Muskegon Rising
We discover and share positive change in Greater Muskegon. A public service of the Muskegon Rotary Club.
Episodes
102 episodes
Norman Young - Man Cave
Muskegon Rising, a community service project of the Muskegon Rotary Club, sits down with community leader and fatherhood advocate Norman Young, founder of Man Cave and the seven-week curriculum A Father’s Love. In this powerfu...
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Season 2
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Episode 50
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32:17
Dr. Dick Kamp - Step Up Muskegon
In this Muskegon Rising episode, host Nancy Crandall interviews Dr. Dick Kamps, a retired surgeon who, alongside his wife Lynn, co-founded Step Up Muskegon, a nonprofit helping young adults transition successfully out of the foster care system....
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Season 2
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Episode 49
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44:17
Dan Skoglung - Muskegon Rescue Mission
Celebrate a milestone with us as Muskegon Rising releases its 100th episode. Host Aaron Maike welcomes Dan Skoglund, Executive Director of the Muskegon Rescue Mission, for an in-depth look at how the organization uplifts families through housin...
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Season 2
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Episode 48
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28:08
Lisa Tyler - United Way of the Lakeshore
In this episode of Muskegon Rising, host Kendrah Robinson welcomes Lisa Tyler, President and CEO of United Way of the Lakeshore, to share her inspiring journey and the organization’s evolving impact across Muskegon, Oceana, and Newaygo Counties...
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Season 2
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Episode 47
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27:23
Dan Tavernier - City of Whitehall
In this episode of Muskegon Rising, host Aaron Maike welcomes Dan Tavernier, the new City Manager of Whitehall, Michigan, to share his inspiring journey from a 20-year career in the U.S. Coast Guard to leading a vibrant lakeshore community. Tav...
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Season 2
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Episode 46
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23:48
Kris Vanderstelt - AgeWell Services
Food insecurity in Muskegon County has reached an alarming new pitch, and in this urgent episode of Muskegon Rising, host Aaron Maike talks with AgeWell Services’ Chris VanderStelt about the rapidly shrinking supply of charitable food, soaring ...
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Season 2
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Episode 45
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23:06
Jeff Cave - Orthopedic Associates of Muskegon (OAM)
In this episode of Muskegon Rising, host Aaron Maike sits down with Jeff Cave, CEO of Orthopedic Associates of Muskegon (OAM), to discuss nearly 50 years of orthopedic excellence serving West Michigan. Cave shares the organization’s growth from...
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Season 2
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Episode 44
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14:06
Dr. Paul Isley - Grand Valley State University
In this episode of Muskegon Rising, host Aaron Maike speaks with Dr. Paul Isely, Associate Dean and Professor at Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business, about Muskegon’s once-in-a-generation opportunity to reconnect its dow...
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Season 2
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Episode 43
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20:50
Barbara Lee VanHorssen - Momentum Center
On this episode of Muskegon Rising, Ken James of Muskegon Community College speaks with Barbara Lee VanHorssen, “experimenter” and executive director of the Momentum Center, about creating inclusive communities through mental health support, cu...
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Season 2
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Episode 42
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25:11
Dr. Paul Lomeo - IndiGrow
In this episode of Muskegon Rising, host Nancy Crandall sits down with Dr. Paul Lomeo to explore his remarkable journey from 35 years in emergency medicine to launching a family-run cannabis grow and retail business in Muskegon. Dr. Lomeo share...
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Season 2
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Episode 41
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28:01
Pam Curtis - Senior Resources of West Michigan
In this episode of Muskegon Rising, host Nancy Crandall speaks with Pam Curtis, Director of Senior Resources of West Michigan, about the vital role the Area Agency on Aging plays in supporting older adults and caregivers across Muskegon, Ottawa...
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Season 2
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Episode 40
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31:41
Angelita Valdez - Servicios de Esperanza
Angelita Valdez, founder of Servicios de Esperanza (Services of Hope), shares how her bilingual, CARF-accredited clinic expands access to mental health care in Muskegon. With 19 years as a therapist and 12 years leading the practice, she outlin...
