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Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Mike heads back to one of his favorite cities in the world, this time with his mom, sister Colleen, brother-in-law Rob, and nephews Jack and Nolan along for the ride. The family takes on the CN Tower, Hockey Hall of Fame, St. Lawrence Market, Blue Jays and Toronto FC games, the CNE, and enough public transit to turn Jack and Nolan into certified BCDs (big-city dudes). Mike also explains why one particular song from a legendary Canadian band from another city in Ontario (Kingston) became the soundtrack to the trip, then joins Colleen and Rob for a Friday night featuring Toronto bars, fluorescent Chinese food, and those checkerboard floors at the Horseshoe Tavern. Along the way, he reflects on his mom’s efforts to create more chances for the family to be together and what it meant to share a city he has loved since childhood. Follow the podcast on BLUESKY: @friendsofmiked Email the podcast at [email protected] Key moments from the pod:  0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S7E8 2:50: Mike lays out the plan for the rest of the episode, and it’s a deep dive into a recent family trip Mike took to Toronto. 5:00: Why this trip was particularly special for Mike and how the spark came from Mike’s mom Janet. 6:20: Mike’s musical connection to Canada and which particular song inspired by the back of a hockey card became the impromptu soundtrack of this particular trip (hint: it’s from an iconic Canadian band from Kingston, ON that rhymes with the Mip). 14:00: Mike and the fam grab the Via Rail train in Windsor, heading east to Toronto Union Station for Day 1 of their trip, which includes a really high tower and children crushing adult-sized smash burgers. 18:45: Day 2, and it’s the Hockey Hall of Fame, an English pub pivot for lunch, some Steam Whistle Pilsner and Jays/Royals with giant hot dogs. 24:20: It’s Friday of the trip and the group starts to hit their Toronto stride, which involves a food tour in the St. Lawrence Market followed by an “adults nights” around Kensington Market, Chinatown and Queen West. 30:00:  Final day of the trip and it’s a few hours of natural history and antiquities at the Royal Ontario Museum, a stop at the CNE and then Toronto FC soccer and nimble logistics decisions. 36:30: The group heads back to Michigan on the train, impacted forever by the experience they’d just had in Toronto, including what Toronto means to Mike and a private review of the city from Mike’s nephew JT.

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 7 of Season 7, Mike welcomes longtime Michigan basketball fans/dear friends Irfan Bhabhrawala and Zach Drennen for a celebration and deep dive on the Wolverines’ unforgettable 2025-26 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP season. The guys trace how they first fell in love with Michigan hoops, revisit their favorite wins, players, and moments from a remarkable 37-3 season, check the temperature of the group chat, and apologize for a few takes that did not age particularly well. They also discuss the incredible three-man frontcourt of Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr., and Aday Mara, Final Four hero Elliot Cadeau, what made this team so special, and yes, process Dusty May’s surprising departure for the Dallas Mavericks. The coach may have left, but the banner stayed, the memories are forever, and Mike, Irfan and Zach are more than ready to relive one shining Michigan moment.  Follow the podcast on BLUESKY: @friendsofmiked Email the podcast at [email protected] Key moments from the pod:  0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S7E7 2:20: Mike updates the listeners on the plan for the rest of Season 7 of the podcast, and it involves AT LEAST one more episode 3:05: What’s been going with Mike D? A TTT (Toronto trip teaser) and a little trivia domination with Team Prune Tracy 6:25: Mike explains his love of college basketball and the NCAA tournament, and features the iconic song that caps tournament each year 17:05: Mike welcomes Irfan and Zach onto the podcast, laying out the plan for the rest of the episode 20:50: Irfan pays tribute to his late dad and his connection to Michigan basketball and sports overall 23:00: The guys talk about the last time they each saw each other 25:55: The current emotional state of the guys as Michigan hoops fans, with Coach Dusty May having departed to the NBA 30:30: The Dusty May emergency temperature check 39:30: The guys go back in time to when they each first became Michigan basketball fans 51:15: How has Michigan basketball fandom felt differently from Michigan football fandom for the guys? 58:00: The guys talk about their expectations for the 2026/2027 season coming into it 1:02:30: When did this team first plant the seed of a possible natty? 1:08:30: In an overall amazingly positive season, what was the most negative point? 1:11:00: The guys talk about their favorite win of the season and their favorite game they watched live (including a loss!) 1:26:50: Next up: the best moments of Michigan’s championship season 1:38:15: The guys talk about their favorite player from this championship team, as well as the most important player 1:44:50: What was something the guys got really wrong about this team heading into the season (including a heartfelt apology from Zach to Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney pulling a reverse Samson) 1:49:00:  What did this season mean to each of the guys, and where does the program go from here?

