Mike Dell's World

In this Thanksgiving Day episode, Mike reflects on the holiday, family, and the evolving character of Traverse City. It’s a bittersweet year—his family’s first Thanksgiving without his dad—but also a moment to appreciate traditions, good food, and time spent together.

From recent crime stories to long-standing local quirks, Mike explores whether Traverse City still feels like the small town he grew up in...

In this episode, Mike takes a break from Northern Michigan stories and heads far north—way far north—to share memories from his year living in Keflavik, Iceland in the early 1990s while serving in the U.S. Air Force.

Life on the NATO Base

Mike talks about being assigned to Naval Air Station Keflavik, a joint-base environment with Air Force, Navy, Marines, and other NATO p...

In this episode, Mike rewinds the clock to January 1978 and relives one of the most legendary winter storms in Michigan history — not as an adult, but as the 12-year-old kid he was at the time. Join Mike as he shares what it was like watching...

In this episode of “Mike Dell’s World,” Mike Dell explores various airports located north of Traverse City, Michigan. He begins the show by introducing himself and referencing the previous episode about flight schools and aviation-related topics in the area. He explains that he will be discussing other airports he has flown to or has connections with, utilizing ForeFlight, an electronic flight bag, for reference.

...

In this episode of “Mike Dell’s World,” host Mike Dell introduces the topic of aviation schools in Traverse City, specifically focusing on the Cherry Capital Airport and the various training facilities available there. The episode begins with Mike’s greeting and reflection on previous discussions about the airport.

He discusses two primary aviation schools: Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) and Giving Wing...

In this episode of “Mike Dell’s World,” host Mike Dell provides a laid-back update on his day and upcoming plans. He begins by acknowledging the date, November 22, 2025, and mentions participating in Napod Pomo (National Podcast Post Month) on its twenty-second day. Mike shares details about his relaxed day, including a visit to the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) hangar talk session, which he humorously r...

In this episode titled “Ham Radio (Amateur Radio),” host Mike Dell reflects on his youth prior to the Internet and video games, mentioning his limited interaction with CB radio rather than ham radio. He explains the differences between CB and ham radio, particularly the wider range and more diverse frequencies available to amateur radio operators.

Mike discusses the various frequency bands in ham radio, starting with U...

In this episode, Mike Dell digs into “how to drive in the snow” — timely for Northern Michigan (and anywhere else where winter hits) and packed with practical advice from his experience.

Key Topics Covered:

The importance of reducing speed when roads get snowy — Mike’s rule of thumb: about 10 mph less than the posted speed limit when snow first covers the roads.

• Planning...

In today’s episode of Mike Dell’s World, Mike reflects on the hectic pace of life, the whirlwind of Zoom meetings, and the importance of being intentional about slowing down. After a long, stressful year marked by personal challenges and the loss of Blubrry’s founder, Mike shares how he’s planning to reclaim some peace and quiet this winter.

He talks about waking up too early, back-to-back Zoom calls, an...

• Mike opens by introducing the song “Helloapocalypse” from the acoustic string-instrument group playing a blend of rap/bluegrass.

• He briefly discusses the sponsor—Leonard Peikoff—and his podcast on objectivism (via pe...

In this episode of Mike Dell’s World, Mike talks about what it’s like broadcasting and podcasting from Traverse City, Michigan, a place that has always had a unique blend of small-town charm, regional importance, and a surprisingly rich broadcasting history.

Mike shares his own experiences behind the microphone—past and present—along with observations about the local radio landsca...

In this milestone episode — number 420, naturally — Mike takes a look at the rise of legal marijuana in Michigan. From the early days of medical cards to today’s booming recreational market, Mike walks through how the laws changed, what it looks like around northern Michigan, and how communities have adapted (or resisted) the cannabis wave. Along the way, he shares observations, local quirks, a...

n this episode of “Mike Dell’s World,” host Mike Dell discusses Clinch Park in Traverse City. He starts with some light-hearted comments about himself, joking that he has a Dorito chip under his hat. The main topic is Clinch Park, a public park located along West Grand Traverse Bay. Mike describes its amenities, including a large beach, splash pad, concessions, and access to the municipal marina, along with its po...

In this episode titled “Traverse City’s First Snowfall,” Mike Dell begins by greeting listeners and introduces the episode as number 418. He shares that it is day twelve of NaPodPoMo and mentions this is the first episode recorded in real-time rather than in advance.

Mike discusses the early snowfall in Traverse City, noting that some areas received significant accumulation while much of it has already melted. He ...