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Season 2
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Episode 39
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18:34
John Selmon - Muskegon Community College
Muskegon Community College is celebrating 100 years of education, innovation, and community impact, as shared in this inspiring interview with President Dr. John Selmon on Muskegon Rising. From honoring its centennial with alumni event...
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Season 2
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Episode 38
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20:56
Dr. Keith Crandall - Grand Valley State University Entrepreneur of the Year
How do the trillions of microbes living in and on us shape our health and the medicines that work best? Dr. Keith Crandall, professor at George Washington University and Grand Valley State University’s 2025 Innovator of the Year, breaks it down...
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Season 2
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Episode 37
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24:17
Stephanie Briggs - Muskegon Community College
Muskegon native Dr. Stephanie Briggs, Associate Dean of Workforce and Talent Development at Muskegon Community College, joins host Kendrah Robinson to share how MCC is connecting learners to high-demand careers. We talk about apprenticeships, s...
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Season 2
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Episode 36
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18:58
Dr. Brian Stork - SafERteens
How do you prevent violence before it happens? Hear from Dr. Brian Stork, a Muskegon-based urologist and University of Michigan professor, about SafERteens and a growing community effort to support young people. Hear how emergency room screenin...
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Season 2
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Episode 35
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27:44
Tonya Ruhsenberger - Denver Air Connection
This episode of Muskegon Rising highlights how Denver Air Connection is transforming regional travel with Tonya Ruhsenberger. Discover how convenient air service strengthens Muskegon's economy, connects local businesses, and opens doors for vis...
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Season 1
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Episode 34
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26:05
John Stephenson - USS LST 393 Veterans Museum
This episode of Muskegon Rising explores the remarkable journey of LST 393 with John Stephenson from the USS LST 393 Veterans Museum. The World War II landing ship stormed Omaha Beach on D-Day before beginning a second life as a Great Lakes fre...
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Season 1
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Episode 33
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30:39
Kristina Broughton - Muskegon Area Marketing Professionals
In this episode of Muskegon Rising, marketing director and educator Kristina Broughton shares how she turned a simple idea into the Muskegon Area Marketing Professionals, a growing network of more than 80 marketers and creatives. What began as ...
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Season 1
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Episode 32
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22:03
Arlen Dean Gaddy - Erhardt Construction
Erhardt Construction’s Arlen Dean Gaddy shares how the company is helping revitalize Muskegon County through projects like the courthouse, Muskegon Museum of Art, and the Front Porch initiative. Learn how Erhardt blends innovation, sustainabili...
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Season 1
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Episode 31
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27:35
Park Kersman - Lorin Industries
Park Kersman, president of Lorin Industries, joins us to share how a nearly 100-year-old Muskegon manufacturer is leading with purpose. From its roots as a family business to its global reach in anodized aluminum, Lorin’s story is one of innova...
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Season 2
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Episode 30
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13:48
Gail Brechting - Muskegon Lumber Queen
Big music, big history, and a big stage moment for Muskegon! Join us on Muskegon Rising as we talk with Gail Brechting, conductor of the West Michigan Concert Winds, about bringing Muskegon: Lumber Queen to life. Discover how her orchestra beca...
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Season 2
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Episode 29
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33:30
Kathy Moore - Muskegon County Health Department
In this episode of Muskegon Rising, Muskegon Rotarian Nancy Crandall sits down with Kathy Moore, Executive Director of the Muskegon County Health Department, to reflect on her pivotal leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kathy shar...
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Season 2
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Episode 28
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25:47
Dave Alexander - Muskegon Rotary Club
In this inspiring episode of Muskegon Rising, host Aaron Maike sits down with Dave Alexander, incoming President of the Muskegon Rotary Club for 2025–2026, to discuss the future of service, leadership, and community impact in Muskegon. From his...
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Season 2
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Episode 27
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25:54
Bernard Brown - Career Tech Center
In this episode of Muskegon Rising, host Aaron Maike welcomes Bernard Brown from the Muskegon ISD's Career and Technical Education (CTE) Department to discuss how hands-on career exploration is transforming education for Muskegon County student...
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Season 2
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Episode 26
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23:25