THE mostly TRAVERSE CITY

Julie Brons and Don Piche
  • 4.0 (4)
  • Places & Travel

Welcome to The (mostly) Traverse City Podcast! Get ready to meet the dreamers, doers, and difference-makers who make Traverse City (and its surrounding magic) so unforgettable. Each episode invites you into casual, heartwarming, and engaging conversations with the fascinating people who live, love, and thrive in this little slice of Northern Michigan paradise. We’ll explore what brought them here, what keeps them inspired, and the everyday joys that make life in TC so vibrant. Whether it’s the perfect day by the bay, hidden foodie gems, or a sunrise hike that changes everything—you’ll find ideas, stories, and local love that will make you want to plan your next adventure (or move here ASAP). It’s lighthearted, genuine, and a celebration of community, connection, and the beautiful place we call home.

  1. 16h ago

    Songs, Stories and Soul with Mike Sullivan

    Michael Sullivan has spent more than five decades blending heart, creativity, and human connection through both psychotherapy and music. A pioneering social worker and family systems therapist in Northern Michigan, Mike helped shape the region’s mental health community through innovative treatment programs, education, consultation, and public speaking. He is also a respected author and national presenter whose work has centered on helping people better understand themselves and one another. At the same time, Mike has lived a remarkable life as a self-taught musician, singer-songwriter, and performer. Through Song of the Lakes, The Wild Sullys, 5th Street, and the Motor Town Juke Boys, he has performed thousands of concerts across the U.S. and Europe, sharing stories rooted in the spirit of the Great Lakes and the people who call this region home. From appearances alongside Ernest Borgnine to performing at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Mike’s life has been anything but ordinary. On this episode of The Mostly Traverse City Podcast, Mike shares stories, wisdom, music, and a deep love for people that has guided his extraordinary journey. You can find Mike at michaelsullivanacsw.com    Learn about hearing his band onboard the Tall Ship Manitou all summer at Songofthelakes.com  Follow our other socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577148764406  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themostlytraversecitypodcast/?hl=en  Watch interview here: https://www.youtube.com/@performancechirointc/videos

    25 min

  2. May 22

    Luck, Lakes and Love with Stuart Gibson

    Stuart Gibson’s story starts with a bit of luck—and a whole lot of saying yes. At 16, instead of heading straight to university, he took a shot with Royal Bank of Scotland…thanks to a neighbor who just happened to be the local manager. That decision turned into a 35-year career spanning global finance, eventually leading him to Managing Director roles at both RBS and Capital One, where he worked alongside some of the biggest names in energy and banking. Outside the boardroom, Stuart’s competitive edge showed up on the green—representing Scotland in lawn bowling and helping secure a historic UK championship win. These days, you’ll find him trading that intensity for quiet moments fishing Michigan lakes or curling at the local club. After a serendipitous meeting at a Detroit wedding (complete with a Scottish sword arch), Stuart and his wife Alejandra found their way to Traverse City—arriving just in time for a full-on Northern Michigan blizzard. Now settled near Long Lake, he’s embracing the next chapter…still wondering how it all unfolded so well. Follow our other socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577148764406  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themostlytraversecitypodcast/?hl=en  Watch interview here: https://www.youtube.com/@performancechirointc/videos

    20 min

  3. May 15

    Building More than Buildings: Connie Denewith

    Connie Denewith is a respected leader in Traverse City, known for her vision, leadership, and deep roots in the community. With a background in banking and a strong role in local development, she’s helped shape spaces that bring people together—most notably through Copper Ridge and Lakemore Retreat and Resort on Arbutus Lake. Her work reflects a thoughtful balance of growth and preservation—something that matters in a place like Traverse City. Beyond business, Connie has earned numerous accolades for her leadership and service, always grounded in relationships and a long-term view of what makes a community thrive. In this episode of The Mostly Traverse City Podcast, we talk with Connie about building community, navigating change, and creating something that lasts  Copperridgeonline.com    Lakemoretc.com  Follow our other socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577148764406  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themostlytraversecitypodcast/?hl=en  Watch interview here: https://www.youtube.com/@performancechirointc/videos

    32 min

  4. May 8

    The Art of the Experience with Ryan Scott

    Ryan Scott is an Executive Producer and experienced engineer who turns ideas into unforgettable moments for tens of thousands—and growing. In high demand across the country, he’s a true student of humans, blending creativity, curiosity, and instinct to design experiences that actually mean something. Whether it’s an intimate gathering or a massive production, Ryan’s artistic approach leaves a lasting imprint. A lover of life, the outdoors, and community, Traverse City is where it all began. After years of creating in places like Chicago, Los Angeles, Denver, and Minneapolis, the pull to return never left. Back in TC since 2022, Ryan is all in—bringing big ideas home and helping shape moments people will remember long after the lights go Follow our other socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577148764406  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themostlytraversecitypodcast/?hl=en  Watch interview here: https://www.youtube.com/@performancechirointc/videos

