Mike kicks off the finale to Season 6, where he discusses one of his favorite end-of-the-year holiday songs.  A herculean task to get things down to just 20, Mike and the podcast staff are confident the 20 tracks Mike goes over will set your end-of-the-year holiday mood just right. 

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Key moments from the pod: 

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to Episode 6 of Season 6.

2:10: Mike talks a bit more about the format for this holiday music-themed episode

5:20: Mike breaks down his favorite 20 holiday songs of all time (spoiler alert: they are objectively the 20 best to many people)

In Episode 5 of Season 6 Mike welcomes noted college football fans and expert prognosticators Tim Horvath and Chad Massey for the guys’ annual college football preview of the 2025 season.

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Email the podcast at [email protected]

Key moments from the pod: 

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S6E5

1:40: Mike updates the listeners on the plan for the rest of Season 6 of the podcast

2:25: What’s been going on with Mike?  Namely trips to Philadelphia and morning horror movies

4:30: Mike breaks down the rest of this episode and features a song that best encapsulates the attitude of the Michigan Wolverines heading into the 2025 season (spoiler alert: it’s not an old attitude)

9:45: Mike welcomes Tim Horvath and Chad Massey onto the podcast.  There’s definitely some insurance humor involved as well as some life updates

15:15: Mike sets the table for the rest of the episode, starting with a quick recap of the 2024 season as well as a tailgate tradition that involves the mantra

29:20: The guys give their thoughts on the big offseason recruiting news about incoming freshman QB Bryce Underwood

37:50: The fellas then talk about which true freshmen they’re most excited about outside of Bryce Underwood

43:45: Next up is discussing their favorite pickups in the transfer portal for the Wolverines

46:40: The Big 10 has some annoying head coaches and the guys discuss them in non-annoying detail

54:15:  Should the College Football Playoff be expanded from 12 to 16 teams?  The guys debate this (in a respectful manner)

57:10: Reasons for optimism for the 2025 Michigan football season

1:01:00: Reasons for concern for the 2025 Michigan football season

1:04:00: Key position groups for the 2025 Michigan football season

1:07:00: Key individual players for the 2025 Michigan football season

1:11:00: The guys break down every game on Michigan’s 2025 schedule, starting with game 1 with the game against New Mexico Lobos

1:12:30: Oklahoma

1:17:00: Central Michigan

1:18:00: Nebraska

1:20:00: Bye Week (First ever Big House concert)

1:21:40: Wisconsin

1:24:50: USC

1:28:00: Washington

1:31:00: Michigan State

1:34:45: Purdue

1:36:15: Bye week

1:36:30: Northwestern (at Wrigley Field)

1:39:00: Maryland

1:41:00: Ohio State

1:46:00: The guys finish up by picking the Big 10 champions, the teams who will make the College Football Playoff and the National Champion.

In Episode 4 of Season 6 Mike welcomes his observational-in-a-comedic-way dear friends Todd  Pretty, Tim Rechtien, John Baker and Chris Allan to talk about two things: Life + Seinfeld and how much it’s meant to them over the years (this is Part 2 of an epic two part pod).

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Email the podcast at [email protected]

Key moments from the pod: 

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S6E4 featuring four dear friends (Todd Pretty, Tim Rechtien, John Baker and Chris Allan) for part 2 of a love letter to their favorite show from the 90s about nothing aka Seinfeld!

2:30: Mike lays out the plan for the rest of Season 6

3:10: Mike corrects an English river-based mistake from S5E2

4:10: What’s been going on with Mike D? Mike breaks things down and they involve Mike getting a new Tottenham-related customized tattoo somewhere on his body, trips to Cleveland and Philadelphia, some great TV (The Bear on Hulu and The Eternaut on Netflix).

11:30: Mike kicks off Part 2 of the conversation about Seinfeld by catching up with the guests and learning how their lives have changed (for the better) since Part 1 dropped.

