The Brandy Show...

The 2022 NFL Draft is upon us, so the last episode of season 4 of Conversations with features a chat with former Detroit Lions president Tom Lewand. Since the Lions have always been a story on draft day because of their success, or a=lack thereof, I thought Tom would be a perfect finish to this season.

Lewand took over the Lions presidency after the Matt Millen era. He and GM Martin Mayhew tried to put the pieces together after that period. It wasn't as successful as Tom wanted, and while he was relieved of his duties, his story is still a remarkable rise from a student manager on the University of Michigan Football teams of Bo Schembechler, to a CEO and President of an NFL franchise and beyond that, a CEO for major corporations. A native Detroiter and lifetime Michiganian, Tom was the point man to get Ford Field built, and he is still at it in the business world as CEO of the Marygrove Conservancy.

He is a fascinating guy, with a fascinating history and you can hear about all of his various triumphs and experiences in this Conversation with...Tom Lewand Be sure to visit all past episodes of "The Brandy Show." There is a

wealth of content covering a number of topics and formats that may

interest you. Tell your friends to stop by to visit, listen and

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Former Detroit Tiger Dave Rozema was one of my favorite Tigers of all time. He is a Grand Rapids Michigan native, who wound up playing for his home state team, and a world champion to boot. David was part of a group of players like Alan Trammell, Lou Whitaker, Jack Morris, Dan Petry, and Lance Parrish who formed the nucleus of the 1984 wire to wire World Series champs of the Tigers and Sparky Anderson. He was also a free spirit. As fun loving as they come, Dave was a great interview as a player, and had a ring side seat at one of the most exciting and successful eras in Tiger history. He also was a running mate of the late and great Mark Fidrych when "The Bird" dominated Major League Baseball. Dave talks about it all, and where todays game stacks up with his era in my conversation with....Dave Rozema. Be sure to visit all past episodes of "The Brandy Show." There is a

wealth of content covering a number of topics and formats that may

interest you. Tell your friends to stop by to visit, listen and

hopefully subscribe. This show was produced by Jim Brandstatter in

studio's in Michigan and Florida.

Elaine Crosby is one of the University of Michigan's finest student athletes. During her years at Michigan she began as a tennis player but, switched to golf in mid stream, and became an All American and moved on to the LPGA tour. It's an incredible testament to her determination and talent to pull that off but she did! She became one of the most popular regulars on the fledgling LPGA tour, and then was instrumental in the formation of the LPGA legends tour. She is still a tough competitor and excellent golfer to this very day. A Jackson Michigan native, she never lost touch with Jackson and her Michigan roots. When golf started winding down, she took on the roll of education administrator in her home town. As the president of famed Jackson Lumen Christi High School she guided the students and staff into the 21st century with steady, solid leadership that fit the values and mission of Lumen Christi perfectly.

A member of Michigan's Hall of Honor, and the Michigan Irish American Hall of Fame, Elaine is also a good friend. She also is also a fascinating story, so sit back and enjoy my Conversation with...Elaine Crosby Be sure to visit all past episodes of "The Brandy Show." There is a

wealth of content covering a number of topics and formats that may

interest you. Tell your friends to stop by to visit, listen and

hopefully subscribe. This show was produced by Jim Brandstatter in

studio's in Michigan and Florida.

The Brandy Show's wide ranging discussion about our beloved Detroit Lions continues with Part 2 of our Conversation with Bill Keenist, retired long time front office staff member with the Lions. In this second part of our chat, we delve a little more deeply into one of the more difficult era's in Lions history, the Matt Millen era. Why Matt's hiring didn't work is up to debate, but it is clearly a period of history for the Lions that is a lightning rod for fans and NFL pundits. Bill Keenist was in the middle of it all. So enjoy this chat about the Millen era and much more in part 2 of my Conversation with...Bill Keenist. Be sure to visit all past episodes of "The Brandy Show." There is a

wealth of content covering a number of topics and formats that may

interest you. Tell your friends to stop by to visit, listen and

hopefully subscribe. This show was produced by Jim Brandstatter in

studio's in Michigan and Florida.

As we get ready for another Super Bowl that does not include our beloved Detroit Lions, I thought we ought to have a conversation about them. During the Super Bowl era, a good friend, and exceptional executive worked for the Lions in just about every capacity. His name is Bill Keenist. He was behind the scenes and in the war room for drafts, for coach's hirings and firings. He was in the know when the change came at the general managers position. When the players needed help, or advice, or a shoulder to cry on, Bill was there. He was so highly thought of around the NFL executive offices, that the League tabbed him to come and work Super Bowls in their media operation. So while the Lions haven't been to the Super Bowl, Bill has been to many. He has seen it all during the more than 30 years he spent in the Lions front office. We agreed that we could talk for hours about the Lions and their mistakes, their triumphs, their tragedies, and everything in between, so we did. We talked so long, we had enough material for two podcasts. It's a Brandy Show first! So sit back and settle in for a behind the scenes look at your Detroit Lions during the past 30 odd years in Part 1 of my Conversation with Bill Keenist. Be sure to visit all past episodes of "The Brandy Show." There is a

wealth of content covering a number of topics and formats that may

interest you. Tell your friends to stop by to visit, listen and

hopefully subscribe. This show was produced by Jim Brandstatter in

studio's in Michigan and Florida.