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 6 of Season 7, Mike heads west for a solo adventure in San Francisco and quickly discovers a city that’s a whole lot better than some of the negative headlines might have you believe. Along the way, he visits Alcatraz, explores the city’s history-rich neighborhoods, eats his way through Chinatown and North Beach, rides plenty of public transit, catches two Tigers-Giants games at Oracle Park, and spends time with some great friends. Mike also explains why Journey’s “Lights” became the unofficial soundtrack to the trip as he slowly fell for San Francisco through its history, food, neighborhoods, baseball, and overall vibe.  Follow the podcast on BLUESKY: @friendsofmiked Email the podcast at [email protected] Key moments from the pod:  0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S7E6 2:00: Mike talks about his passion for travel and lays out the plan for the rest of the episode 3:30: Mike busts some very unfair myths about the City by the Bay 5:15: The unofficial soundtrack of Mike’s trip from a classic rock band that connects Detroit to San Francisco in Mike’s mind 11:00: The trip starts. It’s Tuesday afternoon, and Mike heads west on a Delta flight. 13:40: Day 2, and it’s time to head to Alcatraz, a giant Applebee’s, and then bouncing around town in a VW van. 18:15: Day 3, and San Francisco is really starting to get under Mike’s skin in a good way.  The Cable Car Museum, an epic food and history tour around Chinatown and North Beach, and dinner at a Burmese Restaurant in the Richmond neighborhood with a dear friend. 25:00: Day 4 brings a giant burrito, the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD), an epic baseball pregame pub crawl, and Tigers/Giants. 28:00: Day 5 and it’s Saturday (last full day of the trip).  An amazing modern art experience at SFMOMA followed by tacos in the Mission, a trip to Bernal Heights to visit with an old college buddy and his family, and then more baseball. 31:10: Mike reflects on his time in San Francisco and why he can’t wait to get back there.

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 5 of Season 7, Mike welcomes noted college football fans and expert prognosticators/dear friends Tim Horvath and Chad Massey for the guys’ annual college football preview of the 2026 season. The guys break down the start of the Kyle Whittingham era at Michigan, what they expect from Bryce Underwood in Year 2, the players and position groups that will define the Wolverines’ season, and the biggest games on the schedule. They also fire up the Michigan Football Time Machine, take out a few extremely necessary Branch Insurance policies, make some predictions they fully expect to regret later (although maybe not!), and look ahead to the Big Ten and College Football Playoff picture. College football is back, objectivity is once again the name of the game, and Tim, Chad and Mike are ready to rise to the occasion. Follow the podcast on BLUESKY: @friendsofmiked Email the podcast at [email protected] Key moments from the pod:  0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S7E5 1:50: Mike updates the listeners on the plan for the rest of Season 6 of the podcast 2:15: What’s been going on with Mike?  Namely trips to San Francisco (a future episode of the pod will focus on this) and juke box battles in Boston. 4:40: Mike then features a song by some Goats from the Mountain involving Charlie Sheen and really going for it and how that song encapsulates the vibes of the Michigan Football Team heading into 2026. 10:45: Mike welcomes Tim Horvath and Chad Massey onto the podcast.  There’s definitely some insurance humor involved as always as well as some massive life updates, including Tim’s son Trevor heading across the pond for the summer and Chad and his brother going to the next level with Branch Insurance. 17:45: Mike lays out the plan for the rest of the episode and the guys reflect on the updates to the tailgate from the 2025 season, including the introduction of a Yukon Jack-related scroll. 20:45: The guys look back at the end of the Sherrone Moore era 28:00: Michigan Head Coach Kyle Whittingham: will he be a bridge, builder or champion at Michigan? 