West Michigan Weekend (A Public Affairs Program from iHeartradio)
Host Phil Tower brings you the latest news and developments from area non-profit organizations and their leaders, plus issues of importance nationally and globally with experts and authors. Tune in weekly for thoughtful conversation, inspiration and enlightenment.
Episodes
In this segment, host Phil Tower welcomes Dr. Andrew Jameson, the Specialty Medical Director at Trinity Health Medical Group in West Michigan and Section Chief of Infectious Diseases at Trinity Health Grand Rapids hospital.
Michigan currently has 15 confirmed measles cases, with 7 cases considered part of an ongoing outbreak, according to the State of Michigan. This outbreak is the first in Michigan since 2019.
Without any doubt, m...
Michigan currently has 15 confirmed measles cases, with 7 cases considered part of an ongoing outbreak, according to the State of Michigan. This outbreak is the first in Michigan since 2019.
Without any doubt, m...
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On this episode, host Phil Tower welcomes Kimberly M. Large, an estate and family law attorney with Mika Meyers.
Kim joined us to talk about a growing type of divorce. A collaborative divorce is a process designed as an alternative to traditional litigation to end a marriage. It is sometimes referred to as “divorce with dignity,” “peaceful divorce,” or the “gentler divorce. It is intended to offer you and your spouse the suppor...
Kim joined us to talk about a growing type of divorce. A collaborative divorce is a process designed as an alternative to traditional litigation to end a marriage. It is sometimes referred to as “divorce with dignity,” “peaceful divorce,” or the “gentler divorce. It is intended to offer you and your spouse the suppor...
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In this segment, host Phil Tower welcomes Mike McFall, co-CEO of Biggby Coffee. Mike and business partner Bob Fish helped create one of the great specialty coffee brands in America. Today, Mike is co-CEO with Bob, and BIGGBY has over 250 stores open throughout the Midwest. Mike is the author of Grind, a book that focuses on early-stage businesses, and we spoke with him about his newest book, Grow: Take Your Business from Chaos to C...
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In this segment, host Phil Tower speaks with Ryan VerWys, the President & CEO, ICCF Community Homes
ICCF Community Homes is the oldest nonprofit affordable housing provider in Michigan.
They’ve been active in the Grand Rapids area since 1974 and engage 2,000+ households each year with housing-related services.
Ryan and his leadership team at ICCF Community Homes manage over 600 units of affordable rental housing and provide hom...
ICCF Community Homes is the oldest nonprofit affordable housing provider in Michigan.
They’ve been active in the Grand Rapids area since 1974 and engage 2,000+ households each year with housing-related services.
Ryan and his leadership team at ICCF Community Homes manage over 600 units of affordable rental housing and provide hom...
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June 6, 2025 • 8 mins
In this episode, host Phil Tower welcomes Angela Hollinshead, Director of the Kent County Animal Shelter.Angela joined us to talk about the reopening of the Kent County Animal Shelter in its primary location after three months of renovations.
The shelter’s animals were moved to a temporary facility nearly a mile away from the current home on Fuller Avenue Northeast in January and then moved back to the main location at 740 Fuller A...
The shelter’s animals were moved to a temporary facility nearly a mile away from the current home on Fuller Avenue Northeast in January and then moved back to the main location at 740 Fuller A...
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In this episode, we welcome Dr. Kevin Foley, Medical Director of Trinity Health’s Hauenstein Neuroscience Center, Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Program, and Associate Professor and Director of Geriatrics, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.
Dr. Foley told us he had a good reason for opening an Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Program at the Trinity Health Hauenstein Neuroscience Center.
“Nobody e...
Dr. Foley told us he had a good reason for opening an Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Program at the Trinity Health Hauenstein Neuroscience Center.
“Nobody e...
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On this week's episode, host Phil Tower devotes the full program to a conversation with Greg Elzinga, President of Calvin University.
Greg Ezinga was officially named the 13th president of Calvin University in October 2024.
He joined us to talk about his path to this significant and esteemed leadership position at one of the nation's most respected and successful Christian universities.
Elzinga is a 1990 graduate from Calvin Universit...
