Podcast
THE mostly TRAVERSE CITY
Hosted by Julie Brons and Don Piche · EN
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.
71episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Luck, Lakes and Love with Stuart Gibson
May 2200:20:02Tap to summarizeStuart 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
Transcribe →Building More than Buildings: Connie Denewith
May 1500:31:53Tap to summarizeConnie 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
Transcribe →The Art of the Experience with Ryan Scott
May 800:17:28Tap to summarizeRyan 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 goFollow 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
Transcribe →"SO A BARBER WALKS INTO A BREWERY” Russ Springsteen from his Right Brain
May 100:39:29Tap to summarizeSome 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
Transcribe →Water, Wellness, and a Northern Michigan Calling- Chelsea Bay Dennis
Apr 2400:25:17Tap to summarizeSome 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
Transcribe →From a Lifestyle to a Legacy with Jim Kalajian
Apr 1700:23:16Tap to summarizeSome 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
Transcribe →From the Press Box to the Driver’s Seat with Jeff Peek
Apr 1000:29:36Tap to summarizeBefore 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
Transcribe →“Cooking Up a Better Future” Adam Worden
Apr 300:28:03Tap to summarizecookitforward.org Facebook- Cook it Forward IG- @tccookitforwardSometimes the biggest ideas start in the simplest places—like a kitchen. What began as a love of food and community has grown into something much bigger: a mission to make sure kids in Northern Michigan have access to healthy meals, dignity, and opportunity.Through Cook It Forward, Adam Worden has turned generosity into a system—mobilizing restaurants, volunteers, and neighbors to support young people who need it most. But this story isn’t just about food. It’s about creativity, persistence, and the belief that when a community decides to care for its kids, remarkable things can happen.In this episode of The Mostly Traverse City Podcast, we explore how one idea, one meal, and one determined advocate can start to change an entire region.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
Transcribe →Building What’s Next with TC City Planner Shawn Winter
Mar 2700:33:57Tap to summarizeCities don’t just grow—they evolve. And behind that evolution are people who see possibility where others see parking lots, traffic patterns, or empty space. Traverse City’s city planner brings a rare combination to the table: vision without ego, passion without volume, and a steady calm in conversations that aren’t always easy.In this episode, we talk about what it means to shape a place you care about, how thoughtful planning balances progress and preservation, and why listening may be the most underrated tool in city building. It’s a conversation about patience, perspective, and the long view—because the best communities aren’t rushed…they’re designed with intention.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
Transcribe →A Childhood of Violence, A Choice of Hope- Chip and Lisa St Clair
Mar 2000:14:45Tap to summarizeIn one of the most mind shattering conversations,Chip and Lisa St. Clair discuss pain that doesn’t define you, healing that doesn’t happen alone, and what it looks like when lived experience becomes a lifeline for others. This work is personal. It mirrors Chip’s childhood- being raised with a relentless sense of terror, literally at the hands of his parents. This is a conversation about resilience, responsibility, and the quiet power of turning hurt into help. The outcome? The creation St. Clair Butterfly Foundation, an organization devoted to helping children who have endured traumatic and abusive family dynamics find safety, strength, and hope. Through SCBF, the St. Clairs partner with schools, courts, and community organizations to architect systems-level change that goes beyond trauma-informed approaWe also welcome opportunities to collaborate beyond the episode, such as follow-up conversations, community events, or introductions to leaders and organizations aligned with education, juvenile justice, behavioral health, and community well-being. The hope is to connect with people who are ready to move from awareness to action. 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
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