West Michigan Weekend (A Public Affairs Program from iHeartradio)
Host Phil Tower brings you the latest news from area non-profit organizations and their leaders.
Episodes
On this week's program, host, Phil Tower, first welcomes historian Derek Leebaert, author of “UNLIKELY HEROES: Franklin Roosevelt, His Four Lieutenants, and the World They Made,” (St. Martin’s Press). UNLIKELY HEROES coincides with the 90th anniversary of Franklin Roosevelt being sworn in as president (March 4, 1933). UNLIKELY HEROES examines the lives of FDR’s four lieutenants Harry Hopkins, Harold Ickes, Frances Perkins, and Henr...
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March 17, 2023 • 27 min
On this week's program, we focus on no-fault auto insurance as host Phil Tower, welcomes Attorney Tom Sinas, a lawyer with the Sinas Dramis Law Firm. Tom is an attorney specializing in personal injury, wrongful death litigation, auto negligence, and Michigan’s no-fault auto insurance law. Tom joined us to break down the complexities of the recently reformed no-fault auto insurance laws here in Michigan. In May 2019, the Michigan Le...
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On this week's program host, Phil Tower, welcomes Kelly Weill, a reporter with The Daily Beast. And author of OFF THE EDGE: FLAT EARTHERS, CONSPIRACY CULTURE, AND WHY PEOPLE WILL BELIEVE ANYTHING now out in paperback on Algonquin Books. In the book, author Kelly Weill probes the relationship between flat Earth beliefs and the rise of modern conspiracy theories. She looked more closely into the flat Eartherism she derided and disco...
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On this week's program host, Phil Tower welcomes back Dr. Anthony Chang, Founder, and CEO of BAMF Health. BAMF Health is a health innovation company that utilizes molecular imaging and non-invasive molecular therapy to pinpoint and effectively treat cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. BAMF's worldwide headquarters are located in downtown Grand Rapids. Today, BAMF provides advanced screening, staging, and monitoring for prosta...
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On this week's show, host Phil Tower welcomes Chad Livengood, the politics editor, and columnist at The Detroit News. Chad covers a variety of topics including the new state budget, the change in term limits in Michigan and its impact on the legislature, and the upcoming convention for the Michigan Republican Party, we cover a full roundup of the most significant political stories and issues across Michigan.
Online:
Chad Livengood v...
Online:
Chad Livengood v...
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On this week's program, host Phil Tower welcomes Deb Atwood, the Executive Director, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, West Michigan. Deb joined us to explain the mission of her organization, which is to provide equal communication access, education, and advocacy to the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing in pursuit of all life’s opportunities.
Learn More:
https://deafhhs.org/
In the second half of this week's program, Phil spoke ...
Learn More:
https://deafhhs.org/
In the second half of this week's program, Phil spoke ...
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On this week's program, host Phil Tower welcomes Dr. Adam London, Ph.D., RS, DAAS, director of the Kent County Health Department. Phil and Dr. London use this opportunity for an in-depth discussion on numerous public health issues of concern and for general awareness. We discussed the dangers of radon gas as January is radon gas awareness month. We also learned that with respect to Covid cases, the XBB.1.5 variant now accounts for ...
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On this week's program: In part one of the show, host Phil Tower welcomes Matt Johnson, Communications Director American Heart Association, West Michigan. Matt joined Phil to talk about the importance of knowing CPR, especially when someone's heart stops beating, as in the case with Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin. Matt explained how hands-only CPR is becoming more widely used to save lives today. We also spoke about the import...
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On this week's episode, host Phil Tower speaks with Terri DeBoer, author and Storm Team 8 meteorologist, and Janet Jaymin, Bereavement Manager, with Faith Hospice. Terri and Janet co-authored a powerful new book on grief and grieving, Grieving Well. Terri DeBoer, best known as a trusted Storm Team 8 Meteorologist teamed up with Janet Jaymin, an expert in grief and the Bereavement Manager, with Faith Hospice. Their book combines st...
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On this week's program, in segment 1, host Phil Tower, welcomes Michael Wildschut, director of The January Series at Calvin University. The January Series is an award-winning, nationally recognized free 15-day lecture series that takes place each January at Calvin University. It strives to “cultivate deep thought and conversations about important issues of the day in order to inspire cultural renewal and make us better global citiz...