In Football, officiating is so important to every game, and in big games it seems to be magnified. For that matter, in any game, the officials and their handling of events can be massive. It is the hope of everyone that the officiating goes un-noticed and doesn't impact the outcome. To discuss officiating, and the incredibly difficult job it is, and who in the world would want to put themselves in that position, I called on my friend Dick Honig for this episode of "Conversations With." Dick is now retired, but during his career he saw it all. Most of his time he spent in the Big Ten, and what a time it was! Enjoy the art of officiating, it's ups and downs and responsibilities with Dick Honig, in this episode of Conversations with... Be sure to visit all past episodes of "The Brandy Show." There is a

wealth of content covering a number of topics and formats that may

interest you. Tell your friends to stop by to visit, listen and

hopefully subscribe. This show was produced by Jim Brandstatter in

studio's in Michigan and Florida.

In our last episode of the 2020 season, we spend some some time with Greg Kinney. Who is Greg Kinney you ask? Well, he's the keeper of the keys to the incredible vault of University of Michigan Football history at the Bentley Historical Library in Ann Arbor. With such a rich and legendary tradition at Michigan, Kinney has researched and archived some amazing documents from over a century ago. It brings to life the likes of Yost, Crisler, Kipke, Oosterbaan, Schembechler and more. These records weren't exactly easy to discover given the Athletic Departments ever decreasing capacity to store these treasures and the lack of personnel to organize them. Enter Greg Kinney and his staff, who even searched old coal bins to find some artifacts that were museum worthy. In addition, Greg has gone digital, and this past year added 20 years of the old "Michigan Replay" show with Bo Schembechler, Gary Moeller, Loyd Carr and yours truly to the list of items you can experience as part of the Bentley Library collection. Take a walk down memory lane with the archivist of all things Michigan Athletics in this Conversation with...Greg Kinney Be sure to visit all past episodes of "The Brandy Show." There is a

wealth of content covering a number of topics and formats that may

interest you. Tell your friends to stop by to visit, listen and

hopefully subscribe. This show was produced by Jim Brandstatter in

studio's in Michigan and Florida.

Enjoy my Conversations with one of Michigan's most versatile and popular media personalities. Michael Patrick Shiels is currently the host of Michigan's Big Show, a morning drive radio standard that is syndicated across the State to tremendous ratings and success. But, Shiels current vehicle doesn't scratch the surface of his incredible journey. He started his career as a fresh faced young producer for the great JP McCarthy at WJR radio, and since then, he has grown into an author, a friend of Presidents and Award winning national broadcasters. He's a travel writer, a biographer, a golf historian, a cigar expert and, by the way, he has run with the bulls in Pamplona. His story is an amazing journey and you can come along for the trip in this episode of Conversations with...Michael Patrick Shiels. Be sure to visit all past episodes of "The Brandy Show." There is a

wealth of content covering a number of topics and formats that may

interest you. Tell your friends to stop by to visit, listen and

hopefully subscribe. This show was produced by Jim Brandstatter in

studio's in Michigan and Florida.

Enjoy a chat with one of the most interesting and polarizing sports figures in Detroit in many years. Matt Millen came from the broadcast booth, after a spectacular football career that featured Super Bowl wins, to run the Detroit Lions. He was going to bring the Lions back to greatness...well, that never happened, and his tenure became a turmoil in Detroit that ended with Matt's firing. Despite all that, he is a fascinating sports figure. His life story is remarkable. He is a heart transplant recipient. He is back to the national level as a broadcaster. He is a master woodworker. His football history includes the likes of Joe Paterno, John Madden, Marcus Allen and many more. He is also a really good guy. If you find yourself around him, you find yourself liking him. Enjoy this amazing personal story in my Conversation with...Matt Millen Be sure to visit all past episodes of "The Brandy Show." There is a

wealth of content covering a number of topics and formats that may

interest you. Tell your friends to stop by to visit, listen and

hopefully subscribe. This show was produced by Jim Brandstatter in

studio's in Michigan and Florida.

One of the great voices in Detroit joins us in this episode and walk down memory lane recalling his fabulous Hall of Fame broadcast career. Very simply, Dick Purtan set a standard in morning drive talk/entertainment radio that is impossible to quantify. Dick's instincts, and idea's about morning radio were innovative and way ahead of their time. He blazed a trail that hundreds of future morning drive hosts tried to copy, but Purtan's talent couldn't be matched. He was so good,...well, I don't need to tell you because you can listen for yourself,....he hasn't lost a step. He is still going strong, even in retirement, as you can hear in this Conversation with...Dick Purtan. Be sure to visit all past episodes of "The Brandy Show." There is a

wealth of content covering a number of topics and formats that may

interest you. Tell your friends to stop by to visit, listen and

hopefully subscribe. This show was produced by Jim Brandstatter in

studio's in Michigan and Florida.