34:00: Who is the incoming freshman the guys are most excited about? The answers include a dominant edge rusher, a legacy lineman and a couple of game breaking WRs 38:00: The guy then talk transfer portal pickups, including a linebacker from North Dakota, a jump ball specialist, and a veteran DE known as JHD. 41:00: Does Bryce Underwood make the vaunted Sophomore leap? 44:30: What will be the first win of the Kyle Whittingham era that will make it feel real? 49:45: The guys enter the Michigan Football Time Machine where they talk Michigan football games before their time that they would’ve wanted to have attended in person, the one Michigan loss of their lifetime that each of Chad, Tim or Mike would reverse, and the one former Michigan player at his college peak that would most help the 2026 team. 1:04:40: The Branch Insurance Michigan Insurance Policy - it’s critical! 1:08:40: Which position simply can’t afford to underperform on the 2026 Michigan Football Team? 1:12:00: The guys’ top 3 individual key players heading into 2026. 1:15:30: One BOLD prediction from each guy about the upcoming season. 1:19:40:  The guys go through their annual Michigan schedule rundown 1:20:10: Western Michigan 1:21:50: Oklahoma 1:24:30: UTEP 1:26:00: Iowa 1:27:40: Minnesota 1:29:50: Bye 1:30:10: Penn State 1:32:40: Indiana 1:37:00: Rutgers 1:38:15: Michigan State 1:41:40 Oregon 1:44:30: UCLA 1:45:30: Ohio State 1:48: 30: The guys predict the Big 10 Champion 1:45:40: The guys then predict the College Football Playoff teams and 2026 National Champion

Send us Fan Mail In Season 7 Episode 4 of Talking Friendship with Mike D, Mike welcomes Todd Pretty, Grant Nickels, and Fletcher Walters for a deep, funny, and occasionally heartfelt conversation about the TV show Shoresy. The guys talk about why this vulgar, hockey-soaked Canadian comedy works so well, from favorite characters and best chirps to Sudbury, the music, the romance, the hockey culture, and the moments that make the show hit harder than it has any business hitting. Follow the podcast on Bluesky at @friendsofmiked Email the podcast with any questions or requests at [email protected] Please subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, or wherever you get your podcasts. Please also rate and review the podcast. Key moments from the pod: 0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to Season 7 Episode 4, a full-on Talking Shoresy episode. 1:55: Mike catches listeners up on what’s been going on with him, including donating some of his sweet, sweet O Negative blood and checking out live IndyCar racing in downtown Detroit for the first time. 3:50: Mike lays out the plan for the rest of the episode, including some background on Shoresy, why the show stands on its own, and why spoilers are very much on the table. 7:44: Mike welcomes Todd Pretty, Grant Nickels, and Fletcher Walters to the podcast and gives life updates on all three guests that are so detailed you may feel like you’re suddenly related to them. 16:40: The guys talk about their overall relationship to hockey, from lifelong fandom to the vibes and rhythms of the sport. 22:10: The guys share how they first came to Shoresy, including Mike’s initial reluctance to get on board and why the show eventually won him over in a big way. 27:40: The guys try to answer the big question: what is it about this damn show that makes them love it so much? 38:00: The guys talk through their favorite characters on Shoresy, including the players, coaches, owners, media personalities, and assorted beauties who make the show work. 57:00: The guys discuss which Shoresy character makes them laugh the hardest. 1:01:00: The guys pick their favorite opposing player or character from the world of Shoresy. 1:06:00: The guys get into the best chirps, lines, and recurring bits from the show. 1:15:45: Mike and the guys talk about why Shoresy has real heart underneath all the jokes, fighting, profanity, and glorious nonsense. 1:29:00: The guys discuss why Sudbury is the perfect setting for the show and why the city feels like part of the cast. 1:34:00: The guys celebrate the amazing music of Shoresy and how the show uses songs to set the tone perfectly, including power ballads, a country classic, a techno jam, and a French disco banger. 2:01:00: Last but not least, the guys close out the main conversation by sharing their favorite moments from the show.

