Épisodes

  • Parades, pub crawls & more: Michigan's Thumbcoast celebrates the holidays (Nov. 15-16, 2025)

    Parades, pub crawls & more: Michigan's Thumbcoast celebrates the holidays (Nov. 15-16, 2025)
    Nov 18 2025
    This weekend on Behind the Mitten we Discover The Blue Michigan’s Thumbcoast and learn all the ways you can celebrate the holidays on the sunrise side of the state.

    And SON OF A NUTCRACKER there are SO MANY things to do!!

    We recorded this show at family friendly War Water Brewery/Distillery in St. Clair on the River. They are known for their over-the-top holiday decorations, and were just installing their incredible Christmas displays while we were there.

    Our first guest is Lisa DeLong, the Director of the Downtown Development Authority for Port Huron. She shares all the plans for this year's famous Downtown Port Huron Sperry's Santa Parade which kicks off the holiday season on Friday November 28. This is the hometown parade that Gonzo attended with his family as a kid, so we get a little reminiscing about growing up in the Thumb.

    Discover Marine City will be ho-ho-hoing the first weekend in December, where they'll celebrate Merrytime Christmas all weekend long. Laura Merchant from the Marine City Chamber of Commerce comes by to give us all the details on this fun celebration. We'll be wearing our ugly sweaters on December 5 for their pub crawl.

    We'll try a BEER OF THE WEEK from War Water (it's a yummy little Irish red) and meet owner Kris Paul and head brewer Forrest Knapp.

    Michael Hensley, President and CEO of the Blue Water Area Convention and Visitors Bureau then joins us to share other events happening in the area this holiday season. Lexington is a cute little town in the thumb, and they'll be hosting their one-of-a-kind Horse Parade on Saturday December 13. The horses will be all decorated and lit up for the holidays, and so will the town. Port Huron Museums will once again transform their trolley into a jolly little ride that will take you around to see all the festive lights. And the Festival of Trees will be set up a the Blue Water Convention Center on December 6 with free community viewing of the trees from 11-2 before they head back to McLaren Hospital to cheer up patients and visitors this Christmas.

    Tune in, or find us wherever you get your podcasts.

    Find more things to do this holiday season in the Port Huron area here:

    https://www.bluewater.org/michigan-thumbcoast-holiday-guide/

    #behindthemitten
    #puremichigan
    #michigansthumbcoast
    #happyholidays
    Voir plus Voir moins
    45 min
  • Amy Sherman: Why we love Michigan's Thumbcoast during the holidays (WPHM, Nov. 14, 2025)

    Amy Sherman: Why we love Michigan's Thumbcoast during the holidays (WPHM, Nov. 14, 2025)
    Nov 14 2025
    Amy Sherman previews this weekend's Behind the Mitten radio show, which takes them to Michigan's Thumb Coast for the vibrant holiday season. The show highlights events in Lexington, Marine City, St. Clair, Port Huron and other communities known for their local traditions. The show airs on Nov. 15-16, 2025.

    Amy shares BTM's adventures on the Paul Miller Show on WPHM in Port Huron.

    Listen to Behind the Mitten this weekend on 22 radio affiliates across the state at amyandgonzo.com.
    Voir plus Voir moins
    8 min
  • I-69 Roadtrip: St. Clair to Imlay City to Davison (Nov. 8-9, 2025)

    I-69 Roadtrip: St. Clair to Imlay City to Davison (Nov. 8-9, 2025)
    Nov 10 2025
    Behind the Mitten is Michigan's premier radio show and podcast

    ROADTRIP!
    On Episode 725, co-hosts John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman stop in St. Clair, Imlay City and Davison as they navigate I-69 from Port Huron to Flint. This show was recorded Nov. 3, 2025. It aired across the state of Michigan the weekend of Nov. 8-9.