Greg Ezinga was officially named the 13th president of Calvin University in October 2024.
He joined us to talk about his path to this significant and esteemed leadership position at one of the nation's most respected and successful Christian universities.
Elzinga is a 1990 graduate from Calvin Universit...
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In this episode of West Michigan Weekend, Phil Tower welcomes Dr. Jo Lattimore, Ph.D. , director of the Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps).
Dr.Latimore spoke about the opportunity for Michigan residents to sign up for volunteer lake monitor training through the Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps).
MiCorps is a statewide network focused on water quality, has been running its Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program for 51 years, with...
Dr.Latimore spoke about the opportunity for Michigan residents to sign up for volunteer lake monitor training through the Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps).
MiCorps is a statewide network focused on water quality, has been running its Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program for 51 years, with...
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May 26, 2025 • 13 mins
In this episode, host Phil Tower speaks with Steven Hodas, executive director of GV NextEd Co-Lab.
The GV NextEd Co-Lab furthers GVSU's commitment to creating new paths to and through the University for all learners in all communities.
The Co-Lab works with traditional and non-traditional partners inside and outside GVSU, and harnesses universities’ powerful credentialing fulcrum to improve outcomes, not just in higher education bu...
The GV NextEd Co-Lab furthers GVSU's commitment to creating new paths to and through the University for all learners in all communities.
The Co-Lab works with traditional and non-traditional partners inside and outside GVSU, and harnesses universities’ powerful credentialing fulcrum to improve outcomes, not just in higher education bu...
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In this episode, host Phil Tower speaks with Matt McPherson, Communications Manager, Kent County Department of Public Works.
Matt joined us to talk about the new foam polystyrene drop-off recently announced by the Kent County Department of Public Works.
New at the North Kent Transfer Station and in West Michigan, the Kent County Department now has a way to recycle a notoriously stubborn form of plastic waste: Foam polystyrene, common...
Matt joined us to talk about the new foam polystyrene drop-off recently announced by the Kent County Department of Public Works.
New at the North Kent Transfer Station and in West Michigan, the Kent County Department now has a way to recycle a notoriously stubborn form of plastic waste: Foam polystyrene, common...
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In this episode, Phil Tower welcomes Dr. Jerry Avorn, MD, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and a senior internist in the Mass General Brigham health-care system.Dr. Avorn joined us to discuss his excellent new book, RETHINKING MEDICATIONS.
Groundbreaking research has given us many decades of remarkable new medicines, but America’s drug evaluation process, once the envy of the world, is being seriously compromised. U...
Groundbreaking research has given us many decades of remarkable new medicines, but America’s drug evaluation process, once the envy of the world, is being seriously compromised. U...
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May 13, 2025 • 28 mins
On this episode, host Phil Tower welcomes three individuals to talk about Michigan's newly updated law regarding surrogate parenting.
Phil spoke with Tammy Myers, a Michigan mother who was forced to adopt her biological twins in 2021 due to Michigan’s outdated surrogacy laws; Melissa Neckers, an attorney at Miller Johnson, and an expert in assisted reproduction and surrogacy law; and Jarret Zafran, a NYC-based attorney he is the f...
Phil spoke with Tammy Myers, a Michigan mother who was forced to adopt her biological twins in 2021 due to Michigan’s outdated surrogacy laws; Melissa Neckers, an attorney at Miller Johnson, and an expert in assisted reproduction and surrogacy law; and Jarret Zafran, a NYC-based attorney he is the f...
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In this episode, we speak with Alicia Mathieu, president and founder of Down to Defend. Alicia is the mother of three children, one of those children is living with Down syndrome.
When Alicia received her son Levi’s diagnosis, she said she was empowered to change the gut-wrenching statistics that she unveiled during her research. We spoke with her about her journey to this role as president and founder of Down To Defend.The miss...
When Alicia received her son Levi’s diagnosis, she said she was empowered to change the gut-wrenching statistics that she unveiled during her research. We spoke with her about her journey to this role as president and founder of Down To Defend.The miss...