Send us Fan Mail In this shorter companion episode, Mike welcomes Jay and Chris Bibby, aka the Bibby Brothers, to talk about Sudbury, Ontario, the proud, rugged, blue-collar Northern Ontario city that helps give Shoresy so much of its soul. Before the main Shoresy episode drops, the guys spend some time on Sudbury’s people, geography, hockey culture, family connections, and general vibe. Follow the podcast on Bluesky at @friendsofmiked  Email the podcast with any questions or requests at [email protected]  Please subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts.  Please also rate and review the podcast.   Key moments from the pod:  0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to Season 7 Episode 3, a Shoresy companion episode focused on Sudbury, Ontario. 1:45: Mike catches listeners up on what’s been going on with him, including an epic trip to Charm City with his buddy PJ featuring Camden Yards, the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum, blue crabs, Natty Bohs at Mum’s, and a whole lot of new Baltimore memories. 7:30: Mike sets the tone for the episode with a musical tribute to Sudbury. 11:45: Mike welcomes Jay and Chris Bibby, aka the Bibby Brothers, to the podcast to talk all things Sudbury. 14:30: The guys talk about the last time they saw each other and what they were up to. 17:30: Mike lays out the plan for the episode before Jay and Chris dig into their family’s history in Sudbury. 20:30: The Bibby Brothers talk about their personal connection to Sudbury and what keeps pulling them back. 25:30: Jay and Chris talk about the people of Sudbury, the feel of the place, and, of course, the area’s amazing Italian-influenced food. 27:00: The guys discuss why a place like Sudbury works so well as the setting for Shoresy, including the pride people have in a city outsiders might underestimate. 30:00: Jay and Chris explain what makes Northern Ontario different from the rest of the province, including nickel, blueberries, and a whole lot of rugged local identity.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Mike takes listeners through his recent holiday to Portugal, covering Lisbon, Porto, the Douro Valley, and just enough airport chaos to keep things interesting. Along the way he talks great hotels, walking tours, cod in its many forms, wine, port, football culture, cocktail bars, trains, fado music, and why Portugal quickly became one of his all-time favorite trips.  Follow the podcast on Bluesky at @friendsofmiked Email the podcast with any questions or requests at [email protected] Please subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts.  Please also rate and review the podcast.  Key moments from the pod:  0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to Season 6 Episode 2.   2:10: Mike lays out the plan for the rest of the episode. 5:00: Mike kicks things off with the travel day from Detroit to Lisbon. The plan was simple enough: DTW to Boston, Boston to Lisbon. The execution was…less simple. A not-quite-smooth start to the trip, but eventually Portugal appeared on the horizon. 6:30: Mike walks through his first full day in Lisbon, which included getting settled, rooftop drinks, a guided tour of São Jorge Castle, and ending the night properly with cocktails at Red Frog, one of Lisbon’s best-known speakeasy-style bars. 13:00: Day 2 starts strong with an excellent breakfast at the Bairro Alto Hotel, where Mike learns, perhaps a little later in life than expected, how to pronounce açaí. From there, it’s a private walking tour of historic Lisbon with Ugo, followed by afternoon beers at BREW and Delirium Café. The day wraps with a petiscos and wine tour, which proves that small plates and multiple pours are a very good way to understand a city. 21:40: Day 3 brings a trip to a beautiful neoclassical food hall, a visit to the historic Jerónimos Monastery in Belém, and maybe the surprise meal of the whole Lisbon portion of the trip: a Mozambican restaurant that makes a serious case for being one of the best meals in the city. The night ends with live fado, because sometimes you should just let Portugal be Portugal. 28:20: Day 4 means saying goodbye to Lisbon, at least for now, and taking the train north to Porto. Mike gets settled, joins a walking tour that includes a famous bookstore with no need to invoke Harry Potter every three seconds, and then opts for a quiet, restorative night at the Renaissance Porto Lapa. 33:50: Day 5 is all about the Douro River Valley: a boat cruise, wine, more wine, a genuinely memorable lunch, still more wine, and the kind of easy new friendships that sometimes happen when everyone in the van has been drinking excellent Portuguese wine all day. 37:50: Day 6 starts with Mike climbing Clérigos Tower, which turns out to be taller than anticipated, both physically and spiritually. From there, it’s a visit to a distinctive religious art museum, followed by a craft beer and local food tour through Porto’s hidden gems. This includes the famous francesinha, a sandwich that is less “lunch” and more “delicious cardiovascular event.” 44:00: Day 7 is the last full day of the trip. Mike takes the train back to Lisbon, then heads out for a tour of Benfica’s Estádio da Luz, one of the most famous football stadiums in Portugal. A little soccer, a little travel logistics, and the sense that the trip is starting to wind down. 47:00: Day 8 is travel-home day, and Lisbon Airport decides to become Thunderdome. Mike closes out the trip with one last round of airport chaos before heading back to Detroit, slightly tired, very full, and pretty convinced Portugal was worth every minute.

