Month: November 2025

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In this episode, Mike Dell digs into “how to drive in the snow” — timely for Northern Michigan (and anywhere else where winter hits) and packed with practical advice from his experience.

Key Topics Covered:

The importance of reducing speed when roads get snowy — Mike’s rule of thumb: about 10 mph less than the posted speed limit when snow first covers the roads.

• Planning extra time for trips: leaving earlier, anticipating traffic delays and slower conditions.

• Tire considerations:

  • Ensuring you have good tires — if you’re riding on bald all-seasons or summer tires, winter traction will suffer.

  • The value of genuine snow tires (Mike’s wife uses Nokian Hakkapeliitta).

  • Using your 4-wheel drive / all-wheel drive appropriately: yes, it can help with takeoff, but it does not help you stop any faster.

• Practicing skid control: find an empty parking lot and experiment with sliding, skids, recovery — to build feel and confidence before you have to use it on a public road.

• Clearing your vehicle of snow & ice before driving: windows, side & back, even the roof can matter (if snow slides forward, covers your windshield).

• Vehicle maintenance tips for winter: topping off washer fluid, checking tires, inflation, fluid levels, making sure everything is in good shape before the real winter hits.

• The overarching message: slow down, leave earlier, prepare your vehicle, drive mindfully — all so you avoid bending your car, hurting someone, or getting stuck in a snowbank.

Quote Highlights:

“Don’t ever be in a hurry while driving on snow.”

“Just please, please realize … four-wheel drive does not make you stop any quicker.”

“If you’re not used to driving in snow, go find an empty parking lot … figure out when the car goes out of control and how to get it back.”

Why this matters:

For those of us flying, working, commuting or traveling in winter-weather regions (like Northern Michigan), conditions can change rapidly. The same mindset of preparation and respect for environment that applies in aviation carries over to road driving: equipment (tires, maintenance), environment (snow/ice, slower speeds), and mindset (leave earlier, anticipate, stay calm). This episode is a great reminder to apply that disciplined approach to driving when the snow starts.

What’s Next:

Mike mentions he’ll be talking about ham radio stuff in the next episode — so stay tuned.

Who’s this for:

• Drivers in winter-weather climates looking for refresher tips.

• Anyone who owns a 4WD/AWD vehicle and doesn’t fully understand its limitations in snow.

• People who might have to drive in snow but don’t feel confident — this could help build awareness and reduce risk.

• Listeners who appreciate aviation-style pre-flight (pre-drive?) checklists and disciplined preparation.

Call to Action:

• Before the next snow, check your vehicle: tires, fluids, wipers/washer fluid, defroster, windows.

• Practice a skid-recovery session in a safe, empty area.

• When roads get snowy—slow down, leave earlier, and remember your stopping distance grows.

• Share this episode with someone you know who may not be comfortable driving in snow.

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In today’s episode of Mike Dell’s World, Mike reflects on the hectic pace of life, the whirlwind of Zoom meetings, and the importance of being intentional about slowing down. After a long, stressful year marked by personal challenges and the loss of Blubrry’s founder, Mike shares how he’s planning to reclaim some peace and quiet this winter.

He talks about waking up too early, back-to-back Zoom calls, and the extra layer of chaos that comes when major services like Cloudflare go down. But mixed into all that is a message: it’s okay to pause, to set boundaries, and to purposely not be busy.

This winter, Mike plans to simplify things—like leaving the tractor at his mom’s place for driveway clearing, taking snowshoe walks, heating with wood by the fireplace, and carving out real downtime to read, relax, or just get bored on purpose.

He also talks about how constant digital distractions make it hard to truly unwind—like instinctively grabbing the phone for YouTube Shorts the moment a show is paused. Maybe boredom isn’t such a bad thing.

Mike wraps up by teasing tomorrow’s episode on winter driving—something that pairs perfectly with the theme of slowing down.

Episode Highlights

• A day of nonstop Zoom calls and early wake-ups

• Reflecting on a stressful year and big life changes

• Losing Blubrry founder Todd Cochrane and navigating the transition

• Handling winter chores differently this year

• The value of intentional downtime and not over-committing

• Heating with wood and embracing cozy winter days

• Tech dependence, boredom, and the lure of YouTube Shorts

• Cloudflare outages and customer anxiety

• A preview of tomorrow’s topic: winter driving

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Today I talk about heating with wood and a little bit about Podcasting.

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• Mike opens by introducing the song “Helloapocalypse” from the acoustic string-instrument group playing a blend of rap/bluegrass.

• He briefly discusses the sponsor—Leonard Peikoff—and his podcast on objectivism (via peikoff.com) and encourages listeners to check it out.

