❄️🔥🌲 Winter Whiplash, Wild Adventures & Local Legends | What’s Up Big Rapids – 2.25.26

Winter made a surprise return this week — along with a head cold for Chris — but that didn’t slow down another packed episode of What’s Up Big Rapids.

We cover everything from a local fire reminder (clean those dryer vents!) to the sale of a longtime red-roofed landmark to expand EMS services. There’s big community momentum happening, even when the weather says otherwise.

This week’s guest is Ferris alum, outdoor expert, survivalist, and YouTube creator Brooke Whipple, known for her appearance on the hit show Alone and her wildly popular channel Girl in the Woods (600K+ subscribers). From rafting the Yukon for National Geographic to building cabins and helping run Belle’s Coffee Shop, Brooke shares an incredible journey that somehow circles right back to Big Rapids.

Plus: live music, Polar Plunge, drama productions, and the final stretch of Festival of the Arts.

0:00 – Intro & welcome
1:51 – Winter returns + Chris battles a head cold ❄️
2:20 – Chris at the Drum Circle Conference in Oklahoma 🥁
3:55 – Comedy Night at The Peaks + Vendor Market success
6:43 – Featured Creature: The Micro Squirrel 🐿️
9:40 – Rapid Suds & Dry fire update — clean those dryer vents 🔥
10:55 – Uplifting Moment: Pizza Hut property sold for EMS expansion 🚑
12:46 – Sugar Creek Restaurant under new ownership
13:30 – Thanks to Lauren Perkins from the Library
14:40 – Guest intro: Brooke Whipple (Alone, Girl in the Woods) 🌲
22:25 – How Brooke ended up on television
25:10 – Sourdough characters & remote living
26:00 – Rafting the Yukon for National Geographic
28:20 – The casting process for Alone
33:00 – YouTube success + Belle’s Coffee Shop ☕
39:00 – Brooke’s health & fitness channel
44:00 – Visit Belle’s for Madcap coffee & lunch
45:50 – Final FOTA event rundown 🎭
47:34 – BRMS Drama presents Lion King Jr. 🦁
48:11 – The Turnips farewell show at the Sawmill 🎸
48:46 – Polar Plunge for Special Olympics 🧊
49:25 – Kindergarten Round Up
50:30 – Glitter & Sawdust at Quinn’s (March 7)
51:35 – Chamber After Hours (March 19)
52:40 – Taste of Mecosta (March 24) 🍽️
53:30 – Would Brooke ever do Survivor?
56:00 – Dom’s Corrections: Alaska for $0.02 per acre
58:20 – Outro & goodbyes

What’s Up Big Rapids podcast, Brooke Whipple Alone, Girl in the Woods YouTube, Belle’s Coffee Shop Big Rapids, Pizza Hut Big Rapids EMS expansion, Rapid Suds fire, Festival of the Arts Big Rapids, Polar Plunge Special Olympics Michigan, Lion King Jr BRMS, Taste of Mecosta 2026

#WhatsUpBigRapids#BigRapidsMI#SupportLocal#FestivalOfTheArts#GirlInTheWoods#PolarPlunge#CommunityStrong#SmallTownStories