Send us Fan Mail In the Season 7 premiere, Mike welcomes good friends Tom Fishman and Mike “Kuz” Kuzan to the pod for a deeply scholarly, deeply unserious, and deeply Jersey conversation about music from New Jersey artists and the powerful, mysterious, occasionally misunderstood pull of the Garden State. Tom brings the perspective of someone who grew up in Queens and lived in Hoboken, Kuz joins from Asbury Park as both a Jersey resident and actual musician (like Tom), and Mike contributes as a music-loving outsider whose New Jersey knowledge comes largely through short visits, TV, movies, songs, and a healthy respect for places that inspire both pride and defensiveness. Follow the podcast on Bluesky at @friendsofmiked Email the podcast with any questions or requests at [email protected]  Please subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts.  Please also rate and review the podcast.   Key moments from the pod:  0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to Episode 1 of Season 7 2:00: Mike gives some life updates on what’s been going on with him, including some trip updates (London, St Pete Beach, a hockey trip north and Amsterdam). 4:50: A quick podcast staff wellness check 10:15: Mike welcomes Tom Fishman and Mike “Kuz” Kuzan onto the podcast for a rollicking discussion of who they are and why they’re the perfect guests for this episode on New Jersey music. 17:10: Mike lays out the plan for the rest of the episode. 18:00: The guys discuss the New Jersey myth/vibe and how New Jersey is everywhere. 25:00: What makes an artist “Jersey” 29:00: Kuz describes what it’s like living in Asbury Park 35:00: Mike kicks off the NJ song draft by explaining the ground-breaking format 36:00: A song about the entire country with deep ties to the Garden State AND Saginaw, Michigan. 43:30: A very deep cut song from the Boss about being born to move fast. 52:30: A supergroup track from a bunch of dudes who travel and sing songs about life. 1:02:30: A perfect song to drive into New Jersey if you’re a mob boss. 1:12:05: An homage to the females of Jersey from an icon with a unique singing voice. 1:21:10: This crooner could only approach life one way: his way. 1:30:00: A song about the nostalgia of suburban life in NJ 1:37:00: A rewritten alma mater at Eastside High, take a bow, Mrs. Powers. 1:43:00: A pop punk classic the evokes the 90s in the Garden State perfectly. 1:52:00: Boss-written, Band-performed: AC, baby 2:00:10: A 1970s protest anthem that propels you through a quest for justice 2:14:00: A rollicking bluegrass jam that truly tells a NJ story

Send us Fan Mail Mike kicks off the finale to Season 6, where he discusses one of his favorite end-of-the-year holiday songs.  A herculean task to get things down to just 20, Mike and the podcast staff are confident the 20 tracks Mike goes over will set your end-of-the-year holiday mood just right.  Follow the podcast on Bluesky at @friendsofmiked Email the podcast with any questions or requests at [email protected] Please subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts.  Please also rate and review the podcast.  Key moments from the pod:  0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to Episode 6 of Season 6. 2:10: Mike talks a bit more about the format for this holiday music-themed episode 5:20: Mike breaks down his favorite 20 holiday songs of all time (spoiler alert: they are objectively the 20 best to many people)

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 5 of Season 6 Mike welcomes noted college football fans and expert prognosticators Tim Horvath and Chad Massey for the guys’ annual college football preview of the 2025 season. Follow the podcast on BLUESKY: @friendsofmiked Email the podcast at [email protected] Key moments from the pod:  0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S6E5 1:40: Mike updates the listeners on the plan for the rest of Season 6 of the podcast 2:25: What’s been going on with Mike?  Namely trips to Philadelphia and morning horror movies 4:30: Mike breaks down the rest of this episode and features a song that best encapsulates the attitude of the Michigan Wolverines heading into the 2025 season (spoiler alert: it’s not an old attitude) 9:45: Mike welcomes Tim Horvath and Chad Massey onto the podcast.  