15:30: Mike lays out the plan for the rest of the episode of talking about the guys’ favorite 10 individual episodes of the show

16:00: The Contest

33:10: The Bizarro Jerry

48:50: The Merv Griffin Show

1:03:30: The Pitch/Ticket

1:18:35: The Opposite

1:32:20: The Strike

1:45:50: The Pony Remark

2:00:00: The Understudy

2:16:50: The Wizard

2:28:20: The Marine Biologist

In Episode 3 of Season 6 Mike welcomes his observational-in-a-comedic-way dear friends Todd  Pretty, Tim Rechtien, John Baker and Chris Allan to talk about two things: Life + Seinfeld and how much it’s meant to them over the years (this is Part 1 of an epic two part pod).

Follow the podcast on BLUESKY: @friendsofmiked

Email the podcast at [email protected]

Key moments from the pod: 

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S6E3 featuring four dear friends (Todd Pretty, Tim Rechtien, John Baker and Chris Allan) for a love letter to their favorite show from the 90s about nothing.

2:00: Mike updates the listeners on a recent trip to one of his favorite cities: Toronto, capping things over with an anthem about his new favorite soccer clubs, Toronto FC (7:05).

12:00: Mike welcomes the crew from Monk’s (Todd, Tim, John and Chris) to the podcast and checks in w/ how they each are doing life-wise.

17:45: The guys then check in on when they last saw each other in person, including a new baby in Denver and a disease known as Tigers Fever.

23:30: Mike lays out the premise for the rest of the episode and starts by asking the guys how they first found Seinfeld, which includes several home recordings that weren’t exactly street legal.

33:00: The guys then talk about whether the show grabbed them right away as something they loved.

37:40: Next up the guys quickly talk about their favorite character of the “Big 4” (Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer).

51:50: Has the show stood the test of time?  The guys definitively answer this question.

59:40: It’s the meat of this Part 1: the guys talk through their top ancillary (non-core 4) Seinfeld characters.

1:00:30: George Steinbrenner

1:06:10: Bob Sacamano

1:11:00: Tim Whatley

1:18:20: Izzy Mandelbaum

1:25:15: Jackie Chiles

1:32:20: Lt. Joe Bookman

1:44:40: Jacolo “J” Peterman

1:48:20: David Puddy

1:56:00: Newman

2:06:10: Frank Costanza

In Episode 2 of Season 6 Mike welcomes his mate from Sheffield (England), Mark Charlton, for a scholarly discussion of the music of BritPop, redefining the genre in the process.

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Email the podcast at [email protected]

Key moments from the pod: 

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S6E2 featuring Mark Charlton and a deep dive on all things BritPop

2:10: Mike updates the listeners on what’s been going on with him, including a trip to the Balkans (specifically Belgrade) for a mix of history,  and going to see a phenomenal new film Sinners

12:20: Mike welcomes Mark Charlton to the podcast and he tells his life story having grown up in Sheffield, England and how it reminds him a bit of Detroit

16:00: The guys then trace the origins of their friendship via the Ann Arbor Mug Club including the last time they saw each other as well as a discussion of some amazing music artwork/infographics (wearedorothy.com) in Mark’s basement

20:40: Mike lays out the premise of the episode and discuss what BritPop means to them, including the music itself and the movement around it (and of course the rivalries!)

27:30: The guys discuss their 14 favorite BritPop songs of all time, starting with a song about a type of gold from one of Manchester's most decorated bands

40:30: A song for all people and one that involves a biting take down of class tourism that is also a propulsive jam

53:00: One of all time best Deborahs gets referenced in this romantic jam from one of Sheffield’s all time greatest bands

1:02:00: A song about going on holiday in Greece and letting you freak flag fly

1:12:00: A song from a massive BritPop band that’s both fun and a bit a surprising

