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 talkingfriendship@gmail.com

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 talkingfriendship@gmail.com

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 talkingfriendship@gmail.com

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.