It’s the people that make Rochester Hills, Michigan great. This podcast celebrates the ideas and perspectives, the creativity and passion, and the backgrounds and vocations of our people. It raises the awareness of the diversity of our neighbors, introduces us to new ways of thinking, and familiarizes us with those we didn't know, or didn’t know much about. It’s about investing time and getting to know people -- people who literally live right down the street. If you have questions or sugges ...
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Back to School with Nick Russo and Jim Schwarz
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For many, September brings forth feelings of new possibilities and new beginnings, none more so for our two distinguished guests Dr. Jim Schwarz, superintendent of Avondale School District, and Mr. Nick Russo, superintendent of Rochester Community Schools. Join Mayor Barnett as he sits down for an insightful talk about the current national teacher …
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Life conspires to bring you where you're supposed to be. And life has conspired to bring Melissa Weisse across the pond to Leader Dogs for the Blind. Serving now as the organization's CEO and President, Melissa has found her passion in helping people create pathways to greater independence. She and Mayor Barnett discuss everything from art and pupp…
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Father-son duo, Garth and Klint Pleasant, join Mayor Barnett on this special Father's Day episode. Garth Pleasant had a long and distinguished career as the head coach of Rochester Christian University's men's basketball team, leading the program from 1973 to 2010. Klint Pleasant followed in his father's footsteps, serving alongside Garth as an ass…
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Rochester Community Schools have dominated MHSAA Division 1 Competitive Cheer for the last decade, with the three RCS high schools taking turns at the top. At the state competition last month, Stoney Creek took the title, Adams came in second, and defending state champion, Rochester, was two-tenths of a point behind in third. The head coaches from …
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Dropping the Puck with NHL's Craig Wolanin, Steve Guolla & Dave Legwand
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Mayor Barnett is joined by three former NHL players, Craig Wolanin, Steve Guolla, and Dave Legwand. They all have a Detroit-Rochester Hills area connection and are not just great athletes, they are great members of our community. Wooly, Gooey and Leggy reminisce with entertaining stories about their unique journeys, NHL memories, and their pure lov…
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In this special "Lead with Impact" segment, Mayor Barnett invites New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell to share her story. She was the first woman to be elected as Mayor of New Orleans in the city's 300 year history. Now in her second term of office, she has more than proven her commitment to the place her heart calls home. She firmly believes the bes…
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It’s not every day you get to swap stories, cheer on the Detroit Lions, and predict the future with a superhero. But Mayor Barnett did just that with none other than Equalman. Erik Qualman, also known as Equalman, was raised in Rochester Hills and has gone on to be a Digital Leadership expert, sharing his insight as a bestselling author, teacher, a…
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Imagine your entire hometown downtown painted in holiday lights, each historic Main Street building lit in a different bold hue. That was the vision Kristi Trevarrow, Executive Director of the Rochester Downtown Development Authority, had for Downtown Rochester, Michigan. With a mission to draw people in to make memories and boost business for the …
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Lions Radio Analyst, Former NFL Offensive Tackle, and recent Pride of the Lions inductee, Lomas Brown, shares stories with Mayor Barnett about players, coaches, successes, struggles, teamwork and more. Lomas had an incredibly long career playing in the NFL, including 11 seasons playing for our Detroit Lions. He spent years physically clearing the w…
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The Ilitch name is synonymous with Detroit, and the Ilitch family’s impact has rippled across Michigan and echoes around the world. What began with a dream and one small Little Caesar’s restaurant, grew into a multifaceted business empire, encompassing the Detroit Tigers, the Red Wings, Fox Theatre, Olympia Entertainment and so much more. Denise Il…
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You know him as a steady and trusted pillar of Detroit television news, reporting without fear or favor at WXYZ-TV for 35 years. But do you know his nickname, his newest hobby or the most difficult stories he managed? Proud Rochester Hills resident, Dave LewAllen, discusses with Mayor Barnett the evolution of media over the decades, the key values …
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Rochester Hills’ Stoney Creek Village has lived out the “it takes a village” concept in remarkable ways for 200 years. The first families to settle in our city in 1823 are much like the ones who live here today. Traits like an innovative spirit, a strong work ethic and persevering through obstacles characterize them. Values like education, faith, a…
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Mayor Barnett sits down with two of the most important women in his life - his mom and grandma - in this special Mother’s Day episode. Topics include values passed down through generations, “how I met your father,” embarrassing stories about Chris, vacations on a budget, and the importance of family to keep you grounded. Rochester Hills IS Innovati…