    17 min

  5. May 1

    "SO A BARBER WALKS INTO A BREWERY” Russ Springsteen from his Right Brain

    Some people follow a straight career path. Russ Springsteen opened a barbershop…then a brewery…right as the economy was falling apart. A licensed barber by trade, Russ launched Salon Saloon in Traverse City’s Warehouse District in 2006. A year later—and about a month after the economic crash—he doubled down on creativity and opened Right Brain Brewery, a place that quickly became known for doing beer a little differently.  His success helped spawn the craft beer culture in MIchigan and beyond. Along the way, Russ has worn a few other hats too: competitive wrestler, coach, entrepreneur, and champion of doing things your own way. In this episode, we talk about risk, creativity, and why sometimes the best ideas come from the “right brain.” rightbrainbrewery.com   https://www.facebook.com/RightBrainBrewery https://www.instagram.com/rightbrainbrewery/ Follow our other socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577148764406  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themostlytraversecitypodcast/?hl=en  Watch interview here: https://www.youtube.com/@performancechirointc/videos

    39 min

  6. Apr 24

    Water, Wellness, and a Northern Michigan Calling- Chelsea Bay Dennis

    Some people move to Traverse City for the views. Others come because something about this place just feels right. This episode features someone who followed that pull—and turned it into purpose. What started as a personal connection to water, movement, and well-being has grown into something much bigger: creating spaces where people can slow down, reset, and reconnect with themselves and their surroundings. But it’s not just about wellness—it’s about community, intention, and building something that reflects the rhythm of Northern Michigan. In this conversation, we explore what it looks like to trust that instinct, take the leap, and create something meaningful in a place that already feels like home. Follow our other socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577148764406  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themostlytraversecitypodcast/?hl=en  Watch interview here: https://www.youtube.com/@performancechirointc/videos

    25 min

  7. Apr 17

    From a Lifestyle to a Legacy with Jim Kalajian

    Some people move to Traverse City for the lifestyle. Others show up—and start building it. Jim Kalajian came north looking for community and ended up finding ways to shape it. What started with a move in 1999 quickly turned into a life of connection and leadership—from helping run a global publishing company to stepping in when Mt. Holiday needed saving. But it doesn’t stop there. Whether it’s co-founding Mud, Sweat & Beers, a mountain bike race that gives 100% back to the community, or launching the Northern Michigan Hickory Golf Association to bring the game’s roots back to life, this is someone who doesn’t just enjoy Northern Michigan—he invests in it. This conversation is about what happens when you plug in, lean in, and help create the kind of place you were hoping to find…another example of what makes TC such a desirable destination for amazing GSD humans! Follow our other socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577148764406  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themostlytraversecitypodcast/?hl=en  Watch interview here: https://www.youtube.com/@performancechirointc/videos

    23 min

  8. Apr 10

    From the Press Box to the Driver’s Seat with Jeff Peek

    Before social media feeds and instant highlights, if you wanted to know what happened in Northern Michigan sports, you opened the paper—and chances are Jeff Peek had the story. For years as Sports Editor at the Record-Eagle, Jeff had a front-row seat to the victories, heartbreaks, characters, and communities that define sports in this corner of the world. These days, he’s still telling stories—just from a slightly different lane—as a writer with Hagerty, where the culture of cars and the people behind them takes center stage. In this episode, we talk about journalism, the evolution of storytelling, the magic of local sports, and why the best stories—whether on a field or behind a steering wheel—always come back to people. Follow our other socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577148764406  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themostlytraversecitypodcast/?hl=en  Watch interview here: https://www.youtube.com/@performancechirointc/videos

    30 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Welcome to The (mostly) Traverse City Podcast! Get ready to meet the dreamers, doers, and difference-makers who make Traverse City (and its surrounding magic) so unforgettable. Each episode invites you into casual, heartwarming, and engaging conversations with the fascinating people who live, love, and thrive in this little slice of Northern Michigan paradise. We’ll explore what brought them here, what keeps them inspired, and the everyday joys that make life in TC so vibrant. Whether it’s the perfect day by the bay, hidden foodie gems, or a sunrise hike that changes everything—you’ll find ideas, stories, and local love that will make you want to plan your next adventure (or move here ASAP). It’s lighthearted, genuine, and a celebration of community, connection, and the beautiful place we call home.

Information

  • Creator
    Julie Brons and Don Piche
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    62
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 THE mostly TRAVERSE CITY
  • Show Website
    THE mostly TRAVERSE CITY