Behind the MittenEpisode 753Behind the Mitten is Michigan's premier travel podcast and radio show since 2015. On this podcast, they talk to:Segment 1: Steph Castelein, managing director of Mackinac Island Tourism, who tells us what is new in 2026.Segment 2: The owners of Big Little Wines in Suttons Bay.Segment 3: The founders and their inspirational story at St. Clair Butterfly Foundation.Segment 4: Organizers of the four annual running races on the Island at runmackinac.com.Follow updates for Behind the Mitten on Facebook and our new Substack for news and updates at amyandgonzo.com.

Behind the MittenEpisode 752"Behind the Mitten" is Michigan's premier travel radio show and podcast, hosted by Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez.Journey along I-75 from Mackinaw City to Wolverine, exploring local gems like the Inn Between Waterfront Restaurant, Vivio's Italian Restaurant, and the historic Michigan Central Depot, with delightful stops for ice cream, bakery treats, and a visit to the Thirsty Sturgeon.Segment 1-The first stop is in Mackinaw City for a little adventure.Segment 2-They stop in Indian River, Michigan, and visit the Inn Between Waterfront Restaurant and Vivio's Italiam Restaurant.Segment 3-The next stop is in Woverine at the old Michigan Central Depot with several businesses, including an ice cream shop and bakery.Segment 4-The final stop us the Thirsty Sturgeon in Wolverine.Follow updates for Behind the Mitten on Facebook and our new Substack for news and updates at amyandgonzo.com.

Behind the Mitten PodcastMay 22, 2026Behind the Mitten is Michigan's premier travel radio show and podcast with nearly 800 episodes since launching in 2015. It is co-hosted by Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez.BATTLE CREEK, Mich. - On this special podcast, they explore Calhoun County's signature event - Cereal Fest, a mainstay in the community and known for celebrating the Cereal City's history as the birthplace of the breakfast cereal industry. John and Amy feature Annie Kelley, Communications Director of the Calhoun County Visitors Bureau, who talks about the upcoming (June 13) Cereal Fest.Every June, Battle Creek draws crowds from all around with tons of activities, entertainment, and of course, cereal! Best of all, the cereal is free!Free cereal for all visitors—sit at the world's largest breakfast table and enjoy a nostalgic meal.Live entertainment including music and performances.Animal shows featuring exotic animals (a highlight for kids and animal lovers).Miniature golf and bounce houses for kids, and suitable activities for adults.Food and craft vendors showcasing local flavors and products.In addition to Cereal Fest, Annie talks about other family attractions to enjoy in the area such as Binder Park Zoo and Full Blast Water Park.Other highlights:Cornwall's Turkeyville: A charming venue offering craft booths and delicious food, perfect for a relaxed afternoon.Schuler's Restaurant & Pub: Enjoy hearty Michigan comfort food at this local favorite in nearby Marshall.Station 66 Ice Cream: Located near the zoo, this retro gas station turned cafe serves incredible ice cream—ideal for ending your day on a sweet note.Visit the official website BattleCreekVisitors.org for event details, schedules, and accommodations.

This special edition podcast features an incredible story that led to the creation of a unique non-profit organiztion. In honor of May being Mental Health Awareness Month, we share the inspiriation that is The St. Clair Butterfly Foundaiton.We met with founders Chip and Lisa St. Clair recently, and learned more about this community organization. The Butterfly Foundation is a "neuroscience-based framework that strengthens how systems function under pressure."The work that the foundation undertakes works with structural systems that are already existing and in place, say a police force or a classroom, The work centers on stabilizing these envirionments, in an effort to reduce aggressive behaviors and disciplinary actions. Professionals who have been helped by their outreach are able to respond with clarity in the face of sometimes overwhelming circumstances. Chip shared the story of his traumatic past with us, and the reasons why he and Lisa started the organization. The couple, who met when they were in high school, have been professional writers for their careers, and have been spearheading The Butterfly Foundation for 19 years. Over 40,000 people have been positively influenced by their programs and outreach, both here in Michigan and nationwide.

Amy Sherman previews this weekend's show with an appearance on the Morning Wake Up on WILS with host Mike Austin.Amy talks about our road trip show recorded while traveling southbound on I-75 from Mackinaw City to Indian River with stops at a cool coffee shop in former train depot and popular restaurant in the Sturgeon River Valley in Wolverine.

Opening week on Mackinac Island!Our friends at the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau invited us to join them on the island as they kicked off the 2026 summer season and welcomed everyone back home to Mackinac. We spent a few days enjoying the island as she reopened for business, and recorded our show at the lovely Bicycle Street Inn.We kick off the show with a new friend from a familar place. Leah Anderson, the senior marketing  manager at Mission Point Resort, joins us. Each season brings new changes, along with all the favorites you can always find at this amazing spot. This year, Mission Point is introducing a brand new pizza oven shipped directly from Italy, and will be opening Aidorandak's Pizza on the resort grounds. Super cool is that you don't have to be a guest here to enjoy, you can stop by on your bike ride or walk and grab a slice. Next, we meet the general manager of the Bicycle Inn, Misty Martinchek. She's been working on the island for a few years now, and shares what she likes about being here. The Bicycle Inn is conveniently located right on Main Street, across from the ferry dock. Misty let us know that their restaurant Winchester's has added a piano bar this season, which is sure to make for some rollicking nights. She also let us in on an island hot-spot, no matter your age, the Carousel Arcade, located just around the corner on Market Street. Located right in the lobby of the Bicycle Inn is one of Mackinac Island's seven fudge shops. A tradition for decades on the island, sweet fudge is one of the best souvenirs you can bring home. We meet with owner James Faulkner, who has been working hard at his shops on the island and in Mackinaw City and TC since 2016. James is a Michigander through and through, having grown up in Onaway. We highly recommend his caramel apples at Kilwin's, take if from our source (Amy!) that they're delicious. Finally, we reconnect with our good friend Brian Bailey. He is celebrating his 37 season on Mackinac, and couldn't wait to get back to work to get started. We discuss what it's like to get the island ready for a new season, what big changes the Pink Pony has undergone this year, including an expansion of the store and new menu iitems, and just how exciting it all is. Every year on Mackinac Island is special, no matter the season. We feel incredibly lucky that we once again got to see her open her arms to all for another year. 

