Michael Sullivan has spent more than five decades blending heart, creativity, and human connection through both psychotherapy and music. A pioneering social worker and family systems therapist in Northern Michigan, Mike helped shape the region’s mental health community through innovative treatment programs, education, consultation, and public speaking. He is also a respected author and national presenter whose work has centered on helping people better understand themselves and one another.

At the same time, Mike has lived a remarkable life as a self-taught musician, singer-songwriter, and performer. Through Song of the Lakes, The Wild Sullys, 5th Street, and the Motor Town Juke Boys, he has performed thousands of concerts across the U.S. and Europe, sharing stories rooted in the spirit of the Great Lakes and the people who call this region home. From appearances alongside Ernest Borgnine to performing at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Mike’s life has been anything but ordinary.

On this episode of The Mostly Traverse City Podcast, Mike shares stories, wisdom, music, and a deep love for people that has guided his extraordinary journey.

You can find Mike at michaelsullivanacsw.com   

Learn about hearing his band onboard the Tall Ship Manitou all summer at Songofthelakes.com 

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Stuart Gibson’s story starts with a bit of luck—and a whole lot of saying yes. At 16, instead of heading straight to university, he took a shot with Royal Bank of Scotland…thanks to a neighbor who just happened to be the local manager. That decision turned into a 35-year career spanning global finance, eventually leading him to Managing Director roles at both RBS and Capital One, where he worked alongside some of the biggest names in energy and banking.

Outside the boardroom, Stuart’s competitive edge showed up on the green—representing Scotland in lawn bowling and helping secure a historic UK championship win. These days, you’ll find him trading that intensity for quiet moments fishing Michigan lakes or curling at the local club.

After a serendipitous meeting at a Detroit wedding (complete with a Scottish sword arch), Stuart and his wife Alejandra found their way to Traverse City—arriving just in time for a full-on Northern Michigan blizzard. Now settled near Long Lake, he’s embracing the next chapter…still wondering how it all unfolded so well.

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Connie Denewith is a respected leader in Traverse City, known for her vision, leadership, and deep roots in the community. With a background in banking and a strong role in local development, she’s helped shape spaces that bring people together—most notably through Copper Ridge and Lakemore Retreat and Resort on Arbutus Lake.

Her work reflects a thoughtful balance of growth and preservation—something that matters in a place like Traverse City. Beyond business, Connie has earned numerous accolades for her leadership and service, always grounded in relationships and a long-term view of what makes a community thrive.

In this episode of The Mostly Traverse City Podcast, we talk with Connie about building community, navigating change, and creating something that lasts

 Copperridgeonline.com    Lakemoretc.com 

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Ryan Scott is an Executive Producer and experienced engineer who turns ideas into unforgettable moments for tens of thousands—and growing. In high demand across the country, he’s a true student of humans, blending creativity, curiosity, and instinct to design experiences that actually mean something. Whether it’s an intimate gathering or a massive production, Ryan’s artistic approach leaves a lasting imprint.

A lover of life, the outdoors, and community, Traverse City is where it all began. After years of creating in places like Chicago, Los Angeles, Denver, and Minneapolis, the pull to return never left. Back in TC since 2022, Ryan is all in—bringing big ideas home and helping shape moments people will remember long after the lights go

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Some people follow a straight career path. Russ Springsteen opened a barbershop…then a brewery…right as the economy was falling apart.

A licensed barber by trade, Russ launched Salon Saloon in Traverse City’s Warehouse District in 2006. A year later—and about a month after the economic crash—he doubled down on creativity and opened Right Brain Brewery, a place that quickly became known for doing beer a little differently.  His success helped spawn the craft beer culture in MIchigan and beyond.

Along the way, Russ has worn a few other hats too: competitive wrestler, coach, entrepreneur, and champion of doing things your own way. In this episode, we talk about risk, creativity, and why sometimes the best ideas come from the “right brain.”

rightbrainbrewery.com   https://www.facebook.com/RightBrainBrewery https://www.instagram.com/rightbrainbrewery/

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Some people move to Traverse City for the views. Others come because something about this place just feels right.

This episode features someone who followed that pull—and turned it into purpose. What started as a personal connection to water, movement, and well-being has grown into something much bigger: creating spaces where people can slow down, reset, and reconnect with themselves and their surroundings.

But it’s not just about wellness—it’s about community, intention, and building something that reflects the rhythm of Northern Michigan. In this conversation, we explore what it looks like to trust that instinct, take the leap, and create something meaningful in a place that already feels like home.

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Some people move to Traverse City for the lifestyle. Others show up—and start building it. Jim Kalajian came north looking for community and ended up finding ways to shape it. What started with a move in 1999 quickly turned into a life of connection and leadership—from helping run a global publishing company to stepping in when Mt. Holiday needed saving.
But it doesn’t stop there. Whether it’s co-founding Mud, Sweat & Beers, a mountain bike race that gives 100% back to the community, or launching the Northern Michigan Hickory Golf Association to bring the game’s roots back to life, this is someone who doesn’t just enjoy Northern Michigan—he invests in it.
This conversation is about what happens when you plug in, lean in, and help create the kind of place you were hoping to find…another example of what makes TC such a desirable destination for amazing GSD humans!

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Before social media feeds and instant highlights, if you wanted to know what happened in Northern Michigan sports, you opened the paper—and chances are Jeff Peek had the story. For years as Sports Editor at the Record-Eagle, Jeff had a front-row seat to the victories, heartbreaks, characters, and communities that define sports in this corner of the world.

These days, he’s still telling stories—just from a slightly different lane—as a writer with Hagerty, where the culture of cars and the people behind them takes center stage. In this episode, we talk about journalism, the evolution of storytelling, the magic of local sports, and why the best stories—whether on a field or behind a steering wheel—always come back to people.

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cookitforward.org Facebook- Cook it Forward  IG- @tccookitforward

Sometimes the biggest ideas start in the simplest places—like a kitchen. What began as a love of food and community has grown into something much bigger: a mission to make sure kids in Northern Michigan have access to healthy meals, dignity, and opportunity.

Through Cook It Forward, Adam Worden has turned generosity into a system—mobilizing restaurants, volunteers, and neighbors to support young people who need it most. But this story isn’t just about food. It’s about creativity, persistence, and the belief that when a community decides to care for its kids, remarkable things can happen.

In this episode of The Mostly Traverse City Podcast, we explore how one idea, one meal, and one determined advocate can start to change an entire region.

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Cities don’t just grow—they evolve. And behind that evolution are people who see possibility where others see parking lots, traffic patterns, or empty space. Traverse City’s city planner brings a rare combination to the table: vision without ego, passion without volume, and a steady calm in conversations that aren’t always easy.

In this episode, we talk about what it means to shape a place you care about, how thoughtful planning balances progress and preservation, and why listening may be the most underrated tool in city building. It’s a conversation about patience, perspective, and the long view—because the best communities aren’t rushed…they’re designed with intention.

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