1:21:20: A song about being alone on a motorcycle

1:30:30: An epic, atmospheric heightening song in every note

1:41:20: A B-side from a pioneer BritPop band about a glorious river

1:48:15: An amazing cover that completely reinvents the original song around a BritPop beat for the ages

1:57:25: An underrated song from band with instructions to sit (not stand)

2:05:40: A song from a UK band from the West Midlands who actually know a lot

2:13:00: A (largely) romantic upbeat song from the vision of one man

2:19:20: The swagger-inducing and enhancing song from a band with a flower in its name that’s also about love

2:28:15: The last song of the episode is a fitting end that focuses on looking forward (not backward)

In Episode 1 of Season 6 Mike welcomes two good buddies onto the podcast to kick off the season for a free flowing conversation about the friendship ties that bind and a yearly tradition that has become legendary from coast to coast.  

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Email the podcast at [email protected]

Key moments from the pod: 

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S6E1 featuring Mark Sgriccia and Zach Drennen!

1:45: Mike sets the table for Season 6 of the podcast

2:28: MIke then talks about what’s been going on with him since Season 5 of the pod ended and it involves A LOT of amazing traveling including trips to:

3:20: Cancun!

4:00: Glasgow! (where Mike tried to play the bagpipes and failed miserably)

6:00: London! (where Mike scaled monuments, watched football (soccer), and learned some rock and roll history).

8:00: Canada (specifically Alberta) to see the Red Wings take down the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames along with soaking in some Canadian culture and fresh brews.

11:00: Italy (specifically Rome, Florence and Milan) for history, food, art, architecture, sport and friendship building!

14:15: Mike plays a smidge of an Italian song that he was listening to while traversing Italia on the trip.

18:00: Mike brings on two true blue Wolverines who have skyrocketed up his personal FQR (friendship quality rankings).

21:00: Mike lays out the plan for the rest of the episode, including introducing a long-standing friendship tradition

22:45: The guys get into the last time they saw each other, including an epic March Madness gathering at Zach’s as well as at the beginning of the Dusty May era.

28:00: Zach and Mark give their respective histories about becoming Michigan fans.

33:15: Zach then talks about how he’s become the wizard of recaps.

34:15: The guys talk about how they first crossed paths at the Michigan/Penn State game in State College in 2023.

42:30: Zach and Mark reflect on what the 2023 Michigan football season means to them.

47:15: The guys then talk about the 2024 season and how it compared to 2023 as well as noting how Ohio State’s 2024 “championship” season will forever be less than.

55:00: Mark and Zach then give the history of their road game weekend tradition.

1:02:00: The guys then go over the most recent iteration of this epic tradition: the Michigan/Washington game in Seattle in 2024.

1:09:00: Mark then talks through how the specific road game for the RGWT (road game weekend tradition) gets chosen which involves a west coast BBQ, a powerpoint/Google slides presentation and data-informed decision making.

1:15:00: The guys then discuss the plans for the 2025 Michigan/USC road game in LA (which is NOT necessarily the official RGWT choice for the 2025 season.

1:19:00: The guys then talk about the vibes for the 2025 Michigan football team as of the spring of 2025.

1:24:45: The episode comes to an end with the guys sharing what makes the RGWT special and where it might go.

In Episode 17 of Season 5 Mike and the usual college football preview crew (Tim Horvath and Chad Massey) pick back up for their fourth annual college football preview podcast episode, this time focused on the 2024 season with a slight focus on the Michigan Wolverines (reigning national champions of the whole nation).

Follow the podcast on Twitter/X: @friendsofmiked

Email the podcast at [email protected]

Key moments from the pod: 

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S5E17 featuring Tim Horvath and Chad Massey

3:00: Mike talks about the plans for the podcast offseason and Season 6 and then corrects some huge errors from prior episodes, including an inaccurate description of Great Britain and her component nations as well as a misallocated sack in the Rose Bowl (apologies to Josiah Stewart)

5:30: Mike then recaps his trip to CDMX aka Mexico City (and how much he loved it).

