By Mike Daniel
5
2323 ratings
The podcast currently has 67 episodes available.
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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
In Episode 13 of Season 5 Mike brings back two foremost experts on Michigan Football in former guests (and current dear friends) Brock Steere and Tim Horvath to talk THE GAME (Michigan football v Ohio State from 2023) and discuss what the rivalry means, where it’s been and how Michigan came out on top in the greatest rivalry in sports.
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Email the podcast at [email protected]
Key moments from the pod:
0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S5E13 featuring Brock Steere (S1E12) and Tim Horvath (S1E11)
2:00: Mike corrects…..nothing!
2:20: Mike then summarizes what’s been going on with him, including a road trip to Cin City aka Cincinnati to see the Tigers take on the Reds and take in all Cincinnati has to offer (which is a lot).
6:45: Mike plugs a recent film he saw on long time best bud Todd Pretty’s recommendation: Snack Shack, a true coming of age story set in the 90s (when Mike came of age in real life!) and a (new) classic song from the closing credits of the movie.
13:40: Mike kicks off a rousing conversation with Brock Steere and Tim Horvath to talk Michigan/Ohio State as the guys give some updates on their lives.
20:00: The guys set the table for the rest of this epic episode featuring an epic rivalry and their thoughts about this game coming into it as well as the evolution of the rivalry overall.
29:00: How Michigan has been the tougher team in this rivalry and it eats the Buckeyes up inside.
34:30: Brock then speaks to what OSU fans feel about Ryan Day from an Ohio resident’s perspective and why this particular Michigan/OSU game was even more important than normal.
38:40: The guys then talk about the Friday night before the game and running into Bill Steere along with the epic tailgate beforehand and how there’s no other feeling like the morning of a Michigan/OSU game.
45:00: Next up is a breakdown of THE GAME in a level of detail that may give you chills (in a good way, not like in a flu-like way), clarifying that the Ohio State Buckeyes are not, in fact, world famous and are also great at getting beat by Michigan, how this game showed how much Michigan will miss QB JJ McCarthy, the really unfortunate Zak Zinter injury and how Michigan bounced back (1:03:00), and Rod Moore calling game (1:14:00).
1:20:00: The guys wind down the episode talking about what the game ultimately came down to as well as celebrating the win and the feeling coming out of this game with respect to the rest of the season.
1:24:00: Brock and Tim share what Michigan football means to them.
In Episode 12 of Season 5 Mike welcomes back one of the foremost authorities on Michigan football, insurance and friendship in all of Washtenaw County nay the State of Michigan nay the World in longtime guest and friend Chad Massey to talk through a class Michigan football “trap game” from the 2023 season in their final road tilt of the season at the University of Maryland Terrapins.
Follow the podcast on Twitter/X: @friendsofmiked
Email the podcast at [email protected]
Key moments from the pod:
0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S5E12 featuring Mike’s wise friend Chad Massey.
1:45: Mike goes on to correct a HUGE mistake from S5E11 (The Penn State episode) relating to a missed fact that is super embarrassing for Mike.
2:45: Mike then gives an update on what’s been going on with him, including continuing to watch both the Euros and Copa America, attending an MMJ concert in Detroit, an epic 4th of July party at the Bibbys (Season 5 Episode 8 guests Jay and Andrea Bibby), and Season 3 on Hulu.
5:30: Mike then features a bit of a track dedicated to this episode’s guest (Chad Massey) and his deep passion for all things insurance.
12:30: Mike welcomes long time guest Chad Massey back onto the podcast to give a quick life update.
16:30: The guys then talk about the last time they saw each other at Detroit Tigers Opening Day.
18:00: Chad talks about who his longest running friend is and what’s kept that friendship going over the years as well as his thoughts on how Michigan football had performed up to this point in the season including managing the Conor Stalions nonsense.
22:00: Mike and Chad then set the table for the Maryland game with Michigan missing Head Coach Jim Harbaugh for the second straight game.
29:00: Mike leads a discussion of the key moments from the 2023 Michigan/Maryland game including how Chad decided to make the trip down to College Park, and how this was a truly historic win in the annals of Michigan football.
45:45: The guys talk about how they were feeling coming out of this narrow win by Michigan over Maryland and Chad shares some inside info about just how banged up JJ McCarthy really was coming out of this game.
51:00: Chad finishes up by talking about what it is about Michigan football that keeps him passionate about life and college football.
In Episode 11 of Season 5 Mike introduces the listeners to a first time guest to the podcast, “Positive” Greg Shuraleff, to talk through Michigan football’s first true test of the 2023 season: the Penn State Nittany Lions. The guys talk Beaver Stadium architecture, awkward Air Bnb’s, (Bill) Pickles and a weekend in State College, PA they’ll never forget.