    The stops:
    • Ted's Coney Island in St. Clair where Gonzo and Amy have saganaki - OPE!
    • Steveo's Bar & Grill in Imlay City, which back in the 1980s was am American Legion Hall and the site of John's high school graduation party. (John re-tells the story how this was his one and only gig as the lead singer of his country-punk band, TCT & The Punkers.)
    • MoJoe's Wings in Davison, where Amy shares a story about what it's like to eat wings at 40 stops over a two-week period. Amy and Gonzo did this 7 years ago while on the search for best wings. Amy also shares how she barley survived a "suicide wings" challenge the day before where she had to sign a waiver before the challenge.
    • And at Whitey's, an historic restaurant in Davison celebrating 70 years in business with tasty seafood.
    Listen to Behind the Mitten this weekend on 22 radio affiliates across the state at amyandgonzo.com.
    Voir plus Voir moins
    45 min
  • Roadtrip! Gonzo dishes on what to expect this weekend - wings, saganaki, seafood and burgers (WPHM, Nov. 7, 2025)

    Roadtrip! Gonzo dishes on what to expect this weekend - wings, saganaki, seafood and burgers (WPHM, Nov. 7, 2025)
    Nov 7 2025
    John Gonzalez previews this weekend's Behind the Mitten radio show, which takes them to stops in St. Clair, Imlay City and Davison as they navigate I-69 from Port Huron to Flint.
    • They have breakfast at a Ted's Coney Island in St. Clair for saganaki - OPE!
    • A cheeseburger in an surprise stop at Steveo's Bar & Grill in Imlay City.
    • Wings at MoJoe's Wings in Davison, a place we have not visited for 7 years.
    • And seafood at Whitey's, an historic restaurant in Davison celebrating 70 years in business.

    Gonzo shares BTM's adventures on the Paul Miller Show on WPHM in Port Huron.

    Listen to Behind the Mitten this weekend on 22 radio affiliates across the state at amyandgonzo.com.
    Voir plus Voir moins
    5 min
  • Wings to die for, plus saganaki, seafood and burgers: Amy Sherman previews this weekend's roadtrip (WILS, Nov. 6, 2025)

    Wings to die for, plus saganaki, seafood and burgers: Amy Sherman previews this weekend's roadtrip (WILS, Nov. 6, 2025)
    Nov 7 2025
    Amy Sherman previews this weekend's Behind the Mitten radio show, which takes them to stops in St. Clair, Imlay City and Davison as they navigate I-69 from Port Huron to Flint. They have breakfast at a Coney Island, a cheeseburger in an surprise stop, wings at a place they have not been to in 7 years and seafood at a historic restaurant.

    Amy shares BTM's adventures on the WILS Morning Wake Up Show in Lansing with host Mike Austin, who created Amy's verry own theme song.

    Listen to Behind the Mitten this weekend on 22 radio affiliates across the state at amyandgonzo.com.
    Voir plus Voir moins
    11 min
  • U.S. 31 Fall Roadtrip: Interlochen to Honor to Beulah (Nov. 1-2, 2025)

    U.S. 31 Fall Roadtrip: Interlochen to Honor to Beulah (Nov. 1-2, 2025)
    Nov 5 2025
    Behind the Mitten is Michigan's premier radio show and podcast. Co-hosts John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman are celebrating 10 years of traveling the great state of Michigan. This weekend they go on a roadtrip on U.S. 31 from Interlochen, to Honor, to Beulah.