6:45: Finally, Mike features a small bit of a new Eddie Vedder cover track that speaks to the current state of the Michigan Wolverine football team.

13:30: Mike welcomes Tim Horvath and Chad Massey into the podcast studio and the guys give comprehensive life updates, including Tim’s son spurning Purdue to become a Wolverine.

20:30: The guys touch on their thoughts on college football conference realignment.

24:15: Next up is a discussion of the revamped Michigan coaching staff led by Sherrone Moore, including new Defensive Coordinator Wink Martindale.

31:00: The guys then talk about the evolution of Michigan’s approach to name, image and likeness (NIL) rights, including how critical using NIL to retain players has been for the Wolverines.

37:15:  The Big 10 has brought in several new head coaches and the guys discuss who they are most intrigued by coming into 2024.

41:15: The guys then go through their reasons for optimism for Michigan football in 2024.  The future is bright!

45:40: Next up are reasons for concern for the 2024 Michigan Wolverines.

49:20: The guys then talk about their key players for Michigan’s season.

56:00: Key Michigan football position groups for the season.

58:45: The guys then go game by game through Michigan’s season starting with Fresno St

1:00:15: Texas

1:03:15: Arkansas St

1:04:05: Southern California

1:06:00: The Battle for the Brown Jug (Minnesota)

1:07:40: Washington

1:11:30: Illinois

1:14:30: Michigan State

1:20:00: Oregon

1:23:15: Indiana

1:25:00: Northwestern

1:27:15: Ohio State

1:34:45: The guys predict the Big 10 Champion

1:36:30: The guys then predict the 12 Team playoff and national champions

1:41:45: The episode wraps up with an emotional sign off

In Episode 16 of Season 5 Mike and his best in the nation Michigan fan buddies Irfan Bhabhrawala and Kevin Werner put a bow on a legendary season of college football, friendship and life by discussing the 2024 National Championship game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Washington Huskies.  

Follow the podcast on Twitter/X: @friendsofmiked

Email the podcast at [email protected]

Key moments from the pod: 

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S5E16 featuring Irfan Bhabhrawala and Kevin Werner

4:00: Mike corrects zero mistakes from past episodes

5:00: What’s been going with Mike D?  Practicing gratitude and how Mike is incredibly grateful for what the 2023 Michigan football team has given to him.

15:15: Mike welcomes on Irfan and Kevin to set the table for a deep dive on the 2024 National Championship game with Irfan and Kevin also telling their respective life stories, which include Irfan becoming a titan of finance and Kevin impressing his wife with his level of internet fame among Michigan fans.

34:30: The guys talk about the last time they saw each other and what they were doing as well as their thoughts coming into the 2023 Michigan football season.

44:00: Next up is a discussion about their thoughts on the National Championship game opponent for Michigan, the Washington Huskies.

 53:00: The guys talk about some of the logistical challenges in even getting to Houston as fans (especially Irfan and Kevin), including Irfan’s command of the travel logistics variables.  Truly legendary.

1:02:00: It’s game day in Houston!  The guys discuss their now iconic hotel lobby tailgate and unique the feeling was that Monday leading up to the game.

1:09:50: The guys then break down Michigan’s National Championship victory over the Washington Huskies.

1:38:00: Michigan are your national champions!!!  The guys reflect on what it felt to be there and the immediate aftermath of the glorious victory, which includes the best (or at least most satisfying) burrito Kevin and Irfan have ever eaten.

1:45:00: The guys wrap up with a philosophical reflection on the lasting meaning of Michigan’s 2023 season.  It’s one that will never be forgotten.

In Episode 15 of Season 5 Mike and his cool California buddies PJ and Arvind talk the 2024 Rose Bowl, the site of Michigan’s now iconic playoff win over the Alabama Crimson Tide in Overtime, in one of most memorable Michigan football wins in the history of not only the Michigan program but all of college football.  