Behind the Mitten is Michigan's premier radio show and podcastEpisode 750Our annual baseball show!Segment 1: Gonzo and Amy talk Detroit Tigers baseball and a new season at Comerica Park.Segment 2: Matt DeVries, Director of Marketing and Entertainment and storytelling for the Great Lakes Loons in Midland, tells us what make this Midwest League team a great destination for foodies and families.Segment 3: Jesse Goldberg-Strassler, Broadcaster and Media Relations guru for the Lansing Lugnuts, is a longtime favorite of Behind the Mitten, and this weekend he talks about what makes Jackson Field such a great summer experience.Segment 4: Steve McCarthy, President of West Michigan Whitecaps, closes the show with what's new in minor league baseball, and what fans of the High-A affiliate for the Tigers can expect this summer at LMCU Ballpark.

Behind the Mitten is Michigan's premier travel radio show and podcastEpisode 748Part II of our time at the Pure Michigan Governor's Conference on Tourism includes interview with reps from Port Huron, Detroit and Ann Abor. Plus, we check with our resident Ski Bunny. What does he do in the summer?Segment 1: Michael Hensley, who heads up tourism on Michigan’s Thumbcoast, says the best way to describe a summer in Port Huron would be Arts, Boats and Beaches. Learn more at bluewater.org.Segment 2: Ken Hayward of Visit Detroit checks in on what makes the Motor City a perfect destination for sports fans. Learn more at visitdetroit.com. Segment 3: -Sarah Miller, President CEO of Destination Ann Arbor, joins us with Jason Nelson of Vanguard Hotel in Ann Arbor to talk about the excitement of an NCAA men's basketball championship and what makes A2 a great place to escape to. Learn more at annarbor.org. Segment 4: Our Behind the Mitten Ski Bunny, Nick Nerbonne of Pure Michigan, always impresses with his knowledge of the Great Lakes State. Learn more at michigan.org.

Behind the Mitten is Michigan's premier travel radio show and podcastEpisode 749Spring time in Michigan brings out all kinds of fun festivals and excitement for another Pure Michigan summer. Check out this episode, which aired April 25-26, 2026.Segment 1: We open the show with Adam Vibber, president of the Alma Highland Festival (May 22-24), who talks about what people can expect, including a Highland dance competition, whiskey tasting, an opening parade and those famous heavyweight games of strength. Learn more at almahighlandfestival.com.Segment 2: We are joined by Mary Ann Hayes, who with her husband Steve is co-president of the 85th Vermontville Maple Syrup Festival. The festival took place April 24-26, but if you missed it this year, Mary Ann tells us all the reasons why you want to add it to your list next year. Learn more at syrupfest.org.Segment 3: Amy and Gonzo talk to Barry Owens and Brian Smith of Treetops Resort in Gaylord about the 8th annual Grill on the Hill. They learn how this event has become a popular event on the BBQ competition circuit, and includes live music, a petting zoo for kids and beer and wine festival. Grill on the Hill is May 2. For VIP tickets and more details, go to treetops.com.Segment 4: Amy and Gonzo recap other events throughout Michigan.Follow all of BTM's travels on their Substack page, which you can access at amyandgonzo.com.

The Pure Michigan Governor's Tourism Conference is a chance to gather with our fellow professionals and hear all about what is good and what is next in the world of Michigan travel. We recently attended the event that was held in Traverse City at the Grand Traverse Resort, and we thought we'd share what we learned, and who we saw.We kick off the show with the "big guys" or the head gal in this case. Kelly Wolgamott joins us again, as the head of Pure Michigan she has her finger on the pulse of tourism not just in our great state, but also how we the Mitten is perceived out in the big wide world. The Pure Michigan campaign is celebrating twenty years of pure awesomeness, so we ask what that campaign has meant for Michigan, and what we might see moving forward. Remember, it starts with a visit.Trevor Tkach has done some pretty spectacular things in the Traverse City region, garnering this part of our state both national and internaitonal acclaim. We ask how busy is too busy, what the TC region is doing this summer, and where TC is going next. Next, another big anniversary is going to be celebrated this year by our friends at Grand Traverse Pie Company, thirty years of using the finest fruits and pure Michigan ingredients will culminate this summer. Susan and Charlie Olsen from Grand Bay Promotions join us to share the power of pie, and the new flavor that they are releasing this summer in honor of thirty years, the Fresh Coast Pie. We get an update from our friend Brad Barnett, executive director of Visit Keweenaw. It was a bang up winter in the Key, and we get snow total updates. We'll also talk abotu some of our favorite places on the peninsula, and what to do in Houghton. Finally, we head to our homebase, Grand Rapids, and catch up with Kate Leito from Experience GR. They have a host of events planned for the summer, including the opening of the brand new outdoor ampitheatre which is located right downtown and will seat over 12,000 people. Big things are happening in Beer City.