THE mostly TRAVERSE CITY

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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In one of the most mind shattering conversations,Chip and Lisa St. Clair discuss pain that doesn’t define you, healing that doesn’t happen alone, and what it looks like when lived experience becomes a lifeline for others.  This work is personal.  It mirrors Chip’s childhood- being raised with a relentless sense of terror, literally at the hands of his parents.  This is a conversation about resilience, responsibility, and the quiet power of turning hurt into help. The outcome?

 The creation St. Clair Butterfly Foundation, an organization devoted to helping children who have endured traumatic and abusive family dynamics find safety, strength, and hope. Through SCBF, the St. Clairs partner with schools, courts, and community organizations to architect systems-level change that goes beyond trauma-informed approaWe also welcome opportunities to collaborate beyond the episode, such as follow-up conversations, community events, or introductions to leaders and organizations aligned with education, juvenile justice, behavioral health, and community well-being. The hope is to connect with people who are ready to move from awareness to action.  

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Her path back to Traverse City was anything but predictable. It started with a crown, detoured through late-night television and pop culture, moved into national philanthropy, and eventually landed right back where community matters most. Along the way, she learned how power really works—not the loud kind, but the kind that builds boards, funds ideas, and quietly changes lives. Today, she’s helping shape the future of Northern Michigan while leading one of its most beloved traditions into a historic milestone. This episode is about reinvention, resilience, and using your voice—especially when it matters most.

https://www.hkmllc.net/    https://www.cherryfestival.org/

FACEBOOK- National Cherry Festival  (link)   IG cherryfestival

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For more than three decades, Ron Jolly was a steady, familiar voice riding along with Northern Michigan mornings on WTCM. For 31 years, he didn’t just host a radio show—he shared stories, laughs, opinions, and moments that became part of daily life across the region. In this episode, Ron steps out from behind the mic to reflect on radio, routine, reinvention, and what it means to connect with a community day after day, year after year. It’s a conversation about consistency, curiosity, and the quiet power of showing up—long enough to become part of the soundtrack.                           

The Ron Jolly Show on FB   [email protected]

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If you’re new to Traverse City and wondering how to actually get to know people—not just their names, but their stories—this episode is for you.
This conversation features someone who quite literally made a career out of listening. After finding his way north, he didn’t start by trying to fit in or stand out. Instead, he asked questions. Lots of them. The kind that invite people to talk, to share, and to feel seen. Along the way, he uncovered a simple but powerful strategy for building real connections in a new place—one that anyone can use.
His work has taken him deep into Northern Michigan’s culture, from overlooked native fish to failed shipwreck hunts, from classrooms to concert halls, and into living rooms across the region through radio. But at its heart, this is a story about curiosity, community, and the underrated power of paying attention.
Listen closely—you might just learn how to belong a little faster.
[email protected]
Interlochenpublicradio.org  

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He learned discipline on the wrestling mat at Traverse City Central, then took those lessons far beyond Northern Michigan—around the world, into places most of us only hear about. For more than three decades, service, leadership, and loyalty defined his life. Now, he’s back where it all started, supporting the coaches and program that helped shape him. This is a story about grit, standards, and why, no matter how far you go, Traverse City always pulls you home.
[email protected]

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By day, he manages wealth and helps people plan for the future. By night, Mark Stackable is chasing something far less predictable. A Traverse City local with a curious mind and a creative itch, Mark has poured his energy into learning the art of making music—embracing the awkward joy of being a beginner again. This episode isn’t about money; it’s about curiosity, creativity, and what happens when a disciplined, numbers-driven brain gives itself permission to play. A reminder that some of the best returns come when you follow the itch instead of the plan. 

The Great Indoor Folk Festival at The Grand Traverse Commons (2/22/26)

IG: stackablemusic  [email protected]

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