    On this episode:
    • Segment 1: Gonzo and Amy begin the morning at MI Coffee, a roadsize drive-thru in the Interlochen Plaza. They surprised the husband-and-wife owners with an on-the-spot interview, who were kind enough to tell their story of opening up during Covid and going onm to build a loyal following with their speciality lattes.
    • Segment 2: At the Platte River Inn in Honor, Gonzo and Amy meet one of their favorite guests of the year, Debbie Reed. The local resident shares why she loves Honor and how the community comes together to support each other. She also helps Gonzo and Amy order a hearty breakfast the way she likes it, complete with crispy American fries with sour cream as a dipping sauce. Try it!
    • Segment 3: Just down the road on US 31, Gonzo and Amy talk about some of the businesses they see along the road as they arrive at Five Shores Brewing in Beulah. They also pass Cognition Science and Discovery Center, which has become a local haven for kids with special needs. They even have a planaterium.
    • Segment 4: Gonzo and Amy meet up with Five Shores Brewing owner Oliver Roberts, who opened more than five years ago after working as head brewer at Wolverine Brewery, a respected lager house in Ann Arbor. Roberts talks about what it is like to run a business in a resort town, and what he loves about living among rivers, trails, woods and Lake Michigan.
    Behind the Mitten airs on 22 radio stations across the state of Michigan every weekend. Learn more at amyandgonzo.com.
    Voir plus Voir moins
    45 min
  • Mackinac Island 2025 Season Ends: Horses leave, businesses close and dockporter Archie Horn retires (Oct. 25-26, 2025)

    Mackinac Island 2025 Season Ends: Horses leave, businesses close and dockporter Archie Horn retires (Oct. 25-26, 2025)
    Oct 26 2025
    Behind the Mitten is Michigan's premier radio show and podcast. Co-hosts John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman are celebrating 10 years of traveling the great state of Michigan.

    On this episode:
    • Segment 1: Gonzo and Amy talk to Joe Herscher of Mackinac Island Carriage Tours. Joe talks about the transition of fall to winter when of their 400 horses leave Island to a spacious farm in Pickford where they are pampered with plenty to eat and and rest during the winter months.
    • Segment 2: Next we talk to Jeri-Lynn Bailey, a former business owner and longtime resident whose children attended school on the Island. Today she works for Arnold Transit, but duiring this interview reflects on what life is like for families who reside on the Island all year round. She is also part of the Island's vibrant arts and theater community. The next play is Elf the Musical (Dec. 6).
    • Segment 3: Amy meets up with Nick Nerbonne of Pure Michigan, who during his younger days worked as a Dockporter on the Island. They are the guys who navigate Main Street on their Schwinn bicycles carrying luggage for guests who are staying overnight at one of the many hotels. Amy and Nick talk about the life of a Dockporter, and the fact Archie Horn - man, myth and legend - is retirning after the season closes on Sunday.
    • Segment 4: Gonzo and Amy play a short interview they did with Archie last Spring as the season was getting under way. He talks about the love he has for the beautiful Island. This is what was said about him recently on the Dockporter's Association Facebook page: "When the Chippewa Hotel Lakefront closes for the season this Sunday, it will be the end of an era. Archie Horn is the Dean of Mackinac Island dock porters and is retiring after working there since 1988." Congrats, Archie.
    Behind the Mitten airs on 22 radio stations across the state of Michigan every weekend. Learn more at amyandgonzo.com.
    Voir plus Voir moins
    45 min
  • Michigan Haunted Houses, Glenside Pub, CMU Memories, and McMorran Place (Oct. 18-19, 2025)

    Michigan Haunted Houses, Glenside Pub, CMU Memories, and McMorran Place (Oct. 18-19, 2025)
    Oct 21 2025
    Behind the Mitten is Michigan's premier radio show and podcast. Co-hosts John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman are celebrating 10 years of traveling the great state of Michigan.

    On this episode:
    • Segment 1: Gonzo and Amy talk about some favorite haunted house attractions in Michigan, including Erebus in Pontiac.
    • Segment 2: We take a trip to Glenside Pub in Muskegon for some incredible pizza.
    • Segment 3: We spend time with CMU's Stan Shingles, a long-time administrator and former interim of vice president of student affairs. He talks about how much student life has changed compared to when Gonzo attended the school back in the 1980s. Learn more about him HERE.
    • Segment 4: Jesse Sheldon, marketing and communications manager for the City of Port Huron who books entertainment for the McMorran Place, talks about the history of the venue and excitement for the return of the Port Huron Prowlers. See the McMorran Place event schedule at mcmorran.com.
    Behind the Mitten airs on 22 radio stations across the state of Michigan every weekend. Learn more at amyandgonzo.com.
    Voir plus Voir moins
    45 min