Michiana People Podcast

Behind The Bits Podcast

Tue, 24 Mar 2020 18:09:51 +0000

Thank you for listening all these years! Here is a recent episode of my Behind the Bits Podcast. If you like the show, you can follow Behind the Bits on social media! Isn't that great! Facebook Twitter Instagram And..if you want to see some of my comedy, you can check out my YouTube Channel and heck, maybe subscribe! BTB YouTube

Valerie Schey & Dave VanDyke

Mon, 28 Jan 2019 21:57:20 +0000

Valerie Schey stopped by to talk about Michiana Meatless Mondays and Veg Fest. Dave VanDyke talked to me for a few minutes and told me about the Songwriter & Storyteller Showcase

Episode 63: Bob Zany Baybee!

Mon, 10 Dec 2018 05:00:00 +0000

It turns out that all you have to do to get Bob Zany to be on your pod cast is ask! Bob is my comedy hero and I am a silly fanboy. Catch Bob at Five Star Dive Bar on 12/18.

Alex Giorgio-Rubin

Tue, 04 Dec 2018 13:09:47 +0000

Alex is running for the At Large seat of the South Bend Common Council and worked on Mel Hall's campaign.

Scott Leeper From Mind Muscle Strength

Mon, 26 Nov 2018 22:20:26 +0000

Scott Leeper talks about how he came to be a life coach.

Rama Genesan From Vegan Michiana

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 16:35:10 +0000

Great talk with Rama about Vegan Michiana. I learned a lot about the Vegan Lifestyle!

Brother O' Brother's Chris Banta

Wed, 31 Jan 2018 05:00:00 +0000

Chris Banta is in one of my favorite newfound bands, Brother O' Brother. Chris and Warner Swopes make some beautiful blues-driven noise and put on a show like you've never seen.

Steve Freeto & Addy Schmucker talk about Five F

Wed, 31 Jan 2018 00:09:12 +0000

Steve Freeto & Addy Schmucker are part of GoProv and 321 Go! They are organizing February First Friday's Fringe Fest (Five F) on February 2nd at the Art House in Goshen, IN.

Jason Stapls talks about cool stuff to do in South Bend @ Heywood Banks!

Tue, 07 Nov 2017 05:00:00 +0000

Jason is one of the first comics I met when starting my own comedy "career". It's always great to talk to him and we had a great conversation about local businesses in South Bend/Mishawaka that are cool places to be and the upcoming Heywood Banks show at The Drop Comedy Club in South Bend.

Colton Cole talks about being a driven comic

Mon, 30 Oct 2017 04:00:00 +0000

Colton Cole has been working towards comedy stardom since grade school. After talking to him, I'm convinced he's going to make it happen.

My Review of Kirk Saffle's "Pain And Passion" EP

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 00:37:53 +0000

I did a review and preview of Kirk Saffle's upcoming "Pain And Passion" EP because it's wonderful.

Lalo Cura in their studio!

Mon, 21 Aug 2017 04:00:00 +0000

It was great to finally talk to Sonny, Raphael, Sam, & Adam about their great band, Lalo Cura and the upcoming release of Suenos. Check out a video for "Testimonios", the first single from Suenos here: Testimonios

Scott and Josh Show

Sun, 13 Aug 2017 13:41:05 +0000

Josh Mandell joins Scott Curtis as co-host. We talk about stuff.

MIke Wallace a Great Musician!

Mon, 07 Aug 2017 01:35:00 +0000

Mike Wallace and I talk about metal and pro-wrestling.

Patrick Roberts from Veseria!

Mon, 24 Jul 2017 04:00:00 +0000

Veseria is a great 4 piece rock band from Indianapolis. I am a big fan and was excited to talk to Patrick about the band and the new album, RLTVTY.

Dirk Handlin Talks About Comedy & Art

Tue, 18 Jul 2017 00:20:20 +0000

It's great to get to know a comic. Dirk Handlin started comedy as a hobby and has helped some young folks get into the game. We talked about his move from college football to adulthood to comedy.

Ashley Moore started Moore Allies out of an idea and the drive to make it happen

Mon, 03 Jul 2017 01:43:23 +0000

Ashley Moore started Moore Allies, a staffing agency for childcare employees after seeing a need in her own daycare. She has a great story of seeing a problem and finding a way to make it into a business.

Joni Earl, Steve Freeto, & Chris Rahe talk about comedy night at Ignition Music

Mon, 22 May 2017 00:37:04 +0000

Ignition Music in Goshen is having Comedy Night on June 2nd. Listen to us talk about the event, karaoke, improv, and Lenny Kravitz.

