Behind the Mitten

By: John Gonzalez
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  • Summary

  • "Behind the Mitten" is Michigan's premiere travel radio show and Podcast and has more than 500 episodes. 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
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Social Sciences
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Episodes
  • S6,E46: Winter is on the way with Jay's Sporting Goods, Winter Trails Council, Pure Michigan and The Sauna Guys (Nov. 16-17, 2024)

    S6,E46: Winter is on the way with Jay's Sporting Goods, Winter Trails Council, Pure Michigan and The Sauna Guys (Nov. 16-17, 2024)
    Nov 22 2024
    Woohoo! It's coming on like a frozen polar express train, you can feel it getting closer and closer by the nip in the air and frost on the brown, dry grass. It's winter, and once again, your friends at Behind the Mitten are here and we are, once again, ready to help you EMBRACE WINTER.

    We have truly come to believe in the power of the correct winter equipment, having the right stuff can really make or break your time outside in the cold. Our friend Mark Copeland at Jay's Sporting Goods
    in Gaylord always knows the best gear, and stops by to talk what kind of equipment we should be getting. Quick takeaways? Layer, and not with cotton. Buy the best boots you can. And of course, shop at Jay's!

    Our resident ski bunny makes his first to Behind the Mitten of the season. Nick Nerbonne from Pure Michigan joins us once again to share his love of snow and skiing. We discuss favorite ski hills, what Michigan ski culture is like, and generally just gush about how great a Michigan winter can be. We hope Nick will inspire you too.

    Here are a few more tips on how to embrace winter from our friends at Pure Michigan.

    We meet some new friends during the third segment, and we sure hope that they'll come by again because we had a great time, and learned so much. We are fascinated by sauna culture, and love a good steam ourselves, and have been seeing these charming wooden barrel saunas around the state for a little while and have been intrigued. So, like the good journalists we are, we went right to the source. The Sauna Guys are the men behind the barrels, and we have them on to share the story of this family owned and operated business located in Baraga in the U.P. Randy and Jeff Maki joined us from the road as they were delivering a few of their handmade saunas down to the metro Detroit area. If you've always wondered what goes on in a sauna, tune in.

    Finally, we catch up with the Great Lakes Winter Trails Council and member Mariah Frye who works at Cross Country Ski Headquarters in Higgins Lake. Last year's lack of snow has created pent up demand, Frye believes, and this year should be a fun, busy one on our Michigan trails. Where to go, what to do, and where to learn how to cross country ski way better than Amy are all things we touch upon.

    This week has made it clear, winter is coming! And instead of fighting it, let's embrace it, the Behind the Mitten way.
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    45 mins
  • S6,E45: Fenn Valley Vineyards, Shady Lane Cellars, Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival (Nov. 9-10, 2024)

    S6,E45: Fenn Valley Vineyards, Shady Lane Cellars, Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival (Nov. 9-10, 2024)
    Nov 20 2024
    It's all about Michigan wine this week on Behind the Mitten, and we are awash in the great grape harvest of 2024.

    Our first guest is in charge of one of the Midwest's biggest, and arguably most exciting, food festival. The 17th Annual Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival kicks off November 21 through the 23rd. It's a full on extravaganza of food and food related events and presenations at DeVos Place throughout the weekend. Dawn Baker from Show Span joins us and shares all the new things that you'll find this year, including The Vineyard where you can sample over 1000 wines. Beer City Station with over twenty different brewies pouring their liquids, and the Barrel Room where you can try liquors and cocktails. There are mulitple food and drink pairing options, and culinary demonstrations throughout. This is really a fun festival, it is really huge, and it really shouldn't be missed.

    Then we catch up with Fenn Valley Vice President Brian Lesperance, who shares a little bit about the excellent grape harvest that Michigan experienced this fall. All that lovely sunny weather that we had put our wines on the road to greatness this year, and Fenn Valley is ready. Look for new releases happening throughout the year, and the next few years as they age to perfection. Sip 'n Shop is happening on December 14 2024, where you can, wander the aisles of artisan crafts while enjoying a glass or two. Right after the holiday season look forward to the chili-cook-off at the vineyard which will feature four cook-off categories: Four Legs (beef and pork), Two Legs (Fowl), Vegetarian (non-meat), and Exotic (Seafood or wild game, including venison). Registration will open for the cook-off on December 1st, 2024.

    Then the ladies stop by from Shady Lane Cellars. Maddie McCandless, assistant winemaker and Kasey Wierzba, Executive Winemaker and General Manager also share a harvest report from the vineyard, which is located in Suttons Bay. Kasey has been at the vineyard since 2013, and brings years of experience in California to the vineyard. Maddie graduated from Purdue in 2019, got a degree in enology in 2021 and worked at Ram's Gate Winery before finding her home in Northern Michigan. These women are smart, knowledgeable and super fun.

    Follow John and Amy:
    Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten
    Twitter at @BehindTheMitten
    Instagram at @BehindTheMitten
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    45 mins
  • S6,E44: Cornwell's Turkeyville ready for the holidays (Nov. 2-3, 2024)

    S6,E44: Cornwell's Turkeyville ready for the holidays (Nov. 2-3, 2024)
    Nov 5 2024
    This week we head to an iconic Michigan destination, known throughout the Midwest as a place for old-fashioned, one-of-a-kind fun, with an amazing dinner theater experience, and some of the best turkey dinners you'll find anywhere.


    It's Cornwell's Turkeyville, and we visited for the very first time—and we can assure you, it won't be the last.


    On the show, you'll get to meet owner/operator Patti Cornwell and her daughter and "retirement plan" Elyse Bibbings. Together, these women are running quite the production on their family farm located at the crossroads of 94 & 69 just outside of Marshall, Michigan. From an all-turkey menu, which includes the classic dinner, new favorites like the turkey grilled cheese (get it on the cheese bread please!) to an old-fashioned soda fountain featuring house-made ice cream, you'll be eating well when you visit. Elyse also offers the very cool Simpler Life classes through the winter where you can learn to bake bread, how to can, uncover the mysteries of sourdough, and learn to decorate cookies.


    We'll also introduce you to Dexter Bringham, producing artistic director for the dinner theater at Turkeyville, where they host a 47 week season of Broadway quality shows featuring actors from across the country. On November 7 they'll be kicking off their holiday show, the Winter Wonderettes which will run through December 21.


    Turkeyville is the type of place to go with family and friends to create new traditions or relive fantastic old memories. Go for dinner, but stay for more. And don't miss out on their gift shop, it is a great place to find a unique gift this holiday season. We also learned that the gift shop is Patti and Elyse's favorite thing at Turkeyville, their passion project so to speak, so you know it's full of lots of good things, including the cutest little stuffed turkey I had to get for Gonzo's newest baby turkey.
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    45 mins

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