Mike welcomes his oldest and best friend Todd Pretty to the podcast.  

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Show notes: 

1:00: Mike thanks some people who’ve helped him w/ the podcast so far

2:00: What’s been going on w/ Mike D.  Includes updates on COVID exercising, sports watching and TV picks.

5:30: Mike introduces this episode’s guest: Todd Pretty

6:45: Todd joins the podcast and tells the listeners a bit about himself and where Todd and Mike became friends.  The Jewel of Downriver is brought up.  Todd also confirms he’s married to a human woman named Amy.

11:30: Todd talks about his family’s recent move and confirms his daughters were forced into manual labor to help complete said move.

13:50: Todd and Mike talk about playing video games on Mike’s new reasonably sized television set.

16:20: Todd and Mike recount (virtually) watching the movie Back to School on Mike’s birthday recently with fellow friend of the podcast Tim Rechtien.

19:50: Todd and Mike talk about living in Chicago and how John Hughes’ films fit into that equation.

21:10: Todd and Mike talk about their first memories of being friends with each other.  Warning: this goes back to the 1980s.  Todd talks about how Mike came over to play at his house w/ a note pinned on his clothes listing all of the foods Mike was allergic to.  Classic 80s parenting move by Mike’s mom and dad.  Todd and Mike talk about playing the game “guns” with each other.  Mike talks about having his first sleepover at a friend’s house at Todd’s house as well as playing the Nintendo game Double Dribble with Todd in his basement.

26:15: Todd confirms of all of his friends he’s been friends with Mike the longest and what’s made their friendship last so long.  Todd confirms Mike paved the way for Todd to move to Chicago in the early 2000’s, which has led to every good thing in Todd’s life.

30:00: Todd confirms his first kiss was in 5th grade with a girl named Megan (not his current wife) at summer camp.

31:15 Mike talks about how the layout of Allen Park, MI was conducive for kids to ride their bikes to each other’s houses, which helped Todd and Mike really build their friendship.

33:35: Todd and Mike talk about playing pickup football in a little field close to Cabrini grade school as well as various backyard basketball courts among Todd and Mike’s friends.  The old “go real long” ad campaign for the Nerf Turbo football is brought up.  Todd and Mike also talk about playing recess football and the game “500” at Cabrini Grade School, as well as attempting to “strike” when things didn’t go their way.

39:30 Todd and Mike spend multiple minutes talking about various “lunch monitors” during grade school and the nutritional value of Cabrini Grade School lunches.

43:15: The story of Mike eating M&M’s at the Pretty household and Mike’s lifelong struggle with a debilitating chocolate allergy.  “Nature’s candy” is also discussed.  Mike readily admits to formerly being an MSU Spartan fan and how Mike and Todd balance their college sports fandom rivalry.

49:30: Mike puts out a call to action for any allergists listening to the Pod to confirm his chocolate allergy.

50:00: Mike and Todd tell the story of playing home run derby with crab apples from a tree in Todd’s backyard.

53:15: Todd talks about what’s next for him in 2021.

56:50: Mike and Todd talk about what’s next for their friendship.

1:00:00: Todd breaks down the key to a good friendship from his perspective.

1:02:00 Mike asks Todd a series of questions as part of the Rapid Fire segment to end the show.