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On this week's program, host Phil Tower welcomes Robin Lott, executive Director, of Michigan’s Office of Postsecondary Financial Planning. Robin was most recently the executive director of MET…the Michigan Education Trust. MET is Michigan’s 529 prepaid tuition savings program which allows individuals to pay for future higher education at today's prices. MET is flexible, transferable, and even refundable. We also spoke with Robin ab...
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On this week's program, host Phil Tower from iHeartradio welcomes HOLO Footwear CEO, Rommel Vega. Phil spoke with Rommel this summer as a part of WOOD Radio's CEOs, You Should Know podcast feature. HOLO Footwear recently relocated to Grand Rapids. HOLO is best known for its brand attributes, including its sustainable outdoor footwear. HOLO makes shoes using recycled materials, and it focuses on making sure those shoes are affordabl...
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On this week's program host Phil Tower, welcomes Paul Beachnau, Executive Director, of the Gaylord Area Convention and Tourism Bureau. Paul joined us in this segment to remind West Michigan, Gaylord is for snow lovers! For travelers in the mood for snowmobiling, skiing, snowshoeing, or just about anything else you can do in the snow, Gaylord, Michigan is a must-visit winter destination. The area averages 152 inches of snow annuall...
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On this week's program host, Phil Tower welcomes Dave Lorenz, Vice President-Travel Michigan. Dave joined us in our first segment to talk about enjoying winter in West Michigan. That's right, winter, even for those who don't enjoy this time of year can be an absolute delight here in pure Michigan. Dave says even if you’re exploring Michigan for the first time this winter, there are several activities and places to put on your list ...
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On this week's program… In our first segment, host Phil Tower speaks with Jennifer FitzPatrick, MSW, LCSW-C, CSP. Jennifer is the founder of Jenerations Health Education, Inc., a full-service healthcare education organization. Jennifer is also the author of the best-selling book "Cruising Through Caregiving: Reducing The Stress of Caring For Your Loved One.” Jennifer tells us that while caring for an older family member can be o...
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On this week's program host, Phil Tower welcomes Brandon Hewitt, attorney, and COO of Michigan Auto Law. Brandon joins Phil to discuss the report on “The most dangerous intersections in Kent County for 2021.” The annual list of the most dangerous intersections in Kent County is based on police car accident report data for 2021. The COVID pandemic and its resulting lockdowns significantly impacted traffic volumes and accidents acro...
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On this week's program, host Phil Tower welcomes special guest John Otterbacher.
John is a Grand Rapids native, and was born and raised in a working-class neighborhood, he has lived a life of extension and adventure; marathons and triathlons, years in a monastery, several motorcycle tours of America, a doctorate in clinical psychology, college teaching, an eight-year stint as a state representative and senator, a solo sail across t...
John is a Grand Rapids native, and was born and raised in a working-class neighborhood, he has lived a life of extension and adventure; marathons and triathlons, years in a monastery, several motorcycle tours of America, a doctorate in clinical psychology, college teaching, an eight-year stint as a state representative and senator, a solo sail across t...
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On this week's program host, Phil Tower welcomes Dennis Vankampen, President & CEO, of Mel Trotter Ministries. Dennis gives us an update on the latest priorities for serving the homeless, hungry, and at-risk families in West Michigan. Dennis also reminds us that Mel Trotter’s annual Turkey Drop is coming up. The Turkey Drop is a long-running tradition in West Michigan as Mel Trotter Ministries, WOOD Radio, and Celebration Cinema a...
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On this week's program, host Phil Tower welcomes Dr. Dan Gowdy, President/CEO of Wedgwood Christian Services. Dr. Dan Gowdy gives an update on the positive impact of the many programs and services offered by Wedgwood for troubled adolescents struggling with anxiety, depression, and serious mental health issues. Dan's leadership guided Wedgwood through 30 months of navigating the burden of protecting clients, supporting staff, and ...
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November 3, 2022 • 27 min
On this week's program, host Phil Tower welcomes one of our recent CEOs You Should Know: Robert Niemiec, Founder and Managing Partner at Twisthink
In 2001, Bob Niemic founded Twisthink as an experiment to test the belief in the value of twisting together the skills of design, technology, and strategy. For over 20 years, Niemic has led the Twisthink team to partner with Fortune 500 clients as well as entrepreneurial start-ups. Some o...
In 2001, Bob Niemic founded Twisthink as an experiment to test the belief in the value of twisting together the skills of design, technology, and strategy. For over 20 years, Niemic has led the Twisthink team to partner with Fortune 500 clients as well as entrepreneurial start-ups. Some o...
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