Follow the podcast on Twitter/X: @friendsofmiked
Email the podcast at [email protected]
Key moments from the pod:
0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S5E11 featuring Mike’s Wolverine buddy Greg Shuraleff.
2:00: Next up is the traditional corrections segment, where Mike corrects the driving time from Ann Arbor to East Lansing, an apology to Scottish listeners, and finally a miscalculation of the number of times Michigan football has played on NBC Saturday night football.
4:20: What’s going on with Mike D, which includes a 2nd annual Kalamazoo day trip via the train and live roller derby (shout out to Skinny Minnie).
7:20: Mike then sets the table for the dramatic weekend in Happy Valley that is the subject of this episode, including an encounter with the Michigan football team at the State College Regional Airport and a galvanizing rallying cry born from that moment.
9:45: Mike and the staff then play a smidge of a track that best exemplified the vibes of that weekend in State College vis a vis the Michigan football team.
14:00: Mike welcomes Greg Shuraleff into the virtual podcast studio.
15:40: Greg then tells his entire life story for the listeners and it’s quite the tale (including how he was NOT originally a Michigan fan as a kid and a transfer averted).
18:00: The guys then trace the origins of their friendship in Chicago and a mutual love of the State of Michigan sports and then discuss the last time they saw each other in person (which was in Pasadena, CA).
23:30: Greg tells the listeners who his longest running friend is and why that friendship has remained so strong (and how it started when we had to switch schools as a kid).
26:50: The guys then talk about their thoughts on the state of Michigan football coming into the season and this critical Penn State game.
31:15: Next up the guys talk about the Friday night and Saturday morning in State College leading up to the game itself, including the challenges of actually getting there and finding lodging close to campus, posting up at the legendary Bill Pickles Tap Room, an awkward AirBnB, Greg’s pre-game ritual at road games, an Uber situation that almost ended a friendship, and finding a Michigan-friendly tailgate very close to Beaver Stadium.
44:45: Mike and Greg then break down the epic highs and lows (mostly highs) of Michigan’s win over Penn State, including the architectural “charm” of Beaver Stadium.
59:00: The guys start wrapping things up by talking about Interim Coach Sherrone Moore’s legendary post-game interview, the team’s celebration and how they capped off their trip in Happy Valley.
1:03:00: Greg then caps the episode by talking about what Michigan football means to him.
In Episode 10 of Season 5 Mike welcomes Eric Wobser, the pride of both Michigan law and city of Sandusky, OH to talk all things regional and local development focused as well as the Michigan v Purdue football game from the 2023 Season.
Follow the podcast on Twitter/X: @friendsofmiked
Email the podcast at [email protected]
Key moments from the pod:
0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S5E10 featuring Mike’s legal and regional development-focused sports buddy Eric Wobser.
2:05: Mike then corrects some major mistakes from past episodes, including an embarrassing omission from Season 5 Episode 7 (the Bob Stinchcombe/Minnesota game episode) related to the movie Spaceballs.
4:20: Next up is the classic “What’s Going on with Mike D” segment which includes some soccer (both in Detroit and Germany) and a new mystery novel (or at least new to him) from Canadian author Louise Penny.
6:00: Mike then pays tribute to the city he most associates with Eric in the form of both fun facts and song: Cleveland, OH.
14:00: Mike welcomes Eric Wobser onto the podcast where Mike gives Eric the opportunity to tell his entire life story and Eric accepts (and shares how an Ohio boy ended up at law school at the University of Michigan).
19:00: The guys then talk about meeting at Michigan Law School on an iconic Ann Arbor patio known formally as Wonderful Times Charles.
22:00: Eric breaks down his love of the sport of wrestling (real and “real”) and how the cities of Cleveland and Detroit are kindred spirits
27:00: Eric then talks about how his son has made Mike his role model in life (only behind Eric).
28:30: The guys then lay out the plan for the rest of the episode, starting with Eric talking about his longest running friend in his life and how he thinks about friends as “layers on a tree”.
31:00: Eric shares where he was with Michigan football coming into this season, including what it’s been like as a Michigan fan living in Ohio.
32:30: Mike and Eric set the table for this Michigan/Purdue game, including the outbreak of the Sign-Gate “scandal” (aka a big nothingburger), including the tailgate.
37:00: The guys then go through the many highs (and very few lows from a Michigan perspective) of this game.
44:30: Eric shares what it is that motivates him to stay connected to the Michigan football program.
In Episode 9 of Season 5 Mike welcomes Mike “Fulk” Fulkerson, MTE (master tailgate extraordinaire) to talk about how he became one of the top tailgaters in all of Michigan Wolverine nation and then break down the Michigan v Michigan State football game from the 2023 Season in all of its rivalry glory.
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Email the podcast at [email protected]
Key moments from the pod:
0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S5E9 featuring Mike’s tailgating role model Mike “Fulk” Fulkerson.
