Season 5 - Episode 5 - Mike talks 2023 Michigan football v Rutgers with Fletcher Walters

The Talking Friendship with Mike D Podcast

In Episode 5 of Season 5 Mike welcomes Fletcher Walters to the pod to go DEEP on the 2023 Michigan football game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights as well as provides a musical homage to the great state of New Jersey and also putting out a “call to friendship” about the sport of pickleball.

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Key moments from the pod:

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S5E5 featuring Mike’s good friend Fletcher Walters.

1:55: Mike corrects some massive errors from S5E3 (the UNLV episode featuring the Lawrence-Luptons), including an apology to the Lawrence-Lupton cat Dobby.

3:10: Mike then updates the listeners on what’s been going on with him, including an amazing day trip to Ypsilanti (Transit Center to Transit Center).

5:15: Mike talks about dabbling with the sport of pickleball and just wants someone to offer to play with him as the podcast staff refuses to play.

7:25: Mike pays tribute to the great state of New Jersey and gives some history on Rutgers, including giving it props as the birthplace of college football.

13:30: Mike then takes that Jersey tribute up a notch or 10 with a musical nod.

19:40: Mike welcomes Fletcher Walters into the virtual podcast studio.

20:30: The guys trace the origins of their friendship including Fletcher keeping Mike’s now iconic nickname of “Neighbor Mike” going. Fletcher then tells his entire life story in a few minutes. It’s a rollercoaster.

22:30: Fletcher goes over his legendary college crew from Amherst College and talks about his experience playing pro basketball in Europe as well as his two oldest friends and what keeps their friendship (and all of his friendships) going at this point in life. Spoiler alert: it involves FGAs.

31:25: The guys talk briefly about the last time they hung out in person at the famed LIttle Caesars Arena in Detroit (there’s a D2A2 shout out in there as well!).

33:20: Next up the guys shift into talking about the 2023 Michigan football team, with Fletcher going over his thoughts on the team coming into the season and his unwavering belief in Michigan QB JJ McCarthy.

38:40: The guys then break down the Rutgers game in vivid and beautiful detail, including how critical #0 Mike “Mikey” Sainistrill was to the Michigan defense.

49:10: Fletcher and Mike then talk about how he was feeling coming out of this 31-7 Michigan win over Rutgers.

52:30: Fletcher then explains why Michigan football holds such a special place in his heart and a proud “Walmart Wolverine”.