Total Michigan

Frankenmuth draws more than 3 million visitors every year to a community of just 5,000 residents. But what happens when a community decides its next big investment is not for the tourists? Jamie Furbush, president of the Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau, shares the vision behind the Frankenmuth Sports Complex. What they are building might surprise you, but who they are building it for will surprise you even more.

In this episode you'll discover:

• Why the Frankenmuth Sports Complex is designed to benefit communities across the entire Great Lakes Bay Region
• The foundation model that turns a sports facility into an engine for scholarships, grants, and free programming
• What Jamie Furbush believes is "the real magic" behind the project — and it has nothing to do with sports

Links:

Plan Your Trip to Michigan's Little Bavarian at Frankenmuth.org

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A Canadian mining company wants to build a copper mine right next to Michigan's favorite state park. The waste would be stored upstream from Lake Superior, with no guarantee the copper ever stays in the United States. One man decided to fight back. This is the story of Tom Grotewohl and the 460,000 people standing behind him.

In this episode you'll discover:

• Why a small-town guy with a website became one of the most effective voices in Michigan conservation
• The little-known financial deal that could put your tax dollars on the line for a foreign corporation
• What you can do right now to have a direct impact on the future of the Porcupine Mountains

Protect the Porkies Website: https://protecttheporkies.com

This episode is sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation. Learn more about how you can join the fight to protect the Great Lakes state. Website: https://www.nwf.org/greatlakes

Most people think they know Saginaw's story. They don't. Eugene Seals left Michigan, built a career, and came back not because his hometown was fixed but because he believed it could be. Now, as President of the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce, he's helping a coalition of entrepreneurs, families, and institutions turn belief into brick and mortar.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• How a former basketball player turned chamber president applies a team-first mentality to economic development
• Why local families are investing millions in downtown Saginaw and what the Medical Diamond means for the city's future
• What it actually takes to change a city's reputation when the headlines are still working against you

Tucked into five acres of woods on a family dairy farm outside Frankenmuth, Tim Krafft built something most people wouldn't expect: an obstacle course designed to change how you see yourself. The Frankenmuth Aerial Park isn't about thrill-seeking. It's about watching fear step aside and confidence take its place.

In this episode, we cover:

• What the "confidence business" actually looks like
• How facing fears is for all ages
• What you can expect at the Frankenmuth Aerial Park

Frankenmuth Aerial Park Website: https://zipandclimb.com

Address:

1375 Weiss St.

Frankenmuth, MI 48734

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What does it feel like when everything slows down at 120 miles per hour and you can see people's hands waving from the grandstands? Will Sahutske, owner of WD Racing, is a pro late model driver competing in the CRA Turn One Pro Series across the eastern United States. His racing story didn't start with him; it started three generations ago with a grandfather who engineered IndyCars and a father who put him in a go-kart at three. Today Will and his dad spend 50 hours a week chasing a tenth of a second, and a four-year-old named Amelia is waiting in the wings.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What goes through a driver's mind during a 100-lap race at over 100 mph
• How a father-son team has traveled to racetracks together for 33 years
• Why Will seeks partners with aligned values instead of chasing sponsorship checks
• What it's like watching the next generation climb into a race car for the first time

Follow WD Racing: @wdracingteam on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube

Partnership inquiries: [email protected]

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Twenty-three years ago, a teenager asked Maggie Varney a question nobody could answer: What do you do when you're a kid, and you need a wig? That question became Maggie's Wigs 4 Kids, a Michigan nonprofit that has now helped over 6,000 children fighting cancer, completely free of charge. This episode goes beyond hair loss into what it really means for a child to feel like themselves again, and the community in St. Clair Shores that made it possible. Listen in for a story of heart and grit, and find out how you can support Maggie's mission.

In this episode, we cover:

• The real story behind Maggie's Wigs 4 Kids, and the simple question that started it all
• Why losing your hair to cancer costs a child far more than appearance, and what it does to a kid's sense of identity
• How one Michigan woman built a completely free program that's helped over 6,000 kids in 23 years
• The story of the community, churches, schools, and civic groups that rallied around her before anyone knew her name
• How to get involved, donate, or attend the August 12th gala supporting Wigs 4 Kids

Links:

Maggie's Kids for Wigs Website: https://www.wigs4kids.org

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Detroit's urban neighborhoods are concrete, heat, and noise — with nature feeling like something that belongs to somebody else. Josh McCreedy, owner and founder of TrailSense LLC, is changing that, one trail at a time. Just off 8 Mile Road, he's transforming Dorais Park into a world-class outdoor experience for the families and kids who call this neighborhood home. Because no matter who you are or where you live, you deserve a trail to call your own.

Josh is also a member of the Great Lakes Business Network, which you can learn more about by going here: https://glbusinessnetwork.com/

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/trailsensemi

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In Sault Ste. Marie, a pasty is more than food. It’s memory. It’s family. It’s the Upper Peninsula wrapped in dough and carried through generations.

This week on Total Michigan, Cliff sits down with Heidi and Jeff Ritter, founders of the Yooper Pasty Company, to explore how a small food trailer turned into one of the most beloved gathering places in the Soo. But beneath the story of fresh crusts, rutabaga debates, and sold-out lunch rushes is something deeper: a couple trying to preserve a feeling most people are afraid of losing.

This episode explores:

• Why the pasty means so much to Yooper culture
• The journey from Coast Guard life to entrepreneurship
• How food preserves memory and community
• The deep connection between Michigan history and tradition
• Why some places feel like home the second you walk in

If you’ve ever tasted something that instantly transported you back to childhood, this episode will stay with you.

Links:

951 E Portage Ave

Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783

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Many people reached out to me when I published my last solo episode, back in early January. In that episode, I shared the struggles I was having as a caregiver, along with my mom's struggles. In this episode, I share the second chapter in that story: detailing what happened after that and some of the lessons I have learned from.

I thank all of you who reached out and offered support after that episode aired.

Thank you again, all of you, who listen every week.

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When someone escapes homelessness, addiction, or domestic violence, they finally get the keys to a safe place of their own. They walk in and find an empty room. A remarkable organization called the NEST in Saginaw steps in to make sure no family starts over with nothing, providing everything from beds and couches to potato peelers and nightlights. Director Erin Johnson and Duane Siler pull back the curtain on what it really takes to serve over 65 agencies and thousands of families rebuilding their lives. If you believe that communities should take care of their own, this episode will leave you inspired and ready to get involved.

Links:

NEST Website: https://saginawpartnershipcenter.org

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