2:00: Mike quotes the late, great Jerry Orbach and admits some embarrassing mistakes, including a mistake within a mistake related to S5E5 (The Rutgers episode featuring Fletcher Walters) and S5E8’s (the Indiana episode featuring the Bibbys) failure to reference the greatest TV-based romance in Canadian history.
5:10: Mike then breaks down what’s been going on with him, including a trip up to Traverse City for a Pure Michigan weekend with Ann Arbor Mug Club and prepping to play possibly the biggest pub quiz game of his life, along with his strategies for a successful pub quiz night.
12:00: Mike finishes off the opening segment with a tribute to the Michigan/Michigan State rivalry and extends a musical olive branch to his Spartan friends and listeners.
17:20: Mike welcomes Mike Fulkerson into the podcast studio.
18:20: Mike Fulkerson then tells his entire life story and the story of the Plymouth Canton/Salem/Plymouth High Schools, which is a multi-campus adventure for the students who come through there.
21:10: Next up the guys talk about the last time they saw each other in person at the famed Houston NRG Wyndham for a new infamous “lobby tailgate”.
24:20: Fulk talks about who his longest running friend is and how that friendship has lasted all of these years.
28:15: Mike D then asks Fulk about how his legendary Michigan football tailgates have evolved over the years at Ann Arbor Golf and Outing (as great tailgates do).
36:30: The guys then talk about how they first met…..at a Michigan tailgate in Bloomington, IN and then again in Lincoln, NE.
41:00: A prank gets played on Mike D by Fulk and their friends “Fun” Ron and Strikeout and Mike doesn’t get mad at all.
44:00: Fulk talks about his thoughts about the 2023 Michigan football team coming into the season and how the season had gone so far in his mind.
47:00: The guys then touch on the emergence of the Conor Stalions backstory for Michigan football.
49:20: How tailgating at Michigan State differs from tailgating at Michigan and an audio picture of the Michigan/Michigan State game as told by Mike and Mike.
1:03:30: Mike F then talks about whether this game changed his opinion of Michigan’s chances the rest of the season as well as why Michigan football has remained a priority for him in his life.
In Episode 8 of Season 5 Mike welcomes two of his closest and most spirited friends in Andrea and Jason “Jay": Bibby aka the Bibbys to the podcast to talk about how their friendship started over a Canadian TV show about real life issues and only grew due to a shared love of Michigan football. The “KLA Crew”, as they’re known, then break down the Michigan v Indiana Hoosiers football game from the 2023 Season in all of its dramatic glory.
Follow the podcast on Twitter/X: @friendsofmiked
Email the podcast at [email protected]
Key moments from the pod:
0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S5E8 featuring Mike’s all time dear friends Andrea and Jay Bibby.
1:45: Mike then corrects a massive mistake from S5E7 (The Minnesota Game episode featuring Bob Stinchombe about when Mike actually moved back to the state of Michigan from California.
2:50: Mike talks about what’s been going on with him, including volunteering with an amazing organization named Food Gatherer’s (foodgatherers.org) and checking out the action smash film Furiosa.
5:20: Mike then gives some background on this episode’s two guests (Andrea and Jay Bibby), including a shared passion for music with Andrea and a shared love of all things Windsor, Canada with Jay, including Mike’s favorite memories of Windsor as a kid.
12:20: Then comes a deep dive of one of Andrea, Jay and Mike’s all time favorite Canadian exports and that’s Degrassi. To quote the Zit Remedy: Everybody Wants Something!!!
14:45: Mike then counts down his 5 favorite Degrassi characters!
25:00: Mike then welcomes Andrea and Jay Bibby to the podcast and has them tell their life stories in grave detail.
31:00: Jay tells the story of how he and Andrea reconnected for good at a Michigan football game through Andrea’s mom having a keen eye.
33:00: The crew then talk about their initial group friendship “meet cute” in Dexter and how a Canadian teen dramedy drew them together instantly and also how each of their homes was designed by a legendary builder and now feature iconic basement pubs/bars.
36:40: Next up is a discussion of the last time the crew saw each other, which was less than 24 hours prior to recording this episode and involved ribs and “sauce toss”
38:30: Jay and Andrea then talk about their respective longest running friends and what’s kept their friendships going all of these years as well as a discussion of a marital agreement around Don Cherry and the magic of “Windsor Pizza”.
47:50: Mike then asks about Jay and Andrea’s thoughts on Michigan football coming into the 2023 season.
51:20: Andrea then shares her family’s rich history about tailgating for Michigan football.
57:30: The crew then talks about the Indiana game tailgate and what tailgating in Ann Arbor is really like.
1:02:00: Next up is a detailed breakdown of the dramatic Michigan/Indiana 2023 football showdown.
1:08:00: The crew shares their thoughts coming out of the big Michigan 52-7 win and what Michigan football means to the Bibbys.
The podcast currently has 67 episodes available.
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