Curt Heckaman talks about Everybody Has a Story

Tue, 02 May 2017 04:00:00 +0000

Curt Heckaman is a driving force for Everybody Has a Story. Learn why he comes back to his hometown to help South Bend Schools.

Myles Robertson talks about the Purple Porch Co-op and South Bend

Tue, 25 Apr 2017 04:00:00 +0000

It's always great catching up with Myles Robertson. He's a real force in making South Bend a great place to live. He is managing at Purple Porch Co-op among many other things.

Kelly Jones From Eve of Eden Skincare

Mon, 10 Apr 2017 22:11:15 +0000

Kelly Jones started formulating soaps & lotions for her problem skin. She then decided to offer these products to the public. Hear her story and some tips on skin care in this episode.

Semi-Regular Semi Awkward Comedy Roundup Episode 4

Wed, 08 Mar 2017 14:56:18 +0000

Genesis Easton, Jim Kliss, Patrick Fowler, Jason Stapls, & Mike Hullinger join me in the studio for laughs and serious talk.

Kirk Saffle talks about his start in music and the road so far

Tue, 14 Feb 2017 14:28:09 +0000

Kirk Saffle and I talked about his relatively new music career and how he went from writing a few songs to booking gigs to recording an EP.

Comedy Roundup #3

Wed, 01 Feb 2017 05:00:00 +0000

Justin Flagel, Jim Kliss, Mark Stuck, & Josh Mandell join me for a third installment of tomfoolery.

Justin Flagel talks about writing, podcasting, and life.

Tue, 24 Jan 2017 05:00:00 +0000

Justin Flagel has been putting out great written and podcast material for awhile. We talk about Anywhere the Needle Drops and his new project.

Allen Stewart goes big with The Hall of Heroes Super Hero Museum

Mon, 09 Jan 2017 05:00:00 +0000

The Hall of Heroes Super Hero Museum in Elkhart, IN is a one of a kind museum that is dedicated to preserving and presenting comics and super hero memorabilia from the 1930's to present day. Allen Stewart doesn't a bunch of great stuff but knows his stuff as well. This was fascinating and nostalgic for me. I hope you enjoy the interview and give the museum a visit.

Sam Ludwig talks about his work as Director of Juvenile Detention for Elkhart County

Mon, 19 Dec 2016 05:00:00 +0000

Sam Ludwig is Director of Juvenile Detention for Elkhart County and has introduced Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI). Listen to this episode to learn more about Sam's passion for helping our community.

Josh Mandell runs the South Bend Reddit and is from Nova Scotia!

Mon, 12 Dec 2016 05:00:00 +0000

I've always followed Josh Mandell closely on social media because he's "in the know". He taught me about Reddit and we talked about adventure. Great time and great interview.

Semi-Awkward Semi-Regular Comedy Roundup #2

Fri, 25 Nov 2016 05:00:00 +0000

Chris Rahe, Patrick Fowler, & Jason Stapls join me in the studio 2 days after te election. The tone was a bit somber but we still had a great conversation and had some laughs.

Katie Neece is a a great artist and teacher of art.

Mon, 21 Nov 2016 05:00:00 +0000

I had the pleasure of having Katie Neece come to the studio to talk about her art. I made the observation that I thought her art was a kind of Sci-Fi/Gothic style and Katie agreed. Katie is not only making great art but is also teaching art to local students. She also won the Judges Award for her piece "Continuum" which is on display at the Notre Dame Center For Arts & Culture through December 19th. Katie also brought two great paintings to hang in my studio for a little while

Ed Marshall & I talk about his photograpy, writing, & IT

Mon, 14 Nov 2016 05:00:00 +0000

Ed Marshall started taking pictures of vintage trucks in 2014. Now he is a featured artist in an art gallery in Buchanan, MI. Find out how he got there and how he is now pursuing his writing passion.

Re-up of my interview with Jake & Jess from Starheart

Mon, 07 Nov 2016 05:00:00 +0000

This was originally episode 24. I did a "Special Double Upload" with Starheart as the first interview and Paul Erdman as the second. Because Paul Erdman was the last up, it got a lot more downloads than Starheart. It's been bugging me and I want to make sure Jake & Jess get the exposure they deserve. So, here you go!

Semi-Awkward Comedy Roundup

Mon, 31 Oct 2016 04:00:00 +0000

Chris Rahe & Jim Kliss join me for a fun-filled look at current events, trends, & Dungeons & Dragons.

Marshall King is a great free-lance food writer in the Michiana area. He also has a great story.