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In this segment, host Phil Tower, welcomes Katie Tucker, a personal injury attorney with Sinas Dramis Law Firm. Katie specializes in advocating for the rights of people who have been seriously injured or killed in Michigan auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian-motor vehicle accidents, etc. She's also an expert on child safety seat laws in Michigan.
Katie joined us to breakdown Michigan’s new child passenger safety laws wh...
Katie joined us to breakdown Michigan’s new child passenger safety laws wh...
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In this episode, host Phil Tower speaks with automotive experts Al Schwinkendorf, and John Puhek. Al and John are both ASE certified automotive technicians with Verburg’s Automotive in Grand Rapids.
Al and John are also hosts with Michigan's Auto Talk Podcast …a Grand Rapids-based podcast for car and truck lovers, backyard mechanics, and automotive enthusiasts.
They joined Phil on this program to talk about the five most common mist...
Al and John are also hosts with Michigan's Auto Talk Podcast …a Grand Rapids-based podcast for car and truck lovers, backyard mechanics, and automotive enthusiasts.
They joined Phil on this program to talk about the five most common mist...
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April 18, 2025 • 29 mins
In this episode, host Phil Tower welcomes Charles Burke, the President & CEO of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.
Charles joined us on the program to discuss his unique and inspired journey to his current position as President and CEO of Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park.
Since becoming president and CEO in February 2023, Charles has led the wildly popular destinations to new heights, including achieving...
Charles joined us on the program to discuss his unique and inspired journey to his current position as President and CEO of Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park.
Since becoming president and CEO in February 2023, Charles has led the wildly popular destinations to new heights, including achieving...
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April 13, 2025 • 16 mins
In this episode, Phil Tower welcomes Dr. Allen Hunt … “The Fourth Quarter Guy”. He helps people discover how to become the best version of themselves in the Fourth Quarter of life.
A four-time #1 Amazon best-selling author, Allen collaborated with Matthew Kelly to write No Regrets: A Fable about Living Your Fourth Quarter Intentionally. In that fable, they share the ground-breaking secrets of the Fourth Quarter: the 5 Keys to Livin...
A four-time #1 Amazon best-selling author, Allen collaborated with Matthew Kelly to write No Regrets: A Fable about Living Your Fourth Quarter Intentionally. In that fable, they share the ground-breaking secrets of the Fourth Quarter: the 5 Keys to Livin...
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On this episode host Phil Tower speaks with Michelle Parkkonen, Managing Director of technical assistance programs at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation MEDC.
Michele spoke with us about the exciting new collaboration between the City of Grand Rapids and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is unveiling resources that will streamline the process for communities to add housing in existing neighborhoods. Per...
Michele spoke with us about the exciting new collaboration between the City of Grand Rapids and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is unveiling resources that will streamline the process for communities to add housing in existing neighborhoods. Per...
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April 5, 2025 • 14 mins
In this episode, host, Phil Tower, welcomes Kelly Alcock, a Client Program Coordinator with the Equest Center for Therapeutic Riding.
Kelly joined us on the program to talk about the power of equine therapy and the hundreds of clients who benefit from it who are served by the Equest Center.
April 19th is the date that the Equest Center for Therapeutic Riding will be holding their annual Easter with the Equest Bunny event and all are ...
Kelly joined us on the program to talk about the power of equine therapy and the hundreds of clients who benefit from it who are served by the Equest Center.
April 19th is the date that the Equest Center for Therapeutic Riding will be holding their annual Easter with the Equest Bunny event and all are ...
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In this episode, host, Phil Tower, welcomes Erin Skene-Pratt, Executive Director at The Michigan Afterschool Partnership.
The Michigan Afterschool Partnership advocates for equitable systems that support and expand quality out-of-school time experiences for all youth in the state. Out-of-School Time (OST) refers to youth development programs that occur before and after the school day, as well as programs that occur during school bre...
The Michigan Afterschool Partnership advocates for equitable systems that support and expand quality out-of-school time experiences for all youth in the state. Out-of-School Time (OST) refers to youth development programs that occur before and after the school day, as well as programs that occur during school bre...
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