• Mike and his wife Kathy recently traveled to Farmington Hills/Novi (Detroit area) for Kathy’s convention.

  • They drove their new car (a slightly upgraded Camry/Celera) down Friday.

  • Friday night: relaxed in the hotel, had dinner at a hotel pub.

  • Saturday: Breakfast in-room; Kathy went to the expo center; Mike visited a big firearms dealer “Guns Galore” in Fenton, MI but found it too crowded to browse handguns well.

  • Saturday evening: Went into downtown Detroit, visited the MGM Grand Casino — found it extremely crowded with $15 minimum blackjack tables, so they moved on to check out Greektown Casino (though parking was a hassle). Ended up at a bar on 8 Mile (burger & gyro place) recommended by a friend — good food and fun alternative.

  • Sunday: A relaxing breakfast at a local Coney Island place near the hotel; Mike lounged, read his Kindle, surfed the Internet; later went to an Italian restaurant (recommended by the same friend) — Mike had a garlic-seafood pasta, Kathy had chicken Parmesan, and the salad dressing was “to die for.”

  • Monday (Valentine’s Day): While in Detroit, they visited the pawn shop featured on reality show Hardcore Pawn (American Jewelry & Loan on 8 Mile) to pick out a sterling silver ring for Kathy. They got to meet Les (the show’s owner) at checkout.

• Mike then drops into a bit of “podcasting behind-the-scenes” talk:

  • He discovered issues with his USB interface (Gryphon iMic) causing noise → now recording into an external Sony recorder instead of directly into computer.

  • His mixer (Behringer ZENIX UB802 Eurorack) is dying (FX bus died); he’s getting a new 16-channel mixer from his friend Jim Farley for a future in-studio live recording of “What’s Up With That?”

  • He notes some audio hiccups: crackle in headphones, better sound on speakers, and invites feedback from listeners.

• To close: he asks listeners to support the show via his website (mikedell.com), via Bluehost hosting banner, Audible free audiobook banner, eFax banner, and a reminder to check the sponsor Leonard Peikoff’s podcast.

✅ Takeaways

• The trip to Detroit/Novi was a blend of business (Kathy’s expo) + pleasure (casual touring/eating) and Mike gives a realistic, non-glamorous travel rundown (hotel dinners, big casinos, pawn shops).

• A good mix of personal anecdote + geek-podcaster/equipment talk (the audio setup breakdown) shows authenticity.

• The episode offers varied content: personal lives, travel, gear talk, rather than a single focused theme.

• Sponsorship disclosure is clear and woven in naturally.

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In this episode of Mike Dell’s World, Mike talks about what it’s like broadcasting and podcasting from Traverse City, Michigan, a place that has always had a unique blend of small-town charm, regional importance, and a surprisingly rich broadcasting history.

Mike shares his own experiences behind the microphone—past and present—along with observations about the local radio landscape, how podcasting fits into the region’s media identity, and how much the area has changed since the early days of local broadcasting.

Topics Covered

• What “broadcasting in Traverse City” means today

  From terrestrial radio to modern podcasting, the evolution of getting your voice out from northern Michigan.

• Mike’s beginnings in broadcasting

  A look back at early experiences, equipment, motivations, and what hooked him on audio in the first place.

• Traverse City’s radio past and present

  Reflections on stations, formats, and personalities that shaped the region over the decades.

• How podcasting fits into a northern Michigan lifestyle

  The joys and challenges of producing a show in a place better known for lakes, snow, cherries, and tourism.

• Behind-the-scenes workflow for Mike Dell’s World

  Recording setups, tools, and how Mike keeps episodes flowing while juggling life, flying, work at Blubrry, and northern Michigan weather.

• Why Traverse City is a great place to create media

  Inspiration, scenery, community, and just enough quirk to keep things interesting.

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Just a quick update.  I spent the last 2 days dealing with leaves and some other pre-winter things that need to be done around here since the weather was so good for it.

Got a late start recording today.

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In this milestone episode — number 420, naturally — Mike takes a look at the rise of legal marijuana in Michigan. From the early days of medical cards to today’s booming recreational market, Mike walks through how the laws changed, what it looks like around northern Michigan, and how communities have adapted (or resisted) the cannabis wave. Along the way, he shares observations, local quirks, and a bit of “Up North” perspective.

Topics Covered

• How Michigan Got Here

• A quick history of medical marijuana legalization (2008)

• Proposal 1 and the shift to recreational use in 2018

• What changed on day one — and what didn’t

• Northern Michigan’s Cannabis Scene

• How Traverse City, Acme, Kingsley, and neighboring towns handled the rollout

• Local dispensaries, differences between tourist areas vs. rural areas

• The slow-but-steady licensing process in TC

• Common Questions People Still Ask

• “Can I grow my own?”