Mon, 24 Oct 2016 04:00:00 +0000

Hear how Marshall King got into writing about local restaurants and find out where you can find the best slice of pie in Michiana. Marshall is a great writer and has a great story.

Linsay Kelly & Rus Standford make up Linsay & Russell John. They are a beautiful and perfect musical duo.

Mon, 17 Oct 2016 04:00:00 +0000

Hear how Linsay Kelly & Rus Standford met and how Rus was steadfast in his efforts to get them to make music together. Hear the beautiful music that Linsay & Rus make together. Hear this interview. It's good.

Jenni Miller is a great mixed-media artist and the first to have art displayed in my studio!

Mon, 10 Oct 2016 04:00:00 +0000

Sometimes a guest really opens up to me in an interview. Jenni Miller did that perfectly. We talked about art, managing bands, our great community, and her changing from an angry punk rock kid to an adult who lets herself be open to people caring about her.

Cathy Dietz is an advocate for the arts in a big way. Listen to find out about the great things she does.

Mon, 03 Oct 2016 04:00:00 +0000

Cathy Dietz has been giving us the great Seitz & Sounds concerts at Seitz Park in South Bend for four years. She is also a big advocate for the arts in South Bend. Find out about the South Bend Museum of Art and the Artist Mixer coming up on 10/7.

A Look Back...A Look Forward

Mon, 26 Sep 2016 04:00:00 +0000

In this episode I talk about why & how I started the podcast, my guests to this point, and some ideas that are brewing for more cool content.

Steve Sult talks about the history of and upcoming Every Has A Story variety show

Mon, 19 Sep 2016 04:00:00 +0000

Steve Sult and a group of fellow graduates of John Adams High School are in the habit of helping the community. They do this through an annual variety show called Everybody Has a Story. This is an inspiring episode about a group of people who decided to make a difference instead of taking it easy.

Special Edition: Review of "Wild Edges" EP from Shiny Shiny Black

Wed, 14 Sep 2016 04:00:00 +0000

It was hard to put into words how much I loved the "Wild Edges" EP from Shiny Shiny Black. I've put out my best effort in this special review podcast. The EP comes out on the 23rd of this month. You can order it and get some cool stuff at the Pledge Music link below: Wild Edges

Gary Stieglitz & Jeff Thomas from Thomas-Stieglitz Brewing Co are great brewers and great guys.

Mon, 12 Sep 2016 04:00:00 +0000

I learned about the brewing process from Jeff and Gary as well as the naming process and how they select their beers. Great talk with great guys.

Fascinating conversation with Steve Martin from Ignition Music in Goshen.

Mon, 05 Sep 2016 04:02:12 +0000

Steve martin schooled me on quality music and told me about the show where he saw The Who and The Kinks in the same venue.

Nat Fitzgerald and Joel Sanchez school me on music genres and talk about their new album "Son of Man"

Wed, 31 Aug 2016 04:00:00 +0000

This was a great conversation with Nat & Joel from Spaceships. I learned about their passion for music and community as well as definitions for some music genres.

Amber & Nate Butler from Shiny Shiny Black make some great music. They have a great story too.

Mon, 29 Aug 2016 04:00:00 +0000

Amber & Nate Butler from Shiny Shiny Black care about their children, their community, & the world. This interview shows that. Their music shows that even more.

A very enlightening conversation with Tim Lehman from Bethany Christian School

Mon, 22 Aug 2016 04:00:00 +0000

Bethany Christian School in Goshen has a different approach to Christian school education. Listen to my interview with Tim Lehman to find out what makes them unique.

Paul Erdman & Trey Gray talk to me about music & life.

Mon, 15 Aug 2016 04:00:00 +0000

Paul Erdman & Trey Gray are two of the most talented musicians in the Michiana area. We talked about how they met, being tall, & Russell Crowe. Yep, Russell Crowe. Check this out, it's a great ride!

Great talk with Jess & Jake from StarHeart.

Mon, 15 Aug 2016 04:00:00 +0000

Jess & Jake love making music and their harmonies are second to none. It's great to hear a group with two songwriters and hear the different perspectives. This was an engaging interview. Hope you like it!

Bonus: StarHeart album review "Light Will Travel"

Thu, 11 Aug 2016 04:00:00 +0000

StarHeart's new album, "Light Will Travel" is worthy of a review. Check it out here: Light Will Travel

Emily Herriot & I talk about Positive Parenting Program (Triple-P) in Elkhart County.

Mon, 08 Aug 2016 04:00:00 +0000

Emily Herriot is has been doing great things with CAPS and Horizon Education Alliance. In this interview, we talked about Triple-P which is a 4-step program for parents of children from 0-teen.

