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Behind the Mitten

Behind the Mitten

By: John Gonzalez
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About this listen

 "Behind the Mitten" is Michigan's premiere travel radio show and Podcast and has nearly 700 episodes. In 2025 it celebrates 10 years! It is co-hosted by John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman. John is a longtime journalist, social media early adopter and member of the Central Michigan University Journalism Hall of Fame. Amy is a former chef with 20-plus experience, craft beer expert and freelance writer. The show has been recognized by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters as Best in Category. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten.Copyright John Gonzalez Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Pure Michigan Spotlight: Port Huron, Ann Arbor and Detroit (April 18-19, 2026)

    Pure Michigan Spotlight: Port Huron, Ann Arbor and Detroit (April 18-19, 2026)
    Apr 29 2026
    Behind the Mitten is Michigan's premier travel radio show and podcast
    Episode 748

    Part 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.
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    45 mins
  • Spring Festivals in Michigan: Alma Highland Festival, Grill on the Hill, Vermontville Maple Syrup (April 25-26, 2026)

    Spring Festivals in Michigan: Alma Highland Festival, Grill on the Hill, Vermontville Maple Syrup (April 25-26, 2026)
    Apr 29 2026
    Behind the Mitten is Michigan's premier travel radio show and podcast
    Episode 749

    Spring 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.
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    45 mins
  • A Pure Michigan Show (April 11-12, 2026)

    A Pure Michigan Show (April 11-12, 2026)
    Apr 14 2026
    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.
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    45 mins
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