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Exceptional companies create a brand that elicits an emotional connection. Disney is one of them, and long-time Rochester Hills resident, Janelle Tischer, is one of their key strategists. As the Vice President, Category Strategy, at the Walt Disney Company, Janelle excels at building partnerships and anticipating what’s next. She also pours her bou…
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March Madness is upon us and college basketball is on everyone’s mind. Mayor Barnett sits down with Oakland University’s head basketball coach, Greg Kampe, and three stars from this season’s team: Jalen Moore, Trey Townsend and Blake Lampman. The nation’s longest tenured coach at a Division 1 school, Coach Kampe wants his team to succeed on the cou…
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Mayor Barnett talks with Oakland University trailblazer, Glenn McIntosh, about Glenn’s passion for student success and the value he places on collaboration, intentional living and mentor relationships, including the impact Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mayor Coleman Young and many others have had on him. From winning Mr. Michigan to becoming the first per…
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The New Year inspires fresh hope and new possibilities. Long distance runner, Sandy Stiner, knows how to push past perceived limits. Mayor Barnett met Sandy in 2017 when she boldly let him know, “I run this town.” Sandy had, in fact, been systematically running down every single street in Rochester Hills. Since then she has set and achieved even mo…
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Mayor Barnett’s siblings join him for a special holiday episode. Bryan, Chris, Andrea and Matt reminisce about what it was like growing up together and what makes their bond so strong. Rochester Hills IS Innovative by Nature and the "Preeminent Place to Live, Work and Raise a Family." Learn more about our fantastic city at our award-winning website…
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Meet the chief engineer of the 2024 Chevy Silverado EV pickup truck, Nichole Kraatz. A graduate of Adams High School and Oakland University, Nichole is a homegrown hero, making incredible strides in the automotive industry. She is passionate about tapping diversity of thought, inspiring women to pursue STEAM careers, and producing a superior produc…
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Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard joins Mayor Barnett to weigh in on everything from school safety, media and politics to college football, comfort dogs and Wyatt Earp. Sheriff Bouchard runs one of the nation's largest Sheriff's Offices, overseeing over 1,400 employees and managing an annual budget of over 177 million dollars. He leads from t…
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Some people talk about diversity, equity and inclusion and other people just make it happen. Jenny Brown and Ziad Kassab are the latter. Jenny is the co-founder and CEO of Dutton Farm. She is on a mission to celebrate, educate and employ people with special needs. Ziad is a serial entrepreneur who never stops finding ways to serve individuals and f…
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Margaux Keusch, Corey Roediger and Dave Walker Talk Real Estate
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Beautiful homes in friendly neighborhoods. Access to premier shopping, dining and services. These are all part of what makes Rochester Hills the pre-eminent place to live, work and raise your family. Dave Walker (Realtor with Brookview Realty), Corey Roediger (Mortgage Consultant with Hancock Mortgage) and Margaux Keusch (Senior Leasing Director fo…
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Zena and Mena Nasiri share a passion for improving the world around them. Through their nonprofit organization, Girls of the Crescent, the Nasiri sisters collect books with female Muslim main characters and donate them to schools and libraries, supporting representation of our diverse population. Their initial desire to help other young girls in th…
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Judge Julie Nicholson & Judge Nancy Carniak
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Take a peek behind the courtroom curtain during this exclusive interview with the Honorable Julie Nicholson and the Honorable Nancy Carniak, both judges at the 52nd District Court - Division 3. Together they have 75 years of experience and insight into the criminal justice system. Judges Nicholson and Carniak discuss with Mayor Barnett their paths …
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Can you guess what is the oldest continually running business in Rochester Hills? If the iconic red barn with lines out the door all season long came to mind, you correctly guessed Yates Cider Mill. Proud owner, Mike Titus, shares the history and speculates on the future of Rochester Hills’ beloved Yates Cider Mill. Rochester Hills IS Innovative by…
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“Celebrate Differences” is the theme of Autism Acceptance Month and also the driving force behind Right Down the Street. In this episode, Mayor Barnett is joined by two strong autism community advocates. Ron Sandison is a life-long Rochester Hills resident who was diagnosed with autism as a child and is now a published author and sought-after speak…
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Not all athletes lift weights and run laps. Rochester Hills resident, Jon Schneck, has made a name for himself as a college esports athlete, drafted for his proven skill as a League of Legends competitor. Out of the 180 million League of Legends players worldwide, Jon (itsjon) is currently ranked in the top 0.01%. Jon unpacks for us the structure, …