Grant Mielke told me all about Vala Marketing, having passion, losing passion, & regaining passion.

Mon, 01 Aug 2016 04:00:00 +0000

Grant is embarking on an entrepreneurial adventure with Vala Marketing and doing it right. We had a fascinating talk about the shift in marketing from traditional to social. We also spent some time talking about how Grant's passion has changed and grown over the years.

Joe Feingold & I talked about guitar, compassion, & friendship.

Mon, 25 Jul 2016 04:00:00 +0000

I've known Joe Feingold for a long time. I've never seen a better guitar player.....ever. We had a great talk about his guitar influences, his mom & dad, and the struggles of being a musician.

Wes Herschberger is my boss and benefactor of the podcast. We had a great talk about MapleTronics.

Mon, 18 Jul 2016 04:00:00 +0000

Wes Herschberger is President & CEO of MapleTronics Computers and my boss. We talked about how MapleTronics distinguishes ourselves from other IT companies and some really cool things we are doing to have the best engineers in the industry.

Sam Centallas & I talked about immigration, South Bend's West Side, and community.

Mon, 11 Jul 2016 04:00:00 +0000

Sam Centellas is a fascinating member of our community. Sam gets to help South Bend's Latino/Hispanic community as director of La Casa De Amistad. We had an enlightening conversion about immigration. South Bend's West Side, and the great community leadership in South Bend.

Great episode with Grant Carlile. We talked about his involvement with Michiana First & Run for Phil.

Sun, 03 Jul 2016 01:32:41 +0000

Grant Carlile is a great guy. It was very cool to hear about his involvement with Michiana First and his work in Run for Phil.

Aaron Sandock has a very unique style in his art. We had a great conversation about art & life.

Mon, 27 Jun 2016 04:00:00 +0000

Art has changed Aaron's life in a big way. This episode shows that when you find a way to express yourself (like through art), you can handle day to day struggles much more effectively.

Roger Batton & I talk about storytelling as an art and his Indigan Storyteller workshops.

Wed, 22 Jun 2016 04:00:00 +0000

I had an amazing conversation with Roger about how telling stories is part of our DNA and surprisingly therapeutic. It was refreshing to hear what a passion Roger has for storytelling and how it has changed his life. He is dedicated to bringing the same results he has seen to everyone through his workshops. Great talk!

Jeff Harrison has reopened Vegetable Buddies in South Bend. He loves live music and wanted a great place for bands to play and music lovers

Mon, 20 Jun 2016 04:00:00 +0000

Jeff Harrison and I share a love for live music. Jeff had the means to create a perfect venue to attract the best bands from the area as well as national acts. Vegetable Buddies is a great venue and will surely make some new history with Jeff at the helm.

Kevin & Abby from the Ember Jar are passionate about creating a unique experience with their music. This was an engaging conversation!

Mon, 13 Jun 2016 04:00:00 +0000

A wonderful talk with Kevin Scott Joiner and Abby King from The Ember Jar. It was great learning about their musical influences and how they came together as a couple and as performers. You will also get to hear a great performance from Kevin & Abby recorded in my living room.

I talked with some great women who are putting in a huge effort to keep the historic State Theater open for business.

Mon, 06 Jun 2016 04:00:00 +0000

Jackie, Laura, Jennifer, & Anekah are doing great things at the historic State Theater in South Bend. Check out their Facebook page and see how you can help! The State Theater

Special Music Review Edition!

Sun, 05 Jun 2016 20:50:19 +0000

I got to see some great bands this weekend. Take a listen for my review of all of them.

Jacob Titus is a great photographic artist and big part of the positive change happing in South Bend.

Mon, 30 May 2016 02:03:10 +0000

Jacob Titus is an up and coming photographic artist in South Bend. I met Jacob at The Collective which is held at South Bend Brew Werks and liked him and his work instantly. Jacob works full-time for a non-profit then spends his free time taking beautiful pictures. He is also very passionate about the people and culture of South Bend. Whenever there is something positive going on in South Bend, you will see Jacob there helping or documenting the event on film. I am excited that Jacob was accepted to participate in the 2016 installation of The Birdsell Project. I am including a picture of a photograph of Jacob's that I purchased for my daughter. It really does not do his art justice but I believe you will get an idea of Jacob's talent. Jacob is another young person in our community that spends his time making a positive difference and I'm proud to know him.

A great converstation with the members from Letters From Earth.

