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
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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In this episode, host Phil Tower speaks with Dianna Higgs Stampfler, author of Kalamazoo County Characters.
Dianna's book Kalamazoo County Characters, is from the History Press.
Since its founding in the early 1800s, Kalamazoo has welcomed a variety of notable characters who have shaped the community’s legacy in their own special way. Some, like Orville Gibson and Derek Jeter, are nationally recognized, while others, such as Sue Hub...
Dianna's book Kalamazoo County Characters, is from the History Press.
Since its founding in the early 1800s, Kalamazoo has welcomed a variety of notable characters who have shaped the community’s legacy in their own special way. Some, like Orville Gibson and Derek Jeter, are nationally recognized, while others, such as Sue Hub...
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On this week's program, host Phil Tower speaks with Richard Anderson, co-founder and co-owner of Iron Fish Distillery in Thompsonville, MI.
On this week's program, we feature a CEO You Should Know, Richard Anderson, with Iron Fish Distillery.
Iron Fish Distillery was founded in 2016 as Michigan’s first farm distillery. It grows grain, distills spirits, and barrel-finishes sourced whiskey. Richard shared his story of how he and his ...
On this week's program, we feature a CEO You Should Know, Richard Anderson, with Iron Fish Distillery.
Iron Fish Distillery was founded in 2016 as Michigan’s first farm distillery. It grows grain, distills spirits, and barrel-finishes sourced whiskey. Richard shared his story of how he and his ...
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In this week's episode, host Phil Tower chats with Dr. John Eliot, co-author of How to Get Along with Anyone The Playbook for Predicting and Preventing Conflict at Work and At Home
In his new book, Dr. John Eliot and co-author Jim Quinn help you defuse any heated conflict by learning which of the five conflict styles YOU are and how to resolve even the most sensitive dispute.
Dr. Elliott told us that the average American worker spe...
In his new book, Dr. John Eliot and co-author Jim Quinn help you defuse any heated conflict by learning which of the five conflict styles YOU are and how to resolve even the most sensitive dispute.
Dr. Elliott told us that the average American worker spe...
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March 6, 2025 • 10 mins
In this episode, Phil Tower speaks with Dr. Sarena Shivers, Executive Director of the Michigan Nonprofit "Talent Together."
Dr Shivers joined us on the program to discuss how MI Talent Together is ensuring all students have qualified teachers.
Talent Together is a relatively new nonprofit here in Michigan and one of the nation’s largest ‘grow your own’ teacher programs.
Dr. Shivers told us the organization was created to provide sol...
Dr Shivers joined us on the program to discuss how MI Talent Together is ensuring all students have qualified teachers.
Talent Together is a relatively new nonprofit here in Michigan and one of the nation’s largest ‘grow your own’ teacher programs.
Dr. Shivers told us the organization was created to provide sol...
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