Follow the podcast on Twitter/X: @friendsofmiked

Email the podcast at [email protected]

Key moments from the pod: 

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S5E15 featuring Prashant “PJ” Jolepalem and Arvind Ramakrishnan

2:45: Mike corrects some embarrassing gaffes from past episodes, including misstatements about where in North Carolina he recently visited and his friend Jay Bibby’s citizenship.

4:15: Mike talks (very quickly) about what’s been going on with him, including invoking “res ipsa loquitur” to describe the conversation later in the episode with his buddies PJ and Arvind, and the song that captures the vibe of this legendary game and experience.

10:30: Mike welcomes Prashant and Arvind onto the podcast and they introduce themselves to the listeners and the three trace the origins of their friendship.

17:30: The guys talk about the importance of thinking through “tailgate logistics” ahead of time.

20:30: Next up the guys talk about their thoughts about this Michigan football team coming into the season, looking back on how Michigan got to Pasadena and whether Mike D received a championship ring based on this season.

28:00: The guys talk about what the experience was like leading up to the game itself in Southern California, including meeting up with their good buddy Zach, watching Lions/Cowboys from LA Live and how Mike was fighting a brutal cold (but pushed through!).

33:00: It’s January 1, 2024 aka game day in Pasadena.  The guys talk about taking LA public transit up to the game, the Tournament of Roses parade, walking to the Stadium (eschewing the shuttle) and tailgating on the golf course.

40:00: Next the guys head into the stadium itself and begin the tale of what happened in the game itself.

1:19:00: Ecstasy and relief!!  Michigan wins and the guys try to describe it.

In Episode 14 of Season 5 Mike and his longtime Michigan football buddy Ryan Lewin talk the 2023 Big 10 Championship game, including what the experience is like attending this college football fiesta in person in Indianapolis and how the Wolverines clinched their third straight undisputed Big 10 Championship against the hapless Iowa Hawkeyes.  

Follow the podcast on Twitter/X: @friendsofmiked

Email the podcast at [email protected]

Key moments from the pod: 

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S5E14 featuring Ryan Lewin (S1E2 + S3E2.5)

2:00: Mike corrects…..nothing....again!

3:00: Mike then updates the listeners on what’s been going on with him, including a trip to North Carolina and watching the TV show Shoresy.

7:00: Mike sets the table for the rest of the episode, including identifying a song that comes from a band both this episode’s guest Ryan Lewin and he love and how the track encapsulates the feeling of the Michigan football team and its fans like Mike and Ryan heading into the 2023 Big 10 Championship Game (and featured in S3E2.5).

13:00: Mike welcomes Ryan Lewin back to the Podcast, they talk about the new Bleachers album and Ryan gives an update on his amazing life (including the addition of Roscoe the dog) and how it's going.

18:30: The guys then talk about the pure objectivity of the Michigan football team fandom of Ryan’s sons as well as the last time they saw each other in person.

24:00: Next up the guys look back about how they were feeling as Michigan’s season played out up to this point.

28:00: American Hero Conor Stalions is discussed and the mental state of the team around this “scandal”

31:00: The guys talk about the entire experience of heading to Indianapolis for the Big 10 Championship Game in person and how it’s a sports experience not to be missed, including the fan fest and how Mike set a pitching speed record as well as the rest of the day leading up to the game.  The guys talk about how Ryan’s son Oliver is a very level headed, objective Michigan fan.

36:30: Next up the guys set the table for this old fashioned Big 10 slugfest (largely due to Iowa’s anemic offense).

42:00: Mike and Ryan go deep on the key plays from the Big 10 Championship Game.

53:00: Mike talks about the satisfaction of being able to hang another Michigan banner in Lucas Oil Stadium once the game was won by Michigan.

55:40: The guys talk about what was next for Michigan in the College Football Playoff and who they thought the four teams should’ve been.

1:01:40: Ryan talks about what it is about Michigan football that keeps his passion.