Mon, 23 May 2016 04:00:00 +0000

This was a great experience. I learned how the band started, who did the artwork for their "Planet Nine" EP, and about their songwriting process. Keep listening after the talking to hear a live performance of their original song "Near".

Jason Samuel talks about his 13 years at 91.1 The Globe radio. This is a real Cinderella story and one of my favorite episodes.

Mon, 16 May 2016 04:00:00 +0000

What a great conversation with Jason Samuel from 91.1 The Globe broadcasting from Goshen College. Jason talks about the radical change he took with The Globe changing it from a classical radio station to an Americana/Indie format. Jason's energy is infectious which is why the station has won so many awards.

Nalani Stolz & Myles Robertson talk about the Birdsell Project. They are doing great things in South Bend!

Mon, 09 May 2016 04:00:00 +0000

Nalani & Myles talked about the idea that started the Birdsell Project and how they made a dream into reality.

Bonus Episode: Justin Maust talks about Lead Michiana Event at the Century Center in South Bend on May 20th

Mon, 02 May 2016 20:18:25 +0000

A great talk with Just Maust! He's an inspiring person andspeaker who has organized a great event called Lead Michiana whichwill be held at the Century Center on May 20th from 8am toNoon.

I got to talk to Drew Elegante from South Bend Brew Werks about their Give Back program and the revitalization of downtown South Bend

Mon, 02 May 2016 04:00:00 +0000

Drew is a energetic and fascinating young man. He decided to
make a mission out of the revitalization of Downtown South Bend. We
talked about the historical furniture at South Bend Brew Werks,
their Give Back program, and the "mistake" batch of beer that
turned out to be a big hit.

I talked to Randy DeCleene about his time working for Vice President Dick Cheney and at The Pentagon

Mon, 25 Apr 2016 01:26:12 +0000

What a great conversation with Randy DeCleene! Randy is a local boy "done good". He has worked at The Pentagon and for Vice President Dick Cheney. Our conversation covered Randy's time at The Pentagon, how he became interested in politics, and his passion for baseball among other great stuff. I get the feeling this is a "Part One" episode as we barely scratched the surface of Randy's experiences. I've known Randy since he was in high school and he turned out to be a rock-solid friend who always is there to help. Randy wasn't feeling great but came over to my house on a Sunday morning to record our interview anyway. That's the kind of guy he is. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I enjoyed recording it.

Paul Chamberlin & I talk about his carreer as a DJ & event planner

Mon, 18 Apr 2016 13:54:12 +0000

Paul & I had a great conversation about how he came about being owner of The Music Machine, his style of DJing, and some great stories about working together at Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour at Scottsdale Mall

Jeff Petermann & I talk about politics & family

Mon, 18 Apr 2016 00:33:02 +0000

Great conversation with Jeff Petermann who is running for Congress in Indiana's 2nd District. Jeff & I talked about the Republican and Libertarian parties, his Constitutional Conservative stance on government, and family.

Dave Van Dyke & I talk about music, the 70's, & his 105 year old grandmother

Fri, 15 Apr 2016 12:22:19 +0000

Right off the bat, Dave almost brought me to tears with his live rendition of "143 Means I Love You". Dave & I talked about his dual music/education carreer, today's kids, and why his grandmother declined an invitation to the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Corinne Straight-Reed & I talk about producing a television show, politics, & atheism.

Mon, 11 Apr 2016 04:00:00 +0000

A great conversation with Corinne Straight-Reed! We talked bout producing Politically Speaking on WNIT Public Television, her upcoming graduation with a degree in Political Science, & raising children in a non-religious home.

Jeff Spicher & I talked about his band, Ultrafab and his album, "Spikeloud".

Mon, 04 Apr 2016 09:46:30 +0000

Jeff & I talked about Ultrafab, writing and recording music, and working together more than 30 years ago.

Dave Dale is all about music 24/7. Great conversation!

Wed, 30 Mar 2016 11:07:01 +0000

Dave & I talk about his love of all sorts of music and how it comes through in his writing.

Lara Gordon Latshaw talks about the importance of vetting your pet groomer

Wed, 30 Mar 2016 00:01:22 +0000

I learned a lot from Lara regarding the non-regulation of the pet grooming industry and why you should do some research before selecting a groomer.

Ross Deal & I Talk about local politics, family, and keeping fit after 50.

Tue, 29 Mar 2016 10:52:15 +0000

Ross & I had a conversation about local politics, family, & keeping fit after 50.

Jeff Petermann & I talk about politics and family

Mon, 28 Mar 2016 23:00:16 +0000

Jeff and I have a great conversation about Indiana politics and family.