acme Skyport Airport, which has been revived, and Thompsonville Airport, where he had an ultralight flying experience. He also reflects on Wertz Smith Airport, once a large military base with a long runway, describing his future intentions to visit.

Throughout the episode, Mike humorously shares insights about his experiences at these airports, including the challenges of landing, the uniqueness of each location, and the importance of navigating various airspaces, especially concerning military operation areas.

He concludes the episode by teasing that his next episode will cover his memories of the Blizzard of ’78 as a twelve-year-old.

In this episode of “Mike Dell’s World,” host Mike Dell introduces the topic of aviation schools in Traverse City, specifically focusing on the Cherry Capital Airport and the various training facilities available there. The episode begins with Mike’s greeting and reflection on previous discussions about the airport.

He discusses two primary aviation schools: Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) and Giving Wings Aviation. NMC Aviation School is notable for training airline pilots, offering private, commercial, multi-engine, and instructor ratings. Mike highlights the school’s good track record for graduating pilots and mentions the newly renovated facilities and the experienced leader, a former 747 pilot. He emphasizes how NMC graduates often proceed to airlines or corporate flying jobs.

On the other hand, Giving Wings Aviation is a smaller school that provides a more laid-back environment for training, mainly focusing on private and sport pilot licenses, although they used to offer multi-engine and seaplane training. Mike shares his own experiences flying with Giving Wings, appreciating the convenience of having the school nearby.

Mike also mentions the aviation program at a local high school and the involvement of the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) in mentoring the students. He transitions to discussing Legacy Aviation, a unique aviation maintenance school that offers a 12-month program for aircraft mechanics, providing students with certification and tools upon graduation.

In addition, Mike discusses further options for aspiring pilots, including a new flight school at Cadillac Airport about an hour away and a seaplane training program. He briefly touches on the Coast Guard air station in Traverse City, noting that Coast Guard members go through helicopter training at Fort Rucker, Alabama.

Finally, Mike summarizes the various training options in Traverse City, pointing out the challenges posed by winter weather for flying. He wraps up the episode by teasing a future discussion about other airports in the region.