Total Michigan

Michigan's lakes, forests, and wildlife are more than just a backdrop — they're a $11 billion economic engine and a way of life worth fighting for. Marc Smith, Director of Conservation Partnerships with the National Wildlife Federation, has spent nearly 30 years on the front lines of that fight. From invasive carp threatening our fisheries to an aging pipeline beneath the Straits of Mackinac, the threats are real and closer than you think. Tune in to discover what's being done, what's at stake, and how you can make a difference.

Links:

Website: https://www.nwf.org/Great-Lakes

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NWFGreatLakes

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Some stories are too important to leave to chance. Inside the Michigan Firehouse Museum in Ypsilanti, centuries of firefighting history have been carefully preserved — the trucks, the gear, and the remarkable stories of those who risked everything to protect us.

Director and Curator Dave Egeler opens the doors to a collection that spans colonial times to modern day, revealing how passion, family legacy, and an unshakeable sense of duty can transform a single firehouse into something truly extraordinary.

Because behind every polished engine and every worn leather helmet is a human story — of sacrifice, of service, and of communities that owe more to their firefighters than they may ever know.

Links:

Michigan Firehouse Museum: Click here

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A simple house in Rockford, Michigan became the beginning of something much bigger. Homes Giving Hope is creating a place where adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities can experience independence, friendship, and community—together. What started with faith and a willingness to act is now growing into a network of homes where residents support one another and build lives of dignity and belonging. Sara Boven shares the story behind the mission, the challenges along the way, and the community that continues to grow.

Links:

Homes Giving Hope Website: https://homesgivinghope.org

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Some careers are chosen for opportunity. Others for success. But some paths are shaped by a calling — one that places purpose above paycheck and service above self. In this episode of Total Michigan, we travel to Ionia to explore what happens when people say yes to a call greater than themselves.

Cliff DuVernois sits down with Terry Yoder, President of SMAT Aviation, a school dedicated to preparing missionary pilots and mechanics to serve in the most remote places on earth. Together, they talk about calling, preparation, and the unseen support that makes mission work possible when roads disappear and help is days away.

This is a story about obedience, discipline, and faith in action — and how a small community in Michigan is helping carry good news around the globe.

Links:

SMAT Aviation Website: https://smat.edu

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Most weeks on Total Michigan, Cliff DuVernois sits down with dreamers and doers who are making our state brighter.

This week, the spotlight turns inward.

In this deeply personal year-in-review episode, Cliff reflects on 2025—a year defined by creative growth, unexpected limitations, and the heavy, sacred work of caregiving. As his mother’s dementia progressed, the life he had carefully built was slowly reshaped by responsibility, sacrifice, and hard decisions no one prepares you for.

What emerged from that pressure wasn’t the end of Total Michigan, but a clearer purpose, stronger storytelling, and a deeper understanding of what it means to slow down, let go, and trust God with what you cannot control.

This is a story about love, loss, resilience, and learning when to stop being the caregiver—and start being the son.

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In this episode of Total Michigan, we sit down with Pete Sanford, the owner of Steele Street Brewing in Ionia, to explore how an unexpected career change, a run-down building, and a simple desire to create a welcoming space turned into one of the community’s most beloved gathering places. Pete shares the heart, grit, and vision behind building a true hometown pub—where tables get pushed together, conversations flow effortlessly, and belonging is poured one pint at a time.

• How Pete transformed a neglected building into a community hub
• The challenges and surprises of starting and running a small-town brewery
• Why Steele Street Brewing has become Ionia’s unofficial living room

Links:

Steele Street Brewing

300 S Steele Street

Ionia, MI, 48846

Website: https://www.steelestreetbrewing.com/

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Can business truly be a force for good? In this episode, Cliff DuVernois talks with Gene Pickelman, co-founder of Tri-Star Trust Bank, about Conscious Capitalism — a people-first approach that builds leaders, supports families, and strengthens entire communities. Gene shares how choosing people over profit transformed Tri-Star’s culture and sparked a movement across the Great Lakes Bay Region, proving that purpose-driven business can create impact far beyond the workplace. A powerful conversation about heart, grit, and what leadership can look like when people and profit work together.

Links:

Conscious Capitalism: https://www.consciouscapitalism.org/

Tri-Star Trust: https://www.tristartrust.com/

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Step inside the Stomping Grounds Cafe with Annalia, the energetic owner serving up sunshine, sugar comas, and small-town charm in Durand, Michigan. Discover how she went from barista to boss, the wild ride of running a local favorite, and the secret behind their legendary “freak shakes.” Annalia shares the highs, the chaos, and the heartwarming community spirit that keeps her going. You’ll learn what it takes to thrive as a small business owner, and why supporting local matters more than ever. Tune in for inspiration, laughs, and a taste of Michigan’s best coffee culture!

Address:

200 N Saginaw St,

Durand, MI 48429

Links:

Stomping Grounds Cafe (Facebook)

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In the tiny lakeside town of Empire, Michigan, the scent of melted chocolate drifts through the air. But inside Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate, co-owner Jody Hayden is doing far more than creating sweet treats — she’s rewriting the story of chocolate itself.

From her early days working with Mayan farmers in Mexico to handcrafting ethically sourced confections in northern Michigan, Jody has built a business that proves indulgence and integrity can coexist. She shares how small farmers across the globe are finally being paid fairly, why some cacao growers have never even tasted chocolate, and how every bar from her shop carries a piece of social change.

Address:

11590 S Lacore St,

Empire, MI 49630

Links:

👉 Website: https://www.grocersdaughter.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrocersDaughterChocolate

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Jon Plummer, co-owner of Moomers Homemade Ice Cream in Traverse City, shares how a small family dairy farm blossomed into one of Michigan’s most beloved ice cream destinations. From the national spotlight of Good Morning America to the creation of their signature Cherries Moobilee flavor, Jon shares how Moomers became more than just a place to grab a cone—it’s an experience rooted in family, community, and joy.

• How a family dairy farm in Traverse City grew into Moomers, a nationally recognized ice cream destination.
• Why balancing tradition, family, and innovation is the secret ingredient to Moomers’ lasting success.
• The story behind their signature flavor , Cherries Moobilee—and how customer involvement shaped it into a Michigan icon.

Links:

Website: https://moomers.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moomersicecream/

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