There’s definitely some insurance humor involved as well as some life updates 15:15: Mike sets the table for the rest of the episode, starting with a quick recap of the 2024 season as well as a tailgate tradition that involves the mantra 29:20: The guys give their thoughts on the big offseason recruiting news about incoming freshman QB Bryce Underwood 37:50: The fellas then talk about which true freshmen they’re most excited about outside of Bryce Underwood 43:45: Next up is discussing their favorite pickups in the transfer portal for the Wolverines 46:40: The Big 10 has some annoying head coaches and the guys discuss them in non-annoying detail 54:15:  Should the College Football Playoff be expanded from 12 to 16 teams?  The guys debate this (in a respectful manner) 57:10: Reasons for optimism for the 2025 Michigan football season 1:01:00: Reasons for concern for the 2025 Michigan football season 1:04:00: Key position groups for the 2025 Michigan football season 1:07:00: Key individual players for the 2025 Michigan football season 1:11:00: The guys break down every game on Michigan’s 2025 schedule, starting with game 1 with the game against New Mexico Lobos 1:12:30: Oklahoma 1:17:00: Central Michigan 1:18:00: Nebraska 1:20:00: Bye Week (First ever Big House concert) 1:21:40: Wisconsin 1:24:50: USC 1:28:00: Washington 1:31:00: Michigan State 1:34:45: Purdue 1:36:15: Bye week 1:36:30: Northwestern (at Wrigley Field) 1:39:00: Maryland 1:41:00: Ohio State 1:46:00: The guys finish up by picking the Big 10 champions, the teams who will make the College Football Playoff and the National Champion.

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 4 of Season 6 Mike welcomes his observational-in-a-comedic-way dear friends Todd  Pretty, Tim Rechtien, John Baker and Chris Allan to talk about two things: Life + Seinfeld and how much it’s meant to them over the years (this is Part 2 of an epic two part pod). Follow the podcast on BLUESKY: @friendsofmiked Email the podcast at [email protected] Key moments from the pod:  0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S6E4 featuring four dear friends (Todd Pretty, Tim Rechtien, John Baker and Chris Allan) for part 2 of a love letter to their favorite show from the 90s about nothing aka Seinfeld! 2:30: Mike lays out the plan for the rest of Season 6 3:10: Mike corrects an English river-based mistake from S5E2 4:10: What’s been going on with Mike D? Mike breaks things down and they involve Mike getting a new Tottenham-related customized tattoo somewhere on his body, trips to Cleveland and Philadelphia, some great TV (The Bear on Hulu and The Eternaut on Netflix). 11:30: Mike kicks off Part 2 of the conversation about Seinfeld by catching up with the guests and learning how their lives have changed (for the better) since Part 1 dropped. 15:30: Mike lays out the plan for the rest of the episode of talking about the guys’ favorite 10 individual episodes of the show 16:00: The Contest 33:10: The Bizarro Jerry 48:50: The Merv Griffin Show 1:03:30: The Pitch/Ticket 1:18:35: The Opposite 1:32:20: The Strike 1:45:50: The Pony Remark 2:00:00: The Understudy 2:16:50: The Wizard 2:28:20: The Marine Biologist

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 3 of Season 6 Mike welcomes his observational-in-a-comedic-way dear friends Todd  Pretty, Tim Rechtien, John Baker and Chris Allan to talk about two things: Life + Seinfeld and how much it’s meant to them over the years (this is Part 1 of an epic two part pod). Follow the podcast on BLUESKY: @friendsofmiked Email the podcast at [email protected] Key moments from the pod:  0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S6E3 featuring four dear friends (Todd Pretty, Tim Rechtien, John Baker and Chris Allan) for a love letter to their favorite show from the 90s about nothing. 2:00: Mike updates the listeners on a recent trip to one of his favorite cities: Toronto, capping things over with an anthem about his new favorite soccer clubs, Toronto FC (7:05). 12:00: Mike welcomes the crew from Monk’s (Todd, Tim, John and Chris) to the podcast and checks in w/ how they each are doing life-wise. 17:45: The guys then check in on when they last saw each other in person, including a new baby in Denver and a disease known as Tigers Fever. 23:30: Mike lays out the premise for the rest of the episode and starts by asking the guys how they first found Seinfeld, which includes several home recordings that weren’t exactly street legal. 33:00: The guys then talk about whether the show grabbed them right away as something they loved. 37:40: Next up the guys quickly talk about their favorite character of the “Big 4” (Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer). 51:50: Has the show stood the test of time?  The guys definitively answer this question. 59:40: It’s the meat of this Part 1: the guys talk through their top ancillary (non-core 4) Seinfeld characters. 1:00:30: George Steinbrenner 1:06:10: Bob Sacamano 1:11:00: Tim Whatley 1:18:20: Izzy Mandelbaum 1:25:15: Jackie Chiles 1:32:20: Lt. Joe Bookman 1:44:40: Jacolo “J” Peterman 1:48:20: David Puddy 1:56:00: Newman 2:06:10: Frank Costanza