• “Can you smoke in public?”

• “What about driving?”

• “What’s the tax structure like?”

• Tourism & Culture

• How legal marijuana has changed the vibe for summer visitors

• The mix of craft breweries, wineries, and now… dispensaries

• The interesting combo of retirees, tourists, and locals navigating it all

• Mike’s Take

• Observations as someone who has watched Michigan go from dry counties to legal weed

• How Michigan tends to “normalize” things once the novelty wears off

• Why episode 420 was the perfect moment to talk about it

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n this episode of “Mike Dell’s World,” host Mike Dell discusses Clinch Park in Traverse City. He starts with some light-hearted comments about himself, joking that he has a Dorito chip under his hat. The main topic is Clinch Park, a public park located along West Grand Traverse Bay. Mike describes its amenities, including a large beach, splash pad, concessions, and access to the municipal marina, along with its popularity for walking, biking, and waterfront viewing.

Mike reminisces about Clinch Park’s history, mentioning that it used to house the Clinch Park Zoo, which focused on local Michigan wildlife instead of exotic animals. He shares that the zoo began in the early thirties and was a favorite childhood destination. He provides background on the miniature city attraction within the park, initiated by local civic leader Con Foster during the Great Depression, which included scaled replicas of downtown buildings. Mike recalls that the miniature city was active until 1973 and later moved some of its models to the Music House Museum in Acme, Michigan.

The conversation shifts to the park’s miniature steam train, which offered rides around the zoo until 2007. Afterward, he describes the marina’s features, noting the availability of boat slips and facilities for visitors. He then talks about the removal of the zoo and aquarium in 2007 and how they were replaced by a splash pad, which faced several issues shortly after its installation.

Mike further discusses changes in the park, including the removal of other structures, such as the coal fire electric plant, to expand open spaces. He mentions that the Clinch Park has become a central waterfront area, ideal for outdoor activities and close to downtown Traverse City. He points out that the park is a great spot to watch airshows during the Cherry Festival.

In concluding the episode, Mike says he will return for another podcast the next day but is unsure of the topic. He wraps up by calling it a podcast and signs off.

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In this episode titled “Traverse City’s First Snowfall,” Mike Dell begins by greeting listeners and introduces the episode as number 418. He shares that it is day twelve of NaPodPoMo and mentions this is the first episode recorded in real-time rather than in advance.

Mike discusses the early snowfall in Traverse City, noting that some areas received significant accumulation while much of it has already melted. He shares the current temperature, converting it to Celsius for clarity, and describes the mixed weather conditions—with rain expected in nearby areas.

Continuing with his narrative, Mike reflects on the change of seasons, mentioning the leaves dropping from the trees, particularly maples and oaks, and recounts the recent yard work he has done to clear the leaves. He mentions plans to prepare his tractor for winter, including getting it serviced at the John Deere dealer after removing the mower deck and attaching the snowblower.

Mike recounts an outing for his wife’s birthday dinner at Outback Steakhouse, describing the significant snowfall while they were dining and the challenges his family faced getting home due to the winter driving conditions. He humorously comments on how drivers often forget how to drive in snow, leading to accidents and challenges on the road.

Towards the end of the episode, Mike decides to keep this episode short and mentions that he will talk about Clinch Park, a notable park in Traverse City with an interesting history, in the following episode.

He wraps up by wishing listeners a great day and prompts them to catch him later.

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From President Wilson on 11-11-1919 – A year ago today our enemies laid down their arms in accordance with an armistice which rendered them impotent to renew hostilities, and gave to the world an assured opportunity to reconstruct its shattered order and to work out in peace a new and more just set of international relations. The soldiers and people of the European Allies had fought and end

ured for more than four years to uphold the barrier of civilization against the aggressions of armed force. We ourselves had been in the conflict something more than a year and a half.

With splendid forgetfulness of mere personal concerns, we remodeled our industries, concentrated our financial resources, increased our agricultural output, and assembled a great army, so that at the last our power was a decisive factor in the victory. We were able to bring the vast resources, material and moral, of a great and free people to the assistance of our associates in Europe who had suffered and sacrificed without limit in the cause for which we fought.

Out of this victory there arose new possibilities of political freedom and economic concert. The war showed us the strength of great nations acting together for high purposes, and the victory of arms foretells the enduring conquests which can be made in peace when nations act justly and in furtherance of the common interests of men.

To us in America the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service, and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of nations