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Businesses of all types are choosing Rochester Hills. Mayor Barnett sits down with three entrepreneurs to hear their unique stories and perspectives. Jeff Jermyn, CEO of BlueBrier, LLC, Lee Padgett, owner of Busted Bra Shop, and Tej Yale, owner of ThinkImpact, Inc all weigh in on what it takes to be your own boss and why they brought their business…
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Winning an Olympic gold medal is an unreachable dream for all but the most elite athletes. Mayor Barnett talks with four-time Olympic medalist swimmer and Rochester Hills native, Peter Vanderkaay, about the Olympics and life beyond the Olympic spotlight. This conversation was recorded on February 15, 2022 during the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.…
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Problem-solving, making local government easier to navigate and improving the day-to-day lives of residents are three of the many subjects covered in Mayor Barnett's conversation with the newly elected Mayor of the City of Pontiac (MI), Tim Greimel. Mayor Greimel, who enters his position with an impressive track record of public service, speaks abo…
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We're entering a new year amidst ongoing change. What's ahead for businesses in 2022? New Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce President Maggie Bobitz and Economic Development Manager for the City of Rochester Hills and Chamber Board Member, Pamela Valentik, join Mayor Barnett to discuss what to expect and how they can help. Strategies, partnersh…
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The tragic event at nearby Oxford High School in Oxford, MI led to Mayor Barnett's discussion about grief with funeral director and local community leader John Modetz. Modetz offers advice on how to respond to death -- and particularly the death of a young person -- and how best to support their families and loved ones. Modetz indicated that at a t…
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Mayor Barnett talks with Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter about the unconventional path that led him to his current role and the common passion the two have for serving as mayor. County Executive Coulter shares an approach to leadership that includes hiring the best and allowing employees to make occasional mistakes, as long as they learn from…
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Mayor Barnett and Ora Hirsch Pescovitz, MD, President of Oakland University, discuss the school year ahead, the efforts made to keep students, faculty and the administration safe, and Oakland's four strategic priorities: Student success; research and scholarship; community engagement; and diversity and inclusion. Dr. Pescovitz shares the importance…
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NASCAR great and Rochester Hills native Brad Keselowski talks to Mayor Barnett about growing up in the Brooklands neighborhood of the City, his favorite subject in high school (auto shop), and the high value he places on community and philanthropy. Despite Brad's remarkable motorsports career, it's clear that Michigan and Rochester Hills continue t…
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Healthcare executive Chris Palazzolo, President & CEO of Ascension Genesys Hospital and Ascension Providence Rochester Hospital, talks with Mayor Barnett about operating a hospital during a pandemic - addressing constant change - and the importance of collaboration, even amongst competitors. The pair also speak about the future of healthcare, discu…
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From Meadowbrook Elementary, West Middle School and Rochester High to the Mission Control Center of NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Mayor Barnett sits down with Fiona Turett, a member of NASA's latest class of Flight Directors. Imagine being at the forefront of everything that humans do in space: That's what Fiona does. No pressure at all. …
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New Day Foundation for Families co-Founder and President Gina Kell Spehn and her son, Sam Kell, share their unspeakable, unimaginable and unbelievable story -- and how they continue to turn tragedy into triumph. Their family's narrative is profiled in the NY Times bestselling book "The Color of Rain" and a Hallmark Channel movie by the same name. H…
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Oakland University instructor of Islamic Studies, Aly Lela, talks with Mayor Barnett about the prayer, fasting and meditation that occurs during the month of Ramadan, dispels some of the misconceptions about Islam and the Muslim religion and why he chose Rochester Hills to be home for he and his family. This podcast was recorded on the first day of…
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Detroit broadcasting legend Frank Beckmann joins Mayor Barnett to talk about how he realized his childhood dream, the people that guided his career, breaking the news of Jimmy Hoffa's disappearance, his passion for UofM football, his philosophy on giving back, and the things that make our community so special. Rochester Hills IS Innovative by Natur…
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Mayor Barnett sits down with Chris Brooks, Senior Pastor at Woodside Bible Church, to discuss Pastor Brooks' journey, what and who inspires him, the importance of leadership and hope, and his love for the church, his family, his community -- and his Michigan State Spartans. Rochester Hills IS Innovative by Nature and the "Preeminent Place to Live, …
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