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 2 of Season 6 Mike welcomes his mate from Sheffield (England), Mark Charlton, for a scholarly discussion of the music of BritPop, redefining the genre in the process. Follow the podcast on BLUESKY: @friendsofmiked Email the podcast at [email protected] Key moments from the pod:  0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S6E2 featuring Mark Charlton and a deep dive on all things BritPop 2:10: Mike updates the listeners on what’s been going on with him, including a trip to the Balkans (specifically Belgrade) for a mix of history,  and going to see a phenomenal new film Sinners 12:20: Mike welcomes Mark Charlton to the podcast and he tells his life story having grown up in Sheffield, England and how it reminds him a bit of Detroit 16:00: The guys then trace the origins of their friendship via the Ann Arbor Mug Club including the last time they saw each other as well as a discussion of some amazing music artwork/infographics (wearedorothy.com) in Mark’s basement 20:40: Mike lays out the premise of the episode and discuss what BritPop means to them, including the music itself and the movement around it (and of course the rivalries!) 27:30: The guys discuss their 14 favorite BritPop songs of all time, starting with a song about a type of gold from one of Manchester's most decorated bands 40:30: A song for all people and one that involves a biting take down of class tourism that is also a propulsive jam 53:00: One of all time best Deborahs gets referenced in this romantic jam from one of Sheffield’s all time greatest bands 1:02:00: A song about going on holiday in Greece and letting you freak flag fly 1:12:00: A song from a massive BritPop band that’s both fun and a bit a surprising 1:21:20: A song about being alone on a motorcycle 1:30:30: An epic, atmospheric heightening song in every note 1:41:20: A B-side from a pioneer BritPop band about a glorious river 1:48:15: An amazing cover that completely reinvents the original song around a BritPop beat for the ages 1:57:25: An underrated song from band with instructions to sit (not stand) 2:05:40: A song from a UK band from the West Midlands who actually know a lot 2:13:00: A (largely) romantic upbeat song from the vision of one man 2:19:20: The swagger-inducing and enhancing song from a band with a flower in its name that’s also about love 2:28:15: The last song of the episode is a fitting end that focuses on looking forward (not backward)

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 1 of Season 6 Mike welcomes two good buddies onto the podcast to kick off the season for a free flowing conversation about the friendship ties that bind and a yearly tradition that has become legendary from coast to coast.   Follow the podcast on BLUESKY: @friendsofmiked Email the podcast at [email protected] Key moments from the pod:  0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S6E1 featuring Mark Sgriccia and Zach Drennen! 1:45: Mike sets the table for Season 6 of the podcast 2:28: MIke then talks about what’s been going on with him since Season 5 of the pod ended and it involves A LOT of amazing traveling including trips to: 3:20: Cancun! 4:00: Glasgow! (where Mike tried to play the bagpipes and failed miserably) 6:00: London! (where Mike scaled monuments, watched football (soccer), and learned some rock and roll history). 8:00: Canada (specifically Alberta) to see the Red Wings take down the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames along with soaking in some Canadian culture and fresh brews. 11:00: Italy (specifically Rome, Florence and Milan) for history, food, art, architecture, sport and friendship building! 14:15: Mike plays a smidge of an Italian song that he was listening to while traversing Italia on the trip. 18:00: Mike brings on two true blue Wolverines who have skyrocketed up his personal FQR (friendship quality rankings). 21:00: Mike lays out the plan for the rest of the episode, including introducing a long-standing friendship tradition 22:45: The guys get into the last time they saw each other, including an epic March Madness gathering at Zach’s as well as at the beginning of the Dusty May era. 28:00: Zach and Mark give their respective histories about becoming Michigan fans. 33:15: Zach then talks about how he’s become the wizard of recaps. 34:15: The guys talk about how they first crossed paths at the Michigan/Penn State game in State College in 2023. 42:30: Zach and Mark reflect on what the 2023 Michigan football season means to them. 47:15: The guys then talk about the 2024 season and how it compared to 2023 as well as noting how Ohio State’s 2024 “championship” season will forever be less than. 55:00: Mark and Zach then give the history of their road game weekend tradition. 1:02:00: The guys then go over the most recent iteration of this epic tradition: the Michigan/Washington game in Seattle in 2024. 1:09:00: Mark then talks through how the specific road game for the RGWT (road game weekend tradition) gets chosen which involves a west coast BBQ, a powerpoint/Google slides presentation and data-informed decision making. 1:15:00: The guys then discuss the plans for the 2025 Michigan/USC road game in LA (which is NOT necessarily the official RGWT choice for the 2025 season. 1:19:00: The guys then talk about the vibes for the 2025 Michigan football team as of the spring of 2025. 1:24:45: The episode comes to an end with the guys sharing what makes the RGWT special and where it might go.

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 17 of Season 5 Mike and the usual college football preview crew (Tim Horvath and Chad Massey) pick back up for their fourth annual college football preview podcast episode, this time focused on the 2024 season with a slight focus on the Michigan Wolverines (reigning national champions of the whole nation). Follow the podcast on Twitter/X: @friendsofmiked Email the podcast at [email protected] Key moments from the pod:  0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S5E17 featuring Tim Horvath and Chad Massey 3:00: Mike talks about the plans for the podcast offseason and Season 6 and then corrects some huge errors from prior episodes, including an inaccurate description of Great Britain and her component nations as well as a misallocated sack in the Rose Bowl (apologies to Josiah Stewart) 5:30: Mike then recaps his trip to CDMX aka Mexico City (and how much he loved it). 6:45: Finally, Mike features a small bit of a new Eddie Vedder cover track that speaks to the current state of the Michigan Wolverine football team. 13:30: Mike welcomes Tim Horvath and Chad Massey into the podcast studio and the guys give comprehensive life updates, including Tim’s son spurning Purdue to become a Wolverine. 20:30: The guys touch on their thoughts on college football conference realignment. 24:15: Next up is a discussion of the revamped Michigan coaching staff led by Sherrone Moore, including new Defensive Coordinator Wink Martindale. 31:00: The guys then talk about the evolution of Michigan’s approach to name, image and likeness (NIL) rights, including how critical using NIL to retain players has been for the Wolverines. 37:15:  The Big 10 has brought in several new head coaches and the guys discuss who they are most intrigued by coming into 2024. 41:15: The guys then go through their reasons for optimism for Michigan football in 2024.  The future is bright! 45:40: Next up are reasons for concern for the 2024 Michigan Wolverines. 49:20: The guys then talk about their key players for Michigan’s season. 56:00: Key Michigan football position groups for the season. 58:45: The guys then go game by game through Michigan’s season starting with Fresno St 1:00:15: Texas 1:03:15: Arkansas St 1:04:05: Southern California 1:06:00: The Battle for the Brown Jug (Minnesota) 1:07:40: Washington 1:11:30: Illinois 1:14:30: Michigan State 1:20:00: Oregon 1:23:15: Indiana 1:25:00: Northwestern 1:27:15: Ohio State 1:34:45: The guys predict the Big 10 Champion 1:36:30: The guys then predict the 12 Team playoff and national champions 1:41:45: The episode wraps up with an emotional sign off